Think Gaming looks at the GuitarFreaks and Drummania from Konami, which pioneered music simulation games already seven years ago in Japan. In the U.S. we only know Guitar Hero.

Quote: "With everyone and their brother talking about Rock Band and the waves it’s making in the gaming industry, I often hear the phrase "Yeah, they’re just ripping off Guitar Hero." That always makes me cringe a little bit. I find it sad that very few people in this country have heard of GuitarFreaks and Drummania.
Unfortunately, Konami’s venture into the rockin’ world of guitar and drum simulation didn’t seem to register here in the States. Debuting almost seven years before Guitar Hero, GuitarFreaks hit Japan like a tsunami.
Read the full report on ThinkGaming.