🔗 Share this article

It has been two decades after Guitar Hero debuted across the Atlantic, providing players everywhere the means to become a rock star. Figuratively speaking, but try telling that anyone who has nailed the epic four-minute instrumental break in front of a packed crowd of friends.

Created by the developers, the game provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to match on-screen cues moving along the display in time with the music. Every sequence mimicked particular chords, producing the sensation of an authentic live show.

Harmonix had already experimented in the music genre prior to teaming up with RedOctane, which was acquired by the gaming giant during the mid-2000s. Together, they laid the foundations for an unlikely massively profitable franchise that had a significant influence for many musicians included, introducing decades-old groups to a new generation of gaming enthusiasts.

A former executive, ex-chief operating officer from the developer, recalls the initial financial challenges in securing the songs – despite the fact initial releases mostly used cover versions.

“We rerecorded all the music since the cost was so high,” he explains. “Even with the necessary permissions alone, it was nearly impossible. We failed to secure bands like legendary groups – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was fairly certain it would fail. But once the game took off, album purchases and radio play were going up, everyone wanted to be in.”

He adds: “Among the remarkable aspects was the number of mothers and fathers got in touch and thanked us for exposing their children to the music they loved. It evolved into an intergenerational thing.”

Timeless Music Finds a New Audience

Irish group one featured act had their track in the 2008 release Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitarist Paul Mahon remembers how the series brought older hits to the forefront: “Guitar Hero provided a larger, new demographic. Typically this had been seen as outdated material, but then when it was featured on the title young people discovered it, suddenly it was cool. That legitimised the genre, and got rid of the ‘dad rock’ label. It gave our catalog a new life.”

In 2008, the band's debut album remained not available stateside, meaning the game was a key medium of discovery for the band as they went on a North American tour supporting the rock giants. “The roadies were playing the song during travel, and several recognized us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles and Lasting Impact

Music's biggest acts quickly capitalised on the series’ popularity, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen featuring in specialized game editions that focused on each band’s catalogue and related stories, imagery and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly earned the band more money than any of their records. It moved well over half a million copies in its first week, and sales of their songs rose of up to 40% at a time when the music business faced decline.

The series continues to inspire nimble-fingered fanaticism within the community. Recently, an online personality achieved an impressive attempt of DragonForce’s Through the Fire and Flames – a notoriously difficult power-metal song popularized through Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a no-cost alternative with almost identical mechanics but an array of personalization features. The song is challenging even in expert mode, not to mention performed at double speed while hitting every one of the thousands of cues. The streamer claimed requiring nine months of practice.

“Guitar Hero offers a, imaginary experience. If you play other games, that doesn’t mean you ought to use a real gun and go to war,” notes DragonForce guitarist Herman Li.

The band previously wrapped up a successful tour when Through the Fire and Flames appeared in the third game, yet he explains it made them widely recognized. “I remember the record label informing us that our records were moving like crazy,” he says. “Popularity surged when we next toured, and we performed right ahead of the headliners at the event.”

In fact, DragonForce’s exposure from Guitar Hero was so immense that it threatened to overshadow all other the band has done. Last year, the track was used in promotional material for a major film. “Previously I felt differently, but now I accept it,” he admits. “If you only listen to a single track, it’s totally cool – everyone’s got their own path in music and I'm pleased we’ve been part in fans' experiences”.

The Lasting Impact of a Plastic Guitar

Top-tier promotion, whether it’s for automobiles, clothes or video games, goes further than selling something – it inspires a desire. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “That’s exactly what we were aiming to achieve,” Dornbrook says. “The excitement of performing as a music icon in the spotlight. From day one, the co-founders believed there’s an instinctive human desire to make music, and their goal was to leverage innovation to allow people to participate”.

Most of Guitar Hero games were released over a mere five-year period between 2005 and 2010, including spin-offs like the DJ version, including a spinning deck, and the band-focused game. After that, the publisher’s interest in plastic instruments waned, except for a short-lived revival in 2015.

Titles like the fan project and newer releases have kept the scene active, with set to be a new product from the founders in development. Recently formed developers has begun work on their first rhythm-based title. Original co-founders are both involved in advisory roles. Is the world ready to embrace another game in the spirit of Guitar Hero?

“Our team believed such titles might become like Madden where you can releases,” Dornbrook says. “With abundant fresh tracks that it could be perennially popular, thus I remain hopeful. It's entirely possible why it can’t continue for future fans.”