ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOCK BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND!

[SackAttack]

Just got home from work to discover a massive package awaiting me. My Rock Band 360 review copy is here.

It actually came in Saturday, but I went to a co-worker's basketball game and figured I'd pick up the mail today.

I'm not getting any sleep tonight.

(Yes, pics will be forthcoming...ish.)

[SirFozzie]

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCKKKKK BAAAAAAAAAAAANNNND!!!

Apparently this sucker weighs about 20 pounds altogether.

I'm picking up my copy tommorrow at 10 am when the store opens, set it up, head to work till about six, come home and rock out..

So much money going to Microsoft for the DLC (Drools)

[Crapshoot]

I honestly have no interest in this game, and I feel wierd about it. For some reason, playing music just doesn't seem like a fun game to me. Am I missing something here (honestly - I feel like everyone is in on the joke except for me).

[SackAttack]

You're a Giants fan. You're not missing the joke, you ARE the joke.

[Marc Vaughan]

I've missed the boat totally with all of the related Guitar Hero games etc.

I've 'played' them at SI for a short while before putting them down in a befuddled "ok so playing Simon says is interesting for kids but why is pressing buttons as a reaction test 'fun' ?" sort of way ...

(bear in mind I missed the dance 'craze' in a similar manner - possibly its just a natural reaction considering my natural lack of rythm ...)

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

I've 'played' them at SI for a short while before putting them down in a befuddled "ok so playing Simon says is interesting for kids but why is pressing buttons as a reaction test 'fun' ?" sort of way ...

because Simon Says won't let you play "Shout At The Devil" by Motley Crue you British nerd. sod off, you wanker.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

You're a Giants fan. You're not missing the joke, you ARE the joke.

Bastard. Seriously, sketch out the appeal of these games - I've seen my cousins play it, but it never seems to do anything for me.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

I honestly have no interest in this game, and I feel wierd about it. For some reason, playing music just doesn't seem like a fun game to me. Am I missing something here (honestly - I feel like everyone is in on the joke except for me).

admit it, Ravi, you're just itching to give Sitar Hero a try.

[SackAttack]

It's not the same for everybody. For some, it's the idea of simulating something you couldn't ever really do.

Like...most of us playing Madden football? You can pick up Guitar Hero and feel like you're playing along with a legendary rock song in reasonably short order. You know and I know that you aren't really *playing* it, but then you aren't really *playing* football when you spin up Madden, either.

I know for me, a big part of why I've enjoyed these games so much has been an introduction to new music that isn't just passive listening, combined with gaining dexterity with my submissive hand. My left hand is more useful now than it was before Guitar Hero 1 came out (which is to say, it's gone from fork-holding appendage to something marginally more useful).

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

because Simon Says won't let you play "Shout At The Devil" by Motley Crue you British nerd. sod off, you wanker.

Hahaha. That was maybe the *perfect* answer.

[Drake]

You hold your fork with your left hand? WTF?!

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Drake

You hold your fork with your left hand? WTF?!

what the hell do you cut your meat with? laser beams shooting from your eyes? right hand holds the knife.

[MJ4H]

I certainly don't get off on these kinds of games, but I did enjoy, of all things, Elite Beat Agents on DS.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Drake

You hold your fork with your left hand? WTF?!

Left hand holds the fork, right hand cuts the meat.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

I've missed the boat totally with all of the related Guitar Hero games etc.

I've 'played' them at SI for a short while before putting them down in a befuddled "ok so playing Simon says is interesting for kids but why is pressing buttons as a reaction test 'fun' ?" sort of way ...

(bear in mind I missed the dance 'craze' in a similar manner - possibly its just a natural reaction considering my natural lack of rythm ...)

I'm with you. To me, these games are tedious and boring. I have no earthly idea why they're so popular. I can see myself as a 10 year-old having fun with it for an hour or two.

Yuck.

[Raiders Army]

I'm down with this game.

[SackAttack]

Next step, set stuff up.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Left hand holds the fork, right hand cuts the meat.

I thought that's what wives were for?!

[Buccaneer]

When the posts started here about Guitar Hero awhile back, I was curious (not that I would be play a console game). However, when I saw the guitar and the buttons, it seemed unnatural to me. I wished they somehow produced a guitar with electronic fret. I can understand not doing the fingerings but not without a better simulation of the frets.

[SirFozzie]

Because Man was meant to ROCK.

Since I'm geeking out to some of the videos that I'm viewing on YouTube..

Let me just mention four songs I would love to see as DLC..

Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
We're An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad
Renegade - Styx
Badstreet USA - The Fabulous Freebirds

Yes, I know there's no chance of the last one, but still, let me dream..

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

what the hell do you cut your meat with? laser beams shooting from your eyes? right hand holds the knife.

Ok, that made me chuckle pretty good

SI

[MJ4H]

You haven't lived until you have tapped and dragged around little circles on your DS to Chicago's "You're the Inspiration" with a comic book Christmas morning scene on the other screen.

[SackAttack]

The box at the top says 'Rock Band Wired Guitar'

The pink piece of paper says "Hey, dumbass, if something doesn't work, don't return it to the store. Go to this website for more info about our 60-day hardware guarantee and to get your issue dealt with."

[SackAttack]

Turns out that plastic bag under the pink piece of paper holds the microphone. In the little bitty box to the right, you find this:



Two headphone adapters (presumably so lead singer and drummer can communicate), a power adapter for the USB hub, and in that little white box, the USB hub itself.

[SackAttack]

Final pictures before I rock out. Drums are assembled and waiting.



Guitar actually doesn't come in one molded piece; the string adjuster thing has to be put on there. Still, assembly doesn't affect the frets like it does in GH3.

[Buccaneer]

That looks like actual electronic drums. One has to physically bang on them with the music?

[Calis]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

That looks like actual electronic drums. One has to physically bang on them with the music?

Yeah, use normal sticks and all.

The drum kit is actually a somewhat accurate representation of the actual instrument, so that adds a whole new layer of cool to the equation.

Man I didn't pre-order this and somehow missed all the hype, but now I REALLY want it and I'm afraid it's going to be impossible to find a copy. This would be a perfect game to bust out at Thanksgiving dinner and get the whole family involved in.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

That looks like actual electronic drums. One has to physically bang on them with the music?

Yes. I forgot to hook up the foot pedal before taking that picture (I really should replace the pic with a new one), but yes, you bang on them.

I started on easy, because I only have two-limb coordination. I need to add that foot before I tackle something harder.

[Ironhead]

I think someone needs to check on SackAttack and make sure he didn't have a freak gardening accident.

[thealmighty]

Originally Posted by Drake

I thought that's what wives were for?!

Different meat, there.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Ironhead

I think someone needs to check on SackAttack and make sure he didn't have a freak gardening accident.

I've been playing on World Band Tour with my brother for the last, what...three and a half, four hours?

I'm only here because my back insists I take a break.

[Icy]

As a "real guitar" player for years in a "real" rock band, i have zero interest on this game as i feel guitar/bass playing is too dumbed down with just a few buttons pressing at the right time, nothing compared to playing a real guitar, but i understand that for those who feel unable to play a real guitar (believe me, you CAN do it), this could be really fun.

The drum kit playing looks more real, and if you need to play it like a real drum, then that could be way funnier and realistic than the button pressing guitar.

The only fun i could see in this game myself is to make fun as a party game, exactly like i see the wii sports games, perfect to play with your kids or with drunk friends but too simple to play solo.

[Groundhog]

I'm also a real guitar player (well, bass, at least ) and I think the game is a lot of fun. I find a lot of other musicians look down at this game thinking much like you do, but when they give it a shot they tend to come around. It's not a "musician simulator", it's a "dance dance revolution"-esque video game.

I mean, there are more than a couple of songs in GH 1 and 2 that I struggle with on expert level, yet I can play them flawlessly on actual guitar or bass.

[Neon_Chaos]

I'm glad for you SA, it's going to be a fun holidays in your house, I'm sure.

Thank god all this commotion passed through Asia a good 10 years ago, and is now a completely "been there, done that fad", what with Konami releasing Guitar Freakz, DrumMania and Beatmania alongside Dance Dance Revolution.

I remember back in high school when me and my pals would spend the nights playing Guitar Freakz, Beatmania, and Keyboard Freakz all hooked up together in the arcade... ugh.

Of course, the subsequent PS2 releases of the above titles did me no favors during college. It's nice to see the entire thing has caught on in the States the past couple of years.

[Neon_Chaos]

dola, IIRC, GuitarFreakz is up to it's 11th or 12th iteration already. Not sure though.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

because Simon Says won't let you play "Shout At The Devil" by Motley Crue you British nerd. sod off, you wanker.

Truly random divergence from thread - I didn't think that most Americans knew what wanker meant? (I had to explain the term to my sister in law and father in law if you wonder why I have this opinion, maybe they just didn't get out much?).

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

PS - I didn't think that most Americans knew what wanker meant?

in HA's case, I'd say monkey see, monkey do

FM

[Butter]

A musician friend of mine agrees... if you learn to play the drums along with these songs at a high level, you're pretty damn close to being able to actually play the drums, period.

[Raiders Army]

I'm so sending my wife out to get this today.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Truly random divergence from thread - I didn't think that most Americans knew what wanker meant? (I had to explain the term to my sister in law and father in law if you wonder why I have this opinion, maybe they just didn't get out much?).

i'm global. i can jive with most any person i meet. if we were both in england right now we'd order a couple bitters and maybe try to bugger a couple girls (providing we were both single, which we're not).

bullocks.

[SirFozzie]

Went and picked up the game. Only had time to set up the drums and try
Dead or Alive (once on Medium, 2nd time on easy).. but so far.. so awesome.. I''m stuck at work till 6 though, damnit

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

i'm global. i can jive with most any person i meet. if we were both in england right now we'd order a couple bitters and maybe try to bugger a couple girls (providing we were both single, which we're not).

bullocks.

Have some crisps and then ask for the water closet.

[cartman]

Hey, HA,

It's 'bollocks' you poofter.

[hawk4669]

The wife just brought our big box home. I'm glad I married a girl that is both a gamer AND a music lover.

Cheers!

[Pumpy Tudors]

How much space do the drums take up? I really want this game, but my gaming space is limited. It'll be even more limited in a week or so when the Christmas tree goes up.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

How much space do the drums take up? I really want this game, but my gaming space is limited. It'll be even more limited in a week or so when the Christmas tree goes up.

You need to get your priorities straight, mister. A Christmas tree is only up for a few weeks, but playing Rock Band lasts a lifetime.

[SirFozzie]

You need some space for the install, but the finished set don't take up that much space.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

I can understand not doing the fingerings but not without a better simulation of the frets.

That's what she said...

[rkmsuf]

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog needs to attend a session of a few friends playing this game together.

[SirFozzie]

I think I'm going to order this shirt and wear it while I play Metallica



(yes, this is a Geek joke)