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Proto:Guitar Hero II (PlayStation 2)/Late 2006 Retail Demo/Text Differences

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This is a sub-page of Proto:Guitar Hero II (PlayStation 2)/Late 2006 Retail Demo.

As to be expected from an unfinished game, the localization files for the retail demo contain a slew of early text for features not yet implemented in-game, or placeholder text that would get prettied up later.

UI Text

Splash Screen

Prototype Final
(splash_anybutton "PRESS ANY BUTTON TO BEGIN")
(splash_hmxcode "Game engine code ©2006 Harmonix
Music Systems, Inc.")
(splash_redoctane "©2006 RedOctane Inc.  ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED")
(splash_hmxpatent "Developed by Harmonix Music
Systems. Protected by US Patent number 6,429,863.")
(splash_ro_trademark "RedOctane® is a registered
trademark of RedOctane, Inc.")
(splash_gh_trademark "Guitar Hero (TM) is a
trademark of RedOctane, Inc.")
(splash_anybutton "PRESS ANY BUTTON TO BEGIN")
(splash_legal "Guitar Hero II TM & © 2006 RedOctane,
Inc. RedOctane® is a registered trademark of RedOctane,
Inc. and Activision is a registered trademark of
Activision Publishing, Inc.
Game code © 2005-2006 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.
Developed by Harmonix Music Systems.")

The legal text on the splash screen has been wrapped up into one string in the final.

Bonus Videos

Prototype
(BUY_BONUS "buy these at the music store")
(video1 "Making of: SONGS")
(video2 "Making of: CHARACTERS")
(video3 "Making of: VENUES")
(video1_shop_desc "Check out an exclusive behind the
scenes video of the recording of the Guitar Hero songs. 
Think the solo for \qBark at the Moon\q is hard? 
Wait till you see someone rip it in real life.")
(video2_shop_desc "Art Director, Ryan Lesser and
Character Modeler, Matt Gilpin, give you a sneak peak
at the creation of all the guitar hero characters. 
Make sure you check out the bloopers at the end.")
(video3_shop_desc "Lead Designer, Rob Kay, Art
Director, Ryan Lesser, and Venue Artist, Matt Moore,
walk you through our venue creation process.")
Final
(BUY_BONUS "buy these at The Store")
(video1 "Gibson USA: A Tour")
(video2 "Guitar Hero II: Making of Songs")
(video3 "Guitar Hero II: Behind the Scenes")
(video1_shop_desc "Ever dreamed of taking an all-access
tour of the Gibson USA factory? This is your chance.")
(video2_shop_desc "Check out an exclusive behind-the-scenes
video of the recording of the Guitar Hero II songs.")
(video3_shop_desc "The Guitar Hero II development team
takes you backstage to see what life is REALLY like at
Harmonix.")

The new videos haven't been implemented yet. (A Gibson factory tour was planned to be one of the videos in the final, but was cut.)

Section Names

Section names are very different than the final. Fewer of them exist (139 section name strings versus the final's 216), and many of them are less congruous, where two or more strings are used for equivalent parts in different songs. As an example, four different strings, intro_main_riffs, intro_riff, guitar_melody_intro, and intro_gtr exist, all for roughly the same purpose (guitar-only intros), while the final game only has intro_riff and intro sections based on other instruments (bass_intro, noise_intro, etc).

High Scores

Prototype Final
(highscore_dummy_0 "Kendall")
(highscore_dummy_1 "Marc")
(highscore_dummy_2 "Kris")
(highscore_dummy_3 "Sinc")
(highscore_dummy_4 "Keith")
(highscore_dummy_0 "Reiko")
(highscore_dummy_1 "Devon")
(highscore_dummy_2 "Gayle")
(highscore_dummy_3 "Matt")
(highscore_dummy_4 "Kelly")

The high score table uses the names of Harmonix employees in the demo.

Song Completion Text

Many more verbs and adjectives exist for the Mad Libs-style headlines after completing each song in the final version.

Although no cash awarded screen exists after completing a song in the demo, text for the screen still exists in the files.

