Heh. "Power Chords."

Simple Simon?

Cue XKCD in 3... 2... 1...

Tools and morons? thats a bit hash.

/great fun, nothing more

NASA, eh?

PacManDreaming: Spit Take: I think submitter means the electronic game "Simon."

Or "Simon Says". Regardless of that, the headline is farking hilarious!

NO, no it's not

Saborlas: Spit Take: I think submitter means the electronic game "Simon."

Indeed. I was about to say, how dare subby compare Rock Band to Simon.

when did the internet become a game of Operation to prevent advertisements from covering the article

mattharvest: Here's what I don't get about criticisms of rhythm games: yes, we all know it's not actually playing a guitar, any more than Mario was about actually running through a bizarre landscape of animated mushrooms and shell-throwing turtles. So, why is it clever to point that out?

The skill in rhythm games is the same as any other video game: identifying the right button/joystick presses based on the signals in the game. Yes, the nature of the stimulus changes between games (e.g. a flashing part of an enemy in Lost Planet, or a button chord in Guitar Hero), but it's all the same. It's a game, we get it.

I mean, flip it around: is there anyone out there who thinks it's actually the same as playing a song?

All I know is, I've never had anyone at a party fail to enjoy those games. More than half of my friends had never played a video game before playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band, and yet they jumped right in and had a great time.

Also, the logic fails when applied to other genres of games.

"You play Call of Duty? LOL I bet you've never really shot someone, TOOL!"

"Madden 09 huh? You're wasting your time, go play REAL sport!"

/Really good at Guitar Hero, unfortunately
//Partly inspired me to learn guitar

Sponsored by NASA apparently.

/Apparently trying to seem relevant

I couldn't figure out how that headline could possibly relate to NASA.

reyalfonso: NASA, eh?

Well, they have to do something in their free time.

Rock Band is wonderful. Every party I've been to that involved Rock Band has been great and everyone has had a really good time. And it's fun to play with the hubby at home too.

/Also, it's the game that finally convinced my husband that we needed a 360 (yay!)

mattharvest: I mean, flip it around: is there anyone out there who thinks it's actually the same as playing a song?

Apparently all the musicians who are afraid of no longer being cool because suddenly everyone wants to play guitar.

Rock Band does not protray itself to be a way to learn to play an insturment. It has created a number of douchebags who believe because they can "play" a song on expert, they are better than real musicians. This is bullshiat.

That being said, the game has some realistic aspects to it. The singing is absolutely realistic...Either you're good or you suck...and to an extent, the drumming (with the addition of the cymbal pack) has very realistic aspects.

I'll admit, I own Rock Band and I've spent a few extra dollars on accessories; an extra guitar/bass, cymbals for the drum kit and a mic stand. The guitar was the most expensive at $70, the cymbals were $35 and the mic stand was $10. So, $115...and who among us hasn't spent $100+ on something that someone else deemed "stupid"?

The fun that resulted from playing the game with a bunch of friends has been worth every penny. As a matter of fact, we're having a birthday/Rock Band party next week with 20+ people attending. We all realize that we could never make it as a real band...but who cares? It's a farkin' hoot, especially after a few adult beverages into ya.

The other things I like about Rock Band/Guitar Hero is the track listiing. The songs on there are exposing a whole new generation of kids to music they may never listened to otherwise (Iron Maiden...who are they?) and to be perfectly honest, if Rock Band (and Guitar Hero) inspires someone to actually learn guitar/bass/drums/vocals, then all the more power to them.

Saborlas: The comparison also proves that dumbmitter has never played Simon, a game based on memorization of complex patterns rather than reacting to the colored buttons two seconds after each lights up.

If you're gonna compare music sim games to simple electronic memory games, make sure your comparison holds up when someone takes a closer look. LOLBUTTONMASHING can be used to describe ANY video game if you weren't overly concerned with comparison accuracy.


LEAVE DUMBMITTER ALONE!

/dumbmitter

Submitter probably sits at home alone playing his real guitar while I go out and party with my friends and we all play guitar hero together.

Playing games is not about pretending to do something. People don't play shooting games then go out and say there an expert marksman. They play because a challenge is fun, especially with your friends.

mattharvest: Here's what I don't get about criticisms of rhythm games: yes, we all know it's not actually playing a guitar, any more than Mario was about actually running through a bizarre landscape of animated mushrooms and shell-throwing turtles. So, why is it clever to point that out?



because playing guitar is something you can do in real life. Don't worry, I also think sports games are by and large just as retarded, Guitar Band Hero games just keep with the extra-added stigma of looking like Dance Dance Revolution for rockers.

I'm terrible at these Guitar games. I can never stretch my fingers far enough to do the Barre chords.

FeedTheCollapse: because playing guitar is something you can do in real life. Don't worry, I also think sports games are by and large just as retarded, Guitar Band Hero games just keep with the extra-added stigma of looking like Dance Dance Revolution for rockers.

