If you hadn't heard already, Harmonix, the original developers of Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II, aren't the ones making Guitar Hero III, set to go on tour on the PS3, PS2, XBOX 360, and Nintendo Wii.  ("Go on tour." Get it? Because it's a game about, you know, playing music and stuff and bands go on...ah, f' it). Rather, they've handed off the flaming guitar to Neversoft, developers of the Tony Hawk franchise that really made people wonder how Tony Hawk could put up with his nipples constantly dripping blood from being milked so hard and for so long.

Besides 45 new songs, the most noteworthy addition to the game is that of Boss Battles. Basically, you compete against rockers such as Slash in the same competition mode that you used to play against friends with, except you can "attack" each other with things like Amp Overloads and stealing power-ups. Replacing a person with a computer is the innovation here, I guess.

And if that didn't cave your skull in, you're not going to believe the other thing that Neversoft is doing: duel co-op career mode. That's right, what you got to do in Guitar Hero II, you can now do...with another person.

I really hate to be bashing this game, but I'm pretty lazy--damn near comatose, really--and even I think Neversoft is slacking off too much. If Harmonix wasn't working on the next big step for music-inspired gaming (i.e. Rock Band), I'd be way more pissed off. As of now, I'm just giving Neversoft the finger. However, being rather sloth-like, it looks like I'm just holding up the back of my hand to the computer screen.

Check out the trailer and what songs have been announced below. Or don't. I don't, you know, care. I guess.

    * "Barracuda" - Heart
    * "Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins
    * "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
    * "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam
    * "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
    * "Lay Down" - Priestess
    * "The Metal" - Tenacious D
    * "My Name Is Jonas" - Weezer
    * "Paint It, Black" - The Rolling Stones
    * "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss
    * "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
    * "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys
    * "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
    * "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
    * "Slow Ride" - Foghat
    * "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses