PS3 DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable

Be the life of the party! The makers of Guitar Hero introduce an entirely fresh and innovative way to experience your favorite music. With DJ Hero you will be the life of the party as you spin and scratch more than 100 songs into unique mixes. Get ready for a whole new phenomenon in music.

table border="0" tr td height="340" a name="dj_hero_review" Although the iGuitar Hero/i series has only been around since 2005, the gobs of exposure--or perhaps over exposure--that it has received has fueled an understandable amount of skepticism among many gamers regarding the future of the overall franchise. After all, once a music game has conquered single player, two-player, artist-specific, full band multiplayer and handheld action, where does it go? Answer: into the DJ booth with iDJ Hero./i Recently I was able to spend some time with a Xbox 360 demo of the game that has been making the rounds, and here is what I came away with. style type="text/css" .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table.callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td.vgoverview { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; } /style p/ table align=right width=250 cellpadding=10 tr td height="194"img alt="Single player screen from DJ Hero" title="Single player screen from DJ Hero" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/features/dj.hero.review.01.sm.jpg" border=0 align=top width="250" height="141"br center span class="caption"Challenge yourself with realistic DJ gameplay mechanics and multiple point multipliers.br/ View larger./span /center /td /tr tr tdimg alt="DJ and Guitar mode in DJ Hero" title="DJ and Guitar mode in DJ Hero" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/features/dj.hero.review.02.sm.jpg" border=0 align=top width="250" height="141"br center span class="caption"Put your old Guitar Hero axe to work in DJ and Guitar mode.br/ View larger./span /center/td /tr tr td height="204"img alt="DJ vs. DJ multiplayer mode in DJ Hero" title="DJ vs. DJ multiplayer mode in DJ Hero" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/features/dj.hero.review.03.sm.jpg" border=0 align=top width="250" height="141"br center span class="caption"Go head-to-head against a friend in DJ vs. DJ mode.br/ View larger./span /center /td /tr /table Action in iDJ Hero/i revolves around a iGuitar Hero/i style note highway which streams color coated prompts toward the player, in the role of DJ, who input these via the bundled game-specific wireless turntable/mixer controller. The turntable portion of the controller is made up of a realistic platter that spins all the way around in both directions when pushed by the player and has familiar green, red and blue buttons attached on top. The mixer half has a sliding three-position fader bar, a button used to activate star power like "Euphoria" gameplay sections which temporarily double point multipliers, an effects knob and a hidden control panel containing your console's standard navigational buttons. Gameplay takes you through pre matched, two-jam tracks, with the green and blue buttons oriented on the left and right edges of the note highway and on the platter representing these, and the red button in the middle providing a spot to add samples, which can be changed at various times in the game with the effects knob. Players must perform three main types of DJ actions when prompted by the note highway: taps, which are beat matching actions requiring the pushing of buttons on the platter; fader bar moves indicating either a selection of one of the two tracks during the jam, or a mix of the two; and scratching, which entails selecting one of the two tracks on the platter and moving the turntable quickly up and down. In addition, players can activate Euphoria strategically, as success throughout sections of a track fills the Euphoria meter at the left, and shoot for the additional bonus of a Rewind, given for perfection in certain sections, and allowing the player to replay that same section again for additional points. p/ It's interesting how this latest release in the series parallels the historical deconstructive trend in actual pop music, which saw Hip-hop, Electronica, House, and other musical genres rise through the use of DJ sampling and mixing techniques, but does this mean that iDJ Hero/i will enjoy as much success and be as good a play experience as some of the iHero/i games that came before it? Only time will tell, but after a few hours breaking it down on the DJ deck myself, it seems to me that the game has a major thing going against it, and an equally important positive thing going for it that together will probably decide this for most players. The negative is that the controller used is a bit more difficult to operate than any used in earlier games, except perhaps the drums of iGuitar Hero World Tour/i, while the positive is that the overall gameplay is as fun and infectious as any seen in the series. p/ To be clear, the controller issues alluded to are by no means a deal breaker. More than anything else, what the vast majority of players will be challenged by in the iDJ Hero/i controller is their unfamiliarity with a DJ deck. As popular as DJ influenced music is in reality, not too many fans per capita have had hands-on experience with the tools of the trade, unlike the legions of iGuitar Hero/i fans, purchasing in their millions, who are at least somewhat familiar with how a guitar, drum and microphone work. Another inconvenience related to the controller is its fairly cramped layout, with both sections residing right next to each other and no apparent way to create space between the two pieces without disconnecting them. This is enhanced by the fact that in many cases the controller may be more easily worked from a high platform in front of the standing player, potentially making this lack of space even more of a problem. But as with any new controller type, muscle memory will kick in with practice and players become more comfortable with the basic DJ mechanics of the game. There are also some simple hints doled out by the in-game tutorials that should be heeded, like when scratching make sure to let go at the end of each scratch, and anchor your hand to the turntable deck with your thumb to avoid spinning the platter too wildly. Also, the two pieces of the controller can be swapped to allow for left-handed play, and thankfully iDJ Hero/i's development team recognized that discouraged players are not a good thing and did away with the familiar iGuitar Hero/i scenario of AI audiences booing a player off the stage. If you are screwing up they will still let you know, but at least players will always get the experience of finishing. At the end of each set you are rated at 1-5 stars, where the more stars you get the more tracks are unlocked and DJ gear is made available to you. The gradual organization of the game's four play settings also help you build confidence by introducing more advanced skills as you progress. In Easy, players primarily use tapping and a simplified form of scratching. The Medium setting adds fader bar functionality. Play on the Hard level requires precise directional scratching, where you must scratch in the same direction as the note highway. The assumption is that Expert level bumps things up even farther, although this level was not available with the demo played. p/ Finally, as part of the fun built into the game, players can expect various ways to play and experience the game. These include a variety of gameplay modes including single player, a head-to-head multiplayer DJ vs. DJ mode where two players work their way through the same track for the best possible point total, the multiplayer Guitar and DJ mode which is compatible with all iGuitar Hero/i guitars made for the same platform, and Party Mode where scoring is turned off and you can just listen to the 80+ unique mixes by big name DJs included in the game. And as with all games in the iGuitar Hero/i series players can expect some pretty deep character customization options to be made available as their skills rise. p/ Taken together does all this equate to a quality music gameplay experience? Well, what I've seen is pretty solid, so if you are a fan of both iGuitar Hero/i type gameplay and DJ music and culture, I'd say you almost certainly will not be disappointed. Also, with its new controller, as well as different and in many places, challenging gameplay, if you are more interested in iDJ Hero/i as a departure from series' very well-worn gameplay mold, you will probably be equally happy. p/ iTom Milnes, Amazon.com/games freelance contributor/i /td /tr /table

