Thanks to TechCrunch I was able to get in the Beta of a new online game called JamLegend (and you can get in the beta right now too, keep reading).Taking a page right out of Frets on Fire, you are using your keyboard’s F1-F5 keys as the frets and “Enter” to strum. While I’m a legend on plastic guitars for my console (throw ANY song and medium and I will 80% at least!), changing up to play on the keyboard actually took a few minutes to get adjusted to, but once I was in, that was all she wrote.
Though you can pick up and play “Jam Style” (see below picture), I found myself better chilling (and I would think less embarrassed if someone walked in my room).
Much like it’s consoles competitors, audience applauds when you are doing well, multipliers are present, and even a goal meter on the side helps motivate you to get better.. Everything is pretty solid and impressive for really being a full on working flash Guitar Hero type game (soon to be Rock Band type game when the Drums, Bass, and Keyboards come, which they are working on).
I have no doubts if you have the right drivers and keyboard remapping programs, you could use a Rock Band or Guitar Hero guitar in this game, however I stuck with the default keyboard style.
On top of being easily accessible and fun, one of my favorite things about this game is the music I have never heard of. I started out with a band “Blue Judy,” easily just as good as, if not better than most of the indie pop rock acts you have heard before (for example, something like The Killers).
There is a good amount of artists already available in various genres, and more to come. The makers claim to want you to be able to play any song available, but because of various copyright reasons, for now they are gladly taking in bands who would like to have their music featured in the game. with that comes links to CDBaby, iTunes, etc, so if people like what they hear, they can purchase it right from the site.
Lastly, one of the bigger selling points to this free game is the social aspect. Leaderboards against people and against yourself. When you sign in all your stats are shown and songs border the page so you can jump right into a game quickly. For the price of entrance and the potential for growth, I suggest signing up and giving this game a try. Right now the site is in Beta, so I got some invites for you, just use this link and you should be in:
http://www.jamlegend.com/register/AEF
(Get an invite while you can, “supplies are limited”.. seriously, thanks to Andrew @ JamLegend for hooking BingeGamer up. Who also left us with this little note..”..kudos to whoever can find the cowbell on their keyboard!”)
Trailer for the game.
The Bender Podcast