Neighbourly love in the key of G(aming)

I just spent a good chunk of the night playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero with my next door neighbour.

First, I went over to his place and played drums (shameless plug: I’m pretty dang good on the drums at exaggerating ). We played on his PS3, which I still say is inferior to the 360 because the frame rate is so slow that the notes are actually shaky as they approach — making hitting the drums even tougher to time. If you’re reading this neighbour, I’m sorry . . . but it’s still true.

Then we came over to my place and played Guitar Hero: Legends of Rock for a while. He’s super good at guitar. Maybe I should recruit him to help me get the Rock Band world tour achievements that I still need.

But the thing that struck me is we hardly ever hang out. We’ve played catch and we’ve played golf. Still, what really connected us was the gaming — in particular Rock Band. He calls it a great family game because they all play together. I agree. My wife and I play together.

The music games are such good social connectors. They do video gaming a real service, helping to debunk the prevalent myth that gamers hang out in their (mother’s) basement by themselves all day and button mash.

DS to put out Guitar Hero bundle

Via Wired’s website, news that Nintendo DS will be putting out a bundle with the hand held Guitar Hero game.

The bundle is expected to sell for about $180.

Rock Band 2 has a tough act to follow

Xbox Fanboy has gotten its hands on possible cover art being sent around by EA along with some sort of survey. Both look pretty much the same as the original box art.

All in all, its nice to know there’s a sequel in the works.

But the big question is, what will Rock Band 2 add to the pot. With Guitar Hero: World Tour adding that sweet drum kit, the largest list of tracks yet and the ability to write your own tunes, Rock Band 2 will seriously have to up the ante… maybe with a keyboard??

First comes Aerosmith, then comes Metallica?

For Metallica fans fretting over why Aerosmith got its own dedicated Guitar Hero game, there may be justice after all.

Gamespot is reporting Activision is planning to release Guitar Hero: Metallica in 2009.

G-Day is 10/27/08

People keep asking when Guitar Hero World Tour will be shipping and what it will cost.

The game will ship on Oct. 27, 2008, and will cost $189.99 for the Band Kit, which will include the drum kit, microphone and guitar — same as Rock Band. If you just want the game and the guitar, it will cost you $99.99. And if you simply want the game, it’ll set you back about $50.

But let’s be real here. We only care about this game because of the cool drum kit. Period.

Thanks Engadget!

Guitar Hero drum video

We’ve seen pics of the Guitar Hero 4 drum kit, but here’s a short video with a little bit of play action. Maybe my wife will reconsider and let me buy them . . . they look so pretty.

Guitar Hero’s drums rock the casbah

Toronto Thumbs has a nice peek at Guitar Hero 4’s drum kit.

The music game franchise is putting out its next game a la Rock Band, with the addition of the new instrument. I dished out $200 for Rock Band, and no matter how fancy pants the new addition is, my wife probably won’t let me justify another massive cash handover for more fake instruments. Sad face.

Just for fun…