Guitarhero, drumhero, djhero
I honestly don't understand the point. I mean to me it seems to beg the question "Why not simply learn these instruments and create your own music?"
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:36, 66 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

and the answer:
'because the games are for cunts'
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:40, Reply)

Banjo hero
was a big seller in the deep south
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:42, Reply)

CAN WE ALL PLEASE STOP HAVING FUN !
They're a laugh.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:45, Reply)

I only like Pac Man and Space Invaders

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:46, Reply)

^this
it's not a replacement for a real instrument, it's a game involving pushing buttons in time to music.

Getting good at the guitar or whatever takes years of practice and frankly isn't very rewarding for the first few, whereas the games are a pleasant diversion.

I wouldn't buy one myself, but I've enjoyed playing them, even though I can play a lot of the songs on guitar anyway
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:47, Reply)

hang on
a game that involves pushing buttons in time to music.

Isn't that virtually the entire premise of most Early Learning Centre products?
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:49, Reply)

yep
but this requires pushing one or more buttons at a time, and in rapid succession
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:49, Reply)

When described like that
the piteous futility of it all really shines through, to me.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:51, Reply)

it's a game
piteous futility is what it's all about
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:52, Reply)

hang on
isn't that life?
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:53, Reply)

This is why I don't enjoy games
EDIT I quite like Scrabble, actually.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:54, Reply)

I find scrabble frustrating usually
only board game I play with an regularity is Risk
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:59, Reply)

sooooooo
basically these toys are pretty much Simon Says, only vastly more expensive, and no doubt with an eye wateringly extravagent profit margin?
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:52, Reply)

nail on the head me old son
however, they come with a great soundtrack, so I can forgive them a lot.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:54, Reply)

My stereo's got one of those already
No need for all that fannying around with silly plastic toys...
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:55, Reply)

a good point admittedly
I have to say the only time I've ever played one of these games has been when I've had the opportunity to beat other people.

Winning and rock music are two of my favourite things.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:58, Reply)

I don't have a competitive bone in my body
I don't care a fig for winning, I really don't.

I'm competitive with myself and strive for knowledge but if no-one knows how much I know I'm not at all bothered.

This probably explains why I have (to a certain extent) the respect of my peers but I'm not in the least bit outwardly successful.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:03, Reply)

While this may sound odd
I like to win stuff, but I'm not especially competitive. If I do lose at something I don't really mind, and I'm not the sort to turn everything into a competition.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:05, Reply)

That 'YES! I WIN - YOU LOSE, HA!' side to humanity
saddens and disgusts me in equal measures. Monkeys scrabbling around in shit....
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:07, Reply)

I'm too overwhelmed by the stupidity to be able to like or dislike other aspects of humanity

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:08, Reply)

*high fives*
B3ta superiority complex club, old boy?
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:11, Reply)

you knows it
now I'm going to go and play one of my rather expensive real guitars.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:11, Reply)

Can you play that intro to that Lisa Loeb song, stay?
I like that.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:13, Reply)

no, but I can play that Wonderwall song

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:17, Reply)

What about that Time Of Your Life one by that greenday band?

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:18, Reply)

I can actually play that one

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:20, Reply)

We should totally score with some freshers down trent park uni with a £50 guitar from ASDA.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:25, Reply)

being able to play the guitar, even rather well, has never advanced my position with the ladies one iota
waste of fucking time
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:27, Reply)

Gutted.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:30, Reply)

hmmmm
not for me, and to be honest I probably own a hefty chunk of the songs used anyway.

When is there going to be a HarmonicaHero with one of your tracks licensed to appear?
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:59, Reply)

heh, that'd be awesome
might be a bit tricky though.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:00, Reply)

How DARE people enjoy a game that I don't ! I belittle you, sir, BELITTLE !

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:57, Reply)

Never played one
I used to play the Bass badly for a fair few years anyway so don't need a computer game to tell me i'm crap. just some marketing person is no doubt exceedingly rich on such a daft concept.
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:01, Reply)

You have quite strong opinons for something you've never tried.
Oh my, I should use that line with the homophobes at work.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:11, Reply)

sigh
yes dear
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:46, Reply)

Great forum banter there.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:50, Reply)

hmm
well your suggestion that my views on a laughably expensive plastic toy could be applied to issues with your homophobic workmates got the reply it deserved.
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:54, Reply)

It's about looking down your nose at something you have never tried or apparently know nothing about.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 19:00, Reply)

If I had any idea
what on earth you are going on about I would give you a sensible reply.

I play console games, but random flashy light button bashing just has zero point or appeal to me whatsoever, and homophobia is a little more serious than a mild distaste for something, I should know after being on the end of some some utterly baseless bullshit office gossip about about my sexuality before.
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 19:11, Reply)

Erm
Did you read Gonz's posts about his colleagues last week?

www.b3ta.com/questions/offtopic/post565146
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 19:22, Reply)

yeee-eess
im just confused that me thinking guitar hero is basically simon says for people with too much money can be equated with people who have a deep seated, aggressive, insulting and sometimes dangerously violent disgust, loathing and hatred of another human purely based on their (alleged) sexuality
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 19:29, Reply)

I donno, to be honest, I meant that I should use that line at work, not that you two were the same.
I'ld use the "haven't slept in a few days" thing, but that always sounds feeble to me.

Sorry, ignore that.

