I thought this would be something that everyone here would enjoy... or at least be amused.

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/gamer-beats-guitar-hero-with-custom-drum-controller

Check out those sweet paraddidlediddles.

Leave it to a drummer to come up with a better system!

My immediate thought is to take all that midi data and apply tenor sounds to it. Might be pretty awesome.

that rocks!  thanks for sharing...dude definitely had to practice that.

thanks Bryan! Brings back old memories of our futile attempts at playing the ending to that game. I knew we were missing something. . . :)

SWEET find Bryan!

I wonder how Guitar Hero and Rock Band have affected instrument sales.  I would think that many kids are playing these games instead of trying to learn Stairway to Heaven at Guitar Center.

[img]http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4663/waynesworldnostairwayku0.jpg[/img]

[quote author=J Mattson link=topic=2843.msg15070#msg15070 date=1228287740]
I wonder how Guitar Hero and Rock Band have affected instrument sales.  I would think that many kids are playing these games instead of trying to learn Stairway to Heaven at Guitar Center.
[/quote]

That's funny. I just read an article in last months' ";The Music Trades"; magazine that's cover article was about electronic percussion, Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

After interviewing five music store owners and the developer of Rock Band, the general summary is that these two games are actually increasing sales of guitars and electronic drums. The main thesis was that people are playing the games and getting interested in music; then buying the real thing.

I personally love the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. While of course not the same a learning a real instrument, it does help teach some fundamental aspects of playing music. I'm still waiting for someone to come out with a Keyboard Hero. :P

I was playing Rock Band with my cousins over Thanksgiving break and one of them is a new drummer. I don't know if Rock Band inspired him to play the drums, but he has a ";real"; kit now and for only playing for 3 months or so he sounds pretty decent. On the Rock Band kit, however, he was better than I was! If anything the rock band kit helps them learn how to keep time, basic coordination, song forms, and basic drum beats, all great stuff for beginners. Now just give me a little practice, and I'll be ready for a rematch.

They already have just about every game you could possibly imagine over in Japan - more specifically the keyboard game you just mentioned.  When I was over there back in 2004, I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so in one of their arcades and was blown away by some of the games they have. See below:

PIANO
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/101612196/Keyboard_Mania_3_Japanese_Arcade_Machine.jpg

DJ
http://www.webspawner.com/users/classx04/imageGallery/dsc06956.jpg

Those were just two that I found.  They also had a full-sized version of Taiko Drummaster - a lesser known game that was on PS2.