DJ Hero 2 Demo Features Highly Anticipated Freestyle and Social Gameplay Elements with Four Epic Mashups

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Demo Delivers Sneak Peak at All-New Story-Based Quest Mode with Four Shredtacular, Speaker-Blaring Tracks



SANTA MONICA, CA – September 7, 2010 – Budding beat chemists, hard rockin’ living room legends, singing sensations and all of their friends itching to take DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock for a spin in advance of the games’ releases later this fall need not wait any longer as Activision Publishing Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced that the demos will be available today for free download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Gamers looking to score any one of various exclusive bonus offers can pre-order both games in-store at retailers nationwide or online by visiting www.djhero.com/buy and hub.guitarhero.com/buy/ghwor/. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock shreds onto store shelves September 28 with DJ Hero 2 spinning into retailers on October 19.

In the DJ Hero 2 demo, fans will get a taste of four exclusive mixes from the best soundtrack in entertainment as they freestyle scratch, sample and crossfade through various gameplay tutorials, QuickPlay and all-new multiplayer modes including Accumulator and DJ Battle. Mixes included in the demo of DJ Hero 2 are:

· Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes “Don’t Cha” Mixed With Pitbull ”I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”
· Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis “Just Dance” Mixed With Deadmau5 “Ghosts N Stuff”
· MSTRKRFT Featuring N.O.R.E. “Bounce” (Battle Mix)
· Estelle Featuring Kanye West “American Boy” Mixed With Chic “Good Times”

Gamers looking to be among the first to experience Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock’s all-new, story-driven Quest Mode, narrated by notorious KISS front man Gene Simmons, will be transformed into rock warriors and shred to the following four hit tracks off the game’s quintessential rock collection:

· Black Sabbath “Children of the Grave”
· Foo Fighters “No Way Back”
· Slash featuring Ian Astbury “Ghosts”
· Dethklok “Bloodlines”

About DJ Hero 2

The ultimate mixer of music and friends, DJ Hero 2 will deliver the definitive way for players to come together and party with a host of new multiplayer modes – including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay – and invite vocalists into the spotlight with integrated on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes while bringing the party to life with jump-in/jump-out Party Play gameplay. Featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits by the hottest artists everyone knows and loves remixed by world-class DJ’s in an all-new way, the game’s soundtrack delivers 83 unique creations only available in DJ Hero 2. Further immersing players into the music, the game offers a heightened level of creative input and allows everyone to add their own touch, directly impacting the beats they’re spinning with freestyle scratching, crossfading and sampling. The game will also feature an all-new career-based Empire Mode where players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.

Dropping on October 19, DJ Hero 2 will invite a wave of new digital disc jockeys to the turntables as the game will be available as a Party Bundle which will include a copy of the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone, offering the ultimate party-in-a-box. Gamers who experienced DJ Hero®, the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009, can pick up DJ Hero 2 as a Turntable Bundle featuring one turntable controller and a copy of the game or as standalone software. The game is in development by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game is rated “T” (Teen – Mild Suggestive Themes, Lyrics) by the ESRB. For more information about DJ Hero 2, please visit www.djhero.com, www.facebook.com/djhero and www.twitter.com/djhero.

About Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

In Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, join with friends on an epic rock journey to save rock. Featuring an impressive 90+ track set list and a host of all-new gameplay features, living room legends and their friends can strum, drum and wail in the most immersive music videogame experience to date. Delivering the quintessential rock music collection that focuses on guitar shredding hits from bands such as Black Sabbath, Slipknot and Megadeth and larger-than-life band anthems from Queen, Muse and KISS, players can unleash more rewards and unlockable content than ever before in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock’s Quest Mode, the franchise’s first ever story-based mode, and Quickplay+, which invites challenge-starved fanatics to test their rock skills. Running on the powerful Guitar Hero® engine that has been expanded and refined and with encores from the critically-acclaimed and fan favorite gameplay features that made Guitar Hero one of the most popular franchises of all-time – such as Party Play, Competitive modes and any combination of up to four instruments – the game offers a complete interactive and connected experience bringing friends and foes to the stage in the ultimate rock music experience.

Available September 28, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and by Vicarious Visions for the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game is rated “T” (Teen – Lyrics, Mild Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes) by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, please visit GuitarHero.com.




About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

Harmonix, MTV Games Reinvent Music Games with Rock Band 3

Rock Band 3 features announced, including amazing soundtrack plus access to the most music available in any video game with more than 1,500 tracks and growing; new keyboard gameplay and three-part harmonies for up to seven players rocking together; Rock Band Pro Mode and much more!




