DIGITAL GAMES

Swanky TV Ads Precede Guitar Hero World Tour

Activision Publishing has roped in popular stars for making TV ads in the run-up to the October 26 release of Guitar Hero World Tour, the latest installment in this video game franchise. Each ad will highlight different celebrities jamming on instruments from Guitar Hero World Tour to the song "Old Time Rock and Roll," performed by Bob Seger. 

The first commercial, which debuts today (Oct. 24), features Kobe Bryant rocking the mic, Alex Rodriguez and Michael Phelps dancing while ripping it up on the exhilarating new guitars, and Tony Hawk sliding in on a skateboard to play the drums.  

The new commercials are an extension of the "Risky Business"-inspired Guitar Hero ads starring American Idol season seven-winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuletta that aired during the American Idol season finale on May 21, 2008. Brett Ratner, who directed the American Idol contestants in the earlier Guitar Hero spots, is back on board to inspire others to unleash their inner rock star. The commercials were produced by advertising agency DDB and H.S.I. Productions. 

"Guitar Hero is loved by people of all ages and it has truly become a part of pop culture," said Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. "To appeal to the multi-generational Guitar Hero fans out there, we tapped a wide range of athletes, actors, and supermodels to unleash their inner rock stars and live out their rock and roll fantasies. This is only the first start-studded Guitar Hero World Tour commercial with many more to come." 

Beginning October 26, a new generation of guitarists, drummers, and fearless front men will come together to rock with Guitar Hero World Tour, which transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero's signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience. The game features a newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller, and a microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock 'n' roll anthems. 

Fans can enjoy more than 86 master recordings including favorites by Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Van Halen, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Linkin Park, Michael Jackson, and more. 

Guitar Hero World Tour is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system.  

The Wii version is being developed by Vicarious Visions. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system version is being developed by Budcat.  

The game is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB.