Even as a gamer myself, I've never felt drawn to the whole Guitar Hero/Rock Band scene. Maybe it's because I have struggled to learn the real thing, but the idea of pretending to play great Rock songs ranks up there with lip-syncing and pantomimes in my book.
That's why GameTank's announcement that a game is being developed for the rest of us who would rather learn to play guitar while gaming, is sweet music to my ears. Connecting to your instrument by way of a guitar-USB adapter, a microphone, or directly to the sound card itself, you will be able to enjoy an experience on par with those games mentioned above -- but you'll likely impress a few more people in the process.
If reality is not your style and you still insist on taking the popular fantasy route, rumor has it that our very own Greybush is well versed in the art of rocking it out, Dtoid style. Just remember blue, blue, blue, red, yellow, orange, green, and you'll be able to hold your own against the likes of Steve Vai and "Satch" in no time at all. Talk about living the dream!
[Via Gizmodo -- Thanks, BlindsideDork and Bruceleethree]
Contest:
12:13 PM on 02.07.2008
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On the other hand, this software sounds interesting. I too have tried and failed at learning guitar but I would be willing to give it another shot with this.
That's like saying you don't play Call of Duty 4 because it's not REAL military action... it's right up there with lip-synching. Well, actually... that goes for - oh crap - ALL GAMES.
Not true. When I smack up hoes and borrow cars in GTA, it's just like the real thing....honest.
From the looks of it, you're learning tab and not actual "guitar". My problem with this is that by the end you will have the skills to read and play tab for songs at 100% speed should you stick with it (which is quite a stunning accomplishment), but you won't be able to play "guitar". By that I mean not knowing how to read chords, soloing based on chord transitions, chord progressions, essentially all the basics of music theory.
I did, in fact, shit myself shortly after that video was made.
I am going to be the next Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads!
[quote]
"Great...Now we can listen to all the "REAL guitar" idiots blather on about how this is superior to those of us that just want to have some fun with a video game."
[/quote]
This is superior, tho with only 30 songs its probably ment for people that either want to learn the guitar from scratch or for pro players to show their skill online.
If you can complete a song on that playlist at the hardest difficulty means that you can play guitar. After all its just about proper finger placment / speed and a fast picking hand.
This looks like an interesting concept, but it remains to be seen how the game plays out (pun definitely intended). Like akathatoneguy, the first thing I did after I watched the trailer was to go back and pause at the scrolling song list, and none of those songs or artists were even remotely recognizable. Sorry, but to get me to buy this kind of game, you’re going to have to include something other than a song called “Mental” by a band called “K-ration”. But maybe they are just placeholders, who knows...
Right Here!
However, I've been playing guitar for almost 21 years now. I didn't need a videogame to teach me how to play. It took a lot of hardwork and dedication. Lots of listening to music, watching guitarists, going to concerts, reading books, learning music theory, and most of all having a good teacher. I'm sorry, but the best way to learn guitar is from someone else who has been playing for 40 years or more. You're not going to learn basic techniques like fretting, picking, and positioning from a game.
"If you can complete a song on that playlist at the hardest difficulty means that you can play guitar. After all its just about proper finger placment / speed and a fast picking hand."
Wow...You've distilled some people's lifetime of practice into something that sounds like any schmuck can do.
I wholeheartedly agree with Digitaldemigod. Without proper direction and learning this will breed a group of undisciplined tab hacks that have all sorts of bad habits. There's a reason most good guitar players know chord structure and proper technique...I doubt this game will teach anyone that.
BlindsideDork beat you to it by 3 hours, and technically, I was working off of his. However, I'll add you both. How bout' that?
*edits post*
It's never been about thinking you can play a song with a real guitar, that's delusional. You could apply the same logic in your sentence to any type of game you play.
Example:
I personally never understood people's obsession with Call of Duty titles. Playing those games is nothing like being in combat and finishing the game on the hardest difficulty setting doesn't mean you can shoot a gun accurately or handle yourself in a life/death situation.
Oh, no. Gaming is all about the fantasy bit. My God, I think I'd shit a graven image of Mohammed if I had to fight real terrorists..
Here, here. That argument always gets me heated.
"but its not liek real lief! lol"
Of course it's not real life. It's escapism. And escapism is a valid form of entertainment.
People who can beat "Through Fire and the Flames" on Expert know that the experience garnered won't translate into them being able to play a single chord on a real guitar (I know this). Likewise, people who play CoD4 understand that just because they've gotten the golden cross on XBL and beaten the game on Veteran doesn't mean that they are suddenly an expert at firearms and room-clearing techniques.
Guitar Hero makes you *feel* like you're rocking out and playing crazy solos. CoD4 makes you *feel* like you are a gritty veteran, nigh invinvible the battlefield. After watching The Matrix, you *feel* like you know kung-fu, and you can't wait to chop-socky the first fool who jumps out of the darkness to try to mug you.
People just like to experience those feelings.
No, it means you won't be able to "write music for" the guitar. "Playing" the guitar means you can manipulate it with your hands and make music come out. I agree though that only aspiring to play carbon copies of other people's music isn't all that great, but that's how everybody starts out anyway, and that's ok.
Besides that, I really don't see the appeal of this. (Not Guitar Hero, I see the appeal of that and enjoy it, please don't hate me). All it does is flash tabs at you and tell you if you're playing correctly? Well I can get tabs for free online, and I can tell if I'm playing correctly by listening to myself. I guess having actual numbers onscreen telling you that you're good is cool?
"No, it means you won't be able to "write music for" the guitar. "Playing" the guitar means you can manipulate it with your hands and make music come out. I agree though that only aspiring to play carbon copies of other people's music isn't all that great, but that's how everybody starts out anyway, and that's ok."
Definitely, my point to the guy I quoted was simply that there's more to "playing" than knowing TAB. Even more than just writing music, most guitarists I play with don't tab out songs when we get together and jam. They say the chord changes are...and then we get to rockin. Anyone "playing" the guitar only knowing tab is handicapping themselves.
I don't think that anyone who plays this game is going to beat it on expert (or whatever) and think they are Jimi Hendrix. This, like the drums on Rock Band, or even Guitar Hero itself, is a gateway game, so to speak, that will hopefully get people comfortable withe some of the basics. Of course you're not going to learn music theory with it. However, I think that someone who walks into guitar lessons with at least some familiarity with playing the guitar, even if it is by reading tabs, is better off than someone who has never touched a guitar...even with possible bad habits included.
You're also ignoring the fact that many people who want to learn to "play guitar" are looking at it very differently than you guys. There are plenty of folks that simply want to be able to learn to play their favorite songs, and who will never care about improvising solos, writing songs, or anything of the like. This game would probably be good for them, also.
Pair this game with the Robot guitar, and you wouldn't even have to tune :)
I wonder if those 'Guitar Hero Experts' will be able to play this new game on expert as well :-)
Like, I play FIFA games because they're fun, I'm never(ever) tempted to go outside and actually play the sport. That's why I don't like Wii sports, I play video games to avoid exercise at all costs.