Cash award blurbs
Prototype
(award_3_star "Congratulations on the show and 3
star review. Here's your cut. Don't forget our agreement -
great reviews earn you more cash.")
(award_4_star "Congratulations on the impressive show and
4 star review! Here's your cut. Pull out a 5 star
performance for more dollars.")
(award_5_star "Congratulations on the killer show, amazing
write-up, and perfect review score! Here's your cut.")
(award_3_star_status "Congratulations on the 3 star review!
Enclosed is your cut of the new agreement.")
(award_4_star_status "Congratulations on the 4 star review!
Enclosed is your cut of the new agreement.")
(award_5_star_status "Congratulations on a killer 5 star show!
Enclosed is your cut of the new agreement.")
Final
(award_3_star "Nice 3-star review. Here's your cut.
Remember - better show, better pay.")
(award_4_star "Sweet 4-star review. Here's your cut. Good
job out there.")
(award_5_star "Killer 5-star review. Here's your cut. Go
buy yourself somethin' pretty.")
(award_3_star_status "Nice 3-star review. Here's your cut.
Remember - better show, better pay.")
(award_4_star_status "Sweet 4-star review. Here's your cut.
Good job out there.")
(award_5_star_status "Killer 5-star review. Here's your cut.
Go buy yourself somethin' pretty.")
Cash deduction text
Prototype Final
(ca_blurb2 "deduction1")
(ca_blurb3 "deduction2")
(ca_blurb4 "deduction3")
(ca_blurb5 "deduction4")
(ca_blurb6 "deduction5")
(ca_blurb7 "deduction6")
(ca_blurb2 "Amps, damaged")
(ca_blurb3 "Green room, trashed")
(ca_blurb4 "Staff, verbally abused")
(ca_blurb5 "Cables, missing")
(ca_blurb6 "Bribes, general")
(ca_blurb7 "Rider demands, crazy")
(ca_blurb8 "Bouncers, intimidated")
(ca_blurb9 "Wall art, stolen")
(ca_blurb10 "Floor, spat upon")
(ca_blurb11 "House mics, dented")
(ca_blurb12 "Security, needed")
(ca_blurb13 "Bar stools, wielded")
(ca_blurb14 "Patrons, frightened")
(ca_blurb15 "Cars, set fire to")
(ca_blurb16 "Can lights, stomped")
(ca_blurb17 "Mic stand, thrown")
(ca_blurb18 "Top shelf, imbibed")
(ca_blurb19 "House drums, impaled")
(ca_blurb20 "Riots, incited")
(ca_blurb21 "Windows, smashed")
(ca_blurb22 "Property, vandalized")
(ca_blurb23 "Fights, initiated")
(ca_blurb24 "Clean-up, massive")
(ca_blurb25 "Noise violations, paid")
(ca_blurb26 "Pizzas, ordered")
(ca_blurb27 "Sound guy, injured")

Deductions use placeholder text. Despite this, strings for "stats" exist which reference events similar to the final's deductions:

(stat_faces_melted "Faces melted")
(stat_bottles_thrown "Bottles thrown")
(stat_roadies_lost "Roadies lost")
(stat_guitars_broken "Guitars broken")
(stat_speakers_blown "Speakers blown")
(stat_cds_sold "CD's sold")
(stat_bootlegs_made "Bootlegs made")
(stat_cars_stickered "Cars stickered")
(stat_hotels_trashed "Hotels trashed")
(stat_sound_guys_blamed "Sound guys blamed")
(stat_strings_snapped "Strings snapped")
(stat_noise_complaints "Noise complaints")
(stat_laws_broken "Laws broken")
(stat_drinks_spilled "Drinks spilled")
(stat_reviewers_floored "Reviewers floored")
(stat_scouts_impressed "Scouts impressed")

Since the stat_ prefix is used for newspaper strings in the final, this suggests deductions might've once gone on the newspaper instead of a separate screen.

Encore Text

Prototype
(endgame_encore_title1 "GIVE YOUR AUDIENCE AN")
(endgame_encore_title2 "ENCORE?")
(endgame_encore_letter1 "Good job with
the %d points and the %d star review.  ")
(endgame_encore_letter2 "You'll find $%d in
small bills in your dressing room.")
(endgame_encore_letter3 "The groupies won't be
here for another 20 minutes.  Why don't you
finish off this venue by giving the crowd an
encore, then we'll move on?")
Final
(endgame_encore_title1 "GIVE YOUR AUDIENCE AN")
(endgame_encore_title2 "ENCORE?")
(endgame_encore_score "%d points")
(endgame_encore_review "%d stars")
(endgame_encore_money "$%d earned")
(endgame_encore_letter3 "The crowd is goin' nuts,
you'd better play an encore. Think you can buck up
and give it all you've got with one more?")
(endgame_encore_letter4 "Man, they're lovin' you!
Do your fans a favor and go back out there. You got
enough energy for one more?")
(endgame_encore_letter5 "They're really chanting out
there! They're demanding one more. Can you pull it
together for a big finish?")
(endgame_encore_letter6 "The audience is flippin' out!
Come on, chief, give 'em what they want! You got time
for one more?")

Only one string of encore text exists in the demo, while the game randomly selects between four in the final.

Status Text

(status_rocker_week "ROCKERS OF THE WEEK: %s")
(status_young_gun_interview "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH %s")
(status_shredder_changing "%s are changing the face of live rock")
(status_pro_goes "%s GOES PRO!")
(status_pro_piece "\q%s is on a path to greatness... and we want a piece of that.\q")
(status_guitarhero_crash "%s to crash the Garden")
(status_god_depart "Departs %s citing musical differences")
(status_god_drummer "%s Drummer")

Leftover status text from the first Guitar Hero, which used fake magazine covers between song tiers. None of the sponsorship text exists in the demo.

"Free Bird" Encore Text

Prototype Final
(endgame_encore_freebird1 "Well, they're
calling for Freebird.  A tour that doesn't
involve Freebird at least once isn't really
complete.")
(freebird_title "Really play Freebird?")
(freebird_again_title "Are you sure?")
(freebird_last_title "Are you really sure?")
(endgame_encore_freebird1 "Looks like
the time has come. They're chanting for Free
Bird. You knew it would happen one day. You
wanna do this?")
(freebird_confirm1 "Wait, you really want to
play Free Bird?")
(freebird_confirm2 "This move can only be
pulled off by a TRUE hero! 
You still game?")
(freebird_confirm3 "Okay, last chance... 
You really want to play Free Bird?")

Career Completion Text

The blurbs that appears on the screen after completing "Free Bird" on each respective difficulty are all unfinished.

Easy career completion text
Prototype Final
(win_easy "Dear ______________________,

Congrats on beating Guitar Hero II on Easy.
Time to step it up a notch, Ace. Play on MEDIUM,
HARD, or EXPERT, and you can get cash awards.
You'll be able to buy new guitars, new songs,
new skins... whatever your little rock star heart
desires. Okay, not anything, that rider debacle
cost us a boatload - YOU know what we're talking
about. Where were the promoters supposed to find
THAT in the middle of Idaho? Anyway, play MEDIUM,
you get a new venue, new modes, and plenty of
stuff to unlock. Welcome to the big time, kiddo.
Just keep sellin' out gigs and we’ll keep sucking up
to you. Seriously, you're totally good or whatever.

Kisses,
The Management")
(win_easy "Dear ______________________,

Congrats on beating Guitar Hero II on Easy.
Time to step it up a notch, Ace.

You want cash awards? Play on MEDIUM, HARD, or
EXPERT. You'll be able to buy new guitars, new
songs, new finishes... whatever your little rock
star heart desires. Who knows, maybe we'll even
throw a new mode atcha'!

Welcome to the big time, kiddo.

Kisses,
The Management")

Only the Easy text is finished in the demo. The line about "keep sellin' out gigs and we'll keep sucking up to you" was reused for Medium's text.

Medium career completion text
Prototype Final
(win_medium "Dear ______________________,

Congrats, you beat medium.")
(win_medium "Dear ______________________,

Congrats, you beat Guitar Hero II on Medium.
Nicely done.

So you probably know that you can score more cash
and buy more stuff if you play HARD or EXPERT,
right? Buying stuff is good. Buying stuff makes
people like you.

So let's take it up a level, shall we? Just keep
sellin' out gigs and we'll keep sucking up to you.

Smooches,
The Management")
Hard career completion text
Prototype Final
(win_hard "Dear ______________________,

Congrats, you beat hard.")
(win_hard "Dear ______________________,

Congrats, you beat Guitar Hero II on Hard.
That's no small feat.

Think you've got what it takes to really blow
their minds? Try this bad boy out on EXPERT. They
call it EXPERT for a reason. There may be a reward
waiting for you if you succeed.

So stretch out them stubby little fingers, Tex,
you've got truckload of pain awaiting you. The
power of ROCK compels you.

Hugs,
The Management")
Expect career completion text
Prototype Final
(win_expert "Dear ______________________,

Congrats, you beat expert.")
(win_expert "Dear ______________________,

Wow... You just beat Guitar Hero II on EXPERT.

You've joined the ranks of... well... not very
many people. You're kinda out there all alone,
a legend among the common folk.

Have you beaten every song with FIVE STARS?
If not, get back to work, champ. You might just
be rewarded for your efforts.

And, uh, seriously? That was awesome.
Congratulations.

Love,
The Management")

Although no equivalent string exists in both the demo and final, the string named award_god seems to serve a similar function to the final sponsorship blurb: (award_god "Congratulations for dominating every song and becoming a true guitar god! That was an astonishing performance. Please accept this final cash award... and go nuts!")

Additionally, some text in the demo suggests additional money was to be doled out based on career-wide performance, such as the amount of points the player had earned overall.

(CASH_AWARD_BLURB1 "Spend cash on bonus guitars, characters, songs and more at the Music Shop")
(CASH_AWARD_BLURB2 "Cash Bonuses awarded for:")
(CASH_AWARD_BLURB3 "Career Status Upgrades")
(CASH_AWARD_BLURB4 "5 Star Review Ratings")
(CASH_AWARD_BLURB5 "Each 1 Million Career Points")

Pro Face-Off Unlock Text

Prototype
(unlock_profaceoff1 "Dear ____________________,")
(unlock_profaceoff2 "CONGRATULATIONS")
(unlock_profaceoff3 "You have unlocked PRO FACE-OFF mode!")
(unlock_profaceoff4 "You know how whenever you play FACE-OFF
mode, your buddy screams about how you got the easier track
and less notes and blah blah, out comes the waaahmbulance?
No more, my shredding friend.

Check out PRO FACE-OFF mode in the Multiplayer menu and go
note-for-note in the ultimate guitarmageddon. There's even
extra stats info to shut that whiny friend of yours up once
and for all.

Why are you two even friends? Just hire an entourage, dude.

Smooches,
The Management")
Final
(unlock_profaceoff1 "Dear ____________________,")
(unlock_profaceoff2 "CONGRATULATIONS")
(unlock_profaceoff3 "You have unlocked PRO FACE-OFF Mode!")
(unlock_profaceoff4 "You know how whenever you play FACE-OFF
Mode, your buddy screams about how you got the easier track
and less notes and blah blah, out comes the waaahmbulance?
No more, my shredding friend.

Check out PRO FACE-OFF Mode in the Multiplayer menu and go
note-for-note in the ultimate guitarmageddon.

Have fun,
The Management")

The final's text is shorter and less mocking in tone.

