Joining the ranks of Motley Crue and Guns N Roses, punk rockers Rise Against have revealed that they'll be the latest band to premiere a new song in a music game.

Coming to Guitar Hero World Tour on March 12, the Rise Against Track pack will premiere "Death Blossoms," with "Audience of One" and "Ready to Fall"--both from the band's earlier The Sufferer & The Witness album--thrown in for good measure.

PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners will be able to buy the Rise Against Track Pack for the usual asking price of 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50), with individual songs going for 160 Microsoft Points ($2). Wii owners will also be able to buy the tunes for $2 a pop.

The Rise Against Pack fills the one-week gap in the DLC schedule that Guitar Hero publisher Activision announced earlier this week, which sees the multi-instrument music game receiving tracks from Queen, Jimi Hendrix, and other bands this month.

Though Activision has already issued the February DLC schedule for Guitar Hero World Tour, the publisher apparently forgot something, as developer Neversoft has just announced a Southern Rock three-pack is coming this Thursday.

Southern Rock Track Pack
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Commotion" (Master Track)
• ZZ Top - "Gimme All Your Lovin'" (Cover)
• Unknown - "Black Betty" (Cover)

Though "Black Betty" was popularized by Ram Jam, the traditional song has been performed by a number of artists across the years, and Neversoft did not specify which version the cover track took inspiration from.

The pack will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners to download on February 5. No price point was given, though past Guitar Hero World Tour three-packs have sold for 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50), with individual tracks at 160 MS Points ($2).

Two free Bruce Springsteen tracks for Guitar Hero World Tour--"Born to Run" and "My Lucky Day"--are now available for download on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii..

If you're interested in these, make sure to act fast, as the tracks are only free for one week. Come next Tuesday, February 5, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 tunes will only be available in $3.99 bundle, while Wii owners will have to buy each track for $2.

By the way, the Xbox Live Marketplace currently lists the free Xbox 360 tracks as only available to those that bought or redeemed an Xbox Live Gold membership. Since items are generally Gold-exclusive for a week, it looks Silver-level users will have to pay, one way or another, if they want to play The Boss in Guitar Hero World Tour on Xbox 360.

The next month's worth of Guitar Hero World Tour downloadable content was today announced by publisher Activision, detailing a number of new songs for the game.

As with past DLC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners can buy an entire pack for $5.50 or snag each song individually for $2, while Wii owners can only buy individual tunes.

Acoustic Track Pack - February 12
• Incubus - "Drive"
• The Shins - "New Slang"
• Ryan Adams - "Wonderwall"... Read more

Xbox 360 owners can today march play along to a different tune, as new Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour tracks are now available through the Xbox Live Maretplace.

Rock Band 2
• Snow Patrol - "Take Back the City"
• Deep Purple - "Space Truckin'"
• James Gang - "Funk #49"
• Jethro Tull - "Hymn 43"
Guitar Hero World Tour - European Track Pack 2
• Backyard Babies (Swedish) - "Degenerated"
• Fito Y Fitipaldis (Spanish) - "Por La Boca Vive El Pez"
• Di-Rect (Dutch) - "Johnny"

As is normal, each downloadable song sells individually for 160 Microsoft Points ($2). The European Track Pack 2 for Guitar Hero is also available in a 440 MS Point bundle, which translates to $5.50--a savings of $0.50 over buying each track separately.

PlayStation 3 owners are expected to receive the above tracks on Thursday, January 8, as Sony is taking a seasonal two-week break from PlayStation Store updates.

While Harmonix has yet to say what's next for Rock Band and Rock Band 2 owners, publisher Activision has already announced Guitar Hero's January DLC schedule, including country tracks, Wolfmother, and a full Oasis album.

Activision has announced the next month's worth of downlodable content for Guitar Hero World Tour, showing that December 23 will bring more than just a free reggae pack.

PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners will have the choice of buying songs individually for $2 or snagging the bundle, while Wii owners will have to buy each track individually for $2 as the Wii Shop Channel does not yet support bundles.

Untitled Track Pack - December 23 / 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50)
• Hinder - "Use Me"
• Nickelback - "Because of You"
• Rev Theory - "Light it Up"
Coutry Rock Track Pack - January 8 / 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50)
• Rascal Flatts - "Me and My Gang"
• Brad Paisley - "Ticks"
• Brooks & Dunn - "Hillbilly Deluxe"
Travis Barker Track Pack - January 15 / 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50)
• Blink 182 - "What's My Age Again"... Read more

While relatively sluggish sales of Guitar Hero World Tour has some convinced that the music game series has peaked, Signal Hills analyst Todd Greenwald disagrees.

"Guitar Hero sell-through [is] a bit soft, but not a disaster," he explained to Edge. "Despite this 'weakness,' we disagree strongly with those who contend that Guitar Hero is a 'fad,' or that the franchise peaked last year with [Guitar Hero III]."

Explaining his belief, Greenwald noted that the overall franchise is "up substantially (including extensions like Guitar Hero Aerosmith and Guitar Hero On Tour)."

He added that North American sales for the franchises could be over 20% for the year, "while Europe could be up nearly 300 percent."

