I had this conversation with someone yesterday, and its one I’ve had with many people when I tell them how much I like playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band. This guys is a musician and asked “Why don’t you just learn a real instrument?” There are so many things wrong with this statement, and it pisses me off every time I hear it. First, if I wanted to learn a real instrument I would. I don’t play these games to learn a real instrument anymore than I play Madden as a way to train for the NFL, or play Call of Duty as a way to learn how to kill people in war. I play these games because they are simulations of an experience that I could otherwise not currently have. Yeah I could spend years playing an instrument, but why do that when I can spend two months practicing and then have the feeling of rocking out to one of my favorites songs in perfect tune with other people playing with me.
Also, the guy having this conversation with me was trying to tell me how steep the learning curve is for these types of games. He tried playing the game once and couldn’t get the drum beats down. Really? After one try you couldn’t play a Weezer song? That’s weird because I heard that Weezer met each other, they all picked up instruments one time and recorded a full album, no practice or anything. No shit you couldn’t play after one try. If you could, then it would be a bad game because there would be no need to replay it. Games are meant to be challenging. Keep in mind this guy has been a musician for 30+ years and he’s trying to tell me that a video game has a steep learning curve? I took two YEARS of drum lessons and never learned how to play anything more complex than a 4-4 beat. I played two weeks of drums on Rock Band and I could play Rush songs with almost perfect accuracy. True it’s not exactly the same, but again, its a simulation. I’m just tired of all these self important people who think that video games are such a waste of time and think that whatever they do is sooo much better. Get over yourselves and get a life. And don’t ask if you can play drums next, Dana and I are about to play Foreplay/Long Time.
