Since I got my repaired guitar for Rock Band (looks like there was a design flaw that they've since corrected in other shipments, thankfully), it's the only game I spend any time playing. When I hear a song that's in Rock Band come on the radio, my ears try to pick out the guitar or drum line, and I visualize the notes in the guitar line scrolling down towards me as in the videogame. It really does engage you with music in a very deep way. It's the same bond I feel with classical pieces I played when I was in the violin section of various youth orchestras.
I'm not the only one who feels that way. In just two months since Rock Band launched, players have purchased more than 2.5 million new songs to add to their game libraries! I'm responsible for at least a good 10 to 12 of those song purchases. $1.99 for a song I can play forever in the game seems entirely reasonable to me. I would love to see them allow third parties to offer songs for the game, though, as the trickle of 3 new songs a week already feels paltry (though they added some Oasis songs this week--can't wait to try my hand at those!).
This past weekend, the morning after one particular late-night Rock Band session, I found a notice hanging on my front door for a Community Violation. The box for "loud music" was checked off. At first I was perturbed, but then a certain sense of pride took hold as I realized I was still young enough to keep the neighbors up.
My one and primary complaint is that stand-alone guitars are still not available for the game, so you can't play with a full four piece band. Unless you invite over a Rock Band-playing friend who plays it on the same console as you do and is willing to bring over their guitar, you're limited to playing either guitar or bass but not both. That guitars from one game, like Guitar Hero, don't work with other games, like Rock Band, is extremely disappointing as they all use the same basic control scheme.
My only guess on this is that they rushed the game out for the holidays and couldn't ramp up production in time to have stand-alone guitars available. Forecasting in the gaming industry seems dodgy, at best. You'd think after so many years that the Nintendo Wii would be readily available, but no.
Posted by eugene at January 23, 2008 6:06 PMGH2 and GH3 controllers work with Rock Band - but Rock Band guitars don't work with Guitar Hero. at least, that is how it works for the Xbox 360. I'm not so sure about the PS3.
Posted by: Allen at January 30, 2008 8:58 AMThanks for clarifying, Allen. Sadly, I have the PS3 Rock Band, and from what I've read the GH guitars don't work with Rock Band on that platform. Activision and Harmonix and Sony could make it happen, but money is getting in the way.
I ended up going with the PS3 version instead of the XBox 360 version because the PS3 guitar is wireless and because I don't have an XBox Live account and thought I might need one to buy more songs (the PS3 has a wireless card built in so I can just buy songs through their online store).
Still a lot of fun, even minus one guitar, and I see Amazon finally has listed stand-alone Rock Band guitars, but for April 1, which is somehow apropos.
Posted by: Eugene at January 30, 2008 10:34 AMCool - it is an awesome game. There is a way to get an extra guitar for $125. Just fill out the replacement form on the Harmonix website (set up for all of the guitar hardware failures) and have them send you a new one immediately, which requires that you give them you cc#. When it arrives don't send the old one back and the charge you $125. Expensive, yes, but I know many people who have done this.
And you don't need an Xbox Live Gold account to buy content on the Xbox Live Marketplace - you can still buy items with a Silver account, which is standard when you set up your Xbox (and is free). The only difference between Silver and Gold is that Gold members can play multiplayer games on Xbox Live - but both can buy and download content, send messages, etc.
But you should get on Live! I'll send you a copy of Halo 3!
Posted by: Allen at January 30, 2008 5:21 PMAllen: thanks for clarifying! I'll have to try to connect up to XBox Live Silver, though it means I need to get my XBox connected to the net either via Ethernet or the wireless accessory, right?
I'll take you up on that Halo 3 offer--I have not tried it yet. I have yet to complete Halo 2. Playing with another person seems more fun and I don't have a videogame buddy right now.
I hear you on the Rock Band guitar. Since I had to get a replacement guitar sent to me I thought about doing what you proposed. $125 seems a bit steep to me. I think I'll wait for the stand-alone guitars. Or post to Craigslist looking for a bassist.
Posted by: Eugene at January 31, 2008 5:16 PM