Why do you play Rock Band?

[tati81]

When did you first start playing Rock Band?
In 2010

Are you an active member on the community forums?
Yes, sort of.

What was it that lured you to Rock band in the first place?
My best friend buyed a RB2 bundle and I started to play with her.

Why did you decide to learn a plastic instrument instead of a real instrument?
I play real instruments too, RB is for fun, thanks to this game I discovered many songs.

Do you play any of the pro instrument?
Yes, keyboard PRO.

Do you play any real instruments?
Yes, piano.

Have you considered learning a real instrument based off of your experiences with Rock Band?
I considered to start a vocal course, because I really like to sing.

Have you ever played the game at a bar or someplace hosting a Rock Band game night?
Here in Italy there aren't.

Do you have specific people that you play with all the time, or do you play with random people most of the time?
I have my best friend, she plays PRO Drums, and then I play online with friends and random people.

[Zawash]

I first started playing Rock Band when it was released in Europe.
I'm not an active member on the community forums.
I liked playing guitar in Guitar Hero III (got it for PC before buying a PS3), and was thrilled about playing the drums too.
It's easier and more fun to play a plastic instrument - at first, anyway.
I play a tiny bit of pro keyboard (why play the non-pro keyboard?), a tiny bit of pro guitar and a lot of pro drums.
I have bought a nice e-drum kit with MIDI out, and after playing Rock Band for a while I'm now taking drum lessons, trying to learn to play "real" drums. I also have a guitar.
I have brought my Rock band setup to a party at work once.
I mostly play by myself or with friends coming over - I don't play much online.

Fun questions!

[tnevaker]

When did you first start playing Rock Band?
about 4 years ago, visiting a friend's house

Are you an active member on the community forums?
yes

What was it that lured you to Rock band in the first place?
nothing in particular; what lured me to buy it for myself was the fun of playing drums

Why did you decide to learn a plastic instrument instead of a real instrument?
i learned to play real instruments way before this game ever existed

Do you play any of the pro instrument?
all of them

Do you play any real instruments?
yes; guitar, bass, drums

Have you considered learning a real instrument based off of your experiences with Rock Band?
i've considered trying to learn drums better; guitar and bass i already know well enough

Have you ever played the game at a bar or someplace hosting a Rock Band game night?
no

Do you have specific people that you play with all the time, or do you play with random people most of the time?
play by myself most of the time

[CJHobbes]

Hi Everyone,
When did you first start playing Rock Band?
I first started playing about a month after it came out. I already owned GH1, 2 and 3 at the time, and I was at a friend's party where they had Rock Band set up. Played it, loved the drums, went out and bought it on the way home.

Are you an active member on the community forums?
Kind of, but I suppose compared to an average person I am. I don't reply to a lot of the threads, but I do visit daily.

What was it that lured you to Rock band in the first place?
The drums lured me in. I had always wanted to play them as a kid, but I chose sports instead. No regrets, but now Rock Band has given me the chance to "play" without needing years of training.

Why did you decide to learn a plastic instrument instead of a real instrument?
I'm way too lazy to go through the rigors of daily practicing. I have no want to join a band or create music, so I'm not very driven to learn a real instrument.

Do you play any of the pro instrument?
I play all the pro instruments, but play the guitar/bass very poorly.

Do you play any real instruments?
Nope.

Have you considered learning a real instrument based off of your experiences with Rock Band?
Considered, yes, but ultimately ruled no since I have no will to practice.

Have you ever played the game at a bar or someplace hosting a Rock Band game night?
I have! We used to have monthly Rock Band parties a few years ago.

Do you have specific people that you play with all the time, or do you play with random people most of the time?
Since I moved a few years ago, I don't play with anyone. I just groove by myself.

See above.

[HMXLachesis]

Your questions carry some interesting assumptions - that people answering play plastic instruments, that they play online, that they decided to learn plastic instruments "instead" of real instruments. I suggest being careful about this kind of thing when preparing interview questions in the future, as it will skew your data.

1) 2007, right after it came out.
2) Yes.
3) A friend of mine convinced me to try Rock Band. I'd been completely unimpressed with Guitar Hero, but this game allowed me to sing - and that made a world of difference.
4) I'm a proud RB vocalist and I play quite a few real instruments.
5) Yes - pro bass and pro keys both.
6) Yes - harp, piano, bass clarinet, bass guitar, flute....
7) Yes - took 6 months of bass lessons after starting RB pro bass.
8) Yes.
9) I don't play online, so the only people I play with are people I know.

