ezGear Introduces You Rock Guitar - Multi-touch and Multi-use [video]
Written by Alexis M. (Rivithed)
Wednesday, 07 January 2009
ezGear is upping the ante on music gaming peripherals with the You Rock Guitar. Touted as "the world’s most advanced video game and music controller," the You Rock Guitar creates a new class in guitar game controllers, or guitar instruments. Unlike other gaming guitar controllers, the You Rock Guitar features a full and unique multi-touch fretboard. Its use also goes beyond other guitar controllers.
From ezGear:
"The You Rock Guitar’s functionality works with more gaming and music devices than any consumer electronic device to date. 1) The You Rock Guitar can interface to Video Game systems such as the Wii™ and is capable of working with the top video games (Guitar Hero and RockBand). 2) The You Rock Guitar can work with music programs on Macintosh™ like Garage Band and any Windows™ PCs music program supporting MIDI. 3) Jam along with your favorite song on your iPod, iPhone, or any MP3 Player, or 4) rock out with a real guitar amp or mixer. And you can do all that with the on-board sounds or those from any MIDI sound source."
See more images and details at the official ezGear website. The ezGear You Rock Guitar will retail for $149.99 and be available sometime in the second or third quarter of 2009.
More features noted by ezGear:
Multi-touch fretboard - Look Mom, No strings
The You Rock Guitar has a FULL fret board like a guitar, and feels just like it, but unlike a conventional guitar, there are no fretboard strings. The You Rock’s g-stik technology includes the patent pending multi-touch fretboard and is the ONLY Music controller that can be used successfully on both video games and real music. Raised bars on the fretboard give the user the feeling of playing the guitar with strings but unlike a real guitar, the You Rock Guitar never requires tuning…ever.
Built-in Sounds & MIDI & USB
The You Rock Guitar provides a robust library of built in sounds; acoustic, electric, rock, jazz, blues, bass guitars plus ethnic, strings, rockin’ leads, synthesizer solos & comps that are truly unique and have sound characteristics unique to just the You Rock Guitar. You will have a great time plugging it in and playing anywhere, anytime.
Connectivity
Connecting to the You Rock Guitar is easy. There is the obligatory ¼” guitar plug, but the You Rock Guitar doesn’t stop there, it also includes a mini stereo plug for iPod and MP3 players. If you really want to expand the sounds, use the MIDI or USB outputs and plug into your MIDI device or computer and use any sound in the world. Plug your Wiimote into the back of the You Rock Guitar and load up Guitar Hero or Rockband and start jamming, but with a full fret board and notes and wait till you pick across six strings instead of an old toggle switch. Now lets get rockin’!
Applications
In addition to the You Rock Guitar, a Software Developer Kit (SDK) will allow a new generation of music game developers or those with existing computer and gaming applications to develop and market their games, sounds and programs.
