Band Hero#DS version

{{See also|Guitar Hero#Gameplay|Guitar Hero 5#Gameplay|l1=Common gameplay elements in the Guitar Hero series|l2=Gameplay in Guitar Hero 5}}

The game is functionally similar to the features of Guitar Hero 5, including bands composed of any combination of four instruments, drop-in/drop-out play, in-song menus to change difficulty and instrument, and additional multiplayer modes compared to Guitar Hero 5's "Rockfest". Band Hero also retains the Band Moment and the Band Revival feature from Guitar Hero 5. The PlayStation 2 version retains the same game engine from Guitar Hero: World Tour, which features the same HUD style as Guitar Hero: Metallica. Taylor Swift, Adam Levine (of Maroon 5), and the band No Doubt are playable avatars in the game.{{cite news | url = http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2009/08/taylor-swift-/1 | title = Taylor Swift: Band Heroine | newspaper = USA Today | date = 2009-08-04 | access-date = 2009-08-04 | first = Mike | last = Snider | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120405202122/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2009/08/taylor-swift-/1 | archive-date = 2012-04-05 | url-status = live }}{{cite magazine | url = http://www.people.com/people/videos/0,,20295260,00.html | title = Taylor Swift: What a character! | date = 2009-08-04 | access-date = 2009-08-04 | magazine = People Magazine | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121006172805/http://www.people.com/people/videos/0,,20295260,00.html | archive-date = 2012-10-06 | url-status = live }}{{cite magazine | url = http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/08/18/adam-levine-maroon-5-band-hero/ | title = An EW Exclusive: Maroon 5's Adam Levine goes digital in 'Band Hero' | first = Whitney | last = Pastorek | date = 2009-08-18 | access-date = 2009-08-18 | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130728200651/http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/08/18/adam-levine-maroon-5-band-hero/ | archive-date = 2013-07-28 | url-status = live }}{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/27/kurt-cobain-joins-guitar-hero-5-how-nirvana-came-to-the-game/ | title = Kurt Cobain Joins "Guitar Hero 5": How Nirvana Came to the Game | magazine = Rolling Stone | date = 2009-08-27 | access-date = 2009-08-27 | first = Shirley | last = Halperin | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090919185544/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/27/kurt-cobain-joins-guitar-hero-5-how-nirvana-came-to-the-game/ | archive-date = 19 September 2009 | url-status = dead }} Artists performed motion capture for their in-game avatars.

Band Hero also introduced an updated revision of the drum kit that shipped with Guitar Hero World Tour. Many changes were made to address weight and size concerns that made assembly difficult, and the stand's crossbar was moved to the bottom to improve leg room and allow the bass pedal to be supported by it. The cymbals were changed to a circular shape from the previous triangular design, and the sensitivity of the drums themselves were adjusted. An in-game sensitivity adjustment feature is also supported. In the United States, the new controller was, for a limited time, exclusive to the game and instrument bundles of Band Hero on Wii. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the controller were released at a later date; Band Hero bundles for these platforms in the U.S. included the World Tour drum controller.{{cite web | url = http://gear.ign.com/articles/102/1029743p1.html | title = Band Hero Drum Set Hands-On | first =Scott| last = Lowe | date = 2009-09-29 | access-date= 2009-09-30 | website = IGN | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091004003022/http://gear.ign.com/articles/102/1029743p1.html| archive-date= 4 October 2009 | url-status= live}}

File:Band-hero-ds-drum-skin.jpg

Band Hero for the Nintendo DS features the ability to play the same instruments as the console-based versions. Though the game is compatible with the DS, DS Lite, DSi (vocals only), and 3DS (vocals only), only players on the DS Lite will receive the "full band" experience due to the nature of the hardware extensions for the unit.

