Harmonix may have The Beatles, but this week Activision, like Red Bull, are giving Guiar Hero: World Tour owners Wings, Paul McCartney and Wings to be exact. Activision have announced that a three pack from Sir Paul and co. will be available this coming Thursday (19th) on the PlayStation Store.

The band already have one track in the game (‘Band On The Run’) and now this track is to be joined by three others:

• Juniors Farm
• Hi, Hi, Hi
• Jet

So, if you’re a Wings fan you know where to get your fix this week. The pack will be available for £4.39/$5.49 with each track being available for £1.59/$1.99

[By Anthony]

Earlier this week Activision announced that fans would be able to purchase a 3-pack of songs by Las Vegas based band, The Killers. However, they never said it was an exclusive deal. It has also been revealed that Harmonix too have a deal with Brandon Flowers’ band. Hit the jump for more.

Each of the packs contain two songs from the band’s new album ‘Day & Age’. The Guitar Hero pack includes their two new singles ‘Human’ and ‘Losing Touch’ as well as fan favourite ‘Mr. Brightside’. Sounds good, right? Well, the Rock Band pack includes ‘Mr. Brightside’, ‘Smile Like You Mean It’ and the song ‘Spaceman’ from their new album.

Personally, I prefer the Rock Band pack. Hot Fuss is a good album and the two songs from that are really good. As for ‘Spaceman, I have no idea. I’ve not heard their new album yet but will be sure to check it out. Both packs release on PSN November 25th. A nice ‘coincidence’ there. How many songs is it the two games share now?

[By Anthony]

I am a massive Oasis fan (unlike some of our editors) and I was glad to see that Oasis’ new album is going to be released as DLC. It’s just a shame that it’s for the new Guitar Hero rather than Rock Band. I am going to be getting the game, but i’d just prefer it to be on Rock Band. I don’t know why, I just would. Hit the jump for more.

First of all Activision will be releasing three tracks from the album on November 6th:

• Bag It Up
• Waiting For The Rapture
• The Shock Of The Lightning

Each of these tracks are really good, especially the third one. It has been announced that the full album will be coming sometime in 2009.

I like the fact that there’s gonna be some Oasis DLC, I just think it’s for the wrong game.

[By Anthony]

It has been revealed today via Shacknews that Activision’s upcoming Rock Band rip off rhythm game Guitar Hero: World Tour will be getting a patch shortly after the game launches in November. The patch will add a MIDI sequencer to the game which can only be fully realized on Sony’s system. The sequencer will encompass bass, lead and rhythm guitar as well as a drum and keyboard tracks and will be limited to just drum tracks on the Xbox 360. Hit the jump for more.

During an interview with Shacknews, Neversoft’s Brian Bright said:

“We have full, basically, computer editing control, at least on the PS3, through the music studio,. If you’re a musician or you do any sequencing, it really just makes the pathway to getting your songs in the game that much easier–once you get it down. We just really want to give people enough tools to be able to make good music.”

The feature is geared towards serious musicans who want to make music in Guitar Hero. It has been said than a FAQ will be added to the game’s website should anyone need any help with the feature.

Look Familiar? It shouldn't. (Sarcastic Wink)

[By Ryan]

Guitar Hero World Tour, some consider it the Rock Band killer (such as myself), some are looking forward to the new drums, some for the great track list, and some are just Guitar Hero fiends. So far Guitar Hero World Tour has a pretty good set list, but honestly, I like the On-Disc set list for Rock Band a little more (other then the fact the Guitar Hero has Van Halen which is going to be awesome). Here is the near-complete set  list for Guitar Hero World Tour. Hit the jump.

