Activision Details Next Guitar Hero, Confirms Wireless Controls

Activision has confirmed new details of the next volume in the Guitar Hero franchise, which will debut this fall for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii, and will include a multitude of new features, as well as confirmed support for Gibson branded wireless guitar controllers for each platform. The rhythm action game will also introduce several new and expanded features to the franchise, including “a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues.” In addition, the upcoming sequel will also feature multiple online multiplayer game modes, though it remains unclear if each version will support online play. The news follows statements made by RedOctane founder and president Kai Huang in April, confirming the title's online focus, also noting at that time that a version was also coming to the Nintendo DS. No longer being developed by series creator Harmonix - that developer is now owned by MTV and working on multi-instrument music game Rock Band - the new Guitar Hero is being handled by the developers at Neversoft (Tony Hawk franchise, Gun). Activision has also confirmed that the new title will support downloadable content on multiple platforms, presumably in the form of new songs or venues, though nothing has yet been announced. The publisher also notes that “strategic partnerships have been secured with all the major and independent music record labels and publishers to allow unrivaled access to their deep history of music catalogs, along with supplying artists' original recordings for even greater authenticity.” The initial list of confirmed songs for the forthcoming Guitar Hero are as follows: - Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones) - Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins) - Sabotage (by Beastie Boys) - The Metal (by Tenacious D) - My Name is Jonas (by Weezer) - Knights of Cydonia (by Muse) - Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss) - School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper) - Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat) - Cult of Personality (by Living Colour) - Barracuda (as made famous by Heart) Activision has also confirmed that the new Guitar Hero will include support for wireless guitar controllers, with each platform getting its own Gibson branded peripheral. Each guitar will include removable faceplates, as well as as a new button color design. A controller based on Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model will be released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii versions, while the PlayStation 2 version's controller will take the shape of Gibson's classic Kramer guitar. "The development team at Neversoft has been exceptional, and we've been able to incorporate a host of fresh new online and multi-player game play modes, along with exciting content into this version of Guitar Hero that our fans have been asking for,” commented Dusty Welch, head of publishing at RedOctane. “Also, many of the top bands and songs we've tried to get in the past are now on board, and we've definitely got some giant aces in the hole to say the least.”