IncGamers report:
"Blondie drummer Clem Burke is teaming up with researchers from the Universities of Chichester and Gloucester to study the potential physical and psychological benefits of playing drum-based music games."
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To celebrate the launch of the second annual Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition, the nation's best Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock player visited New York City for a mesmerizing record-breaking shred session.
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Console Monster writes: "Today's Xbox Live Marketplace contains some downloadable content which came out of the blue. The first of which is for Lord of the Rings: Conquest for the very cheap price of free. Skate 2 receives new content too with something known as the Filmer Pack (is that a real word?) which is available for 600 Microsoft Points. And after Noel Gallagher claimed "playing a guitar is not a f**king videogame," he'll be glad to know his band's latest album is available to download on Guitar Hero: World Tour. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace for Thursday 29th January 2009:

LOTR: Conquest: Hero Arena bonus
Price: Free (Gold Exclusive Offer)
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Size: 135 MB
Description: Download a new way to play Hero Team Deathmatch for The Lord of the Rings: Conquest. Hero Arenas let you pit Good and Evil heroes against each other in a 1v1 or 2v2 showdown!

Skate 2: Filmer Pack
Price: 600 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Size: 163 MB
Description: Upgrade skate.Reel with advanced camera controls for the replay editor, custom watermarks, expanded online storage (share up to 5 minutes of footage) plus extra gear for your skater. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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Activision has added the latest Oasis album, Dig Out Your Soul, to its roster of downloadable tracks for Guitar Hero: World Tour.
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Uber sexy movie starlet Megan Fox has been snapped playing Guitar Hero, apparently in someone's house. Foxy Miss Fox, star of Hope and Faith and the Transformers movie, could probably have charged the world for promoting the game, but it's nice to know that she's keen enough a gamer not to let dollar signs cloud her vision. ... » Read More

Activision has confirmed that it will be unleashing three all new track packs for Guitar Hero: World Tour next month.

Kicking things off on February 12 is the Acoustic Track Pack, which includes "Drive" by Incubus, "New Slang" by The Shins and "Wonderwall" as interpreted by Ryan Adams.

The Wings Track Pack will follow one week later, featuring "Junior's Farm", "Hi Hi Hi" and "Jet". Finally, February 26 sees the release of the Bob Seger Track Pack, which includes "Old Time Rock and Roll", "Her Strut", and a live version of "Get Out of Denver".

Each track pack will set you back USD 5.49, while individual songs will cost USD 1.99 apiece
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Console Monster writes: "The long awaited Fallout 3 content is now available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace including some free Bruce Spingsteen tracks for Guitar Hero: World Tour and there's also some Rock Band content. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Tuesday 27th January 2009:

Fallout 3: Operation: Anchorage
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions except Japan
Size: 369 MB
Description: Enter the simulation pod and embark on one of the greatest military campaigns of the Fallout universe – the liberation of Anchorage, Alaska from its Chinese Communist invaders. Experience harrowing winter combat using Fallout 3's patented V.A.T.S. targeting system, and employ powerful new equipment like the Gauss Rifle, Chinese Stealth Armor, Winterized T-51b Power Armor, and more. Enlist today, soldier! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Guitar Hero World Tour: Bruce Springsteen Track Pack
Price: Free (Gold Exclusive Offer) (Free until 5th February)
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Size: 80 MB
Description: Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring "Born to Run" and "My Lucky Day" by Bruce Springsteen. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading. For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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From the article: "An article in the latest issue of Billboard all about the upcoming year has laid a few predictions for 2009 at the feet of the Rock Band and Guitar Hero franchises. According to the article, an unnamed MTV spokesman has said that the Rock Band Store will increase its catalog from 500 songs to 5,000 songs in 2009."
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Having already delivered fans over 70 rockin' downloadable tracks for Activision Publishing, Inc.'s Guitar Hero World Tour since the game's October 2008 launch, three new Track Packs spanning a variety of musical genres and multiple artists will be available throughout February 2009 to Guitar Hero fans across the globe.
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GameSpot writes: "Last week the NPD Group, the industry standard of game-industry research firms, released its US sales figures for 2008. However, the company's top 10 game rankings only tracked individual products, or SKU (Stock Keeping Units), sold at retailers in the US.

