Like 'Simon,' But Way Cooler
Posted by anastasia on 12-19-2006
When I was in Florida, my cousin's 9-year-old son was excitedly telling my husband and me about his new favorite game — he said, "and I get to play that song, 'Shout at the Devil.'" MTV's purchase of Guitar Hero, a game created by Harmonix, may just be introducing a new generation of kids to sweet sound of 80s hair bands.
It's funny because it's a pretty simple game — kind of like Simon (remember? The round game with different colors that light up for you to press them) and also kind of like Dance Dance Revolution. The gimmick is that your controller looks kind of like a guitar, you get to hear the actual songs and play "with the band" of rocker avatars.
The New York Times, reg. required, ran an article today about how Guitar Hero is helping MTV reconnect to its musical roots. MTV's Van Toffler hinted at the network's plans for integrating Guitar Hero into its programming. From the article:
"For MTV the expanding popularity of the game is fueling all kinds of ideas for future applications. (One that already has emerged: The Guitar Hero wedding, with a competition at the reception.)
Mr. Toffler said MTV is looking into ways to adapt the game into its television programming. One application that fits nicely is an inclusion of the game in the online 'virtual world' MTV is building on shows like 'Laguna Beach.'
Mr. Toffler said MTV would incorporate Guitar Hero into a virtual world accompanying its annual Video Music Awards, where the avatar (self-created character) of the computer user would play the game before entering the audience for the awards show."
I tried to play a Matthew Sweet song and failed miserably but had lots of fun watching my husband master a Black Sabbath tune.
