DJ Hero

I saw the ad for DJ Hero (featuring Daft Punk) tonight, and couldn't help but think how much more sense this makes than Guitar Hero. To be sure, Guitar Hero (and its cousin, Rock Band) are a blast to play, but the guitars and drum sets still feel like toys, both in their physical shape, and in the unnatural way you play them. You don't *actually* feel like you are playing those instruments, because the input-to-sound just doesn't match up. But with the console in DJ Hero, you're playing the instrument--with the exception of physically spinning the vinyl--the way it was meant to be played: by manipulating buttons and switches that send out electrical impulses for a heady end result. I'm of course only speculating about the game play, but there's just something about the human/machine interaction afforded by this game that seems natural. If electronic music was ever meant to be natural, that is. Here's to fingers crossed for an Autechre edition; I couldn't imagine trying to play along to Draft 7.30.