Song Text

Tiers

Prototype Final
(song_header_battle "1. Opening Licks")
(song_header_small1 "2. Amp-Warmers")
(song_header_small2 "3. Axe-Grinders")
(song_header_big "4. Thrash and Burn")
(song_header_theatre "5. Return of the Shred")
(song_header_fest "6. Fret-Burners")
(song_header_arena "7. Face-Melters")
(song_header_stone "8. Monster Spawns")
(song_header_battle "1. Opening Licks")
(song_header_small1 "2. Amp-Warmers")
(song_header_small2 "3. String Snappers")
(song_header_big "4. Thrash and Burn")
(song_header_theatre "5. Return of the Shred")
(song_header_fest "6. Relentless Riffs")
(song_header_arena "7. Furious Fretwork")
(song_header_stone "8. Face-Melters")

The names of the tiers have been shifted around, and some of the new Guitar Hero II tier names hadn't yet been introduced. Tier 8 is called "Monster Spawns", a name that does not appear in the final game, and Tier 7 gets the title of "Face-Melters" instead.

Character Text

Select Screen Biographies

Each character has two identical blurbs, one for each of their outfits. Only one displays on the character select screen. In the final, each character only gets the one biography that's actually shown.

Clive Winston
Prototype Final
(classic_blurb "Having abandoned his fascination with the sitar, an interest developed during a 3-year, court-ordered \qmeditation retreat,\q Winston sashays boldly back to the forefront of classic rock with his guitar wizardry and iconic status.") (classic_blurb "Having abandoned his fascination with the sitar (an interest developed during a court-ordered \qmeditation retreat\q), Clive returns to the forefront of classic rock with his guitar wizardry and iconic status.")
Lars Ümlaüt
Prototype Final
(deathmetal1_blurb "Lock the doors and board the windows, Lars Umlaut is soon to storm a town near you. An intimidating presence, the Norwegian-born Umlaut describes himself as \qa force for you to be doing the reckoning with!\q") (deathmetal_blurb "Lock the doors and board the windows, Lars Ümlaüt is coming for you! An intimidating presence, the Norwegian-born Ümlaüt describes himself as \qa force for you to be doing the reckoning with!\q")

Edited to sound snappier. Lars' name has the titular umlauts in the final, but not the demo.

Grim Ripper
Prototype Final
(grim_blurb "This rock star is bad to the bone. Grim's riffs are so huge, fans are lucky just to leave the show with their souls intact. At his latest killer performance, an awe-struck fan gushed, \qThe curtains flew, then he appeared!\q") (grim_blurb "This rock star is bad to the bone. Grim's riffs are so killer, fans are lucky just to leave the show with their souls intact. Grim's supernatural licks always knock 'em dead. 'Cause he's... you know... right.")

The demo text features a reference to the 1976 Blue Öyster Cult song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" that was cut from the final, along with some minor wording changes.

Casey Lynch
Prototype Final
(rock1_blurb "A veteran of the tour circuit, Rocker's dirty, bass-driven sound and ultra-heavy riffs have influenced budding shredders from Maine to Alaska. She's tough, she's brash, and she'll break your heart faster than an A string.") (rock_blurb "A veteran of the tour circuit, Casey's dirty, low-end growl and ultra-heavy riffs have influenced budding shredders from Maine to Alaska. She's tough, she's brash, and she'll break your heart faster than an E string.")

Casey Lynch had not been named yet at the time of the demo's release, and she's referred to as "Rocker" here, a reference to her internal name as the modern rock guitarist in the game. The guitar string mentioned was also changed from the A string to an E string.

Eddie Knox
Prototype Final
(rockabill2_blurb "When he's not cruisin' in his '55 Chevy, Dax brings his hard-working rock to any stage he sets foot on. A real \qroad dog,\q Deville claims that as long as he's got his hollow body and his pomade, he \qain't too far from home.\q") (rockabill_blurb "When he's not cruisin' in his '55 Chevy, Eddie brings his hard-working rock to any stage he sets foot on. A real \qroad dog,\q Eddie Knox claims that as long as he's got his hollow body and his pomade, he \qain't too far from home.\q")

Eddie's are the only example of the blurbs differing. While his name had been finalized by the time of the demo's release, the second blurb still refers to him as Dax Deville. This was to be his name after it was changed from King Kendall in the OPM demo, as seen in magazines at the time.

Character Select Outfit Names

Prototype Final
(alterna1_outfit "ALT1")
(alterna2_outfit "ALT2")
(deathmetal1_outfit "DETH1")
(deathmetal2_outfit "DETH2")
(goth1_outfit "SILVER WINGS")
(goth2_outfit "LONG JACKET")
(glam1_outfit "GLAM1")
(glam2_outfit "GLAM2")
(metal1_outfit "METAL1")
(metal2_outfit "METAL2")
(punk1_outfit "PUNK1")
(punk2_outfit "PUNK2")
(rock1_outfit "ROCK1")
(rock2_outfit "ROCK2")
(rockabill1_outfit "ROCKABILL1")
(rockabill2_outfit "ROCKABILL2")
(alterna1_outfit "SKULLS")
(alterna2_outfit "SNAKES")
(deathmetal1_outfit "GAUNTLETS")
(deathmetal2_outfit "GARGOYLES")
(goth2_outfit "LEATHERS")
(goth1_outfit "FEATHERS")
(glam1_outfit "CODPIECE")
(glam2_outfit "TOP HAT")
(metal1_outfit "SHIRT")
(metal2_outfit "OTHER SHIRT")
(punk1_outfit "MOHAWK")
(punk2_outfit "LIBERTY SPIKES")
(rock1_outfit "SKINS")
(rock2_outfit "SHIRTS")
(rockabill1_outfit "RENO")
(rockabill2_outfit "VEGAS")

The shorthand names for both the default and alternate outfits are nonexistent in the demo, with the exception of Pandora's, who gets the name "Silver Wings" for what would be her Feathers outfit and "Long Jacket" for her Leathers outfit.

