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Marking two decades since Guitar Hero first launched in North America, giving players everywhere the opportunity to feel like a rock star. Not in reality, but try telling that someone who's mastered Free Bird’s lengthy guitar solo before a packed crowd of friends.

Created by the developers, Guitar Hero provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to follow on-screen cues scrolling down the display in time with a song. Every sequence corresponded to specific notes, creating the feel of an authentic live show.

Harmonix previously experimented with rhythm games prior to teaming up with RedOctane, which was purchased by Activision in 2006. Collaboratively, they laid the groundwork for a surprising billion-dollar series which made a significant impact for many of the artists included, showcasing classic bands to millions of gaming enthusiasts.

Michael Dornbrook, ex-chief operating officer from the developer, recalls the initial budgetary hurdles of licensing the songs – despite the fact the first two games primarily featured rerecorded tracks.

“We rerecorded all the music since the dollar figure prohibitive,” he explains. “Even with the publishing rights alone, it was nearly impossible. We failed to secure bands like legendary groups – the publisher was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was fairly certain it would fail. But once the game became a hit, album purchases and radio play increased, all artists desired to participate.”

He continues: “Among the remarkable aspects was the number of mothers and fathers got in touch and thanked us for exposing their kids to the songs they adored. It evolved into a multigenerational thing.”

Classic Rock Finds a New Audience

Northern Irish blues-rock band one featured act included Never Too Late in the 2008 release the popular installment. Guitarist the artist recalls how the series brought classic rock to the forefront: “The game offered a bigger, younger audience. Generally this had been considered outdated material, however once it got included in the game and teenagers were finding it, abruptly it was cool. That legitimised the genre, and got rid of the outdated tag. It gave our catalog renewed popularity.”

In 2008, the Answer’s first record was still unreleased in the US, so Guitar Hero was a key medium for exposure for the band as they went on US tour supporting the rock giants. “Their crew were playing Never Too Late on the tour bus, and some of them recognized us thanks to the game,” Mahon says.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles Enduring Influence

Music's heavyweight names soon took advantage of the game's success, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in specialized game editions centered around their music collections and related stories, imagery and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, the Aerosmith edition, reportedly earned the group greater revenue compared to their records. It moved well over half a million copies in its first week, while demand for their songs saw an increase of up to 40% at a time as the industry was already collapsing.

The series still motivates quick-handed dedication among its fans. Recently, a streamer achieved an impressive attempt featuring the challenging track – an infamously tough anthem popularized through Guitar Hero – on Clone Hero, a freeware game with similar gameplay and extensive personalization features. The song is difficult enough on expert mode, let alone played at increased tempo while hitting every one of the thousands of cues. The streamer claimed requiring nine months to accomplish.

“Guitar Hero offers a, imaginary experience. If you play other games, that doesn’t mean you should pick up actual weapons and enlist,” notes musician Herman Li.

The band had already completed a successful tour when their hit was featured in the third game, yet he explains it turned them into a household name. “I remember the record label calling to tell me that we were records were moving rapidly,” he shares. “It exploded when we next toured, and we performed just before the headliners on the Mayhem festival.”

Indeed, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero was so immense that it risked overshadow everything else accomplishments. Last year, the song featured in a trailer for a major film. “In the past I felt otherwise, but I’ve made peace with it,” Li says. “If you only hear a single track, that's fine – each person has their own musical journey and I'm pleased we’ve been part in fans' experiences”.

The Lasting Legacy of a Iconic Controller

The best promotion, whether it’s for automobiles, clothes or games, goes further mere transactions – it evokes a desire. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “That’s exactly what our team trying to create,” Dornbrook says. “That thrill of performing as a music icon on the stage. Since the beginning, the co-founders felt that humans have a natural urge to make music, and their goal was to leverage innovation to allow people to do it”.

The majority of Guitar Hero games were released over a mere five-year period from 2005 to 2010, including derivative titles like DJ Hero, complete with a spinning deck, and the band-focused game. Subsequently, corporate focus on peripherals died down, except for a short-lived revival in 2015.

Games such as the fan project and Fortnite Festival have maintained the community alive, with expectations of a new product from the founders on the way. A new studio has entered production on their first music game. The initial creators are both involved as special advisers. Is the world prepared to welcome another game following the classic?

“We thought those games could be similar to sports games allowing annual releases,” Dornbrook says. “With abundant fresh tracks it could remain perennially popular, thus I remain optimistic. It's entirely possible for it to persist with new generations.”