The coming DJ games: a deluge of wannabes in the making?

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
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The coming DJ games: a deluge of wannabes in the making?

Hey everyone. I’ve only lurked a little bit and posted less, but I thought I’d share something that I’ve been mulling over in my head a while.

Ean’s latest blog posting made me jump on getting this out there.

Is anyone else concerned what the new DJ rhythm games (Scratch/DJ Hero) are going to do to the world of digital DJing?

Hear me out on this one… Look at Guitar Hero. Endless arguments about how “really playing the guitar” was nothing like the game. Crazy amounts of people picking up real guitars and learning to play because of the game. Certain bands and music associated with guitar and popularized as a result (i.e. “Cliffs of Dover” being a guitar aficionado song) And let’s not forget, if you started playing guitar after Guitar Hero came out, you were labeled a sheep.

Do I think something similar will happen? Maybe. The success of the games is really what that depends on. But I’m mentioning this because as digital DJs we’re really at the entry point for a lot of the run-off from this crowd of gamers that want to take it to “the next level.” They’ll most likely see the lower end Numark, Vestax, and Hercules controllers (as well as a familiar concept, interfacing with a computer instead of working off of vinyl or CDJs) as a segue into DJ fame and fortune…

I know that a lot of “Learn to DJ” books (well, the good ones anyway) start off with a warning: “don’t DJ for fame or to be cool. Do it because you love the music” or something of that matter. I’m thinking that the sheer force of making the DJ’s technical world seem accessible to the mainstream will be enough to overcome this caveat and stream lots of new people in that don’t share this passion.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw an explosion of new digital DJs by Christmas of this year because of the games, and them wanting to get started with some actual DJ kit.

Hold on, I think I hear several thousand people playing Benny Benassi in Traktor LE…

I know I’m very new (only been doing this about 3 months now) and hardly have any place to feel grizzled, annoyed, or condescending with any other newcomers. But, I thought I’d ask the community here your thoughts, fears, predictions, whatever, when it comes to this.

DJ games: good for the community, bad for the community?

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It’s a game who cares . If it inspires someone to actually learn the art then great . Real life has no cheat codes though .

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Well, yeah, it is just a game. I was just wondering about if anyone was anticipating this really catapulting DJing (combined with an easier than ever learning curve from the new controllers coming out) into the mainstream? I know to a certain extent it’s always been there… But equipment costs and practicality kept it out of reach to many… Seems those restrictions are fast evaporating.

I’m not saying that’s a good or a bad thing, more people appreciating the art makes for a bigger pool to learn from, and more variety.

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I think it has more to do with the music that isn’t coming out for the masses than the video games that are coming out . I’m basically saying the music coming out today that most kids find through the usual avenues is lacking something that inspires people to pick up a guitar or go out and buy decks but they do have these video games that get them excited to learn a new craft . I’m not saying there is no great music coming out now because there totally . But I would have to say there is no popular music out today that would really inspire me to go out and buy a guitar or buy Traktor and a controller or decks but an entertaining simulation just might .

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i wannabe a dj

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You need to put yourself in a microwave for 5min on high

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Thats the way i did it! totally works!

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Meh.

If people want to be DJs because they play this game then I hope they rock the fuck out. If someone walks up to me in a club and says “I totally got 5 stars on Expert on DJ Hero. I should spin here” I’ll just laugh my ass off.

Just like if anyone were to say the same thing in reference to Guitar Hero. But if it inspires them to pick up a VCI (or whatever) and work their asses off then good on them.

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Games can’t teach you to have a developed taste in music, and at the end of the day that’s what seperates the men from the boys dj wise.

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if they are popular and “news worthy” then they are good for everyone, good for the game market, good for the dj market, good for the snobs with their nose in the air looking down on people market, good for the haters, good for the peeps on this forum that like to answer newbie questions that might more and more start with: “so i have been playing this DJ game and i really want to get started with real DJing, where should i start” etc. etc.

I’m sure there is a thread a mile long on every holier then thou dj forum where internet superstars are getting their one liners in.

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Yeah, I was sick and tired of people being elitist about guitar after the Guitar Hero games made a big splash…

But I’m thinking after seeing more of these replies that when it comes to DJing, it really is a matter of “the more the merrier.” More collaboration, more exploration, more competition, etc.

I wonder if this will change the DJ culture though, linking it almost directly with the huge second coming of games in popular culture.

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I don’t think anything will change. I think that the culture will stay exactly the same, there will just be more people getting discouraged.

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that’s a terrible idea!

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I totally agree. Sure they can pick up a controller and crossfade/do some scratching, but a good DJ has a set that really stands out and really pleases the crowd.

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That’s exacly the way i think ! Offcourse alot will try and fail but that doesn’t matter, the good ones will stay and who knows inspire other ones with their new creative idea’s they build up during their lurning curve.

I myself am a starter and i just love hearing other people’s mixing skills specially on the VCI-100 because i’m also getting that one offcourse :slight_smile: That way i can hear what should all be possible with alot of practice.

Anyway, i’m not getting that DJ game !
Love playing some guitar hero drinking with some friends though :smiley:

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I don’t see what the big deal is. Sure, it’ll probably change the way people look at DJing and DJs in much the same way guitar hero/rock band did, and sure, it will probably bring in droves of tone-deaf morons who thing they’re going to be the next (insert famous DJ of your choice here).

But the point is: who cares? You shouldn’t be mixing music because it makes you better than people who don’t know how, you should be mixing because its something you enjoy doing it. And if somebody else having fun makes it not fun for you, well then its your loss.

Less complaining and more practicing, imo. That’s what I’m off to do.

Cheers, all. Have fun. :3

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Tiesto. They’ll want to be Tiesto.

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Everytime something cool is adapted into videogames there´s these arguments. remember all those wannabe skaters when tony hawk came out? Anybody notice a rise in edm-dj numbers when dj decks&fx came out for the ps2 in the 90´s?

Done wrong these games are giving a blurred picture off what its really about. On the other hand i feel like guitar hero emulated playing guitar very good.

Lets stick to the Hawk example. Tons of skaters were complaining about the unrealness etc and that kids started skating because of TH. But then came Skate for the 360, emulating skating in a whole different, more realer way, all those TH fanboys jumped off the train and the “real skaters” enjoyed a game thats fun to play in a realistic way.

And this is exactly how i feel about dj hero. Its emulating dj-ing in a cool and most importantly fun way that is also kind of realistic. I mean i allready use only 1 turntable, got my nanopad to trigger cues and effects together with a battlemixer…and watching the gameplay i know that expertmode would be the easiest for me cause its the nearest to reality with all the timing needed. And after all its just a game where you can turn your head off and just have a good time.

And i also dont expect anybody to step up to the booth claiming their great djs cause they rule a game. i mean come on, i wouldnt wanna compete with Ballack allthough im really good at fifa09.

Surely there will be tons off people getting equipment and starting to dj, but those will see that it takes more than dj-hero skillz to compete. My advise is to wait, time will tell and the bay will be full of second hand dj stuff from those that give up.

btw, i started to get interested in djing because of some old dmc footage back in 96. I´m glad that there hasnt been a similar discussion fearing all those wannabe scratchers, just imagine where we would be :smiley:

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I hadn’t thought of that. That is awesome.

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I played guitar hero once and thought wtf

why :roll_eyes: never again what a boring game :smiley: