purplecam said:

I agree with ^^^ 110%. In fact, i've experienced someone inquiring about Rush, Kansas and Fleetwood Mac's back catalogue because of Rock Band.

HOWEVER...

squirrelgrease said:

A-to-the-freakin'-men! I thought it was very telling that Prince's immediate response to Tavis' "What do you make of this Guitar Hero?" question was to assess their finances and how much they offered him. I'm thinking $$$ rules everything around him.

His follow-up - "But I just think it's more important that kids learn how to actually play the guitar. It's a tough instrument -- it's not easy. It took me a long time, and it was frustrating at first. And you just have to stick with it, and it's cool for people who don't have time to learn the chords or ain't interested in it, but to play music is one of the greatest things." - is good. Though, he should realize it's what squirrelgrease said - "a little piece of stress-relieving entertainment" . Wonder what he thinks of Karaoke...

Because of GH, my son now wants to play the bass guitar. He expressed no interest in playing any instrument until after he started playing GH.

My daughter already had an interest in the acoustic guitar, but now she wants to learn the eletric guitar. She is now into Jimi Hendrix, Ted Nugent and many other old school artists that have music on GH.

I even discovered Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train via GH. I will be 40 yrs old in 2 weeks and had never heard Crazy Train prior to GH. I love that song.
[Edited 4/30/09 15:38pm]

janecarol said:

it's never 2 late 2 learn

PurpleCharm said:

Crazy Train! All aboard... Awesome riff.

P2daP said:

And madden cheapens football
Ninja Gaiden cheapens Ninja
The sims cheapen life
NBA Live cheapes basketball
Grand theft auto cheapens keepin' yo' ho's in line and gang members
Pac man cheapens eating dots to repetitive music
Halo cheapens the futuristic military
[Edited 4/30/09 16:20pm]

ToraToraDreams said:

Yes, because I know I don't stand there and piss on myself if someone doesn't send me to the bathroom

KidaDynamite said:

ToraToraDreams said:

Right on. (I get what U mean. )

I've been a guitarist since the age of sixteen. A video game enthusiast since before that. I have boxed away most consoles since the NES, whilst under the telly sits a 360 and a Wii. My Strat sits beside the settee: always available.

Now whilst I wholeheartedly agree that learning to play an instrument is rewarding I also see the enjoyment from playing rhythm and musically based games (Rez or Fluid anyone?). Guitar Hero and its ilk are huge sellers. They encourage group participation and can be enjoyed by people who have no interest in learning a real instrument or are less able to do so (Wii Music springs to mind).

The difference is that they are different.

I could argue that the same principle that Prince states could be implied to all games; racing games (Gran Turismo), flight games (Microsoft Flight Sim), tennis games (Wii Tennis), football games (FIFA), management games (Sim City), jet-skiing games (Wave Race), table tennis games (Rockstar's Table Tennis), combat games (Battlefield 2), but ToraTora has already done that.

So applying the principle to a stupid degree, should we now refrain from playing air guitar unless we commit to taking lessons on the real thing? I know Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, etc) was seen playing air drums in front of Led Zeppelin during their O2 concert. But I guess it was okay as he can actually play the drums.

Personally I think it had nothing to do with the fact that Prince believes a person should learn to play a real guitar, despite the fact that I think he may have convinced himself that that was what he thought.

And I'm glad someone knew of PaRappa (1996 man!)

I'm glad he turned down Guitar hero, that's crap. Like he says let them learn how to REALLY play the guitar, it's more rewarding.
[Edited 5/1/09 1:30am]

Dayclear said:

I have a feeling that if Prince took up killing baby seals, the beasts being deserving of it would be a foregone conclusion.

iloveannie said:

Yeah, it's a silly argument to think that guitar hero somehow discourages kids from playing guitar... I think the opposite is true.

But yeah, I agree that it's probably nothing to do with why Prince actually turned them down.

ToraToraDreams said:

I was just thinking of this the other day! Why do kids waste their time pretending to be a Ninja, when they can actually go out and BE a Ninja. It's hard at first, but there is nothing more beautiful then actually becoming a Ninja.

Shawnt26 said:

Yeah! I mean you can even get youtube instruction:

L4OATheOriginal said:

Ya think at 41.....

Graycap23 said:

No the reason the cd's were 12.00 is because he's not using a label, and the reason he's not using a label is so he can make more money.

And if you think a handful of bad quality videos is worth $77 you're crazy.
Especially since they were previously available for free until Prince threatened to sue everyone (including a mother who had a video of her baby dancing to a Prince song in the background). Which was all motivated by money.

laurarichardson said:

I never said such a thing. I'm only pointing out the reason he didn't do GH was because of money. The fact that people are getting defensive is odd.

laurarichardson said:

So which is it...do you think he turned down GH because they wouldn't pay enough or because of some higher principle? You can't have it both ways.

laurarichardson said:

lol.....

truefunksoldier said:

Odd in the sense that u are WRONG.

squirrelgrease said:

Ooh, bitchy. Funny but bitchy.

Graycap23 said:

You either didn't read/hear the quote, or you're drinking the kool-aid if you think that.

If it's the latter, then there's no point in arguing as there's no arguing with someone not based in reality.

truefunksoldier said:[quote]

Graycap23 said:

Make it plain: if everything prince does was motivated by money he would:
1. Charge more than 12.00 for 3 new cds
2. Charge way more 4 attending his concerts as he is considered one of the BEST live performers alive
3. Exploit his remasters
4. Exploit his vault material
.....just 2 name a few.

Dayclear said:

You must really suck at video games. What if they don't REALLY want to learn to play a real guitar? What if they just want to play a video game? God, you must not let your kids ( if any) play any games. I can hear you now, "No, littly Jimmy, you're not playing Mario Brothers any more, do you plan on being a plumber?"... I don't understand why you're so GLAD he turned it down. If you think Guitar Hero or Rock Band games are crap, then don't buy them. Butt, what do you care if I want to rock out to his music, and don't want to learn how to play a real guitar. He doesn't have to release his whole damn catalog, jeez, ... a few songs would do. Like others are saying, Prince may want people to learn to play a real instrument, but the main reason is the MONEY.

Graycap23 said:

Ok, you're right. He's a fantastically charitable person towards his fans, and money is not at all a big issue for him, either in his personal life or in his music. Thank you for enlightening me and showing me the way.

truefunksoldier said:

I'm trying 2 understand your viewpoint but it seems the u don't have one.

Graycap23 said:

My viewpoint is simply that the main reason that he turned down GH is because of money, and that a lot of his decisions are based on that.

I have no problem with that, and I don't begrudge him his opportunity to make as much money as he can. I sure would. But to say that he turned down GH because of anything else I think is false.

I also dislike his sometimes hypocritical stance (claiming on one hand to only care about the music, and on the other hand make references to being #1 at the bank, etc.)

That's my viewpoint.

truefunksoldier said:

Okay. I get it now.
Thanks.

laurarichardson said:

It still won't be enough for many in here.