And with Activision planning to triple Guitar Hero releases by 2010, Greenwald noted the potential of further growth for next year, pointing to titles like Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero: Jimi Hendrix, DJ Hero, "and more."

Those that buy the Guitar Hero World Tour "Complete Guitar Game" for PS3 or Xbox 360 before December 31 will be offered five free downloadable tracks.

"Pick up the Guitar Hero World Tour Complete Guitar Game before December 31st and choose 5 free downloadable tracks," promises the official site, which says to "check back soon to redeem your 5 free songs" and further specifies that the promotion is only valid for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

The "Complete Guitar Game" bundle packs the multi-instrument music game and a wireless guitar for $85. The offer only mentions the "Complete Guitar Game," indicating that buyers of the $190 "Full Band Kit"--containing the game, wireless guitar, wireless drums, and microphone--or the stand-alone game will not be eligible for the promotion.

Specifics were not offered, but the free songs are likely to be pulled from the library of existing DLC, which are generally priced $2 per song.

Thanks to Shacker hillemania for the tip.

Adding to the previously announced December DLC lineup and today's Nirvana Track Pack, another set of downloadable content for Guitar Hero World Tour has been announced, revealing the forthcoming additions of several European bands.

Both the Nirvana Track Pack and European Track Pack Vol. 1 will be available for download today, with the European Track Pack Vol. 2 coming later in the month.

The tracks will hit PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 for $2 a piece, a sum that translates to 160 Microsoft Points or 200 Wii Points. PS3 and Xbox 360 owners can also purchase 3-song packs, which go for $5.50 / 440 Microsoft Points and offer a savings of $0.50.

Nirvana Track Pack - December 11
• Nirvana - "Negative Creep"
• Nirvana - "You Know You're Right"
• Nirvana - "Sliver"
European Track Pack Vol. 1 - December 11
• Sportfreunde Stiller (German) - "'54, '74, '90, 2010"
• Negrita (Italian) - "Mama Mae"
• BB Brunes (French) - "Dis Moi"
European Track Pack Vol. 2 - "Later This Month"
• Backyard Babies (Swedish) - "Degenerated"
• Fito Y Fitipaldis (Spanish) - "Por La Boca Vive El Pez"
• Di-Rect (Dutch) - "Johnny"

The December DLC lineup for Guitar Hero World Tour has been revealed by publisher Activision, revealing the new tunes that owners of the Neversoft and Vicarious Visions-developed music game will be able to purchase and download later this month.

The below tracks will hit PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360, priced individually at $2, which translates to 160 Microsoft Points and 200 Wii Points. PS3 and Xbox 360 owners can also purchase 3-song packs, which go for $5.50 and offer a savings of $0.50.

Obviously, those prices do not apply to the free Reggae Rock Track Pack.

The Smashing Pumpkins Track Pack - December 4
• "1979"
• "Everlasting Gaze"
• "G.L.O.W."
Nirvana Track Pack - December 11
• "Negative Creep"
• "You Know You're Right"... Read more

Following earlier mentions of Guitar Hero subscriptions, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick today stated that "the ability to offer these [downloadable] songs on a subscription basis may very well result in the newest subscription opportunity in our portfolio."

The statement, made during a financial conference call, came as Kotick was discussing songs made in GH Tunes, a music creation suite that shipped with all versions of Guitar Hero World Tour (PS2, PS3, 360, Wii) last week.

Since the game's release, over 25,000 custom songs have been made and uploaded to its online servers, with the company expecting over 100,000 by the year's end.

As for the sales of the Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit--which packs the game, a wireless guitar, wireless drums and a wired microphone--Activision claimed it was outselling competitors such as Rock Band by a "very wide margin."

The company noted that launch shipments of Guitar Hero World Tour have mostly sold through, but that more units should arrive during the holiday season.

Kotick also joked about the recent deluge of instrument controllers, claiming that, "We generally believe that every man, woman and child needs at least nine guitars."

Publisher Activision has announced that the theme song from the latest 007 flick Quantum of Solace will be downloadable content for Gutiar Hero World Tour.

Joining the existing DLC lineup, the Jack White and Alicia Keys-performed tune "Another Way to Day" will hit PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 7, priced at 160 Microsoft Points ($2). A Wii release of the track was not mentioned in today's announcement.

In related news, Activision's Quantum of Solace video game--the first James Bond game to launch alongside its respective movie--will hit North American retailers on November 4, with the North American release of the film following November 14.

Both the game and film premiere in Europe today.

Downloadable Jimi Hendrix and The Raconteurs tunes will hit the just-launched Guitar Hero World Tour next month, publisher Activision Blizzard has revealed.

Following the R.E.M. Track Pack on October 30--a two-week Xbox 360 exclusive--and Oasis Track Pack on November 6, the Jimi Hendrix Track Pack will arrive for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners on November 13, while November 20 will see the release of The Raconteurs Track Pack for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

While The Raconteurs tracks will be available on all three platforms for individual purchase, the announcement indicates that the Hendrix tunes will only be sold in bundle form and will not be available on Wii.

