A wealth of rhythm game news emerged out of Activision today, as the publisher detailed the first downloadable track packs coming to the just-released DJ Hero along with a rundown of the various tunes hitting Guitar Hero 5 across the next month.

Guitar Hero 5 Downloadable Content
November 5 - Band Hero Song Imports ($5 / 400 MS Points)
• 61 of 65 Tracks, Requires Band Hero
November 12 - Lenny Kravitz Track Pack... Read more

What better way to promote DJ Hero than a video remix featuring clips of DJ Jazzy Jeff, Grandmaster Flash, DJ AM and others talking about the peripheral-packing video game? "It's got a turntable and it's got a fader," explains Flash. "Do do. E-e-e-e-eh."

Coming to PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii, DJ Hero hits October 27.

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Upon booting DJ Hero, you'll see this epic tale of those that live inside a giant record player and the tyranny of DJ Shadow. What it actually has to do with FreeStyle's music game, well, I'm not quite sure, but it's a neat little video nonetheless.

Due October 27 with 93 exclusive mixes and turntable controller in tow, the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii editions of DJ Hero will be $120, with a gold-trimmed Renegade Edition selling for $200. A PlayStation 2 version arrives the same day at $100.

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Publisher Activision has unveiled the full set list for FreeStyleGames's turntabling rhtyhm game DJ Hero--a full 93 exclusive mixes from "some of the greatest DJs of all time."

• 2Pac - "All Eyez On Me" vs. The Aranbee Pop Orchestra - "Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)"
• 50 Cent - "Disco Inferno" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance"
• 50 Cent - "Disco Inferno" vs. InDeep - "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life"
• Afrika Bambaataa - "Zulu Nation Throwdown" vs. Freedom Express - "Get Down"... Read more

Among the 93 "unique never-before-released mixes" contained within DJ Hero will be eleven offerings from masked electronic duo Daft Punk. And since reading about it is never the same as actually hearing it, publisher Activision has issued a new trailer:

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Developed by FreeStyle Games, the peripheral-based turntable... Read more

Following the unexpected passing of musician and DJ Hero collaborator Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein over the weekend, publisher Activision has told Joystiq that it hopes "his work on the game will be a fitting tribute to his creative spirit and musical talent."

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of DJ AM, who was a tremendous talent, a trusted partner and friend to DJ Hero," continued the statement from Activision VP Tim Riley. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family."

Riley added that "AM was instrumental in the making of DJ Hero," with the musician having also contributed several exclusive mixes to the October 27-due game and aided in its promotion through various means and appearances, including... Read more

FreeStyle Games' musical peripheral-spinning effort DJ Hero will arrive at North American retailers on October 27 and elsewhere in "late October," publisher and studio owner Activision has confirmed with Joystiq.

The company has yet to provide an official price point for the game and its turntable controller, though various retailers show the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii editions at $120 with a PlayStation 2 version at $100. A special bonus-filled "Renegade Edition" will also be available upon release, with retailers listing the stand-packing SKU at $200.

Activision has released the first images of DJ Hero's 'Renegade Edition,' which packs a posh turntable with gold fixings and a hardshell carry case that converts to a DJ stand.

A 2-CD pack from pop music mavericks Eminem and Jay-Z featuring unreleased tracks is also included in the Renegade Edition of FreeStyleGames' turntabling rhythm game.

DJ Hero comes this October to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS2, and Wii. Activision has yet to price the Renegade Edition, but the normal edition will cost a B-A-N-A-N-A-S $120.

Following up on those screenshots from earlier today, the first trailer and gameplay clips from FreeStyleGames' turntable-twisting rhythm game DJ Hero have arrived.

Coming to PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii in October, the game will offer more than 80 "never-before-heard mixes" for use with the turntable controller, some of which can also be played with a guitar controller, alongside the requisite virtual angel wings.

