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A video game is a game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display device; however, with the popular use of the term "video game", it now implies any type of display device. The electronic systems used to play video games are known as platforms; examples of these are personal computers and video game consoles. These platforms are broad in range, from large computers to small mobile devices. Specialized video games such as arcade games, while previously common, have gradually declined in use.

The input device normally used to manipulate video games is called a game controller, which varies across platforms. For instance, a dedicated console controller might consist of only a button and a joystick, or feature a dozen buttons and one or more joysticks. Early personal computer based games historically relied on the availability of a keyboard for gameplay, or more commonly, required the user to purchase a separate joystick with at least one button to play. Many modern computer games allow the player to use a keyboard and mouse simultaneously. Beyond the common element of visual feedback, video games have utilized other systems to provide interaction and information to the player. Chief examples of these are sound reproduction devices, such as speakers and headphones, and an array of haptic peripherals, such as vibration or force feedback.

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Guitar Hero is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, April 7, 2006 in Europe and June 15, 2006 in Australia. The game's development was a result of collaboration between RedOctane and Harmonix to bring a GuitarFreaks-like game to North America.

The game features a guitar-shaped controller (resembling a miniature Gibson SG) that the player uses to simulate the playing of rock music. The gameplay is similar to GuitarFreaks, in that the player presses buttons on the guitar controller in-time with musical notes that scroll on the game screen. The game features covers of 30 popular rock songs spanning five decades of rock, from the 1960s up through 2005, in addition to bonus tracks from independent artists.

Guitar Hero became a surprise hit, earning critical acclaim and winning many awards from major video game publications. The game's success launched the Guitar Hero franchise that has earned more than one billion dollars in sales, spawning several sequels, expansions, and other game-related products. (more...)

Current events

• UGO Networks acquires 1UP.com from Ziff Davis, shutting down the Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine in the process.[1]
• GameStop lost holiday traffic and sales to larger discount stores.[2]
• Microsoft's Halo 3 was the top Xbox Live game of 2008.[3]
• Nielsen Media Research ranks the PlayStation 2 (pictured) as the most played console of 2008.[4]
• Capcom's Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is the 2008 top-selling game across all platforms in Japan.[5]
• Production costs of Sony's PlayStation 3 decrease.[6]
• Nintendo announces plans to offer streaming video via the Wii.[7]
• Tecmo's second largest shareholder opposes merger with Koei.[8]
• Midway Games executives file high earnings after laying off 180 employees.[9]
• BBC study reports that approximately 40% of online game players are female.[10]
• THQ acquires license to use Nvidia's PhysX middleware physics engine.[11]
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This month in gaming history

• January 2001: French game publisher Infogrames took over Hasbro Interactive.
• 1997-01-02: Blizzard Entertainment released Diablo for personal computers.
• 2006-01-09: Take-Two Interactive acquired Irrational Games.
• 2005-01-12: Video game companies and players worldwide donate money to the UNICEF South Asian Tsunami Relief Fund.
• 1987-01-14: Nintendo released Zelda II: The Adventure of Link for the Famicom Disk System.
• 1999-01-31: Konami released Silent Hill for the PlayStation.

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