Store Text

The store, despite not being accessible in the demo, has a ton of text pertaining to it. Much of it would be changed for the final release. Some, like the alternate character outfits, reveal earlier concepts for what would later appear in the final game.

Guitars and finishes either use final text or placeholder text and are too numerous to list here.

Unlockable Guitar Text

Prototype
(usa_reward_shop_desc "USA Reward Shop Description")
(coffin_reward_shop_desc "Coffin Reward Shop Description")
(fish_reward_shop_desc "Fish Reward Shop Description")
(snaketapus_reward_shop_desc "Snaketapus Reward Shop Description")
(viking_reward_shop_desc "Viking Reward Shop Description")
(eyeball_reward_shop_desc "Eyeball Reward Shop Description")
(battleaxe_reward_shop_desc "Battle Axe Reward Shop Description")
(log_reward_shop_desc "Log Reward Shop Description")
Final
(fish_reward_shop_desc "This is a highly practical and
efficient guitar design.  Because it looks like a fish.")
(viking_reward_shop_desc "The Vikings were a Nordic seafaring
people noted for their violent raids along the coasts of France
and the British Isles in the 8th through 11th Centuries. All of
this history culminates in a guitar shaped like a viking with a
sword in his head.")
(usa_reward_shop_desc "Sometimes people think that it'd be a good
idea to make guitars in funny shapes.  Sometimes people mistakenly
drink a tall glass of apple vinegar thinking that it's apple juice.
Things happen like that.")
(snaketapus_reward_shop_desc "\qWhat's a 'snaketapus'?\q you ask?
Well, it's a skull with snakes coming out of it and it's... um...
a guitar.")
(coffin_reward_shop_desc "Coffins are kinda cool in a creepy,
Misfits way.  Guitars are cool.  You'd think this could work.")
(eyeball_reward_shop_desc "Once a guy said to me, \qThank goodness
nobody's ever made a 'wacky' guitar designed to look like an
eyeball.\q  Somewhere, that man is crying now.")
(battleaxe_reward_shop_desc "It's likely a guy in Manowar actually
plays a guitar like this, so I guess that's something.")
(log_reward_shop_desc "Les Paul's first solidbody guitar, built in
1941, was called \qThe Log,\q due to its impractical weight and
crude construction. This guitar, on the other hand, is an actual
log.")

None of the reward guitars exist in the demo, but placeholder text for them is present.

Song Descriptions

16 of the 24 bonus tracks appear at least in the store text. As many of the bands who contributed bonus tracks in Guitar Hero returned for Guitar Hero II, many of these still use equivalent Guitar Hero text. One Guitar Hero song, "Farewell Myth" by Made in Mexico, is still listed by name.

"Arterial Black" by Drist
Prototype (arterialblack_shop_desc "Temp: Based in California, Drist annihilates the stage with a whirlwind force that resonates in the heart and ears long after they've stopped playing.")
Final (arterialblack_shop_desc "Drist returns to offer a double-dose of flying fretwork with Arterial Black.")

Uses the store text for "Decontrol".

"Collide" by Anarchy Club
Prototype (collide_shop_desc "Temp: Anarchy Club don't want much- just world domination, superpowers, a fleet of classic U.S. muscle cars, and your firstborn. Beware . . . their Kung Fu is good, and their aim is true . . . ")
Final (collide_shop_desc "Anarchy Club returns to Guitar Hero with \qCollide,\q the newest song from their upcoming E.P. - \qA Single Drop of Red.\q Wanna know what a love song for the apocalypse sounds like? Like this...")

Uses the store text for "Behind the Mask".

"Elephant Bones" by That Handsome Devil
Prototype (elephantbones_shop_desc "Inflatable mattress, afloat in scattered paper, paddling pens past distractions, stranded on my island screaming at passers by, so far away it sounds like music... gOdFoRbId... That Handsome Devil.")
Final (elephantbones_shop_desc "That Handsome Devil: Born of chemicals and lightning spark, just in time to kick the world's teeth in.")

This description is totally unique to the demo. (gOdFoRbId is the lead singer of That Handsome Devil.)

"FTK" by VAGIANT
Prototype (ftk_shop_desc "Boston-based VAGIANT plays loud, fast, and sloppy. If they weren’t so busy starting fights and smashing things, these girls would probably take over the world.")
Final (ftk_shop_desc "VAGIANT is composed of 3 HMX miscreants (Elena, The Hellion, and Leeanne) and one scrappy drummer (LoWreck). When not writing heavily edited anthems like this one, they spend their free time hating stuff.")

This text and the loading text were switched in the final.

"Jordan" by Buckethead
Prototype (jordan_shop_desc "Temp")
Final (jordan_shop_desc "Buckethead wrote and recorded \qJordan\q specifically for Guitar Hero II (in a special chicken coop, no less!)")
"Laughtrack" by the Acro-Brats
Prototype (laughtrack_shop_desc "The Acrobrats are hands-down the best rock band in their practice space.")
Final (laughtrack_shop_desc "In a bid to force listeners to look beyond the boy-band cuteness and stylish haircuts that first made them household names, Boston's The Acro-brats haven't shaved or showered since 2005.")

This text and the loading text were switched in the final.

