Rock Band

[wendybeth]

I'm sorta curious as to how I'd do on drums- I played them in school and still remember all the fundamentals, but I think I'd probably stink just slightly less than I do on the Girl's Guitar Hero.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

My brother has an XBox 360 and he just picked up the Rock Band kit. We got to play it this week and it is awesome! The fun of everyone playing their seperate instrument together at once is a totally new experience in "gaming". I have to admit I loved singing, even if I didn't know the words. I got to bark out the Beastie Boys "Sabotage", fumble through yet another Red Hot Chili Peppers song about California, trill the Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Maps", sing one of my angsty-youth songs, Nirvana's "In Bloom", and totally rock out.

The drums are a kick to play as well, and the usual guitar and bass are made better by the whole concept. We swapped around instruments for quite a while - too much fun.

If you have an XBox or PS3 you should totally consider getting this...it just kicks so much ass.

Preachy response alert:

I don't have Rock Band, but I have Stage Play. Each person gets a "script" or "part," and you can swap. You can play an entire game or just set it to go level by level or "scene" by "scene." There's also a "solitaire" or "monologue" setting for when you're alone. It's quite a challenge to make your on-screen character perform realistically. You get a real sense of how hard it is for professional actors to give realistic performances in movies like Shrek. If you buy Stage Play, don't get the kid's version, because those omit the "coed dressing room" and "cast party" levels.

My other favorite game is "Dinner Party." Each controller represents a guest. The difficulty levels are determined by the topic of conversation, and the tone of the party you wish to maintain. For example, a non-controversial topic and a genial atmosphere are pretty easy, but that level gets boring pretty quickly. The toughest, of course, is to navigate a controversial topic while maintaining good will and mutual respect. I haven't mastered it yet.

Anyway, I've always liked video games as much as the next guy, at least in bars, and I'm sure Rock Band is fun. Nonetheless, it's a bit of a head scratcher. Playing music isn't like being an astronaut or a Norse warrior. Any adult who wants to act like they're playing an instrument should probably just go take music lessons.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I don't have Rock Band, but I have Stage Play. Each person gets a "script" or "part," and you can swap.

Switched gender Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, will always be a favorite of mine...

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Preachy response alert:

Did you write this while chasing kids off your lawn?

Maybe you should try it before you knock it. I'm not saying that hours spent on gaming could easily be spent better elsewhere...much like TV watching or cruising the internet...but that this game is a) fun and b) effortless in comparison to learning to play an instrument, or rather, in comparison to getting you and all your friends to learn to play instruments.

You do....like music, right?

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Did you write this while chasing kids off your lawn?

Do you have CC&Rs? That's a great game.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

effortless in comparison to learning to play an instrument.

Not that hard. Certainly no harder than living with a real woman as opposed to a love doll.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

You do....like music, right?

I'm somewhere between Alex and the rest of y'all on this, and probably closer to Alex. I like to play it. I like to dance to it. I'm basically a word guy, so if I'm going to listen to it, it has to be something where I can understand the lyrics. That said, the current crop of female vocalists droning on in dizzy voices about mundane relationship details leaves me very cold.

I recognize it's probably a bit of a character flaw. I just can't get into the self-surrender that seems to be called for to be a music fan as opposed to a fan of any other art form.

[Peachy Keen]

ROFL@where topic has headed.
Truthfully, I think learning to play an instrument is a honorable endeavor, but the games are fun. Good if you want to waste some time in an enjoyable way.
BTW, there is a game called "Cooking Mama," does this go along with "Dinner Party?"

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Preachy response alert:

I don't have Rock Band, but I have Stage Play. Each person gets a "script" or "part," and you can swap. You can play an entire game or just set it to go level by level or "scene" by "scene." There's also a "solitaire" or "monologue" setting for when you're alone. It's quite a challenge to make your on-screen character perform realistically. You get a real sense of how hard it is for professional actors to give realistic performances in movies like Shrek. If you buy Stage Play, don't get the kid's version, because those omit the "coed dressing room" and "cast party" levels.

My other favorite game is "Dinner Party." Each controller represents a guest. The difficulty levels are determined by the topic of conversation, and the tone of the party you wish to maintain. For example, a non-controversial topic and a genial atmosphere are pretty easy, but that level gets boring pretty quickly. The toughest, of course, is to navigate a controversial topic while maintaining good will and mutual respect. I haven't mastered it yet.

Anyway, I've always liked video games as much as the next guy, at least in bars, and I'm sure Rock Band is fun. Nonetheless, it's a bit of a head scratcher. Playing music isn't like being an astronaut or a Norse warrior. Any adult who wants to act like they're playing an instrument should probably just go take music lessons.

The way you wrote this up totally put a smile on my face. Which is quite an achievement for a curmudgeonly post. So well done

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I'm sorta curious as to how I'd do on drums- I played them in school and still remember all the fundamentals, but I think I'd probably stink just slightly less than I do on the Girl's Guitar Hero.

Paradiddle?
Flamadiddle?
Swiss Army Triplets?
Match grip or Traditional?

Geek boy was 6 years on the snare line in HS and college. Can ya tell?

Ha! I never knew you for a "stick".

[Not Afraid]

Ahhhhhh, memories! Steve, you play Honey, ok?

That was a beautiful post SL!


Old Person Alert:

Remember when we used to play imagination games without a game consul? That was fun!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Ahhhhhh, memories! Steve, you play Honey, ok?

That was a beautiful post SL!


Old Person Alert:

Remember when we used to play imagination games without a game consul? That was fun!

Anyone with a Bluetooth Borg implant shouldn't knock technology in any form