# Can anyone explain the appeal of this "be a musician" video game? (Rock Star?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622 "2007-12-19T21:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/1 "2007-12-19T21:24:05Z")
While perusing the aisles at Best Buy yesterday, I heard a very bad cover version of Nirvana song. Following the audio trail, I happened upon a trio of fellas, staring at a monitor. Then I see that each of them is holding a musical instrument. “Hmm, I thought, automated teaching? That might be cool.” Upon further inspection, I notice that they’re not really playing their instruments at all, but just pressing numbers in a sequence indicated on the monitor. All three, slack jawed and staring, not even swaying to the music, just slowly pushing buttons. WTF? What’s going on here? What’s the point of this? What’s the appeal? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/2 "2007-12-19T21:30:39Z")
I’ve seen them and they appear to me to be the couch potatos version of dance-dance-revoution. The most popular seems to be the Guitar Hero games. Hit the buttons according to the sequence on screen along to the beat of the song on a mock guitar. I don’t understand the appeal either?? Then again I’ve never been inclined to try it. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/3 "2007-12-19T21:31:16Z")
Not numbers. Colored tabs scroll on the screen, indicating which color button to press on the neck of the guitar, or which drum pad to strike. the guitar also requires you hit a “Strum” key to make the “note” actually register. While the guitar will not translate to actual play, allegedly the drums will help someone actually learn how to play Real Life drums. The appeal, of course, is the same appeal as any other video game… escapism. Unlike say, Grand Theft Auto or somesuch, this is a game that rewards group play, and encourages social behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/4 "2007-12-19T21:32:36Z")
I first thought this was a game to help you learn to play rock guitar- once I learned that you don’t have to know squat about actual guitar playing to do well on the game, I had the same response as you. To me its like a video game where you perform brain surgery, only not by using the correct surgical instrument to manipulate the proper part of the brain, but by memorizing a series of codes- maybe could be fun, but not really what you would expect. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/5 "2007-12-19T21:40:01Z")
I’m not sure where the confusion is. It’s a video game. We sit there slowly pushing buttons to make Brett Favre throw a pass, Ratchet & Clank shoot up a space station, or Mario jump around between planets. It’s fun. 🙂 The guitar games are awesome if you like music games, which I do (I’ve played everything from Harmonix back to Frequency on the PS2). I’m dying to get Rock Band, but only have a Wii at the moment, so I have to wait. :mad: Anyone confused should give it a shot. I’ve had a number of people try Guitar Hero on my systems and almost everyone found it to be seriously addicting. Edit: Oh, and the “point” is usually just to get to the end of the song. Once you get that - go for a higher high score. It’s remarkable how you’ll find yourself improving as you play the game more. When I first picked up Guitar Hero 1 I thought there was no way I’d ever beat the top tier stuff on the hardest level. After a while, it became easier and easier and I finished 'em off. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/6 "2007-12-19T21:41:50Z")
> **[Rock Band](https://xkcd.com/359/)** > > I'm gonna have to add something to the strum bar so it makes a clicky sound like the old controllers. I'm so used to the feedback; the silence throws me off. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/7 "2007-12-19T21:43:20Z")
[QUOTE=Slacker] It’s a video game. We sit there slowly pushing buttons to make Brett Favre throw a pass [/QUOTE] But the music is automatically played. You don’t make it do anything. I’ve never played the football thing, but don’t you get to make your own decisions about what to do on the field? Or do you just follow the display’s instructions on what sequence of keys to press? ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/8 "2007-12-19T21:49:32Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] But the music is automatically played. You don’t make it do anything. [/quote] Ah ha, now I understand your confusion. They must not have been sucking as bad as the people I usually see in Best Buy. You’re playing the song as it’s recorded, but your actions are “playing” the music. If you screw up and hit the wrong buttons you’ll get feedback instead of the notes that are supposed to be playing. If the drummer tries to spin a stick and sends it across the room, the drum track will be silent until he/she returns. You’re obviously playing a video game version, but you are playing the music with your input. And yes, you call the plays and do whatever you want in football games. That’s obviously a different situation though. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/9 "2007-12-19T21:51:44Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > The appeal, of course, is the same appeal as any other video game… escapism. Unlike say, Grand Theft Auto or somesuch, this is a game that rewards group play, and encourages social behavior. I haven’t played the game but that seems a serious stretch. In what way is playing the group version different than solo play? Playing in a real band you have to pay attention to what the others are doing and compensate, does that happen in Rock Star or Guitar Hero or is it simply 3 guys playing solo games merely sharing the same screen? I could see your statement being true for multi-player combat games where you work as a squad or something. hijack: has anyone tried selling a home version of Dance Dance Revolution? ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/10 "2007-12-19T21:54:51Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] hijack: has anyone tried selling a home version of Dance Dance Revolution? [/QUOTE] Yes, there a bunch of 'em. In fact, Red Octane (responsible in part for Guitar Hero and Rock Band) sells all manner of DDR pads. Konami makes the games. I know there are versions for the PS1, PS2, Xbox, and Wii at least. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/11 "2007-12-19T21:57:57Z")
