Microsoft hears the music with Lips and Rock Band 2

New games with music accessories sound a note

14 July 2008 23:15 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Microsoft has announced that it will have a strong music focus as part of its Christmas line up with games like Rock Band 2, Lips and Guitar Hero World Tour.

Lips, according to Microsoft will be an all-new music franchise that will be exclusively available on the Xbox 360 and features wireless motion-sensitive microphones and the ability to sing from your own music collection. The game will go up against Sony's SingStar.

Rock Band 2 will also debut exclusively on Xbox 360 this September in America and will allow players to virtually step into the shoes of their favourite bands as singer, guitarist, bassist or drummer.

This next iteration of the best-selling franchise will allow gamers to access all the great songs they purchased on Xbox LIVE for the original game and will feature new online capabilities and instrument options.

Guitar Hero World Tour, as previously announced, will be the sequel to Guitar Hero. The game will feature a newly redesigned guitar, a genuine electronic drum kit and a microphone, as well as a Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock-and-roll anthems, along with online Band Career and eight-player Battle of the Bands.