"Less Talk More Rokk" by Freezepop
Prototype (lesstalkmorerokk_shop_desc "Temp: For those who are about to get ready 2 rokk, we salute thee! Freezepop has never rokked so little until this very moment, so unleash our metal experience with gusto unlike this mortal world has ever seen!")
Final (lesstalkmorerokk_shop_desc "Stop talking, start rokking! Freezepop is back with fuzzy keytars and keys to the Eliminator which we scored cheap from the Top.")

Uses the store text for "Get Ready 2 Rokk".

"One For the Road" by Breaking Wheel
Prototype (onefortheroad_shop_desc "Artillery is a Boston trio that disregards any boundaries in the metal genre. If it’s heavy, they’ll play it.")
Final (onefortheroad_shop_desc "Breaking Wheel (formerly called Artillery) is a Boston trio that disregards any boundaries in the metal genre. If it's heavy, they'll play it.")

The text is final, but the band had changed their name to Breaking Wheel after the release of the demo because of another band named Artillery.

"Parasite" by The Neighborhoods
Prototype (parasite_shop_desc "Temp")
Final (parasite_shop_desc "Boston legends The Neighborhoods helped to pioneer the sound of the hooky garage-rock that still dominates the local music scene today.")
"Raw Dog" by The Last Vegas
Prototype (rawdog_shop_desc "Temp")
Final (rawdog_shop_desc "Full throttle rock that never slows up. A great mix of rock, garage and post-punk kicks. Contest winners The Last Vegas have got what it takes - America will never know what hit 'em. Grab the new album \qSEAL THE DEAL.\q")
"Red Lottery" by Megasus
Prototype (redlottery_shop_desc "Temp")
Final (redlottery_shop_desc "Like a wild power, burning the ice black beneath its hooves of steel, the MEGASUS bears tales of woe upon its furrowed brow.")
"Soy Bomb" by Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives
Prototype (soybomb_desc "Temp: Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives have been serving up mouthwatering musical delights since the dawn of history. From the crunchy rock exterior to the creamy pop center, it's all good.")
Final (soybomb_shop_desc "Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives surf their way into the sequel on a wave of jubilation.")

Uses the store text for "Hey".

"The Light That Blinds" by Shadows Fall
Prototype (thelighthtatblinds_shop_desc "Temp")
Final (thelightthatblinds_shop_desc "With 5 albums under their belt, a Grammy nomination and main stage spot on the Ozzfest, international metal heroes Shadows Fall show no signs of stopping.")
"Trogdor" by Strong Bad
Prototype (trogdor_shop_desc "Temp")
Final (trogdor_shop_desc "The Trogdor song from the Strong Bad Email 'dragon' was actually an afterthought that was added at the last minute. Mike was finishing up the cartoon and Matt suddenly started screaming the chorus while making eggs.")
"Yes We Can" by Made in Mexico
Prototype (farewellmyth_shop_desc "Temp: Made In Mexico is from Providence, Rhode Island, home to H.P. Lovecraft's body. CD and gatefold LP available on Skin Graft Records, 2005.")
Final (yeswecan_shop_desc "Made In Mexico was made in Providence, Rhode Island while eating stuffies off a Red. The smallest state in the nation actually has over 4000 miles of ocean coastline, and all Rhode Islanders live within a 12 minute drive of the Atlantic.")

Not just the text for "Farewell Myth", but the string name too!

Shop Outfit Names

Prototype Final
(alterna1 "Judy Nails")
(alterna2 "Skapunked Judy")
(classic "Clive Winston")
(deathmetal1 "Lars Umlaut")
(deathmetal2 "Lars's Gwargoyles")
(funk1 "Xavier Stone")
(glam1 "Izzy Sparks")
(glam2 "Izzy Glamed Out")
(goth1 "Goth Rock Pandora")
(goth2 "Pandora")
(grim "Grim Ripper")
(metal1 "Axel Steel")
(metal2 "Americana Axel")
(punk1 "Johnny Napalm")
(punk2 "Johnny in a Suit")
(rock1 "Gina Hazard")
(rock2 "Brynn Hazard")
(rockabill1 "Eddie Knox")
(rockabill2 "Classic Deville")
(alterna "Judy Nails")
(alterna2 "Judy Nails")
(classic "Clive Winston")
(deathmetal "Lars Ümlaüt")
(deathmetal2 "Lars Ümlaüt")
(funk1 "Xavier Stone")
(glam "Izzy Sparks")
(glam2 "Izzy Sparks")
(goth "Pandora")
(goth1 "Pandora")
(grim "Grim Ripper")
(metal "Axel Steel")
(metal2 "Axel Steel")
(punk "Johnny Napalm")
(punk2 "Johnny Napalm")
(rock "Casey Lynch")
(rock1 "Casey Lynch")
(rockabill "Eddie Knox")
(rockabill2 "Eddie Knox")

These strings refer to the store text for the name of each outfit. Evidently, outfits were to have different names in the store, but in the final game, the character's name displays instead. Few of these match up to the final alternate outfits, suggesting they were early concepts for outfits that didn't appear in the final game.

Most notably, Eddie is still referred to as Dax Deville in his alternate outfit name, and two early names for Casey Lynch, "Gina Hazard" and "Brynn Hazard", appear for her outfit names.

