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More 'Hero' Games Without Guitars Likely
In light of the popularity of the Guitar Hero game, Next Generation reports that it is very likely RedOctane will be publishing several more 'Hero' series games. From the article: "The next logical step within this category is to make other music instrument-based games. What most people have been asking for and would want next are products that we're likely already working on."
Gamepad Hero!
Ohwait...
Bagpipes Hero? *shivers*
I hope I didn't brain my damage.
I just want Sega to port Samba de Amigo to a newer console.
- AlanH
Here
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Bring on Bass Hero.
Oh who am I kidding? Bass is the Luigi of Rock & Roll.
No, I didn't RTFA but most likely the next one will be Piano Hero or more generally Keyboard Hero.
Consider all of the extremely popular songs that could be included that just about everyone knows: Piano Man, Jump with that awesome, heavy synth riff, and a number of others. Hell, there are even a number of basic concertos or orchestral pieces that could be included that wouldn't be too difficult as long as the whole thing isn't expected to be played: Moonlight Sonata, Minute Waltz, and various Bach inventions.
Additionally, Considering that you can buy cheap keyboards for kids for less than $20 and even mini-keyboards can be bought for less than $50, this would be a natural sequel, I would think. Also take into consideration that the four most common instruments in just about every band are keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums.
Obviously, I would expect bass and drums/percussion to be in the "most likely to appear next" list.
The grand accumulation of those would be to have all four at once with the ultimate "Band Heroes". Gather your friends with all four "Hero" instruments and jam as your own rock band.
The goal is for the bell to never match what's on the screen.
SAILING MISHAP
3 Observations on Guitar Hero
1) Totally for guys. The phallic rush, the manipulation, the aggressive music choices. They don't call it "wanking" for nothin'.
2) Seriously. Why mess with a great formula? Just keep releasing expansion packs, offer some Online Play for interactive jamming/competition, and the ability to record some karaoke for fun/Net trading. Lots of variation left within the first incarnation.
3) Since most other instruments require the use of the mouth (brass and woodwinds), the only instruments really left are drums and keys. Which, while fun, require you to sit down, thereby denying many of the joys of performing on Guitar Hero - the booty shakes, the leg kicks, the windmill, etc.
Like a mixture between Whack-a-Mole and The Typing of The Dead?
If this worked so well for you, get a cheap electric guitar or even NI's Guitar Rig and play along with a bunch of your favorite MP3s. You're going to be amazed at how easily you can fit some improvised melodies or even chord sequences into most of the (mainstream) music available today - on a real guitar, without being a genius or a rockstar. Start with songs you know well, don't be discouraged by wrong notes - if you keep trying (like in the game), you're gonna find the right ones. Improve the songs and add what you always felt was missing.
In fact, that's how I started to play: listen, find your way on the fretboard, experiment, examine and gradually Feel where to fret next. It works, honest! Give it a try if you can. You're going to get a lot more out of the real thing than out of that (IMHO kinda silly) game! Especially if you use GR2 [/shameless plug]
I do think the Hero series is a great appetizer, but as you said, it's no comparison to the real thing. A real guitar isn't that hard to handle - unless you want to play like Joe Satriani and the likes.
I hope I didn't brain my damage.
Note: I don't see this happening in the US. We also have Pop'N Music 10 or 11 here, which is a really popular arcade game with 9 circular "bubble" buttons that are to be hit just like any rhythm game. The thing is, the coordination and concentration that game and the drum game require is incredible. Once you get past 6 or 7 possible inputs, you might as well just learn to play an actual instrument.
Let's face it. Guitar Hero was a success because, well, we've all done our share of air guitaring. Even the biggest geek on the planet went and, at least alone, at home, locked door and everything, didn't jack off but actually raised his left hand, grabbed some imaginary guitar neck and rubbed his right hand across his belly.
... accordeons, cowbells, you name it.
Dunno how many have done that with keyboard. Or drums. Or
The only way this could work out would be some kind of "band hero" overall game. With drums, keyboard, guitars, some karaoke-esque microphone action and if you're so inclined a few DDR pads to get some people to dance to it.
The next incarnation of Guitar Hero is supposedly the first step to this, with people being able to play different guitar lines (lead, bass, whatever). Extrapolating it to the rest of the band is then only a matter of time. I could very well see this coming.
But a Keyboard Hero or Drum Hero as a standalone game will most likely not succeed.
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