We don't see Sammy, maybe he's an unlockable?

2009 will be attack of the rhythm nation, we’ll see Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero, Band Hero, and Guitar Hero: Van Halen. With all of these titles hitting the storefronts, the publisher wants to give its games as much room to breathe as possible.

September 1st starts Activision’s rhythm game gauntlet with Guitar Hero 5′s, and today the publisher tells GameSpot it will end with the North American launch of Guitar Hero: Van Halen on December 22. The game is set for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and PlayStation 2 and previously had only been given a “second half of 2009″ launch window.

Like the Metallica and Aerosmith dedicated Guitar Hero games before it, Guitar Hero: Van Halen will feature 25 tracks from the hard rock group, as well as three playable solos by its famed guitarist, Eddie Van Halen. The game will also feature 19 other musical acts, including Queen, Weezer, Blink 182, The Offspring, and Queens of the Stone Age.

And looks like Mr. Hagar better drive faster than 55 to catch up because he totally got left out of this GH title (funny trombone sound).

The complete Guitar Hero: Van Halen set list: “Ain’t Talkin Bout Love”, “And the Cradle Will Rock”, “Atomic Punk”, “Beautiful Girls”, “Cathedral” (solo), “Dance the Night Away”, “Eruption” (solo), “Everybody Wants Some”, “Feel Your Love Tonight”, “Hang ‘Em High”, “Hear About it Later”, “Hot for Teacher”, “Ice Cream Man”, “I’m the One”, “Jamie’s Cryin”, “Jump”, “Little Guitars”, “Loss of Control”, “Mean Street”, “Panama”, “Pretty Woman”, “Romeo Delight”, “Running with the Devil”, “So This is Love”, “Somebody Get Me a Doctor”, “Spanish Fly” (solo), “Unchained”, and “You Really Got Me”.

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Activision rhythm rocker will allow use of virtual alter egos as playable characters on Microsoft’s console.

(Gamestop) – Yesterday, Activision revealed the last batch of tunes from Guitar Hero 5′s 85-song setlist, but the publisher has plenty left to talk about with its upcoming rhythm game. For example, Activision today confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero 5 will incorporate Microsoft’s user-customized avatars.

In addition to the roster of Guitar Hero staples, such as Axel Steel and the army of create-a-character options, Xbox 360 players will be able to play as their avatars onstage, whether it’s behind a guitar, drums, or microphone. Don’t expect the avatars to indulge in a rock-and-roll lifestyle, though. The restrictions Microsoft imposes on how its gamer proxies are portrayed in XBL Indie games presumably apply to standard third-party publishers as well.

As with last year’s Guitar Hero: World Tour, Guitar Hero 5 lets gamers accompany playable tunes on the guitar, bass, drums, or microphone. The publisher is also lifting the restriction on the one-instrument, one-player rules that have defined the series. Instead, rhythm rockers will be able to use any combination of instruments for any given song, with Activision giving the example of two guitars and two sets of drums rocking out together.

Guitar Hero 5 will be available September 1 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and Wii.

[Full article at Gamestop.com]