If for nothing else this thread should be remembered as the thread that DaDakota was at a loss for words.
I don't know what the commentator meant exactly by "participating in the music" but I suspect that meant interacting with it. Yes nodding your head and tapping your toes is reacting to the music but I still have a hard time seeing that as participation anymore than me yelling at the TV during Rockets' games means I'm participating. You raise a good point about learning that music is made up of parts but I still don't see how much learning you get out of something like guitar hero since the buttons you are pressing have no relationship to the music other than the time. To me it doesn't rise above the level of learning to use a cook by playing with Play-Do food. Autotune is something else I'm not a fan of but good point about the evolution of music. I would be less bothered by that and something like that could be easily done. A standard electric guitar could be used as a game controller and you could make a Guitar Hero where you actually have to play the song on a real guitar.
Some good points raised and since I don't want to respond to every post let me make some general replies. Yes I fully understand its a game and I'm not calling for it to banned or anything. In the big picture this isn't something that keeps me up all night just having a minor rant because I happen to be bored and it is what is on my mind. I hope that playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero gets more people interested in actually learning to play the real instruments but I'm not so sure about that. And yes I think kids should walk a mile in the snow to go to school so they learn the value of hard work.
As long as it gets some kids into considering and/or playing an instrument, then it is worth it. Think of it this way- those kids that opt to play video games, well, some of them wouldn't be inclined to pick up an instrument, anyway, so if it converts a few of them, great! And I'll tell you what- 3 Christmas' ago, we sat around and watched movies on Christmas Day evening like we always do (very inactive family- well, they are, anyway, I'm the black sheep). Christmas after that, sister's son got Rock Band. One of the best Christmas Day evenings we ever had. Excellent game.
Dhani Harrison (son of George Harrison) was on the Tonight Show last night promoting the Beatles Rock Band: <object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/8yEeeHGrjaE118AJL07X6g"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/8yEeeHGrjaE118AJL07X6g" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object>
^^^^^^^^ Wow, kid looks JUST like his Dad! That game looks so bad ass. So there is NO way it can be played on GHWT, right?
I haven't read the OP post but will answer the thread title.. I say Yes.. I've come to appreciate old school rock a lot more than I used to.. I've actually started listening to i on the way from work. And not just me but my whole family.... I'm almost saddened to know that I didn't bask in all it's glory back in the 80's .. Granted I was a wee little kid back then but still...
As an elementary school teacher, I can tell you from first-hand experience: these games are, overall, very good for music. More and more of my students have expressed an interest in music that you wouldn't normally hear on Top 40 radio because of these games (most of it written 20-30 years ago). They're musical world has been expanded beyond Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas, and into everything from classic bands like Blue Oyster Cult and Rush to current bands like Muse (who rock pretty hard, by the way). It gives them a refreshing perspective on recent music styles. The only slight drawback I see from these games is the unrealistic expectation it sets when it comes to learning instruments. My guitar students who are masters of Guitar Hero or Rock Band are inevitably dissappointed when they sit down with a real guitar and realize it's not as simple as pushing five colored buttons. That it takes real effort, concentration, talent, and a tolerance for a bit of pain (sore fingers kill a LOT of rock and roll dreams) to succeed. You can tell that many will give up guitar as soon as they're done with lessons, but those are the ones who probably wouldn't continue anyway, with or without Guitar Hero. So I don't think it really makes THAT much difference in music student retention.
Great points, I do agree that the setlists in these games are exposing a new generation of kids to an eclectic assortment of music, music that was popular back in the day, and music that just plain rocks no matter how old you are. Muse is my god. New album drops next week, can't wait.
I agree with BetterThanI. I think the game will probably lead to more kids wanting to try the real thing. Then, once they realize it's no longer like playing the game and they have to actually be in it for the long haul to be any good, the interest in playing a real instrument will usually pass. There will be those, however, that have been exposed to all this new music...that they do decide they want to be a musician and may go on to be successful on real instruments. For those thinking playing a fake guitar controller translates well into playing an actual guitar, I think they are in for a bit of a shock. I see a lot of them showing an early interest in the real thing cause of the game and then it falling by the wayside as they realize the game is really what they want to be playing after all. As a guitar player myself, I gave the game a try and put it through the paces, got bored, and never went back. I would rather just play the real thing...albeit I'm not a serious musician versus one who likes to learn songs from bands I like. Playing a song on real guitar with a band and/or to a CD brings its own high that these games cannot compare with IMO.
