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It has been 20 years after Guitar Hero first launched across the Atlantic, giving everyday gamers the tools to become a rock star. Not literally, but try telling that someone who has mastered the epic lengthy instrumental break in front of an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Created by the developers, the game gave players a plastic guitar peripheral to follow on-screen cues moving along the display synchronized to the music. Each riff mimicked particular chords, creating the feel of an authentic live show.

The studio previously tried its hand in the music genre before partnering with RedOctane, which was acquired by the gaming giant during the mid-2000s. Together, they laid the groundwork for an unlikely billion-dollar series which made a significant impact for many musicians featured, introducing decades-old groups to a new generation of younger players.

Michael Dornbrook, former COO from the developer, remembers the initial budgetary hurdles in securing the songs – even though initial releases primarily featured cover versions.

“We rerecorded every song since the cost prohibitive,” he says. “Even with the necessary permissions by themselves, it was extremely difficult. We failed to secure bands like the Who – the publisher had virtually no money, and our team was fairly certain it would fail. But once Guitar Hero took off, album purchases and radio play increased, everyone wanted to participate.”

He adds: “Among the amazing things was the number of mothers and fathers reached out and thanked us for exposing their children to the songs they adored. It became a multigenerational phenomenon.”

Timeless Music Finds Younger Fans

Irish blues-rock band the Answer included Never Too Late in the 2008 release Guitar Hero World Tour. Lead musician Paul Mahon recalls how the series revived classic rock back into vogue: “The game offered a larger, younger audience. Typically this had been considered outdated material, however when it was featured on the title young people discovered it, suddenly it became trendy. This validated it, and got rid of the ‘dad rock’ label. It gave our catalog renewed popularity.”

At that time, the band's first record remained unreleased in the US, meaning Guitar Hero was a key medium of discovery for the group as they went on US tour supporting the rock giants. “The roadies had on Never Too Late during travel, and some of them knew us thanks to the game,” he notes.

Major Band Titles and Lasting Influence

Rock’s biggest acts soon capitalised on the series’ popularity, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in specialized spin-off titles that focused on each band’s catalogue and associated lore, imagery and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, it was said to have made the band more money compared to their records. It moved more than half a million copies upon release, while sales of their songs saw an increase of up to 40% at a time when the music business was already collapsing.

The series continues to inspire quick-handed fanaticism among its fans. Earlier this year, a streamer achieved a remarkable feat featuring the challenging track – an infamously tough anthem popularized through the game – on Clone Hero, a no-cost alternative with similar mechanics but an array of customisation options. The song is challenging even in the hardest setting, not to mention performed at double speed and without missing every one of its near 4,000 notes. They claimed it took nine months of practice.

“Guitar Hero offers a, imaginary experience. Just as with Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you ought to use a real gun and go to war,” notes musician the artist.

The band previously completed a profitable run when their hit was featured in the third game, but Li says it turned them into a household name. “I recall our distributors calling to tell me that we were records were moving like crazy,” he shares. “It exploded when we next toured, and we were playing right ahead of the headliners at the event.”

In fact, the band's visibility via the game was so immense that it has threatened to overshadow all other accomplishments. Recently, the track featured in promotional material for Despicable Me 4. “Previously I thought otherwise, but now I accept it,” he admits. “If you only listen to a single track, it’s totally cool – each person has their own musical journey and I’m glad we played a role of people’s lives”.

The Lasting Legacy of a Iconic Controller

Top-tier promotion, be it for automobiles, clothes or games, extends beyond mere transactions – it evokes a desire. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “Precisely what we were trying to create,” he confirms. “That thrill of performing as a rock star on the stage. Since the beginning, the creators believed there’s an instinctive human desire to make music, and their goal was to use technology to allow people to do it”.

The majority installments were released over a mere five-year period from 2005 to 2010, featuring spin-offs such as the DJ version, complete with a turntable controller, and Band Hero. Subsequently, the publisher’s interest on peripherals died down, except for a brief comeback in 2015.

Titles like the fan project and newer releases have kept the scene alive, and there’s set to be something from the founders in development. Recently formed developers has begun work on its debut music game. Original co-founders are both involved as special advisers. Are gamers ready to embrace another game in the spirit of the classic?

“We thought such titles could be similar to sports games where you can releases,” Dornbrook says. “With abundant fresh tracks it could remain perennially popular, so I’ve always been optimistic. There’s no reason why it can’t persist for future fans.”