And finally: Developers need to introduce new features without requiring new peripherals. Yes, this is easier said than done, and in a genre so driven by specialized peripherals the instinct is to introduce new features via even more specialized gear. But there is still room for evolution with the current crop of peripherals. The introduction of the open note in bass lines in Guitar Hero World Tour is an excellent example of how to wring new functionality out of old hardware. Keep adding value to the instruments we already have and we'll keep coming back for more.

These things can happen. And they must happen if the music-game genre is to reclaim its former glory. But even if things continue to look grim, music games aren't going anywhere. Not as long as we still have rock n' roll fantasies to act out.

This editorial first appeared in the February 2010 issue of GamePro. is a freelance writer who's spent the last 13 years covering the video game industry. He currently runs Plastic Axe, a blog about music games.