Thousands of people have gathered in one place to see you. The spotlight hits your face as you walk onto the stage. They’re chanting your name as you strike the first chord. And when it’s all over, they love you even more than they did a few hours ago. Doesn’t everyone, at one time or another, dream of being a rockstar - if only for a while?

It seems video game developers have finally realized this fact, and it has become the newest craze in gaming. The craze started in 2005 when Harmonix, previously known for developing music video games such as “FreQuency” and “Amplitude” for the PlayStation 2, released “Guitar Hero.” After the release of the second game, 5.9 million people were at least pretending to live out their rockstar dreams, without having to actually be musically inclined, and Auburn residents have caught on.

“I was never into video games before “Guitar Hero,” but now I am an accomplished virtual rock star,” said 20-year-old Auburn University student Kristen Lett.
“The best part is you don’t have to be musically inclined to rock out,” added 19-year-old Chris Holmes.

“Guitar Hero” uses a guitar-shaped device, modeled after a black Gibson SG, to simulate playing the guitar, with the notes represented by colored notes on the television screen that correspond to fret buttons on the guitar. The game uses licensed and independent rock music, mostly covers, from the ‘60s to today.
The popularity of the game increased with the release of “Guitar Hero II” for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. With improvements like a larger variety of songs, improved mulitplayer game-play and a new guitar design, “Guitar Hero II” was the fifth best-selling video game of 2006.

Harmonix released one more version of the game, “Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the ‘80s,” and in 2006, Harmonix was bought out by MTV Networks and developing went to Neversoft who released the third version, “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” in 2007.

But Harmonix didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, Harmonix revealed that they were creating a new game that furthered the idea of rockstardom by adding drums and a microphone, and they’re calling it “Rock Band.”

“They’ve [Harmonix] always kind of dreamed of having this full band, but never really had the financial backing to be able to do it,” said “Rock Band” Tour Coordinator Ben Korn. “When they got bought out by MTV and with EA Games distributing the game, they had a little more backing. They were able to live the dream they had a few years ago, which was to make a full band.”

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of “Rockband” were released in the United States on Nov. 20, while the PlayStation 2 version will be released in North America on Dec. 18.

The “Rock Band” bundle pack, which includes a guitar, drums, microphone and game, is selling for around $170 and is already flying off the shelves.
“We can’t find them in stores anywhere,” Korn said. “You can find the game itself for $60, but the bundle packs are sold out.” Korn has seen the enthusiasm for “Rock Band” first hand. He’s the tour coordinator for the “Rock Band” tour that is traveling across the country to spread the word. The tour brings a 38-foot tour rig fitted with arena rock sound for anyone to experience what it’s like to be a rockstar. Players can demo the game on three different consoles before taking the stage to perform. All performances on center stage will be recorded and uploaded to the MTV Web site for viewing.
The tour started on Aug. 29 in St. Louis, Mo., and has been to Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York, Orlando and Atlanta, just to name a few, and will hit Auburn’s campus today, Dec. 5.

“It’s been great,” Korn said. “From day one we’ve had people drive three or four hours just to come play on our 38-foot concert stage. You can definitely tell that people were excited about this game from two years ago when they first heard that a game like this might be coming out.”
Chris Cargile, a 22-year-old Auburn resident, already owns the game and loves it.

“Rock Band” is so much fun because all our friends can get together and play as a band,” he said.

The basis of “Rock Band” is that it allows players to perform in virtual bands. It provides up to four players with the ability to play drums, guitar and bass (which uses the same guitar-type controller), and a microphone to sing into. Players must play these instruments in time with musical “notes” as they scroll towards them on the screen. The game features different modes for single player and multiplayer. For one player, the game offers the “Solo Tour Mode,” and for multiplayers it has the “Band World Tour.” Players can also create their own rock star persona by customizing the hair, clothing, tattoos, onstage movements, band logo and more.

According to Wikipedia.org, “ ‘On-screen, Game Informer’ describes the game as a combination of the “Guitar Hero” and “Karaoke Revolution” game-play elements. Instead of a single guitar neck (as there is in “Guitar Hero”), there are three vertically scrolling sections along the bottom of the screen, one each for lead guitar, drums and bass. For lead guitar and bass, the colored notes correspond to the fret buttons on the guitar controller. For the drums, the colored notes correspond to the drum pads, while the orange horizontal line note represents the bass drum. Along the top of the screen is the vocals display, which scrolls horizontally, similar to “Karaoke Revolution.” The lyrics display beneath green bars, which represent the pitch of the individual vocal elements. The remainder of the screen is used to display the band’s characters as they perform.”
One unique addition is that “Rock Band,” for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, also allow players to interact online. As of now, there are no plans to release “Rock Band” for the Wii in the U.S.

Hundreds of new songs will also be available. In addition to the songs on the game disc, hundreds of new tracks will be available for download, with more master recordings offered because of MTV’s role in the game. The game offers 58 tracks, including 13 bonus tracks by lesser-known bands and even Harmonix employees’ bands. Some featured tracks include The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” Red Hot Chilip Peppers’ “Dani California,” Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” the Foo Fighters’ “Learn to Fly,” and many more. Even full albums will be eventually available for download.
Another aspect about “Rock Band” that differs slightly from “Guitar Hero” is that is helps to have some knowledge about the instruments. Players get further on higher levels with better pitch and rhythm.

Korn said people that know a lot about music have also been impressed with the game.
“People have just been dying for drums in a game,” Korn said. “They love that and the authentic feel of the guitars. It isn’t bubbled out like other guitars. It’s very flush and feels like a real Fender Strat. The game play itself, the graphics have been renovated and are fantastic. Everything about it people are just loving at this point.”

Even if it only pretend, these games are offering an escape to the land of rockstars - if only for a while.
“I think it just goes back to everybody’s dream of being that rockstar,” Korn said. “It’s getting that love of music out of them and being able to experience it like they never had before.”

Play “Rock Band” on the Haley Concourse on Auburn’s campus today, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 329 Quad Drive across from the New Student Union.