JacKal

We're talking having a physical drum and sticks to hit with for the wii version right? Not something really stupid like using both wiimotes in mid-air? If we are talking the former, I'm all for it; PS2 taiko was awesome. But I will NOT accept a wiimote flailing version of this game, nor will I accept a wiimote glove-like cover that you use to hit against something either; the wiimotes just aren't good at all for drumming with.

@zerocorpse

/sigh. comments similar to the one you just put here really annoy me. you're looking at a geek blog. the people reading this probably 1) are familiar with pc and usb interfaces 2) probably already bought rock band or know someone who does and 3) are geeked out enough to be entertained by people who mash these things together and share them with the rest of the geeked out community. of COURSE you could just get a goddamn MIDI drum set and do REAL music creation and drum sequencing, and I'm also equally sure most reading this blog is also already aware of that. you're not being logical or smart, you're actually being inane by not knowing the audience who is interested in this blog post. if you're not interested just go somewhere else.

@jtedesco33

I agree... I am not too confident in the sixaxis support, but I'm definitely stoked about playing it with the sticks. I am a long-time wipeout fan, so this looks great

@Deozaan

I was thinking the same thing when I read this, though putting the sensor bar on your head sounds really uncomfortable

The virtual console prices don't bother me a bit. Everyone complains but I really love it. I'm not paying just for the game, I'm also paying for the convienience. It's really important to me. I can download any game available on the VC whenever I want if I don't have it already. I can load up any one of these games across 6 different systems immediately, and put them down just as quick and get back to the real world (don't have to get up, turn off the console, put away the controllers; just turn off the wii from the wireless wiimote and jet). Then there are the save states (for some games the replay value alone is seeing how it is with save states it might not have had possible before), playing on my tv (not my computer screen with some emulator)... and all of that one from tiny little console. If I only really repeatedly play two separate neo-geo games for instance, I don't need to hook up a freaking neo-geo each time I want to play one (and then put it away when I've got to hook something else up). I don't have the space for 6 consoles anymore like I used to when I was a kid. If you count the wii+gamecube, then technically this tiny console is capable of 8 different systems. I have other things in my entertainment center and I still love these vintage games. All of these things are incredibly valuable to me personally, so I can say for myself at least that the prices are just fine to me, and comparing to just the physical value of finding a random copy of the same game isn't really the same to me.

This game is totally freaking awesome. I picked it up and I am very pleased with it. If this is where Wii games might be going in the future, I have more hope for their style. Seriously, if you have a wii, you owe it to yourself to give this game a shot.

I had a problem with my rock band guitar... I got a new one in two days, I shipped the other one back... I've had nothing but good times since then.

Wow, you guys have a whole lot of hate for Rock Band, and a whole lot of whining for GHIII. Good for you, I guess. Have fun with that, I'm going to play some Rock Band.

To be honest, this is actually kinda useful for me... I do a lot to try and track my own time wasting, so now I can actually put a timer on the 360 and limit myself to a certain amount of playtime so I can get more work done. It's kinda nifty for a lifehacker, though I'm not entirely sure about for a parent.

Ok... I'm going to put my two cents in here, barring that I've not read any of the previous comments, but because this has been bothering me for a while now, and this subject won't quit ever since the first Guitar Hero became popular.

I'm a well versed musician. I've been playing guitar, drums, bass, and vocals for the past 11 years. I'm also a well versed gamer, having spent pretty much the last 19 years of my life playing video games of all kinds (I'm 23). I hear this a lot... musicians who think games like GH and RB are crap and they can't play it and they have to unlearn stuff and oh why don't you just learn to play a real instrument already.

I also play madden with a bunch of friends week after week. No one says this is stupid, lets go play some real football (which I'd actually love to do for once). No one complains when we play halo and tells me we should go out and really shoot each other with paintballs or something. Yet, musicians get real sensitive over the fact that now, everyone with hand-eye coordination skills can have fun and play along with the music we all celebrate and enjoy. I don't get it. I got Rock Band, and the first night I had a party at my place and all my friends came over (regardless of their musical talent) and played. After hours of gaming and many beers, the game paid for itself in sheer fun. No one complained that they were better or worse than the game, no one cared if they already knew how to play said instrument or not. It was just fun, and unlike guitar hero, everyone got to get into it and play together instead of just sitting there watching someone else play. It's really kinda like roleplaying a rock band. The thing about this kind of game is video games really only require hand-eye coordination... it makes interactive actions a common language. If you know how to hit a button at the right moment while watching a screen, you can do what I can do now, and we can interact together. We can play together.

Rhythm games (that aren't DDR) have been my favorite genre of games since Parappa the Rapper, and Taiko Drum Master used to be my favorite series. They just happened to make some real rock related rhythm games now and everyone is enjoying themselves with popular rock music, musicians and fans alike. People need to just deal with it. Do you go out and buy a riced up car after you play Project Gotham? Do you feel bad about that? You shouldn't. Games are games. That's why it's called playing.