Guitar Hero picked up the ‘Best Soundtrack’ award at yesterday’s BAFTA Awards ceremony in the UK’s capital, capping a staggering 12-month period for the game, which has seen it go from unproven idea to massive global success story.

Guitar Hero’s unique blend of guitar controller (which is truly cool), interactive music technology, and collection of the greatest rock tracks known to man has spawned an army of fans the world over (including all of us here at GamerSquad).

The sequel, Guitar Hero II, is set for release this November and will introduce a new level of fun as players hook up with friends to play lead, rhythm, or bass guitar parts co-operatively.

“The BAFTA Award is a tremendous honour for all of us at RedOctane, and recognition of the passion, enthusiasm and devotion from the teams here, at Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.,” said David Noble, business development, RedOctane. “Above all else it is proof positive that some dreams—no matter how risky—are absolutely worth pursuing. RedOctane is a company born from the desire to innovate and have fun. And nothing proves those ideals more than Guitar Hero.”

Guitar Hero has picked up a stack of awards across the world since its initial release, including five at the prestigious D.I.C.E. Awards in Las Vegas, and a 2006 World Class Award from PC World, recognising it as one of The Best Products of the Year. The addition of the BAFTA Award to the trophy cabinet is something about which everyone involved with the game can be enormously proud.

Guitar Hero II will be released in November 2006.