Guitar Hero game cover

So what's all the rage this semester in Vandyland, particularly among the freshmen men? Two words: Guitar Hero.

This interactive video game, which debuted in November 2005, combines basic musical talent with gaming skills. Players "play" songs on guitar-like controllers, competing to see which player can hit the most correct notes.

The game is responsible for keeping many men (and a few select women) awake into the wee hours of the morning. Why? Because, in the words of freshman Grayson Adkins, "Guitar Hero is bad-ass!"

For those unfamiliar with the game, one may wonder how a video game can compare to playing a real instrument.

According to freshman Paul Manfuso, "[Guitar Hero and playing a real guitar] are not the same, but they both give you the same satisfactory feeling."

Andy Enkeboll, known to all Branscomb gaming fans as the "King of Guitar Hero," claims, "Guitar Hero is legit-it's not that far off from the real thing."

Enkeboll even spray-painted his guitar controller black and gold to make it look more like a real electric guitar.

The guys agree that having some real guitar experience gives one an advantage at the controller. However, "Guitar Hero won't help you learn how to play the real guitar," according to freshman Jonathan Payne.

In fact, freshmen Daniel Musher, PD Acquaviva, and Nadav Aschner pointed out that often, playing a song on Guitar Hero is actually more difficult than playing the same song on a real guitar.

However, there are two sides to every story. Freshmen Patrick Lucas and Stephanie Roush do not think the game is anything like the real thing. According to Roush, "playing the guitar is about expressing yourself, whereas Guitar Hero is just about pressing buttons and hearing sound coming out of the speakers."

The game appeals to guitar players and musical novices. "All real men play Guitar Hero!" says Enkeboll.

Freshman David Hecht reflected on how the game has impacted him, saying, "As someone who lacks musical talent and doesn't play the guitar, this game really makes me appreciate artistic talent."

The game is certainly in high demand, and it was especially sought after when it first came out.

Freshman Eddie Wells, creator of the Facebook group "Guitar Hero Addicts," drove three and a half miles to get the game. One friend of freshman Aaron Villarreal's "immediately sold his plasma TV to buy Guitar Hero."

According to Enkeboll's roommate, Ben Blais, "Enkeboll dropped two thousand bucks on [their] TV just so he could see Guitar Hero bigger." It's no surprise that this hardcore Guitar Hero champ has already beaten both games and can easily play without looking at the screen.

Once a player starts the game, it becomes very difficult to separate oneself from it. "Guitar Hero takes up a large portion of my life," Says freshman Patrick Lucas. Freshman Alex Holman admits that he plays it so frequently, that when he closes his eyes, he sees the notes. In fact, the men of Vandy 3 enjoy the game so much that they plan to get Guitar Hero III when it comes out, to complete their set.

Grayson Adkins, a.k.a. "The Thrasher," puts the Guitar Hero obsession into terms to which all Vandy kids can relate: "Guitar Hero is the most addictive game I've ever played-even more addicting than Facebook!" In fact, it's so addicting that "it's about as conducive to good grades as heroin," Adkins jokes.

The Vandy 3 guys agree with him when he says that "if you play the game long enough, you WILL dream about it. It's inevitable."

Evidently, Guitar Hero starts popping up in everyday life. "When you hear a song with an awesome guitar rift or a sweet solo, a Guitar Hero fanatic automatically thinks, ‘this would be great for Guitar Hero!'" says Adkins. In spite of his fanaticism with the game, Adkins maintains that "just because you play Guitar Hero, doesn't mean that you don't have a life."

So why do these freshmen like the game so much? They all agree that the game is unique, interactive and amusing. It also has great music. And for those who don't play an instrument, Guitar Hero simulates the feeling of playing one.

Nadav Aschner adds that "Guitar Hero automatically raises your body temperature ten degrees," perhaps due to the excitement of it all. The game also encourages room/hallmate bonding because players are always looking for a new challenger.

However, Guitar Hero may not be able entertain its players forever. Aquaviva, justly named the "Guitar Hero Champion" of the Vandy-Barnard dorms, has already beaten the game and says that "there's no point in playing anymore." Aquaviva, like others, has moved onto newer and exciting things, such as the innovative Ninetendo Wii.

Despite its addicting and entertaining qualities, Guitar Hero has taken the back seat for many of these freshmen in the past few weeks because fraternity pledging has kept them busy. As Enkeboll puts it, "Now that I'm pledging, I don't have time for silly little games anymore."

This article is from the February 2007 issue of Versus Magazine, on stands this week.