Real Hero

The alsoran recently had great fun busting out wailing solos on the unique guitar-shaped peripheral for PS2 Guitar Hero. After playing guitar for over a decade now, he was disappointed to only score 97% on his initial run, as real-world experience certainly helps in this game. Of particular interest was one loading-screen message recommending, should you enjoy the game (which was unanimously the case with all in attendance), that it may be worth investing in a guitar for real.

Unlike reading, which is percieved to be a valuable past-time, videogames have a hard time justifying their existence as more than a mere distraction. The alsoran has many friends that would sooner sit down with Pro Evolution Soccer than visit the park to kick a ball around.

In the defence of videogames, gamers will likely never have the opportunity to pilot a scpacecraft with the fate of the galaxy resting on their shoulders. The alsoran has, however, relatively recently discovered the joys of snowboarding, which is incomparable to a session of SSX.

In conclusion, what games do provide is a middle ground of low-cost simulation, giving the player a small percentage of the thrill of scoring the winning goal, carving a board down a scenic mountainside, or playing guitar to the cheers of a crowd of fans – all without the physical, geographical and financial hurdles that would otherwise prohibit such an exercise. Still, many more games could do with delivering a message that living life for real provides a thrill that no game, book or film ever will.