From gameplayer: "the negotiating power of the games companies stem from their control over the track lists in their titles… The game publishers have the power. So, in a sense, they ARE the music industry."
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Ripten writes:

"It was only a matter of time.

As the popularity of rhythm games continues to gain purchase in the pocketbooks of gamers worldwide, Warner Music is of the opinion that the publishers are getting away with robbery.

Executive Edgar Bronfman explained that Activision and MTV, developers of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, respectively, will eventually have to pay more for the licenses for the songs from their catalogue."
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In their regular weekly feature, PlayStation LifeStyle takes a look at what we should be getting this week:
- 1942: Joint Strike demo [FREE]
- Battlefield: Bad Company DLC ~ Conquest mode [FREE]
- Civilization Revolution DLC* ~ The Mythic Wonders and Artifact Pack
- Guitar Hero III DLC ~ Interscope Track Pack [$6.49 USD]
- NASCAR 09 DLC* ~ Paint schemes and track updates
- Qore Episode 003
- PixelJunk Eden [$9.99 USD]
- Rock Band DLC: Cruefest Track Pack 02 & SOAD Singles
- Talkman Travel (PSP) [$5.99 USD per city, 3 cities total]
- Tiger Woods 09 demo*

Additional Content:
- Game Video, Making of Bionic Commando: Rearmed (Part 2)*

NOTE: This list is not all-inclusive (videos, wallpapers, etc.) and content is always subject to change.

*Items marked with an asterisk denote rumored content, while the other content is confirmed.
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A sort-of new downloadable track pack will be available on Thursday August 7 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, publisher Activision has announced.
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Activision Blizzard Inc. on Thursday reported that Activision Inc.'s first-quarter profits more than doubled on strong sales of the "Guitar Hero" franchise and the game based on the animated movie "Kung Fu Panda."

The first quarter ended before the closing of Activision's merger with Vivendi Games, creating Activision Blizzard.

In the quarter, Activision earned $59 million, or 18 cents a share, up from $27.8 million, or 9 cents a share, in the first quarter a year ago.

In the quarter, Activision logged $654.2 million in sales, up from $495.5 million a year ago.
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Publisher Activision expects to pull in $40-50 million dollars this year from the sale of downloadable content on Xbox Live, PlayStation Store and the Wii Shop Channel.
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Not content with the plastic miniature guitar you're forced to use when you pretend rock out? Well, if you're a PlayStation 2 or 3 owner with an extra $180 lying around, you can pick up this new wooden guitar that works with Rock Band and all of the Guitar Hero games.
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In regular weekly feature, PlayStation LifeStyle takes a look at what we should be getting this week:
- 1942: Joint Strike ($9.99)
- Guitar Hero III DLC: Virtuoso Track Pack ($6.49)
- PixelJunk Eden demo
- Rock Band DLC: NIN and Shinedown ($5.49 and $3.98)
- Siren: Blood Curse ($14.99 packs, $39.99 for all 12)

Additional Content:
- Blu-ray Disc theme (PS3)*

NOTE: This list is not all-inclusive (videos, wallpapers, etc.) and content is always subject to change.

*Items marked with an asterisk denote rumored content, while the other content is confirmed.
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Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock gets dome new content on Thursday thatnks to the Guitar Virtuoso Track Pack.

Experience influential guitarist Joe Satriani's soulful 1987 hit, "Surfing with the Alien," get blown away with guitar slinger Steve Vai's reflective, "For the Love of God," and feel the avant-garde compositions of underground rock's most eccentric guitarist, Buckethead, as he shreds "Soothsayer," at hyper-speed.
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Dick McVengeance of Destructoid says,

"Let's face it: the Guitar Hero controller is not the ideal item for the game. It'd be nice to hold a full-sized guitar in your hands. We've seen people build custom controllers and put them on eBay, but those were one-off deals, and usually rather expensive."
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Celebrate freedom and free DLC! The Top Gun Anthem track is now available for free from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Activision and RedOctane have made the track available for Guitar Hero III, as a little bonus Fourth of July gift.

Coming to the PlayStation Store later today.
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Activision has released details of a new Guitar Hero III world record, which has been bested by the previous holder Chris Chike. There's also a Youtube video of his latest exploits.
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Activison today revealed that the Top Gun Theme is coming to Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock , as a free download. Beginning July 3, 2008, the legendary, "Top Gun Anthem" will be available as a free downloadable song for the game.
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World of Warcraft Jam is a brand new track coming for Guitar Hero 3.
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In their weekly feature, PlayStation LifeStyle takes a look at what we should be getting:
- Fatal Intertia EX full game & demo ($29.99)
- Guitar Hero III DLC: Coldplay Track Pack ($6.49)
- Hail to the Chimp demo*
- Hot Shots Out of Bounds DLC*
- The Incredible Hulk DLC: Multiplayer Expansion Pack*
- Konami "Surprise" [!]*
- NCAA 09 demo
- PAIN DLC: Nigel add-on character*
- PSP full game*
- Rock Band DLC: Avenged Sevenfold (x2), The Offspring, and Crooked X
- Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 demo*

Additional Content:
- LingerInShadows Trailer*
- PAIN (Nigel) Theme*

NOTE: This list is not all-inclusive (videos, wallpapers, etc.) and content is always subject to change.

*Items marked with an asterisk denote rumored content, while the other content is confirmed.
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MCV: Tracks from Coldplay's new album Viva La Vida and previous LPs are to become available on Guitar Hero.
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Wired writes:Fans of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will get a chance to strut their stuff on the main stage at this year's three-day Isle of Wight Festival, which starts Friday, with the best contestants getting projected on the grounds' big screens.
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With all the news about MGS4, many gamers have overlooked all the other great content that we can look forward to this week on the PlayStation Network.

PlayStation LifeStyle takes a look at what we should be getting:
- Army of Two: Veteran Map Pack (FREE)*
- Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars Demo
- Guitar Hero III DLC: Isle of Wight Track Pack
- Konami "Surprise" [!]
- PSone Classic (for PS3/PSP)*
- Rock Band DLC: MTV2 Three Pack + Bonus Single

Additional Content:
- Metal Gear Solid 4 Theme*

NOTE: This list is not all-inclusive (videos, wallpapers, etc.) and content is always subject to change.

*Items marked with an asterisk denote rumored content, while the other content is confirmed.
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Music Radar writes: "Sadly, we'll never know if Jimi Hendrix would have been any good at Guitar Hero, but thanks to Activision, the game's developers, we now have a reasonable idea of what he'd have looked like wielding its dedicated controller.

To celebrate the fact that there will be two Guitar Hero performances on the main stage at this year's Isle of Wight Festival, Activision has re-branded the bronze statue of Hendrix that sits in the grounds of the island's Dimbola Lodge, turning Jimi's guitar into the aforementioned video game peripheral."
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GT: "Journalism Rule #1: Check your sources.

The embellished Entertainment Wise article is a sorry excuse for journalism."

The original Rolling Stone interview didn't have the serious gamer-hate quotes in it. Check your sources.
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