Jam Legend: the Next Big Thing?

27Sep08

Answer: yes.

Weirdly enough, I picked up my Guitar Hero controller to pass a few minutes on Thursday, something I hadn’t done in a long while. The reason with was odd, was that later that night I found an e-mail from Jam Legend in my inbox. I had signed up to be sent a beta-registration, so I figured I would at least make an account, and the check the place out.

Jam Legend is an in-browser Guitar Hero and Rock Band simulator, played on your keyboard and computer instead of a console and peripheral. So far, the site is in a beta state, making new adjustments and changing things daily, so there exists only a small track list, and limited options: but why I post this is just to take a second to point how the pros/cons of this site, and why I think it’s so important.

So let me first talk about the biggest advantage for this new site, it’s price. Guitar Hero can cost about seventy dollars a pop for just one of the games, and Rock Band upwards of one hundred twenty bucks. That’s quite a bit of scratch to come up with for who they’re marketing to: people like me – teenagers. While it makes a great present, and most kids are accustomed to saving up their allowance for video games anyway, my point is that it’s not always easy for a kid to get his hands on a copy. So the appeal for a site like Jam Legend is enormous, because it can bring you a very similar product for about seventy or one hundred twenty dollars less. And I’ve gotta say, for it only being a website: it’s pretty fucking awesome.

GUITAR HERO NIGHT
Originally uploaded by trust no one

So the other reason price is a major hit for this site, is that in order to get the full experience of Guitar Hero, you have to buy the GH guitar controller. And for a while no third party companies had an edge in the market: they still don’t, and are getting horrible reviews. So you’re already at the mercy of Activision’s rules in order to play the game the right way. And without a controller, it’s like using a computer without a mouse -yes, it’s technically possible- but nobody does it. So if you introduce game that utilizes something most people already have (a keyboard and mouse), my guess is that you’re going to pick up the markets for people who can’t afford GH and RB, as well as the people who are upset/bored with their options.

In addition, who’s to say that one day Jam Legend won’t come out with a way for you to play with a guitar controller. I’m giving it a week before somebody mods a keyboard-but what’s stopping them from doing something similar to Netflix, and introducing a way to enhance the experience with a third-party peripheral like the *Roku Box. And I mean that in two ways: 1) give players a chance to purchase a peripheral that isn’t mandatory for game play. 2) launch your site into other markets, like your TV (using a wireless connection) or places such as the Virtual Console for the Wii

* I can not say enough good things about the Roku box. It lives up to all of it’s expectations: and has actually replaced my use of the Netflix DVDs. Really, it’s fucking awesome.

Implementation is another large appeal for this website. Example: I spend some cake on a video game, and an update comes out the next day. Ultimately, I’m stuck with an older version that can’t be updated. But, I subscribe to a website that offers the same thing, they can implement change in game play, offer more options in the long run, and find a faster way to incorporate feedback into their system. In a matter of two days, I’ve already seen changes happen, something that can be done once the disc is burned. This hopefully adds the ability of customization as well. Things like bands having their own customizable pages (filled with artwork, updates and news) and users being able to customize minor details to their liking (like left-handed playing [which they offer already] and aesthetic differences) which can’t be done in Guitar Hero. Like I said, you’re at the mercy of the makers of GH. To their credit, I love what they do: but not everyone does.

Plus, um, a virtually infinite track list?

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s the best thing ever. Trust me, we’ve all exhausted those “you know what song should be in Guitar Hero” conversations, so Jam Legend has the possibility of adding more songs than you can shake a stick at. Plus, not all of us are those “whatever’s on” kind of people, and really hate having to sit through “Message in a Bottle” to reacher better songs. Jam Legend doesn’t make you beat songs to get new ones: it only requires you to rock. So for those of us that like to jam to some thrash metal or funeral doom, we can have it our way: while those who enjoy exploring new indie bands can have it their way too. And if ever the day the option comes you can upload your own songs… I would never leave that site.

Jeff, thrashing
Originally uploaded by Rrrrred

A quick point I’d also like to make, is that Jam Legend doesn’t require the downloading of any software, something Linux users are always happy to hear. This does give the system some setbacks with browser integration and network connects (the game is only as good as your internet) which seems to be it’s biggest setback. However, from what I’ve seen already, that hasn’t been a problem.

Another point I’d like to make is that my guitar hero controller has six buttons, a strum and whammy bar. My keyboard on the other hand has one hundred twenty. This opens up the option of your keyboard having more frets for more *advanced players. Rock Band finally tackled having more than the standard five -but from what I’m to understand- you only use them a small portion of the time. Plus (and this goes for both Jam Legend as well as Guitar Hero) one day I hope they will add advanced options like sweep picking, chicken pickin‘ and tapping.

*On a side note, I’d really like to see somebody come out with a “Going from Guitar Hero to real guitar” DVD or something-because with the time I’ve spent playing GH, I could have probably learned real guitar.

So another fucking awesome feature I’d like to make a note of is the inclusion of the “Showdown” mode on Jam Legend. Guitar Hero and Rock Band have already conquered the multiplayer option with a showdown and co-op mode, but JL can take it a step further. Think about where you are: the internet, home to billions of people. So, you can now duel players from across the web (and soon at different times, according to JL’s site) versus whoever’s in your house at the time. JL also promises the ability to play live shows at pre-determined times, as well as tournaments for prizes.

So, in conclusion, I’m already totally gay for Jam Legend. I highly suggest anyone curious about it to check it out, (site) give it a whurl and sign up for an account. If you already have one, friend me! Really, I mean it

Keep on rockin’

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Tags: Activision, guitar, Guitar Hero, Jam Legend, music, Rock Band