Activision announced today that Xbox LIVE will host the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Rock Your Party Weekend, a special event happening the weekend of the big game, February 1-3, 2008 for U.S. and Canada residents. The 72-hour event gives players the chance to prove their axe grinding skills and includes a Play & Win Sweepstakes that offers gamers who register and play, the chance to win a multitude of prizes. Before the big game, fans can test their talents against Neversoft, developers of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, from 12 – 4 p.m. PST on Sunday, February 3.

Some of the prizes up for grabs include Microsoft points, Guitar Hero Gear and an Xbox 360 wireless guitar faceplate signed by Slash. One lucky grand prize winner will take home the Ultimate Home Gaming Center, which includes an LG 50" 1080p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV, an Xbox 360 Elite and a BoomChair - Wi-FX Wireless Gaming Chair.

Fans can register for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Rock Your Party Weekend on Xbox LIVE by downloading the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock GamerPics exclusively through Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360. Players can also register, where they can get additional details regarding terms, conditions and official rules.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock continues to build on Guitar Hero’s successful easy to play, but difficult to master gameplay mechanic to take the franchise to a whole new level. With master tracks from legendary bands like Sex Pistols, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Rolling Stones, Metallica, and Pearl Jam, along with original music composed specifically for the game by iconic guitarists Slash and Tom Morello, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock sports the greatest soundtrack to ever find its way into a videogame. Vastly improved graphics immerse gamers into their rock arenas and heighten their visual experience while the new wireless Gibson guitar controllers allow the players to channel their inner guitar gods. The arcade-inspired battle mode, expanded co-op career and boss battles add depth and extend gameplay for countless hours of shred time.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will include explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform. The game will feature a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by such legendary artists as Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the most popular rock songs ever recorded.

For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model for the Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. PS2 gamers will also get to shred on a new exclusive wireless guitar controller shape, Gibson's Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.

Features :

• Featuring over 70% master recordings, spanning over 40 years of music across many rock genres, Guitar Hero fans have the opportunity to shred to one of the greatest compilations of music ever. Adding to the track list are some of the most legendary European anthems with a vast array of downloadable content post-launch. From Metallica to Muse and Rolling Stones to Rage Against the Machine, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers up a truly legendary set list.
• Multiple tracks that can only be found in the game include guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello contributing original guitar riffs for their boss battles. Also, the Sex Pistols re-entered the studio for the first time in 30 years to re-record “Anarchy in the U.K.” providing Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock an original recording not available anywhere else. Additionally, Living Colour re-recorded their Grammy Award winning “Cult of Personality” adding a solo that left legendary guitarist Vernon Reid grunting.
• Improving the graphics from the ground up have created a more intense visual element giving guitar heroes the sense of performing on their own rock stage. Slash, Tom Morello and Bret Michaels spent hours in motion capture suits so that their movements and styles were translated perfectly to their in-game characters. Venue light shows have been coordinated for each song along with choreographing the animations for each band member. Ultra-detailed textures in the fictional characters and multiple outfits give the option of customizing the guitarist to meet everyone’s inner grunge, punk, metal or anything in between.
• The arcade-inspired battle mode adds a new dimension to the Guitar Hero franchise. The idea isn’t necessarily to hit the most notes, but rather hit the right ones and learn the nuances of using the power-up attacks. With Guitar Battle, Star Power sequences are replaced with Battle Power sequences. Hit every note in the Battle Power sequence and receive a power-up that can be used to attack the competition.
• Battle mode lends itself to the boss battles featuring Slash and Tom Morello. After defeating a boss, unlock them as a playable character and continue to the encore for the set list, which is a master recording of one of their most legendary songs. After defeating Slash, the next performance is “Welcome to the Jungle” and Slash stays on stage to play with the gamer. Likewise for Tom Morello and the hard-hitting “Bulls on Parade.”
• Taking the co-op experience to the next level is the new Co-op Career mode giving guitar heroes the chance to progress through their career with a friend. Since not all songs play well for both the lead and bass tracks, only the best songs are pulled from the single player career mode with six co-op career exclusive encore songs.
• Compete head-to-head in any of the competitive game modes online to prove who the most legendary guitar hero really is. Or, for those looking for a more friendly experience, shred to a few tracks on the lead or the bass in co-op online.
• Wireless guitars on the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii will have the Gibson Les Paul guitar shape, while the PS2 will be receiving a new design in the Gibson Kramer Striker shape.
• All guitars will have detachable necks for easier portability as well as storage. Adding a new level of personalization to the Les Paul Guitar controllers are interchangeable faceplates giving guitar heroes the opportunity to show their style via their instrument.

