May 16, 2008

By By Antony Bruno, Denver

Rhythm game pioneer Konami -- the company behind the "Dance, Dance Revolution" franchise -- is going the "Rock Band" route with a new title called "Rock Revolution."

Like the existing "Rock Band" game from MTV/Harmonix, the Konami title will feature guitar, drum kit and microphone controllers allowes gamers to play along to the songs provided. It will ship with at least 40 tracks, with new songs available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store online.

It is scheduled to be released this October on all major game consoles. Unlike competitors "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero," "Rock Revolution" will only feature cover tracks, not master recordings. Additionally, it will include a virtual music studio that lets gamers create their own songs or engage in free-form "jams."

Meanwhile, the primary competitor to "Rock Band" -- "Guitar Hero" -- will take on a new look for the next installment, "Guitar Hero 4." Videogame magazine Game Informer broke the news that "Guitar Hero 4" will include drums and vocals. The game will also include a studio mode, and allow gamers to share songs.

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