cultural impact guitar hero series series rhythm video games published players use guitar shaped controllers mimic playing numerous popular rock music songs score attack gameplay later games series included support drums vocals playing band billion total sales worldwide game series significant cultural impact cultural phenomenon recognizable popular culture series found influence younger players learning real instruments found application health care industry help recovering patients similar series games developed originally developed altered video game music industries video games introduction led rhythm games industries largest growing markets series sparked creation commercial independently developed games similar gameplay mechanics learning tools real guitar place controller older artists featured guitar hero experienced surge popularity music games seen way younger audiences experience classics newer bands unsigned artists found success included game led bands actively seek placement songs games impact guitar hero music industry caused music publishers evaluate approach music licensing relationship video game industry entertainment series titles popular party games led played variety bars offering guitar hero nights alternative karaoke new_york_city bar experienced triple business nights concert tours including family values tour feature contests sets responsible introducing people rock music inspiring learn play guitar study found million million children united_kingdom begun learning play real instruments playing music video games group believes video games incorporated music educational programs teamed provide monetary support copies united_states armed forces world health treatment proven useful tool development children recovery injuries states games helped year old guitarist learn sensitivity rhythm develop independent hand usage necessary play instrument alongside physical therapy help recovering stroke patients games help multiple limb coordination drummer worked researchers determine games like address issues child adult stroke patients health mental workplace researchers controller help patients develop new prosthetic limbs patients researchers able modify feedback glove work clone fire create music game works touch audio appeal game visually impaired players guitar hero youth sleep study showed players generally better song introduced hours later period included normal sleep video game industry stated january north american sales franchise exceeded billion dollars million units sold excluding downloadable content million songs sold downloadable content july million october series sold million units sales billion earned billion retail claims largest video game franchise mario nfl series present million households guitar hero music games video game market reports cited music video games overall software industry sales july november contributing year date sector growth july total sales music games doubled total sales billion represented half figure total retail sales highest selling brand year consumer electronics ceo stated video game exceed billion dollars total sales reported franchise united_states european markets quarter analysts expect critical year determine future direction music games sector continue grow remain early analysis half showed sales franchise games half period likely fewer purchases expensive game include controllers large prices older games parent company reported drop second quarter profits partially driven weak sales amid poor economy period series created market products outside video games developed series inch tall based characters game director men stand stated wishes bring movie based theaters publisher series approve idea film adaptation popularity guitar hero series led development commercial independent clones rock band series released rock revolution features drums guitar game include vocals similar guitar hero world tour playstation wii systems developed games features gameplay similar guitar hero series features pop music opposed rock metal digital praise released christian rock themed guitar based game called guitar praise published personal computers based real guitar order perfect skills rock drum king game promoted rolling_stone wii uses wii virtual fire open source clone personal computers features freely available independent songs allows users create note tracks games based include influenced games outside music game genre credits guitar hero game help establish pitching heavy metal inspired game increase popularity metal music success guitar hero guitar controllers controls independently developed platform game rock dead wii based combining aspects dead guitar controller fend zombies playstation home themed space based called guitar hero backstage released march version includes simon says called guitar hero master rock themed objects videos user considered use special commonplace acceptable consumers games followed including nintendo wii console games wii fan sites arisen provide news forums related guitar hero series site includes forums informal tracking players scores series site received donations president site members invited pre release demonstrations upcoming games leading information tracks games holds place gamers edition tracking highest score single song fire flames record held subsequent attempts johnson present holder record received additional notice fire flames players earned deals party peripheral controller maker johnson video game event promoter awarded series world records gamer edition including best selling guitar based game biggest funeral fictional object november funeral air guitar held london england publicity stunt guitar hero release music industry considered music industry manner similar music videos 1980s licensed indie bands works included games gained popularity inclusion record companies retailers experienced increases sales songs inclusion series guitar hero iii song tracked nielsen soundscan saw increase digital download sales week ending december got game gift playing song included guitar hero iii saw downloaded sales increase survey conducted found players bought music heard game indie group recognition increased song appeared guitar hero band song fire flames featured bonus song guitar hero iii legends rock saw