Instructions for Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass

Main

Setlist

Instructions

Career

Districts

Minigames

Unlockables

Compared to other Guitar Hero games and their simplicity of being rhythm video games, the Backstage Pass subseries of Guitar Hero Mobile games are more complex, being life-business simulators with a story mode and a variety of minigames and tasks to do, and without knowing how to play it, one could easily go into poverty, be fined, or go to jail without knowing what to do.

If you need additional help, especially if you are lost during early game, see Career mode's walkthrough page.

Help menu's instructions

Here is a full instruction guide on how to play Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass. All instructions listed here are found in the game's "Help" menu.

Screenshots, image captions, and anything italicized below are not part of the game's Help menu's text. A majority of the screenshots come from v0.1.1 of the game.

Menu Options

• The main menu in v0.1.1 without a saved game. The CONTINUE menu will appear once you start a NEW CAREER and when progress is saved.]]
• The main menu in v0.0.5 on a Nokia N82 with a saved game, thus the CONTINUE menu is on screen.

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• CONTINUE: Continues with your current game.
• NEW CAREER: Start a new game, all previous progress will be lost. Use the left & right Navigation keys (4 & 6) to choose between Axel and Judy as your character.
• OPTIONS: Change game settings.
• HELP: Instructions on how to use and play the game.
• ABOUT: Information on the developer, licensor, publisher, support and version number.
• EXIT: Exit the game.
  

Game Info

HUD

The world hub. The player (displayed in shows) is located at Home ("93 Slum Lane"). Next to Home is the cursor. Hovering the cursor over a building reveals its name. The top-left corner is a clock and once it fills red, your character must sleep at a their Home or at a Hotel.

• Location Marker: The shoe shows your current location. When you complete tasks at locations it will move to the new location. It will be upgraded later to cut down on travel times.
• Location Names & Districts: The demon's tongue at the top of the hub screen displays the name of the location the cursor is hovering over. When the cursor is not over a building it displays the current district number.
• Task Clock: The demon also serves as a task clock. Travelling to a location takes time, as done completing actions. As you hover the cursor over buildings or menu items the task clock fills temporarily to show how long the action will take. Yellow indicates the travel time and green shows how long the task itself will take. Red shows tasks that have already been completed. When the task clock is fully red, the day is over and you must pick somewhere to sleep.
  

Pause Menu

Status

Status screen.

• Fame: This attribute shows how successful you are and how well known you have become. It can be increases or decreased by performing gigs. It also decreases slightly at the end of each day.
• Buzz: This attribute illustrates your hype surrounding your career. The higher it is, the more people will come to your gigs and buy your records. It can be increased by doing interviews or leafleting. It also decreases at the end of each day.
• Cred ("Credibility"): This attribute shows how true you have remained to your rock roots. It can be increased by busking and is decreased by giving interviews. The fans prefer your music to do the talking. The Cred attribute maxes at 1,000.
• Cash (also referred to as "Money"): This is your bank account and shows how much hard cash you have earned. It can be increased by performing well at gigs and busking. It can be decreased by performing badly at gigs and leafleting.
• Fines: This shows the total amount of money you owe to the Police.
• Hero: When this stat is unlocked, it will increase every time the Player rocks the roof off a venue. It increases by the star rating of the venue so rocking a festival will increase it by 5!
  

Contract

The Contract screen with an active Contract.

This screen shows the current day number and day and also the Player's dealings with record labels. When a contract has been signed it will show the details of how much the Player will earn per sale, how long the contract is and who the contract is with.

Guitars

Main article: Unlockables in Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass

Guitar selection screen.

Here the Player can view their current selected guitar and its description. By clicking on "Change", the Player can view the guitar gallery to see which guitars they currently own, which are available and which are yet to be unlocked. The Player can scroll through the guitars using the left and right Navigation keys and select a new guitar.

Tasks

• The first tutorial task.
• The second tutorial task.
• The third tutorial task.
• The fourth tutorial task.

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This screen shows the Player's outstanding task. At the top of the screen, the task title is shown by the task itself and the task success criteria.

