Musical Question for all you "gamers" out there

byndrsn · Post by **byndrsn** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:28 pm

Hey folks!!! Long time - no talk to!!! I hope you all are proud of me, I've stayed away from RockPage for a number of months just because I didn't want to get into all of the political arguments that I know I would have gotten into!!! (I'm voting for Palin- could care less about McCain - but I really don't know who I'd rather see win!! - whole nother story that I ain't gettin' inta!!)

Anyway, I have a serious question for all of you "Gamer's" out there (is that the right term???) I have to be honest; I am really out of touch here. I bought an original (brand new) NES system over 20 years ago. My 3 yr old loves it (when it works). Over the summer I picked up a Super NES with about 20 games for $10.00 at a yard sale - wow!!!! I was really impressed with myself - as was the 3 year old - we just advanced into the future of gaming (at this point I threw away the pong game!!)

Anyway, last week while in Target, I noticed they had 3 wii's in stock. I talked to the sales guy - he said he had a bunch of people calling to hold the units, but he told them it was 1st come, 1st serve - I talked the old lady into getting one. OMG I am, for the 1st time in over 20 years (maybe longer), the owner of a modern gaming system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, had to give you the background 1st - figured the rest would make more sense this way!!

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My Question starts here::::::

So, for all of you musicians who have also played all of these current games, what do you think of Guitar Hero and games like that???

Do you think these games are realistic?

If someone were to get accustomed to these games and then try to learn the instrument - would it help or hinder that individual? (and would the age of that person matter, in your honest opinion?)

My main reason for asking is that my 3-year old (will be 4 in a month) is really into anything that has to do with instruments. I would love to have him start playing guitar in the next few years (although I have some nasty suspicions that he is going to be a drummer!!). Therefore, I do not want "Guitar Hero" in our house if I think it could lessen his chances of being able to play the guitar later on in his life (like, before he is 10).

Thanks everyone!!!! I have to tell you that my shoulder is in a lot of pain these days (dammmmmm wii) and that I looked through the topics before posting this - WOW, LOTS OF ELECTION CRAP – and I'm not reading any of it!!!!

SARAH IS HOT!!!!!!! (and more experienced than Obama)

Seriously, I don't know who else I could ask except all of the very talented folks here on RockPage!!! Thanks a Bunch!!!

Urbs

(and, I'm sorry if this topic came up before or something - I really haven't been on at all for at least 6 months!!!)

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:37 pm

In my limited experience, Guitar Hero is nothing like real guitar. Actually, my experience was that the timing was off and was sometimes even an 8th note off from what it should have been. Perhaps you can calibrate that sort of thing. I'm not a Guitar Hero basher, but I didn't find the game fun at all.

As far as whether playing it would improve or impede development on guitar later in life - well, maybe there's a cognitive psychologist out there who wants to do a study.

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:10 pm

My nine year old is really good at guitar hero and he is also picking up guitar really well. I don't know but it seems like the muscle memory in his hands has developed quicker. We have had him playing piano since he was 4 and he has been taking guitar lessons for about wo years. He is taking lessons from a buddy of mine who is a great blues guy. I don't know for sure but I think that the game is a positive influence.

Now don't get me wrong I don't think it is realistic and I really suck at it cause the timing of the strums seems wrong to me....

But for a kid at that age I think it might be beneficially....

Plus is that they hear some cool songs. I hear teens listening to Thin Lizzy, that can only be good..

Good Luck Man!

And I will agree that Sarah Palin is hot! as for the rest of it.......

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:41 pm

I've played guitar hero...and I suck at it. I actually had a 12 year old old offer me lessons.

KyleMayket · Post by **KyleMayket** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:28 pm

ok, the Wii is not a next-gen system, it uses the graphics engine of the gamecube, it's not even capable of HD.
ok, now that that's out of the way, I would have to say at a young age, guitar hero would do nothing but help with coordination (at least with the fretting hand) and timing issues would probably be helped as well. Even though it kinda wrong with how the song really goes, it still promotes timing and coordination, which in the long run, couldn't hurt.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:40 pm

bassist_25 wrote:In my limited experience, Guitar Hero is nothing like real guitar. Actually, my experience was that the timing was off and was sometimes even an 8th note off from what it should have been. Perhaps you can calibrate that sort of thing. I'm not a Guitar Hero basher, but I didn't find the game fun at all.