increase sales week release game downloads song selling fewer weekly rose release approached week ending older established groups saw increase sales time guitar hero games containing songs released modest increase download sales old song dance rose copies previous week increase band catalog seen weeks following release guitar hero according ceo guitar hero money previous albums seen new methods music distribution analysis market research company states video games industry grows attractive promotional outlet kinds industries games seen way introduce younger generations music past bands warrant grateful dead poison seen interest music rise inclusion songs music video games president ceo attributes attendance museum particularly families young children success popularity downloadable content music games led official download chart consider including sales compilation sales performance data bands control bands works talks makers methods achieving exposure band following announcement guitar hero executive owns beatles compositions stated interested helping bring beatles themed title market similar fashion talks representatives beatles create beatles themed game secured exclusive license produce beatles rock band groups eagles dan guns roses working deals companies include songs future games artists having playing approach game developers ask inclusion songs specifically playable tracks bands comfortable turned offers games include music concerns members band releasing master recordings music cases bands want included master recordings lost bands sex pistols living colour songs bands able provide concert live master recordings larger artists unable director states expect acquire songs prince reasons pending release beatles rock band active discussions include music according representatives emi rock music based games work record companies license song use costing song average rights use master recording rights cover impact caused record companies create dedicated video game handle songs games record game companies work tie releases downloadable content album releases concert appearances simultaneous release album playable tracks music industry raised concerns music labels receiving fair compensation considering success games chairman chief executive stated paid industry games entirely dependent content control far small vice president music affairs believes increase popularity game series led people including musicians music labels want success number people interested associated game probably thousand times game ceo stated response record company claims impact games caused game developers publishers question paying money reverse manager noted artists larger share sale downloaded game song compared itunes bands master recordings earn larger percentage music licensing rights industry analyst noted dependent single record label nearly year supply songs available current rate content releases music industry denial game series lead anti trust measures contrasted view stating users buying games songs game song providing challenge analysis believe attitude music licensing influenced decision lucrative licensing agreement beatles music flexible negotiations musicians critical impact industry white stripes stated disappointed learn video games likely venue younger audiences exposed new works believe people learn play real instruments video game counterparts similarly prince turned opportunities music series stating felt important kids learn actually play guitar popular culture appearances popular culture guitar centerpiece episode south_park titled guitar stan kyle guitar hero treated real life rock stars episode broadcast november days american release legends rock created provided animations game reference example episode sick child song rhythm guitarist controller played times monologue syndicated talk january episode seen playing heart performing song audience season finale american idol finalists appeared separate commercials games parodied dancing old time rock roll movie parody director create advertisements guitar hero world tour featuring celebrities political cartoonist illustrated cartoon queen elizabeth_ii received gift visiting president barack_obama parody obama visit england april gave close home comic strip portrayed young boy blowing shaped playing video game parents cover ears despite success bombs big time halftime cup league players seattle faced michael_jackson beat guitar hero world tour scene written script features character challenging resort employee guitar hero gigantic robot kills includes song called guitar hero hero beating guitar hero slash fun frequent players features solo song lyrics reference following real guitar players addition mariah carey music video song touch body features controller music video san_diego rock band song awakening featured men going home competing separately stop motion cardboard simulate video game interface music video includes portions song singing guitar hero like note highway video video start band featuring includes guitar hero like guitar showdown video game video story series popularity spread sports world pitcher injured playoffs playing professional wrestling tag team known gimmick dressing characters game guitar controllers way ring guitar hero instruments tools humorous effects shirts available guitar hero logo number different instruments violin marketing simpsons game included mock posters hero depicting simpsons character controller buttons small list songs real world songs pour parody pour sugar groove thing parody shake groove thing parody praised gamespot released april article announcing hero successor game referencing saturday night live hero shirt appears collection shirts episode nbc series comic strip envisioned game entitled hero design shirts sunday comic showed characters jason marcus playing video game called chamber music hero satirical newspaper published article entitled reports sluggish sales 15th episode season adult swim cartoon young girl played song member controller later 3rd episode second season fan seen controller room whilst illegally march announced gauge country inflation risk rock band included reflect changes consumer spending guitar hero reality developed future possible concert tour
Cultural impact of the Guitar Hero series