First up, a general catch-all trailer that's nothing short of bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

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Next, Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" vs Benny Benassi... Read more

The very first screenshots of FreeStyleGames's turntabling rhythm game DJ Hero have arrived, along with details of gameplay and the game's multiplayer features.

Publisher Activision explains that the previously-revealed turntable controller does indeed rotate as you scratch, mix, cross-fade and blend, and that there is "room for creative expression with a variety of effects and player chosen samples and scratches."

As well as battling against other DJs, players can also plug in a microphone to emcee over another's mixing, or pick up a guitar and jam along to special DJ-guitar mixes.

DJ Hero is scheduled to arrive on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS2 and Wii in the fall.

Activision Publishing has announced its fall lineup will include new titles DJ Hero, Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero, and confirmed the oft-rumoured Guitar Hero Van Halen.

When wielding DJ Hero's special turntable controller, players are transformed into world-class DJs spinning hip-hop, R&B, electronica, Motown and dance music.

Guitar Hero 5 brings drop-in drop-out play to the franchise, as well as the ability to change instruments and difficulty on the fly. The E10+-rated Band Hero intends to deliver Hero fun for the whole family with Top-40 hits and presumably no cussin' or sexy talk.

Guitar Hero Van Halen was confirmed in a separate mailing for release "the second half of this year", bringing a bevvy of Van Halen hits and music from a number of guest acts including Queen, Weezer, blink-182, The Offspring and Queens of the Stone Age.

No platforms were announced for any of the games, but history and rumours suggest the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS2 and Wii are likely to be bopping hard this fall.

The full scoop from Activision's pillowy musical lips follows below... Read more

While the L.A. Superior Court refused to grant "any restraining order" against Activision last week, that apparently changed today, as Genius Products and Numark today announced that they now have a temporary restraining order against Activision.

Publisher Genius Products and hardware maker Numark allege that Activision tried to sabotage the development of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ by buying its developer, 7 Studios, to benefit Activision's upcoming DJ Hero. Activision claims that it bought 7 Studios to "bolster its development capabilities" and did not interfere with Scratch.

The announcement specifies that Activision and 7 Studios must turn over "all source code related to Scratch"--including the code for 7 Studios' "pre-existing" development tools--by the end of today due to a ruling from last week, and also sees Genius and Numark reiterate their strongly worded accusations.

Scratch DJ Game LLC, a joint venture between Genius Products, LLC ("Genius") and Numark Industries LLC ("Numark"), announced... Read more

Activision has denied Genius Products and Numark's recent allegations that it bought 7 Studios, which is developing Scratch: The Ultimate DJ for Genius Products, in order to sabotage Scratch and benefit the upcoming Activision-developed DJ Hero.

According to Activision, the allegations are "nothing more than an attempt by Genius to place blame for the game's delay" and an attempt to hide Genuis' financial situation. Activision says it simply bought 7 Studios to "bolster its development capabilities."

An L.A. Superior Court hearing found "no evidence of any wrongdoing by Activision," the company said. Activision further claims that it did not "interfere with or delay" Scratch, and actually helped the game by providing 7 Studios with "much needed financing."

The lawsuit will have no effect on DJ Hero, Activision stressed, with the company's complete response following below:

Activision Publishing strongly denies the allegations made by Genius Products and Numark Industries and believes that the claims are disingenuous and lack any merit. Yesterday, the L.A. Superior... Read more

The war over the lucrative music game genre escalated today, with the publisher of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ suing DJ Hero publisher Activision and Scratch developer 7 Studios over "intentional interference with contract, breach of contract, conversion and misappropriation of trade secrets."

Publisher Genius Products and peripheral manufacturer Numark Industries are claiming that Activision recently purchased Scratch: The Ultimate DJ developer 7 Studios in order to benefit its own upcoming DJ title, DJ Hero.

The suit alleges that Activision and 7 Studios "conspired to withhold the current version of Scratch in an effort to delay the development and release of Scratch and to gain access to proprietary technology."

