Overview
Everyone wanted to be a rock star. Guitar Hero’s five-button guitar controller and classic rock tracklist connected with Western audiences in ways Japanese rhythm games hadn’t. Playing felt like performing—even badly. The sequel added multiplayer; Rock Band added full bands. For a few years, plastic instruments dominated gaming. Then, suddenly, they didn’t.
Fast facts
- Developer: Harmonix.
- Publisher: RedOctane (later Activision).
- Year: 2005.
- Controller: Five-fret guitar.
Controller design
| Element |
Function |
| Five fret buttons |
Note colours |
| Strum bar |
Note activation |
| Whammy bar |
Sustained note effects |
| Star Power |
Score multiplier |
Cultural explosion
| Phase |
Event |
| GH1-2 |
Cult success |
| GH3 |
Mainstream breakthrough |
| World Tour |
Full band |
| Saturation |
Market flooding |
Soundtrack strategy
| Approach |
Effect |
| Licensed tracks |
Recognition |
| Rock focus |
Western appeal |
| Difficulty variety |
Accessibility |
| Master recordings |
Later entries |
Rise and fall
| Year |
Status |
| 2005-2008 |
Explosive growth |
| 2009 |
Peak saturation |
| 2010-2011 |
Rapid decline |
| 2015 |
Revival attempt |
Legacy
| Impact |
Note |
| Genre creation |
Western rhythm games |
| Music licensing |
Industry model |
| Party gaming |
Social experience |
| Oversaturation |
Cautionary tale |
See also