Rock Band and Guitar Hero are Great Things
By RayFriday, December 12th, 2008
I hear many complaints about the Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games – for example, that if kids are putting so much time into something like a video game which simulates playing guitar, they should be picking up a real guitar and learning that instead. But not everyone wants to play guitar. I have been playing in bands for over ten years and have tried my damndest to learn guitar; I even took classes at a local community college. The plain reality is that I suck.
I think and hope everyone can agree on this: these games are some of the most mainstream gateways through which those with mild interest in music can make that leap into more alternative styles. There are artists on this new Guitar Hero: World Tour that I would never have imagined could wind up on there, like Dinosaur Jr, Wayne Kramer and one of my favorite Swedish bands, Kent. Granted, people are already familiar with much of the music found on these games, but there are still enough “fringe” bands to get kids interested. I know from working at a record label and seeing the songs we’ve gotten exposed this way that it can generate a lot of interest in lesser-known artists.
I am all for any way that a kid can get into music that actually has some “merit.”
Tags: guitar hero, rock band, video games
December 12th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I don’t have either, but my sister LOVES Rock Band. I think it’s a great stress-reliever for her, she works like 60-70 hours a week and lives in a city with no friends, courtesy of her work schedule. So if she’s playing Rock Band to cope with life, it’s totally fine with me.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I love guitar hero, we have it at my house. I can also mess about on a few instruments. I think that the game is just that, a game and appeals at a different level to actually learning and playing music.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
We also enjoy Rock Band and Guitar Hero here in my home, though it is definitely a little weird and annoying to have a giant toy drumset sitting in the middle of your living room. Otherwise I agree with Ray’s point that these games are a good way for younger kids to learn about older music. Still, I think it sometimes goes too far – the lighting kits, smoke machines, “gig” bags, etc – I’ve even heard of people forming “bands” and competing against one another. That’s cool and all, but if you’re gonna dedicate so much energy and cash toward something that’s LIKE a band, why not just make it a real band?
December 12th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
It’s pure entertainment. Sure, you can learn real guitar if you want, but where can you get drunk and pretend to jam on stage with your friends? It all in good fun. I will tell you, being a REAL guitarist myself, I looked down upon these games until I tried them. I got hooked lol. Lots of fun, sure it’s not real guitar, but who cares. Down anyone play a FPS thinking they should be killing for real? if so, they have problems
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:19 am
I’ve been a “punk rock kid” for about 12 years now. As a sad result of that, some of my musical knowledge was sacrificed at a young age because I felt I was “too punk” to listen to certain bands and groups. Now that I’m considerably older and work in a record store, I’ve branched out significantly, though I still do love my punk rock (it’s home sweet home to me). I have to say that Guitar Hero is good all around, for “fringe bands” and bigger bands. I never would have admitted to liking groups like Muse or certain other “big name” acts had I not been exposed to them the way Guitar Hero exposed me to them.