Category Archive

A very well written article (I’d go so far as to call it a creative non-fiction piece) about a game called ZT Online, which toes, and then crosses, the line from MMO to Online Gambling.

http://www.danwei.org/electronic_games/gambling_your_life_away_in_zt.php

So in my desire to throw a good party, I decided to bluff about having Rock Band for it. I have a number of friends who all have it, so I figured it wouldn’t be tough to find a copy to borrow. Only after going over the list of people in my head did I realize that all of them have it for the XBox 360, which would require them bringing the system with them to our house.

Now, I’ve wanted a copy of Rock Band, but with the holiday season and its resulting drain on finances, I have waited, but last night I decided to just go ahead and get it. If I’m going to have it for the party, I want to have a decent chunk of it unlocked (though I am sure people would have fun unlocking it as well, it would give them an added purpose). I hooked it up as soon as I finished cooking dinner (while eating it) and Tom and I played it until Melinda and Rick showed up to watch the Sarah Connor Chronicles, at which point we set up the drums and Melinda joined in (until the show started, at which point we broke for it, and then returned later).

I’m sure no one needs me to reiterate that it is awesome, but well, it is. As a vocalist, I find the amount of songs for a female to be frustrating. So far all I have found is Celebrity Skin (Hole), Paranoid (Garbage), and Maps (The Yeah Yeah Yeahs). Now, I frequently sing songs originally intended for men, but I’ve found some of the songs on the game strain my lower registers considerably. Try as I might, I just can’t go as low as it demands sometimes. Apparently, the game adjusts to whatever octave your voice falls in, so I may see what happens if I try to sing an octave higher the whole time. Results pending.

I am very glad I went for the PS3 version and not PS2. The downside of the PS3 version is that until April, we will be limited to one guitar, at which point PS3 compatible stand-alone guitars will work. The Guitar Hero guitars don’t work, and there are no others available. *But* that’s only a couple of months, and the customization in the PS3 version is incredible. Apparently the PS2 version lacks that, but you can fiddle with every little detail of your character, and perhaps it’s the chick in me, but I love fiddling with all the clothes and make-up and hair styles and face paint and such. I wish you could work on your band’s career independently, but, that’s what solo career is for.