Alternate Outfits

Lars Ümlaüt's Gargoyles
Prototype (deathmetal2_shop_desc "The Norse shredding master keeps this in the back of his closet for when he really needs to command an audience.")
Final (deathmetal2_shop_desc "Asked about his gauntlets-to-gargoyles style, Lars responds, \qLARS HAS A REPUTATION OF STRENGTH OF WHICH HE NEEDS TO BE DOING THE UPHOLDING!\q")
Pandora's Feathers
Prototype (goth1_shop_desc "Feathers and facepaint? Only Pandora could pull that off.")
Final (goth1_shop_desc "The consummate chameleon, Pandora is admired almost as much for her unique and ever-changing personal style as for her incomparable shredding skills.")

Something curious is that both the demo and the final game refer to this as the shop blurb for goth1, which normally refers to a character's default outfit. Clearly, Pandora's alternate outfit was meant to be her main at some point, but the two were switched.

Izzy Sparks' Top Hat
Prototype (glam2_shop_desc "Glam2 outfit description")
Final (glam2_shop_desc "Not everybody can pull off a top hat and feather boa. Izzy is not afraid to subvert the dominant paradigm in this ultra-glam ensemble.")
Axel Steel's Other Shirt
Prototype (metal2_shop_desc "Having spent most of his life stuck in one place or another, Axel loves nothing more than to hit the open road. Some people hate to tour. Axel lives for it.")
Final (metal2_shop_desc "Since they don't make you play better and you can't drink 'em, Axel has zero interest in clothes. But even Axel needs a change once in awhile.")
Casey Lynch's Skins
Prototype (rock2_shop_desc "Nobody messes with Rock-Chick 2.")
Final (rock1_shop_desc "Casey's look is designed for backbreaking life on the road; if she can't pass out in the van wearing it, she's not interested.")

Like Pandora, Casey's alternate and default outfits got switched, hence the numbering differences.

Eddie Knox's Vegas
Prototype (rockabill2_shop_desc "Dax Deville2 outfit description")
Final (rockabill2_shop_desc "Eddie Knox is one cat who ain't afraid to look his best. As long as his hair is in place, he's as comfortable in old jeans as he is in these swanky duds.")

Again, Eddie's original name of "Dax Deville" is present.

Johnny Napalm's Liberty Spikes
Prototype (punk2_shop_desc "Punk2 outfit description")
Final (punk2_shop_desc "Johnny has a couple of different looks, but neither of them involves bathing. With liberty spikes and a bullet belt, Johnny makes sordid, degenerate behavior look pretty good.")

Unlockable Characters

All of the final blurbs are identical to the ones that appear on the character select screen.

Clive Winston
Prototype (classic_shop_desc "You may have thought he was gone, but Clive was just waiting for the right time to make his comeback.")
Final (classic_shop_desc "Having abandoned his fascination with the sitar (an interest developed during a court-ordered \qmeditation retreat\q), Clive returns to the forefront of classic rock with his guitar wizardry and iconic status.")
Xavier Stone
Prototype (funk1_shop_desc "Xavier's brand of funk guitar never goes out of style.")
Final (funk1_shop_desc "Raised in suburban Connecticut, Xavier Stone broke from his pampered upbringing after realizing he preferred rock clubs to country clubs. Weaving slick '70s style with chunky grooves, Xavier does it right every time.")
Grim Ripper
Prototype
(grim_shop_desc "Do not fear the Ripper.

Think you have what it takes to keep up with Grim's otherworldly technique?")
Final (grim_shop_desc "This rock star is bad to the bone. Grim's riffs are so killer, fans are lucky just to leave the show with their souls intact. Grim's supernatural licks always knock 'em dead. 'Cause he's... you know... right.")

This was Grim's store text in the first Guitar Hero.

Loading Text

No Easy-specific tips, "Free Bird" specific tips, or encore tips exist in the demo.

Bonus Track Loading Text

The sixteen songs that appear in the store's strings also have at least placeholder loading text, despite only "Arterial Black", "Collide", and "Trogdor" appearing in-game. Again, "Farewell Myth" from the first game still appears by name.

"Arterial Black" by Drist
Prototype (loading_tip_arterialblack "Temp: Marcus Henderson, guitarist for Drist, pulls out the solos for a bunch of Guitar Hero songs, including \qBark at the Moon\q and \qGodzilla.\q")
Final (loading_tip_arterialblack "Guitarist Marcus Henderson contributed another tune for Guitar Hero II before splitting Drist to play lead guitar for the Grim Ripper.")

Uses the loading text for "Decontrol".

"Collide" by Anarchy Club
Prototype (loading_tip_collide "Temp: A member of the Harmonix QA staff, former C60 frontman Keith Smith, belts out the vocals for Behind the Mask.")
Final (loading_tip_collide "When Anarchy Club isn't breaking things or fighting rival Kung Fu gangs, frontman Keith Smith smashes guitars for the HMX QA team. Adam Buhler prefers the darkness of the Anar-Cave, except when the moon is full...")

Uses the loading text for "Behind the Mask".

"FTK" by VAGIANT
Prototype (loading_tip_ftk "VAGIANT is composed of 3 Harmonix employees (Elena, Leeanne, and The Hellion) and one scrappy drummer (LoWreck.) They spend their free time hating stuff.")
Final (loading_tip_ftk "Boston-based VAGIANT plays loud, fast, and sloppy. If they weren't so busy starting fights and smashing things, these girls would probably take over the world.")

This text and the store text were switched in the final.

