Game and Player

My main issue with games like Rock Band and DJ Hero is, well, there's fantastic communities built around the thing being simulated. Its probably less expensive if you consider the cost of the game console. And at the end of the day, you have developed a real skill, not a skill at a simulation of a real thing. I mean, why simulate guitar, when you could go out and learn and play? Why simulate being in a band when, gasp, you could be in a band? I'll guarantee that being in a real band is far more fun and far more rewarding, and if you're good enough, you actually get paid to do your hobby.

People tend to respond with stuff about how they're tonedeaf, how the game is easier, and blah blah blah. There seems to be some stigma that you have to be a glistening beautiful sexy youngster who can play like mozart to even think of learning an instrument, and that's entirely false. You could be utterly tonedeaf, and still know enough to play at a jam session, and always be welcome if you play politely. Lord, I know of plenty of people that are far, far from amazing savants on instruments that still play music, play it in public, enjoy it, and enjoy the community around it. I'm one of them. I mean, so far, the only one of these 'Hero' based games that has any applicable use is the drum one, because, well, you can't exactly simplify banging on something to a beat much more than banging on something to a beat.

I dunno. It just seems like a waste of time and money to play (and possibly spend time becoming good at) a simulation game on something you could do yourself with a little more effort, and a far, far greater reward.... Read More

I feel so fucking old sometimes, I swear. Anyways, was an enjoyable article, the actual games just mystify me.