CAMBRIDGE, MA and NEW YORK – June 11, 2010 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game developer, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced features for Rock Band 3, the next generation of the ultimate social and interactive music gaming platform.

Featuring an incredible 83-song setlist and access to far more music than any other music game, as well as innovative new gameplay modes and instruments, Rock Band 3 will change the way fans think about and play music games. This next iteration in the Rock Band platform has something new for everyone and also supports traditional Rock Band gameplay with players’ existing instruments.

The Most Music. Period.

The Rock Band 3 disc soundtrack contains 83 of the best bands from around the world, including bands that have never appeared in a music game, as well as support for existing Rock Band tracks (Rock Band and Rock Band 2 discs, downloaded songs, track packs, AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, LEGO Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band).

Additionally, Rock Band 3 will give players immediate access to a music library approaching 2,000 songs by launch, with new content added regularly. Rock Band’s gigantic music selection dwarfs that of any other music game on the market.

Announced Tracks:


2000s:

  • Metric, “Combat Baby”
  • Rilo Kiley, “Portions for Foxes”
  • Them Crooked Vultures, “Dead End Friends”
  • The Vines, “Get Free”
  • The White Stripes, “The Hardest Button to Button”
  • Phoenix, “Lasso”
  • Ida Maria, “Oh My God”
  • Juanes, “Me Enamora”


1990s:

  • Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealing”
  • Smash Mouth, “Walkin’ on the Sun”
  • Spacehog, “In the Meantime”
  • Stone Temple Pilots, “Plush”


    1980s:

    • Dio, “Rainbow in the Dark”
    • Huey Lewis and the News, “The Power of Love”
    • Joan Jett, “I Love Rock and Roll”
    • Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”
    • Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again”
    • The Cure, “Just Like Heaven”
    • Ozzy Osbourne, “Crazy Train”


    1970s:

    • Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”


    1960s:

    • Jimi Hendrix, “Crosstown Traffic”
    • The Doors, “Break On Through”

    Redesigned Library for Better Music Management

    Rock Band 3 allows players to create and save setlists and share them with friends, both in-game and through RockBand.com. New song filters make it easier to find the types of songs fans want to play and hide the songs they don’t, while a built-in song recommendation system will suggest tracks from Rock Band’s colossal music library, based on personal fan preference.

    Expand the Band

    In addition to guitar, bass, drums and solo vocals, Rock Band 3 adds three-part vocal harmonies that were introduced with The Beatles: Rock Band and, for the first time ever, a keyboard peripheral to the band. Up to seven players can rock together for the ultimate social gaming experience.

    Go Pro: Play Just for Fun or Rock for Real with Rock Band Pro

    Rock Band 3 empowers players to develop actual musical skills through the fun of fully scalable Rock Band Pro gameplay. Fans can dive in on Easy to try out basic skills and work their way up to Expert for real mastery.

    • Pro Drums supports three expansion cymbals, with gameplay differentiation between toms and cymbals.
    • Pro Keys features pitch-accurate keyboard performance across a two-octave range, displayed on an easy-to-read keyboard track.
    • Pro Guitar features notated guitar and bass performances, available for play with either the new Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar simulated guitar controller from Mad Catz or the Rock Band 3 Squier by Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller that is a real guitar/controller hybrid. The Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster is a fully functional, full-sized, six-string electric guitar that also functions as a game controller.

    Something for Everyone (New Gameplay Modes!)

    For the casual player, Rock Band 3 has great new party modes that allow fans to get rocking with friends quicker than ever, including party shuffle and persistent drop-in/drop-out and difficulty selection from any gameplay screen.For the serious player, the revamped Career Mode features 700+ goals and rewards and seamless leaderboard integration for an endlessly deep campaign experience. Rock Band 3 also adds a suite of social networking tools to the game so fans can engage friends and fellow rockers over Facebook, Twitter and more. Whether players want to jump in for a quick song or take their band to the top, Rock Band 3 has a mode for everyone.

    Developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music videogame company, published by MTV Games, and distributed by distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), Rock Band 3 will ship simultaneously worldwide this Holiday 2010 in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii system from Nintendo, and Nintendo DS. Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most third-party instrument and microphone controllers. Mad Catz is the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band game controllers.

