This isn't really stricly about "virtual cultures," but it is undoubtedly about fan cultures and emergent behaviors, so I thought it was relevant. For those who missed it, this was all over the wires last weekend:
Rock Band," "Guitar Hero" drive digital song sales
Who woulda thunkit. The answer to the music industries economic woes: Video Games!!!
It is truly staggering how badly the music industry has chronically missed the boat on the digital zeitgeist. They have been swimming against a Tsunami for over a decade, and managed to sow seeds of ill will among what used to be an ardent and incredibly profitable fan-base. As a result, Apple Computers, which some of those who were around then may recall, was able to adopt the same name as a record company because they swore never to get into the music industry, is now the world's biggest music distribution portal.
What this article fails to mention is that the music industry refused to license original recordings to the first Guitar Hero game, which if you recall, has re-recorded hits. They saw what a huge success the game was and decided to "get with the program," so to speak. It's also interesting to note, at the end of the article, that Electronic Arts now has a "worldwide head of music." I'm curious if any of the record companies has a "worldwide head of games." I rather doubt it. But isn't it time?
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Posted by: Number1GamerReview | May 24, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Very interesting and very true. You will actually find that most of the corporate gaming community is definitely in tune with the music industry, even before the Guitar Hero game. Who do you think are the gamers?
Posted by: John Mauser | June 21, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Yeah that is true, when games started putting real muscians in games people were able to listen to different music that they may have never heard.
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Posted by: Chris the Pro Gamer | June 26, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Well, even the horrible games have to make money somehow. When the bad artists and bad video games band together to make money it's a joyous occassion.
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Posted by: snes roms | October 17, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Well i really enjoy some video games songs... for example FF7... and who cannot recognized the Mario Bros Theme... video games are part of ouor culture now
Posted by: Children Anxiety Disorder | March 19, 2009 at 04:44 AM
Sure... just see how successfull guitar hero is... that game was a revolution when appears.. and now even... video games need the sound to cause an impact and some of them are the best in that area!!!`
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