Scratch Fever: Activision Announces DJ Hero

Activision has formally announced DJ Hero, a Guitar Hero-esque game where players create original song mixes using a new custom turntable controller.

Although games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band are certainly popular, not everyone wants to sling a six-string or try to win points fake-shredding along to old fogey dinosaur rock. Darnit, some music has moved on from the 1950s tech of electric guitars: where’s the hip-hop, the modern r&b, the house, the electronica? Where’s the popping and scratching and the DJ with the turntables?

Game publisher Activision is looking to tap into that market, and has formally announced DJ Hero, a long-rumored expansion on the Guitar Hero franchise. Although Activision has released few details, the game will use a new custom turntable controller and enable users to act as DJ’s who dominate the club scene with their original mixes of popular songs and music from popular recording artists and DJs. DJ Hero will feature music from multiple genres—including r&b, hip-hop, Motown, dance, and electronica—and promised to bring Guitar Hero’s “social gaming” to whole new audiences.

Activision hasn’t announced any release dates for DJ Hero, but industry watchers expect it to be available in time for the end-of-year holiday season.

Activision has also announced two new installments in the Guitar Hero franchise: Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero.Guitar Hero 5 will feature contemporary and classic rock tracks, and enable players to drop in and out of songs as well as change band members, instruments, and difficulty levels as they play. Band Hero will aim at the family audience, with an E10+ rating and a soundtrack compared of mainly Top 40 hits. Users will be able to play together (at different difficulty levels) using guitar, drums, bass, and a microphone.