Reality Rocks!

Virtual musicianship doesn’t work for me. I mean, if you’re gonna spend the time to learn how to play a game controller shaped like a guitar, why not spend the time with an ACTUAL guitar? Don’t get me wrong. I love multiplayer goodness like any other true gamer. Guitar Hero and Rock Band have their place in hierarchy of engaging, close quarters community play. I’m not addressing the hours of fun to be had playing with or against fellow gamers. I’m just talking about the hours themselves; hours of button mashing trying to get better at the game. There has got to be a way to incorporate actual instrument instruction into this concept – we’re too close to lose this opportunity!

Enter ‘Guitar Rising’ by GameTank, Inc.. Finally, a game company has secretly infiltrated my brain to develop something that works as a rhythm based game AND a learning source. I’ve been thinking about this since before Guitar Hero first came out and I am quite psyched that someone has been able to forge a product like this. It seems to have the same sort of fret ‘note roll’ viewpoint. This is a big deal.

As a seasoned and fairly hardcore gamer as well as a seasoned and fairly hardcore musician, this obviously appeals to both my sense of competition and my sense of performance. On the gaming side, I’ve spent countless of hours (not to mention dollars on the software and hardware) perfecting platform jumping sequences, sniper shot accuracy, rapping with Parappa, slicing through demon hordes – all exciting, immersive and engaging. Heart rate increase, adrenaline, frustration, brain on hyper drive, twitch motor skills – it’s all there. Gaming is exciting and that’s why I love it.

On the musical side, I’ve spent countless hours/months/years learning instruments, techniques and technology, trudging trough book upon book of notation and instruction. For the most part, it’s quite dull. The exciting part of music creation comes when you perfect some sequence of muscle memory or your technique becomes as fluid as the material requires of you. And don’t even get me started about playing live – that is one of the most exhilarating feelings possible in this life, IMO. The learning part though is a lot of hard work and repetition with minor but crucial rewards along the way.

At the end of the day, you are closer to actual greatness; closer to becoming the next Lenny Kravitz instead of Lenny Couldabeen. A real talent and skill set that could translate to a real career, impress a prospective soul mate (won’t get too many real dates saying you’re a Guitar Hero with a fake guitar) and actually be a more productive person in general.

To most peeps under the age of 20 though, there’s just not enough blowing sh## up. ‘C’mon – I have to read books to learn how to play an instrument? WTF?!’

Initially, there probably still won’t be enough blowing sh## up for some, and copious amounts of interactive visual ‘eye-candy’ should definitely be on the agenda for modules or add-ons in the near future. That being said, ‘Guitar Rising’ is finally the piece that bridges the 2 together – the adrenaline incentive of gaming and actual, usable, marketable skills. Although there are also connections between gaming and the medical fields, as well as other simulation training systems, this is one of the first links from gaming to an ‘attainable’ career-path that I can think of. This is just the beginning, and this specific product has yet to be released, but it paves the way for that kick ass future where we game to live. I’m SO on board!

To quote Mr. Kravitz (one of my true guitar heroes) “Are you gonna go my way?”

Cities in dust

This has been done to death. I am aware of that. The crux of this message, and the reason for the post is that I don’t want to go to the dark side – I really don’t.

Let me preface by telling you that I am a musician, artist and graphic designer/web developer. I stand to succeed or fail based on talent, perception and distribution.

I have never downloaded one song, one software package, one movie or anything else that I have not purchased or obtained legally. Even though I am VERY well versed in technology to the extent that I could have started doing this many (many!) years ago, I have chosen to wait and see how the media companies handle it (RIAA and MPAA). They have NOT responded well at all (RIAA in particular) and I will not suffer those fools for much longer. They have failed at an alarming rate.

Essentially, for the music industry, it comes down to this : The artists need to get the lion’s share of the profits. The distribution channel and the record company (if there is one involved – at this point anyone with a laptop and a digital audio interface can make music indistinguishable from the ‘machine’) should each get equal parts of what remains. Oh and one more thing – the prices will change dramatically or piracy will increase.

RIAA, you are bleeding out. Take the help we are offering you or prepare your Last Will and Testament, because your next stop is the morgue.

The MPAA has a bit more time – but they need to learn the lessons that the RIAA did not. This is how their ‘suits’ will survive, albeit in an altered state than the previous comfort that had been afforded to them. Research, execute the necessary changes, adapt and deliver. Don’t screw it up.

It’s ok to make mistakes along the way to repair. Just keep in mind – blatant disregard for the new organic revolution of public distribution and user defined experience is a mortal wound from which you may not recover. Just check with your friend the RIAA, but get to them fast. The last rites have been read, and they will not survive for long.

Next on the revolution hitlist? ‘Professional’ sports. Overrated, over-doped (thus the overrated) and over-priced. Welcome to your overhaul, athletic-mega-corps!