Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. is an American video game development company best known for pioneering the music and rhythm game genre. Founded in 1995 by MIT graduates Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, Harmonix was originally created with the goal of allowing non-musicians to experience the joy of music-making through interactive software. The studio gained widespread recognition with the release of Guitar Hero in 2005, a cultural phenomenon that let players simulate playing a guitar using a specialized controller. Following the success of Guitar Hero (published by RedOctane and later acquired by Activision), Harmonix moved on to create the Rock Band series, which expanded the formula to include vocals, drums, and bass guitar—transforming living rooms into full-band jam sessions.
