Joey Lewandowski contributes his thoughts on the video game that changed the way people rock.

It might sound weird to some people, but an overwhelming majority of the music I listen to stems from either Guitar Hero or, more recently, Rock Band.

To everyone who sees these games as a waste of time: You’re missing the point.

I don’t play these games to learn how to play guitar. I play them to have fun, and I play them to open myself to worlds of music into which I’ve never invested any time.

For one reason or another, up until the time I got to Ramapo, I never had an appreciation for music. It’s not that I never had a chance to do so – I’d rather just play sports or watch a movie.

Fast forward to April 2007, when I get Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360. I fell in love with artists like the Allman Brothers, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, the Police, Rush and Van Halen. Aside from enjoying playing the games, it was the timeless music that got me hooked into the music / rhythm genre and keeps me coming back, release after release.

The Get Down recently covered Project Playlist: The Beatles, because most of my appreciation of the Beatles came from The Beatles: Rock Band. Sure, I probably “should” have heard it before, but I didn’t. So what? Now I have.

Most recently, playing Rock Band has introduced me to Jimi Hendrix. I’ve meant to start listening to him, but for one reason or another, I never did. The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Axis: Bold as Love just came out in its entirety (save for “EXP”), and playing it is helping me catch up on this glaring hole in my music appreciation.

Also, anticipating a game is almost more fun than getting the game. Traditionally, songs are leaked in the months leading up to the game’s release. This lets me listen to the songs and delve deeper into a band’s discography if the song catches my ear. I might never have heard of the Stone Roses had “She Bangs the Drums” not found its way into Guitar Hero III. Sure, the version in the game was a god-awful cover, but hearing that one song was enough for me to check out both of the band’s albums. I can’t wait to find new bands I’ll love in the next few months as I wait for Rock Band 3’s Holiday 2010 release.

The last note I want to make is maybe the most important: at the beginning of March, Harmonix (the company that makes Rock Band) released the Rock Band Network on the Xbox 360. This allows bands to get their music in the game without being picked by Harmonix. More and more indie / niche bands will find their way into living rooms across the country.

Who said these games were a waste of time?