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