Scratch explains its version of events in a release:

Prior to undertaking these wrongful actions, Activision approached Genius with an offer to acquire Scratch. The offer was rejected. It is alleged that Activision then commenced the... Read more

Guitar Hero publisher Activision has three more unannounced music games planned for 2009, a "source close to the publisher" has allegedly informed Eurogamer.

Hard Rock Van Halen and Band Hero are apparently slated to hit PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii in August and November, respectively. No further details on the games themselves were provided, such as how Band Hero differs from Guitar Hero.

Earlier this year, Activision promised a "major re-stage" of the Guitar Hero franchise with "all new differentiated Guitar Hero products" in the second half of 2009.

The third unannounced game appears to be another Guitar Hero title for the Nintendo DS, which will follow the June-due Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits.

The site further specified that already known efforts Guitar Hero 5 and DJ Hero will arrive in PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii form in October and September, respectively.

Activision has vowed to triple the amount of Guitar Hero releases by 2010. Guitar Hero Metallica arrives on PS3 and Xbox 360 in March, with Wii and PS2 vesions coming later, and Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits will hit the same platforms come June.

Confirmed to exist last October, the long-rumored DJ Hero will make it out to stores later this year, according to Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.

"We have this product called DJ Hero coming out later this year, which is a turntable that you actually can play competitively and spin discs and mix songs," said Kotick during a CNBC interview transcribed by Eurogamer.

DJ Hero is rumored to come packed with a turntable controller, featuring three rhythm buttons, a cross-fader and various sound-effects dials.

Of course, just as Konami fired a lawsuit at MTV/Harmonix over Rock Band--Konami established the Guitar Hero format with its Guitar Freaks--so too could it be eying Activision's new property.

Konami's DJ-styled Beatmania games helped establish the rhythm genre in 1997. The company holds a patent covering the genre, and recently sued Pentavision over its DJMAX (PSP, PC) series.

Following Activision's trademark registration for "DJ Hero" and a smattering of recent rumors, it has now been confirmed that the company is indeed working on DJ Hero.

"Activision's doing a DJ Hero game, and I can't comment on what we're doing [at Neversoft]," Guitar Hero World Tour project director Brian Bright told Joystiq.

Neversoft, a fully-owned subsidiary of Activision, has been tasked with the Guitar Hero series since creator Harmonix was bought by MTV, leading to the rival series Rock Band. Prior to Guitar Hero, Neversoft was known for its work on the Tony Hawk series.

"We're working on the future and next-gen," Bright said of the studio's future, though he was unable to offer specifics. "If I wasn't excited about it I wouldn't be there."

DJ Hero has reportedly been a "licensing nightmare," with rumors claiming that the effort will launch next summer with a turntable controller and a mash-up tracklist. Development is supposedly occurring at the Activision-owned FreeStyleGames.

DJ Hero, a turntable-based music-rhythm game, is in the works at recent Activision acquisition FreeStyleGames, according to reports that surfaced over the weekend.

According to Kotaku, which first broke the story, the game will feature "all mash-ups" and a turntable controller with three rhythm buttons, a cross-fader and sound-effects dials similar to the whammy bar in Guitar Hero.

Today, MTV corroborated Kotaku's story and added that the mash-up mechanic created a "licensing nightmare" for publisher Activision. The game is expected to be available next summer, and seems to fit with comments recently made by Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith.

"The key to Guitar Hero franchise is innovation," Griffith said during the company's recent Analyst Day event. "We have a step-change innovation plan already in development, that takes our game experience in new and exciting directions, which we'll announce at a later date." Other musical genres would be candidates for expansion, he postulated.

The existence of DJ Hero has long been rumored from a number of Activision trademarks filed last year which included "Band Hero" and "Guitar Villain," among others. FreeStyleGames is known to be working on a new game to add to Activision's expanding music game portfolio.