Guitar and bass parts are played with the same "Guitar Grip" previously created for the Guitar Hero: On Tour series, though this unit will not work on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS due to lack of a GBA slot. The gameplay for guitar and bass is considered to be the fourth iteration of the Guitar Hero On Tour design by developers Vicarious Visions, and have further improvements to meet with different strumming styles.{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5320413/band-hero-ds-braces-for-the-skeptics-offers-a-lot | title = Band Hero DS Braces For The Skeptics, Offers A Lot | first = Stephan | last = Tolito | date =2009-07-23 | access-date = 2009-07-25 | publisher = Kotaku | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090725090656/http://kotaku.com//5320413//band-hero-ds-braces-for-the-skeptics-offers-a-lot| archive-date= 25 July 2009 | url-status= live}}

A new "drum skin" that fits over the bottom half of the DS unit provides four "pads" for drumming that map to the unit's directional pad and face buttons; this design was selected over use of the touch screen due to the inability of the touch screen to recognize near-simultaneous taps, a factor that would have interfered with the drumming experience. The drum skin is limited to the Nintendo DS Lite due to the skin's form factor. The decision to design towards the DS Lite rather than the newer DSi was due to the much larger volume of DS Lite units that had been sold relative to the DSi.{{cite web | url = http://news.spong.com/article/18717/Activison_Nintendo_DSi_hasnt_Sold_Enough | title = Activison: Nintendo DSi hasn't Sold Enough | publisher = Spong | date = 2009-07-24 | access-date = 2009-07-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090726103637/http://news.spong.com/article/18717/Activison_Nintendo_DSi_hasnt_Sold_Enough | archive-date = 2009-07-26 | url-status = live }}

The DS microphone is used for vocal parts. The DS has 30 of the songs from console versions. The game also supports up to four player multiplayer in a similar manner as Guitar Hero 5 using the DS's local wireless connections, allowing any combination of instruments.{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/59672 | title = Band Hero Brings Portable Drum Action to DS Lite | first = Chris | last = Faylor | date = 2009-07-23 | access-date = 2009-07-23 | publisher = Shacknews | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090725101520/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/59672 | archive-date = 2009-07-25 | url-status = live }}

A television advertisement, featuring Taylor Swift, Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy), Travis Barker (Blink-182), and Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), was created for the game by director Brett Ratner in the same manner as previous ads for other recent Guitar Hero games, initially paying tribute to the scene in Risky Business with Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear to the song "Old Time Rock and Roll". Though it appears as if all four performed together, Wentz stated that Swift performed her parts separately using a green screen to impose her into the footage of the other musicians.{{cite magazine | url = http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/11/03/pete-wentz-band-hero-tattoo-bronx-ashlee-simpson/ | title = Pete Wentz: A Music Mix Q&A on 'Band Hero,' lost-bet tattoos and why Fall Out Boy isn't breaking up | first = Joseph Brannigan | last = Lynch | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = 2009-11-03 | access-date = 2009-11-03 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091107001638/http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/11/03/pete-wentz-band-hero-tattoo-bronx-ashlee-simpson/| archive-date= 7 November 2009 | url-status= live}}

A three-song demo was made available on Xbox Live on October 15, 2009, and included "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven, "Picture to Burn" by Taylor Swift and "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. The demo was solely the Party Mode, with the three songs playable in random order.{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60876 | title = Band Hero Demo Arrives on Xbox 360, Has You 'Walking on Sunshine' | publisher = Shacknews | first = Chris | last = Faylor | date = 2009-10-15 | access-date = 2009-10-15 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091017194534/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60876| archive-date= 17 October 2009 | url-status= live}}

