When Activision’s Guitar Hero World Tour launches on October 26, it will be accompanied shortly after by a diverse array of downloadable content that includes tracks from alt.rock pioneers R.E.M. and ‘90s icons Blind Melon, while Metallica’s Death Magnetic album, already available for download with Guitar Hero III in the Xbox and Playstation formats, will be forward-compatible with the new World Tour game. Also available for download at launch will be a ‘70s anthem-themed Classic Rock Track Pack that features Boston’s “Rock and Roll Band,” “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner and Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl.” The latter three tracks will also be available separately.
The R.E.M. Track Pack will be available exclusively on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for two weeks beginning October 30, for play on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 system. The pack features three songs from R.E.M.’s latest album, Accelerate, “Horse to Water,” “Man-Sized Wreath,” and “Supernatural Superserious.”
Also available for download during launch week is Blind Melon’s “No Rain,” the #1 single that established the band as one of the icons of ‘90s modern rock. The Guitar Hero World Tour launch will also feature Guitar Duels, free downloadable original compositions by ax stars Zakk Wylde and Ted Nugent that can be played outside the game’s Career mode.
Guitar Hero World Tour expands 2007’s top-selling game franchiseinto a cooperative band experience featuring online and offline modes that include Band Career and a Battle of the Bands feature that allows eight players in two bands to directly compete for the first time. ―Jerry McCulley