Guitar Hero

Guitar Hero is a series of music rhythm games where players use a guitar-shaped game controller to simulate the performance of rock music by matching scrolling notes on-screen. First developed by Harmonix and published by RedOctane, the franchise became a global phenomenon, selling over 25 million units and generating more than $2 billion in revenue by 2009. Its success revitalized the rhythm game genre, introduced a new peripheral-based gaming model, and had a significant impact on popular culture and the music industry.

Gameplay

The core gameplay involves pressing colored buttons on the guitar controller in time with corresponding notes that scroll on-screen towards a target zone, simulating playing lead guitar, rhythm guitar, or bass guitar parts. Successful note hits fill a "Rock Meter" and build score multipliers, while missed notes can cause the virtual performance to fail. Later titles introduced features like hammer-ons and pull-offs, Star Power for score bonuses, and cooperative band play with separate tracks for drums and vocals. The series is known for its difficulty tiers, ranging from "Easy" to the notoriously challenging "Expert," with some tracks requiring advanced techniques akin to real guitar playing. The note charts are meticulously crafted to mirror the original recordings from artists like Aerosmith, Metallica, and The Rolling Stones.

Development and history

The original concept was conceived by Kai Huang and Charles Huang of RedOctane, who partnered with Harmonix—already known for ''Frequency'' and ''Amplitude''—to develop the game and its distinctive controller. The first title, focusing on covers by the band WaveGroup, was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005 to unexpected commercial success. Following the acquisition of RedOctane by Activision and Harmonix by MTV Games in 2006, development shifted to Neversoft, creators of the ''Tony Hawk'' series, beginning with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The franchise peaked with the release of Guitar Hero World Tour and Guitar Hero 5, but market oversaturation, exemplified by the poorly received Guitar Hero: Van Halen, led to a hiatus after 2010. A reboot, Guitar Hero Live featuring a new six-button controller and live-action venues, was released in 2015 by FreeStyleGames.

Cultural impact

The series achieved mainstream recognition, appearing on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and was referenced in media such as The Simpsons and South Park. It influenced music sales, with tracks by bands like The Killers and DragonForce experiencing significant boosts in iTunes downloads following their inclusion. The games were credited with introducing younger audiences to classic rock acts like Jimi Hendrix and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even prompted real-world guitar tutors like ''Rocksmith'' to adopt similar teaching methods. High-profile competitions, including the Guitar Hero World Cyber Games tournament, further cemented its status as a competitive activity, while its controllers became iconic symbols of mid-2000s gaming culture.

Legacy and influence

Guitar Hero is widely credited with popularizing the peripheral-based music game boom of the late 2000s, directly inspiring the creation of its chief rival, ''Rock Band'', also developed by Harmonix. Its business model of selling numerous song expansion packs set a precedent for downloadable content in the industry. The franchise's decline, alongside that of DJ Hero, contributed to the temporary collapse of the rhythm game market. However, its legacy persists in the design of modern music games like Beat Saber and the continued use of specialized controllers in titles such as ''Just Dance''. The series also demonstrated the viability of video games as a platform for music promotion and education.

Spin-offs and related games

Numerous spin-offs expanded the franchise's scope, including band-centric titles like Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and Guitar Hero: Metallica, and the portable Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS. The series branched into other genres with the DJ-focused DJ Hero, developed by FreeStyleGames, and the band management simulation Band Hero. The iOS game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and the social network title Guitar Hero: Smash Hits also extended the brand. Related games from former developers include the karaoke series SingStar and the more simulation-oriented ''Rocksmith'', which uses a real electric guitar as a controller.

Category:2005 video games Category:Activision franchises Category:Music video game franchises