Issue 41 - More Than a Feeling

[The Escapist Staff]

Kieron GillenIn their thirty years of existance, Boston has released a score of platinum albums and dozens of popular songs. Kieron Gillen explains why he thinks Boston is also one of the top ten videogame level designers of all time, and explores the sleeper hit that is Guitar Hero.

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: Raf

Spot on...I've not seen a game create such hapiness since Samba de Amigo. I guess that has similarities too...you're removed from actually being what you are on screen.

Yes, you might be playing the maraccas but hell...I'm no monkey

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: Patrick
http://www.kingludic.blogspot.com
I'm glad to see the Boston dev scene is finally getting some recognition. There are other companies than Harmonix in that area, though I think any employee of those other companies would admit Harmonix is an excellent gig.

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: Scott Jon Siegel
http://www.numberless.net/blog
I'm glad to see the Boston dev scene is finally getting some recognition.

Was that supposed to be a joke? -sj

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: Mark

A most insightful opening to an issue full of revelations. I'd say this is, and the subsequent two articles, are something that every would-be game developer should read.

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: tota

Hmm, I was mostly thinking: for how long can you write about the old concept "man with a guitarr", even though it is in a slightly new form?

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: Jim

The game is great in making you want to play guitar, learn more about "music" and ultimately love it. I never had so much funs WITH friends playing a game.

Yet Harmonix has to include tons of new features in the sequel.

playing different parts of a song (different guitars)
"practice/tutorial" mode that lets you explore technique of playing.
replays and saving "own" songs
different flavors for different music tastes (maybe versions of the same game with different song lists)
online download support for new songs - could be a huge opportunity for Harmonix to earn money
MORE songs

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: will sargent

(bitterness alert...) It's happened again. Just like when I learned DOS and then XP came along and my RAM-blasting config.sys skills were made redundant overnight ? I've twanged guitar strings for real, for ages, and I'm quite good now. But look, there's my 'bro, pumping away on some multicoloured, Fisher Price axe, gurning away as my memories of finger-bleeding scale practice fade. Grrrrrr. I dread to think where i'll find the f**ckwit stuffing that Revolution controller.

Importantly, KG fails to point out (although I can't think how amid his ever-realiable fountain of faff) that the the guitar tracks mix lead and bass in a really confusing manner. Other than that, it's actually a fine tool for teaching proper left/right hand playing co-ordination.

Great site, by the way.

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Original Comment by: Player1
http://www.player1.com.au
Existence. Sorry, that's been bugging me for a little while.

Great article, which has made me order the game from the UK. Australia is getting it in June, and now I can't wait any longer.

VIB Ribbon's insert your own CD feature has similar qualities, in that suddenly the simple beat of a rock song is an easy difficulty level, compared to the 5/4 beat of "White Room" by Cream. I believe there was a PC game called Virus which took the MP3 and picture files on your harddrive, and turned them into enemies. Suddenly the simple skin tones of my *ahem* picture collection might become easy enemies, whilst the complex CGI art collection might provide the bosses. I like the idea of alternative media constructing game components. Does anyone know of any more examples?