Songs

Main article: Setlist in Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass

• Song screen with 4 of 5 songs unlocked and some song stats in each.
• Song screen with all 5 songs unlocked.

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This Player can view the status of their songs on this screen. It shows which songs are unlocked and details of the song that have been rehearsed. The stars underneath the song denote the Rehearsal level, Fan Reaction, Demo Tape quality and Single Quality respectively.

By default, all new songs start at 0-Star Rehearsal level (top-left), 0-Star Fan Reaction (top-right), 0-Star Demo Tape quality (bottom-left), and 0-Star Single Quality (bottom-right), and they can max out at a Star Rating of 5 each by completing certain activities with them.

• Rehearsal level: Increases by completing high score goals in the Rehearse minigame (up to two high score goals can be completed per Rehearse). The higher the star level, the higher the difficulty the song will be in the Rehearse minigame and the higher-level venues the song can be used in (based on its Rehearsal level). You must get a song's Rehearsal level to at least a 1-Star Rating to be able to use the song at gigs, interviews, or while Busking.
• Fan Reaction: The average score of all of a song's performances. Every time you perform a song, your performance score affects the song's Fan Reaction. Fan Reaction is used to increase song quality when recording tracks. The better performed your songs, the better your singles will be. Having a high Fame, Buzz, and Cred in a packed gag is necessary to reach a 5-star Fan Reaction. Getting a 5-star Fan Reaction on a song at a gig unlocks the Legendary #9 guitar.
• Demo Tape quality: Increases by getting a Demo Tape of the song at a higher-level Studio. Getting a Demo Tape from a high-level Studios is based on the song's Rehearsal level (a Rehearsal level 4 song can receive a Demo Tape up to a 4-Star Studio). The Demo Tape will then be taken to a Record Label up to the same star level in which a player can receive a Contract after completing the task the Record Label gives the player.
• Single Quality: Increases by getting a Single at a higher-level Studio. A Single can be acquired once the song's Demo Tape has been accepted by a Record Label. The Single can then be taken to a Record Label up to the same stars to be released in stores, which can passively make you a profit of Cash each day.

Game Menu

Game Menu screen

• Resume: Returns to the game at the point the Player paused.
• Options: The Player can toggle the Sound and Vibration (if available) as well as resetting the minigame hints.
• Help: Instructions on how to use and play the game.
• Back to Hub: Quits the current minigame and returns the Player to the Hub.
• Quit Game: Quits the current career and returns the Player to the Main Menu.
  

Top 10

Top 10 screen

This screen shows the latest Top 10. If the Player releases a single that sells well enough they will feature here.

Hub

• Entry Requirements: In order to use the facilities of some locations, your attributes be at certain levels. If your attributes don't meet the criteria you can talk to the Doorman or Receptionist who will tell you what you need to improve and by how much in order to get in. Attributes that are used by locations as entry criteria are Fame, Buzz, Credibility and Songs rehearsed.
• Districts: The city is split into 9 equally-sized districts with a variety of locations in each district. To gain access to the whole city, you must complete the tasks you are set.
• End of Day: After every gig or when the task clock is fully red you must pick a home or hotel to spend the night at. Each night your Fame and Buzz attributes will decrease slightly as the world starts to forget about you. Performing well in gigs will increase your Fame. Giving good interviews or distributing leaflets will increase your Buzz.

Locations

Venue

"The Dead Lion" 1-Star venue in the 7th District.

The yellow buildings are venues and they vary in quality and capacity. There are five types of venue and these are Bars, Clubs, Concert Halls, Stadiums and Festivals.

• Doorman/Receptionist: You can talk to the Doorman or Receptionist to see the entry criteria for the location. They will tell you which attributes you need to improve to be allowed in.
• Perform: Selecting Perform allows you to get on stage and strut your funky stuff. When you perform, you have to choose which songs to perform and then play a series of minigames. At the end of the performance you are awarded a star rating based on how well you did. The stars you receive affect the Fan Rating of the Songs you performed. Performing earns Money and Fame, but only if you do well enough. If you perform badly, you can lose it too.

