Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Zen and the Art of Guitar Hero

Posted by Zonk on from the watching-a-master-at-work dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Julian Murdoch over at GamersWithJobs.com has what can only be described as a piece of liturgy, proclaiming a religious experience at his local Best Buy as he watches someone beat 'Through the Fire and the Flames' on Expert in Guitar Hero 3. 'At 6 minutes in, a small crowd has formed, perhaps 15 of us. His sravaka — his disciples — look nervously at us, absorbing the distractions, protecting him a bubble of calm. There is complete silence. Even my son is staring slackjawed, like he does in church during communion, not understanding the content of the ritual but understanding the tone and sacredness of the space.'"

8 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Cue in Southpark jokes... by kitzkar · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... in 3... 2... 1...

    1. Re:Cue in Southpark jokes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      You....Are...Fags!

    2. Re:Cue in Southpark jokes... by Fierythrasher · · Score: 5, Funny

      So inside jokes have no value? I refer to Denis Miller's 5% joke guideline where the majority of his jokes have to hit the mass audience but several of his more esoteric references are aimed at only the 5% of the audience who knows what he's talking about. If you're in the 95% you're confused, but if you're in the 5% then it's funny as all hell.

  2. I've noticed something by Nailexe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've noticed something that Guitar Hero players and real guitar players have in common. Guitar Hero players think you're lazy and suck if you play on medium, real guitar players think you're lazy and suck if you don't play guitar. And unless you're damn amazing absolutely neither of them will get you laid.

  3. The kid is probably not the Roger Federer of GH... by Jeremy.DeGroot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But TFA reminded me of this piece.

    Tennis is also a "damned game," but fans of the sport know it can be a venue for people to do amazing, humbling things. I don't play Guitar Hero, so I wouldn't appreciate the performance in the Best Buy. I expect that as a GH fan, the author had the same experience that millions of tennis fans have had watching Roger dominate the men's tour for the last half-decade. Think about the last time you were wowed at a concert, or at an art museum. Think about touring one of Europe's beautiful cathedrals. There's a reason that they build them that big, and that beautiful. The architecture, and the art all around you, helps people find God. Tennis and Guitar Hero can be art too, and can have the same effect if you know what you're seeing.

  4. Re:Not that exciting by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Strangely, I do not feel the same about boxing... Yeah, boxing is probably the opposite of golf. Fun to watch, but not very fun to play...
    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  5. But it's so COOL to look jaded and cynical! by spun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Certain very insecure dorks need to put down anything others think is cool, in order to try to look big and important, like they've seen it all and nothing can impress them. They only end up looking cool to other insecure dorks who will then put them down behind their backs. Adults don't give a rats ass what talkers say, we care about what doers do, and insecure jaded cynical children don't usually do much of anything.

    You know what's cooler than jaded cynicism? Enthusiasm. We don't want to hear how you could have done it better. Show us. We don't need you to point out that it's "been done." Do it, or don't, but don't shit on our graham crackers and call it a s'more.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  6. Re:Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thanks for the translation, Captain Miserable.