Ten Signs Music Games have Jumped the Shark

December 04, 2008 | By: Libe Goad

| More

Music games have succumbed to the dark side of rampant commercialism and oversaturation. Don't believe us? These 10 prophetic signs might change your mind.

Music games take a walk on the weird side

It's OK, music has jumped the shark before. Remember Lou Reed's Honda scooter ad? Or Ringo Star shilling for Sun Country wine coolers? Music games – Guitar Hero, Rock Band and their many imitators – are the latest offenders, with goofy branded merchandise, me-too knockoffs, and plenty of other sins that will make you want to hang up your (fake) axe for good. Read on for 10 prophetic signs that music games have truly jumped the shark.

Average Rating (click to rate)

Comments35 (Post Your Own)

Views116306

Reader Comments (35)

bronx8097 at 7:23 pm on December 5th 2008

We just caught a Wal-Mart holiday TV commercial, with a happy suburban family rocking out to Guitar Hero: World Tour, with mom on lead guitar, junior on drums and a gurgling baby sitting in a high chair, looking on approvingly. If this sounds like your typical gaming experience, kill yourself now. lol i laughed so much seriously kill urself lol

thatsokikid at 6:51 pm on December 5th 2008

This is ****ing stupid. The people writing these things are so dumb that they didn't even bother to do research before throwing out these ridiculous "facts". Especially : "The invasion of the me-too knockoffs" Whoever wrote that is a complete ****ing moron and obviously isn't as in with electronics and video games as he/she thinks. Yes, those 2 games copied off of Guitar Hero. No, Guitar Hero wasn't the first. Guitar Freaks came out much earlier and with that was DrumMania. Konami made all the original rhythm games. Know your **** before you talk about it. I hate how these ****ing people think Guitar Hero is the greatest thing to happen to mankind ever. It's an extremely easy game compared to the other games in the genre. ****ing Christ. Hail Satan.

x47evilbob74x at 6:49 pm on December 5th 2008

wow...you people really don't know good music do you? Eye of the Tiger, Float On, and Livin' on a Prayer are all great songs that deserved to be on those games. Oh wait, now I understand. Ever since the first Guitar Hero game came out, all you people want to do is listen to constant head banging screamo ****. I mean, I enjoy metal as much as the next guy, but widen your damn variety, you posers!!! You know NOTHING of music! What's the only song you like to play on Rock Band 2, Visions? ITS NOT EVEN MUSIC!!!!!!!

bueller1221 at 3:43 pm on December 5th 2008

whatever, RC is the perfect middle man cola. It's not as oversugared as pepsi and not as syrupy as coke. RC for the win. oh yeah, this was about music games.... put down your fake guitars and play stepmania. It's way more fun, can be way more challenging, and best of all you don't have to blow hundreds of dollars on crappy plastic instruments.

dothelalala237 at 3:10 pm on December 5th 2008

I really must disagree with those that think music games keep people from playing real instruments. Arguing that Rock Band replaced actual talent is like making the argument that Call of Duty 4 keeps people out of the armed services. You know, because they can just live the experience in their bedrooms? The truth is, video games are just for fun, and games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band are FUN. But after awhile, music games get old just like any other game. Sooner or later you're going to put the plastic guitar up on the shelf anyway. Might as well have the fun that they're meant to be, then pursue a music career if that's what you want to do.

nowaybackbass at 10:13 am on December 5th 2008

powerfulone87 sadly that old man is right, I loath music games for many reasons, they aren't creative in anyway, they promote complete laziness when it comes to just idk sitting down and learning the real instrument and the fact that MTV is placing morons and losers that can't play in a real band on stage to play a damn video game, while being cheered on like the losers they really are. Is this the future of things to come?

powerfulone87 at 2:39 am on December 5th 2008

Now that I think about it, they do bring Guitar Players into Church now to play along with the Choir. They may just have something here. Then again, don't they realize OLD PEOPLE are the only people who go to Church for the most part and they don't know anything about Video Games, so who do they think they're audience really is? Old People's hands are riddled with Arthritis and the such, that's if they even still have control of their hands or have hands at all. They literally have no audience. Ohhhh, but they're kids in the commercial you say? Those kids thought they were showing up for Guitar Hero and you know it. Poor Kids. Must have signed a contract without reading it and had to go through with the commercial anyway. What a shame. They're definitely not getting into Heaven now for participating in such an abomination of a product. Christians want to keep everything from everybody else but think they can just come and take and **** and mutilate our Guitar Hero until THIS is what's left of it. "ISH don't think so. Uh Uh."