And while it’s no doubt true that they aren’t nearly as popular as they were just a few short years ago (market supersaturation surely hasn’t helped; LEGO Rock Band, seriously?) I can attest that they still offer that same fun experience most people remember about them.  Getting two or three buddies together for a night of rocking out with plastic instruments is still a pretty enjoyable evening in my book.

The latest trend in this genre has been the artist-specific titles, like Guitar Hero: Metallica and The Beatles: Rock Band.  Well, now Jimi Hendrix, the iconic “guitar hero” himself, will be getting his own pixelated avatar and game this year.

This news comes from Hendrix’s stepsister, Janie Hendrix, who controls Jimi’s estate.  She said the Hendrix game will be a Rock Band title and it will be released by the end of this year (my guess would be around Christmas).

Hendrix has music that was made for games like this – classic grooves, killer solos.

It’s also a bit funny that Rock Band managed to land Hendrix, since Guitar Hero has always included the character Xavier Stone (pictured), who in his later incarnations was definitely a Hendrix doppelganger.

-Sam