Band Hero for consoles features 65 songs from "mainstream acts".{{cite web|url=http://paralleluniverse.msn.com/features/music/band-hero-trailer/ |title=Sneak Peek: 'Band Hero' Tunes Up |publisher=MSNBC |date=2009-07-21 |access-date=2009-07-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725101355/http://paralleluniverse.msn.com/features/music/band-hero-trailer/ |archive-date=2009-07-25 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.spinner.com/2009/10/16/band-hero-tracklist-revealed/ | title = 'Band Hero' Tracklist Revealed – Exclusive | first = Dan | last = Reilly | work = Spinner | date = 2009-10-16 | access-date = 2009-10-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120222032048/http://www.spinner.com/2009/10/16/band-hero-tracklist-revealed/ | archive-date = 2012-02-22 | url-status = live }} The game also allowed Guitar Hero World Tour’s downloadable content to be used within Band Hero, as well as Guitar Hero 5.{{cite web | url = http://www.giantbomb.com/news/band-hero-to-bring-pop-music-to-your-plastic-this-november/1573/ | title = Band Hero To Bring Pop Music To Your Plastic This November | date = 2009-07-21 | access-date = 2009-07-22 | first = Jeff | last = Gerstmann | publisher = Giant Bomb | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090723200842/http://www.giantbomb.com/news/band-hero-to-bring-pop-music-to-your-plastic-this-november/1573/ | archive-date = 2009-07-23 | url-status = live }} In addition, some on-disc songs from Guitar Hero World Tour and Guitar Hero Smash Hits were importable into Band Hero, with music licensing limiting those that can be transferred, prior to the 2014 shutdown of DLC and exports.{{cite web | url = http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/101/1011988p1.html | title = Guitar Hero 5 Hands-on | first = Erik | last = Brudvig | date = 2009-08-07 | access-date = 2009-08-07 | website = IGN | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090810060243/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/101/1011988p1.html | archive-date = 2009-08-10 | url-status = live }} Furthermore, 69 of the 85 on-disc songs from Guitar Hero 5 can be imported into Band Hero; similarly, 61 of the 65 songs from Band Hero can be exported for use in Guitar Hero 5 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.{{cite web|url=http://hub.guitarhero.com/support/faq/song-import-information |title=Song Import Information |date=2009-10-19 |access-date=2009-10-19 |publisher=Activision |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927153152/http://hub.guitarhero.com/support/faq/song-import-information |archive-date=2009-09-27 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60913 | title = Band Hero Gets Full Tracklist, Song Export Details | first = Chris | last = Faylor | date = 2009-10-19 | access-date= 2009-10-19 | publisher = Shacknews| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091020190253/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60913| archive-date= 20 October 2009 | url-status= live}} All DLC works with Band Hero, along with all earlier on-disc songs marked as exportable, unlike Lego Rock Band which only allows DLC and exports marked as "family friendly".

The Nintendo DS version of Band Hero features thirty songs (per regional version from a forty-five song combined setlist) of the same genre as the console-based soundtrack. Although they feature some of the same artists from the console version, the tracks themselves are different.{{cite web | url = http://worthplaying.com/article/2009/9/28/news/68847/ | title = 'Band Hero' (ALL) Preliminary Tracklist Revealed | publisher = Worth Playing | date = 2009-09-28 | access-date =2009-09-28 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091002213518/http://worthplaying.com/article/2009/9/28/news/68847/| archive-date= 2 October 2009 | url-status= live}}

{{See also|List of songs in Guitar Hero World Tour|Guitar Hero Smash Hits#Soundtrack|List of songs in Guitar Hero 5|l2=List of songs in Guitar Hero Smash Hits|l3=List of songs in Guitar Hero 5}}

On release of Band Hero, 35 of the songs from World Tour and 21 from Smash Hits are importable into Band Hero for a small fee (approximately $0.10 per song), and are treated as downloadable content for the game playable in all game modes. Furthermore, 69 of the 85 tracks from Guitar Hero 5 will be importable into Band Hero. All transferred songs will also be playable in Guitar Hero 5 and will be free if downloaded in either games. However, Guitar Hero 5 or Band Hero is not backwards-compatible with World Tour nor any other Guitar Hero game. The transfer process requires the player to enter a unique code from the World Tour or Smash Hits manual to be able to redownload available songs in a pack (on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3) or individual songs (on the Wii) that have been updated to include the new features. Players on the Xbox 360 can delete individual songs after downloading the pack. Some songs are not transferable because of licensing issues—not technical issues—according to Bright. Tim Riley, the head of music licensing at Activision, stated that the company will continue to seek licenses for more songs from previous games and downloadable content to be exported into Band Hero, but cannot guarantee that these songs will be licensed for future Guitar Hero games.

