Since Activision is in party mode, the publisher has announced that it will host a Xbox Live weekend this month, letting players 14 years of age or older participate in a number of activities to celebrate Guitar Hero: World Tour.

The activities include an Xbox All NIghter on November 27; Play & Win sweepstakes from November 28 through 30; and Game with Developers on November 30 from 10pm to 1am GMT.

Those who play during the weekend can win special prizes, including Samsung home theater packages, 1GB memory sticks and more. However, most interesting will be the Game with Developers session where lucky gamers can have their ass whooped by the makers of the game themselves. Here are the people who are participating:

• GHDevTina – Producer
• GHDevLee – Associate Producer
• GHDevCorey – Production Coordinator
• GHDevAnthony – Midi Designer
• GHDevChris – Midi Designer
• GHDevJason – Lead Animator
• GHDevZack – Junior Programmer
• GHDevJosh – Jr. Sound Designer
• GHDevKristina – Mocap Supervisor
• GHDevJustin – Mocap Tech
• GHDevAdry – QA Tester
• GHDevBrandon – QA Tester
• GHDevTravisR – QA Tester

You can check out the event’s official website for more information.

Keeping the stream of content flowing, Activision today announced that tracks from The Killers’ upcoming album will be made available for Guitar Hero: World Tour. The songs will be available simultaneously with the album’s release on November 25.

Two singles from the album will be playable: “Human” and “Losing Touch”. Rounding out the pack will be “Mr. Brightside” from the band’s debut album Hot Fuss. It will be available on both Xbox Live and PlayStation Network for 440 Microsoft points ($5.49). Songs can also be bought individually for 160 points ($1.99) a piece.

Hoping to further capitalize on the Guitar Hero franchise, Activision today announced the acquisiiton of Budcat Creations, the studio who worked on the PS2 and Wii versions of games in the aforementioned music franchise. They are currently working on a new game in the same franchise.

"Budcat Creations is an outstanding developer with an experienced management team and a very talented group of programmers, designers and artists," said Mike Griffith, President and CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. "In addition to strengthening our development capabilities on the Nintendo platforms, this acquisition increases our Guitar Hero development resources as we continue to grow the franchise and expand our global leadership position in the music-based genre."

The studio now becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision, the largest publisher in North America. They are based on Iowa City, Iowa. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The next entry in the Guitar Hero series won’t be called Guitar Hero IV, but Guitar Hero World Tour, publisher Activision has announced. Set to arrive on PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii this Fall, no further information was provided for the title.

The company, however, recently revealed the five-pad drum kit that it claims are “the most realistic drums”. The game will also reportedly let users record, create music and share it with the rest of the world. Four bands have already been confirmed to be in the game - Van Halen, The Eagles, Linkin Park and Sublime.

Just when is too good considered “too good”? Well, now you can ask The Romantics, a washed-up group, who is suing Activision over the inclusion of a “too good” cover version of their song “What I like about You” in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the ’80s.

Apparently, the cover version infringed on the group’s rights to its own likeness, with the band claiming that it was an imitation that was “much like the Romantics’ original”. The band is seeking unspecified damages and is also seeking an injunction that could take the game off store shelves.

Ever wanted to play Guitar Hero with a real guitar? Your wish has been answered by a company called Art Guitar who has created a PS2 Guitar Hero controller from a real Peavey guitar. The limited edition AG Riff Master controller is now available for pre-order for $399.

Some of the guys over at ScoreHero had the chance to visit Neversoft’s studio and check out Guitar Hero III. Not only did they return with gameplay impressions, but also word of four new tracks in the game: Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Suck My Kiss,” Iron Maiden’s “Number Of The Beast,” Dragonforce’s “Through the Fire And Flames” and ZZ Top’s “La Grange.”

The first three songs will be master recordings, with the last being a cover of the song. This update brings the list of known tracks to 20, with a majority being those performed by the original bands.

Guitar Hero 3 is set for release this October on PS2, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360. There will also be a new guitar controller released with the game.

Even though Activision saw a net loss of $18 million this quarter, the publisher spent $100 million on purchasing RedOctane, the studio behind the Guitar Hero series. RedOctane’s price weighed in at $99.9 million, $31 million of which was paid in cash, $30 million in Activision common stock and $40 in additional Activision stock payable over two years.

RedOctane today announced that it has begun shipping a limited number of solo Guitar Hero SG Controllers into stores throughout Europe. Modeled after the Gibson SG, the guitar controller for the game is available for £30.

In multi-player mode, two guitarists compete for the ultimate rock accolade as they thrash off individual sections of each song. Tunes alternate between the guitarists, with each player being judged on accuracy, timing and judicious use of Star Power. The player with the highest score at the end of the track wins - but with clever use of the game’s multipliers and bonuses, evenly matched guitar heroes will be contesting victory until the very final note.

Guitar Hero for the PS2 is priced at £50 complete with a Gibson replica Guitar Hero SG controller. A sequel is on the way.

Guitar Hero II will be rocking Kentia Hall this year! RedOctane has announced that E3 attendees will get the opportunity to play demos of the upcoming game, as well as enjoy live performances by bands featured in the original Guitar Hero. There will also be special guest appearances by female guitarist Judita Wignall from the band Halo Friendlies, the inspiration behind the character Judy Nails.

Below is the complete schedule:

WEDNESDAY, May 10th at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.:

Hard-rock band Drist starring Marcus Henderson will rock the crowd and perform hits from their newly launched album “Orchids and Ammunition!” Marcus is an original guitar hero who recorded multiple guitar tracks for the Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II soundtracks.

THURSDAY, May 11th at 10 a.m. & 3 p.m.:

Graveyard BBQ, winners of the first “Be a Guitar Hero” competition, will perform their winning song “Cheat on the Church” along with many others from their debut album “Graveyard BBQ Greatest Hits Volume 1.”

FRIDAY, May 12th at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.:

Los Angeles-based rock sensation Shaimus will woo the crowd with the smooth stylings from their recently released album “Paper Sun,” including their first hit single “All of This” from Guitar Hero.

The game will be out this November for the PS2.

Get your inner rock star active! RedOctane has announced Guitar Hero II for release this Fall. The sequel will feature a new track list, new venues and additional play modes, including the ability to transform the original Guitar Hero controller into a rhythm, lead or bass guitar.

No details on the track list are available, but it was let out that the list will feature a mix of classic rock, ‘hair’ metal, heavy metal, modern rock and alternative songs. More than 55 songs will be featured in the title.

An early glimpse of the game will be shown at E3 in a couple of weeks. Guitar Hero II is scheduled for release this November.

European headbangers will get their chance to rock this April when Guitar Hero heads their way. RedOctane, the guitar game’s publisher, has announced that the title will be hitting shelves in the region in two months time; it’ll retail for £50 and will come with a guitar peripheral shaped like a Gibson SG.

Already available in North America, Guitar Hero has players strumming along to 30 licensed rock songs. It features a single-player mode that has the player rise from obscurity to a rock star; multiplayer modes are also present, offering head-to-head fun.