The Guitar Hero series have made a significant cultural impact , becoming a " cultural phenomenon " . The series have helped to rekindle music education in children , influenced changes in both the video game and music industry , have found use in health and treatment of recovering patients , and have become part of the popular culture vernacular . Several journalists , including 1UP.com , Wired , G4TV , the San Jose Mercury News , Inc . , The Guardian , and Advertising Age , considered Guitar Hero to be one of the most influential products of the first decade of the 21st century , attributing it as the spark leading to the growth of the rhythm game market , for boosting music sales for both new and old artists , for introducing more social gaming concepts to the video game market , and , in conjunction with the Wii , for improving interactivity with gaming consoles .