Marking two decades since the legendary game first launched in North America, providing players everywhere the tools to feel like a rock star. Not in reality, but try telling that someone who has nailed the epic four-minute guitar solo in front of a packed living-room audience.
Developed by Harmonix, Guitar Hero provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to match on-screen cues moving along the display in time with the music. Every sequence corresponded to specific notes, creating the sensation of a genuine live show.
Harmonix previously experimented in the music genre before partnering with the publisher, which was acquired by Activision in 2006. Together, they established the foundations for a surprising massively profitable franchise which made a remarkable impact on numerous of the artists featured, showcasing classic bands to a new generation of younger players.
Michael Dornbrook, former COO of Harmonix, remembers the initial financial challenges in securing the songs – even though the first two games primarily featured cover versions.
“We rerecorded all the music because the dollar figure prohibitive,” he says. “Despite having the necessary permissions by themselves, it was extremely difficult. We failed to secure acts such as legendary groups – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was pretty convinced it would fail. However, when the game became a hit, album purchases and radio play increased, all artists desired to be in.”
He continues: “One of the remarkable aspects was how many parents got in touch expressing gratitude for introducing their children to the music they adored. It became a multigenerational thing.”
Classic Rock Gains Younger Fans
Northern Irish blues-rock band one featured act had their track in the 2008 release Guitar Hero World Tour. Lead musician the artist remembers how the series brought older hits to the forefront: “Guitar Hero offered a bigger, new demographic. Typically this had been considered music that was past it, but then when it was featured on the title young people were finding it, abruptly it became trendy. This validated the genre, eliminating the outdated tag. It provided our catalog a new life.”
In 2008, the Answer’s first record was still unreleased in the US, meaning Guitar Hero was a key medium for exposure for the band as they went on US tour supporting AC/DC. “The roadies had on the song on the tour bus, and some of them knew us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.
Major Band Titles Enduring Impact
Music's biggest acts soon capitalised on the series’ popularity, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in specialized spin-off titles centered around their music collections and associated lore, imagery and legendary status. In the case of, the Aerosmith edition, it was said earned the band more money than any of their records. It moved more than 500,000 copies upon release, while sales of Aerosmith’s music saw an increase of up to 40% during an era when the music business faced decline.
Guitar Hero still motivates quick-handed fanaticism within the community. Earlier this year, an online personality completed a remarkable feat of DragonForce’s the challenging track – a notoriously difficult anthem made popular by Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a no-cost alternative with almost identical gameplay and extensive customisation options. This track is difficult even in expert mode, let alone performed at increased tempo and without missing a single one of its near 4,000 notes. The streamer stated it took nine months to accomplish.
“The game is a fun, imaginary experience. Just as with other games, that doesn’t mean you ought to use actual weapons and go to war,” notes musician the artist.
DragonForce previously completed a successful tour before their hit was featured in the third game, but Li says it turned them into widely recognized. “I recall the record label calling to tell me that our records were moving like crazy,” he shares. “It exploded on the subsequent tour, and we were playing right ahead of top acts on the Mayhem festival.”
In fact, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero was so immense that it has risked eclipsing everything else the band has done. Last year, the song was used in a trailer for Despicable Me 4. “Previously I felt otherwise, but I’ve made peace with it,” Li says. “Should you just listen to one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – each person has their own path in music and I'm pleased we’ve been part of people’s lives”.
Enduring Legacy of a Plastic Guitar
The best marketing, whether it’s for automobiles, clothes or video games, goes further mere transactions – it inspires a desire. Was the game able to harness this? “That’s exactly what our team trying to create,” Dornbrook says. “The excitement of performing as a rock star in the spotlight. From day one, the creators believed humans have a natural human desire to make music, and their goal was to use technology to allow people to participate”.
The majority installments were released in just a five-year period between 2005 and 2010, featuring derivative titles such as the DJ version, complete with a turntable controller, and Band Hero. Subsequently, corporate focus on peripherals waned, aside from a short-lived revival in 2015.
Titles such as the fan project and Fortnite Festival have kept the scene alive, and there’s set to be something from the founders in development. A new studio has entered production on its debut rhythm-based title. Original co-founders are participating as special advisers. Is the world ready to embrace another game following the classic?
“We thought such titles might become like Madden allowing annual update every year,” he remarks. “With abundant new music that it could be perennially popular, thus I remain optimistic. There’s no reason why it can’t persist for future fans.”
