Gamasutra published an interview today with Masaya Matsuura, PaRappa the Rapper's creator. Conducted late last year, the interview is far ranging, but one interesting tidbit arose when the topic of music game peripherals came up. Matsuura told Gamasutra that he's more interested in conveying the act of playing music through his software, rather than via an extraneous peripheral. He said to Gamasutra: As I told you, I really want to feel as if I'm playing the actual guitar... Of course the game controller and the real guitar, there's a very big difference between them, but if I can overcome these kinds of differences by making good software.. Maybe that is what's interesting to me. I really want to make the experience appeal derive from playing the software. It's a very potent thing. Matsuura also had some interesting stuff to say about the material costs involved in producing music game peripherals -- specifically, where they'll end up if our interest in plastic instruments were to wane.

If you recall the news from last month's Activision earnings call, the publisher inferred that we'd see nearly twice the number of music game SKUs in 2009 than last year. Considering that we saw two DS games, plus Guitar Hero Aerosmith and Guitar Hero World Tour on four console platforms (not counting the numerous bundle splits), that's a lot of games. Well, Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell seems to have dug up some more information about what Activision could have up its sleeve for the next nine months. Activision already has Guitar Hero Metallica coming this month, plus yesterday's official confirmations of June dates for Guitar Hero Greatest Hits on console and Guitar Hero Modern Hits on Nintendo DS. According to Bramwell's source close to Activision, the publisher has plans for a Van Halen-themed title, an official fifth Guitar Hero sequel, DJ Hero (which Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has mentioned in the past), and Band Hero, all this year. The article also indicates that the Guitar Hero sequel and Band Hero would come out within a certain number of months from one another, similar to the distance between World Tour and Metallica. When contacted, Activision denied any of the information. Big surprise.

Nearly five years after EA effectively stuck a fork in the NFL 2K series with its exclusive NFL contract that made Madden the only game in town, a Supreme Court case could indirectly threaten sports game exclusives. Yesterday, Game Politics reported that the case of American Needle vs. New Orleans Saints, et al., which deals with sports licensing and apparel, could result in a widespread change in the way that leagues sign contracts for merchandise. In the case, clothing manufacturer American Needle produced baseball caps featuring NFL teams. Earlier this decade, the NFL put out a bid for an exclusive apparel contract, which Reebok won. American Needle was shut out of production, and sued the NFL, all of its teams, NFL Properties, and Reebok. The case has elevated all the way to the Supreme Court.

While the team at 2K Games is hard at work on BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams, the marketing efforts are now in full swing. A new teaser website has appeared at somethinginthesea.com. According to Kotaku, street-level marketing in the form of seemingly hand-drawn warning posters pointing readers to the site have been appearing as well. The site leads viewers to a world map, marked with the location of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland's parish of Liscannor, and scrawled with the date 2/20/67. The teaser site initially offers three pieces of media for anxious BioShock fans to sink their teeth into. The first is a slightly faded and worn photograph of a handmade child's toy, obviously made to look like a Big Daddy. The rag doll appears to be wearing a helmet of sorts made of coppery wire and red thumbtacks, while its right arm has been replaced by a corkscrew drill.

It's been a week since Killzone 2 levied destruction on the free time of many PS3 owners. With the massive wave of players experiencing Guerilla Games' critically acclaimed first-person shooter, there have been plenty of complaints about Guerilla's control scheme. The weightiness that causes the player to turn slower has come under fire from many gamers, and it appears that some extra refinement is included in an update coming today, as reported on Evil Avatar. There's also a fix resolving the auto-aim shotgun exploit, a big bone of contention among online players.

Along with the 3 original monsters from Rampage, players can find, unlock, and play over 20 collectable monsters

Includes 10 destructible cities all equipped with free roaming areas, just ripe for mayhem

Monsters can walk through the streets, alleys, sidewalks and go between buildings. Pick up and throw various objects such as cars and helicopters to cause damage on either buildings or opponents

The Rampage experience is always best when played with a friend - Total Destruction will allow two players to compete or cooperate as they battle through the levels

Each monster will have a health bar and a rage meter - As the monster does damage to the environment, his rage meter will gradually increase until it fills up and his super move is unleashed

Seven classic Sonic games

Unlockable bonus games

Extras mode featuring Sonic movies

3 new Impact Punches, with high risk and high reward - put down your opponent or get knocked on the canvas. Players are only one punch away from the entire dynamic of the fight changing!

Clench down on that mouth guard, rookie! Super Punch lets you feel the impact of a devastating punch, as the boxer's face ripples from that blow

Design a fighting style all your own, and see how you match up against the authentic signature styles from the world's best fighters

Establish rivalries by intimidating opponents before the big fight with heated press conferences, trash talkin', and fights at weigh-ins

Watch ESPN Classic footage of real-life bouts or re-create the greatest fights from past and present

Skate anything you can see!

Sneak into spots only you can find - use ladders, ledges and wires to skate secret spots, find rooftop ledges, secret pools and hidden sewer tunnels

Avoid security guards who will toss you out of the choice locations.

Use skate checking on jerks that get in your way

Compete in races and impress skaters!

Take Control and Make the Play—Boost your Skill Performance and increase your overall ratings by making user-controlled plays that elevate the team’s motivation levels.

Enhanced Recruiting—Utilize Dynasty Mode’s all-new prospect search tool to hone in on recruits with specific attributes. Make sure you live up to your promises or players could transfer, damaging your coaching integrity rating.

All-New Campus Legend Mode—Go from a star in the high school state playoffs to a highly touted college underclassman trying to earn a starting position—you can also fastforward through any play in which you’re not participating.

Save and Share Your Greatest Moments—Create video highlights of your favorite plays and show them off online, or download your instant classics to your PC to share with friends.