The latest game in the hugely successful Guitar Hero franchise has been confirmed as Guitar Hero World Tour!

So what's new? Well, first up we're told that they'll be a "cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless instruments with revolutionary new online and offline gameplay modes". They'll also be new peripherals, including an electronic drum kit, a microphone and a music studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share rock and roll anthems. In addition, we can look forward to an online Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands.”

Guitar Hero World Tour will also apparently boast the largest set list out of all the musical rhythm-based games, with master recordings from the likes of Van Halen, Linkin Park, The Eagles and Sublime.

They'll also be customisation options allowing us change the appearance of our character and even create a band logo and album cover.

One of things that Activision seem keen to stress is the quality of the drum kit, which will feature three drum pads, two raised cymbals and a bass kick pedal. The drum controller combines larger and quieter, velocity-sensitive drum heads with soft rubber construction to deliver authentic bounce back and is easy to set up, move, break down and store.

The music studio will allow gamers to share their recordings online, via GHTunes.

Rock Band, which is on general release tomorrow, may have beaten them to it, but the extra game modes and features in Guitar Hero World Tour may just be enough to tempt wannabe rockers out there to give it a try.

Guitar Hero World Tour will be available for PS2, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii this Autumn, 2008.