Comments on: Family Game of 2007 http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/ Games from a Parental Perspective Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: BlackIce, So-So Edition http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3731 BlackIce, So-So Edition Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:07:48 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3731 @GamerDad If you had happened to pick a Wii exclusive, I would have thrown so much profanity your way you would likely have A) IP-Banned me B) Questioned my sanity I have an irrational hatred of Nintendo, for reasons even i'm not sure of. @GamerDad

If you had happened to pick a Wii exclusive, I would have thrown so much profanity your way you would likely have

A) IP-Banned me
B) Questioned my sanity

I have an irrational hatred of Nintendo, for reasons even i’m not sure of.

]]> By: GamerDad http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3706 GamerDad Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:38:38 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3706 Swear at me? Why-so? Another factor is that this might be the only game that - even if they never upgraded it - I would still be playing it 20 years from now. I hear that a lot Mike, from guitarists, most still like it though. What I really like is the co-op, I love this music, and I like that I generally have to move like a guitarist to play well. When you have a Rock Band group doing well together - it really does rock. Not in a performance way, in a band practice in the basement kind of way. Oh, I forgot to mention, Rock Band has a dynamic where you can use Star Power --- ahem, Overdrive -- to boost ailing bandmates or rescue them when they've failed out. This is one of the most satisfying things about the game. Rescuing your buddies when they "lose" the game and working together to get through the nightmarish tunes. Oh that and this is easily the first game I've ever had to "practice" so my friends aren't annoyed with my performance in the game. ;-) Swear at me? Why-so?

Another factor is that this might be the only game that – even if they never upgraded it – I would still be playing it 20 years from now.

I hear that a lot Mike, from guitarists, most still like it though. What I really like is the co-op, I love this music, and I like that I generally have to move like a guitarist to play well. When you have a Rock Band group doing well together – it really does rock. Not in a performance way, in a band practice in the basement kind of way.

Oh, I forgot to mention, Rock Band has a dynamic where you can use Star Power — ahem, Overdrive — to boost ailing bandmates or rescue them when they’ve failed out. This is one of the most satisfying things about the game. Rescuing your buddies when they “lose” the game and working together to get through the nightmarish tunes.

Oh that and this is easily the first game I’ve ever had to “practice” so my friends aren’t annoyed with my performance in the game. ;-)

]]> By: BlackIce, So-So Edition http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3705 BlackIce, So-So Edition Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:03:26 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3705 I was about ready to swear at you. Good pick though. I was about ready to swear at you. Good pick though.

]]> By: Mike Anderson http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3704 Mike Anderson Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:32:42 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3704 I actually found that at first my instinctive timing for hitting notes based on string positioning and pick plucking was hindering me in GH3. Once I separated the two I was much better. It really is a different beast. I actually found that at first my instinctive timing for hitting notes based on string positioning and pick plucking was hindering me in GH3. Once I separated the two I was much better. It really is a different beast.

]]> By: GamerDad http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3702 GamerDad Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:19:25 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3702 Then do so! What Guitar Hero and Rock Band simulate isn't playing guitar. It's the feeling of playing guitar. Not everyone can learn an instrument to the mastery of actually being able to play their favorite songs - much like most MS Flight Sim people don't have the time or money to become real pilots - so we turn to simulations to do what we otherwise can't. The games are a lot of fun, in other words. My point is, it's not logical at all to assume that a person who's master Guitar Hero would ever be able to become even a halfway decent guitarist. But it sure is fun to rock out to your favorite music with friends! Then do so!
What Guitar Hero and Rock Band simulate isn’t playing guitar. It’s the feeling of playing guitar. Not everyone can learn an instrument to the mastery of actually being able to play their favorite songs – much like most MS Flight Sim people don’t have the time or money to become real pilots – so we turn to simulations to do what we otherwise can’t.

The games are a lot of fun, in other words. My point is, it’s not logical at all to assume that a person who’s master Guitar Hero would ever be able to become even a halfway decent guitarist. But it sure is fun to rock out to your favorite music with friends!

]]> By: Shae Robinson http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3699 Shae Robinson Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:14:17 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3699 I just don't understand how people enjoy these games .I would rather learn actual Guitar. Maybe I'm forgetting that logic and video games don't go together. I just seem to lack the understanding it takes to like these games or maybe it is because there aren't any explosions. I just don’t understand how people enjoy these games .I would rather learn actual Guitar. Maybe I’m forgetting that logic and video games don’t go together. I just seem to lack the understanding it takes to like these games or maybe it is because there aren’t any explosions.

]]> By: GamerDad http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3697 GamerDad Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:14:27 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3697 And Simon, thanks! I've been wondering what the difference between Konami and Harmonix's guitar games. (You know Harmonix made Konami's Karaoke Revolution, right?) And Simon, thanks!
I’ve been wondering what the difference between Konami and Harmonix’s guitar games. (You know Harmonix made Konami’s Karaoke Revolution, right?)

]]> By: GamerDad http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3696 GamerDad Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:13:02 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3696 More like an expensive knock off of DDR. DDR is a MUCH simpler game to play and make. Oh and you don't get quite as tired in Rock Band and GH. But yes, the gameplay is roughly similar, in much the same way that a lightgun game is similar to a first-person shooter. More like an expensive knock off of DDR.
DDR is a MUCH simpler game to play and make.
Oh and you don’t get quite as tired in Rock Band and GH.

But yes, the gameplay is roughly similar, in much the same way that a lightgun game is similar to a first-person shooter.

]]> By: Simon Windmill http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3695 Simon Windmill Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:08:27 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3695 It's pretty simple Shaequan - everybody secretly wants to be a rock star. Alright, that's only part of it. The real reason they have exploded is the same reason the Wii has exploded - it's not that they give you something new, they have refined <em>how</em> they deliver the experience, bringing in a lot of new people who would otherwise shy away from videogames. It's pretty easy to see when you compare Guitar Hero to Guitar Freaks. Konami's Guitar Freaks may have been first, but the feel of the two games is quite different. Guitar Freaks feels like playing DDR with your hands, Guitar Hero makes you feel like you can play guitar. It’s pretty simple Shaequan – everybody secretly wants to be a rock star.

Alright, that’s only part of it. The real reason they have exploded is the same reason the Wii has exploded – it’s not that they give you something new, they have refined how they deliver the experience, bringing in a lot of new people who would otherwise shy away from videogames.

It’s pretty easy to see when you compare Guitar Hero to Guitar Freaks. Konami’s Guitar Freaks may have been first, but the feel of the two games is quite different. Guitar Freaks feels like playing DDR with your hands, Guitar Hero makes you feel like you can play guitar.

]]> By: Mike Anderson http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2008/02/26/family-game-of-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-3694 Mike Anderson Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:31:28 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2008-02-26/family-game-of-2007/#comment-3694 I was skeptical of the original Guitar Hero, being a proficient instrumentalist myself. But these are DDR-type games with guitar-type controllers. But it just works in a way that only takes about 30 seconds of playing to understand. Similarly, if you have played Donkey Konga or Taiko Drums you will get the drumming thrill, and same for any of the Karaoke games. *Then* pile it all together and get your herd in the living room for absolutely awesome laughs and playing. I was skeptical of the original Guitar Hero, being a proficient instrumentalist myself. But these are DDR-type games with guitar-type controllers. But it just works in a way that only takes about 30 seconds of playing to understand. Similarly, if you have played Donkey Konga or Taiko Drums you will get the drumming thrill, and same for any of the Karaoke games. *Then* pile it all together and get your herd in the living room for absolutely awesome laughs and playing.

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