GUITAR HERO: Upon further review ...

[BDR]

There's been some mixed comments about this video game and it's potential negative impact on:

A) The live music scene, and,
B) younger people developing an interest in playing a real guitar.

Since these topics have been posed, I’ve done some thinking and some “hands-on research” (LOL) on the topic and, IMHO, I can’t really see the “bad” in it, other than the fact that I think kids (and some adults) spend way too much time playing video games in general.

• To point “A,” I’ll echo my previous comments: I don’t see anything to become freaked out about. It’s a novelty and it will pass but in the meantime, I still can’t accept that it will take food from the mouths of serious musicians. I haven’t personally seen any direct impact on our ability to book shows ... has anyone? Really? Seriously?

• As far as point “B” is concerned, let me say first that the game’s soundtrack kicks ass and I’m very encouraged that it’s bringing some great music to a brand-new, younger audience.

— Second, even though you’re not making actual chords or necessarily playing notes where they would fall on a real guitar’s fret board, the general concept of hand-eye coordination so vital in playing guitar is there. Plus, as the notes climb, your fingering climbs the fret board, and when you want to sustain a note, you hold it down as you would a string to the fret board. You can also do runs without strumming each note so in these respects, it’s similar to a real instrument, at least in concept.

Also, as the game progresses, you are forced to improve your fingering (in terms of both speed and accuracy). As my wife and I played on New Year’s Day, Shel went from, “I can’t do this” to, “hey, this is fun.” After a few hours, she was shredding pretty hard without thinking about it as much and she was even watching the “band” and making comments about what they were doing on stage while she was playing, which meant she wasn’t 100 percent focused on the “notes” coming down the screen.

I felt confident after we played the game for a few hours that if I were to get the real guitar out, she would’ve been much more receptive to learning basic chords than she would have without playing the game at all, just due to the experience she had making her left hand do something completely different than her right hand, which is one of the hardest things for a beginner guitar player to grasp, IME.

I’m going to test this theory in the coming week and see if I can teach her to play a simple song or two on a real six string.

In conclusion, upon further review, I can’t see a con other than the, “people-play-video-games-too-much” thing.

Discuss if you choose to.

r:>)

[DrumAndDestroy]

One can only hope that beans were associated in this day of play

Fun game. Doesn't affect booking real bands.

Ok...hurry and close this thread before somone spazzes and complains about how this game is taking away from the scene.

Alot of times when I wasn't out watching certain bands, I was in playing Gears of War...sometimes NHL 2kwhatever...or maybe Madden. No one rallied against these games

[Big Jim]

Bad Daze Rob said:
I’m going to test this theory in the coming week and see if I can teach her to play a simple song or two on a real six string.


Yeah, I see where this is heading. After she learns 5 chords, I'll be bumped from our duo and it will be "Six-String Shelley and Bad Daze Rob".

[BDR]

Bad Daze Rob said:
I’m going to test this theory in the coming week and see if I can teach her to play a simple song or two on a real six string.


Yeah, I see where this is heading. After she learns 5 chords, I'll be bumped from our duo and it will be "Six-String Shelley and Bad Daze Rob".

LOL ... c'mon, Jim, we use more than five chords ...

Plus, who will my Siamese cat shed all over if you stop coming by?

r:>)

[songsmith]

At the guitar shop this past Christmas, I saw a fair amount of, "...my kid really keys in on that Guitar Hero, so we'd like to get him a real guitar."
Now I know that's a tenuous connection at best, but if it gets kids a real guitar to hold in their lap, I'm all for it. Obviously, not every kid is going to make the jump to guitar, but I think every kid should at least have the opportunity... many times an unplayed guitar gets picked up by a sibling or friend, and magic happens.
It's a good time for that sort of thing, sort of an alignment of the stars or whatever... Guitar Hero & Rock Band are big, and real guitars are super-cheap. We sold a lot of beginner drumsets, too. By spring, expect the repetitive grind of a junior-high rock band coming from every garage in the region. Cool.-------->JMS

[Banned]

As far as video games go, a lot of them are murder simulators. Would you rather have your kid play a murder simulator or a guitar simulator? (Which is not to say that I believe that video games directly cause violence. Just sayin'.)

