Guitar Hero

An article in the November 2008 issue of IEEE Spectrum Online describes how Guitar Hero is being used to help "train" artificial arms for amputees. It's part of the Revolutionizing Prosthetics (RP) 2009 project, sponsored by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). One of the RP 2009 project's goals is that:

[i]n four years, DSO [the Defense Services Office] will deliver a prosthetic for clinical trials that has function almost identical to a natural limb in terms of motor control and dexterity, sensory feedback (including proprioception), weight, and environmental resilience. The four-year device will be directly controlled by neural signals.

Guitar Hero: World Tour - 1
Rock Band 2 - 0

For proof that Cinderella stories can happen even in the world of videogames, one need look no further than the Guitar Hero franchise. When the series started a few years back, it was an almost off the radar game that only the most hardcore rhythm game fanatics were following. Now, it's a pop culture phenomenon.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes

Game Description: Rock the Rhythm, Lead, and Bass Guitar tracks in the follow-up sequel to the Best Music Game of the year of 2005. Form your guitar duo and shred riffs cooperatively or go head to head in all new multiplayer modes. With over 55 tracks to rock out to, you'll go from Guitar Hero to Guitar god in one press of a fret button. Choose from multiple rock characters and jam at concert venues that grow in size as your rock career progresses! You’ll start your rock career playing small clubs and bars, but if you play well you’ll work your way up to stadiums and arenas. Strap on your Guitar Hero SG Controller, plug it in, and CRANK IT UP! The Guitar Hero SG Controller feels just like a real guitar, making it the ultimate way to jam on your PlayStation®2. With the Guitar Hero SG Controller, you turn into a rock star every time you play Guitar Hero!

For a long time I resisted playing the original Guitar Hero. I had read the rave reviews. I had heard the buzz from friends. But I dismissed it out of hand, figuring that it was somehow beneath me. Being an accomplished guitarist, why would I want to pay 80 dollars to play songs on a fake guitar that I can already play in real life? So when Guitar Hero II came out, I hardly gave it a thought.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Lyrics

Cool as it may be to have a tool to be a groupie-getter, there is another point to Guitar Hero—it's also about making music.

Game Description: Guitar Hero makes you the star of your very own rock band. Using button combinations, sustains and the whammy bar, players will experience the essence of what it’s like to actually play some of the coolest rock songs of all time. The song list includes hits from Jimi Hendrix, Boston, Megadeath and many more. Players can choose from multiple rock characters and play at concert venues that grow in size as your rock career progresses.