Rock Star-The Game or the end?

[whojamfan]

Ok folks,let's have it. Is the new "Rock Star" and similar video games a good thing or a bad thing. What kind of impact is this gonna have on playing/learning music? Will this eventually be in bars, and will there be bands of these people taking gigs away from real musicians. What do you think?

[scotty]

Why not. I just see this type of entertainment one stage further than lets say a small child pretending that a tennis racket is a make believe guitar.Everyone wants to be able to play guitar,some learn and some dont its just a case of moving to another level.You either practice on the real thing to property learn it or you just pretend on your make believe tennis racket.
Ive got my racket now wheres my balls

[whojamfan]

So hard to answer that one without violating the forum rules Scotty.

[scotty]

So hard to answer that one without violating the forum rules Scotty.

Your point

[alanz]

Do having driving or racing games mean no one wants to drive or race for real any more? I'll guess "No."

Guitar Hero and RockStar are fun wastes of time and do not in any way signal the end of people wanting to play music for real.

[wayang]

I agree...in the same way that today's ready access to pornography has not succeeded in lowering the birth rate...

As for me, if things keep deteriorating as they have been, I'm restringing my rick and taking up tennis...

[whojamfan]

My wife works for a store that sells these games, and she's always asking these kids that buy it if they would be interested in learning how to play for real. Every reaction has been the same"Why?"and/or "No".

A coworker of hers, knowing I play,wants me to come in and try it, and I keep telling them that I can already play most of that stuff for real. A very mild stroke I had in 93 ended any career in shredding, so I won't say that I could play it all. Good thing I never wanted to be a shreddar. Anyways, this is what led me to ask this question, as the people buying seem to have no real musical instrument interest, they just wanna play virtual rockstars. Good Grief.

[1965]

It's actually amazingly popular with college kids as well, not just limited to 10 year olds. I doubt games like Guitar Hero will ever replace live music (if it does please kill me) but I'm sure it's made a bunch of people think that they could possibly pick up a real guitar and play it (they can't)

[whojamfan]

Yeah, but so are the rest of these games.

The new tune in and drop out drugs are playstations, wii, and Xbox 360s. I've got 2 nephews and a niece that are as addicted to these devices as any other "junkies" I've ever seen. I can't say as I blame them, much more exciting than real life.

[1965]

It's slightly depressing how they trivialize guitar playing into five buttons, but it's certainly here to stay. Maybe I'm just bitter beacuse I suck at it.

[gregga41]

Having seen this game played by a number of nieces, nephews and children of friends,the one stand-out revelation is that the majority of them dont even consider it as playing the guitar, but as playing a game! And yes they show no interest in actually learning, or trying to learn an instrument!
My eldest son is nearly 5 , and so far my wife and I have kept playstation, wii, etc. etc. out of the 2 boys lives! I say "so far' as he starts school next year,then we will be tested!
BTW, both my sons show a keen interest in playing guitars!(At the moment!)

[phlemmy]

These games are just beefed up versions of Simon. I've no interest.

[whojamfan]

Simon Rocks!!!

[lennon211]

For those that appreciate the humor and want to see the games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band skewered, Comedy Central is replaying the Guitar Hero episode of South Park tonight at 10 EST. This is one of the greatest episodes and really shows a lot of what has been discussed in this thread, so set your Tivo's, DVR's, etc., or just watch it when it's on if you can.