The next chapter in video game guitar stardom

ELIZABETH HOLTAN
Special to The Leader

"Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" features improved graphics and a more toned-down interface. The game features the new Gibson Les Paul controller.

For many, it used to be a dream lived out through intense air guitar solos in front of a mirror. To become a rock star today, all you need is a plastic guitar and some quick fingers.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock made its debut at midnight on Oct. 28. The game is available for Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3.

The Guitar Hero video game series, produced by Activision, has players press buttons on a guitar-shaped controller in time with scrolling notes. The new fusion of music and video games has changed the entertainment world, attracting both musicians and the less musically apt.

Guitar Hero is "a fun game and I really enjoy playing it for the aesthetics and the musical aspect of it," said junior music education major Corey Cerullo. "I enjoy how it uses spatial relationships particularly. Being able to play through a song perfectly on Guitar Hero, I think, has helped my ability to sight-read music immensely, especially when it comes to rhythms. But besides that, it's a fun game that everyone can enjoy."

"Even if you have no musical ability or talent, Guitar Hero can make you feel like a rock star," said Lindsay Coffta, a junior English education major.

A Nov. 6 article from The Washington Post reported that the game has already generated over $100 million in sales in North America.

Activision's Chief Executive Robert Kotick stated, "It's one of the few video games that have infiltrated popular culture. Even we didn't anticipate the popularity of the game in the first week," according to the article.

Legends of Rock, preceded by Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II and Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, features bands like Metallica, The Who, The Killers, Cream, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath.

Basic game play remains unchanged from previous titles. Legends of Rock features 42 new songs-as well as bonus tracks-in eight sets, with titles such as "Bighouse Blues" and "European Invasion" and four difficulty levels ranging from easy to expert. Additional songs will be available for download online.

Cerullo sampled the preview version of the game in a local store. "It looks like they've really upped the ante as far as graphics, song choices and level of skill needed to pass," he said.

Legends is the first of the series that incorporates a wireless controller, boss characters, online play and a storyline.

Players have the option of rocking out solo or with a friend on bass or rhythm guitar or challenging each other both locally and online. In Battle Mode, two gamers store up Star Power attacks to use against their opponents while trying to complete a song.

Boss characters are modeled after rockers Slash of Guns 'N Roses and Velvet Revolver, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave and Poison's Bret Michaels. Gamers can also unlock the character of "Lou the Devil."

According to an Oct. 4 Rolling Stone article, even Slash himself is "addicted" to Guitar Hero after trying it on a tour.

"It's actually harder to play for guitar players, because it doesn't really react like a guitar. You'd think you'd be better at it, but you're not," Slash stated.

Thursday, Nov. 15, Fredonia Radio Systems will host a Guitar Hero III competition at 6 p.m. in the Williams Center Multipurpose room. The grand prize winner will receive Guitar Hero III and a controller for the console of their choice, said Fredonia radio staff representative Keith Barker, a sophomore communication major. Various raffles will also be held during the event.

The final song will be Dragonforce's "Through the Fire and Flames," but if competition is not your game, "We will have Guitar Hero games set up in the back just to play for fun," said Barker.

The event is co-sponsored by FSA and Adept, and admission is $5 for participants. Tickets can be purchased at the Central Ticket Office and entrance is free for audience members. Proceeds go to the Dunkirk and Fredonia high school music programs.

The release of Guitar Hero III comes before that of its new rival video game, Rock Band, which will be available Nov. 20 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and Dec. 18 for PlayStation 2.

Developed by Harmonix Music Systems, responsible for Guitar Hero I, II and Rocks the 80s, Rock Band features many of the same basic gaming aspects, but allows players to create a band with guitars, drums and a microphone.

Songs will include "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult, OK Go's "Here it Goes Again," "Learn to Fly" by the Foo Fighters, and the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop."

Players will be able to travel the virtual world on a rock tour, unlocking different cities.

Rock Band "is more directed towards 'cooperative competition' rather than the battle-ready Guitar Hero series that I've played since the first one came out," said junior business administration and management major Ron Miller.

"With Rock Band, the people who couldn't play the little plastic guitar in Guitar Hero can now show their other nerdy gaming talents by singing or playing drums," Miller said. "From customizing each individual character to being with friends," he said, Rock Band promises a music-infused video game experience that "gives that fake sense of actually being in a Rock Band."

According to Miller, there is a Rock Band band on campus already hitting the headlines around Buffalo and Jamestown newspapers called the Lavender Fudge Experience. The guys recently drove to Cleveland, Ohio to play in the Rock Band tour tournament, the grand prize for which is playing on MTV's TRL during the opening ceremony for the game.