There will be no stop to the rocking on Guitar Hero: World Tour, assuming you dig downloadable track packs of course. Oh, and acoustic songs. And Paul McCartney in a non-Beatles context. Now that we’ve moved past just guitars in our music games, this isn’t a problem, and is actually a welcome addition to the franchise.

This gives you a chance to turn down the lights, whip out your lighter, and belt out some emotional tunes over the mic while your drummer takes it easy, giving him time to develop that nasty drug habit and leave the band citing “creative differences”. Remember kids, friends don’t let friends turn into drug-addled superstars, so throw your timekeeper a bone and rock out to a metal tune every now and again, won’t you?

In addition to the acoustic songs coming from The Shins (“New Slang”), Incubus (“Drive”), and Ryan Adams (a cover of “Wonderwall”) on February 12, and the three songs from McCartney’s post-Beatles vehicle, Wings (February 19), you’ve got a Bob Seger track pack, which will include “Old Time Rock and Roll”, “Her Strut” and a live version of “Get Out of Denver”, all available for download February 26.

Each pack will run you 440 Microsoft points or $5.49 in non-gamer currency over the Playstation Network. They will also be available as singles for a lower price, and 200 points on the Wii.

From Activision:

GUITAR HERO‚® WORLD TOUR‘S DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT SET LIST CONTINUES TO EXPAND WITH NEW TRACK PACKS IN FEBRUARY

SANTA MONICA, CA – January 27, 2009 – Having already delivered fans over 70 rockin’ downloadable tracks for Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) 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.

On February 12th, rockers Incubus, The Shins and Ryan Adams turn off the amps and electric guitars in the Acoustic Track Pack.‚  Coming to Guitar Hero World Tour are Incubus’ “Drive,” The Shins’ “New Slang” and Ryan Adams’ GRAMMY‚® Award nominated version of “Wonderwall.”

Following their debut appearance on disc in Guitar Hero World Tour with “Band on the Run,” Paul McCartney’s Wings return to the Guitar Hero stage with the Wings Track Pack.‚  “Junior’s Farm,” “Hi Hi Hi” and “Jet,” three top-ten hits from the band’s diverse catalog of music, will be available for download on February 19th.

GRAMMY Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Academy Award nominee Bob Seger will make his Guitar Hero downloadable content debut with the Bob Seger Track Pack.‚  After making an appearance in ads highlighting different celebrities jamming on instruments from Guitar Hero World Tour, Seger’s legendary hit “Old Time Rock and Roll” joins “Her Strut” and a live-recording of “Get Out of Denver” in the Bob Seger Track Pack, available for download on February 26th.

The Acoustic, Wings and Bob Seger Track Packs will be available on Xbox LIVE‚® Marketplace for the Xbox 360‚® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 440 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation‚®Store for the PLAYSTATION‚®3 computer entertainment system for $5.49.‚  The songs in each Track Pack will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PLAYSTATION 3 system for $1.99 and WiiTM for 200 Wii Points.

Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online.‚  The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems.‚  Music creators are also able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation‚®2 computer entertainment system. ‚ The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.‚  For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.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, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea.‚  More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

About The Author

Marc Normandin was gaming editor of Blast from 2008 to mid-2010. You can reach him via e-mail at [email protected], or follow him on Twitter @Marc_Normandin

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