Gamertell

In November 2005, RedOctane launched the first Guitar Hero game which was an instant hit and changed the music game genre forever.  It is to music games, what Wii is to video gaming in general – a breath of fresh, innovative air. In the 26 months the Guitar Hero series has been around it has grossed more than $1 billion in North America.

Activision, the game’s publisher, announced on Monday (January 21, 2008) that the Guitar Hero franchise has set a new industry record by crossing the $1 billion-sales mark in just 26 months. However, the company has not taken into account the revenue generated by song downloads. The franchise’ lifetime North American sales stand at 14 million copies, according to NPD.

The publisher also announced that Guitar Hero III - the latest title in the franchise - was s the best title in 2007 in terms of “units and dollars.”  Activision has also claimed that GTIII is the best video game of all time in a single calendar year.

The franchise has pioneered a revolution within the music game genre and has had a deep cultural impact. The tales of karaoke nights being replaced by Guitar Hero-playing sessions are now part of gaming folklore, and a testament to its cultural impact.

Read [Kotaku]  Also Read [Nintendo Wii Fanboy]