As far as whether playing it would improve or impede development on guitar later in life - well, maybe there's a cognitive psychologist out there who wants to do a study.

you can calibrate it. Its pretty much right on.

Personally I don't think it would hurt anything, but I don't think it would help very much at all. Just a little bit with timing and stuff

Charltor · Post by **Charltor** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:57 pm

there's a "guitar hero" like game coming next year that you play on a pc with any REAL guitar that looks pretty cool. This maybe the bridge to where people realize they ain't Van Halen when you dont have four colored buttons!

http://www.guitarrising.com/

Anything like this is cool I think to get kids into music.

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:28 am

That one looks cool!

Merge · Post by **Merge** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:37 am

That does look cool.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:53 am

Charltor wrote:This maybe the bridge to where people realize they ain't Van Halen when you dont have four colored buttons!

Haha!

Great replies everyone!
I played this once and gave up because it made me look like an ass in front of the 12 year old kids who were laughing at my ability.

rickw · Post by **rickw** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:29 am

I played Guitar Hero and Rock Band with my neices and their dad. I didn't expect to do very well cos lots of folks said that since I play guitar I'd suck at the game. Well apparently I suck at guitar cos I played the game really well!! Had a great time. The game builds fast coordination but that's about it. It doesn't foster a love for music like playing a real guitar (bass, drums, kazoo, whatever) but it could be the catalyst that kids use to move into the much harder realm of actually playing with the attitude of "I can do this"!

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:57 am

i think if the kid is showing interest in drums, hook them up with rock band. my 13 year old little brother has no problem playing the drums on the game, and i've been trying to help him carry it over onto the actual drums. when i've played rock band, to songs i know on guitar or bass, it actually is similar, but not close... kinda like bowling and hitting one pin as to a full strike, i dunno if you get that analogy or not. anyway, i suck at the drums, and i think it's because when i play, i play in the pocket, but on the game, you gotta be dead on all the time. there is no leeway. sucks for me i guess. just means i'll have to stick to the real thing. no loss from how i see it

Plastered Bastards · Post by **Plastered Bastards** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:01 am

The wife and I play Guitar Hero all the time. Guitar Hero World Tour comes out on Sunday.
I can't wait.

Trucula · Post by **Trucula** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:50 pm

I have the wireless Aerosmith one for X-box 360. We like playing it and even have get together after wing night on Weds. I have guitar players who have trouble with it and guys who don't play tear it up. It is no way like playing. It's push the colors at the right time and each skill level adds another button. Great hand eye coordination but that's it.
My friend has Rock Band, drums and all. They couldn't wait till I came over to play and I had trouble with the drums. They were like, "I thought it would be easy for you!" I said its not like playing, there is no hi-hat/ cymbals (the next one is to have cymbals) I told him to drag your real kit over and I'll do better...LOL
Both are a fun "game"...but not a learning tool if you want to learn to play....

The idea with the real guitar sounds good.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:42 pm

Charltor wrote:there's a "guitar hero" like game coming next year that you play on a pc with any REAL guitar that looks pretty cool. This maybe the bridge to where people realize they ain't Van Halen when you dont have four colored buttons!

http://www.guitarrising.com/

Anything like this is cool I think to get kids into music.

This actually looks like it would help those learning guitar.

Post by **Ron** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:29 pm

Charltor wrote:there's a "guitar hero" like game coming next year that you play on a pc with any REAL guitar that looks pretty cool. This maybe the bridge to where people realize they ain't Van Halen when you dont have four colored buttons!

http://www.guitarrising.com/

Anything like this is cool I think to get kids into music.

I will buy this when it comes out.

Naga · Post by **Naga** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:08 pm

A bunch of my friends play the game. They've seen me screw up time and time again... And that's realizing I play it on Easy half the time! But then, none of them actually play an instrument. However, when my friend Wayne buys a real guitar, I'll ask him what he thinks, as he's barely dabbled with a real guitar before. Odds are though, that he'll have a definite edge in his coordination, although the ups and downs on it are a pretty good bit different

I say get it, and let him have fun with it. It won't hurt, that's for certain!

byndrsn · Post by **byndrsn** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:41 pm

Great replies!!!

I knew I could count on you folks on RockPage!!!!!