Guitar Hero 1 started the phenomenon back in 2005 on the PS2. Between that and Rock Band in 2007, gamers saw a steady stream of improvements. The concept was fleshed out, they added drums and mics, tons of game modes and options, way more music and a-la-carte DLC, online functionality, better training features, HD graphics, and polish.

But since Rock Band 1, the improvements have been fairly obscure or niche. Mostly, we’ve seen new music tracks and various branded track packs. As much as I may love The Beatles or Metallica, I’m really not excited about hearing it in a colored-button music game. The game is still the same game I got my fill of two years ago.

Not surprisingly, U.S. revenue for Guitar Hero and Rock Band is down 49% year over year.

So, was the music genre just a fad that’s ended? Is it going to take a while for a new killer-idea to reignite interest in the genre?

Personally, I’m still waiting for a full-production game controllable by a full MIDI keyboard.