table border="0" tr td a name="product_description" The makers of iGuitar Hero/i introduce an entirely fresh and innovative way to experience music and rhythm gameplay. iDJ Hero/i features an amazing variety of music across genres – tracks that you love and reflect who you are. Using an authentic turntable controller, you will spin and scratch more than 100 songs into unique mixes and become the life of the party. Get ready for a whole new phenomena in music. style type="text/css" .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table.callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td.vgoverview { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; } /style p/ table width="160" border="0" cellpadding="0" align="left" cellspacing="0" tr tdimg src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/dj-hero.logo.150.jpg" align="center" alt="DJ Hero game logo" title="DJ Hero game logo" width="150" height="100"br/ smallcenterbi/i/b/center/small/td/tr/table table align=right width=250 cellpadding=10 tr td height="194"img alt="DJ demonstrating how to scratch in DJ Hero" title="DJ demonstrating how to scratch in DJ Hero" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/dj-hero.03.sm.jpg" border=0 align=top width="250" height="141"br center span class="caption"Become the ultimate DJ.br/ View larger./span /center /td /tr tr td height="204"img alt="Turntable controller for DJ Hero" title="Turntable controller for DJ Hero" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/dj-hero.02.sm.jpg" border=0 align=top width="250" height="141"br center span class="caption"Innovative turntable controller.br/ View larger./span /center /td /tr tr td height="194"img alt="Multiplayer action in DJ Hero" title="Multiplayer action in DJ Hero" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/dj-hero.01.sm.jpg" border=0 align=top width="250" height="141"br center span class="caption"Multiplayer challenges.br/ View larger./span /center /td /tr /table bMusic and Gaming Via a Revolutionary Controller/bbr/ Like the music that inspired it, iDJ Hero/i allows players to experience music in a new revolutionary way through through its game-specific controller. Included with the iDJ Hero/i software, the iDJ Hero/i controller is a combination turntable and mixer that immerses you into authentic DJ culture allowing you to scratch, cross-fade, and beat match. The turntable half of the controller features three color-coated buttons used to direct action during gameplay and a realistically rotating turntable. The opposite end of the controller contains the mixer controls in the form of a lateral fader allowing for switching between tracks and mixing, a knob for additional effects and a button for capturing "euphoria," a star power-like point bonus. p/ In addition, the mixer portion of the controller detaches to accommodate left-handed players and contains an out of the way compartment holding a D-pad and conventional controller buttons for easy console navigation. Taken together, both halves of the controller allow players to customize their mix with a variety of effects and samples transforming a face in the crowd into the life of the party. p/ bGameplay/bbr/ Gameplay in iDJ Hero/i is reminiscent to games in the iGuitar Hero/i series. Musical prompts stream towards players on one of three color-coded ribbons; red and blue which correspond to the two tracks that the player is able to simultaneously or individually manipulate, as well as a red one between these two, used to insert samples. In addition to hitting individual notes and samples, players are also challenged to scratch on command by pressing the appropriate button for the track and sliding the turntable up or down as indicated on the ribbon. The game also provides players with a chance to turn back the clock on earlier action via its "Rewind" feature. This ability is monitored via the rewind meter that levels higher with successful play, and and when full allows the player to rewind the song to fix errors in their earlier performance. The reward for precision is the build up of points, which can be temporarily doubled via euphoria power with the push of a button on the mixer end of the controller. p/ bRule the Hottest Parties/bbr/ In the tradition of iGuitar Hero/i, which brought gamers into the world of rock ‘n’ roll, iDJ Hero/i places players in the DJ booth at some of the hottest clubbing scenes from around the globe. Party in venues reminiscent of real world locales from around the globe including an ultra plush and sexy Hollywood Hills style mansion, to an open air beach club in Ibiza. p/ bPlay Modes/bbr Although iDJ Hero/i contains engrossing single player game options, including a career mode, much of the action in the game surrounds its wealth of multiplayer modes. These include both online and offline multiplayer competitive and cooperative modes: including DJ vs. DJ, DJ + DJ and DJ + Guitar. p/ bSet List/bbr/ The iDJ Hero/i set list is constructed of 100 songs, crafted into more than 90 two-song DJ mixes. These mixes are the product of both the creative talents of internationally known DJs such as DJ Shadow, DJ Z-Trip, DJ AM and Daft Punk, and the game development team. All songs used are new to the iGuitar