Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:43 amby Rhiannon
Wow.
Lucky dude... competitive gaming. There's a real "do your algebra homework, you'll use it in the real world moment".
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:47 amby Angiekay
In a related story:
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Metallica's Lars Ulrich loves Black Sabbath and Deep Purple -- and so does his 10-year-old son.
Ulrich may have played songs from those old rock bands around the house on his stereo, but he gives credit for his son's excitement to another source: video games.
Myles Ulrich is a fan of games such as "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band," which have spawned a comeback for rock music.
"It's a cool generational thing to share that with your kids," said Ulrich, the drummer for the multi-platinum quartet. "My [son's] favorite bands are ... the same bands that are my favorite bands -- the bands I grew up on."
A few years ago, rock music was struggling on the charts. With hip-hop and teen pop ruling, rock was finding it hard to break through with new music -- or sell more of the old.
But "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" have prompted kids born in the '90s to discover artists from the '70s and '80s such as Aerosmith, Twisted Sister and Pat Benatar. The games' amazing popularity -- last year, the two brought in more than $935 million in revenue, according to the NPD Group market research company -- has helped create success in other markets, according to observers. Watch Ulrich and others praise the games on "American Morning" ยป
Geoff Mayfield, senior analyst and director of charts for Billboard magazine, said he sees a direct cause-and-effect for some of the artists who have licensed their songs to "Guitar Hero."
"A few weeks ago, when the game featuring Aerosmith ['Guitar Hero: Aerosmith'] came out, there was more than a 40 percent increase in their catalog sales. I expect you'll see that again when Metallica gets the same kind of treatment in a few weeks," Mayfield said. iReport.com: Do you shred on "Guitar Hero?"
Once wary of downloading, Metallica has changed its tune with its upcoming album.
"When 'Death Magnetic' comes out in September, you can actually download the new album the same day it comes out, and play it on your 'Guitar Hero III,' " Ulrich said -- fully aware of the irony, given his band's past litigation with the Internet music file-sharing service Napster.
Even in an uncertain economy, the video games also have increased interest in guitars, according to the nationwide Guitar Center chain. And bars holding "Guitar Hero" nights also have enjoyed a boost in business: Big Wangs sports tavern in Hollywood, California, reports a 25 percent to 35 percent increase in sales.
The results have played out at such places as Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, where most teens have grown up on a steady diet of hip-hop and R&B.
Recently, heavy metal blared from the school's darkened auditorium as it sponsored a three-day "Guitar Hero Face-Off." Spotlights illuminated the competitors, and an audience full of enthusiasts screamed wildly at the end of each song.
It was enough to make 16-year-old finalist George Gomez nervous. "You got fans cheering you on," he marveled shyly.
For Mayfield, the marriage of music and video games makes perfect sense, especially for an ailing record industry that's been having trouble selling CDs.
"This is a chance for something that's been a competition to actually be an ally, if you will," he said.
Mayfield has never played "Guitar Hero" or "Rock Band," but he said he understands the irresistible appeal of kids and adults indulging in some harmless headbanging -- albeit with toy instruments.
"If you've ever played air guitar, more than likely, you weren't doing it to a Michael Jackson song. You were doing it to an Aerosmith song," he said
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:56 amby bluejeangirl76
Wow.
On one hand... yeah playing competitively and earning money.... nice deal, but that should be a SIDE thing. The kid still needs to be in school.
Those parents are whacked for allowing that to happen.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:56 amby ebake02
Good for him but I wouldn't go that far with a video game.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:59 amby kgdjpubs
oh nice, something else for NC to be known for..... let's see, we go insane over 1/4" of snow, try and take out lead singers and now this. Why don't we ever get the cool stuff?!?
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:06 amby bluejeangirl76
kgdjpubs wrote:oh nice, something else for NC to be known for..... let's see, we go insane over 1/4" of snow, try and take out lead singers and now this. Why don't we ever get the cool stuff?!?
Cuz you're all a bunch of frickin' tards? (sorry Rhi... you're not... LOL)
I dunno. Just guessing.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:08 amby artist4perry
bluejeangirl76 wrote:Wow.
On one hand... yeah playing competitively and earning money.... nice deal, but that should be a SIDE thing. The kid still needs to be in school.
Those parents are whacked for allowing that to happen.
What happens when the fad wears off, and this WAS his formal education? I am glad they are home schooling him at least. But they are not teaching him a most important role in life. Perspective. All things in ballence.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:09 amby Rhiannon
bluejeangirl76 wrote:kgdjpubs wrote:oh nice, something else for NC to be known for..... let's see, we go insane over 1/4" of snow, try and take out lead singers and now this. Why don't we ever get the cool stuff?!?
