Harmonix’s Rigopolus: Rock Band not a substitute, but an inspiration for learning music

So you they think are way too much music games now, huh? Well in the opinion of Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos, that may not exactly be bad thing. In fact, it actually can be the key to motivate people to trying out real music, saying that it gives people “a taste of what lies on the other side.”

So you think there are way too much music games now, huh? Well in the opinion of Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos, that may not exactly be bad thing. In fact, it actually can be the key to motivate people to trying out real music, saying that it gives people “a taste of what lies on the other side.”

Now, while he’s not saying that Rock Band is an educational tool for music (there is no substitute for the real thing, after all, we’d like to say here at QJ), it doesn’t deny the fact that it’s proved to be an inspiration.

We don’t see Rock Band as an educational tool for guitar so much as an inspirational tool. Most people who try to learn guitar quit soon after, because their initial experience is just frustratingly difficult. By giving people a taste of what lies on the other side, we’re inspiring them to invest themselves in learning the instrument for real. The game isn’t a substitute, it’s a stimulus. I’ve had many guitar instructors now tell me that their business has heated up over the past couple of years, and most of their new students got motivated by their experience playing Rock Band (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii) or Guitar Hero.

Furthermore, Rigopulos says that they will “continue to try to bridge the gap between simulated musicianship and real musicianship” in the coming years. Most likely not next year, after they announced at the CES that they’ll be focusing on the Beatles game.

 To read more on the interview, just check out the source link below.

• Survey says: Rock Band and Guitar Hero turns gamers into musicians

Via The New York Times