{{See also|List of songs in Guitar Hero World Tour#Downloadable content|l1=Downloadable content for Guitar Hero World Tour|List of songs in Guitar Hero 5#Downloadable content|l2=Downloadable content for Guitar Hero 5}}

While Band Hero does not have its own separate library of downloadable content, it supports downloadable content from the Guitar Hero 5 DLC library. However, as of March 31, 2014 the downloadable content has been removed by Activision with no evidence it will be made available again.{{Cite web|title=Questions about Classic Guitar Hero Games|url=https://support.activision.com/articles/guitar-hero-classic-faq/#collapse02|access-date=2021-06-03|website=support.activision.com|language=en}}

In addition, 152 of the 158 available downloadable songs for Guitar Hero World Tour are forward-compatible with Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero; the existing content is automatically upgraded to include all features new to these games and was immediately available to players upon release of Band Hero.{{cite web |url=http://community.guitarhero.com/news_posts/214 |title=Guitar Hero 5 Official Press Release! |publisher=Neversoft |date=2009-05-18 |access-date=2009-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521130844/http://community.guitarhero.com/news_posts/214 |archive-date=2009-05-21 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58645 | title = First Guitar Hero 5 Songs Include Johnny Cash; Compatibility with GH World Tour DLC Confirmed | publisher = Shacknews | first = Chris | last = Faylor | date = 2009-05-15 | access-date = 2009-05-15 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090518092154/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58645| archive-date= 18 May 2009 | url-status= live}} Downloaded songs can be used in all game modes, provided all participating players have the song, including in the game's Career mode when players are given the option to select any song to play. The entire Band Hero DLC library is also available in Guitar Hero 5, and vice versa, so both games embrace the same DLC library. Some DLC songs have specific focus on Band Hero, like the "Celebrity New Years Track Pack" which includes Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 and No Doubt songs, and the "Band Hero Track Pack" with Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez & the Scene songs.

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 81%{{cite web | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/960601-band-hero/index.html | title = Band Hero for Xbox 360 | access-date = 2009-11-09 | publisher = GameRankings | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091108165331/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/960601-band-hero/index.html| archive-date= 8 November 2009 | url-status= live}}

| MC = 76/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/bandhero |title=Band Hero (Xbox360) |access-date=2009-11-09 |website=Metacritic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108165028/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/bandhero |archive-date=8 November 2009 |url-status=live }}

| 1UP = A−

| GI = 7.8/10

| GSpot = 8.0/10

| GSpy = 4.5/5

| GB = 3/5

| IGN = 7.9/10

}}

Band Hero has received mixed to positive reviews from gaming critics. Most recognized the game as having the same feature sets as Guitar Hero 5, including any benefits or flaws that may come from that. Reviewers praised the reuse of the Guitar Hero 5 features such as the Party Play mode that allows for players to jump in and out, the improved Career mode, and the improved GHTunes.{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3176795&p=4 | title = Band Hero Review | first = Justin | last = Haywald | date = 2009-11-05 | access-date = 2009-11-09 | website = 1UP.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105103401/http://www.1up.com/reviews/band-hero-review | archive-date = 2012-11-05 | url-status = live }}{{cite web | url = http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1041639p1.html | title = Band Hero Review | first = Greg | last = Miller | date =2009-11-03 | access-date = 2009-11-09 | website = IGN | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091106065931/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1041639p1.html| archive-date= 6 November 2009 | url-status= live}} Some identified that the target market of the game appears to be towards teenage girls, such as the featuring of Taylor Swift, the color schemes used in the game, and other parts of the song selection.{{cite web | url = http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/band-hero/1043107p1.html | title = The Consensus: Band Hero Review | first = Joe | last = Rybicki | date = 2009-11-06 | access-date = 2009-11-09 | publisher = GameSpy | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091109180153/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/band-hero/1043107p1.html | archive-date = 2009-11-09 | url-status = live }}{{cite web | url = http://www.giantbomb.com/band-hero/61-26367/reviews/ | title = Band Hero | first = Jeff | last = Gerstmann | date = 2009-11-04 | access-date = 2009-11-09 | publisher = Giant Bomb | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091108015324/http://www.giantbomb.com/band-hero/61-26367/reviews/| archive-date= 8 November 2009 | url-status= live}} Reviewers noted that setlist would be the strongest measure of whether players should purchase the game.{{Cite magazine | url = http://gameinformer.com/games/band_hero/b/xbox360/archive/2009/11/04/review.aspx | title = Band Hero | first = Matt | last = Miller | date = 2009-11-04 | access-date = 2009-11-09 | magazine = Game Informer | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091107111404/http://gameinformer.com/games/band_hero/b/xbox360/archive/2009/11/04/review.aspx | archive-date = 2009-11-07 | url-status = dead }} The reviewers also commented on the smaller setlist, which contains only 65 songs compared to Guitar Hero 5's 85.{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/bandhero/review.html | title = Band Hero Review | first = Chris | last = Watters | date = 2009-11-04 | access-date = 2009-11-09 | website = GameSpot | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091109020734/http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/bandhero/review.html| archive-date= 9 November 2009 | url-status= live}}

