I'm writing this because I found a new toy - Guitar Hero. The game comes with a unique guitar shaped controller, and you basically get to play along to classic rock songs on increasing difficulty levels. Its a cultural phenomenon and after a few strums of the guitar you would immediately see why. Big grins abound, as the air guitar fantasies become real whilst playing along to Sweet Child of Mine lol. It takes a lot of practice to become really good at the game, but its worth it for the satisfaction gained. But even when you can beat the game on expert, you will still be unable to play the guitar. The dexterity of your hand will be in a much better position to actually play the guitar though.

A new game from the makers of this is being released this year (next March for UK, boo!). The game is called Rock Band, and in it you are given a guitar, a mike, and an electronic drum kit. The premise is very similar, but you can have four players in the same band, the additional one playing guitar. The location of each player is going to be irrelevant too, since its all online. The best thing about this for me is the drums. I have no inclination to play the drums, but if you can beat the game on expert drums, then you really will be able to play the drums! Passive training in a gaming environment.

The point is, games are severely underused as a training mechanism. Although a guitar game with a semi-toy guitar can't teach you to play guitar, it wouldn't be a stretch to make a real game with more realistic guitar and lessons so you can learn the real thing. There are many other projects which could benefit hugely from this type of software. In fact the whole school system could benefit this. Staff training, team building, linguistics, in fact almost all learning could benefit from a direct gaming approach. Utilise peoples competitiveness and the addictive nature of games.

Thoughts?

Heres one of the hardest and longest guitar solos in this game. Judge for yourself if the mixing of emotion with music and fast addictive dexterity training can yield amazing results! Imagine if we can harness this to further speed up humanities learning.

Lynard Skynard = FreeBird full combo on expert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ThBdCVQsHk

How long this kids been playing Freebird on expert for, whilst filming, to get that on video is anyones guess . Having played it, all I can say is wow to muscle memory and hand eye coordination when combined with great music!

Too bad that kid will never play a real instrument like that. Unfortunately all that Guitar Hero teaches you is hand eye coordination and muscle memory (maybe a little bit of timeing).

The game is far more crude than any instrument, you don't have to be able to get into any real groove to play, you learn no music theory-- I argue that playing this game will not give you any musical abilities.

Of course it wont, except timing and possibly confidence to try. I can imagine the sale of real guitars has gone up in users of this lol. However the hook is really playing the game, if you've not tried it its worth a go. But don't you think the same process could be applied to a more realistic guitar training program? Or any other learning situation?
Play it, then tell me you don't need to be in the groove!

You don't get in the groove--I beat the game on expert without any volume on just to prove the point to a friend. The more I play that game the worse I get at real guitar.

If you want a real guitar training game, go buy a Pandoras Box, plug your Ipod and a guitar in, and actually play the guitar along to whatever song you want. Or what I like to do, is record a background track of my own, and practice scales and soloing over the track. Using this method you actually use a guitar, you can practice in any key, and you actually have to use music theory.

being able to play guitar, then playing guitar hero will definately train you to be worse, more cumbersome etc. I'm sure you were in the groove even with no music playing, if you were singing along to another song whilst dancing to another and then beat expert, then I would agree. Your brain can provide the soundtrack and the muscle memory. Its been said by others that some guitarists are actually a little bitter about being able to have as much emotional attachment on a pretend guitar straight out of the box, than by years of practice and lost fingertips. I'm not saying you are, but I am highlighting the pleasure that can be quickly got from a silly plastic controller and a well thought out game. No one who plays it thinks they can play a real guitar.

Dont you think we could harness this type of interaction, which is the main point of this topic? It seems we're still in the stone age when it comes to actually using the technologies we have around us.

It would be nice if they had software that you could buy where you could plug in a keyboard midi and upload whatever sheet music you like and it grades your performance. The only thing is kids would not play it...

I heard about a game system which trains children to controll brain waves through meditation, that is definitely an interesting possability. Biofeedback gaming could be a very cool profitable new market.

