Party like a Rock Star
We've talked this semester about Guitar Hero, but I wanted to add another, similar game to the list: Rock Star. I had never even heard of the game, but a few days ago, I had the beautiful opportunity to witness it in action. For those of you who aren't familiar, it's actually pretty similar to Guitar Hero, but it's a multiple-player game; one person sings, another plays guitar, and a third person plays the drums (I think there can also be a bass player for a total of four people playing the game at once). What struck me about what I've observed so far is that the game seems to simulate "real life" perhaps a bit more than other games we've talked about this semester.
I came in contact with the game about a week and a half ago when I guy I work with bought it for his (vast) video game collection. He and a couple of other guys I work with play regularly; I observed their first practice--I was actually referred to as a "groupie" (yes, all sorts of gender stuff we could get into here). Since then, I've listened to the guys talk at length about the game, and am fascinated that they actually refer to "the band" and to their nights spent playing as "practice." They've also continued referring to me and other various onlookers and occasional players as "groupies." At first, I believe these references were ironic, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. They also discuss what band member has the best singing voice, who is the best at drums (the guy who played the drums in high school is their choice), and who is best on guitar.
My point in all of this is that, even while they realize their playing doesn't simulate real instrument playing (one of them laughed when I asked if playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band helped him get better at playing the guitar), their interactions with one another do seem to simulate the interactions members in real band would have; this comes complete with encouraging and ripping on each other at various times, considering who is strongest at what role, talking about their groupies and practice, and referring to "the band." Again, all of this began with an ironic tone, but (as ironic tones often do), this has slipped away. This makes me think back again to our discussions of role play, including live action role play. Perhaps it is easier to become trully caught up in a role if there are other people to accompany you?