Where I'm coming from blog.

[hmxsean]

http://www.rockband.com/rockers_blog...384297?redir=1

[willpwn4f0od]

cool =D

*post*

[Rokkstar]

Awesome entry I liked it

[jeccaneko]

To tell you the truth, I didn't know HMX existed until sometime after GH1 came out. I first played GH1 when Best Buy was demoing it. I saw a guy standing there jamming along to Iron Man on a plastic guitar and it looked fun. I tried when he ended the song and walked away. At that point in time, I'd never even touched a guitar, much less a controller shaped like a guitar. Needless to say, I sucked. But deep down I've always had this guitar playing interest. I just never felt like I could hack REAL guitar.

I bought GH1 and loved it. I ended up pre-ordering GH2 and loved that too. Then later on, HMX announces they're working on a game called Rock Band where you could play guitar, bass, drums, and sing. I was stoked...

...but then I realized that it wouldn't work well for me. I didn't have a 360 or PS3. I knew I'd want DLC and such.

I forgot about Rock Band for a while. In that time, I bought a real acoustic guitar. She's a real beauty and fun, albeit a challenge since I'm an adult and this is my first instrument, to play. I'm not a tab person. I learned to read sheet music too, which was part of the reason learning guitar was so hard.

Then in February I remembered Rock Band. I can't really remember how I did. But I was getting a decent sized tax return, so I bought an Xbox 360 and Rock Band Special Edition. I've spent more hours on this game since then than, well, any other game in a long time, if ever. I've been gaming for about 20 years now, so that's really saying something.

Unlike you, Sean, I don't particularly enjoy my job. In fact, the only thing that keeps me from throwing in the towel (other than the fact that I need to eat) is that I need to stick around a little longer to try to reach a major goal of mine. One that should be panning out by this time next year. I will not say what it is right now so I don't jinx it.

But the point I'm making here is Rock Band and my guitar and music feel like the only things that keep me from getting too depressed in the short term. I'm very much of a short term thinking person. I can make goals, but working towards those goals doesn't necessarily make me happy, especially if working to get there is hard and I don't like what I need to do. Rock Band and music give me sense of accomplishment, and the sheer happiness of playing music. And that means a lot.

So, since I didn't get to add to the community project (sorry Apples, if you like this - I couldn't think of anything good to say at the time and Sean's post suddenly inspired me), this is my way of saying thank you HMX.

[dman7529]

Thank you for sharing this Sean. It is really awesome to see someone passionate about what they do, and not just doing something for the money. You and the rest of Harmonix keep up the great work!

[DarkEternal37]

Great blog post. My story's really similar to everyone elses.

I heard about the game, read up on it and thought that it was a cool idea but probably not for me. Just didn't seem like the type of game I'd get into, you know?

Well, every Friday night is poker night for my friends and I. I headed over to my friend's house where we were playing that night and a couple people ended up running like a half-hour late. The three guys that were there before me were in his living room playing GH1. Now this was probably like 3 or 4 months after the game had released.

I walked in and I said that I had heard of the game but I'd never played it. They then mandated that I play, not that I was going to argue. Picked the first song I recognized (More than a Feeling. Of course I remember it :P). I played on easy and was TERRIBLE. I couldn't get through the song. They laughed but I didn't care cause I had fun; Way more than I thought I would.

Flash forward a couple months to the summer. Two of my college buddies were visiting me and we were kinda bored. I was trying to think of something to do and I thought of Guitar Hero. I asked if either of them had ever played and like me they had heard of it, but never tried it. We went right out to the mall and bought the bundle.

We passed the one guitar around for hours. Even after the weekend was over, I was so hooked I'd get home from work and play for hours. By the time I got back to school in the fall I could play everything on Hard and a few on Expert.

Well, one of my friends had bought the bundle as well and we were finally able to play against each other, and that was a whole new awesome experience for me. I played in between classes, after classes, pretty much any time I could. Never forsaking my work, but it was way too addicting, in a good way.

Of course I picked up GH2 right around when it came out and I had Rock Band pre-ordered pretty much from the moment I could. I was playing expert when I picked up GH2 (still took me like a year to beat Jordan though D. I even took third place in a GH2 competition which was one of the most fun things I've ever had the chance to do.

Basically, thanks for giving me something to do that while others may view as waste of time, I consider to be self-fulfilling. I love to compete and push myself to be better and you guys have given me something that I could never have imagined enjoying so much with my friends.

Also, you get us yelled at when we're playing loudly after quiet hours but we don't care . That's why we bought an apartment this year instead!

[R4di4ti0n]

Oh sean...i dont know whats worse...how awesomely cool you are, or how irrisestably sexy you are.

Hetero-male attraction FTW.

Seriously. I love what you guys do, and im pumped about everything you are doing. Keep it up.

[KampfVerein]

Starting the slow, movie clap.

[AeroZeppelinSevenfold]

My comment from the blog:

I played guitar before jumping on the rhythm game wagon, and I thought that Guitar Hero was just some stupid game.

then I played it at a mall, and wow, I was hooked. It ws very fun from a musicians standpoint, (even though I sucked at the time) and I later bought all the others.

Then I found out you guys were making Rock Band, and I was very exicted. Now I'm playing the game quite often, and me and my friends/family have a blast with it.

I can't wait for Rock Band 2. You guys can't let me down when it comes to games. (unlike some other developers)

You've also got me to play the drums. A very fun instrument to play. the game has also helped me with my guitar playing, by helping me hear the subtle but amazing guitar licks and rhythms.

Thanks for everything guys. You've got something here. we all know it.

and I want more HMX bands as DLC. Pretty please?

[kiggidykev]

Great read. Nice reminder that the folks at Harmonix are so into their work that Sean would take the time to write up something about getting from there to here.

Also, your trick worked! I got a REAL guitar!