I remember being one of the cynics and looking at that toy guitar like anyone who doesn’t “get it.” It was right after the original Guitar Hero came out. I was at BestBuy and saw the display with the corded toy guitar coming out of the Playstation 2 system. I grabbed the guitar, pulled the shoulder strap over my shoulder, started the song and “BAM” I hated it. It was clunky, unwieldy and down right stupid. I put the guitar down after the song failed out and walked away thinking that I would never play that childish rubbish ever again. Just under two years later, I was determined to play learn this “toy” and rock out to the massive songs and play like a rock god, all-be-it, in my living room by myself to keep from the ridicule.
But what changed my mind? It wasn’t a friend showing me how to play it or me trying to act cool; not only was that the love of video games that I have enjoyed for over 20 years, it was also that of the one love that has eluded me because my lack of talent, music. I love different types of music (alternative, classic rock, classical, punk, and hard rock to start the list) and through the games Guitar Hero 1 & 2, I would see music on my screen and imitate the art of playing a guitar. This spawned my love of this genre and later that year, 2007, I was gifted something that has spawned my love to expand, Rock Band.
Rock Band, from the developers of the original two Guitar Hero games Harmonix and published by MTV and EA games, did something I had been waiting for, made my experience more then a self loving experience, it made it a group affair. By adding vocals and drums, it made me want to find others who enjoyed this trend of rhythm video games as much as I. This took a while. In the first year of this brand new experience, it was mainly online play and that was not as fun as it could be. Either you felt pressured into playing at a difficult you were not comfortable (at the time I was still learning), or you found the children playing not fun to talk with. When Rock Band 2 came out and added not only 85 songs to 55 that were made downloadable from the original’s disk, but the ability to play as a bass guitarist. I found a franchise that got it.
Every Tuesday since Rock Band 1’s original release, new content is added to the game. Even the only week where the game added only one song, the song was the video game classic Still Alive from the critically and commercially game Portal, and it was free. These music tracks open minds up to new bands and music that some wouldn’t ever give a chance to. Some great (The Who), others bad (I’ll never download Nickelodeon’s in house talents The Naked Brothers Band onto my hard drive). I, like so many others plop on my computer, go to YouTube and look at one of the many of the rock band community who spend their time posting the weeks new content for we commuters to make an informed decision on whether or not to spend the required money of $1-2 to download a particular song (I as a bassist look at S1ckh4nd’s account). Coming up Tuesday the 20th we get 10 songs from often request, and never to be on this game’s platform, classic rock band Queen. They also have country songs, funk, progressive, Metal, and are starting to add rap. The Beatles Rock Band was just released last month for those who love the Fab 4. There is even a Lego game coming out (Lego Rock Band) that is adding a child friendly experience for those who are not sure about the game’s Teen (13+) rating. I may not be speaking about them, but Guitar Hero is as big as ever with Guitar Hero 5 that debuted last month a Pop music version, Band Hero dropping on Nov. 3rd and a band specific version game based on classic rock band Van Halen (Guitar Hero: Van Halen) due out Dec. 22nd.
There are many out there who still, after over four years since original Guitar hero came out, who say lines like “get a real guitar.” That has already happened. Throughout the country, according to music teachers, children of grade school level are asking parents for guitars to learn music. In 2006 sales of guitars jumped 40%. Guitar sales are not the only thing that’s seen a jump; these competing franchises have given the struggling music industry a jolt. Bands whose songs are long past its time has seen new blood of teenagers buy their music online. Even young and fresh bands have seen success. Talented and now famous band Dragonforce saw their song “Through the Fire and Flames” increase in sales 126% after its appearance in Guitar Hero III.
In November, they will be releasing an update to the game for the debut of the Rock Band Network for all X-Box 360 users. Though this service, all anyone with songs recorded can musical people can have their songs released onto the Rock Band platform. They have companies popping up making the game tracks for the musicians so they can be added to the growing set list. The best part is that the musicians themselves can make the benefits for their own original pieces of work and find a bigger audience for their work.
What has Rock Band done for me? I have found bands that I would never have noticed like Electric Six and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Songs that normally miss the mark of genre that I normally listen to like Handlebars (debuted on the Oct. 6th) and country song Gunpowder and Lead by Miranda Lambert. Since I started playing I’ve noticed my thought process of thinking “I will never be able to make music” changed to actually believing I can. I have written lyrics out for three songs, contemplated buying a bass guitar (student funds make this a tough decision), and am currently taking voice lessons to find my range to be able to sing properly. Rock Band itself has found a crowd in people who like karaoke. With vocals being in the game, it doesn’t take 20 hours a week of time to master the game, it takes knowledge of songs. And with almost 1000 songs in catalog (I personally have almost 450) it keeps it fresh for a whole night. I recommend anyone who likes music to, when given the chance, take someone up on the offer to sing in a session of Rock Band. Who knows, you may find yourself, having fun.
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