question: Why would game companies like Xbox or others discontinue things like guitar hero and connect?
comment: Because they lost popularity so it wasn't cost effective to continue supporting/making new versions of it. They're in the business to make money.
passages: Guitar Hero - Aerosmith: YBR
  
  Guitar Hero - World Tour: YBR
  
  Guitar Hero - Van Hallen: YBR
  
  Guitar Hero - Smash Hits: YBR
  
  Guitar Hero - World of Rock: NBR
  
  Rock Band 1: NBR
  
  Rock Band 2: Y
  
  With the addition of PS3 Firmware 3.10 the Frontmans Dongle/receiver was Deactivated due to it being one of many products not up to Standards, However Nyko offer a free replacement receiver if you Email them, once it is replaced the Guitar Works(While in GH mode) fine with Rock Band 3*and presumably other games too.
  
  Section::::Reception.
   Another potential "Guitar Hero" project was discovered by the archival site Unseen64 for a game titled "Hero World", a massively multiplayer online game that would link the "Guitar Hero" and "DJ Hero" games. The game had been developed by FreeStyleGames, sometime after the release of "DJ Hero 2", with the main development duties passed to Virtual Fairground, using their platform The Ride, an Adobe Flash-based platform that would let the game be played in a web browser. The game was cancelled in 2011 along with other pending "Guitar Hero" projects.
   Harmonix faced difficulty in making the Xbox 360 guitar wireless, as developers are charged a licensing fee to use Microsoft's wireless technology. Had Harmonix chosen to pay the fee, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 bundles of "Rock Band" would have sold at different price points. Instead, Harmonix chose a wired technology for the Xbox 360 bundle's guitar. In the certification process for both Xbox and PlayStation platforms, Harmonix encountered difficulty in how to assign service profiles to different instruments; while they ended with a profile management systems that met the certification requirements, the solution was concerned just functional and awkward to use.
   "Guitar Hero: On Tour" does not work on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS because unlike the Nintendo DS, they do not have Game Boy Advance slots. "Band Hero" is limited to vocals and drums on the two consoles for the same reason.
  
  Section::::Games.:Mobile phone versions.
   Activision released Aerosmith's "Dream On" to the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store as a free "" downloadable song. The free download was available from February 16–18, 2008, after which it was removed pending the release of the game.
   In June 2009, it was announced that Glu Mobile would be developing versions of several Activision titles, including "Guitar Hero 5", "", and "" for release in the last quarter of 2009. The mobile version of "Guitar Hero 5" was developed for Android, BlackBerry, BREW, Java ME and Windows Mobile platforms. In a change from previous games in the series, players are given the option to download MP3 versions of songs via Internet data services instead of using the MIDI versions that come with the game.
  
  Section::::Gameplay.
   Section::::Development.
  
  Section::::Development.:Background and aborted reboot.
  
  Rhythm games like "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" had been widely popular between 2005 and 2008, but due to oversaturation of the market and the onset of the recession in 2009, the rhythm genre suffered major setbacks, and the genre's popularity had quickly waned. Sales of the previous installment "" were below estimates and lower than previous games in the series. Weak sales of "Warriors of Rock", in part, led to Activision cancelling a planned 2011 sequel, and shuttering the "Guitar Hero" franchise.
   The Xbox 360 version of "Guitar Hero II" came bundled with a newly designed controller known as the X-Plorer controller and modeled after the Gibson Explorer guitar. Like standard controllers, the X-Plorer features an expansion port which allows users to equip a wired headset for voice communication. The controller connects to the system via a USB cable. The controller was sold bundled with the Xbox 360 version of "Guitar Hero II", some Xbox 360 bundles of "", or available separately. It was also bundled with the Windows and Mac OS X releases of "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock".
   Activision shuttered the "GHTV" mode on December 1, 2018, reducing the available Guitar Hero songs from almost 500, to the 42 present on-disc.
  
