Rumor: DJ Hero Details Mix Up a Phat Beat, Yo

Word on the street is that Activision’s latest acquisition, Freestyle Games, is hard at work on another entry into the “Hero” games, but this one isn’t about guitars; this one’s all about being the DJ.

The title, DJ Hero, is “a music rhythm game that will let gamers scratch to the beat of popular mash-ups with a laptop turntable peripheral,” and has been in development for two years now, with an aim for a release next Summer. And even though the name of the game is DJing, the guitars of Guitar Hero may still play a role in versus mode face-offs.

As for the controller, which has seen a half-dozen revisions already…

…the device looks a lot like a simplified DJ Deck. There is a platter for scratching which will act like the strum toggle on a Guitar Hero guitar. Above the platter are three buttons for sampling. The controller also includes a cross fader and a sound effects dial which will act like the whammy bar in Guitar Hero.

Instead of flowing the musical notes down a guitar neck, DJ Hero will flow the music down and around a virtual record in a half arc. Either left top to middle bottom if you are left handed, or right top to middle bottom if you are right handed.

To play you will have to either hold a sample button and scratch, just hold a button or just scratch as the neon icons flow around the virtual vinyl.

Currently the wireless controller has grooves molded into the bottom so it will sit comfortably in a player’s lap, though the team is also looking into legs for the deck so gamers can play while standing up.

The game in its current form features all mash-ups, think Beyonce Vs Jimi Hendrix, 50 cent Vs Beastie Boys. — Kotaku

My brother-in-law used to DJ… I wonder if he’d like this.

No word on what consoles it will be available for, but Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and maybe even the Wii all seem like safe bets.