    The Rock Band platform stands next to none in music content, with more than 1,500 songs already available from more than 400 artists, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, AC/DC and Green Day, who are exclusive to Rock Band. With more choices for fans than any other music-based videogame, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists. Rock Band pioneered offering content in a variety of ways, through on-disc gameplay, game export, downloadable content and the Rock Band Network. The Rock Band platform allows fans to interact with their favorite music in a unique and hands-on way, as well as giving artists the ability to reach fans through a whole new channel.




    About MTV Networks
    MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.

    About MTV Games
    MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

    About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.
    Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com.

    About Electronic Arts
    Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

    About Mad Catz Interactive, Inc.
    Mad Catz is a leading global provider of innovative products for the interactive entertainment industry. Mad Catz develops and markets accessories for videogame systems and PCs under its Mad Catz (casual gaming), Saitek (simulation), Cyborg (pro gaming), Eclipse (home and office) and Tritton (gaming audio) brands. Mad Catz also operates e-commerce and content websites for videogame and PC products under its GameShark brand, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary earphones under its AirDrives brand, and publishes and distributes video/PC games. Mad Catz distributes its products through most of the leading retailers offering interactive entertainment products and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For additional information please go to www.madcatz.com, as well as www.store.gameshark.com, www.saitek.com, www.cyborggaming.com, www.eclipsetouch.com, www.trittontechnologies.com, www.gameshark.com and www.airdrives.com.
  • Crime-action series hits the streets with a vengeance; more hard-hitting gameplay on the way with “GAC Pack” downloadable content.


    SANTA CLARA, Calif., (Apr. 27, 2010) – Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that Dead to Rights: Retribution is now available nationwide for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. In addition, a new action-packed “GAC Pack” downloadable content (DLC) will be available in North America on June 1 for Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation Network. This new premium DLC pack will include two all new gameplay modes in addition to the “Jack Pack” and “Shadow Pack” DLC, which were previously only available to pre-order customers.

    Dead to Rights: Retribution is a ground-up reinvention of the multi-million unit selling crime action series. Thrusting players into a mature neo-noir crime drama as vice cop Jack Slate and his canine companion Shadow, the game introduces an innovative new hybrid combat system that seamlessly blends third-person shooting with hand-to-hand brawling and AI partner. For the first time in the series, players will also be able to play as ferocious canine Shadow with his own unique gameplay style and feel. Deadly on their own, Jack and Shadow are even more formidable as they team up to defeat the threats they uncover in Grant City.

    “We’ve completely rebooted the Dead to Rights franchise to deliver a satisfying, visceral and action-packed gameplay experience for existing fans and new gamers,” said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “We’re boosting the action up another notch with an accessibly priced DLC pack filled with all new missions and game-enhancing bonus content.”

    The “GAC Pack” will include two new completely different modes of gameplay as well as exciting bonus options to enrich the player’s experience with the core retail game. “Assault on the 87th Precinct” is a new mission that reveals a flip side to the story, allowing players to experience the action from the GAC (Grant City Anti-Crime) enemy’s side of the battle. Players step into the boots of the GAC Sniper, Brawler and Tank characters as they converge upon the GCPD (Grant City Police Department) stronghold under orders to contain all police officers so they can secure a tactical advantage. In “Riot Control Mode,” Jack and Shadow fend off increasingly difficult waves of GAC forces to earn points and achievements based on speed and style, with high score bragging rights on international leaderboards. In addition, the previously exclusive “Jack Pack” and “Shadow Pack” are also included in the “GAC Pack” allowing players to access armor for Jack, stealth camouflage for Shadow, an “action mode” with explosive rounds gunplay, and a “noir mode” with a black, white and red graphic filter.

    Developed by Volatile Games, Dead to Rights: Retribution is rated “M” for mature audiences by the ESRB and carries an MSRP of $59.99. The “GAC Pack” DLC add-on content will be released on June 1 for Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 for 400 Microsoft Points and on PlayStation Network for $4.99. Players must have the retail game in order to access the “GAC Pack” content. For more information, please visit www.deadtorights.com or www.namcobandaigames.com.




    About NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
    NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. is a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer based in Santa Clara, CA. The company is a part of the NAMCO BANDAI group of companies known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including the PAC-MAN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and Tekken® brands. For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., and our products log onto http://www.namcobandaigames.com/.

    About Volatile Games
    Volatile Games specializes in the creation of games for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system. Based in Leamington Spa in the UK, Volatile Games is dedicated to the creation of high-quality and high-profile boxed console games for a mature gaming audience. Volatile Games is a division of Blitz Games Studios, founded in 1990 by games industry veterans Philip and Andrew Oliver and currently one of the largest independent games developers in the world.
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