It’s Called Fun

Okay, look. Many of you know that myself and Mark are way into Guitar Hero and Rock Band… well, not so much Guitar Hero since Rock Band came out, but this applies to both. All of you that give us crap about playing this game, saying things like “that is so lame” or “how old are you, five?” or “why not just do it for real?” or “you guys are stupid, and not real rockers.” Well, I have one word for the naysayers: FUN. And I feel ridiculous having to defend something that’s done for fun against people, but I guess I need to anyways.

First and foremost, we know we are not real rock stars. While it would be nice, we don’t have the time, equipment, money, and (arguably) the talent to be so. Instead, we play on plastic instruments in my living room. Whatever, if you can’t do it for real, you may as well do it in a game, the same reason people play first person shooters, flight simulators, racing games, and the plethora of other types of video games out there.

Secondly, to all of you who say that these games are for kids, stupid, and a waste of time, I’m willing to bet you’ve never played them. Seriously, I’ve had people make fun of me for playing these games when they first came out, only to come back later and tell me how much fun they had playing them, and how awesome it was.

Thirdly, since we aren’t rock stars, nor have immediate plans of becoming rock stars, it’s a good escape from our normal lives of running big machines and dealing with depressed, drug-addicted, cross-dressing, mentally disturbed youth. So sue us, we like to kick back a few beers and rock out a stadium once in a while without leaving home. Again, we know it’s just a game, but it’s a fun game.

I know though, a whole setup of two guitars, microphone, and drum kit may seem excessive. Well, if not for these plastic instruments, we’d be sitting on the couch pressing the controller buttons. That’s even lamer. What is excessive, however, is the Rock Band Stage Kit that will sell for 99 dollars which includes lights and a fog machine, pictured here, that was leaked on gamestop.com as being slated for release in June of 08. That is ridiculous, but with interactive lights and smoke, I can’t guarantee that I won’t be in line for it.

And to prove that Rock Band is fun, I’ve actually got a video I’m in the process of editing together of a “practice sess” we all had the other day at the Marriott in a banquet room… oh yes, screen projector, big sound, and beers. It was awesome. Also, I recently got a webcam that I’m working on setting up so that you guys could even watch us live next time we practice. And yes, we’ll take requests.