Activision to launch "credible alternative to iTunes" based on Guitar Hero

Um. Right. According to this FT piece, Activision boss Bobby Kotick has just confirmed that the company is to launch a Guitar Hero-linked music download service that could rival iTunes.

"I don't think there have been a lot of credible alternatives to iTunes but Guitar Hero certainly has that potential," he said.

Apparently, creating a Guitar Hero online music platform was "the natural evolution" of the franchise.

With the Activision Blizzard merger now complete, the new company will benefit from Vivendi's ownership of Universal Music, as well as payment and processing capability in "virtually every country", said Jean-Bernard Levy, the chief executive of Vivendi.

"These are all the things that enable you to be a successful competitor [to iTunes]," added Kotick.

Read more through the link.