Famous bassist, Gene Simmons, from Kiss, commented on the new AXE guitar controller built for use with Guitar Hero and Rock Band for the Playstation 2 and 3.

“I never do anything half way. My AXE controller is the closest thing you can have to being onstage in KISS. I created and designed the Gene Simmons AXE™ bass guitar and I can’t wait for the fans to experience it for themselves," said Gene Simmons. “The Gene Simmons AXE guitar is such a recognizable symbol - people have been asking for a gaming replica ever since Guitar Hero was first introduced.”

Some details of the AXE controller..

This fully equipped, axe-shaped guitar controller is a replica of the KISS bassist and vocalist’s signature bass guitar. The AXE controller is personally certified by the Rock God himself, Gene Simmons, to give players that Rock Star experience. The wireless AXE guitar controller is a three-quarter-sized replica of the original Gene Simmons AXE guitar and larger than the standard video game guitar controllers. Customized with a replicated paint finish of the original guitar, the Axe guitar controller features Gene Simmons autograph and his photo in make-up painted onto the body of the controller.

Some pricing details...

The AXE video game controller brought to the market is compatible with Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games for PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system and for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. It is available now on http://www.genesimmonsaxeguitar.com retailing for $79.99.  An exclusive controller, compatible with PlayStation® 2 and 3 as well as with Nintendo®’‘s Wii™, is also available on http://www.genesimmonsaxeguitar.com, retailing also for $79.99.

An update from the development team over at Wolfire share some new details about their upcoming PC and Mac title, Overgrowth.

Wolfire News Updates (more info at: http://blog.wolfire.com/)

Wolfire Releases a new Alpha
- New sky
- Sweet terrain shadows
- Higher detail terrain
- Ambient occlusion
- More objects, including new rocks, a “Joshua tree”, and a small bush.
- Instead of a single floating cube, there is now a nice little scene Aubrey whipped up using Phillip’s editor.

Also updates with the following...

Because Overgrowth’s gameplay will occur almost entirely in outdoor settings, the Wolfire team has made terrain their recent priority.  After achieving realistic terrain coloring in the Phoenix Engine, Wolfire decided to put the same care into terrain lighting effects.  In addition to adding high-detail terrain shadows from direct sunlight (http://blog.wolfire.com/2008/11/high-detail-terrain-shadows/), the engine now also accounts for ambient lighting and occlusion (http://blog.wolfire.com/2008/11/ambient-occlusion/). Combined these effects have resulted in surprisingly realistic environments.

Check out more below...

The Wonderland Online team has announced some 3 new items for its version 3.0 of Wonderland.

Wisdom Crystal
1. Double click the Maid Robot you have purchase and a Wit Maid manufacturing window will pop up. One Maid Robot and one Wisdom Crystal are needed to make a Wit Maid.
2. Click the Wit Maid and you may be surprised to find that the Wit Maid can talk to you.
3. Function 1: Players can store or draw pets at any time.
4. Function 2: It can be used as a mobile tent which allows players to deposit and draw items freely without opening their tent.
5. Function 3: Players can order human pets to do the manufacturing instead of themselves.

Boarded Voucher
1. Go find the sailor NPCs at the beach or docks and talk with them. The quantity of the tickets will differ according to the distance.
2. For teams, the team leader can give the NPC all required tickets so that all members will travel together.
 

For more information about the items read more below or head to the games official website.

Thanks to the release of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, despite what you may think of it, Rare has released its updated console version of the Nintendo 64 classic. You can download the title for 1200 MS points.

Content: Banjo-Kazooie
Price: 1200 points
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: E (EVERYONE)] HD (High Definition). The bear and bird's first ever outing available in full. Loads of rollicking fun to be had here and with the legendary Stop N Swop feature reinstated. You’ll never look the same again at a jigsaw. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Via: Major Nelson

Trying to catch up to Rock Band, Activision has announced that it will be rocking on with more downloadable tracks for Guitar Hero: World Tour. Players can expect to see bands such as, The Eagles, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and more.

The Smashing Pumpkins Track Pack (Dec. 4th):

• "G.L.O.W."
• "1979"
• "Everlasting Gaze"

Nirvana Track Pack

(Dec. 11th):

• "You Know You're Right"
• "Negative Creep"
• "Sliver"

The Eagles Track Pack

(Dec. 18th):

• "One of These Nights"
• "Life in the Fast Lane"
• "Frail Grasp on the Big Picture" (from Long Road out of Eden)

Free Reggae Rock Track Pack

(Dec. 23rd):

• "Jimi" - Slightly Stoopid
• "Your Face" - Pepper
• "Sacrifice" - Expendables

These premium track packs will be priced at 440 Microsoft Pints ($5.49 PSN) and are not available on Wii. Individual tracks are priced at 160 MS Points ($1.99 PSN) and are available for 200 Wii points.

Source and Via Press release