I think the rock music in guitar hero definately adds to the 'air guitar' feel. But I'm sure the whole thing could be scaled up to a real guitar training, including those rock concerts. It could easily mark you as well like your idea. It seems that training programmes are still in infancy.

Well I'll be getting Rock Band from the same makers as Guitar Hero. They've signed a deal with MTV and they're releasing full albums to download and play. The game comes with a mike, guitar and hefty drum kit, and unlike the guitar, if you can play the drums on expert you can actually play the drums!

Worth getting just for that to be honest. Its closer to the 'training game' I've been talking about than Guitar Hero.

Check this clip out to see it in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BloD13WYB3E

The additional instrument is another guitar, the bass.

I hardly consider that playing the drums... I played through that song on a kit right after watching the video, and I only play drums when I am doing sounds checks for my bros band--I wouldn't consider myself anything but a beginner.

But I do have to admit, they did a much better job on this game than Guitar Hero. Must have something to do with the huge amounts of money flowing into the project.

Why isn't it playing the drums flex? Surely if you can play at that level, then you are at least capable of keeping rythmn and being able to do all the necessary drum fills and such to be able to play the drums for real?

The guitar does not accurately reflect a real guitar, but the drums do, so I'm not sure why your thinking negatively.

My main problem is with the controller. Put frankly, it is a piece of crap. You can play the drums better on a desk. I admit, it is much better than the guitar counterpart, but you still are not learning music, you are learning hand eye coordination, and groove to some extent.

It is a good tool to get kids to practice the basics, but ultimately, you will not learn much. This is not to say that they couldn't create a similar game for serious musicians, in which you can upload sheet music and be critiqued.

There is a mod ill be carrying out which adds gum to the top of the drum, to silence it and give it the proper bounce like the training drum kits have. Otherwise ill be evicted for playing drums at 3am lol. This gives it some added realism, but really, I posted the wrong video to demonstrate the drums. Try this one:

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Bk8kb7Pow&feature=related[/url]

Its more the fact you have to learn the correct technique in almost all cases to complete the songs on expert, which is why I feel its a great training aid. Playing without the dummy sheet is another matter though I agree.

That guy isn't even using proper drum technique lol. It is definitely a good tool for people who don't seriously want to play drums, I will give you that. It should help a lot of people keep their minds fresh.

But I don't think anyone will ever learn to play bass like this from that game http://youtube.com/watch?v=CR6t47pV8Qc

I just saw Victor Wooten the other night backing up Chick Corea. It was absolutely AMAZING!

Nor will it teach any guitarist to play like Buckethead.

I'm sure people are deliberately misreading my posts on this. To make it clear:

Will it learn you to play guitar? NO
Will it train you to recognise rythmn? YES, but only if you were really bad to start with.
Will it give you finger speed/strength? YES
Will it give you the co-ordination required to get a head start in real guitar playing? YES
Will it give you appreciation for classics of rock you haven't heard? YES

Anything else is just day dreaming of Rock Stardom, however thats the point of the game! If anyones not seen the South Park episode 'Guitar Queer'O' you'll enjoy the parody.

My 8 year old is starting hard now, and I am really impressed with how well this type of game can be used to gain dexterity and also confidence that you can actually do what seems like an impossible task. So given this I've just purchased 'Piano Wizard' and I'll be giving my daughter this for her birthday. There is also a free program called 'Synthesia' which was called 'Piano Hero' until Activision sent a cease and desist order.

I've not put any links, but information is easily found using those keywords. Any discussion on these or other training games is appreciated.

Guitar Hero is fun for a couple of games, i agree that it does help with your finger dexterity.
South Park did some it all up though.

The clip of the drumming on garage band sure looks like it would help someone interested in drumming.

I agree that Games should be used more to help teach young people.

That seems to be the latest craze "Gaming"

The problem is that a lot of children are staying inside more often playing games and myspace etc. Not getting enough exercise and becoming unhealthier. At least that's how it is in the U.S.
Whatever happened to riding your bikes with friends, pick-up football games, tennis ball baseball, or just playing chase.
Soccer is not as big here as it is in..uh well... the rest of the world.
So no mention of the "other football"