Activision Releases Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Video game developer Activision Inc have released a version of the hit game Guitar Hero for Aerosmith fans looking to step into the shoes of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith was released on Friday and dozens of fans and gamers flocked to the Hard Rock restaurant in Times Square to see the legendary five-member rock band debut the game and try out the latest Guitar Hero addition.
Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford even brought his sons to take a look at the band’s creation.
Featured in the game are 30 of the band’s most notable hits such as "Love in an Elevator" and "Sweet Emotion." It also includes songs from various artists Aerosmith performed and collaborated with over the years, including Run D.M.C.’s "Walk This Way" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Joan Jett.
The game even has a special guitar controller emblazoned with the band’s red-and-white logo for hardcore fans.
Microsoft Corp’s Xbox 360, Sony Corp’s PlayStation3 and Nintendo Co Ltd’s Wii offer the game and guitar controller bundle for $99.99, with an additional PlayStation2 version for $89.99. The game is also sold individually for each of the consoles and costs $59.99 and $49.99, respectively.
This is the first Guitar Hero edition that focuses on an individual rock band. The previous three versions of the game featured various rock music genres that ranged from grunge, classic rock, metal, punk and ’80s hits.
Charles Huang, co-founder of Activision’s RedOctane unit, which oversees the Guitar Hero franchise, said it is an experiment for them. "There are certain artists that have so much great music like Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen … but we wanted to do something much bigger."
Aerosmith’s vast collection of rock hits and elite status in the music industry made the band the ideal choice for the new game, said Activision.
During the game’s creation, band members spent two weeks performing in a motion capture studio in order for their video game figures to move exactly as the group performs on stage.
A Metallica Guitar Hero edition is expected in 2009, but Activision declined to specify what month the game will be released.
During the Christmas season the company will also release Guitar Hero: World Tour, which will include a drum set and microphone in addition to the guitar controller.
Guitar Hero: World Tour is expected to rival Activision’s biggest competitor "Rock Band," produced by Viacom Inc’s MTV unit and Electronic Arts Inc.
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