Home

93 Slums Lane in the 7th District, the player's starting home.

Red buildings are Homes or Hotels. This is where you sleep after a gig, but you can also rehearse at Homes.

• Rehearse: Rehearsing songs is essential for increasing their Star Rating. The Star Rating is used when recording tracks and demo tapes. If you don't learn any songs, you won't be allowed in any venues as they are part of the entry criteria. The larger the venue, the more songs you will be required to rehearse before you can play there. You can rehearse as many times as you want to improve a song and your high score is what defines your song's quality. Remember practise makes perfect!
  

Shop

• "Flamin' Frets" shop in the 7th District.
• Guitars #2 and #3 available at the "Flamin' Frets" shop. These two guitars can be bought and sold here.

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These shops buy and sell guitars. There are 20 guitars in the game and some can be bought whereas Legendary guitars have to be unlocked.

• Buy/Sell: Select this option to buy or sell guitars you own. Beware, the sell price is half the buy price.

(Shops will offer certain guitars and will allow you to sell those specific guitars to those Shops for half the price, rounded down if odd. Some Shops will have Legendary guitars that you can buy after you originally unlocked and "smashed" them in Fret Frenzy but they can be expensive.)

Police

"7th Precinct" Police in the Hub (nighttime)

This is where to come if the cops have caught you while Leafleting. If you don't pay your fines quickly enough, you'll be sent here to spend some time in the jail. While in jail you may miss task deadlines and your Fame and Buzz will decrease while you imprisoned.

Example 1 of a new player being fined and not paying for it

While playing the Leaflet minigame, once the green time limit reaches the cop meter, the meter will turn red and cops could appear any time between now and the end of time limit, but if you are lucky enough, the minigame's time limit could end without the cops showing up. Press the Left Soft Key to flee the minigame if you don't want to risk getting caught.

The message you receive if cops arrive at the scene of the Leaflet minigame.

Good news. The first time you are ever caught Leafleting, the Desk Sergeant won't fine you. This is your first and only warning. Don't get caught again or you will be fined.

Caught a second time or more? You are now Fined. This player is fined for $1,250.

Fine being applied to your Stats. You must now pay it at the Police station when possible.

If you don't pay for your Fines on the 1st day, you will receive interest on your Fine on the 2nd day.

Day 2 of not paying for the fine. The Fine's interest increases. This player's unpaid Fines went from $1,250 to $1,562.

Day 3 of not paying for the fine. The Fine's interest further increases. This player's unpaid Fines went from $1,562 to $1,952.

Day 4. After not paying the fine for 3 days, you are sent to jail for a number of days depending on how much you owed, and the number of days you miss will affect your stats, decreasing your Fame and Cred depending on how many days were skipped. Fined for $1,952 and not paying for it, this player was sent to jail for 3 days. But now the player is no longer fined and can continue playing normally.

Example 2 of a more active player being fined and not paying for it

Another player receiving Fines. This player character was fined $8,450 upon being caught a second time while Leafleting (based on their Fame of 137). That much during their second time!

After not paying for the fine, the player's Fine jumped from $8,450 to $20,000 on the 2nd day, and from $20,000 to $25,000 on the 3rd day.

Day 4. After not paying for $25,000 Fine, the player is sent to jail for 31 days. That's a whole month of Fame and Buzz lost. At least the massive $25,000 Fine was dropped to $0 for free.

Their Stats after being in jail for 31 days + 3 days of not doing anything before jail time. 137 Fame to 109 Fame and 152 Buzz to 7 Buzz but Cred went up from 413 to 631.

Leaflet

Main article: Minigames in Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass § Leafleting

Leaflet minigame

Successful leafleting increases your Buzz as you publicise upcoming gigs or record releases. You are charged for each leaflet you throw. The price of the leaflet increases in line with your Fame attribute as you improve your publicity.

Watch out for the timer decreasing past the cop marker. This means the Police have been alerted and could bust you at any time. If they catch you, you'll be fined a suitable amount based on your Fame. If you don't want to risk being caught by the Police, you can flee back to the world map by pressing the Left Soft Key.

