Well I must add that that Rock Band is a revolutionary product. With 2.5 million songs downloaded and counting - this is a REVOLUTION in the making. Never have I had so much fun and the kids are just as keen (the teengaer is playing drums now and trying to catch up with the 8 year old) ....amazing that this closes the generation gap totally...even the wife plays! I have deliberately ONLY introduced drums, as this is the closest to a real instrument as you can get in a game. On "Expert" you are pretty much really drumming (just missing the high hat and its foot pedal - a significant difference but they did have to simplify it to get broader market acceptance) and no I am far from an expert... I plan to add microphone at a later date to try and maintain my kids interest (I have reservations about the guitar is it bears no relation to the real thing). If the interest is still there after three months...it will be time to get a real drum kit and invest in some lessons... if you don't believe me that Rockband drumming is at least half way towards real levdrumming - just google Youtube Rockband Expert Drumming and watch - it is mega-difficult! |
LOL does playing in an actual band count? Of course it does...congrats on the band - any road trips planned? ....but for those "musically challenged" - Rockband is an easy way to "pretend" to play without months of lessons/practice and immediately have some fun! It is no substitute for the real thing. The drums are at most about "halfway" towards real drumming.... |
Got Guitar Hero III for the kids for Christmas, although the wife says I really got it for myself. Anyway, got through "easy" fairly quickly, then passed muster on Medium. Got through the 1st bunch of songs on Hard and pretty much have turned the game over to the kids - I'm done Good for you Bob. I bet the kids were ecstatic getting the present and even happier when Dad finally stopped hogging the game!! I don't have Guitar hero but from what I gather it is single player. It is also with "fake" guitars. Rock Band uses "fake" guitars too but it also allows for a drum set and vocals. Furthermore you can all play together simultaneously as a "band": lead guitar, bass guitar, lead singer and drums...this is the aspect of Rock Band that is quite revolutionary (along with the downloadable material) ....particularly the drums (which are the least fake and approximate the real thing). Chances are your kids will soon demand RockBand if they are at all into Guitar Hero. In case anyone might dismiss the Rock Band drums as a mere "pretend toy" like the "fake Guitars"(which are nothing like a real guitar). I suggest you take a look at this, of course this is a trained drummer playing (with 12 years of practice and a college degree in percussion)...nevertheless it ain't a perfect score....it is that difficult!!! One thing I forgot to mention ....as an audiophile you can hook the game up to your main system, crank it, and eliminate the ugly pitter patter background sound of the sticks on the electronic drum pads (ugly sound heard on the video and unavoidable when using just the TV speakers). Better still, you can rock the entire house and drive the Wife absolutely NUTS...for some this may be even more rewarding than achieveing a high score! BTW- I have two daughters and they absolutely love drumming on Rockband....so perhaps, one day, they will drive their husband NUTS....or maybe that is a given anyway ;-) |