To throw in another anecdote, my brother is a big Rock Band player. He's been buying real accessories for it (drum throne, better sticks, etc.), all from local music stores. He loves the drums and nails 100% on vocals every time. Hopefully (crosses fingers) he'll move to the real thing at some point. It kills me that everybody in my family is naturally musical - except me!

[DrumAndDestroy]

many times an unplayed guitar gets picked up by a sibling or friend, and magic happens.

Exactly how it happened with me. One of my hand-me-downs from my older sister was some little plastic Smurfs acoustic guitar. When my parents noticed I liked it...they bought me some off brand entry level acoustic. I saved enough money from delivering papers to buy a Peavey Raptor. Now I own some "big kid' guitars. Nowadays I attribute my drumming to how much I suck at guitar to which I attribute to the Smurfs acoustic special!!!

[BDR]

r:>)

[orangekick]

I've already seen this game turn people on to music that they normally might not have come across. It's also pretty fun, so I have no issue with it.

[Primates]

The Borg got Rob! They got em! All is lost! ALL IS LOST!

[BDR]

Resistance is futile.

r:>)

[BDR]

One can only hope that beans were associated in this day of play

Beans 'O plenty ...

r:>)

[Primates]

Resistance is futile.

Someone call Patrick Stewart!


Help me Obi Wan Stewart...You're my only hope!

[Naga]

Hell yes! I know a lot of my friends play that game like mad. I haven't seen anyone else pick up a guitar, other than my brother. He and I got our first guitars the same time, but he didn't jump on it then. Now, since playing a bit (or maybe not, not entirely sure), he's picking up where he left off. Meanwhile, I'm still picking. Here's to hoping he learns to whip my ass at it, cos if he can't, music will be lost in my family

[karakise]

My brother now 12 years old was givin a real guitar by me 3 years ago and it just laid around and was never played. My mom got him guitar hero about 6 months ago and this sparked an interest in his own guitar. He came to me and asked me to teach him how to play so I don't care what people say about the game it is fun and it got my brother interested. Rock band is better!

[DrumAndDestroy]

now we're just perpetuating the idea that kids are influenced by video games.

so when someone goes around shooting up schools and malls...i guess we can just blame video games.

[Klamachpin]

Guitar Hero should & will inspire kids to play a real guitar. And that's great. I think the game is really cool. No, I don't play it but have a nephew that does. I think I tried it at Wal-Mart once. Anyway, this area needs many more guitar players whether it be 6-string or bass because from what I've seen, everyone thinks that they're a fucking drummer!

[DrumAndDestroy]

from what I've seen, everyone thinks that they're a fucking drummer!

I actually just like to hit stuff with sticks. Very soul-satisfying

[Brian of the Clan Plush]

• As far as point “B” is concerned, let me say first that the game’s soundtrack kicks ass and I’m very encouraged that it’s bringing some great music to a brand-new, younger audience.

r:>)

I bought it for my 13 year old daughter last week (after-Christmas impulse buy). Two weeks ago she was driving me crazy listening to Souldja Boy and other similar crap. Now she knows (and loves) more Foo Fighters and Primus tunes than I could have ever hoped for in my wildest dreams. Guitar Hero for President!!!

[DrumAndDestroy]

Guitar Hero for President!!!

Oh no you didn't!!!!

[Brian of the Clan Plush]

Guitar Hero for President!!!

Oh no you didn't!!!!

1. gas prices drop under $3
2. the U.S. gets out of Iraq
3. my 13 year old daughter likes Primus

If you had asked me a week ago which of these would happen...well, you get my point

[DrumAndDestroy]

haha gotcha

[Vette Lover]

Resistance is futile.

Someone call Patrick Stewart!


Help me Obi Wan Stewart...You're my only hope!