Busk

Main article: Minigames in Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass § Busking

• Axe Solo first minigame in Busk.
• Guitar Spin second minigame in Busk.
• Catch the Cash third minigame in Busk.

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Busking earns Money & Cred. Busking is a series of 3 minigames played in the same order time: Axe Solo, Guitar Spin and Catch the Cash. The amount of cash available is down to how well you perform in Axe Solo & Guitar Spin. This is indicated by the size of the assembled crowd.

Record Level

Record Labels award contracts and releases your singles.

• Contract: To earn a contract the Player must impress the Label with their demo tape. If the Label likes it they'll award a contract if the Player then impresses with their next gig. The Player's performance will be measured using the gig result and the venue they performed at.
• Release: The Player can release singles by taking recorded singles to their Label. They will then be released in the shops.

Studio

• To record your first Demo Tape, head to Shabby Road Studio...
• ...select Recording if the Reception's criteria is met.
• "No matter how well rehearsed your song, the Demo Tape won't exceed the Stars of the Studio. To record a better Demo Tape, use a better Studio!"
• Record a Demo Tape or Single? At the moment, only Demo Tape can be selected. Select Demo Tape.
• Pay $1,000 to record the Demo Tape at the Shabby Road Studio if you have the Cash.
• Choose one of your rehearsed songs to record to a Demo Tape.
• The Demo Tape is being recorded...
• The Demo Tape is successfully record!

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Recording Studios are used for recording demo tapes and singles. Demo tapes are used to impress Record Labels.

• Record: Whatever the Rehearsal level of the song, the Demo tape quality will not exceed the Recording Studio quality. When the Player has a record contract they can record singles. The quality of the single is defined by the average of the Rehearsal level and the Studio quality.
  

Publicity

• Interview's hint screen.
• Interview at a Publicity.
• Fret Frenzy minigame after plugging in during the Interview.
• "You've created a real BUZZ!"
• Result screen after doing an Interview. Buzz increased and Cred decreased.

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The Player can do interviews at Radio and TV Stations to increase their Buzz, but it will decrease their Cred.

• Interview: The Player is interviewed in a bid to increase the audience before they perform on the show. After they have performed their results defines how much Buzz they earned and Cred they lost.

(The player selects a rehearsed song to be interviewed. During the Interview session, numbers will display on how many people are listening to the interview.

Use the Left Soft Key to Plug your selected song and engage into the Fret Frenzy minigame with your song and aim for the high score. It is recommended to do it when a lot of people are listening to the interview and you get 5 attempts so try to get the most listeners and Plug as soon as you can. The difficulty setting of the Fret Frenzy minigame based on the Publicity's Star Rating. The more listeners you plug into, the more Buzz acquired and more Cred lost.

Tip: However, once you can start interviewing, it is recommended to do Interviews instead of Leafleting and make back your Cred through Busking while gaining more Cash in the process. Leafleting has always been a risky minigame to earn Buzz and would not be worth doing in the long run.

Controls

Hub

Quick Stats pop-up in the hub.

• Cursor: The rock salute hand is your cursor. Use the Nagivation keys(2,4,6,8) to move the hand press the action button(5) to select.
• Minimap: When unlocked, pressing # will bring up the Minimap. Using the Nagivation keys(2,4,6,8) and selecting with the action button(5), the Player can select which district they'd like the view to snap to.
• Quick Stats: Pressing * brings up your Quick Stats. This screen shows your most important attributes and your cash. You can also access this screen from the Pause Menu. You can close the screen down by pressing * also.

Minigames

Main article: Minigames in Guitar Hero III: Backstage

Minigames in the Help menu

The following below just lists all minigames available in Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass. The Help menu's instructions for each minigame will be listed on the Minigames subpage of Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass.

• Rehearse
• Leafleting
• Axe Solo
• Guitar Spin
• Catch the Cash
• Fret Frenzy
• Three in a Row
• Spotlight Slide
• Bank Notes
• Raise the Roof
• Crowd Surfing
• Finale