Dead Rhythm Games: Guitar Hero Series

Introduction

• Thanked viewers for their support.
• Guitar Hero series reaches its planned finale, with future episodes possible.

Origins of Guitar Hero

• Created through a partnership between Red Octane and Harmonix.
• Harmonix had experience with rhythm games (Frequency, Amplitude).
• Red Octane was inspired by Guitar Freaks, intending to bring it to Western markets.
• Guitar Hero featured a scrolling highway interface, 5-lane buttons corresponding to the guitar controller.
• Types of notes include regular, hammer-ons, pull-offs, open notes, and tap notes.
• Four difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert.

Guitar Hero History

• Guitar Hero 1
  • Released on November 7, 2005, for PS2.
  • A collaboration between Harmonix and Red Octane.
  • Featured covers due to music licensing costs.
  • Career mode following a cover band.
  • Songs from well-known artists like Motorhead, Ozzy Osbourne, and more.
• Guitar Hero 2
  • Released November 7, 2006; expanded features and multiplayer modes.
  • Added encore songs, Pro Face Off, Co-op mode, and Practice mode.
  • Included well-known artists like Avenged Sevenfold, Rolling Stones, etc.
• Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
  • Released July 24, 2007.
  • Criticized for lack of content and innovation.
  • Last Harmonix-developed Guitar Hero game.

Transition to Activision

• Red Octane acquired by Activision in June 2006.
• Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock
  • Released October 27, 2007.
  • Developed by Neversoft using a new engine.
  • Major success with a notable song "Through The Fire and Flames."
• Guitar Hero World Tour
  • Released October 26, 2008, expanded to include drums and vocals.
  • Added tap and open notes.
  • Custom character and song features with Music Studio.

Spin-offs and Market Saturation

• Guitar Hero Aerosmith and Guitar Hero Metallica
  • Both focused on specific bands, with mixed reviews.
• Guitar Hero 5
  • Released September 1, 2009.
  • Introduced features like Party Play and song challenges.

The Decline

• Market oversaturation led to declining interest.
• Multiple releases in a short span strained retail capacities.
• Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock
  • Released September 24, 2010.
  • Attempted to cater to veterans with warrior characters.

Reboot Attempt

• Guitar Hero Live
  • Released October 20, 2015, featuring a new 6-fret system.
  • Introduced live video performances, but ultimately failed in sales.

Community and Legacy

• Despite franchise decline, a strong community supports Guitar Hero.
• Projects like Clone Hero, Guitar Hero 2 Deluxe, and others keep the spirit alive.
• Custom songs, fan updates, and new controllers continue to thrive.

Conclusion

• The video series "Dead Rhythm Games" concludes but may continue in the future.
• Encourages viewers to support through Patreon, Twitter, and Twitch.