Video game phenomena Guitar Hero and Rock Band have launched a plastic rock revolution.And their legions of loyal followers are also becoming fans of the computerized concerts’ set lists — mainly classic rock. USA Today and The New York Times have both reported Neilsen SoundScan data that showed skyrocketing song sales for bands played in the games such as Aerosmith, Cheap Trick and Kiss. The impact is even felt locally.Taylor Sullivan, music buyer for the Compact Disc Store, said he has seen an increase in young customers buying classic albums in the most recent few of his 10 years at the store. On occasion, he hears customers mention the games.”It has turned people onto music that they might not have ordinarily listened to,” Sullivan said. Sullivan said he likes that Guitar Hero helps keep the        classics alive, but he wishes it didn’t have to be through a game he finds “kind of silly.””Honestly, I think it’s a real half-assed way for somebody to feel like they’re playing an instrument without doing it,” Sullivan said.Sullivan, a drummer, shares the sentiment of many classic rock fans and musicians: Kids may make the transition from video gamer to rock fan, but not from rock fan to rock musician, like former generations did.”In a way, it kind of deteriorates musicians,” said Chad Gregory, architecture senior.A guitarist who recently got into these rhythm games, Gregory said he just laughs when people say, “Oh my God, you’re so good at Guitar Hero.” “Well, pick up a real guitar,” Gregory said of his reply. “See how hard that is. It’s a lot harder.”Sullivan said the plastic instrument-shaped controllers are too parent-friendly compared to the real pieces. Playing Rock Band is not playing in a rock band, and a $60 controller can pacify a son or daughter pushing for a real $500 guitar, he said.”Parents can use that as sort of a Band-Aid that they can put on their kids to just shut them up,” Sullivan said. “[They think] ‘Here, just play your Guitar Hero, and that will suffice so you won’t complain about wanting a real instrument.'” Drew Galloway, manager at Pluckers, said the crowd at their recent Guitar Hero nights consisted of some wanting Guitar Hero glory, some wanting to play after a few drinks and some not wanting to play at all — at first.”I’ve seen people who were real musicians who came in, and they’re like ‘I hate this game. It’s ruining music,'” Galloway said. “And then after they realize it’s getting people into different kinds of music, they’re like, ‘Oh, it makes sense now.'”Sullivan accepts it too. “Even if I think the medium it’s coming through is kind of dumb … it’s awesome that people are still getting exposed to that stuff and getting exposed to things that are new to them,” Sullivan said.In addition to the games, he said today’s technology gives younger generations an advantage his generation didn’t have.The 32-year-old said he’s old enough to remember having to raid his uncle’s record collection to get hold of old rock ‘n’ roll LPs. He said kids today should appreciate the luxury of having the music find them, via video games and Internet.He gives games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band credit not just for getting younger audiences into good music, but for perhaps also steering them away from the remaining subpar entertainment choices offered today.”Don’t go home and watch ‘American Idol’ tonight … Don’t listen to that Britney Spears record,” Sullivan said. “Listen to Queen.”- – – -Contact Julie Gutierrez at [email protected]