Hero/i family of games and are pulled from a wide array of genres, including pop, grunge, soul, RB, techno, hip hop, and house. The full track list includes: ul li2Pac - "All Eyez On Me" vs. The Aranbee Pop Orchestra - "Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)"/li li50 Cent - "Disco Inferno" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance"/li li50 Cent - "Disco Inferno" vs. InDeep - "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life"/li liAfrika Bambaataa - "Zulu Nation Throwdown" vs. Freedom Express - "Get Down"/li liBeastie Boys - "Here's A Little Somethin' For Ya" vs. DJ Shadow - "The Number Song (2009 Version)" (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)/li liBeastie Boys - "Intergalactic" vs. Blondie - "Rapture"/li liBeastie Boys - "Lee Majors Come Again" vs. Daft Punk - "DA Funk" (Produced and mixed by Cut Chemist)/li liBeck - "Where It's At" vs. DJ Shadow - "Six Days (Remix ft. MOs Def)"/li liBell Biv DeVoe - "Poison" Beat Juggle/li liBell Biv DeVoe - "Poison" vs. Beastie Boys - "Intergalactic" (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)/li liBell Biv DeVoe - "Poison" vs. Cameo - "Word Up!"/li liBenny Benassi - "Satisfaction" vs. Tiesto - "Elements Of Life"/li liBilly Squier - "The Big Beat" vs. N.E.R.D. - "Lapdance" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liBlack Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom POW" vs. Benny Benassi - "Satisfaction"/li liBobby "Blue" Bland - "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" vs. 2Pac - "How Do You Want It"/li liBobby "Blue" Bland - "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" vs. Connie Price The Keystones - "Fuzz And Them"/li liBoogie Down Productions - "Jack Of Spades" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance" (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)/li liChuck Brown The Soul Searchers - "Bustin' Loose" vs. The Zombies - "Time Of The Season" (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)/li liChuck Brown The Soul Searchers - "Bustin' Loose" vs. Young MC - "Bust A Move"/li liCommon - "Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.)" Vs. Masta Ace - "Jeep A** Gutter (Aaron LaCrate Debonair Samir RMX)" (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)/li liCypress Hill - "Insane In The Brain" vs. Classics IV - "Spooky"/li liCypress Hill - "Insane In The Brain" vs. David Axelrod - "The Edge"/li liDaft Punk - "Around The World" vs. Young MC - "Bust A Move"/li liDaft Punk - "DA Funk" vs. NASA - "Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB Fatlip"/li liDaft Punk - "Megamix 1"/li liDaft Punk - "Megamix 2"/li liDaft Punk - "Robot Rock" vs. Hashim - "Al Naafyish (The Soul)" (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)/li liDaft Punk - "Robot Rock" vs. Queen - "We Will Rock You"/li liDaft Punk - "Short Circuit" vs. Boogie Down Productions - "Jack Of Spades"/li liDaft Punk - "Technologic" vs. Gary Numan - "Cars"/li liDaft Punk - "Television Rules the Nation" vs. No Doubt - "Hella Good"/li liDavid Axelrod - "The Edge" vs. Eric B. Rakim - "Eric B. Is President"/li liDizzee Rascal - "Fix Up, Look Sharp" vs. DJ Shadow - "Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)"/li liDizzee Rascal - "Fix Up, Look Sharp" vs. Justice - "Genesis"/li liDJ Shadow - "Six Days (Remix ft. MOs Def)" vs. D-Code - "Annie's Horn"/li liEminem - "My Name Is" vs. Beck - "Loser"/li liFedde Le Grand - "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn - "I Can't Stop (David Penn Remix)"/li liFoo Fighters - "Monkey Wrench" vs. Beastie Boys - "Sabotage" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liForeigner - "Juke Box Hero" vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs - "DJ Hero" (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)/li liForeigner - "Juke Box Hero" vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs - "DJ Hero" (DJ-Guitar mix, produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)/li liGang Starr - "Just To Get A Rep" vs. Mobb Deep - "Shook Ones, Pt 2" (Produced and mixed by J. Period)/li liGorillaz - "Feel Good Inc." vs. Blondie - "Atomic" Grandmaster Flash's - "Boom" vs. "Tap" (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)/li liGrandmaster Flash, DJ Kool, DJ Demo - "Here Comes My DJ" vs. Gary Numan - "Cars" (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)/li liGwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" vs. Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc."