Enter, Rock Band. The first video game where you and your friends can get together and rock out to songs like “Mississippi Queen,” “Rockaway Beach” and more. It is probably the coolest way to spend a Tuesday night.
This Rock Band obsession of mine came about approximately three weeks ago. Everyone in Maine Roller Derby knows that I am a Guitar Hero fanatic, but I am too cheap to go out a buy a console for a game I barely have time to play. A fellow derby girl recently purchased a Playstation3 and Rock Band, and told me that if I liked Guitar Hero, I would “FREAK OUT” about Rock Band.
So, one night after derby practice, I headed over to her house to try it out. There, I found my true calling. The game comes with a guitar, drums and a microphone. Each person has a job in the band, and you play by matching the “notes” flying across the screen with the “notes” on the guitar or drums, or by singing along with the octaves displayed above.
I assumed that I would enjoy the guitar the most, so I quickly stole it from its previous owner — and just as quickly determined that I was terrible compared to him. Not wanting to sing in front of everyone, I took a stab at the drums.
One tip about playing Rock Band: You need to have rhythm. If you don’t, you are screwed. Luckily, I do, and after a few minutes I got the hang of it. I immediately called my boyfriend and told him that we had to either a) Buy a PS3 or b) Join Punchy’s rock band and go on world tour.
He opted for the latter, so we now have a standing date on Tuesday night for “band practice.” I play the drums, my boyfriend plays the guitar, Greasy plays the bass and Punchy sings. We named our band “Team Awesome” and are currently playing gigs nationwide (on PS3) and earning fans and money. It is epic and amazing and awesome. But, we are still only on the easy level.
Our goal: To get good enough at Rock Band to join the hardcores at Fore Play on Tuesday nights. Each Tuesday, Fore Play has a Rock Band competition, which my friends are currently winning. I must beat them and prove my ultimate coolness. I must.
PS3 is available nationwide for $399. You can purchase the Rock Band set for $169 at most retailers, which includes the game, drums, microphone and single guitar. Additional guitars can be purchased separately, and you can hook up to six different instruments at once. If your friends also have Rock Band and an internet connection, you can hook into the PS3 network and have a true battle of the bands.
I love technology.
Melissa Harris is currently employed as a technical quality assurance manager in South Portland. In her spare time she plays for Maine Roller Derby, does web and print design and basically never sleeps.