Guitar Hero 5

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug 28, 2009  -- Remembered as one of the most iconic artists in the history of alternative rock, Kurt Cobain's enduring legacy continues with his video game debut as one of five exclusive in-game artists in Guitar Hero ^® 5. The former lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana will be featured as a playable character, performing two of the band's hit singles from their 1991 genre-defining album Nevermind: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and a special, previously unreleased live recording of "Lithium." The band's breakthrough hit and one of the greatest rock songs of all time, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" helped define the 1990s and will speak to a whole new generation in Guitar Hero 5.

"Kurt Cobain is one of the most recognizable frontmen in rock 'n' roll history and it's an honor to have two of Nirvana's masterpieces included in Guitar Hero 5," said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision. "This is the first time the original recording of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' has ever been licensed in an entertainment property and we're thrilled to offer Guitar Hero ^® fans exclusive access to the unreleased live version of 'Lithium.'"

Guitar Hero 5 features the strongest, most varied set list to date comprised of master tracks from more than 80 of the hottest bands of today and the biggest classic acts; including Kings of Leon, The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Santana, Vampire Weekend, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, plus more than 25 artists from a variety of music genres that will be making their music video game debut. Among the first-time-ever features of Guitar Hero 5 are: Party Play, where players can jump in or drop out of gameplay seamlessly; RockFest, a comprehensive competitive experience available featuring five new head-to-head modes playable online or in your living room; and the ability to play the entire set-list from the first time the game is turned on.

Guitar Hero 5 refines the player experience, enhances the art style and redesigns core features such as GH ^TM Music Studio, making it the most accessible, fun-to-play and authentic experience for seasoned music gamers as well as first-time players. New innovations such as Band Moments, where bands are rewarded for hitting special note streams together and song challenges where gamers are tasked to play through a song a specific way, add a new competitive layer of excitement and accomplishment to the music rhythm genre.

Published by Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Guitar Hero 5 is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for Xbox 360 ^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION ^® 3 computer entertainment system, and by Vicarious Visions for the Wii ^TM system from Nintendo. Budcat is developing Guitar Hero 5 for the PlayStation ^® 2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated "T" for "Teen" by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero 5, please visit GH5.GuitarHero.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

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