Video Game to Feature Gibson Guitars

Press release
Source: RedOctane, Inc.

RedOctane®, a leading creator of music video games and peripherals, has announced an exclusive deal with musical giant Gibson Guitar where several famous Gibson models will be featured in the new game Guitar Hero(TM), the highly anticipated rock 'n roll guitar video game coming in the fall of 2005 to the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

"Gibson guitars are an essential American rock element revered by musical artists worldwide for their incredible style and amazing sound," said Kai Huang, CEO of RedOctane. "This is the first time a guitar manufacturer has been exclusively featured in a video game, and we're excited to be working with such an iconic company."

"Gibson Guitar is the perfect partner for this high energy game from RedOctane," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO Gibson Guitar. "Gibson is every Guitar Hero's instrument of choice and now they can have it in a rock-n-roll simulation game too."

Guitar Hero, developed by veteran music video game creator Harmonix®, combines the best of rhythm game action with classic American music. The game puts you at center stage of your very own rock band, featuring unique characters, a selection of Gibson electric guitars to play and concert venues that grow in size as your music career progress. The title includes over 30 licensed rock songs including tracks originally made famous by such artists as Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, Boston, Sum 41, Audioslave, White Zombie, Franz Ferdinand, and The Ramones.

"Seeing Gibson guitars in the game adds a sense of realism to Guitar Hero, that we feel will really appeal to rock fans," said John Tam, game producer of Guitar Hero. "The game is going to feature a number of legendary Gibson guitars, and players will be able to choose from a number of different paint schemes for each."

The game has been met with rave reviews in the gaming community, winning "Best of Show 2005" at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) and was one of twenty-five games invited to demonstrate at "G-Phoria" -- G4 videogame TV's annual award show in Los Angeles.

For more information on Guitar Hero and game bundle pre-order information, please visit www.guitarherogame.com.

About RedOctane

Based in Sunnyvale, California, RedOctane® is an innovative new video game publisher, specializing in music and rhythm games. RedOctane is also the leading provider of unique, high-quality video game peripherals and accessories. For more information on RedOctane please visit www.RedOctane.com.

About Gibson Guitars

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibson's digital guitar represents the biggest advancement in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Gibson Guitar Corp's family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Baldwin, Hamilton and Wurlitzer. For more information on Gibson go to www.gibson.com.

NOTE: Harmonix is a registered trademark of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.

RedOctane® is a registered trademark of RedOctane, Inc. "Guitar Hero" is trademark of RedOctane, Inc. Developed by Harmonix Music Systems. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tracie Snitker of Reverb Communications, +1-209-586-1495, ext. 104, or Tracie@reverbinc.com, for RedOctane; or Caroline Galloway of Gibson Guitar Corporation, +1-440-338-3469, or +1-440-725-9265, or Caroline.galloway@gibson.com.