The countdown to E3 has begun. With just a week to go until one of the biggest gaming events of the year, there are so many exciting things to talk about, beginning with Guitar Hero Live. Next week, we’ll be offering all E3 attendees an opportunity to check out Guitar Hero Live with hands-on gameplay. Anyone who visits the Activision booth will be able to sample GH Live, which puts you center stage in front of live-action crowds as part of real bands that react dynamically to your performance. They’ll also get a chance to get a feel for the redesigned guitar controller, which features an all-new six-button configuration that makes it easier for beginners and even more challenging for experts by introducing complex chord shapes.

At reveal in April, we let fans in New York and Los Angeles be among the first in the world to play Guitar Hero Live. I had a chance to catch up with fans that came down to Times Square to check out the game first-hand to get their thoughts on GH Live, the new controller, and more. Check out the video above to see their hands-on impressions.

For all the latest on Guitar Hero Live, stay tuned to the Activision Games Blog and follow @Activision and @GuitarHero on Twitter.