I love it when people come upon something like this and can’t understand how the heck it can be appealing, when it happens to be the best selling video game of the moment. Why the hell did people buy Pet Rocks? I mean, really, it was stupid. Guitar Hero, at least, is a game that involves learning some musical awareness, the need to learn about rhythm, beat, measures, etc. And even if your score was based upon how many buttons you pressed correctly, while you get to listen to the song played properly, it would still be a lot of fun, I would think. Explain to me why people find games that involve blowing the heads off of people interesting. I’ll never understand that. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/12 "2007-12-19T21:58:20Z")
Yup, I don’t get it either. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/13 "2007-12-19T22:02:24Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] I love it when people come upon something like this and can’t understand how the heck it can be appealing, when it happens to be the best selling video game of the moment. [/quote] I ask out of genuine curiosity. I saw three guys staring at a screen that was telling them which of four buttons to press and when. Pet rocks were cheap. And you didn’t have to stare at them and follow their instructions. > [@](#): > > Explain to me why people find games that involve blowing the heads off of people interesting. I’ll never understand that. I don’t find it very appealing either, but it seems to me that at the very least, it’s up to you to decide when you pull the trigger and where to aim, etc. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/14 "2007-12-19T22:04:19Z")
I used to shake my head sadly at Rock Star, because it gave an easy sense of gratification at simulated guitar playing/rock stardom instead of the tried-and-true crucible of locking yourself in your bedroom for your entire adolescence and actually learning to play the guitar, coming out only when your chops are true and your acne has cleared up. I believed this could lead to the end of actual rock stardom in our time, or at the very least the tragic postponement of the sexual coming-of-age of generations of otherwise unathletic teenagers for whom starting a band is the only hope of arousing interest in a potential sex partner. Then I played it and was forced to admit it was pretty fun. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/15 "2007-12-19T22:15:03Z")
I’m in sorta agreement with Pravnik. It is fun. But it’s not as _cool_ as playing a real guitar. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/16 "2007-12-19T22:18:29Z")
It’s a lot of fun. If you get the chance give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/17 "2007-12-19T22:36:19Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] I ask out of genuine curiosity. I saw three guys staring at a screen that was telling them which of four buttons to press and when. [/QUOTE] Well, to an extent, that’s what playing any piece of music written by another person is: strum this string at this moment, then this one, then this one. Like any simulation, _Guitar Hero_ and its descendents simplify that idea to the point where its relatively easy for anyone to pick it up and produce decent results, without needing years of practice. Also like any simulation, it lacks quite a bit from the real thing. There’s no room for interpretation in _Guitar Hero_: you play it exactly like the game says to play it, or you fail. Still, the way Harmonix has managed to distill the experience of playing a musical instrument down to a few video-game compatabile elements while still making it an enjoyable experience is pretty clever. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/18 "2007-12-19T22:37:43Z")
[QUOTE=JohnT] But it’s not as _cool_ as playing a real guitar. 😉 [/QUOTE] But, then again, few things are… 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/19 "2007-12-19T22:42:14Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] it seems to me that at the very least, it’s up to you to decide when you pull the trigger and where to aim, etc. [/QUOTE] No, it’s not, any more than it is in a rhythm game. You aim _here_ or you miss the enemy. You hit the button _now_, or you miss the target, or worse, he hits you first. Rhythm games just have a narrower window. (Which is why I suck at and thereby don’t like them.) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622/20 "2007-12-19T22:49:00Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Well, to an extent, that’s what playing any piece of music written by another person is: strum this string at this moment, then this one, then this one. [/quote] Having actually played music, I’d say, no that’s not what playing music is like at all. Even a karaoke singer can experience _making music_. I don’t see how this simulates making music at all. Music isn’t about duplicating a sound recording. It’s about using your own body and perhaps an instrument to create something. > [@](#): > > you play it exactly like the game says to play it, or you fail. But you’re not playing it. At most, you’re switching it on. Or, it seems, preventing its being switched off. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-appeal-of-this-be-a-musician-video-game-rock-star/430622.md?page=2)