So we’re back from Penny Arcade Seattle, back to the grind and hot Texas weather. I saw some great things at PAX and you too will see them coming up in the next week or two here on the site…meanwhile…

I made some interesting observations at the con over the weekend, and it may ruffle some feathers here and there but honestly it shouldn’t – it is as I said, an observation, (plus I have been known to be a jerk sometimes). I am quite aware that I write and work for Busy Gamer, and this is a gaming website and all, but I feel quite feebleminded at the “gaming rock banders” out there. Not that it isn’t a great game, Guitar Hero and Rock Band are fantastic. Marketing and popularity are amazing, I’m
guessing they will only get better. What I don’t understand is the fascination to take the reality of it being a “game”, to trying to make it “more than a game”.

I watched the Rock Band stage at PAX, the players lined up, prepping for that GnR tune, tightening their headbands and wiping their brows waiting for the ready set go, they pound out the song, crowd is singing along, applause is strong, the guys are high fiving at their score as they step of the stage, like a performance from Woodlands Pavilion.

Ok, yeah they feel great. I see it. It is real. Why am I so bugged? It’s because I am an entertainer myself for about 22 years (yeah I’m old who cares). It is an overwhelming feeling for those kids to get a response like that. So why not pick up a real guitar and do the same thing and really move some people?

Is it the skill set? Nope. I’ve played Guitar Hero, they are similar. And very learnable. The amount of time it takes to excel at it, can at the very least sit on a miniature comparable level. I like the feeling in front of fans. And I think that these kids and adults on stage with a virtual complete band would love it. My bands have shared shows with great acts like The Misfits and Bayside, and to perform for a crowd and see kids and adults sing back at you YOUR songs, not Velvet Revolvers, is going to lay waste to any red red green blue combo move that you’ll ever turn out.

Yeah I know, it’s a game. It’s altered the standards for gaming, and will continue to do so for years to come. Kids and adults, I’m not saying to stop playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band, I’m saying play them, AND after you score 98% on Nights in White Satin on expert level, go borrow your old and crusty neighbors Les Paul knock off and give it a try if you haven’t already. Find an old drum kit from the garage sale down the block, and get the crazy kid Louie with the lazy eye to try screaming some words he scribbled on his math book while he sat stargazed at sweet sally from homeroom class.

You get it. I know you do. Or you should, I hope. There is a lot more than screen shotting your
1,034 note streak. Try “thinking out of your xbox” sometime, it’s quite a face melter.

- Crutchboy Out

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 am and is filed under Crutchboy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.