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Music Games have become a part of popular culture across the globe, not just in their native Japan, and so it was fitting that Microsoft touched on the Musical games the Xbox 360 would be home to.

First off was Guitar Hero World Tour, which had the mind behind the series talk about the additions they have made to the latest version. They touched upon the new instruments, which feature a touch screen slide guitar, a set of drums with a pair of cymbals, and a microphone, all of which are wireless.

Eight player ‘Battle of the Bands’ sounds interesting, while the Create a Song mode becomes more enticing the more we hear about it. Not much new information was revealed regarding the game, save for some news on Xbox timed exclusive song deals-with REM-and the Metallica partnership that will allow Guitar Hero to feature the band’s new album as it comes out.

The only announcement of the Music Games section of the Press Conference was the long rumoured release of Lips, Xbox’s answer to SingStar.

It’s your standard karaoke game, seen when Welsh songstress Duffy took to the stage to sing her own song, which is to feature in the game; there’s just one thing it has to top Sony’s version. You can import songs from your Zune, or even iPod to use in game. This will make it an even better addition to your party, a feature that SingStar would do well to adopt.

And last but by no means least, we have Rock Band 2, a timed exclusive for the Xbox 360 in September. Other than reiterate the exclusivity deal that Microsoft has with Harmonix on the title, and the complete compatibility that Rock Band 2 will offer with DLC, no new information was released.

So even when compared to the cataclysmic news of Final Fantasy XIII on the console, Microsoft still know where they can make a lot of money. Music games are a big deal for Microsoft, and will only get more important when Lips, Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour are released, all in time for Holiday.

The press release for each of these games follows.

Bringing Music Games to Life

Whether you’re an aspiring groupie, songbird or big-haired rocker, Xbox 360 transforms your living room into a thrilling soundstage for you and your friends. No other system connects you with all the music you love:

• “Lips” (iNiS/Microsoft Game Studios). “Lips,” an all-new music franchise exclusively from Xbox 360, is the only singing game that offers wireless motion-sensitive microphones and the ability to sing from your own music collection.* Start channeling your favorite pop star, because it’s you, your friends and, most important, your music that makes “Lips” the world’s ultimate party experience this holiday.

• “Guitar Hero® World Tour” (RedOctane/Activision). When the house lights go down this fall, a new generation of axe shredders, drummers and fearless frontmen will come together and rock with “Guitar Hero World Tour.” The latest installment from the No. 1 best-selling video game franchise of 2007, “Guitar Hero World Tour” will transform music gaming by marrying the exhilarating guitar gameplay of “Guitar Hero” with a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless instruments with revolutionary new online and offline gameplay modes. The game will feature a slick newly redesigned guitar, a genuine electronic drum kit and a microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock-and-roll anthems, along with online Band Career and eight-player “Battle of the Bands.” “Guitar Hero World Tour” is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment and will be available for Xbox 360 this fall.

• “Rock Band 2” (Harmonix/MTV Games). Debuting exclusively on Xbox 360 this September, “Rock Band” is developed by Harmonix and published by MTV Games. “Rock Band 2” is the next evolution of the franchise that allows players to virtually step into the shoes of their favorite bands as singer, guitarist, bassist or drummer. This next iteration of the best-selling franchise will allow gamers to access all the great songs they purchased on Xbox LIVE for the original game and will feature new online capabilities and instrument options.