Guitar Hero for the rest of us
A generation ago, the average young man sitting in a high school classroom might have had a dream. He pictured himself as the lead guitarist for a world famous rock band, playing his power chords before thousand of screaming fans. Away from the school, he might have made the first, stumbling attempts at performing “Smoke On The Water” before the mirror, and in time, as his dexterity increased, he might have moved on to “Free Bird“, or even played for friends. The seeds of a garage band were born.
Step forward, to a time when musical instruments have been set aside and the controller for a video console has replaced the pick as a tool. No need to actually be a musician; thanks to Guitar Hero, you can score bonus points as you adopt the posture. Live vicariously, because if all fails you can hit reset and begin all over again.
But what about those individuals who lack the coordination to match a shifting pattern of coloured blots on the screen? Are they blocked from becoming a virtual star? Not at all. On the weekend, while shopping for clapping hands (another story for another time), I spotted the solution. Air Guitar Hero!
Seriously, the apparatus (resembling a belt buckle with sensors) detects your “pick” as you play the meanest air guitar ever seen in a teenage rec room. Wayne, eat your heart out! The unit comes with a certain number of famous rock anthems; you provide all the rest. Riffs, hammers, slides. You can even jump, just like a real performer. Now there is no excuse left; everyone get down and join the band on stage.
