http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/ Engadget Comments for Ben Heck maintains his reputation with Guitar Hero pedal controllers http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 2:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 10th 2008 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 10th 2008 5:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
Maybe even Crysis suits.]]>May 9th 2008 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 10th 2008 1:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/Your own pedal-board!
Now you can do whammy bar and whammy pedal at the same time]]>Jun 24th 2008 5:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Bullet-Electric-Guitar-with-Tremolo?sku=517304
Squier Bullet: $100
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Valve-Junior-Combo-Amp?sku=480260
Epiphone Valve Junior Combo: $150
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hal-Leonard-Classic-Rock-Easy-Rhythm-Guitar-Series-Volume-2-Book-CD?sku=910049
Books: $22

Actually being able to play the guitar: Priceless.]]>May 9th 2008 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
It's not about the money or being able to play an actual guitar in this case. Its most likely about being able play a game by yourself or with friends just like anyone else. ]]>May 9th 2008 3:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/Actually being able to have fun with GH: awesome
being able to do both without being a condescending toolbag: i'll give you five bucks if you can manage.]]>May 9th 2008 3:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
Well Said. I did, however, like Ryan's remark, even though I agree with Jordan and Brendan, as I, too, play the guitar, and love it.]]>May 9th 2008 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
I just really think kids would be a ton better off if they played instruments instead of video games.

When did it become cooler to be skilled at playing a video game where you pretend to play rock guitar than to actually play rock guitar?

Guitar Hero is alright, and I understand it has turned a lot of kids onto playing actual guitar, but this particular piece of hardware aside, you have to admit that people get a little obsessive about it. Like the guy who rewired his controller to play automatically (what's the point!?!?) so he could beat his son at the game, and so forth.

If you look at the comment "A few hundred hours" to master Guitar Hero, you can't compare that to playing Dragonforce. Playing Dragonforce is like the pinnacle of hand coordination, and isn't the lowest threshold for having fun playing guitar.

I took a year of lessons and practiced maybe 3-4 hours a week before I started really having fun with guitar. That's around 200 hours. But from that 200 hours I have a skill and hobby that will serve me for a lifetime, and that doesn't need an expansion pack to be a limitless learning and fun experience.

And I know several kids of no particular talent that just started playing, and with the new methods (learning tab and whatnot), are playing unbelievable stuff and playing in bands after only a few months.

If I were to start playing guitar hero, and I spent "less than a few hundred hours" playing it, I would regret that I didn't spend that time practicing, learning new songs and techniques, and just generally having a blast playing my real guitars. ]]>May 9th 2008 4:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
These games, Guitar Hero included, are not just about replicating an action, they're about replicating a whole set of experiences that only a few people can actually accomplish be it because of time, energy, talent, whatever. People play Guitar Hero not just to feel like they're playing a Guitar, but to feel like they're in the world's greatest rock band, playing they're favorite tunes.

Look, I'm a musician. I love playing music and I don't think any game will replicate that experience. But even if I decided to dedicate my whole life to being a musician I'm never going to be a rock star. Maybe you'd call that giving up but I call that realistic. I'm all right with that but once in a while I like to get up in front of stadium full of people and play Free Bird with aliens hovering above my head.

As for Ben Heck, the man is a genius. Again, the chances are that a one handed person is never going to master guitar or be a quarterback or be able to join the Delta Force. But Ben Hack is allowing them to take part in an elaborate fantasy that, while not anywhere like the real thing, allows them to have fun and dream like the rest of us.

Who knows, maybe Ben Heck can make a real guitar for disabled people?]]>May 9th 2008 7:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
"This product is made to allow people with disabilities or a lost extremity play guitar hero."

Don't ask, but I was only skim reading and I read that sentence as the product was made so that Guitar Hero could be played by the disabled or people who had lost extremities playing Guitar Hero.

I mean, maybe a little pinky stretch could do a bit of short-term damage, but jeez...]]>May 9th 2008 8:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 3:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 8:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 3:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/I only wish I had the talent and patience Ben must possess.]]>May 9th 2008 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 5:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 9th 2008 4:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/Ben is the personification of a creative genius....

he's even made a movie!!! "Port Washington" and I have to admit, its pretty fun to watch. No, it doesn't look like Hollywood. No the acting isn't perfect. But the movie is better than any movie I've ever made (none).

And, I actually like it. it's good. It's funny. I have it on my hard drive and watch it every once in awhile.

For all you haters, how many movies and/or utterly kick ass gaming devices have you made? until then, zip it. Maybe go watch a movie....like point Washington]]>May 9th 2008 8:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/May 10th 2008 6:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/09/ben-heck-maintains-his-reputation-with-guitar-hero-pedal-control/
As I was flipping through my Popular Science, I saw a little thing about Ben and his 360 laptop, which was pretty cool. Good to see him getting a little recognition for his most excellent creations.

If I can find the magazine I'll scan in the column. ]]>May 11th 2008 1:07PM