News
Guitar Hero goes analog
Andy Barrett Jul 4 2008, 10:07am
Hal Leonard to publish songbook of game favourites
A European edition of the US folio of Guitar Hero is due for publication in August, courtesy of Hal Leonard. The game has set a raft of records, not least becoming the top selling game of all time in its first year, selling 14 million units in the US alone and topping $1 billion of sales in North America.
Hal Leonard has reported phenomenal sales in North America as well and is already working on the folio for the Guitar Hero III game. In the UK the video games market is worth £1.7 billion and growing, with sales to March this year up to £418 million. Guitar Hero III was launched in May of this year in the UK and remains in the top 10 best sellers and so its popularity is expected to be sustained for the rest of this year.
Def Leppard, Muse and the Foo fighters have all released singles via the game. Total Guitar magazine has run features in the last couple of months and there have been various other press articles. One in the UK Guardian newspaper on May 9th reported that guitar teachers were experiencing a high level of children wanting to learn the guitar and the songs from the game.
With a high sales rate in the US Hal Leonard sees this as being a good product for dealers and one that could liven up a sleepy summer period. Some dealers in the US, both MI and sheet music, are now stocking the game and kit itself.
