Quote:
Originally Posted by sperry
Are you shitting me? Where did PA say that?
Here's the quote again:
Nowhere is there an argument made that "a game controller would somehow make a great musical instrument". His point was that old school musical instruments are bound by the laws of physics in their designs, i.e. you can't make a piano that uses hammers on strings to sound like a drum set, but due to technology (of which video game controllers are part of) we now have the ability to engineer new devices that could be more ergonomic methods of producing music. His point was the instrument itself doesn't define the music, the produced sound defines the music. i.e. Even if you're using a video game controller as your "instrument" it doesn't make something that is any more or less "real music" than a piano or guitar makes.
Remember, PA was arguing against the "yokel" that's making the claim that music made by a game is somehow not music because it's not from a "real" instrument. It's got *nothing* to do with whether or not your XBox controller is the "sousaphone for the 21st century". 
I contend that the guys over a Penny Arcade don't actually think Guitar Hero is the equivalent of really playing a guitar. They just contend that Guitar Hero is to playing the guitar as Madden '08 is to playing in the NFL. It's a "dumbed down" version of a more complicated task that makes the fun of the real task more accessible. It still takes skill, but not as much or not quite the same skill to play. Like the Tony Hawk games: they're obviously not the same thing as really jumping a skateboard off the roof of a skyscraper, but they're still fun. Just because the game is based on a real activity doesn't detract from the game itself, and it doesn't mean the player is somehow convincing themselves that the game is a surrogate for the real thing. For example, I have Rock Band, and I have a guitar. Playing the Rock Band guitar is challenging and fun, but it's not like I no longer pick up the real guitar. It's just guitar karaoke for chrissake, they can both co-exist. |
Mashing keys may be fun, but it is not making music. You can still play with the volume turned off. I would actually contend that you might do better by doing so, but that is not the point.
The gist of his argument is that the old fogies are old and therefore don't realize the potential of modern ideas like game controllers.
The words I put in quotes are in your quote. To claim that modern instruments are not engineered for use is crazy. Until you make a brain interface, the range of motion and depth of options on current instruments is absolutely incredible. Some gaming device that relies on only minimal motion of your fingers that retails for <$100 can't compete no matter how well engineered.
A real guitar has how many frets times how many strings? Guitar Hero has what, 5 buttons and a strum bar? OOOoooooohhhh
I already did the keyboard analogy to a game controller.
The guy appears to think we are still playing harpsichords and beating on empty skulls. Many musicians today use far more CPU power than your average gaming system has to create their music and those are often tied to other incredible pieces of electronic wizardry with incredibly diverse and sensitive input and feedback systems.
Just because you might be able to use a gaming system to create music does not mean it is somehow remotely equivalent to the instruments and technology musicians actually use to do so in the real world. Just because there is a place on the internet where you can share/trade the creations you make on your gaming system does not mean it is the next big thing.
Oh, and Nick agreed with me at some point in this thread, so
