Activision is definitely taking the hits nowadays. First it was Harmonix lodging a royalty suit with the company - now, Gibson Guitars, maker of fine musical axes for those of us ready to rock, has just filed a patent suit with them. It seems that the Guitar Hero franchise is infringing on one of their patents, made back during 1999. Check out all the details in the full article.

Surfer Girl's got some more inside scoop for all of us gaming aficionados, and as usual, they're just as juicy as a freshly squeezed lemon on a bright sunny day. From new Guitar Hero titles coming out this year to Sony's greatest lines for the PS3, it's bound to get you crossing your fingers tight.

Read on to find out what these goodies are.

According to data gathered by the NPD group, the Guitar Hero franchise has set a new industry record by generating over US$ 1 billion in North American retail sales over a span of 26 months. This achievement was undoubtedly helped by the recent success of the latest game in the franchise: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PS3, PC).

More information in the full article.

So you finally got that achievement you've been trying so hard to unlock. What do you do if, one morning, you wake up and find it gone? Check out the full article to find out what a gamer did when he lost his hard-to-get Guitar Hero 2 achievement.

This year, we've seen a lot of crazy things. But what's been popular though (Vanessa Ann Hudgens photos aside)? Yahoo! can probably answer that with their annual "Top Trends in Search" list for 2007.

While there are a lot of keywords being searched this year, what concerns us is the list of top 10 searches in technology. Who're the movers and shakers? You can probably guess already, but read more to see the full list!

Still rocking it out with Guitar Hero II on your Xbox 360? Then be prepared for a new challenge as RedOctane has recently released yet another downloadable content pack for the Xbox 360 version of the game, and this one tastes a bit more indie than the others. Different flavor, yes, but still worth a look.

Check out the entire scoop at the full article.

When a gaming company manages to churn out a hit franchise, we'd most probably think that they hit paydirt, like what Activision did when they came up with the Guitar Hero series of games. However, the benefits of coming up with a great title may be a bit of a bane as well.

According to analyst Mike Hickey from Janco Partners, the emerging competition resulting from Activision's Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk franchises may prove to be "damaging for growth prospects".

Of course, when talking about Guitar Hero's and Tony Hawk's competition, it can only mean Harmonix' Rock Band (for the Xbox 360, PS3) and EA's Skate (also for the Xbox 360 and PS3). Hickey said that Rock Band may prove to be a compelling option in the console music gaming genre, which may eventually mean trouble for Activision itself.

Hickey said that analysts are expecting the Guitar Hero series to develop and evolve with the addition of new music peripherals in the near future, which will help the franchise in staying afloat in the midst of competition.

With the imminent release of both Harmonix's Rock Band (for PS2, PS3, and Xbox 360) and Activision's Guitar Hero III coming up (for the Wii, PC, PS3, and Xbox 360), fans of the console guitar-strumming games who already own a guitar controller should be wondering if their trusty guitar will work with the two new titles.

Thankfully IGN was kind enough to check the compatibility of the three existing controllers: Guitar Hero II's X-Plorer, Guitar Hero III's Les Paul, and Rock Band's Stratocaster. With the exception of the Stratocaster, all three guitars can be used interchangeably for all three games.

However, here's the (understandable) catch: Both Guitar Hero II and III's guitars can be used for Rock Band, but they cannot activate any of Rock Band's special effects. On the other hand, Rock Band's Stratocaster sadly cannot be used for either Guitar Hero II or III.

Why is it that Rock Band's Stratocaster does not return the compatibility favor? In any case, let's just enjoy the upcoming guitar titles. Stay tuned for more updates!

So you loved the first Guitar Hero games - and it's a bet we're willing to take that you're gonna love Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - and you grew attached to the soundtrack (from playing the level so many times) that you just have to have it. Well here's your chance to download the complete albums (plural, meaning from all the games) from the iTunes store.

iTunes is now offering features tracks from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and finally, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Almost all the songs will be available, and a new version of Anarchy in the UK performed by the Sex pistols will also be downloadable as a separate track.

The series will also feature custom-created playlists featuring tracks chosen by artist and by genre, including a guitar-themed playlist. The tracks are available through the iTunes Store, following the read link below. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) itself will be available on November 23 but you don't have to wait to listen to the soundtrack.

Target will be holding its first ever Guitar Hero event at this year's Entertainment for All Expo. Attendees will be able to shred through a pre-release demo of Red Octane and Activision's Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) at the event.

E for All attendees will also be able to showcase their shredding skills at one of the Guitar Hero II kiosks for a chance to qualify for the final Guitar Hero II showdown on Saturday, October 20. The winner will get to walk away with more than US$ 3,000 in cash and Target gift cards.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock from Red Octane and Activision hits retail stores on October 28. The Entertainment for All Expo will take place on October 18 until October 21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Buy: [Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (PS3)]
Buy: [Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Wii)]