Activision, the giant publisher of the upcoming "DJ Hero" game, claims that the backers of competing game "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" have sued them only to distract attention from financial troubles. Read more...

The lawsuit, analyzed by gaming website Gamasutra, details months of drama. Read more...

We've got an exclusive first trailer for "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ." The hip-hop-oriented rhythm game uses a turntable controller and is slated for release this year on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

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Champion turntablist Mix Master Mike told us how he's bringing authenticity to "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ." Read more...

The biggest gameplay differentiator for "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" is an emphasis on users manipulating music to make it their own, and while the concept freaked out record labels, sheer persistence -- and "Guitar Hero" -- made it possible. Read more...

We've published several stories about "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" without having seen the game running or touching the turntable controller, but that changed yesterday during a mostly hands-off demo in a San Francisco hotel. Read more...

The setlist for this summer's hip-hop music game "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" will include songs from Kanye West, Beastie Boys, The Black Eyed Peas, Eric B. and Rakim, Run DMC, Nelly, The Gorillaz and more. Read more...

Once "Guitar Freaks" and "Guitar Hero" established the basic interface for music sims, there was a natural extension to bass and drums, but one reason hip-hop games haven't caught on, a "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" designer told me, is because hip-hop doesn't naturally lend itself to gameplay. Read more...

Up until now, "DJ Hero" has been only a rumor, but in an interview with CNBC, Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick confirmed "DJ Hero," calling it a is a real project scheduled to be released later this year. Read more...

No one has challenged Konami's "Beatmania" turntable gaming series yet, but we could have two contenders in 2009 with "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" and the rumored "DJ Hero" from Activision. We asked the creative lead on "Scratch" what he learned from Konami and his thoughts on a DJ "Guitar Hero." Read more...