"Jordan" by Buckethead
Prototype (loading_tip_jordan "Temp")
Final (loading_tip_jordan "Wearing a bucket on your head will not improve your chances of beating this song. Or maybe it will.")
"Laughtrack" by the Acro-Brats
Prototype (loading_tip_laughtrack "In a bid to force listeners to look beyond the boy-band cuteness and stylish haircuts that first made them household names, Boston’s The Acrobrats haven’t shaved or showered since 2005.")
Final (loading_tip_laughtrack "The Acro-brats are hands-down the best rock band in their practice space.")

This text and the store text were switched in the final.

"Less Talk More Rokk" by Freezepop
Prototype (loading_tip_lesstalkmorerokk "Stop talking, start rokking! Freezepop is back with fuzzy keytars and keys to the Eliminator which we scored cheap from the Top.")
Final (loading_tip_lesstalkmorerokk "Throw your undies on the stage. No wait, you're underage.")

This text was used as the store text in the final. The final loading text is a line from "Super Sprøde", the Freezepop song that appeared in Harmonix's Amplitude.

"One for the Road" by Breaking Wheel
Prototype (loading_tip_onefortheroad "Artillery would love to play in your basement, funeral or bar mitzvah. Incidentally, donations to our van fund are welcome.")
Final (loading_tip_onefortheroad "Breaking Wheel would love to play in your basement, funeral or bar mitzvah. Incidentally, donations to our van fund are welcome.")

As noted earlier, Artillery had changed their name to Breaking Wheel by the time Guitar Hero II came out.

"Parasite" by The Neighborhoods
Prototype (loading_tip_parasite "Temp")
Final (loading_tip_parasite "The Neighborhoods were presented with the Hall of Fame award at the 2005 Boston Music Awards.")
"Raw Dog" by The Last Vegas
Prototype (loading_tip_rawdog "Temp")
Final (loading_tip_rawdog "The following song is by The Last Vegas. For best results, play at maximum volume, especially in the presence of authority figures or the elderly.")
"Red Lottery" by Megasus
Prototype (loading_tip_redlottery "Temp")
Final (loading_tip_redlottery "Riding forth like thunderbolts cast from the hammer of Thor, the eight hooves of MEGASUS burn a trail of fire 'cross the winter sky.")
"Soy Bomb" by Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives
Prototype (loading_tip_soybomb "Temp: Veteran Harmonix programmer Dan Schmidt sings and strums for Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives.")
Final (loading_tip_soybomb "Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives return with their smash hit \qSoy Bomb\q, which is Spanish for \qI am bomb\q.")

Uses the loading text for "Hey".

"The Light That Blinds" by Shadows Fall
Prototype (loading_tip_thelightthatblinds "Temp")
Final (loading_tip_thelightthatblinds "This is SHADOWS FALL at their very best proving, once again, that they are the undeniable leaders of the current hard rock/metal scene.")
"Trogdor" by Strong Bad
Prototype (loading_tip_trogdor "Temp")
Final (loading_tip_trogdor "\qFor squeadlies, mash on the trembalo. For meadlies, tone up on your chord surpassers. Oh, and I'm awesome.\q"

-

Stongbad)

The rest of the final's loading text, where the quote is attributed to "Stongbad", doesn't appear, as it's outside of the string.

Comedy Tips

Prototype
(comedy_tip1 "Don't let your lead singer steal
all the attention.")
(comedy_tip2 "Keep an empty bottle in the van just in
case.  You'll see.")
(comedy_tip3 "You need a minifridge in your practice
space.  It's more important than a bassist.")
(comedy_tip4 "You only need one person with a mohawk
in your band.")
(comedy_tip5 "Remember, No Stairway!")
(comedy_tip6 "Turn it up!")
(comedy_tip7 "It takes a REALLY long time to drive
the van through Nebraska.")
(comedy_tip8 "Turn it up!")
(comedy_tip9 "Coming in Summer, 2008: Accordion Hero!")
(comedy_tip10 "You don't have to stop partying just
because you stopped breathing.")
(comedy_tip11 "Remember, if you lose in real life, you
end up as the manager of Guitar Center.")
Final
(comedy_tip1 "Life is hard for musicians, but
for drummers it's nearly impossible.")
(comedy_tip2 "If your singer ain't happy, ain't nobody
happy.")
(comedy_tip3 "You need a mini-fridge in your practice
space. It's more important than a bassist.")
(comedy_tip4 "You only need one person with a mohawk
in your band.")
(comedy_tip5 "Remember, NO STAIRWAY!")
(comedy_tip6 "TURN IT UP!")
(comedy_tip7 "It takes a REALLY long time to drive the
van through Nebraska.")
(comedy_tip8 "If you have a road crew, it's called
\qhauling\q equipment. Otherwise it's called \qschlepping.\q")
(comedy_tip9 "It all comes out on the road.")
(comedy_tip10 "A band is the dysfunctional family
you choose.")
(comedy_tip11 "If you call your new song a \qRock
Anthem,\q you'd better be damn sure.")
(comedy_tip12 "It's customary to try to be the loudest
during practice.")
(comedy_tip13 "Dropping your pants onstage does not
deploy Star Power.")
(comedy_tip14 "If your neighbors keep complaining about
the noise, turn up the volume until they move away.")
(comedy_tip15 "Your mom does not count as a fan.")

More of them in the final, and new ones too. Of note is that the final comedy tip does not display in the demo whatsoever, likely to avoid angering a sponsor.