Harmonix

developer of Guitar Hero/Rock Band

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

• founded 1995!

• 2001-2003: Fre Quency, Amplitude, Karaoke Revolution

• approached by peripheral maker Red Octane, they release Guitar Hero in 2005

• 2006: Activision buys Red Octane. MTV/ViaCom buys Harmonix.

• Harmonix's last Guitar Hero game for Red Octane, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, was released in July 2007, thus fulfilling their contractual obligations with the publisher.

• Rock Band released Nov'2007 - uses guitar/bass, microphone, and drums

• 500 songs available by Dec'2008

• 2009: Beatles Rock Band

• Mar'2010: Rock BandNetwork allows artists and labels to author ("chart") their own songs for play in Rock Band. Using special software provided by Harmonix, these songs are peer-reviewed for content before being put on the Network, and users will be able to browse through the available songs by several means.

• Oct'2010: Rock Band v3 - including three-part vocal harmonies—previously used in The Beatles: Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band—and support for a Keyboard instrument, a MIDI-compatible 25-key unit (Key Tar)... Rock Band 3 features a new "Pro" mode, which is designed as a learning tool to accurately mimic playing of real instruments: guitar and bass players will have to match specific fingering on frets and strings, drummers will have to strike cymbal pads in addition to snare and toms, and keyboardists will use precise fingering across the whole keyboard. Reach 2000 songs available.

• Nov'2010: ViaCom announces plan to sell Harmonix.

• late-Dec'2010: deal closed as LBO sale back to developers

• Feb'2011: Activision closes Guitar Hero group; Harmonix lays off ~12% of staff.