On Disc

• 311 – “Beautiful Disaster”
• 30 Seconds To Mars – “The Kill”
• Airbourne – “Too Much Too Young”
• The Allman Brothers Band – “Ramblin’ Man”
• Anouk – “Good God”
• The Answer – “Never Too Late”
• At The Drive-In – “One Armed Scissor”
• Beastie Boys – “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”
• Beatsteaks – “Hail to the Freaks”
• Billy Idol – “Rebel Yell”
• Black Label Society – “Stillborn”
• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “Weapon of Choice”
• blink-182 – “Dammit”
• Blondie – “One Way or Another”
• Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – “Hollywood Nights”
• Bon Jovi – “Livin’ On A Prayer”
• Bullet For My Valentine – “Scream Aim Fire”
• Coldplay – “Shiver”
• Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Up Around The Bend”
• The Cult – “Love Removal Machine”
• Dinosaur Jr. – “Feel The Pain”
• The Doors – “Love Me Two Times”
• Dream Theater – “Pull Me Under”
• The Eagles – “Hotel California”
• The Enemy – “Aggro”
• Filter – “Hey Man, Nice Shot”
• Fleetwood Mac – “Go Your Own Way”
• Foo Fighters – “Everlong”
• The Guess Who – “American Woman”
• Hush Puppies – “You’re Gonna Say Yeah!”
• Interpol – “Obstacle 1″
• Jane’s Addiction – “Mountain Song”
• Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze (Live)”
• Jimi Hendrix – “The Wind Cries Mary”
• Jimmy Eat World – “The Middle”
• Joe Satriani – “Satch Boogie”
• Kent – “Vinternoll2″
• Korn – “Freak On A Leash”
• Lacuna Coil – “Our Truth”
• Lenny Kravitz – “Are You Gonna Go My Way”
• Linkin Park – “What I’ve Done”
• The Living End – “Prisoner of Society”
• Los Lobos – “La Bamba”
• Lost Prophets – “Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)”
• Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Sweet Home Alabama (Live)”
• Mars Volta – “L’Via L’Viaquez”
• MC5′s Wayne Kramer – “Kick Out The Jams”
• Metallica – “Trapped Under Ice”
• Michael Jackson – “Beat It”
• Modest Mouse – “Float On”
• Motörhead – “Overkill”
• Muse – “Assassin”
• Negramaro – “Nuvole e Lenzuola”
• Nirvana – “About a Girl (Unplugged)”
• No Doubt – “Spiderwebs”
• NOFX – “Soul Doubt”
• Oasis – “Some Might Say”
• Ozzy Osbourne – “Crazy Train”
• Ozzy Osbourne – “Mr. Crowley”
• Paramore – “Misery Business”
• Pat Benatar – “Heartbreaker”
• R.E.M. – “The One I Love”
• Radio Futura – “Escuela De Calor”
• Rise Against – “Re-Education Through Labor”
• Sex Pistols – “Pretty Vacant”
• Silversun Pickups – “Lazy Eye”
• Smashing Pumpkins – “Today”
• Steely Dan – “Do It Again”
• Steve Miller Band – “The Joker”
• Sting – “Demolition Man (Live)”
• The Stone Roses – “Love Spreads”
• Stuck In The Sound – “Toy Boy”
• Sublime – “Santeria”
• Survivor – “Eye of the Tiger”
• System of a Down – “B.Y.O.B.”
• Ted Nugent – “Stranglehold”
• Ted Nugent’s Original Guitar Duel Recording
• Tokio Hotel – “Monsoon”
• Tool – “Parabola”
• Tool – “Schism”
• Tool – “Vicarious”
• Trust – “Antisocial”
• Van Halen – “Hot For Teacher”
• Willie Nelson – “On The Road Again”
• Wings – “Band on the Run”
• Zakk Wylde’s Original Guitar Duel Recording

Downloadable Tracks (So far)

Metallica’s Death Magnetic

• “That Was Just Your Life”
• “The End of the Line”
• “Broken, Beat & Scarred”
• “The Day That Never Comes”
• “All Nightmare Long”
• “Cyanide”
• “The Unforgiven III”
• “The Judas Kiss”
• “My Apocalypse”
• “Suicide & Redemption J.H.”
• “Suicide & Redemption K.H.”

R.E.M. Pack

• “Horse To Water”
• “Man-Sized Wreath”
• “Supernatural Superserious”

Smashing Pumpkins Pack

• “1979″
• “The Everlasting Gaze”
• “G.L.O.W.”

There will also be a Jimi Hendrix pack, we just don’t know the track list yet. Keep coming back to XenonX for more.

[By Anthony]

Yesterday Rolling Stone magazine revealed 10 new songs that would be appearing in Activision’s forthcoming game ‘Guitar Hero: World Tour’. There’s some pretty cool stuff in here and Manchester is being represented by The Stone Roses which is always nice to see. Hit the jump for the list.

• Wings – “Band on the Run”
• Dream Theater – “Pull Me Under”
• Filter – “Hey Man Nice Shot”
• NOFX – “Soul Doubt”
• Rise Against – “Re-Education (Through Labor)”
• Steve Miller – “The Joker”
• The Answer – “Never Too Late”
• The Stone Roses – “Love Spreads”
• Trust – “Anti-Social”

Not a lot of stuff i know in hereto be honest, but Guitar Hero has introduced me to acts i’ve never heard of so i’m not really fussed as long as they’re fun to play. The Roses track isn’t the best, I was hoping for something epic like ‘Fools Gold’ or ‘I Wanna Be Adored’. Either way it’s good. I wish  Activision would just release the full list (a la Harmonix) instead of drip feeding us info it’s a bit annoying to be honest.

