Alex Law, a Gaslight Tavern employee, tests out his Guitar Hero II skills Thursday, Sept. 6 at the tavern.

It was only a few years ago that folks who dreamed of being a rock star but possessed no actual musical talent were forced to settle by playing air guitar. But recent technology has made the fantasy a little more graspable.

The “Guitar Hero” video game, introduced in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 system, has become a pop culture phenomenon. Organized competitions are cropping up all over Lawrence, including the potentially largest gathering so far.

The Guitar Hero Corporate Challenge will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Maceli’s, 1031 N.H. The event is a benefit for the United Way.

“We were talking about how all these people who played it were kind of older,” says Suzanne Cotrel Doyle, director of sales and marketing at Maceli’s, who is organizing the event.

“They all have 13-year-old kids, and they get roped into playing. It’s addictive.”

The game features a guitar-shaped controller utilized to mimic scrolling notes onscreen by pressing the corresponding fret button on the guitar neck with one hand and the strum bar with the other.

Contestants at Maceli’s will battle using the new “Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the ’80s” version, allowing them to choose from songs by artists ranging from The Go-Go’s to Quiet Riot.

“Teams of four members will go to one of the two stations we have set up. Players will play against each other, then the 10 highest team scores will advance to the next round. The first round is set on medium; the second round is on hard,” Cotrel Doyle explains.

The 18-and-over event is limited to 20 teams. The entry fee per team is $80. Winners will vie for a memorable prize.

“I have commissioned some one-of-a-kind trophies from the Lawrence High School’s honors arts class,” she says. “So you are playing for bragging rights and a really one-of-a-kind unique trophy to display proudly in your office.”

Tim vonHolten, host of “The Turnpike” on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6, will preside over the event.

“A video game that requires hand, eye AND ear coordination – that’s why I’m only hosting,” vonHolten says. “If I tried to play this game, I’d get a groin pull.”