Well, I play drums pretty recreationally. Took lessons when I was younger but stopped because I got bored. However, Rock Band and Guitar Hero let you play along to songs, and the drum charts are decently realistic that they can be translated to a real set. I gotta say that it's reignited my interest in playing drums again.
Yes, they can. I'm a living example of this. Back in November of last year I bought a Roland electronic drum kit and rigged it to work with Rock Band and Guitar Hero. I really became a huge fan of the drums in these rhythm games, completely giving up the (fake) guitar from playing GH 1 and 2. One of my co-workers plays guitar (for real) and asked me if I'd bring my kit over to just jam out with him and his buddies. I told him that I didn't play the actual drums, I've only played in the game. He said just come over and try it out. I was EXTREMELY nervous. If I had a video of when I played with them for the first time, I would not want to see it because I'm sure I sucked pretty badly. But I wasn't completely incapable. I was able to play simple beats and it was a blast. I asked my buddy if I could bring my acoustic kit (which I had actually purchased before the Roland) to his place to leave there permanently so I could come over and jam any time. He said, "Hell yes!" So, since then, I've been practicing with them, practicing rudiments (Stick Control! Thanks, Ima_drummer2k!) and playing along with music from my Ipod. I am, by no means, a GOOD drummer yet. But I'm seeing constant improvement, which is why I'm motivated to keep doing it. All the while, my time playing Rock Band is dwindling.... less and less each week. I still love to play Rock Band, but it only goes so far in developing actual skills. Of all the video game instruments, the dums are the closest to the real thing. Even so, I reached a point where it was no longer helping me. We've started a band and are working on songs for our first EP. One song is ready to go, and I'm close to learning the parts for another. We've decided on Little Wing by Hendrix as one of the two covers we're doing for the EP. Crazy enough, I'm actually learning the drum parts through Guitar Hero World tour. Mitch Mitchell is a god. I may make a video of us recording the one song we have down so far as a band this weekend. If so, I'll post it here.
Well after all these post praising Guitar Hero and Rock Band I'm willing to be open minded that they are good for music but I'm having a hard time giving up being a curmudgeon... Anyway I'm getting ready to haul out my actual acoustic guitar with no buttons, fancy graphics and go play a gig relying upon my own warbling voice and all...
Holy crap, this may indeed be the coolest thing I've ever read on this bbs. (no hyperbole) Definitely post that video. I'd love to see it. Man, I love hearing stories about people learning to play a musical instrument later on in life.
That is freaking awesome. I do honestly think these video games are showing people how fun being in a band and playing an instrument can be. I know when I first got my guitar for my birthday last year I played it for about 3 weeks and then kind of gave up for about 3 months. All I could play was some basic chords, and my fat fingers were just buzzing all over the place and it was frustrating. Then I decided to try and learn a couple of really easy Christmas songs about Christmas and I found that I could actually keep the rhythm pretty decently. Now I'm learning how to finger pick, and I can actually play "Blackbird" by the Beatles fairly well, which isn't easy for a beginner. Right now I'm playing Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens over and over again. I can't even explain how awesome it is to be able to play a song.
you said it yourself, you have a bias. I love music, and I've been spending more and more time immersing myself in it lately. Pandora on my phone in the car and on my pc at home. ITunes from the same avenues. Rock band and guitar hero are an extension of this. There are quite a few bands and songs I had never heard of or, would have never given a chance if it wasn't for gh/rb. There is quite a bit of music being pushed through both games that are not widespread commercial successes. One band you will find in both games is Interpol, and they are fantastic. They are popular but that is real musicianship. As for taking away from other instruments, whatever. It's a video game and bass / drums / vocals are just as fun to play. I for example prefer to play guitar, and playing both games has only strengthened my desire to finally learn to play guitar. In fact it's increased my desire so much that I went and bought a new guitar cable yesterday and I'll be playing tonight. You need to give the games a chance judoka. For reference I just turned 26, and I obviously love video games. As for what I listen to? Everything. Lately it's been a lot of indi, or punk rock.
