Guitar Hero game franchise scores Hendrix hits
Last Updated: Sunday, July 20, 2008 | 10:46 AM ET
CBC News
The game will include The Wind Cries Mary, a live version of Purple Haze and an avatar fashioned after guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, seen in this undated photo. (Associated Press)The Guitar Hero video game franchise has reeled in a high-profile catch, netting two iconic songs by rock legend Jimi Hendrix for its upcoming instalment.
Experience Hendrix, which controls the music legacy of the famed guitarist, has struck a deal with developers Activision and Red Octane to showcase Hendrix's music and likeness for Guitar Hero World Tour, set for release Oct. 27.
The firm will permit the game developers to create an in-game avatar of the famed lefty guitarist and has provided two hit tracks for the fourth instalment of the popular title: The Wind Cries Mary and a live version of Purple Haze that was recorded in 1969, a year before his death.
Other Hendrix songs will also be available as downloadable content for the game in the future, the developers said.
While this will not be the first time Hendrix's music has been featured in a game — a cover version of Spanish Castle Magic was part of the first Guitar Hero — it is the first time his figure will be represented in a game, according to the developers.
The fierce rivalry between Guitar Hero and Rock Band has been heating up in advance of new instalments of the rock 'n' roll games slated for release this fall.
Though Guitar Hero came along first, allowing participants to play along to rock tunes via guitar-shaped controllers, Rock Band took the idea further by adding a microphone and a drum kit controller to the mix. The upcoming edition of Guitar Hero adds drums and a microphone as well.
Being included in the setlists of these games have become increasingly desired by musicians because they can introduce new, often younger audiences to older or little known bands. They are also a new income source thanks to the large fanbase of enthusiastic players willing to buy and download additional tracks to expand their gameplay.
Announcements about the two upcoming new installments emerged from this week's E3 computer and video game industry summit in Los Angeles.
On Monday, Rock Band developers Harmonix and MTV Games announced that a brand new track from the long awaited Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy would debut on its upcoming sequel Rock Band 2. They also scored tracks from musical heavyweights like Bob Dylan and AC/DC.
