Rock Band, Guitar Hero and why it's great that music games are returning

New Rock Band and Guitar Hero titles are in development marking the return of the once dominant music game genre. I have my plastic guitar ready

In 2003, researchers Hatanaka Yuko and Miyakoshi Yukiko from Hiroshima University published a report that would come as little surprise to anyone who's ever sang into a hairbrush in front of the mirror: karaoke is good for you. In their research paper "Karaoke and stress response" the duo reported that indulging in communal singing sessions reduces stress and increases sociability. As exercise, it is as effective as a short run - obviously discounting all the Jigermeister shots you may need before agreeing to belt out Take My Breath Away alongside your line manager.

This is partly why it's great news that the music gaming genre is set for a triumphant return. Last week, Kotaku speculated that Activision will soon be reforming its Guitar Hero series after a five year absence, while developer Harmonix revealed on Wednesday that it is working on a new Rock Band title. Both games provide players with a microphone, an array of plastic controllers designed to resemble musical instruments, and hundreds of songs to play along with. For a while, music games were a huge deal selling millions of copies. But then the market got overcrowded, the instruments were expensive and the economy collapsed a teeny bit. It was the day that music died.

Related: Guitar Hero set for comeback?