I find it interesting that the gaming industry has got a tight hold on young budding or potential musicians surrounded by gaming culture in our modern, digital culture and society. Children growing up in the 1960s were inspired to take up the guitar with the huge impact that the Beatles had on Europe and the United States as seen with the giant boom of cheap guitars being sold at the time. Now in the 21st century children are now instead picking up a toy imitation of band instruments that is activated through the game console with such titles as Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Maybe its good...? The recontextualisation of rock music in the game format has kept timely music fresh - a new breathe of life whilst introducing a new generation to the timeless guitar medium of the music industry. Who would know that Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" would be communicated through a digital game "played" by an 8 year old or whatever some thirty years later, still relevant to another generation.
I my self play an actual guitar but am useless at at the game Guitar Hero. I have no idea how to approach the controls after coming from a real pratical background of the instrument, and will often be dominated by a game geek. Oh Well. I suppose it hightens the awarness of guitar based music in a time when the charts are dominated by digital instrumentation and synths which is always a bonus. I just dont why it aint as satisfying for someone to actually pick up a real guitar rather than an imitation. Because lets face it, your never gonna beat the real deal.