Cuz you're all a bunch of frickin' tards? (sorry Rhi... you're not... LOL)
I dunno. Just guessing.
Thanks!
I'll be headed back towards Tardolina here soon. It's a great state. He'll probably get a better education playing GH than he would in the NC public schools.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:11 amby edcha
bluejeangirl76 wrote:Wow.
On one hand... yeah playing competitively and earning money.... nice deal, but that should be a SIDE thing. The kid still needs to be in school.
Those parents are whacked for allowing that to happen.
You're right, bjg76! I have a niece who is very fond of, and is very good at playing guitar hero---but she is very good at school, too! Her parents keep her well grounded. I'm not sure...but guitar hero could very well be just a fad... and it's too risky to encourage a child to choose it as a main career!
It maybe a different story though if the child hates school, and has pathetic grades....in which case, this may not be a bad idea.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:16 amby Don
A tutor and homeschool might be better for him anyway depending on the school district he's in.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:21 amby bluejeangirl76
Rhiannon wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote:kgdjpubs wrote:oh nice, something else for NC to be known for..... let's see, we go insane over 1/4" of snow, try and take out lead singers and now this. Why don't we ever get the cool stuff?!?
Cuz you're all a bunch of frickin' tards? (sorry Rhi... you're not... LOL)
I dunno. Just guessing.
Thanks!
I'll be headed back towards Tardolina here soon. It's a great state.
Never been, but maybe in the next few months on one of your future jaunts... this weekend just didn't work, though I was ALMOST gonna. So, North Tardolina? Will I need tard-repellant?
(you know I'm teasing ya, rhibaby
)
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:28 amby Rhiannon
bluejeangirl76 wrote:Never been, but maybe in the next few months on one of your future jaunts... this weekend just didn't work, though I was ALMOST gonna. So, North Tardolina? Will I need tard-repellant?
(you know I'm teasing ya, rhibaby
)
The part of the state that is my turf is generally tard-free (since I moved away).
Other parts of the state, mainly the flatlands, not so much. Heh... you have tard repellent. They call it vocabulary.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:39 amby bluejeangirl76
Rhiannon wrote:Heh... you have tard repellent. They call it vocabulary.
Omg. *dies*
I'm using that. Full credit to you.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:54 amby kgdjpubs
Rhiannon wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote:Never been, but maybe in the next few months on one of your future jaunts... this weekend just didn't work, though I was ALMOST gonna. So, North Tardolina? Will I need tard-repellant?
(you know I'm teasing ya, rhibaby
)
The part of the state that is my turf is generally tard-free (since I moved away).
Other parts of the state, mainly the flatlands, not so much. Heh... you have tard repellent. They call it vocabulary.
Depends on which part....Asheville has the Floridiots, Boone has the tourons (cross betw a tourist and a moron) and the Wilkes/Stokes county factor, Charlotte is just a wannabe Atlanta, Winston is ok, Raleigh is sorta decent in parts (and isn't Charlotte!!!), Durham is basically screwed up, Cary has every idiot from the north moving here and then complaining that it isn't the same place they read about in a magazine with the cozy small town, the coast and Shelby area have their own share of issues (mainly due to the locals and other forms of wildlife)....and if you are from High Point, I just feel for you. Of course, if you took any of the tards away, we might be better off. I think I caught a reference to Lexington BBQ a while back, so maybe you do have some redeeming quality though.
As far as visiting, just expect all the diversity from the swampy flatlands of the coast to the diversity of the mountains...and a whole bunch of people crowded into the section in the middle packed like sardines without the roadways/infrastructure to support them. Also, be prepared to decide what basketball school you prefer. You will be lynched, hugged or both depending on what answer you give to what group. We don't do football (unless you are in Boone or maybe Charlotte), don't really do baseball, and the ice hockey team in Raleigh has only slightly warmed us to those northern heathen fights that you call a "sport". Oh, and we have some great BBQ if you know where to go and don't try to order ribs--we don't do that. Down here, there is a clear distinction between barbeque (and I'm not talking grilling hamburgers and stuff) and ribs. Be warned.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:02 amby Don
kgdjpubs wrote:Rhiannon wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote:Never been, but maybe in the next few months on one of your future jaunts... this weekend just didn't work, though I was ALMOST gonna. So, North Tardolina? Will I need tard-repellant?