For Wii:

• Now that’s a Guitar! – The Wii Gibson Les Paul guitar controller has a void in the guitar for the Wii Remote to snap into and connects to the Wii Remote via the Nunchuk port. By using the Wii Remote, the guitar controller utilizes the wireless technology and accelerometer.
• That’s Wii terrific! – Adapting the Wii Remote’s technology, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock uses both the rumble feature and the speaker on the Wii Remote. The rumble can be felt shaking the guitar when rocking out with Star Power. The speaker comes in handy when playing multiplayer as “clinks” are heard through the Wii Remote as opposed to being ported through the TV speakers.

Previously announced tracks :

• Same Old Song and Dance (by Aerosmith)
• Helicopter (by Bloc Party)
• Stricken (by Disturbed)
• Monsters (by Matchbook Romance)
• Before I Forget (by Slipknot)
• Kool Thing (by Sonic Youth)
• When You Were Young (by The Killers)
• Devil Went Down to Georgia (as made famous by Charlie Daniels Band)
• Sunshine of Your Love (as made famous by Cream)
• Holiday in Cambodia (as made famous by Dead Kennedys)
• Cliffs of Dover (as made famous by Eric Johnson)
• Hit Me with Your Best Shot (as made famous by Pat Benetar)
• Black Magic Woman (as made famous by Santana)
• Story of My Life (as made famous by Social Distortion)
• Pride and Joy (as made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughn)
• The Seeker (as made famous by The Who)
• Black Sunshine (as made famous by White Zombie)
• Miss Murder (by AFI)
• Minus Celsius (by Backyard Babies)
• Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
• Hier Kommt Alex (by Die Toten Hosen)
• Through Fire and Flames (by Dragonforce)
• In the Belly of a Shark (by Gallows)
• Welcome to The Jungle (by Guns N' Roses)
• Avalancha (by Heroes Del Silencio)
• Take This Life (by In Flames)
• Number of the Beast (by Iron Maiden)
• Ruby (by Kaiser Chiefs)
• Closer (by Lacuna Coil)
• Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)
• One (by Metallica)
• Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
• Mauvais Garcon (by NAAST)
• Even Flow (by Pearl Jam)
• Lay Down (by Priestess)
• Bulls on Parade (by Rage Against The Machine)
• 3's and 7's (by Queens of the Stone Age)
• Suck My Kiss (by Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Generation Rock (by Revolverheld)
• Raining Blood (by Slayer)
• Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
• Radio Song (by Superbus)
• The Metal (by Tenacious D)
• I'm in the Band (by The Hellacopters)
• Anarchy in the U.K. (by The Sex Pistols)
• Reptillia (by The Strokes)
• Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
• My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
• Slash's Original Boss Battle Recording
• Tom Morello's Original Boss Battle Recording
• School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)
• Paranoid (as made famous by Black Sabbath)
• Cities on Flame (as made famous by Blue Oyster Cult)
• Slow Ride (as made famous by Foghat)
• Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)
• Rock and Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
• Mississippi Queen (as made famous by Mountain)
• Rock You Like a Hurricane (as made famous by Scorpions)
• La Grange (as made famous by ZZ Top)
• The Devil Went Down to Georgia (Steve Ouimette)

Venues

• Backyard Bash
• Desert Rock Tour
• Kaiju Megadome
• Lou's Inferno
• Mitch's Moose Lounge
• Shanker's Island
• Video Shoot
• Ye Olde Royal Odeon

Guitar Hero III Features

• Over 45 of the most legendary rock anthems of all-time
• Added multiplayer modes – arcade inspired battle and the dual shredding co-op career
• Challenge the legends of rock and roll in boss battles
• Take those axe shredding skills online and rock live around the world
• Expand upon your Guitar Hero experience with downloadable songs, themes and picture packs
• See how you match up against the best in the world on the Leaderboards
• All-new tricked out venues taking you to hell and back
• Your favorite characters freshly fitted with a few new faces

Guitar Hero III Les Paul/Kramer Guitar Controller Features

• Completely redesigned Gibson Les Paul/Kramer Guitar Controllers
• Wireless freedom to rock without constraints
• Swappable faceplates for maximum customization (available on the Les Paul Controller)
• Breakaway neck for easier transportation between performances
• Ultra-stylish start and back buttons