I agree with you here. Just for laughs whenever people refer to Guitar Hero or Rock band, I always call it "DDR for lazy people"

You're right subby. Rock Band did nothing at all to prepare me to play a real guitar. I picked it up and wouldn't you know it, the damn thing was covered in some sort of metal strings. No brightly colored buttons or flippy paddle thing to be found anywhere. I ended up getting booed out of open mic night over that little misunderstanding.

FeedTheCollapse: mattharvest: Here's what I don't get about criticisms of rhythm games: yes, we all know it's not actually playing a guitar, any more than Mario was about actually running through a bizarre landscape of animated mushrooms and shell-throwing turtles. So, why is it clever to point that out?



because playing guitar is something you can do in real life. Don't worry, I also think sports games are by and large just as retarded, Guitar Band Hero games just keep with the extra-added stigma of looking like Dance Dance Revolution for rockers.

You say that as if being DDR for rockers is a bad thing.

Simple Submittard.

i tried playing a real guitar, couldn't do it. then i tried guitar hero and couldn't really do that either. but it was more fun, so meh.

CygnusDarius: reyalfonso: NASA, eh?

Well, they have to do something in their free time.

A game as advanced as Rock Band couldn't come from anywhere else. Think about the advanced physics it takes to create star power! That's what all those zero-G tests were for. Thats how they discovered that tilting a guitar vertically creates the ability to miss twice as many notes with half the penalty. If we want to advance as a people we have to keep funding NASA at least until DJ Hero comes out and takes us to the next stage in civilization.

I've never understood why anti-rock band folks compare it to simon. It's nothing like that. Simon is a game of memorization. Rockband is a normal 'press the button at the appropriate time' game. No memorization required.

They are nothing alike, except they have buttons.

The second you hear the comparison, its obvious the basher has never actually played ether game.

PacManDreaming: Wow. Look at all the honked off tools and morons in this thread.

Won't somebody pay attention to this guy? He's trying SO hard!

Antimatter: Rockband is a normal 'press the button at the appropriate time' game. No memorization required.

I dunno man - after my friends finished their theses, they actually did manage to memorize a lot of the songs in Rock Band.

jondiced: Antimatter: Rockband is a normal 'press the button at the appropriate time' game. No memorization required.

I dunno man - after my friends finished their theses, they actually did manage to memorize a lot of the songs in Rock Band.

Thats not the point of the game though. Its a timing game, not a memorization game. You can memorize the songs, but its not necessary. Simon doesn't really work that way

Here's a list of video games and why I'm superior to you for not playing them:

Halo because I've been in REAL combat
Ace Combat because I fly REAL helicopters
Madden (any year) because I played REAL football at the park with my buddies
Gran Turismo because I own a REAL Metro
Super Mario Bros because I stomp REAL turtles
Beautiful Katamari because I roll up REAL galaxies

Anyone care to add to this list?

Vohnkar: when did the internet become a game of Operation to prevent advertisements from covering the article

I 100% THIS. Good lord, what an annoying site. And if you click to close the M&M ad you STILL get a pop-up.

Hiro Nakamura: Here's a list of video games and why I'm superior to you for not playing them:

Halo because I've been in REAL combat
Ace Combat because I fly REAL helicopters
Madden (any year) because I played REAL football at the park with my buddies
Gran Turismo because I own a REAL Metro
Super Mario Bros because I stomp REAL turtles
Beautiful Katamari because I roll up REAL galaxies

Anyone care to add to this list?

Grand Theft Auto because I kill REAL hookers.

Young Rory Calhoun: Vohnkar: when did the internet become a game of Operation to prevent advertisements from covering the article

I 100% THIS. Good lord, what an annoying site. And if you click to close the M&M ad you STILL get a pop-up.

Adblock wins again!

HeartBurnKid: Grand Theft Auto because I kill REAL hookers.

Ooh- good catch. Surprised I missed that one.

Hiro Nakamura: Here's a list of video games and why I'm superior to you for not playing them:

Halo because I've been in REAL combat
Ace Combat because I fly REAL helicopters
Madden (any year) because I played REAL football at the park with my buddies
Gran Turismo because I own a REAL Metro
Super Mario Bros because I stomp REAL turtles
Beautiful Katamari because I roll up REAL galaxies

Anyone care to add to this list?

Evil Genius, Because I am building a REAL volcano lair.

Hiro Nakamura: Here's a list of video games and why I'm superior to you for not playing them:

Halo because I've been in REAL combat
Ace Combat because I fly REAL helicopters
Madden (any year) because I played REAL football at the park with my buddies
Gran Turismo because I own a REAL Metro
Super Mario Bros because I stomp REAL turtles
Beautiful Katamari because I roll up REAL galaxies

Anyone care to add to this list?

Cooking Mama because my meals get rejected by a REAL judgemental biatch.

I can't find the link anymore, but I think on Cracked Magazine's website they had spoofs of Rock Band titles, and one was the Polyphonic Spree edition, with 23 microphones.