Today's recommendation... A video game?

I've got to  speak some praises for a video game here.   There are all sorts of games out there to get people to play fake instruments.   I'll spare the names, but essentially you're fingering an unusual shaped joystick, and it doesn't translate to the real world.   The game Rocksmith, on the other hand, with the 2014 edition out on Tuesday, is a different animal.   This is available for different console systems, PC - and the 2014 edition also for Macs.

What is so different about this game?   For starters, you use a real instrument.   That's right, you use a real electric guitar or bass guitar.   The starter game includes a cable that connects your guitar or bass to your computer or console.   From there, you actually play actual songs.   This is the video from the Rocksmith website:

The game comes pre-loaded with several songs, and includes an online option to purchase more songs for about $2 a song, or "packs" at discounted rates.   As a friend of mine said "I would pay $6 for a guitar magazine that might have two songs in it." There are also user-created tracks that can be added - with some additional steps.  Non-sanctioned tracks though may not "work" within the game, though.   That is to say that while you may learn to play them, they won't count toward the scores and levels within the game.







Gameplay helps you improve as you go along.   Here it combines learning an instrument with playing a game.  There's nothing wrong with education being fun.   Plus, you can plug the guitar into an amp and show off what you've learned for friends, family, or people you hope to impress.   Try doing that with one of the controllers from those other games.

Here is an example on guitar:

And here's a sample on the bass:

    

                                          

                                         

Those are two from the Rush Pack.  (What can I say, I'm a bit partial to Rush).    

From what I've seen, this looks like one of the best games out there.   No, you don't get to kill monsters or steal cars or shoot bad guys or collect coins and smash mushrooms with hammers.  But you come out of it learning something kinda useful.   

Christmas and Hanukkah are "around the corner" so put this on your radar for aspiring musicians on your gift list.  Or get it for yourself if you realize you've got a guitar gathering dust that you keep thinking about breaking out and learning.   

There's currently a promotion through Best Buy, that runs through this week (ends on Saturday, I believe).  You need an account, a My Best Buy account, and to be part of the Gamer Club.  That said, this week, you can get the Rocksmith game for either the PS3 or XBox 360 - with connector cable - for $9.99.  That's $29.99 with a $20 instant discount.