News Bytes: New Guitar Hero 3 Tracks

More Guitar Hero III tracks unveiled

Activision recently flew some of the ScoreHero folks out to developer Neversoft's studio and they returned with news of four new Guitar Hero III tracks.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Suck My Kiss," Iron Maiden's "Number Of The Beast," and Dragonforce's "Through the Fire And Flames" will appear in the game as master track recordings provided by the original bands. Meanwhile, ZZ Top's "La Grange" will be re-recorded by Wave Group.

Heavenly Sword demo, GripShift update hit PSN

A brief playable demo of Ninja Theory's upcoming Heavenly Sword (PS3) was added to the PlayStation Store today, along with an update for Sidhe Interactive's GripShift that reduces load times and makes several slight interface tweaks. Heavenly Sword is slated to release in September.

Diner Dash, other casual games console-bound

PlayFirst and Hudson Soft today announced that they will be bringing several PlayFirst-published PC casual games to "digital download services for console services." Included in the deal are Gamelab's Diner Dash, PlayFirst's Mystery of Shark Island, Viqua Games' Sandscript, Red Rocket Games' Zenerchi, Mind Control Software's Oasis, and Big Splash Games' Chocolatier.

The games will begin appearing on the unspecified console download services in 2008.

New Xbox Live demos, in-game content

More in-game content and demos arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace today.

Owners of Eden Studios' Test Drive Unlimited can obtain a free Holden Efijy concept car as well as a 350 Microsoft Point ($4.37) vehicle pack that adds the Ferrari 512 TR, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R, Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole, Spyker C8 Spyder T, Dodge Charger Super Bee and Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Coupe.

Downloadable content also appeared for Ubisoft Shanghai's Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent. Available for free, it brings two new multiplayer maps and the Spy Girl character, complete with three outfits, to the game.

In the realm of demos, Xbox Live subscribers now have the chance to sample Climax Studios' MotoGP '07 and Omega Force's Dynasty Warriors:GUNDAM.

Official Xbox Magazine goes digital

Official Xbox Magazine will begin offering content through Xbox Live Marketplace under the label OXM Digital. Priced at 200 Microsoft Points ($2.50) a pop, the monthly OXM Digital releases will include exclusive demos, HD video, dashboard themes and gamer pictures.

"If you are one of the people who says 'I don't get OXM anymore, but I wish I could get that exclusive demo,' here's another way to get it," wrote OXM's Dam Amrich on the offical Xbox forum. "There will be some crossover of other content too, but the Game Disc and Digital are being designed as different beasts."

The Sims expand again

Another expansion pack for Electronic Art's The Sims 2 is on the way. Dubbed The Sims 2 Bon Voyage, the pack includes three vacation destination for the virtual people, complete with new activities, items and customs. It will be available this September.