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It has been 20 years since Guitar Hero first launched across the Atlantic, offering players everywhere the opportunity to feel like a rock star. Not literally, though you'd be hard-pressed convincing anyone who has mastered Free Bird’s lengthy instrumental break in front of a packed crowd of friends.

Developed by the developers, Guitar Hero gave players a guitar-shaped controller to match on-screen cues scrolling down the screen in time with a song. Every sequence mimicked specific notes, producing the feel of an authentic live show.

The studio had already experimented with rhythm games before partnering with RedOctane, later purchased by Activision during the mid-2000s. Collaboratively, they established the groundwork for an unlikely billion-dollar series that had a significant impact for many musicians featured, introducing classic bands to millions of gaming enthusiasts.

Michael Dornbrook, ex-chief operating officer of Harmonix, remembers the initial financial challenges of licensing the songs – despite the fact the first two games primarily featured cover versions.

“We reproduced every song since the dollar figure was so high,” he explains. “Despite having the publishing rights by themselves, it was extremely difficult. We couldn’t get bands like the Who – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was fairly certain the project would flop. However, when the game took off, and record sales airtime increased, everyone wanted to participate.”

He adds: “Among the amazing things was the number of parents reached out and thanked us for introducing their children to the music they adored. It became an intergenerational phenomenon.”

Classic Rock Gains Younger Fans

Irish blues-rock band the Answer included their track on the 2008 game the popular installment. Guitarist Paul Mahon remembers the way the game revived classic rock to the forefront: “Guitar Hero provided a bigger, younger audience. Generally this had been seen as music that was past it, however once it got included in the game young people discovered it, suddenly it was cool. That legitimised it, eliminating the ‘dad rock’ label. It gave our catalog a new life.”

In 2008, the Answer’s debut album remained not available stateside, so Guitar Hero was a key medium of discovery for the band during their a North American tour opening for the rock giants. “Their crew had on the song on the tour bus, and some of them knew us from Guitar Hero,” Mahon says.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles Enduring Impact

Music's biggest acts soon capitalised on the game's success, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in dedicated spin-off titles centered around their music collections and associated lore, visuals and legendary status. For example, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly to have made the band more money compared to their studio albums. It sold more than half a million copies upon release, and demand for their songs rose significantly during an era when the music business was already collapsing.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire nimble-fingered fanaticism among its fans. Earlier this year, an online personality completed an impressive attempt featuring the challenging track – an infamously tough power-metal song made popular by the game – on Clone Hero, a freeware game with similar mechanics but an array of personalization features. The song is difficult even in the hardest setting, not to mention performed at increased tempo and without missing every one of the thousands of cues. The streamer stated requiring months of practice to accomplish.

“The game offers a, fantasy thing. If you play other games, it doesn't imply you should pick up a real gun and enlist,” notes DragonForce guitarist the artist.

The band previously wrapped up a profitable run when their hit appeared in the third game, yet he explains it turned them into a household name. “I remember our distributors calling to tell me that we were records were moving like crazy,” he shares. “Popularity surged when we next toured, and we performed just before top acts on the Mayhem festival.”

Indeed, DragonForce’s exposure via the game was so immense that it risked overshadow everything else the band has done. Last year, the track featured in a trailer for Despicable Me 4. “Previously I felt otherwise, but now I accept it,” he admits. “Should you just listen to one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – everyone’s got their own path in music and I'm pleased we played a role of people’s lives”.

The Lasting Legacy from the Plastic Guitar

The best promotion, whether it’s for automobiles, clothes or games, goes further mere transactions – it inspires a desire. Was the game able to harness this? “Precisely what our team trying to create,” he confirms. “The excitement of performing as a music icon in the spotlight. Since the beginning, the creators believed there’s an instinctive urge to make music, and they wanted to use technology to enable everyone to participate”.

Most of Guitar Hero games came out in just a half-decade from 2005 to 2010, including derivative titles like DJ Hero, complete with a spinning deck, and Band Hero. After that, corporate focus on peripherals waned, aside from a short-lived revival several years later.

Titles like the fan project and Fortnite Festival have maintained the scene active, with set to be a new product from the original publisher in development. A new studio has entered work on its debut rhythm-based title. Original co-founders are participating in advisory roles. Are gamers prepared to welcome a new entry following Guitar Hero?

“We thought such titles could be like Madden allowing annual releases,” Dornbrook says. “There’s so much new music it could remain evergreen, so I’ve always been hopeful. It's entirely possible why it can’t continue for future fans.”