(you know I'm teasing ya, rhibaby
)
The part of the state that is my turf is generally tard-free (since I moved away).
Other parts of the state, mainly the flatlands, not so much. Heh... you have tard repellent. They call it vocabulary.
Depends on which part....Asheville has the Floridiots, Boone has the tourons (cross betw a tourist and a moron) and the Wilkes/Stokes county factor, Charlotte is just a wannabe Atlanta, Winston is ok, Raleigh is sorta decent in parts (and isn't Charlotte!!!), Durham is basically screwed up, Cary has every idiot from the north moving here and then complaining that it isn't the same place they read about in a magazine with the cozy small town, the coast and Shelby area have their own share of issues (mainly due to the locals and other forms of wildlife)....and if you are from High Point, I just feel for you. Of course, if you took any of the tards away, we might be better off. I think I caught a reference to Lexington BBQ a while back, so maybe you do have some redeeming quality though.
As far as visiting, just expect all the diversity from the swampy flatlands of the coast to the diversity of the mountains...and a whole bunch of people crowded into the section in the middle packed like sardines without the roadways/infrastructure to support them. Also, be prepared to decide what basketball school you prefer. You will be lynched, hugged or both depending on what answer you give to what group. We don't do football (unless you are in Boone or maybe Charlotte), don't really do baseball, and the ice hockey team in Raleigh has only slightly warmed us to those northern heathen fights that you call a "sport". Oh, and we have some great BBQ if you know where to go and don't try to order ribs--we don't do that. Down here, there is a clear distinction between barbeque (and I'm not talking grilling hamburgers and stuff) and ribs. Be warned.
The only thing I know about in N.C. is Chimney Rock Park, and only from seeing scenery from that in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:05 amby Rhiannon
kgdjpubs wrote:Depends on which part....Asheville has the Floridiots, Boone has the tourons (cross betw a tourist and a moron) and the Wilkes/Stokes county factor, Charlotte is just a wannabe Atlanta, Winston is ok, Raleigh is sorta decent in parts (and isn't Charlotte!!!), Durham is basically screwed up, Cary has every idiot from the north moving here and then complaining that it isn't the same place they read about in a magazine with the cozy small town, the coast and Shelby area have their own share of issues (mainly due to the locals and other forms of wildlife)....and if you are from High Point, I just feel for you. Of course, if you took any of the tards away, we might be better off. I think I caught a reference to Lexington BBQ a while back, so maybe you do have some redeeming quality though.
As far as visiting, just expect all the diversity from the swampy flatlands of the coast to the diversity of the mountains...and a whole bunch of people crowded into the section in the middle packed like sardines without the roadways/infrastructure to support them. Also, be prepared to decide what basketball school you prefer. You will be lynched, hugged or both depending on what answer you give to what group. We don't do football (unless you are in Boone or maybe Charlotte), don't really do baseball, and the ice hockey team in Raleigh has only slightly warmed us to those northern heathen fights that you call a "sport". Oh, and we have some great BBQ if you know where to go and don't try to order ribs--we don't do that. Down here, there is a clear distinction between barbeque (and I'm not talking grilling hamburgers and stuff) and ribs. Be warned.
Well that was a dissertation!
Mt. Airy - Mooresville - Huntersville - Black Mountain - Hickory. That's my playground. Charlotte isn't a wannabe Atlanta. It's bigger than ATL, and much nicer these days! Serious! East of 77, the only good thing is Winston until you get to Nags Head. The rest is just meh.
Still better than South Carolina. (Though I have lived there at times, too!)
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:10 amby kgdjpubs
Gunbot wrote:
The only thing I know about in N.C. is Chimney Rock Park, and only from seeing scenery from that in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".
That be the mountains side. You probably also know the extreme west mountains side from The Fugitive. The first 30 minutes or so (everything before it moves to Chicago) was filmed there. If you know where you things were done, you can still see a lot of the places they used. Great scenery on that end....absolutely pathetic and boring stuff on the east end until you hit the ocean.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:16 amby Rhiannon
kgdjpubs wrote:Gunbot wrote:
The only thing I know about in N.C. is Chimney Rock Park, and only from seeing scenery from that in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".
That be the mountains side. You probably also know the extreme west mountains side from The Fugitive. The first 30 minutes or so (everything before it moves to Chicago) was filmed there. If you know where you things were done, you can still see a lot of the places they used. Great scenery on that end....absolutely pathetic and boring stuff on the east end until you hit the ocean.
