Ensuring that its upcoming guitar-based rhythm game Guitar Hero will have some authenticity to its name, RedOctane has inked a deal with Gibson Guitar to feature their models exclusively in the game.

"Gibson guitars are an essential American rock element revered by musical artists worldwide for their incredible style and amazing sound," rattles 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."

From Harmonix (of Amplitude and FreQuency fame), Guitar Hero has players rocking out center stage in their own (cover) band, with 30+ licensed tracks from the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, Boston, Sum 41, Audioslave, White Zombie, Franz Ferdinand, and The Ramones. With a wide selection of original characters and Gibson guitars at your disposal, putting on a memorable show for those sold out crowds should be cake... so long as your timing isn't that of a senior citizen. No offense, grandma!

Get ready to plug in and rock out this fall with Guitar Hero, exclusively on the PlayStation 2!