Ubisoft offers Girl Power with Imagine Rock Star DS

There's a strong argument that the Guitar Hero series has been the gaming phenomenon of recent years so it's no surprise that it's inspired the other publishers to act like tone-deaf high school drop-outs following the invention of punk rock and telling everyone that they're going to form a special new band just like 'those Romanes (sic)' too...

Or, in this case, deciding they're also going to release games that let us create some sort of console-based music.

So just a few days after Activision's announcement of Guitar Hero: On Tour for DS comes Ubisoft's announcement of Imagine Rock Star.

Excluding Guitar Hero's sweet-looking fret peripheral, the main difference between the two that Ubisoft's effort will be released as part of its three million-selling Imagine brand, which is designed to appeal to girls ages 6-14 - and hence will be more Girls Aloud than Aerosmith.

As the official press release puts it; "Imagine Rock Star allows the young girl to form her dream band and become a music legend. Climb the charts with your chic bandmates through music, fashion and fun."

What this means in actual fact is that you create your band by customising the hair, makeup and clothes of the drummer, guitarist, bassist and piano player. Each instrument is backed with its own mini-game and you have to perform well to earn money and increase your popularity points so you can land a record contract and slip up and down the greasy pole that will take you to the No.1 spot.

There will also be a four-way multiplayer mode that lets you jam with your DS-owning friends.

Currently in development at Singapore studio Gevo Entertainment, Imagine Rock Star is due to be released in the US in June. The European release date is yet to be confirmed.