Review did note that the "Top 40" songs do not always make for challenging songs, as many featured simple chord repetition throughout the song or simply following pre-programmed electronic keyboard or drum beats. However, most songs were found to feature at least one difficult instrument portion that would be fun to play. Reviews also noted that the censoring of songs in order to affirm a family-friendly rating is awkward, such as censoring the word "whiskey" from Don McLean's "American Pie" (8 times), and can ruin the enjoyment of some songs. Greg Miller of IGN further noted that these censoring are at odds with the straight-up inclusion of other songs such as "Gasoline" by The Airborne Toxic Event which, Miller claims, is about sex.

Some reviews saw Band Hero as a good addition to the Guitar Hero franchise, and pointed out the strength of the game is improved in part due to the ability to import and export songs between Band Hero, Guitar Hero 5, and content. Justin Haywald of 1UP.com, in consideration of the equivalent nature of featured, considered that players now had a choice of "'Top 40' Band Hero or 'Hard Rock' [Guitar Hero 5]" skins to select for playing the music on, and positive direction for the series. However, others saw the simple rebranding of the game, and that some may see the product as little more than a "full-price track pack".

The game has sold 596,000 units in North America through January 2010, according to data from NPD Group.{{cite web | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/activisions-guitar-hero-chief-exits-after-less-than-a-year.html | title = Activision's Guitar Hero chief exits after less than a year | first= Ben | last = Fritz | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 2010-02-02 | access-date = 2010-02-02 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100205083209/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/activisions-guitar-hero-chief-exits-after-less-than-a-year.html| archive-date= 5 February 2010 | url-status= live}} Prior to the end of 2009, Activision had expressed plans to publish a sequel to Band Hero in 2010.{{cite magazine | url = http://www.mcvuk.com/features/584/Heroic-Deeds | title = Heroic Deeds | first = Michael | last = French | date = 2009-11-13 | access-date = 2009-11-17 | magazine = MCV | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091118014523/http://www.mcvuk.com/features/584/Heroic-Deeds| archive-date= 18 November 2009 | url-status= live}} However, as a result of overall decline in music game sales, in part due to the large number of SKUs released by Activision during 2009, such plans have been shelved and Activision only released sequels to Guitar Hero and DJ Hero in 2010.{{cite web | url = http://www.vg247.com/2010/02/10/actibliz-full-year-financials-2009-60-million-guitar-hero-songs-download/ | title = Acti Bliz slashes music SKUs, 60 million Guitar Hero songs downloaded | first = Stephany | last = Nunneley | website = VG247 | date = 2010-02-10 | access-date = 2010-02-10 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100213100915/http://www.vg247.com/2010/02/10/actibliz-full-year-financials-2009-60-million-guitar-hero-songs-download/| archive-date= 13 February 2010 | url-status= live}}

