My obession... Rock Band.

 If you've talked to me recently, then you know that I'm all about Rock Band.  It's been a long courtship, so let me catch everyone up.

About two and a half years ago, Rock Band was super-popular.  I was kinda out of the loop, as I often am.  But I heard about the game and I thought "Well, geez, that sounds perfectly stupid.  Playing with silly plastic instruments.  And you havta pay like $150 to get in on the action.  (Game plus accoutrement).  I'll pass, thank you very much."  So, I continued on happily for a while, until I think that it was labor day weekend of 2008.  (I can't remember the exact time, but I know that I went up to Philly and Joy was back at home with Sam.  So, I think that this was the weekend, since that was wedding-palooza '08.  But that's a story for another time.  The important thing is that I need to get my blog on more recently so that I can track such super-important times in my life - not all of the weddings, mind you - but the meeting of Rock Band.  Cue Ben saying that blog of silly loads of nonsense.  Anyway, so let's call it May of 2008.)

So, after one of the many weddings, we went back to Joe's place to play some Rock Band.  I suppressed rolling my eyes since I figured that hang out time was more important than actually what we were doing.  So, they fired up the PS3 and brought out the instruments.  I had no desire to really play, but they needed a bassist, so I said what the heck.  We played a Weezer song or two and I was hooked.  Holy cow is this a brilliant idea for a game!  Have your favorite songs play while pretending to play along!  Absolutely brilliant!  Needless to say, we played until the wee hours of the morning.

(I am definitely reminded of this xkcd comic in this story.)

I came home after the sojourn and told Joy just how freaking awesome it was.  However, being a cheap bastard, I didn't immediately run out and buy it.  Funny side story - Bill was at Joe's place that night too.  Apparently, Bill and family had played for the first time a few months earlier at Joe's place and had liked the game so much he went out and bought it for the XBox the next day. 

Fast forward to that Christmas.  Joy had asked me what I wanted and I smart-assedly said Rock Band.  It was a bit out of budget, but I figured maybe she could hold up a liquor store to finance it.  (Hey - love makes you do crazy things.)  So, Christmas day rolls around and we exchange gifts and we're all happy.  Then, joy hands me this little box as my last gift.  I open it and it's got a USB microphone in it with a note that says "Help, my friends have been kidnapped!  Rock Band, drums and guitar are upstairs when you're ready to rock out."  Need I say it?  Great fake out and best wife ever.  Here's the kicker though.  We are about to leave to head up north (ironically) in like 2 hours.  So, I don't get to play it until I get back.  Still, pretty freaking awesome.

Over the next few years, I'm totally sold on Rock Band.  I'm currently waiting on getting another guitar in the mail (I've got three right now - two RB1 guitars, and 1 RB2 guitar - again, this is a story for another time), and I picked up The Beatles Rock Band and most recently Green Day Rock Band.  Still working my way through the latter.  But damn, is this a good franchise.  And, apparently with RB3, there is going to be a Keytar peripheral.  A keytar!!  How freaking great is this????

A couple great things that I really dig about Rock Band:

• I can play it with Joy.  I know, kinda silly, but I enjoy playing games with people and Joy's not exactly a hard core gamer.  Plus, it fulfills the quality time that couples always need.
• I think that it's given me a better appreciation for music.  For example, I never really cared all that much (or even heard) about Sir Paul's contributions to the Beatles.  Now, I can really appreciate that he did really good, though under appreciated, work.
• Sam is starting to get into the act!  He's actually requested the drums and likes to play on them!  (Also, he turned to Joy the other night and said "Do you want to play my game?"  Joy said "Sure, sweetie - what game?"  To which Sam replied "Rock Star!")
• It's just great mindless entertainment.  I spend all day thinking and this is a great way to unwind at the end of the day.

The only thing that I'm curious about is whether I'm missing anything not playing Guitar Hero?  (But thank you very much Nintendo, none of your peripherals are compatible.  I've got a Nintendo rant up my sleeve for another time, don't you worry....)