/li liGwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" vs. InDeep "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)/li liGwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" vs. Rick James - "Give It To Me"/li liHerbie Hancock - "Rockit" Beat Juggle/li liHerbie Hancock - "Rockit" vs. N.E.R.D. - "Lapdance" (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)/li liInDeep - "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" vs. Cameo - "Word Up!"/li liJackson 5 - "I Want You Back" vs. Gang Starr - "Just To Get A Rep" (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)/li liJackson 5 - "I Want You Back" vs. Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liJackson 5 - "I Want You Back" vs. Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life"/li liJay-Z feat. Pharrell - "Change Clothes" vs. 2Pac - "All Eyez on Me"/li liJay-Z - "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" Vs. Eminem - "My Name Is"/li liJay-Z - "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" Vs. Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back"/li liJay-Z - "Excuse Me Miss" vs. Rick James - "Give It To Me"/li liJean Knight - "Mr. Big Stuff" vs. Masta Ace - "Born To Roll"/li liJurassic 5 - "Jayou" vs. Billy Squier - "The Big Beat"/li liJurassic 5 - "Jayou" vs. Herbie Hancock - "Rockit"/li liKid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite" vs. Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom POW"/li liKool Moe Dee - "How Ya Like Me Now" vs. Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman - "I Like To Move It"/li liLittle Richard - "Tutti Frutti" vs. Shlomo - "Beats" (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)/li liMIA - "Paper Planes" vs. Eric B. Rakim - "Eric B. Is President" (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)/li liMIA - "Paper Planes" vs. Wale - "Lookin' At Me"/li liMarvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance"/li liMarvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" vs. Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc."/li liMotörhead - "Ace Of Spades" vs. Noisia - "Groundhog" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liNASA - "Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB Fatlip" vs. Isaac Hayes - "Theme From Shaft"/li liNoisia - "Groundhog" Beat Juggle (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)/li liPaul van Dyk - "Nothing But You" vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn - "I Can't Stop (David Penn Remix)"/li liPublic Enemy - "Shut 'Em Down" vs. Beck - "Where It's At"/li liPublic Enemy ft. Zakk Wylde - "Bring The Noise 20XX" vs. Justice - "Genesis" (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)/li liPublic Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde - "Bring The Noise 20XX" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liPublic Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde - "Bring The Noise 20XX" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liQ-Tip - "Good Thang" vs. Billy Squier - "The Big Beat" (Produced and mixed by J. Period)/li liQueen - "Another One Bites The Dust" vs. Beastie Boys - "Brass Monkey" (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)/li liQueen - "Another One Bites The Dust" vs. Daft Punk - "DA Funk"/li liRihanna - "Disturbia" vs. Kid Sister - "Control"/li liRihanna - "Disturbia" vs. The Killers - "Somebody Told Me" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liRihanna - "Disturbia" vs. The Trammps - "Disco Inferno"/li liShlomo - "Beats" vs. Billy Squier - "The Big Beat"/li liStreet Sweeper Social Club - "Fight! Smash! Win!" vs. Beastie Boys - "Intergalactic" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liTears For Fears - "Shout" vs. DJ Shadow - "Six Days (Remix ft. MOs Def)"/li liTears For Fears - "Shout" vs. Eric B. Rakim - "Eric B. Is President" (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)/li liTears For Fears - "Shout" vs. Eric Prydz - "Pjanoo"/li liThe Aranbee Pop Orchestra - "Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)" vs. LL Cool J - "Rock The Bells" (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)/li liThe Scratch Perverts Beats and Pieces (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)/li liThe Killers - "Somebody Told Me" vs. Eric Prydz - "Pjanoo"/li liVanilla Ice - "Ice Ice Baby" vs. MC Hammer - "U Can't Touch This"/li liVanilla Ice - "Ice Ice Baby" vs. Paula Abdul - "Straight Up"/li liWale - "Lookin' At Me" vs. Black Eyed Peas ft. Tippa/li liIrie - "Hey Mama"/li liWeezer - "Beverly Hills" vs. Evidence, The Alchemist, Aceyalone, Rakaa 88 Keys - "Fresh Rhymes And Videotape" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li liWild Cherry - "Play That Funky Music" vs. Gang Starr - "Just To Get A Rep" (DJ-Guitar mix)/li /ul /td /tr /table