Music. Such a powerful force in the world of gaming. It can move us to tears, allow us to gain untapped strength for intense battles, or even set up ambiance when you're in the middle of an open field or just sleeping in an Inn just to regain some HP.

From the days of 8-bit, all the way now to the Next-Gen, music still plays a powerful role in the games we play. However, back in 1997, a new gaming genre was being created in Japan that, to this day, uses music in a way that MUSIC is the GAME.

This genre will be known as the Music Game genre.

It started with the pioneers: PaRappa the Rapper, Beatmania, and Dance Dance Revolution. All 3 became major hits in Japan and here in the US. To this day, if you go into an arcade, chances are people are going nuts in DDR. Search up 'Beatmania' on YouTube and you'll be greeted with over 14,700 results.

Now, let's back up, to 2 years before the music game genre began. In 1995, here in the United States, 2 students from MIT founded a company that was built on the premise that the experience of performing music could become accessible to those who would otherwise have trouble learning a traditional instrument.

Those 2 individuals are Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy. The company they founded eventually became what everyone knows as...



Before 1997 rolled around, they created some "applications" that were not necessarily games. The company's earliest project was The Axe: Titans of Classic Rock for the PC. The Axe allowed users to easily perform unique instrumental solos by using a PC joystick. Harmonix then designed "CamJam", which performed similar functions, this time using simple body gestures to trigger music sequences.

Now let's go back to 1997, when the music game genre began. Harmonix turned it's attention to Japan and noticed how the music game genre was becoming increasingly popular and successful over there. This inspired Harmonix to create their FIRST music video game.

The game was called 'Frequency'.



Released for the Playstation 2 on November 20, 2001.

For info on how Frequency, and how it was played, you can go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_(video_game)

After it's release, Frequency was critically acclaimed and won numerous awards, however it failed to become a mainstream success.

So, Harmonix went along to create their 2nd game. The sequel to Frequency.

The game was called 'Amplitude'.



Released for the Playstation 2 on March 24, 2003.

For more info on how Amplitude, and how it was played, you can go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplitude_(video_game)

Several changes were made from its predecessor to broaden the game's appeal, from gameplay tweaks to a more mainstream soundtrack.

Again, however, Amplitude achieved awards, critical praise, and a small cult following, but it was not a financial hit in the end.


Now, I love Amplitude and Frequency. These 2 games are what developed my love for the music game genre. They're high in my list of my favorite games of all time. Probably in the Top 10. Especially Amplitude, since I prefer it over Frequency, but I still love Frequency to death.

I guess why I love Amplitude more is the fact that it has David Bowie...yes...

David Bowie...




The reason why I'm writing this blog is because it relates to what Harmonix recently did. To explain that, let's go right into what made Harmonix explode into the mainstream.

Back in 2005, Harmonix teamed up with publisher RedOctane to release Harmonix's mainstream breakthrough hit. The game that started the "loud clicks", the color coded buttons, the insane note charts, and unleashed our inner rock star.

That game was:



Released for the Playstation 2 on November 8, 2005.

Guitar Hero was the game that put Harmonix on the gaming map. Harmonix had a major hit on their hands and they capitalized on it. On November of 2006, they released the sequel, Guitar Hero II. Released for the Playstation 2 and the Xbox 360 (the release for the 360 was in April).

Now, believe it or not, Guitar Hero was nothing more than a 'test' for Harmonix...for something they've been planning during the development of the first Guitar Hero. Something BIG.

In September 2006, MTV Networks announced that it was acquiring Harmonix on behalf of MTV for $175 million. Harmonix's last Guitar Hero game for RedOctane, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, which was released for the Playstation 2 on July 2007, thus fulfilling their contractual obligations with the publisher, RedOctane.

In 2007, RedOctane was bought out by Activision to continue the Guitar Hero franchise...and we all know what that led to:








NOTE: ALL THE GAMES ABOVE WERE RELEASED WITHIN THE TIME SPAN OF 2 YEARS! 2 FREAKIN YEARS! AND THERE IS 2 NEW GH GAMES CONFIRMED JUST FOR THIS YEAR! WTF ACTIVISION! WTF!

Ever since the teets of Tony Hawk dried up, Activison now has a new cash cow to milk...and it kinda hurts to see Guitar Hero being treated this way...it sucks, but what can you do. You know?


Anyways, back to Harmonix. In 2006, after being aquired by MTV Networks, Harmonix began to develop their dream game. The game that can turn 4 people into imaginary rock stars. The ability to sing, play guitar, play bass, and play drums. That game was...



Released for the Playstation 2 (December 18, 2007), Playstation 3 (November 20, 2007), Nintendo Wii (June 22, 2008), and Xbox 360 (November 20, 2007).

In 2008, Harmonix released the sequel, Rock Band 2.

I'm not even going to go into too much detail about Rock Band, because most people know how it's played.

For more info on both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Band

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_Hero_(series)


I love Rock Band to death and most people that know me can vouch for that. Rock Band 2 is currently my favorite game to play. Period. I just can't get bored of it. I can't even shut up about it. If brought up in a conversation, my head starts going in 360s from happiness.


So, you know I coughed my heart up and my brain exploded when I heard about this:



Rock Band Unplugged. Coming soon to the PSP.

Harmonix is going back to their roots with this title, because the game is going to be played the same way as Frequency and Amplitude.

So, Harmonix, making a successor to their very first 2 games, in the form of a portable music game, with the Rock Band franchise slapped on.

I can't even type down how freakin happy I am about this, but it's the equivalent to this:




I need to get a PSP...soon...REAL soon...

Anyways, I hope this educated you guys in some way.

If you have a PS2, try out Frequency and Amplitude. They really are fun games and you can probably get them in most gaming bargain bins. Plus, you can see how Harmonix was pre-Guitar Hero, which is a good kick.

Well, take care Dtoiders. I'm going to be shredding up some Judas Priest on Rock Band 2.