Jimi Hendrix Track Pack - November 13 (440 MS Points / $5.50)
• If 6 was 9
• Little Wing
• Fire (Live)
The Raconteurs Track Pack - November 20 (440 MS Points / $5.50)
• Salute Your Solution - 160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points / $2
• Hold Up - 160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points / $2
• Consoler of the Loneley - 160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points / $2

The first batch of downloadable content for Neversoft's Guitar Hero World Tour has popped up on the Xbox Live Marketplace, revealing price points identical to those of Harmonix's rival Rock Band franchise.

Classic Rock Track Pack - 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50)

• "Rock and Roll Band" by Boston - 160 Microsoft Points ($2)
• "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner - 160 Microsoft Points ($2)
• "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield - 160 Microsoft Points ($2)

Past Guitar Hero games saw downloadable 3-song track packs priced at 500 Microsoft Points ($6.25), with no option to purchase individual songs.

Two other packs are available to download-- the Neversoft Track Pack ("Anything" by An Endless Sporadic, "Electrorock" by Sworn) and the Guitar Hero Duel... Read more

Despite being the CEO of Electronic Arts, John Riccitiello is cautious of prioritizing profit during game development.

"Companies go through cycles where they are on the drug of profits," he warned Gamasutra, noting that the easiest way to increase profit is to cut research and development costs. "That can be the beginning of an end."

"I've not only seen it, I've experienced it," Riccitiello explained, pointing to EA's controversial past and stressing the importance of game makers being gamers themselves. "You can seek to make profits, and then you'll make the most profitable games you can--or you can seek to make great games that are profitable."

As for the rivalry between Activision's Guitar Hero and Harmonix's Rock Band, which EA distributes, he noted that "rivalries are fun for people" and "invests... Read more

Adding to the already announced downloadable content for Guitar Hero World Tour, publisher Activision has revealed another batch of tracks that PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii owners will be able to acquire following the game's launch on October 26.

Arriving November 6 is the Oasis Track Pack, which includes:

• Bag It Up
• Waiting for the Rapture
• The Shock of the Lightning

In addition, the new Oasis album "Dig Out Your Soul" will arrive as Guitar Hero: World Tour content in early 2009, marking the music game's second full-length downloadable album--the first being Metallica's "Death Magnetic," which hits at launch.

The Oasis songs will be released as a bundle pack and individual downloads, a departure from past bundle-only GH DLC offerings. Pricing has not been announced.

Activision today announced the launch week downloadable content for Guitar Hero World Tour (PS2, PS3, X360, Wii), which will be in stores October 26. Immediately available upon release will be Metallica's Death Magnetic album and the Classic Rock Track Pack, which will include "Rock and Roll Band" by Boston, "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner and "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield.

October 30 will see the release of an R.E.M. Track Pack. It will include "Horse to Water," "Man-Sized Wreath" and "Supernatural Superserious" from the band's new album Accelerate. The R.E.M. pack will be an Xbox Live Marketplace exclusive for two weeks, before making its way to the PlayStation Store like the other DLC.

Also available during launch will be "No Rain", the 1992 hit from Blind Melon, and a free download pack that allows gamers to play Ted Nugent and Zakk Wylde's Guitar Duels outside of Career mode.

Outside of the album-only Death Magnetic DLC, tracks in the song packs can be purchased individually or in bundle form. The announcement made no mention of a Wii release for the songs, though the Wii edition of Guitar Hero World Tour has been confirmed to support DLC.

With Guitar Hero World Tour and its 86 on-disc tracks due out October 26, publisher Activision has confirmed price points for the various editions of the music game.

A $240 deluxe bundle for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, available only from Activision subsidiary RedOctane, packs the game, wireless guitar, wireless drum set and a microphone, along with an XL t-shirt, recharge kit, dual gig bag, and key chain.

PlayStation 2 and Wii versions of the deluxe bundle are priced at $220, with the Wii bundle lacking a rechargeable battery pack as its instruments plug into the Wii Remote.

Meanwhile, Activision told Joystiq that regular retailers will stock the following:

• Full Band Kit (Game, Wireless Guitar, Wireless Drums, Microphone)
  • $190 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.
  • $180 for PlayStation 2.
• Guitar Bundle (Game, Wireless Guitar)
  • $100 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.
  • $90 for PlayStation 2.

The core game itself will sell for $60 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360... Read more

Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams and Black Label Society guitarist Zack Wylde star in the latest trailers for Guitar Hero World Tour, which hits PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii with 86 on-disc tracks October 26.

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Want to see Zack Wylde smash his guitar on a keg? Check it out below... Read more

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has once again come out swinging in his public shouting match with record labels including Warner Music, suggesting that maybe the publisher behind the Guitar Hero series deserves compensation for including songs from labels in the hit rhythm-music series.

"When you look at the impact [Guitar Hero] can have on an Aerosmith, Van Halen or Metallica, it's really significant," Kotick told the Wall Street Journal as relayed by Edge. "So much so that you sort of question whether or not, in the case of those kinds of products, you should be paying any money at all and whether it should be the reverse."

Guitar Hero: World Tour, bane of existence for record labels everywhere

Kotick also echoed a point recently made by games industry analyst... Read more