Play a Fake Musical Instrument

Music video games let you feel like a rock star in your own living room

By David LaGesse

December 18, 2008 RSS Feed Print

Everyone has a musician inside, a Joe Cocker whose hands twitch to favorite riffs and whose ears fill with the roar of the crowd. And it's the crowd that cements the appeal of Rock Band and Guitar Hero, video games that turn a living room into a stage to be shared with family and friends, says Michael Pachter, a game industry analyst. "Unlike a lot of games, it's actually fun to watch somebody play these."

The stage has expanded to include bass guitars, drums, and even singing. Players earn points for hitting color-coded buttons or the right lyric at the right moment. A video displays which notes are coming, and favorite rock hits help release the suppressed inner musician.

New game versions this year will feature music from Pearl Jam and Metallica. And the Beatles will finally make their digital debut in a video game of their own.

Tags:
video games,
music

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Beforeearth of 7:00AM January 04, 2010

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Exhibitiondemand of 7:12PM December 05, 2009

Instead of all the fake junk out there, learn how to play a real instrument. With three cords, you can play a half-dozen songs on a REAL guitar. After the first lessson, you CAN PLAY songs on the piano.

Rick of NC 10:07PM November 13, 2009

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