"I think importantly and a very strong highlight to how mass market this franchise is and how easy to pick up…challenging to play…this game becomes is Guitar Hero III is the first third party title ever to have the number one spot on the Nintendo Wii platform in the United States, which is really telling about the strength of the franchise."
About the reasons for the popularity, Welch says….
"Guitar Hero as a franchise, is really the first product to innovate music and entertainment in a very, very unique and compelling way due to it's really easy to pick up, challenging and rewarding to master game play. That's really the unique combination that has made Guitar Hero a phenomenon globally."
It's also helping to give new generations of young people appreciation for some of those older rock n roll legends. Guitar Hero faces a new challenge from the new Rock Band game from MTV and Electronic Arts…but it isn't standing still. Versions are being developed for the Windows and the Mac platforms as well. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.