Vacation

[joflasher]

First off, the vacation in Seattle rocked. We had so much fun visiting georgejas and dgr . We hiked and ate good food and played sand volleyball and ate more good food and played card games and walked in Japanese gardens and ate still more good food and saw fish FLYING through the air and walked up and down hills and steps and listened to the rocks. It was a blast.

We also got to see mh75, her Josh and their adorable daughter. Megan and kiddlet took us to the flight museum, which was pretty impressive. It helps that Boeing is the next door neighbor. We also did the underground tour one rainy afternoon and learned how Seattle was built with layers of stupidity and taxes raised from the whores, er, sorry, seamstresses. Most cities that make you go "what WERE they thinking?!?!" can be explained in such a way that it in sort of made sense at the time. Seattle ... not so much. Still, the current city is pretty cool .

While our hosts were at work, though, the Boy and I played an immense amount of RockBand. Now the Boy wants to go spend $400 on a console and his own copy of the game. I, on the other hand, want to spend $400 and get a used drum kit and start a band in our garage. The Boy is not convinced.

Comments

[prusik.livejournal.com]

Glad you two had fun in Seattle. It sounds like a great time.

I personally don't see the appeal of RockBand. However, I've never played it, only seen it played. It sort of looks like Dance Dance Revolution only with musical instrument shaped game controllers. The thought that keeps crossing my mind is, "Wouldn't it be more fun to actually play the guitar?" (Keep in mind that I don't play guitar. I had to teach myself how to play four chords for a production of GREASE though. Also, Years of violin are in my remote past.)

Of course, I'm missing the point. RockBand is supposed to give you the thrill of actually being competent in a musical instrument without having to put in the work to become competent. (And if you want to put in all that work without ever actually getting good at a real musical instrument, whatever floats your boat.) At least with Dance Dance Revolution, you actually have to do dance like moves. (I can totally see the point in a video game which actually teaches you how to play though. e.g., Typing of the Dead except with MIDI controllers).

I'll remind myself not to talk with your SO about this. Life is too short for this discussion.

Let me know how the garage band thing goes. I may drop in for the occasional song. (No, not violin. Voice. However, as a baritone, I'm not really the screaming rock type.)

[flasher.livejournal.com]

The guitars are a lot like instrument shaped controllers but the mic & drums are pretty close to the real thing. The drum set is basically drum pads (like any drummer learns on) and the movements are the same. From what I understand, linking it into real instruments and using it as a "how to" is something they would like to do.

[shoebox-bird.livejournal.com]

Oh you totally have to play it. It looks really silly but once you're playing it's a ton of fun. I haven't enjoyed playing a video game this much since the Oregon Trail.

[arashink.livejournal.com]

"At least with Dance Dance Revolution, you actually have to do dance like moves."
Only if you freestyle. Most DDR players look like they're having controlled seizures, and you're talking to a guy who can pass PSMH.

As for Rock Band, I enjoy the simulated rock fantasy and amuse myself with the funny character creation aspects. I am, however, making a Lars Ümlaüt costume, complete with guitar, and I'm going to bother to learn Freebird, just in case.

[flasher.livejournal.com]

That's a very accurate description of most DDR playing I've seen... legs going like mad but from the hips up, nothing. I always thought it looked a lot like marionettes being bounced up and down.

[zyrain.livejournal.com]

Ah, but with Rock Band, you could throw rock band parties and your place becomes this ultimate social hub of fun and excitement.

[omnia-mutantur.livejournal.com]

welcome back.

I'm pretty sure Light will be getting RockBand within a month of being reunited with his giant TV. That said, if you get it, I make a kickass bassist on easy.

[flasher.livejournal.com]

I kept bouncing between bass and drums. Bass was easier since I can "hear" the bass (years of playing tuba & bass clarinet) but the drums were FUN. You get to hit things.

[talldean.livejournal.com]

The amount of time I've watched folks sink into Rock Band hurts my soul.

Used drum kit FTW. Much steeper learning curve, but perhaps much, much more satisfying about 100 hours in.

[shoebox-bird.livejournal.com]

Glad you guys had fun!

And, hey, you chopped off your hair! And dyed it too? It's cute, I like it. :)

[flasher.livejournal.com]

yeah, I keep forgetting that I never told people I hacked all my hair off again last Thanksgiving.

[sephyelysian.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you two had a good vacation. Though what is RockBand? Is this a PS3 game?

[flasher.livejournal.com]

PS3, XBox 360 or Wii . We have none of those consoles, which is why we don't own the game yet. We're holding out until autumn, since adding a new time sink in the summer doesn't sound like a good idea. Once we get it, you two are more than welcome to come up and pretend to be rock stars :P