We are in total agreement. I'm one of the people who wished they hadn't built I-26 up Sam's Gap. I miss the old two-lane kiss-your-ass curves being the only way to get from Asheville to Johnson City. 40W is a beautiful drive as soon as you get up the divide. I'm a mountain girl, through and through. Born and raised.
Flatlands suck.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:20 amby kgdjpubs
Rhiannon wrote:Well that was a dissertation!
Mt. Airy - Mooresville - Huntersville - Black Mountain - Hickory. That's my playground. Charlotte isn't a wannabe Atlanta. It's bigger than ATL, and much nicer these days! Serious! East of 77, the only good thing is Winston until you get to Nags Head. The rest is just meh.
Still better than South Carolina. (Though I have lived there at times, too!)
ok, that area isn't bad as long as you don't get too close to Shelby/Forest City and stay off 77 (which I despise about as much as 95). Then, it goes downhill quickly. You are at least close enough to scenery in that area.
Charlotte probably IS nicer than Atlanta (which, granted wouldn't be hard)...but they don't have a spaghetti interchange--yet. Atlanta is simply massive and building faster than Charlotte ever thought about.
Raleigh has some decent stuff (like excellent traditional Chinese food that is NOT the same as what most places pass off as "Chinese")--you just have to know where to go to find it.
SC.... shudder.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:25 amby kgdjpubs
Rhiannon wrote:kgdjpubs wrote:Gunbot wrote:
The only thing I know about in N.C. is Chimney Rock Park, and only from seeing scenery from that in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".
That be the mountains side. You probably also know the extreme west mountains side from The Fugitive. The first 30 minutes or so (everything before it moves to Chicago) was filmed there. If you know where you things were done, you can still see a lot of the places they used. Great scenery on that end....absolutely pathetic and boring stuff on the east end until you hit the ocean.
We are in total agreement. I'm one of the people who wished they hadn't built I-26 up Sam's Gap. I miss the old two-lane kiss-your-ass curves being the only way to get from Asheville to Johnson City. 40W is a beautiful drive as soon as you get up the divide. I'm a mountain girl, through and through. Born and raised.
Flatlands suck.
40W is fine as long as you don't get stuck in a truck convoy going west out of Canton on a dark, rainy night. Then, it's not nice at all. I'd prefer some of those one-and-a-half lane curvy roads without guardrails. I lived near Sylva for several years--you'll get no arguement from me about mountains. Sure beats the 40/85/95 corridor.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:36 amby bluejeangirl76
Gunbot wrote:The only thing I know about in N.C. is Chimney Rock Park, and only from seeing scenery from that in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".
The only thing I know about it is sisters do not like when brothers cheat with cousins.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:55 amby kgdjpubs
bluejeangirl76 wrote:Gunbot wrote:The only thing I know about in N.C. is Chimney Rock Park, and only from seeing scenery from that in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".
The only thing I know about it is sisters do not like when brothers cheat with cousins.
That's ancient history, and probably no worse than any rural area of other states. I figure a lot of places in the deep south are worse, as are coal-mining areas (of which, we have none). Transplanted Yankees and other immigrants probably outnumber us locals now anyways. 10-15 years ago, you didn't have to specifically ask for "sweet" tea--it was assumed that was what you wanted because there was no unsweet option. That, and the fact that most people don't know how to make it now either--it's NOT sugar water!!!
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:12 amby artist4perry
kgdjpubs wrote:bluejeangirl76 wrote:Gunbot wrote:The only thing I know about in N.C. is Chimney Rock Park, and only from seeing scenery from that in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".
The only thing I know about it is sisters do not like when brothers cheat with cousins.
That's ancient history, and probably no worse than any rural area of other states. I figure a lot of places in the deep south are worse, as are coal-mining areas (of which, we have none). Transplanted Yankees and other immigrants probably outnumber us locals now anyways. 10-15 years ago, you didn't have to specifically ask for "sweet" tea--it was assumed that was what you wanted because there was no unsweet option. That, and the fact that most people don't know how to make it now either--it's NOT sugar water!!!
I think most states, yes even the south! Have been enlightened enough to have little to no inbreeding, unless you are including Jerry Springer loons, or child mollesters.
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:17 amby bluejeangirl76
stevew2 wrote:isnt that what Neal did
Which thing? Inbreeding or child molesting?
Posted:
Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:23 amby stevew2
bluejeangirl76 wrote:stevew2 wrote:isnt that what Neal did
Which thing? Inbreeding or child molesting?
That and dropped out of school to play guitar god
