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The latest titles in Activision's music game Hero franchise will be coming this fall, with Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero, and DJ Hero now confirmed. [UPDATE: Guitar Hero: Van Halen also on 2009 slate.]

Leigh Alexander, Contributor

May 7, 2009

2 Min Read

The latest titles in Activision's music game Hero franchise will be coming this fall, the publisher said today, announcing Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero alongside confirmation for DJ Hero. Activision says Guitar Hero 5 will offer players "an unprecedented level of control" over gameplay, promising to add the ability to drop in and out of songs and change tunes, adjust challenge levels and band members "on the fly." Band Hero is aimed younger and more mainstream, rated E10+ and designed to appeal to a "broad family audience" with full band set gameplay on drums, guitar, bass and microphone. The company also officially announced turntable peripheral game DJ Hero today, although it was first confirmed by CEO Bobby Kotick back in January -- and has since figured into a contentious legal battle between Activision and rival Scratch: The Ultimate DJ publisher Genius Products. DJ Hero promises to "transform players into DJs who rule the club scene," featuring hip-hop, Motown, R&B, electronica and dance music. "Guitar Hero has made music social again and has become one of the most popular ways to experience music," says Guitar Hero franchise CEO Dan Rosensweig. "Today's fans enjoy a variety of music and are looking for more ways to engage with their favorite songs, artists and fellow fans. These games will let them listen, participate and socialize with music in ways they have never been able to before." [UPDATE: Activision has also confirmed to media including Joystiq that the widely reported Guitar Hero: Van Halen will also debut this year. In a similar style to the recently released Guitar Hero: Metallica, the title will contain contain Van Halen's "greatest hits," as well as guest acts such as Queen, Weezer, blink-182, The Offspring, Queens of the Stone Age, and more.]

About the Author(s)

Leigh Alexander

Contributor

Leigh Alexander is Editor At Large for Gamasutra and the site's former News Director. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Variety, Slate, Paste, Kill Screen, GamePro and numerous other publications. She also blogs regularly about gaming and internet culture at her Sexy Videogameland site. [NOTE: Edited 10/02/2014, this feature-linked bio was outdated.]

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