Your Virtual Self

Some folks are really into that whole Second Life thing. Some folks have avatars that represent their idealized self. Some folks have video games that allow them play in a realm where they probably wouldn’t want to inhabit for realz – well, maybe they would.   I was reading Salon.com about how the game “Guitar Hero” has saved guitar music.  Um…the article’s title is misleading because while the game does spark an initial interest in real guitar playing, many kids give up on the real playing because it’s too difficult.  To stroke their deflated egos, they turn back to the game so they can feel better about their virtual playing.   

Playing a musical instrument is not easy, and while I don’t deny that it takes a special combination of eye-hand coordination to be an awesome video game player, I think when it comes to replicating the “real thing” like playing the guitar, Guitar Hero does what most video games do:  inflate one’s sense of self to the point where the virtual world is preferred to the real one.   Is this a bad thing?  I suppose it depends on what you want out of life.  If you want to be world-class guitar player (or even just a decent player), you’re not going to get there by wood shedding with Guitar Hero. I’ve been trying to play guitar for a quite a few months now and to say it’s a challenge is an understatement.  Maybe I’m just not that coordinated, but some chord changes are just bafflingly hard. I don’t know how some of these players do it. Really, I do know and it’s a little thing called practice + talent.    So, are there any added benefits to this game besides, you know, carpal tunnel syndrome?  Well, it seems there are two: 

  1. Playing the game can give potential real guitar players a better sense of rhythm.
  2. It increases downloads of classic rock songs featured in the game.

–PK

About Ted

administrator

10 thoughts on “Your Virtual Self

  1. Boy, your little avatar there is going to TOWN on that pizza! HA!

    I think those games are fun, but if they take you away from doing the real thing, that sucks. But probably most of these kids wouldn’t do the real thing anyway, so no great loss.

  2. I’ve played that game, but it’s nothing like really playing an instrument. Just silly fun and games.

    Nice avatar 🙂

  3. Avatar? I have really been in the dark about this stuff. I guess there are a lot of people who want to play like Eddie Van Halen. Eddie spent countless hours honing his skills.

  4. What is totally crazy to me is people who spend REAL money on FAKE items in SecondLife. You have to spend money to even get yourself a proper piece of your anatomy!

  5. Yes, I’ve heard that second life is now offering genetalia for a price. I like my avatar, but it’s simple and free. I get sick of it now and then and take it off my blog.
    I can imagine playing an instrument would be tough thing to learn, but some people like things easier so they opt for video games or online methods.

  6. I am little leary about the virtual world. I have heard of kids who master the flying airplane programs and then can actually fly an airplane. Playing an instrument takes some hard practice and it is hard to imagine mastering that with a video came.
    I saw Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfy in a press conference promoting their upcoming tour. He looks like his mom, Valerie. All of the band are supporting these short stylish haircuts. Weird to see David Lee Roth like that . I was just further commenting on Lalapunci comment.

  7. I have no idea what SecondLife is..I’m assuming something to do with gaming? I don’t have these games but have played guitar hero w/ my nephew. I guess I’m not as much a loser as I think, if I just see it as a fun game 😉

    I always wanted to play piano or keyboard…but my fingers are so darn short. It was too difficult.

  8. My theory is that talent is actually desire-in other words the more you want to do it, the more time you will spend working on it and the better you’ll get. The vast majority of great musicians that I know are just the people who have worked harder-that’s all. Believe me, in less time than you think, those chord changes will come and you’ll find it hard to believe how difficult they once seemed. Get ametronoime and don’t stop!

  9. Stay with it. The guitar will give you back the time you put in. Also, I don’t care how bad you think you might be now. I was worse. Exponentially worse. Eventually it started coming, and now I play every chance I get, but it definitely takes time.

Comments are closed.

Previous post Semi-cation
Next post Mix Six “Electronica Dorks”