http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/08/like-rock-band-dont-bother-with-latest-christian-version-jamband/
| Like Rock Band? Don’t bother with latest Christian version, JAMband Posted: 14 Aug 2009 05:58 PM PDT
I know that after some people see the commercials for JAMBand, Cloud 9’s upcoming video game release, they are going to run out and buy it. I imagine the commercial will go something like this: Announcer: Does seeing your heathen friends rock out to songs on Rock Band by Jimi Hendrix and Tokio Hotel make you upset? Kids: Yeah! Announcer: Don’t fear, a Christian replacement will soon be here. It’s called JAMband. Kids: JAMband? Cool. Mom, can we get it? Please???!!!! Okay, maybe the commercial will be a little different, but the underlying message will be the same: “Attention all Christians, we have “Christianized” Rock Band, so you should go out and buy it. Kind of ridiculous, don’t you think? First of all, we’ve been there and done that with Guitar Praise, the Christian clone of Guitar Hero. Why are Christians always coming out with Christian methadone—a substitute for something that world has? From the clip I saw of JAMband on the Cloud 9 Games Web site, it looks identical to Guitar Hero or Rock Band–faux instruments, rainbow frets and all. The only differences that I see are that the game is only available for the PC and it features the usual lineup of Christian rock stars — Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, Rebecca St. James, Chris Tomlin. Yep, this game features the same old songs by the same old people. Since Rock Band is all about “rocking out in a band.” Wouldn’t some old school Larry Norman, Petra or even some U2 have been more appropriate for JAMband? Then there’s the game’s setup. I don’t know about everyone else, but playing a Rock Band clone on my PC is not going to work for me. I know some people keep their computers in their living rooms, but I’m not wheeling mine out of my office just to play along to Christian rock standards. Even the name of the game itself is problematic. MTV Games is also coming out with a game for Guitar Hero around Christmastime called Jam Band. It may be a coincidence, but it draws attention to the heart of the matter: Christians need to stop trying to be like the world. If the developers and programmers at Cloud 9 really wanted to, I’m sure they couldn’t have come up with something so excellent that it would have eclipsed that which is in the world—Rock Band. But as it stands now, JAMband is “just alright.” It’s at the level of mediocrity to which we Christians have become accustomed. Since it’s “just alright,” I’m just going to leave it at the store and wait for some Christian to come out with something better. For more information: From a Cloud 9 press release: JAMband is software designed for Windows personal computers with Windows 7, Vista or XP. With an MSRP of only $49.95, JAMband provides a positive and entertaining alternative to some of the mainstream video games with disturbing content, so parents can relax while their kids have a blast. JAMband will hit the stores August 25th, and pre-buys are currently available at selected Christian retail stores. North American retailers can contact EMI CMG Distribution at 1-800-877-4443. For international sales, please contact Cloud 9 Games, Inc. directly at Info@cloud9games.com. |
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