  Section::::Gameplay.
   Both RedOctane and Harmonix experienced changes in 2006. RedOctane was bought by Activision in June — who spent US$100 million to acquire the "Guitar Hero" franchise — while it was announced in October that Harmonix would be purchased by MTV Networks. As a result of the two purchases, Harmonix would no longer develop future games in the "Guitar Hero" series. Instead, that responsibility would go to Neversoft, a subsidiary of Activision known for developing the "Tony Hawk's" series of skateboarding games. Neversoft was chosen to helm the "Guitar Hero" series after Neversoft founder, Joel Jewett, admitted to the RedOctane founders, Kai and Charles Huang, that his development team for "Tony Hawk's Project 8" went to work on weekends just to play "Guitar Hero". Activision CEO Bobby Kotick believed that Neversoft would help them bring great games to the series, but on reflection, stated that had Activision explored Harmonix further as a continued developer for the series, things "may have turned out differently". In addition, Activision began seeking other markets for the game; a Nintendo DS version of the series was developed by Vicarious Visions, while a "Guitar Hero Mobile" series was created for mobile phones. The company also began considering the expansion of the series to band-specific titles with "". Later, in November 2008, Activision acquired Budcat Creations, another development studio that had helped with the PlayStation 2 versions of "Guitar Hero III" and "World Tour", announcing that they would be helping to develop another game in the "Guitar Hero" series.
   Activision and RedOctane had previously registered for trademarks on ""Guitar Villain"", ""Drum Villain"", ""Keyboard Hero"", ""Drum Hero"" and ""Band Hero"". Analysts speculated that future "Guitar Hero" would need to include additional instrument peripherals in order to compete against former "Guitar Hero" developer Harmonixs "Rock Band". Activision's CEO Bobby Kotick and early previews of the game revealed that "Guitar Hero IV" would branch out into other instruments and vocals.
   Activision and RedOctane also worked with Basic Fun, Inc. to produce "Guitar Hero Carabiner", a handheld electronic game that features 30 and 60-second clips of ten of the songs from "Guitar Hero" and "Guitar Hero II".
   Section::::History.:Sale to Activision and development by Neversoft (2006–2009).
   "World Tour" works with older "Guitar Hero" guitar controllers. Activision stated during their E3 2008 press conference that Xbox 360 users would be able to use the existing "Rock Band" instrument controllers as well as other third party controllers in "Guitar Hero World Tour"; "Rock Band" instruments for the PlayStation 3 are not guaranteed to work in "World Tour", though Sony is attempting to help make these units compatible. All "Rock Band" original Harmonix instruments for PlayStation 2 work with "World Tour". According to issue 027 of the UK's "Official PlayStation Magazine", all "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" PS3 controllers are cross-compatible with all games (except for "Guitar Hero: World Tour" drums on "Rock Band", however some require patching, which is done automatically when connected to the internet). Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 instruments also work on the PlayStation 2 versions of "World Tour", as well as later "Guitar Hero" games.
   The two companies produced two other mobile-based "Guitar Hero" games; "Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass", released in July 2008, adds role-playing elements to manage the band's success in addition to the core rhythm game, while the mobile version of "Guitar Hero World Tour", released in December 2008, expands each included track for play on both lead guitar and drums, mimicking the expansion of the console series to the full band.
  
  Glu Mobile developed the mobile version of "Guitar Hero 5", released in the last quarter of 2009.
  
  Section::::Games.:Other games.
   BULLET::::- After the dot-com boom, web sites claimed difficulties managing their finances. MSN Games changed its market strategy and left the retail market to focus solely on free and premium games, a decision that finally culminated in their decision to retire support for CD-ROM games and lobbies on June 19, 2006.
  
  BULLET::::- Specialized programs, including the Fighter Ace and Allegiance teams disbanded during the Zone's transition to the Member Plus program, due primarily to the planned retirement of their associated games.
  
  Section::::Legacy.
   During Activision's press conference at the 2008 E3 convention, it was announced that a long-standing dispute between Activision and Electronic Arts over the use of guitar controllers in their respective games had been resolved; "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" on the 360 was patched after released to allow the use of the "Rock Band" controller within the game, while all such instruments will be usable in "Guitar Hero World Tour". "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" guitar controllers for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are also compatible with the Playstation 2 version of "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith".
  
  Section::::Development.:Promotion.
   BULLET::::- November 8 – The first "Guitar Hero" video game is released for the PlayStation 2. The game becomes a major hit that turns rhythm games into one of the most popular video game genres for several years, and increases the sales of artists who have their songs included in the games.
  
  BULLET::::- November 15
   As the success of the "Guitar Hero" series grew, Harmonix and RedOctane were purchased by MTV Games and Activision respectively, in 2006; MTV paid $175 million to acquire Harmonix. RedOctane continued to publish the "Guitar Hero" series, bringing Neversoft on board for development duties. Harmonix was contractually committed to completing one final title, "", during and after the purchase negotiations.
   No further downloadable content for either "Guitar Hero" or "DJ Hero" was made after February 2011, though Activision committed to releasing content that was already in development by that time due to fan response; later, in a move described by "Game Informer" as "the final nail in [the series'] coffins", Activision announced it would discontinue all DLC sales for the series without revoking access to tracks already bought as of March 31, 2014. Though Activision had moved away from the "Guitar Hero" series, the lessons learned helped them and developer Toys for Bob to handle the manufacturing and outsourcing issues that came with the highly successful "Skylanders" toy and video game franchise.
   By the end of 2010, the rhythm market was considered "well past its prime", and developers shifted their focus to downloadable content and potential integration with motion control systems. In late 2010, Viacom sold Harmonix to an investment-backed group and allowed it to continue developing "Rock Band" and "Dance Central". Citing the downturn in rhythm games, Activision shuttered their "Guitar Hero" division in February 2011. Analysts suggested that the market for peripheral-based rhythm games may remain stagnant for three to five years, after which sales could resurge because of digital distribution models or the release of new video game consoles. However, by 2013, the era of peripheral-based music games was considered at an end, as Harmonix announced that it would cease regular updates of "Rock Band" downloadable content on April 2, 2013 as the company shifts to newer games.
   Activision scaled back its 2010 "Guitar Hero" release schedule to just two games, reducing the number of SKUs from 25 in 2009 to 10 in 2010. The company closed several in-house developers, including RedOctane, Neversoft's "Guitar Hero" division, and Underground Development. Viacom, which had paid Harmonix $150 million following the success of "Rock Band" in 2007, began seeking a "substantial" refund on that investment after weak sales in 2009. Viacom also sought to negotiate new deals with music publishers to reduce the costs of the "Rock Band" series' licensed music. Ultimately, the company began to seek a buyer for Harmonix during the third quarter of 2010.
   Three more bundles were made available in November 2011. Each bundle came with the game itself, a voucher for complementary downloadable song content, and choice of Mustang Pro-Guitar, Rock Band 3 Stratocaster Basic, or Rock Band 3 Fender Precision Wireless Bass (Basic) controller.
  
  Section::::Gameplay.:Instrument controllers.:Premium Basic Guitar and Bass controllers.
  
  Existing "5 button" Basic guitar controllers from previous "Rock Band" games and other compatible games (such as "Guitar Hero") can still be used interchangeably with real Pro instruments for non-Pro parts in "Rock Band 3" (but not vice versa).
   Section::::Games.:Planned games.
   Prior to the release of "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock", Activision worked with the iTunes Store to provide more than 1300 tracks of "Guitar Hero"-related music across more than 20 compilations, including most of the tracks from the games in the series, called ""Guitar Hero Essentials"". These compilations, such as ""Killer Guitar Solos"" and ""Guitar Anthems of the '80s"", include songs related to but not contained within the "Guitar Hero" series. Dusty Welch of RedOctane stated, "Where there’s music, there’s "Guitar Hero", and with iTunes, we are able to provide fans with a central location for downloading their favorite rock anthems." Following the merger of Activision and Blizzard, the new company announced plans to create an alternative to iTunes based on the "Guitar Hero" brand that would allow for downloading songs and their associated note tracks for the "Guitar Hero" games.
  