There have been rumors about another Guitar Hero spin-off featuring Van Halen circling the internets for over a year now, but I have tried really hard to ignore them. Unfortunately, seeing an actual listing and release date for Guitar Hero: Van Halen on GameStop’s website, I can’t avoid the truth any longer. Yes, Activision is publishing another Guitar Hero game in 2009, and yes, it will feature Van Halen, and yes, that’s all we know. Well, that and the fact that it comes out on July 28 for the 360, PS3, Wii, and PS2.


Here’s the thing that bothers me about this, besides the fact that I’m not exactly a Van Halen fanatic: this should be downloadable content. This is what DLC was made for. Yet, Activision keeps releasing what are basically band-themed expansion backs for the retail price of a full Guitar Hero game. I can’t even blame Activision, because if people are willing to pay, why shouldn’t they try to milk every franchise they’ve got? Sometimes, I just want to find the people buying these games and say, “What is wrong with you?”