[firedoom666]

When did you first start playing Rock Band?
2007

Are you an active member on the community forums?
Yes

What was it that lured you to Rock band in the first place?
I played the Guitar Hero game before and loved them

Why did you decide to learn a plastic instrument instead of a real instrument?
I knew a little Bass Guitar before playing Guitar Hero but I found it much more fun to play the games

Do you play any of the pro instrument?
Yes Drums, Keys and as of a few weeks ago I started Pro Guitar

Do you play any real instruments?
I know 4 Songs on Bass Guitar but I have not played in over a year

Have you considered learning a real instrument based off of your experiences with Rock Band?
ehh I kinda played my bass a few times after Rock Band but nothing else

Have you ever played the game at a bar or someplace hosting a Rock Band game night?
I play at parties all the time... Can't go to a bar because I am not 21

Do you have specific people that you play with all the time, or do you play with random people most of the time?
I play with my friends and brothers all the time... never with random people

[Foos036]

When did you first start playing Rock Band?
The day Rock Band came out. I had it preordered and will never forget the joy of opening the bundle and setting everything up. My entire family played all night.

Are you an active member on the community forums?
Kind of. I've been a member for years, and I check the forums pretty much daily. But I never actually posted anything until recently.

What was it that lured you to Rock band in the first place?
Guitar Hero 2

Why did you decide to learn a plastic instrument instead of a real instrument?
I had already played piano/keyboards for several years, and I also owned a guitar and was trying to teach myself. Plastic instruments were just another way to interact with music.

Do you play any of the pro instrument?
All of them. I have the Squire guitar and an Ion drum kit. Whenever I play RB3 now, pro guitar is usually getting most of my time.

Do you play any real instruments?
See above. Over the last 3 years or so I've improved immensely at guitar. I can also handle myself on a drum set pretty well now thanks to Rock Band, and when I play pro drums I typically play on expert.

Have you considered learning a real instrument based off of your experiences with Rock Band?
Not only have I considered it, I've done it.

Have you ever played the game at a bar or someplace hosting a Rock Band game night?
Never at a bar, but certainly at parties.

Do you have specific people that you play with all the time, or do you play with random people most of the time?
Play with family and friends all the time.

[Cleaver1]

When did you first start playing Rock Band?
When it first came out (bought as complete set)

Are you an active member on the community forums?
Somewhat

What was it that lured you to Rock band in the first place?
The love of music and the ability to play online with friends.

Why did you decide to learn a plastic instrument instead of a real instrument?
I didn't, I am a real musician, just enjoy playing RB with friends online, without that, I would be just playing the real instruments.

Do you play any of the pro instrument?
Yes nearly exclusively, Pro drums, pro guitar, pro keys

Do you play any real instruments?
yes, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone and piano.

Have you considered learning a real instrument based off of your experiences with Rock Band?
Bought RB because I'm already into music

Have you ever played the game at a bar or someplace hosting a Rock Band game night?
At a party once, not in a bar or anything.

Do you have specific people that you play with all the time, or do you play with random people most of the time?
Very specific people from friends list that play for fun and have some laughs, but occasionally venture into random quickplay for a few sets (usually ends badly).

[Mileycyrussoulja]

1. 2009
2. Yes
3. I played RB2 at a friends house and really enjoyed it.
4. Well, I figured playing a plastic instrument would inspire me to play a real instrument, and it did. I now play drums and am a professional drummer.
5. Yes, pro keys, but I can't play pro guitar/bass because I stink at it
6. Yes, drums and keyboard
7. As I aforementioned, I already did; I started to become a drummer after playing the drums in Rock Band.
8. Nope
9. I usually play by myself.

[fcmlefty]

When did you first start playing Rock Band? - April 2008

Are you an active member on the community forums? - I lurk alot, post occasionally

What was it that lured you to Rock band in the first place? - looked like a better version of Guitar Hero, and the cooncept of weekly DLC souded appealing

Why did you decide to learn a plastic instrument instead of a real instrument? - I have no musical ability what so ever. Closest I was ever going to get to rocking out

Do you play any of the pro instrument? - tried pro guitar, didn't catch on at all

Do you play any real instruments? - not a chance

Have you considered learning a real instrument based off of your experiences with Rock Band? - I wish I could learn to play guitar. I know my limitations though, and it is unlikely to ever happen

Have you ever played the game at a bar or someplace hosting a Rock Band game night? - no, but would if the opportunity presented itself

Do you have specific people that you play with all the time, or do you play with random people most of the time? 99% of the time I play solo, the other 1% is when the wife joins in on legacy keys