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.

The Guitar Hero controller itself is, like the dance pads which came before it, a viscerally more profound experience than the original from which they were inspired. With its clever mix of catchy riffs and classic rock foot-stompers, the music one could produce through the game (a prerecorded track, though the latest version allow you to develop your own compositions) was a delight to play, and transformed its players into 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 demonstrative character of the controller and the propinquity of the game's content made it a staple party game. The game is so well liked that it has replaced the traditional entertainment in some karaoke bars. Because of the news and talk around this guitar hero game people are wanting to buy items to personalize and improve the look of their guitar shaped controller.

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.

Purchasing a skin for guitar hero controllers has turned into a means of positively influencing the viscerally stimulating game environment that Guitar Hero already produces. Also, customizing the guitar hero controller with the skin in question may breathe new life into the game's social aspect.