The world first heard about RedOctane when they started selling specialized dance pads to support the Dance Dance Revolution games released by Bemani. They combined with Harmonix to produce Guitar Hero. When it came out in 2002, Guitar Hero entered a field dominated by Bemani's games. They improved upon Bemani's Guitar Freaks franchise by introducing a modified guitar control system. Guitar Hero became a massive hit, and the new rhythm games genre was swiftly dominated by RedOctane and Harmonix, now parts of Activision and MTV, respectively.



Like the dance pads which preceded it, the Guitar Hero controller itself is, viscerally, a more profound experience than the original which inspired them. With its catchy mix of enjoyable riffs and classic rock foot-stompers, the music that one might produce through this game (a prerecorded track, although the most recent version will allow you to develop comparisons of your own) was a sheer delight to play and changed its players into virtual rock masters.

The controller in itself is enjoyable to hold. Normally, Guitar Hero is played while standing, with a strap that keeps the guitar at waist level (or a little above it for the taller person like me) and on the left are the fret buttons for fingering.

The controller's tactile nature, as well as the immediacy of the game's content, led to its becoming a party game staple, and in a number of karaoke bars, it has replaced that venue's more traditional client-produced entertainment. Due to its far-reaching popularity and more acceptance of the title as a social game, people wish to purchase guitar hero skins in order to personalize and improve the look of their own guitar-shaped controllers.

Not long ago, there were rockband skins that were so popular. Lately, we have noticed a similarity in the buying of the Guitar Hero skin, that many guitar players are bringing with them to use while playing at many gigs.

The awesome game environment of the Guitar Hero games can be improved even further by purchasing a skin for Guitar Hero controllers. Such personalization can also add to the already impressive social aspects of playing the Guitar Hero series.