Guitar Hero: Just for poseurs or gateway to authenticity?
July 10th 2008 02:31
I have to admit: I have mixed feelings about Guitar Hero (the video game).
First off, it is clearly silly, isn’t it? Substituting a virtual world instead of joining the Real World (like blogging, right?). It reminds me of a joke from the Simpsons (I’ll paraphrase). Homer asks Bart if he wants to go play catch and Bart refuses. He would rather play a video game. The game he is engaged with: Father / Son Catch. Too funny.
Guitar Hero is similar, no? Why not just go do the real thing? Learning an actual instrument is a much more rewarding experience than faking it (trust me, I know). Where is the appeal if the simulated experience when the real one is so good?
But on the other side, maybe Guitar Hero is like a gateway drug. Maybe it will inspire someone to pick up the real thing. Someone who never considered it before. I can see that happening. Give the consumer a taste, and he’ll come back for the whole pie. I hope so.
Guitar playing is such a rich and rewarding experience, that I hope many will get addicted (like I have) and put down there plastic fakes and pick up a real one. Lessons are so cheap and easy (in today’s internet age).
Maybe I’m just dreaming… I played a ton of Super Mario in the 1980’s and never wanted to be a plumber (or whatever those guys were supposed to be)…
First off, it is clearly silly, isn’t it? Substituting a virtual world instead of joining the Real World (like blogging, right?). It reminds me of a joke from the Simpsons (I’ll paraphrase). Homer asks Bart if he wants to go play catch and Bart refuses. He would rather play a video game. The game he is engaged with: Father / Son Catch. Too funny.
Play Your Virtual Gibson SG!
Guitar Hero is similar, no? Why not just go do the real thing? Learning an actual instrument is a much more rewarding experience than faking it (trust me, I know). Where is the appeal if the simulated experience when the real one is so good?
But on the other side, maybe Guitar Hero is like a gateway drug. Maybe it will inspire someone to pick up the real thing. Someone who never considered it before. I can see that happening. Give the consumer a taste, and he’ll come back for the whole pie. I hope so.
Guitar playing is such a rich and rewarding experience, that I hope many will get addicted (like I have) and put down there plastic fakes and pick up a real one. Lessons are so cheap and easy (in today’s internet age).
Maybe I’m just dreaming… I played a ton of Super Mario in the 1980’s and never wanted to be a plumber (or whatever those guys were supposed to be)…
I always wanted to be a Racoon Plumber
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