A day following Band Hero{{'}}s release, the band No Doubt filed a lawsuit against Activision. In a similar manner as Guitar Hero 5, where the avatar of Kurt Cobain could be used to play any of the songs in the game and leading to questionable virtual performances, the same was found to be true for the No Doubt avatars in Band Hero. No Doubt's lawsuit claimed their contract limited their performance to the three songs within the game and that they were never told their avatars would be used in that manner. Activision argued that it believes that the manner of use of the band's avatars in the game is within the bounds of the contract.{{cite web | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/11/no-doubt-sues-activision-over-band-hero.html | title = No Doubt sues Activision over Band Hero [Updated] | work = Los Angeles Times | first = Randy | last = Lewis | date = 2009-11-04 | access-date = 2009-11-04 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091106022050/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/11/no-doubt-sues-activision-over-band-hero.html| archive-date= 6 November 2009 | url-status= live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/04/no-doubt-sue-activision-over-use-of-band-hero-avatars/ |title=No Doubt Sue Activision Over Use of "Band Hero" Avatars |work=Rolling Stone |date=2009-11-04 |access-date=2009-11-04 |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109032136/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/04/no-doubt-sue-activision-over-use-of-band-hero-avatars/ |archive-date=9 November 2009 |url-status=dead }} Activision subsequently filed a counter-suit against the band, alleging contract breaches; Activision claimed that it was "publicly known" that in-game characters in the Guitar Hero series, once unlocked, could be used for all game modes, and that No Doubt's request came well after the game's code was finalized.{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/61544 | title = Activision Countersues No Doubt in Band Hero Spat | first = Jeff | last = Mattas | date = 2009-12-09 | access-date = 2009-12-09 | publisher = Activision | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091215075523/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/61544| archive-date= 15 December 2009 | url-status= live}} Courtney Love, who has expressed an intention to file legal action for Cobain's appearance in Guitar Hero 5, said to NME that she will join No Doubt in their lawsuit against Activision.{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5460325/courtney-love-now-says-cobain-wouldve-been-cool-with-guitar-hero-5 | title = Courtney Love Now Says Cobain Would've Been Cool With Guitar Hero 5 | date = 2010-01-30 | access-date = 2010-01-30 | publisher = Kotaku | first = Owen | last = Good | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100202133643/http://kotaku.com/5460325/courtney-love-now-says-cobain-wouldve-been-cool-with-guitar-hero-5| archive-date= 2 February 2010 | url-status= live}}

In April 2010, the Los Angeles County Superior Court denied Activision's motion to dismiss No Doubt's rights of publicity claims under California's anti-SLAPP law.{{cite web | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/04/no-doubt-wins-round-in-activision-lawsuit.html | title = No Doubt wins round in Activision lawsuit | work = Los Angeles Times | date =2010-04-15 | access-date = 2010-04-15 | first = Randy | last = Lewis | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100418045443/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/04/no-doubt-wins-round-in-activision-lawsuit.html| archive-date= 18 April 2010 | url-status= live}} In February 2011, the 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld the Superior Court's ruling, allowing No Doubt's case to proceed against Activision.{{cite web|url=http://www.bhcourier.com/article/Local_News/Local_News/No_Doubt_Breach_Of_Contract_Lawsuit_Update/74695 |title=No Doubt Breach Of Contract Lawsuit Update |date=2011-02-15 |access-date=2011-02-15 |work=Beverly Hills Courier |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707232026/http://www.bhcourier.com/article/Local_News/Local_News/No_Doubt_Breach_Of_Contract_Lawsuit_Update/74695 |archive-date=2011-07-07 }} In May 2012, the Superior Court denied Activision's motion for summary judgment, though it also denied a preliminary injunction sought by the band.

{{cite news | url = https://news.yahoo.com/jury-hear-no-doubts-claims-against-game-maker-171959673.html | title = Jury to hear No Doubt's claims against game maker | first = Anthony | last = McCartney | agency = Associated Press | date = 2012-05-29 | access-date = 2012-07-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120615053002/http://news.yahoo.com/jury-hear-no-doubts-claims-against-game-maker-171959673.html | archive-date = 2012-06-15 | url-status = live }}

In October 2012, on the eve of trial, the case was settled for undisclosed terms.{{Cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/no-doubt-activision-lawsuit-band-hero-376217/ | title = No Doubt, Activision Settle Lawsuit Over Avatars in 'Band Hero' | last = Gardner | first = Eriq | publisher = The Hollywood Reporter | date = 2012-10-03 | access-date = 2024-08-28 | quote = Gwen Stefani and No Doubt have settled a lawsuit against Activision that contended the Band Hero game featured their unauthorized likenesses in digital avatar form. The lawsuit was filed three years ago and had the potential to be an important case concerning publicity rights and contract law in the digital age. }}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.guitarhero.com/ Official site]
• [http://www.activision.com Activision]

{{Guitar Hero series}}

{{Authority control}}

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