Also announced was that Ted Nugent would be making his way into the game as a playable character, which I guess is cool.

[By Anthony]

Along with NPH Sting, Activision also announced four new songs that would be appearing in Guitar Hero: World Tour. With the ammount of Rock Band songs on offer not alot about Guitar Hero’s setlist excites me (except Hendrix). Hit the jump for more.

• “Parabola” — Tool
  
• “Schism” — Tool
  
• “Vicarious” — Tool
• “Demolition Man” — The Police

Also announced was that there would be a Tool venue inspired by the art style of their live performances and album artwork. Once again, it’s cool but it dosen’t really make me want to buy the game any more than I already do.

[By Anthony]

It has today been confirmed that Neil Patrick Harris, star of hit U.S. sitcom How I Met Your Mother, will be appearing as a playable character. Wait, what? That’s not NPH? Oops, sorry about that it turns out that it’s not NPH, it’s someone else. Hit the jump to find out who it is.

It may look like NPH has made his way into a music rhythm game, but in fact it is former Police frontman Sting. It was rumored a few months back that Sting would be appearing in the game and now it has finally be confirmed.

It’s cool that Guitar Hero has some pretty cool additions on the celeb front, but does this mean we’ll never see any more Police songs in Rock Band? Hopefully not because, although i’ll be picking up World Tour, i’m still backing Rock Band 2 more.

Sting joins Ozzy Osbourne, Travis Barker, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Corgan, Hayley Williams and Zak Wylde as a playable character in Activision’s latest forray into music games. Even though there are some great people here (especially Hendrix) I think I prefer having my own character and a ‘fantasy’ band rather than real life rockers. I don’t know why, I just do.

Speaking to Eurogamer Sting had this to say:

I tried to play Guitar Hero and I’m not very good. My kids can do it.

We tend to hear that a lot.

Earlier in the week it was announced that all of the forthcoming instruments for Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour would be compatible with oneanohter. At their Leipzig press conference today Activision announced that the original Rock Band drums would work with their new game.

Kotaku’s Mike Fahey spoke with Activision’s Brian Bright after the conference who explained how the Rock Band drums would work with the new Guitar Hero game. I had my doubts that they would work because of the ammount of pads on the World Tour drums compared to the Rock Band ones. Either way it has been announced that they will be compatible which is sweet for me. I’ll let Mr. Fahey explain after the jump.

Later I asked Brian how exactly the drums would work, considering the original Rock Band set has four pads and a pedal versus World Tour’s three drums, two cymbals, and pedal setup. Turns out that the orange pad – the crash cymbal dealie – will map to the blue pad, unless a note is already there, in which case it maps to the green on the fly. Complicated, but if it means I only need one drum set I am willing to give it a go.

[From Kotaku]

This is great for people, like me, who already have the Rock Band drumkit and have no space for more plastic instruments.

[By Steve M]

In a post on the official Playstation Blog today, Michael Shorrock head of 3rd party relations at SCEA, went on record to confirm peripherals from upcoming PS3 music titles will definitely work with other music titles, which is nice.  Full quote after the jump

Hi everybody, Michael Shorrock, here. I’m the Director of Publisher Relations here at SCEA. I work closely with all of the publishers and developers who create games for all PlayStation platforms. While SCEA had a ton of great announcements at E3, I’m excited to say, we have one more for today, one that I know a lot of you have been asking about:

For the past several months, we have been working closely with Neversoft and Activision, Harmonix and Konami to ensure that PlayStation 3 guitars and drum sets will all feature a basic level of gameplay compatibility.

For the most part, this means that the titles with musical peripherals will work with the other’s software. A few specific examples include: Guitar Hero: World Tour’s guitars and drums will work with Rock Band 2 and Konami’s Rock Revolution software.

And yes, you guessed it, Rock Band 2’s guitar and drum set will work with Guitar Hero: World Tour and with Rock Revolution.

Conversely, Rock Revolution’s drum set will work with both Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2.

In addition, Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 will both support the SingStar microphones.

We’re still working hard to ensure compatibility between the Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles currently on the market, and we hope to have an announcement on that shortly.

Of course each of these great games have their own specific cool features that may not be compatible with the other controllers, but this is our first big step in bringing a level of compatibility to music games that is sure to benefit PlayStation 3 consumers.

Playstation Blog