Nov. 3, 2009 (PR Newswire) --

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hitting store shelves throughout North America today, Activision Publishing, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Band Hero(TM) for Wii(TM), Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and Nintendo DS(TM) Lite explodes onto the scene with the most exciting and accessible set lists everyone can enjoy at home or on the road, featuring chart-topping tracks from the most popular bands of yesterday and today. With the console versions, up-and-coming pop superstars can create the band of their dreams with any combination of multiple guitarists, bassists, drummers and vocalists or hit all the high notes together in the new karaoke-style Sing-Along mode. Fans can also step into the spotlight as their favorite popular music stars with Taylor Swift and Maroon 5's Adam Levine making appearances as playable characters.

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"Band Hero takes the critically acclaimed Guitar Hero® 5 game features to new heights and delivers the most popular artists into your living room," said Dan Rosensweig, president and chief executive officer of Guitar Hero®. "As our first E10+ rated console game, Band Hero will become the new soundtrack to family game night."

Hit the road with Band Hero as Nintendo DS Lite owners join the band with an all-new gameplay experience that allows full band play on-the-go for any combination of guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Featuring an exclusive set list, Band Hero for Nintendo DS Lite extends the renowned guitar-only gameplay from the Guitar Hero® On Tour® series to full band play with the introduction of the innovative Drum Grip(TM) and use of the built-in microphone for vocal play. Band Hero for Nintendo DS Lite players can also connect to the Wii version to unlock extra gameplay and content including Fan Request challenges.

Band Hero for Wii also features multiple exclusive game modes for Nintendo fans that will allow living room rock stars to interact with their music and friends in a new social gameplay experience. While players and their bands are rocking away on the Wii version of Band Hero, family and friends who own Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi can update and change the band's set list on the fly giving them the ability to experience the performance they want in DS Party Play. Nintendo DS fans can virtually live the life of a band roadie thanks to Roadie Battle mode which allows up to two Nintendo DS players to connect with two Band Hero Wii guitarists for an intense competition of navigating from one side of the stage to the other trying to sabotage opponents' equipment while repairing any damage to their own. Band Hero also features Mii(TM) Freestyle Mode made popular in Guitar Hero 5.