Rockin' and A-Rollin', Rockin' and A-Reelin'

Welcome to the new and improved "Mutiny Mondays"! Wait, don't go!!!

After the infamous "Rolling Stones-gate" of yester-weeks, I have made significant changes. No more dissing bands, since everyone's tastes are different, and honestly, what's the point? No more dissecting everyone's rebuttals, since my voice is already prominent on this blog. The comments section is for YOUR voice, and the best opinion will be featured on this post as part of the Stereo Plasma canon. No more [negative aspect], since [some reason why the negative shouldn't be on this blog].

I will take some idea or viewpoint regarding music and discuss why I agree/disagree with it, in terms of its impact on music. Here is today's topic of discussion:

"Music Games Are Killing Music"

Why do people think this? Do a simple Google search, and you've got a day's worth of reading about why "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" and the ilk are evil. According to one article, they point the finger at countless sequels that encourage playing rock songs instantly. If one can play "Free Bird," for example, perfectly at will on a video game, will they ever want to pick up an instrument and do it in the "quote-unquote "Real World" close-quote?" Furthermore, they argue that the technology will dumb-down the future of music, reducing music to "six chord songs because of a generational lack of musical proficiency caused by these games."

Why does Stereo Plasma beg to differ? For a multitude of reasons:

1) I love music, and I also love video games. Let's face facts. Despite how much we may want to, we can't rock out every second of the day. Video games are terrific escapism, and what better way to waste your time than to interact with music you love while playing games? There is no other medium that allows you such connectivity. You are playing along with popular artists on their own songs! And you can involve your friends. It promotes social encounters and is interactive on an unprecedented level! Heck, you might even...

2) Discover new artists. Each new music game offers dozens of artists' songs for you to intensely interact with on vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. Less musically aware individuals will be learning about artists past and present for the first time, and everyone will be able to focus on each portion of the song, all working towards a greater understanding of the overall artistry of the tune. I have heard stories of kids becoming huge fans of Metallica, Pixies, Coheed & Cambria, and countless other groups because of music games. Screw the purists! A fan is a fan, regardless of how he/she/it is acquired.

3) It inspires people to do-it-themselves. Certainly, this fact won't hold true for the vast majority. However, if someone didn't have the inkling to pick up an instrument before and then was inspired by the game to do so--even ONE PERSON out of the MILLIONS OF PEOPLE who have played the game--that is an incredible feat. I, for one, decided to pick up the drums after "Rock Band" came out, and then barely played "Rock Band" since. And I can't understate how profoundly I was affected by learning an instrument. Music is such an important and unique aspect of humanity, and for anyone to be inspired to create music because of a game, that's a success. And as for the argument that "Guitar Hero" and friends are stopping people from playing instruments, they obviously don't understand the power of music. If you have the desire to play music, there is no substitute. And even if someone was THAT lazy, who cares? It's their loss.

Sure, some kids will be annoying, and act like they have some incredible gift by being able to hit buttons in a rhythmic fashion, and diminish the importance of playing a real guitar. It's entertainment, a facsimile. Just be glad that they care enough about music to play a game solely devoted to hitting buttons to duplicate notes. They could be stealing virtual cars, slaying demons, flying planes, and shooting Nazis, but no, they have chosen to interact with music. Regardless of what their intention is in playing, I just can't shake how awesome it is that music is in their lives, even if it is through plastic strum bars.

Now it's your turn. What do you think? Am I totally off-base? What am I not seeing? Or has your musical appreciation been improved thanks to music games? The floor is yours, whether you agree, disagree, blindly praise me, or play devil's advocate. Sound off!