Getting up on stage and performing - well, playing video games at concert venues - seems to be the order of the day. On the one hand, we've got Activision giving gamers the chance to get up on the main stage at the Isle of Wight festival and perform in front of thousands of gig goers. On the other, we have a new game going by the name of Virtual Maestro giving a more another brand of music lovers the chance to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra before concerts.
Activision is keen to let us know that 'Guitar Heroes' will be able to play on the same stage as The Sex Pistols, Kaiser Chiefs and The Police from Friday through Sunday. If they're good enough, that is.
Wait and be still your beating heart! Before you dream of your chance to stick Sting's head through a bass drum, you're not going to be on stage at the SAME time. Also, as 'rock god' John Mayer recently pointed out, you won't actually be a 'Guitar Hero'. Still, it is the Isle of Wight Festival.
The Isle of Wight Festival will have several dedicated Guitar Hero III areas set up and the best and brightest will get the opportunity to hit the main stage.
SPOnG expects this to result in a new twist on the old 'being out in public nekkid' dream. We're pretty sure that tonight we'll find ourselves waking up in cold sweats having found ourselves on stage in front of thousands of people (who really just want to watch John(ny) Rotten/Lydon) in our usual Guitar Hero garb of choice - Sooty boxer shorts.
Having seen the Pistols in Birmingham last night, Tim SPOnG says, "The version of Bodies seemed to move the home crowd. It was rather tremendous."
“We’re delighted to have Guitar Hero at the festival. A few years ago, this sort of activity would have seemed out of place”, said John Giddings, Isle of Wight festival organiser.
Then we have a different (although no less 'casual', we're sure) breed of gamer who'll get the opportunity to conduct the LSO over the summer.†
Virtual Maestro, a piece of software that uses the Wii and its Remote to allow players to conduct an orchestra, has been brought to the UK and will be on show before LSO concerts.
The game was developed by a team led by Teresa Nakra, an assistant professor of music at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. It has already been on display in the US using a 42" plasma screen. The team hopes to develop the game further, but its sponsor - investment banking firm, UBS - says there are no plans for it to make it into homes any time soon.
"For so many people, classical music is about a crusty music hall", uttered Ann Drew of UBS. "The design was intended to bring a new, different experience to concert-going."
SPOnG sees no reason for gamers to favour one breed of rhythm game over the other. We encourage the gaming community to get along to both and see if they can do Gergiev as well as they do Slash.
†Source: Reuters
Activision is keen to let us know that 'Guitar Heroes' will be able to play on the same stage as The Sex Pistols, Kaiser Chiefs and The Police from Friday through Sunday. If they're good enough, that is.
Wait and be still your beating heart! Before you dream of your chance to stick Sting's head through a bass drum, you're not going to be on stage at the SAME time. Also, as 'rock god' John Mayer recently pointed out, you won't actually be a 'Guitar Hero'. Still, it is the Isle of Wight Festival.
The Isle of Wight Festival will have several dedicated Guitar Hero III areas set up and the best and brightest will get the opportunity to hit the main stage.
SPOnG expects this to result in a new twist on the old 'being out in public nekkid' dream. We're pretty sure that tonight we'll find ourselves waking up in cold sweats having found ourselves on stage in front of thousands of people (who really just want to watch John(ny) Rotten/Lydon) in our usual Guitar Hero garb of choice - Sooty boxer shorts.
Having seen the Pistols in Birmingham last night, Tim SPOnG says, "The version of Bodies seemed to move the home crowd. It was rather tremendous."
“We’re delighted to have Guitar Hero at the festival. A few years ago, this sort of activity would have seemed out of place”, said John Giddings, Isle of Wight festival organiser.
Then we have a different (although no less 'casual', we're sure) breed of gamer who'll get the opportunity to conduct the LSO over the summer.†
Virtual Maestro, a piece of software that uses the Wii and its Remote to allow players to conduct an orchestra, has been brought to the UK and will be on show before LSO concerts.
The game was developed by a team led by Teresa Nakra, an assistant professor of music at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. It has already been on display in the US using a 42" plasma screen. The team hopes to develop the game further, but its sponsor - investment banking firm, UBS - says there are no plans for it to make it into homes any time soon.
"For so many people, classical music is about a crusty music hall", uttered Ann Drew of UBS. "The design was intended to bring a new, different experience to concert-going."
SPOnG sees no reason for gamers to favour one breed of rhythm game over the other. We encourage the gaming community to get along to both and see if they can do Gergiev as well as they do Slash.
†Source: Reuters
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