I still think you should try it before you knock it though.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 19:33, Reply)

god no
i'm a talentless bastard with little hand co-ordination, it's a miracle I get a pint to my lips without spilling anything most of the time!
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 19:49, Reply)

^^this
although if i ever develop the co-ordination and dexterity to play these games well, i will try and learn to play the real instrument
( weaver., Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:48, Reply)

guitar queero more like

(raymond "three griddle pans" luxury yacht lovin' the christmas action, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 17:59, Reply)

c-CLICK!

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:03, Reply)

I'm waiting for Pianoforte Hero and Cello Hero

( Lisette von Falcon, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:05, Reply)

Lyre king?
Lute knight?
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:58, Reply)

surely the point of them is that you DON'T have to learn the instruments
plus it's a game. you get points and you feel a sense of achievment when you complete each level.
the joy of these particualr games is you get to fantasize about being in a band while you play the game.

i think that's the basic point, anyway
however, people who think they look cool when they play them are cocks
( mictoboy shitting in your cunt since, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:05, Reply)

Serious and non-antagonistic question:
When you say 'you feel a sense of achievement when you complete each level', do you really not see how that might be thought to sound a bit sad?
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:08, Reply)

No more than any other game.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:12, Reply)

100% agree
I level this question at all games. What have you achieved? It's fuck all, isn't it?

If you're still gaining satisfaction from such trivial activity as an adult, does this mean there's something missing in your life?

I'm not being a cunt here, I'm genuinely mystified by the appeal.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:15, Reply)

You could argue, in most games, there is more 'achieved' than in any book or film.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:16, Reply)

You could, but it'd be hard one to win
Gaining an insight into the human condition or being made to think seriously about how you live your life or your attitudes to others, vs 'YES! I'VE GOT TO LEVEL 4!!! I'M GREAT!!!11!1'
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:19, Reply)

Even the british goverment recongize games as an expresion of art these days.
You seem quite small minded on this subject.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:24, Reply)

I genuinely appreciate
the incredible skill and complexity of the programming, the design etc - they're mind-blowing achievements on that score, what I'm struggling with here is the concept of there being any achievement for the people playing the things. And I'm asking the question because I don't understand it Gonz, not because I'm sneering at anyone for enjoying playing games (much).

Got to go now - I'd like to hear your answer though.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:33, Reply)

These days, some video games have budgets of films, and will draw in as much income for the producers and publishers.
Some games have imense storylines that require playing sevral times, prehaps with different charactors and different paths. They can imerse you more than a film can, because it gives you choices. It's not uncommon to hear of people playing games for over 100 hours, and every single one of those hours has scripted elements. As you say, the programing and art arn't in question, so I won't go there. Imagine if in, for example, The Lord of The Rings, you could choose what path to go down, what characters to sacrifice in order to save your party. Imagine if you could go back and play it again from the perspective of [main bad guy], the entire storyline can change, maybe they wern't so bad and was just doing what life conditioned them to do?

So, as a story teller, I'ld say it's more than a film could be.

And then taking it from the perspective of games without much of a storyline but are heaverly multiplayer focused, teams (or individuals) can [do objective] that requires more hand eye co-ordination to do the goal of the game.

Then taking it from a stratagy point of view, imagine if the inventor of Chess had access to video games, no doubt he'ld do far more than just have the unit types and limitations of the physical world.

Then taking it from the point of view of someone who plays Poker, Chess, or any classic real-world board/table game, they can play the same thing, even for real world stakes like money, across potentially millions of players. Pub Leuges of 100 or so people can greatly be expanded apon.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:43, Reply)

This is a fucking brilliant answer.
I play chess a few times a week, and I'm currently ripping Grand Theft Auto on the DS to pieces and half-way through Underground 2 and Colin McCrae 4 on the PS2. Games are a great distraction for me, I use my brain a lot and I'm pretty good if I do say so myself. They're better for me than all the other distractions I've tried in my life.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:53, Reply)

I don't think so
I'm perfectly happy and fulfilled in my life, but still get enjoyment out of playing games.

mostly from beating hookers to death on GTA, but it's still a game
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:19, Reply)

The funny thing is, I'm miserable as sin
*buys Guitar Hero*
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:20, Reply)

this indeed
tbh, i thought it was a good idea - when the first one came out, and it was all new

now its just annoying - yet people seem obsessed by it

in fact, last weekend i was in PC City (mainland Europe version of "World") buying a laptop cooler support. they had the new djhero shite set up as the 360 display'n'play game. THERE WAS A FUCKING QUEUE TO GET ON THE BLOODY THING!!! how fucking sad is that
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:36, Reply)

I'll be honest here.
I've messed about on CD decks mixing hip hop and scratching samples. It was fucking awesome fun and I could have done it for hours if a party hadn't been going on around me. The idea of DJ Hero appeals to me because I like games in general and it looks like FUN.

Life is supposed to be fun.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 18:57, Reply)

^this
oh so true

if you aren't enjoying yourself almost 100% of the time then you are doing something very wrong.

Happiness feels good, therefore this is the state that we are supposed to be in.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 19:28, Reply)

i'm not disagreeing
i'm just bemused over the fact that people will queue for ages in a computer shop to try a game - and it was a bloody long queue as well.
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Tue 17 Nov 2009, 20:36, Reply)

http://xkcd.com/359/

(bill, Wed 18 Nov 2009, 18:17, Reply)