Activision just announced the second iteration of DJ Hero, DJ Hero 2.  There’s a new bundle which pairs two turntable plus the addition of a microphone.  There is also a color option of white.   Expect a host of new multiplayer modes as well freestyle mode that Activision says gives “virtual DJ’s the ability to crossfade, scratch and sample in over 70 speaker-blowing mashups from the hottest DJ’s and Producers around the world”.  Finally, and as you’ve probably assumed there is now a DJ battle model which pits two DJs against one and other.  Fear not, there is a bundle that includes the game and one turntable so you don’t get stuck with 3 decks.   As of now pricing has not been announced.

To kick things off current DJ Hero owners can download a mix from DJ Hero 2 from June 8-14th on Xbox Live and the Playstation Store.  Well be at E3 next week and see if we can score a hands on.

DJ HERO® 2 TO SPIN HIT MUSIC WITH ELECTRIFYING SOCIAL EXPERIENCE THIS FALL

Two Turntables and a Microphone, Freestyle Gameplay and Host of Chart-Topping Hits From World’s Hottest Artists Highlight Sequel to #1 New Videogame IP of 2009

Soundtrack to Spin Beats From Dr. Dre, The Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Over 85 Others

Award Winning Producer Deadmau5 Joining the Crew as In-Game Playable Character

Free Download of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” Mixed With Deadmau5′s “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” Offered to Celebrate Announcement

SANTA MONICA, CA – June 8, 2010 – This fall, living rooms will transform into nightclubs letting budding beat chemists, singing sensations and all of their friends party together by firing up two turntable controllers and a microphone to experience their favorite music as they’ve never heard it before in Activision Publishing Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) DJ Hero® 2 – the follow-up to the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009, DJ Hero®. Picking up where the award-winning DJ Hero soundtrack left off, DJ Hero 2 spins together the hottest tracks blazing up the charts and legendary club anthems from the biggest artists in pop, dance and hip hop including Dr. Dre, The Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and over 85 others. Fueling the party will be a host of all-new social multiplayer game modes and innovative freestyle gameplay giving virtual DJ’s the ability to crossfade, scratch and sample in over 70 speaker-blowing mashups from the hottest DJ’s and Producers around the world, including Deadmau5 – part of dance music’s elite – who will be starring as an in-game playable character.

To celebrate the announcement, DJ Hero owners and all of their friends will have the opportunity to download, spin, scratch and battle a mix from DJ Hero 2 as downloadable content. The mix features the sultry sounds of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” Mixed With the blistering beats of Deadmau5′s “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff.” The mix will be available for free from June 8-14 on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

“DJ Hero was the best music game of 2009 and with DJ Hero 2 we’re delivering a new easy to pick-up, challenging-to-master experience that all players can enjoy together,” said David Haddad, Chief Operating Office, Guitar Hero. “With new social game modes, the inclusion of full microphone support, all-new levels of creative freedom and an amazing soundtrack, DJ Hero 2 is the ultimate mixer of music and friends.”

“We’re improving upon all the gameplay elements from DJ Hero that gamers loved with the all-new freestyle gameplay and a host of new multiplayer game modes,” said Jamie Jackson, Creative Director, FreeStyleGames. “But we’re not stopping there either as the award-winning soundtrack is getting bigger songs from hotter artists that our talented crew of DJ’s is spinning into hits that fit the gameplay flawlessly.”

DJ Hero 2 will deliver the ultimate way for players to come together and party with a host of new multiplayer modes – including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay – and invite vocalists into the spotlight with integrated on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes while bringing the party to life with jump-in/jump-out Party Play gameplay. Featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits by the hottest artists everyone knows and loves remixed by world-class DJ’s in an all-new way, the game’s soundtrack delivers over 70 unique creations only available in DJ Hero 2. Further immersing players into the music, the game offers a heightened level of creative input and allows everyone to add their own touch, directly impacting the beats they’re spinning with freestyle scratching, crossfading and sampling. The game will also feature an all-new career-based Empire Mode where players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.

Dropping this fall, DJ Hero 2 will invite a wave of new digital disc jockeys to the turntables as the game will be available as a Party Bundle which will include a copy of the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone, offering the ultimate “party-in-a-box.” Gamers who experienced the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009 can pick up DJ Hero 2 as a Turntable Bundle featuring one turntable controller and a copy of the game or as standalone software. The game is in development by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about DJ Hero 2, please visit www.djhero.com, facebook.com/djhero and twitter.com/djhero.

NOTE: You might have to select just the normal bundle from the drop down just under the platform selection.

The makers of Guitar Hero introduce an entirely fresh and innovative way to experience music and rhythm gameplay. DJ Hero 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.

The makers of Guitar Hero introduce an entirely fresh and innovative way to experience music and rhythm gameplay. DJ Hero 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.

Don’t forget Microsoft’s 40% off select games coupon: CLR-MSFT-Games-40% (expires: soon)

So it may be safe to say that DJ Hero isn’t the mega success it was envisioned to be but that hasn’t stopped Activision from not only bringing about a sequel but also perhaps a mobile rendition for the iPhone.  Word has it that port heroes Glu Mobile will be doing the translation and rumors are also persisting about versions for android, as well as the iPad.

Do you want this?

I want a remake of BurgerTime called Gyro Hero.

