[old man down]

A Grateful Dead video game is in the works.

Independent game developer Curious Sense has been given the go-ahead to use any of the band's archival materials -- including live recordings, album art and video or film footage -- for the project, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Rhino Entertainment set up the deal, which stipulates that the game cannot have any references to drugs.

Developers are aiming for a summer release date for the game, which is intended to draw new fans to the band. Curious Sense founder Adam Blumenthal told the Journal, "They [the surviving band members and Rhino] really want the Dead to be part of a music curriculum that starts with kids getting into Led Zeppelin in the 8th grade."

[steve]

I was just reading about it. Here's the full article: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/01/ ... videogame/

[UncleSam]

Rhino Entertainment set up the deal, which stipulates that the game cannot have any references to drugs."

WHAT!? No drugs... Whats the game about again? Ha JK but really what is the game about... Trading glass beads for tees in the parking lot? Again JK but i really hope its a decent portrayal of what heady culture and the music is really about...

[jackr]

I know it is not all about drugs but can anyone really say that drugs were not part of the equation? Umm Capt Tripps? How can that part be left out of the game. -- Unless you are supposed to be on acid while playing the game.

[UncleSam]

I mean it says right in the article there will be no colecting lsd as you move about the parking lot... for them to even say that in the article is incinuating that LSD was in fact a part of the dead. hopefully there is some abstract elements to the game that add a mystical effect to it. I mean i know acid isnt good for everyone, but im 21 and my first time at a festival was at an ekoostic hooka hookah in the hills with melvin seals n JGB. LSD was a big part of that experiance and ive never looked at music the same way again. especially live music. Witch is why I love GD. and lsd.

[mttourpro]

Kind of ridiculous to try to pick one song to define the GD......

http://www.curioussense.com/gratefuldead/

[anniebing]

i get why they’d keep overt drug references out if the target is younger players, and honestly the music and the visuals alone could carry it. a game that teaches you to listen for what the band is doing night to night could be pretty cool, more “choose your setlist and react” than “score points”. i laughed at the parking lot bead-trading jokes, but there’s a real chance to show the community vibe without turning it into a caricature. weirdly, this thread reminded me of a buddy who kept trying to derail our jam nights by talking about https://playplinkogames.com/ and it had the same “can we stay on the music” energy. i’d be into it if it rewards deep listening the way a good tape swap used to.

[Jon S.]

>> "They [the surviving band members and Rhino] really want the Dead to be part of a music curriculum that starts with kids getting into Led Zeppelin in the 8th grade."

To push for the new game to reference drugs is, in my view, insensitive. Anyone who gets into the Dead from the game has the entire rest of the universe from which to learn more about the Dead's influences. To use a video game aimed at kids for this would be irresponsible. Thankfully, it appears the surviving band members understand this.