I play guitar too. I enjoy playing/writing music. And I enjoy GH/RB for what it is, a very fun video game. Some people don't want to invest the time to first learn the basics, and then spend the additional time to learn to play the songs, which could amount to weeks or months. And even then, how easy is it to get a bass player, drummer, and another guitar player to come over to your house any time you want to rock out? Sometimes a man needs to play 'Welcome to the Jungle' at 3 am in his boxers while drinking a few beers.
GH is what got me interested in learning real guitar. I know have an electric and an acoustic and I play at least for a minutes almost every day. I still suck, but I'm learning.
I would agree with this with the caveat that if the HOPO setup in GH1 weren't so wonky, I would probably prefer the first game. Texas Flood and Cowboys From Hell would be so unbelievably fun to play were it not for the increased difficulty trying to strum every note. It would be close because there are a lot of great songs in GH2. Rock Band kicks ass because of all the downloadable content, though. I really need to download Texas Flood (album) someday because it doesn't get much better than Stevie Ray Vaughn
It's just a GAME. I don't think anyone who plays the game really thinks they are going to be the next Jimi Hendrix. I think it's great because it gets kids listening to REAL music again. Nothing is cooler than hearing my 6-year old nephew singing the words to Slow Ride by Foghat in the car. Thank you, Guitar Hero. I'm a musician too and I used to roll my eyes at the mere mention of this game. Until I actually played it.
I feel the same way -- it isn't really fun for me, the same as karaoke, which used to be fun years before I became a musician. When I decided to write and play music seriously, it required me to give up my own video game and TV addictions, and I have no regrets. I'd also much rather play sports (poorly) outside with my also out of shape friends than play a slick simulation, because I feel like I get much more out of it. But, I'm not taking away anyone else's fun of the game. I doubt navy admirals play Harpoon or city planners play Simcity, and I was really into those. Still...I think my mother was right when she was hard on me as a kid for being a video game nut. If I had kids I'd probably only allow them to play old Infocom games
I can play "Jessica" and "YYZ" for eternity. And Thunderhorse... there is nothing more fun that Thunderhorse.
I thought the concept of the game was silly the first time I saw it. Then I played it and got hooked on it like crack rock.
I'll put my nerdiness on display for the CF to see: I hooked up a Roland kit to play Rock Band/ Guitar Hero. I just got GH: Metallica, so I ordered a Pearl double bass pedal today for the new difficulty level that's charted specifically for double bass. Here's a couple songs I put up on Youtube. I personally find it highly addictive. And I know real drummers will laugh at it, but I care not. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/94LWQeiAq3k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/94LWQeiAq3k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2vep8FrZGlQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2vep8FrZGlQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
While I commend the effort- its not a perfect analogy. A better one would be that 'I like to play basketball over playing 2K9.' Your saying something along the lines of i'd rather play guitar than go to a concert or watch a performance on tv.... Im just saying.
You could probably make an argument that just about every video game is a waste of time. But people choose to "waste" time on it because it entertains them. Maybe some people who play the game don't really care to learn an instrument?
Playing Guitar hero VS playing real guitar is not a good comparison to Play Real Basketball VS playing NBA 2k9 If you play real basketball, you are much more physically active, and not everyone can be that active especially if they are not in proper shape....phsycially it takes the same amount of effort to play Guitar hero or play real guitar. Second, we are not comparing playing real guitar to watching a concert...we are comparing it to playing a video game.
I can't wait for Cow Bell or Wood Block Hero myself. Maybe Fiddle Hero! Yeah, then I'll definitely get into the series.
No video games aren't a waste of time...if you want to be a military war hero and kill terrorist, chances are you wont be able to in your life time if your not in the military.....so you play games like Call of Duty to experience that....learing to play guitar hero is tough already cuz you have to have proper timing, so might as well learn a real instrument...that's just me.
GH teaches your timing and rhythm which is helpful for learning real guitar. So why is that a bad thing? Its just fun to do. It doesn't take away anything from your life. It lets random joes who never had the time actually learn get down on an axe and play awesome solos. Its a fun thing to do. Get over it.
It's fun, but not as fun as playing a real guitar. And I'm not really into these "specialty" games much anyways; give me a fps or platformer or a racer any day of the week.
Oh thank god we have a "Playing Guitar Hero vs. Learning to Play Guitar" discussion going. I was afraid we'd never have that argument.
I don't want to play real guitar. I just want to press five buttons and have a good time with my friends. So there, "that guy"!
First, I'd be willing to say that playing Call of Duty is nowhere near "experienc[ing]" being a "military war hero" and "kill[ing] terrorists". I imagine that actually seeing combat is several hundred degrees removed from pushing buttons while you stare at a screen.*** Second, learning to play Guitar Hero is not tough at all. My 5-year old nephew is ridiculously good at it. It's just pushing buttons at specific times. We're not talking about having the dexterity and reflexes to catch flies with chopsticks. Third, like Astro101 said, and like I said before, what if someone just wants to just play a guitar video game and listen to the music with a few friends while drinking some beer and shooting the ****? Should he and his friends instead stop playing and try to form their own rock band (even if none of them own, or have any experience playing, an instrument)? Maybe some people who play that game want to do just that: play a game. They may have no desire to learn an instrument. --- ***However, I do understand the analogy you are trying to make, and it actually proves my point. You can play Call of Duty and pretend like you are storming the beaches of Normandy instead of joining the military, just like you can play Guitar Hero and pretend you are playing with a band in front of a packed arena instead of buying instruments, practicing countless hours, forming a band, and practicing countless more hours until you are good enough to play in front of a packed house.
