This 1up.com review of Rock the 80’s reminded me of our discussion about men vs. women when it comes to loving Guitar Hero. The piece opens:
“Think back to when this whole Guitar Hero craze kicked off — that moment when, standing there in front of the TV, plastic guitar in hand, it hit you: This must be what it feels like to rock out. And suddenly, you transformed. Your jaw set, you took an aggressive stance with the guitar neck pointed right at the screen, and your head started bobbing back and forth to the beat.”
Maybe it’s just me and my own failed history as a guitarist (no big story, I just suck), but I’ve never felt this way when I played Guitar Hero. I liked the instant gratification of doing things well, and the connection between the screen and my body. Again, maybe it’s a gender thing, but I can’t help but asking, when you play Dance Dance Revolution, is it fun because you assume this is what it’s like to dance? Because hopefully, no one in their right mind dances like that…
August 16th, 2007 at 8:06 am
I think Garnett’s over-exaggerating a little, but for the most part that echoes my experience playing Guitar Hero. It makes me feel like a rockstar.
August 16th, 2007 at 8:51 am
I know it does. I know it does.
I suppose part of the issue (and I don’t know if this is a gender thing, or just a me thing) is that I’ve never *wanted* to be a rock star. You, on the other hand, most definitely have :).
August 16th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I’ve never played it so all I can do is shrug at all the excitement it generates.
I dig rockin’ out I guess, air guitar style. I have more fun being an lounge room superstar ballet dance though :) Really.
As a guy, I’m used to that feeling that I shouldn’t really be expressing myself through my body. Rocking out (in any form) is a perfectly awesome way to do that and still assert a sense of masculinity (as horrible as that sounds).
This is a ridiculous generalisation, but guys just don’t do stuff with their body (creatively I mean). At least I feel like I’m constantly told to feel embarrassed by it. I do ballet classes solely so I can break that dogma, plus it rocks.
The rewards for breaking that mould is huge. If I had guitar hero, I think this would be part of the appeal for me. Give me any excuse to pout and groove.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:48 am
As a guy, I’m used to that feeling that I shouldn’t really be expressing myself through my body.
That’s a really interesting point I’d never thought about. I wonder if that affects the (traditionally) male interest in sports and other physical activities that fall into “play” time.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
To be fair, my real life dancing is slightly more embarrassing than losing to those Korean guys at DDR.
Guitar hero looks fun but I’m bad enough at the real guitar to avoid an $80 purchase to fake it. By contrast, I can do a mean (platinum-score) Billie Jean in karaoke revolution, which is even girlier than the picture you posted.
I’d like a sex game with the wii, but i’m sure i have a gag reflex, and it’s hard to imagine the safety warnings in the beginning of THAT game. Oh and horseback fighting is damn near orgasmic anyway. :P!
August 18th, 2007 at 6:05 am
I dunno, I hate saying that any game is “for boys” or “for girls.” And the idea that rock is male-centric - and always will be - especially bugs me. Ever hear of Sleater-Kinney? If some women can rock that hard, other women can enjoy a rock simulator like GH II.
If I had a daughter, the last thing I’d tell her is, “Sorry, GH II is a boy’s game. You wouldn’t like it.”
You should check this out:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44962-girls-rock-camp-is-awesome
August 20th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Hey, ugh. Sorry, I don’t mean to imply that Guitar Hero is for boys, and not for girls. Did you read my earlier post? I just mean that, in my experience, the appeal of Guitar Hero is different for girls vs. boys. Boys seem to be more into the rock star image, whereas girls seem to enjoy the individual feedback. Of course, anyone can rock!