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Amazon has the DJ Hero Game with Turntable for a rock bottom price.  It’s $119.99 – $35.04 instant savings + free shipping = $84.95 shipped!  How this bundle got so cheap so quick is beyond me.   Either it’s selling like gang busters and Activision wants to strike while the iron is hot, or vendors have significant lead way when it comes to the advertised price – I’m going with the latter.  I don’t know how long this deal will last so I suggest you buy now and return later, that is assuming you don’t like it.

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Hard to believe, but the launch date for DJ Hero is less than 24 hours away.  Be prepared to drop some serious cash, though, since the normal version starts at $120, while the Eminiem/JayZ Renegade version will cost you $200.

IGN already knocked out a review and gave it a 9.0.  Check the video below.

Update: Order it from Amazon and use this coupon to save $10 at checkout: DJHERO10

You’ll also receive a $10 coupon good towards your next video game purchase at Amazon

With the looming release of DJ Hero this fall, becoming a virtual DJ has never so many options.  New from DJ-Tech is the DJ Mouse ($80) and it is designed to work with the company’s own Deckadance software for the Mac and PC.  The main component of the DJ Mouse is its backlit multi-function jog wheel that allows you to control the faders and make scratch moves.  The buttons on the mouse can be programmed to trigger samples and loops, set up cue points, and various other commands.  There is also a regular scroll wheel so you can use it as an everyday mouse in other applications.  Seems like a cool but pricey addition to the software, it could be the final touch to add that level of immersion you’ve been looking for.

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Pardon me while I toot my own horn, but it turns out that I was spot on when I said that the DJ Hero Renegade Edition would retail for $200.  Both Gamestop and Amazon’s pre-order pages list the price as $199.99 with a ship date of Octoboer 27th.  Two hundred bones sure is a lot of cash and for that much loot and a bit more you could probably score both Ride and DJ Hero, or DJ Hero and Modern Warfare 2.  But then again, perhaps you’re a die hard Jay Z and Eminem fan with a penchant for over spending on what ultimately will be worthless gear in 12 months time.

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At this point it’s pretty clear that Activision has plans to go big this holiday, and by big I mean hefty price tags.  First they outed the Prestige Edition of Modern Warfare 2 that will cost $150 and now they’ve got plans for a collector’s edition DJ Hero bundle that will probably (price has yet to be announced) set you back $200.

The DJ Hero Renegage Edition will include a JAY-Z and EMINEM 2-CD pack featuring unreleased tracks, a carrying case, a stand with retractable legs and a special edition turntable with premium metal controls and finish.

Based on the current Amazon page (the price is mising) it looks like the DJ Hero Renegade Edition will only be available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

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Earlier this week we got wind of a special edition Modern Warfare 2, called the Prestige Edition, and it includes a pair of night vision goggles amongst other things.  Additionally, the community manager for the game did a little unboxing on video.  At the time, though, he failed to mention the price, but we now know that it will cost a whopping $150 when the game is released on November 10th.  That sure is pricey and with a whole bunch of other games that are coming out from Activision for the same price it’s gonna be a serious coin fip and then some for parents and children with not so padded expense accounts.

[Thanks, DJ Kolos]

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DJ Hero has long alluded the general public, but in these past few weeks Activision and the creative minds of Free Style Games have been kind enough to trickle out some info.  Today, they showed off the game and controller in all its glory and I was there to catch it on video.  After seeing DJ Hero demoed in the flesh I can honestly say that the game will be a ton of fun.  My friend Ryan has played it and according to him it ain’t easy.  In fact, one of the founders of Free Style Games, whose seen playing in this video, scored less than 75% when they had their launch party at the Wiltern.  The official launch date of DJ Hero is October 27th and it will cost $119.99.  You can preorder it from Amazon now.

[Thanks, Ryan for the E3 passes]

I’ve been searching high and low for some DJ Hero in action.  Now, I’ve finally found it.  In the video below you’ll see the people from Free Style Games in a multiplayer mode that pits a DJ against a guitarist – yes, you can use your Guitar Hero guitar in DJ hero.  It’s a bit difficult to workout just what the DJ player has to do, but you’ll get the general idea.

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Who saw this coming?  While Guitar Hero has the Metallica, Van Halen and Beatles expansion packs and games, it’s only fitting for DJ Hero to take the same approach.  Today’s news tells us that a special edition DJ Hero will feature the greatest hits from Eminem and Jay-Z and will be bundled with a “special” controller, a DJ stand, and a metal carrying case.  What a tool you will be!  I’m guessing this bundle will be expensive but there will be those who drop the loot.  No details other than that but I’m sure E-Thrizzle will shine more light on this next week.  Bring the Ja Rule bundle!  Murrrda!

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In and out of the courtroom, the race to the DJ simulation game is going to be a hectic battle.  The above pic of the “ScratchDeck” looks quite different than the DJ Hero controller and was designed by longtime industry stalwarts Numark.  No word yet on pricing or exact release but it should be close to whenever the related Activision title hits the streets.  Big hollering.  Go small guy!

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By now we’re all starved for DJ Hero information.  Pics of the device associated with the game surfaced earlier this month, but we now know that didn’t show off the complete package thanks to a promo video for GameTrailer TV’s upcoming ‘first look’ at E3 set to air this Thursday.  Sure these pics don’t indicate much more than what we already knew, but at least we’ve got a closer look at the fader control and since the show is just 3 days away I think we can all hold our breaths that long, right?

PS I’m assuming the dudes to her left and right work for Activision.

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