NEW DELHI: The success of video games for wannabe rockers has prompted a new wave of music games, ones that actually teach players how to really play music on real instruments.
Harmonix , the developer that created the first two Guitar Hero games and now works on the Rock Band franchise, has put musical instruction in its latest game. Rock Band 3 introduces a new Pro mode that helps players move from gaming to developing real musical skills on the keyboard, drums and guitar.
"Featuring instruction on everything from theory to hand positioning to chording, Rock Band 3 lets players start to gain real instrument technique while having fun at the same time," said Alex Rigopulos, CEO, Harmonix.
"We've worked with Fender and the Berklee College of Music to help strengthen and validate our work." The game also supports three expansion cymbals for its drum set, introduces a keyboard, and works with a number of new hybrid guitar controllers that double as actual guitars.
Harmonix and guitar company Fender collaborated on a real guitar controller that allows gamers to plug the guitar into an amplifier and simultaneously rock to the game's tracks.
New developer Seven45 Studios is introducing more than a real guitar controller with Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. In addition to being compatible as a controller for both Rock Band and Guitar Hero, the controller comes with its own story-driven game experience complete with 70 songs.
"Because Power Gig's SixString guitar controller is a real, working instrument, not only does it feel more real in your hands and empower you with its authenticity, it also gets you used to the feel of the strings on your fingertips and holding the weight of a guitar on your shoulder," said Seven45 Studios' CEO and Chairman Bernard Chiu.
"When playing Chording Mode you are tasked with playing the actual power chords in each song, so once the game is turned off you are walking away with guitar fundamentals that have been learned through the game." Inspired Instruments' "You Rock Guitar" is also offering an interactive way to learn how to play guitar.
Kevin Kent, co-founder and CEO of the company, helped develop the MIDI guitar, polyphonic synthesiser and digital drum machine in the music world. "You can start playing over the blues and rock progressions in the 'You Rock Mode' immediately," said Kent.
"The 'You Rock Guitar' does not hurt your fingers while playing, never needs tuning and you can jam right out of the box – and you can use it to play Rock Band and Guitar Hero." KISS frontman Gene Simmons, who narrates the new Quest mode in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock as the Demi God, believes music games can help get children into music.
"You put Guitar Hero in school and those young people are going to want to stick around and play this because it's a full-body experience and it selfempowers you. All of a sudden you start to imagine yourself as a rock star," said Simmons.