As a result, it was unclear how two of the year's biggest rivals--Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2--fared against one another. Besides being multiplatform releases, the two solidly reviewed rhythm games each came in various retail configurations, such as a la carte or with one or more instruments."
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Off the back of the earlier news that Guitar Hero World Tour has outsold Rock Band by a ratio of 2:1, Red Octane's UK senior brand manager, Ian McClellan has said that in the UK, this figure is more like 4:1.
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Another piece of the Guitar Hero puzzle . . . the track listing! In case you're just tuning in now, the all 'Tallica Guitar Hero will be hitting the streets on March 29 with some really cool features like different classic venues such as the L.A. Forum, Tushino Airfield, and The Hammersmith Odeon, the ability to play as us or in single instrument mode, and even the Expert+ setting with double bass drum kick pedals.

So without further ado, here are the songs on the game . . . both from Metallica and from some of the bands they admire and even call friends:
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Thatgamingsite writes: "Forbes Writer, Peter C. Beller has responded to criticisms made after calling music game 'Rockband' a shameless knockoff in comparison to Guitar Hero. Althought it looks like he's sticking to his guns on this one."
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Console Monster writes: "It's been a good year for demos and F.E.A.R. 2 can be added to the list. With the Resident Evil 5 demo next week, releasing it now could prove to be a good tactical move. Another bit of content I certainly didn't expect was for Skate 2, which releases across Europe tomorrow. The content unlocks all locations, skaters and gears for 400 Microsoft Points. I'm sure that will go down well… Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Thursday 22nd January 2009:

F.E.A.R. 2 Single Player Demo
Price: Free (Gold Exclusive Offer)
Availability: Not available in Asia or Germany
Description: A routine mission turns into a fight for survival when an explosion of unknown origin decimates the city and unleashes the wrath of Alma Wade, whose terrifying power threatens to surge out of control unless Special Forces Sgt. Michael Becket and his squad can find a way to destroy her.
Size: 759 MB

Skate 2: Time is Money Pack
Price: 400 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Description: If you are busy, or just plain lazy, "Time is Money" will unlock all locations, skaters and gear that can be earned by playing through Skate 2's career and online modes. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.
Size: 124 KB..."
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That Gaming Site writes: "Is Rock band a 'shameless' rip off of Guitar Hero? According to the latest article from Forbes Magazine it is."
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Top 20 Games of December 2008:
01. [WII] Wii Play (Nintendo) - 1460k
02. [360] Call of Duty: World at War* (Activision Blizzard) - 1330k
03. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) - 999k
04. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) - 878k
05. [WII] Guitar Hero World Tour* (Activision Blizzard) - 859k
06. [360] Gears of War 2* (Microsoft) - 745k
07. [360] Left 4 Dead (Electronic Arts) - 629k
08. [NDS] Mario Kart DS (Nintendo) - 540k
09. [PS3] Call of Duty: World at War (Activision Blizzard) - 533k
10. [WII] Animal Crossing: City Folk* (Nintendo) - 497k
11. [WII] Wii Music (Nintendo) - ~480k
12. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
13. [NDS] Personal Trainer: Cooking (Nintendo)
14. [360] Fallout 3* (Bethesda Softworks)
15. [NDS] Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (Disney Interactive Studios)
16. [WII] Link's Crossbow Training (Nintendo)
17. [PS2] Guitar Hero World Tour* (Activision Blizzard)
18. [360] Madden NFL 09* (Electronic Arts)
19. [WII] Call of Duty: World at War (Activision Blizzard)
20. [WII] Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip (Ubisoft)
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Travis Barker Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. The Travis Barker Track Pack includes the following songs featuring the famous drummer:

blink- 182 – "What's My Age Again"
+44 – "Lyncanthrope"
Flo Rida – "Low" (Travis Barker Remix)
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Today Fender and Little Kids Rock, a non-profit music education organization, announced that an informal survey they conducted in November 2008 revealed that music games like "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" actually do inspire students to play real instruments. The survey polled 812 music instructors and said that enrollment in music programs has increased in the past year.
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Console Monster writes: "The weekend is almost upon us but Microsoft isn't slowing down just yet as a bunch of new content has been released on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Here is the full update for Thursday 15th January 2009:

STREET FIGHTER IV: Gamerpic Pack 2: Ken & Friends
Price: 100 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Description: This second series includes images of Ken, Zangief, Blanka, Chun-li, and Gouken! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.
Size: 140 KB

Guitar Hero World Tour: Travis Barker Track Pack
Price: 440 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Description: Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring "What's My Age Again" by blink-182, "Lycanthrope" by +44, and "Low (Travis Barker Remix)" by Flo Rida [Feat. T-Pain]. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading. For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.
Size: 111 MB..."
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VG247: Activision Blizzard has announced that Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen is heading to Guitar Hero World Tour with an a two track pack that includes new single My Lucky Day and the all time classic of all time, Born to Run.
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