An Average Gamer's Unpaid, Unbiased Review of Rock Band for PS3

A quick forethought: You can find loads of "expert" reviews from hard-core gamers out there; their reviews might be more technical and comprehensive than what I am sharing with you. I am just an average guy that plays video games every so often, and this is my experience with Rock Band. If you're a causal gamer wondering if shelling out the (around $200) is worth it for this game, you'll probably find this review helpful.

My buddy picked up the video game Rock Band last night for the PS3; in all honesty I was hoping he'd eventually get it. I wasn't there when it actually took the pieces out of the box but he did mention that there was a heck of a lot of them. No I don't think it'll take a rocket scientist to put everything together, but step up might take a little longer than expected.

As far as the game itself, I enjoyed it. For a guy who's always fancied himself as the world's best air drummer, this provided some great fun. I was, like most other reviewers a little disappointed in the limited number of songs. Many of the songs I'd never heard of...but you might expect it coming from someone who loves 70's and 80's music. As you go further into the game you can unlock more songs - I guess that's a good reason to practice and get good at the game. One terrific feature the game includes is the ability for each player to select her/his own difficulty level. This means if you've got a seasoned guitarist, she can move the difficulty level to "Hard", while the drummer (which was me), can still play along and not get too frustrated on "Easy" - allowing people with different skill levels to play together.

The game includes some introductory levels that you can experiment with before jumping in, these could have been done a little better but the concept was good. There is of course a learning curve to the game, but what would you expect - that you'd come right out and play like Eddie Van Halen?!? People that have no rhythm, no coordination and no patience will probably do one of two things: break one of the instruments (which a lot of true musicians do anyway), or they'll just get frustrated. After about 3-4 hours of solid playing - yes it is a fun game...I was doing pretty well on "Easy"; however, the further we got into the game the more complicated and intricate the drum beats got. I'll enjoy getting better at this game, but I'd really like to invest time into being able to play the drums better, if you're not in that boat you might get bored or frustrated.

Pros:

• Skilled and non skilled gamers can play together.
• There is a bit of a learning curve, but if you have any rhythm you'll be playing pretty well on "Easy" in an hour or two. The difficulty level gets proportionately harder as you get better at playing and getting further along in the game.
• The game's a blast in co-op mode, being able to look at your buddy when he's not playing the right notes and saying "Dude, what are you doing?!?!"
• The songs sound great (assuming your playing your instrument correctly), the crowd noise and involvement adds to the ambience.
• You can purchase more songs through the PS3 online interface...however the usability needs to be improved.
• By the third time I'd played Rock Band, I'd moved up the medium difficulty level on the drums, and while it's still a little challenging, the game is still fun. I've played this game for several hours at a time and haven't gotten sick of it yet. I am sure I will someday, but as long as they keep pumping out songs, this game will be around for a while.

Cons:

• Limited song selection, many of the songs I'd never heard of...maybe I am too old or too unhip.
• Some people might get bored with playing many of the same songs over and over again.
• Playing in single player mode might get boring quickly.
• I agree with the experts, the drum kit and kick petal are cool but I am a little nervous about their durability. If you've got friends that get "too into the game", you might not let them get a hold of these instruments. I haven't busted one yet.
• I am not sure about the vocals portion of the game, I wasn't sure if the game really could accurately pick up shifts in pitch.

Bottom Line

Was it worth about $200?

Yeah, I think it was, but I've always wanted to do a little more than play in an "air band" with my buddies. Rock Band allowed me to be a little more than pretend I was playing a music instrument in thin air - and at the same time I didn't build up nasty calluses on my fingers from strumming the guitar for hours.

Jeremy has a decade of experience with brand identity, web design, marketing strategy, advertising creations, direct mail, content editing, custom photography, photo editing/manipulation, and multimedia presentations.

He is also the author of, "Being a Starving Artist Sucks" (which some call the bible of graphic design success, 500 pgs) and "Verbal Judo for Designers" and the Work Smarter NOT Harder Contract Package: all easy to use, proven resources geared towards helping new or struggling creative freelancers run a more profitable, more enjoyable business in the shortest time possible by covering the areas that freelancers struggle with the most: pricing, negotiating, contracts, finding business, and customer service.

In late 2007 he added a 1 on 1 coaching/mentoring component to the product mix and will offer seminars and teleseminars in 2008. Learn more about what he's up to by visiting:
http://www.beingastarvingartistsucks.com
http://beingastarvingartistsucks.typepad.com

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Which NexGen Console Is Right For You - PS3, XBOX 360, Or The Nintendo Wii

If you are looking for a NextGen Console, then the three main choices are the PS3, the XBOX 360, and the Nintendo Wii. Each have their own characteristics, advantages, game catalog and selection, so it pays to review the best of each before you make your decision, if it is time for an upgrade or new purchase. The Playstation 3 or PS3 is from Sony. This game box is set up for online multiplayer gaming with three Ethernet networking ports for broadband internet connections or linking up with your computer. The PS3 has next-gen storage capabilities, at 80, 60, 40 or 20 GB. The system also has wifi and usb ports. Some of these systems also accept flash cards and have Blue-Ray capabilities, as well as DVD. You should be able to keep your old Playstation games with an upgrade.

The XBOX 360 is a mash up from Microsoft, IBM, ATI, and other companies. It is said to be part of Microsoft's strategy to compete actively in the gaming market. This set up comes with a nice, custom gaming console that is sure to make playing all the games easy and fun. It also has a remote control and head set. There is a lot of hard disc space and a Microsoft operating system, so that and the many, many excellent games for the XBOX systems make it the top choice.

Compared to this is the Nintendo Wii, the new release following the Game Cube series from Nintendo. The operating system is also quite good on this system, with lots of memory and storage space. This comes with a remote control and a nunchuck, but it is no comparison to the XBOX set up. The real hope is the Wii may generate some new concepts in gaming and gaming possibilities. There is still the excellent round up of games for the system. In summary, the recommendation is to go with the XBOX 360 for its great all around package of console, operating system, ports, and game catalog. The Nintendo Wii will come on strong if game developers expand some of the new possibilities inherent in the system. Otherwise, we'll be waiting for Wiii.

Tony James writes about console games. Read more about console trends on his blog and you can download some fun games from his games website

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When your begin the venture of creating your own website for personal or business use it is important to understand the fundamental basics of web hosting. Once you fully understand the types of hosting packages and the individual benefits they offer you can make an inform decision on which form of web hosting suits your company's needs the best. Free, standard, dedicated, colocation, and e commerce are five forms of web hosting you can select from. Free web hosting is exactly like the name suggests free. Similar to most no cost services you are limited in what you can do. If you are unable to afford to invest money into your website than this is a great option to consider. Standard allows you to have extra features with an added sense of security. Dedicated web hosting involves obtaining your own server device for your business website. Colocation permits users to have ownership over their own hardware. E commerce web hosting features secure socket layering to protect your customers when they are purchasing items from you. All hosting plans have different bandwidth charges, operating systems, server softwares, and administrative access. Always review your hosting plan closely before investing.

The benefits of web hosting are extensive. It reduces operating costs allowing you to dramatically increase your productivity. Aids in the expansion of your branding and establishing the particular service or product at hand. When you have a quality web host that consumers trust it automatically builds a bond of loyalty. Most providers permit 24 hour access and mult-media exchanges on the website. The additional space you receive on the server gives you the freedom to incorporate a (FAQ) Frequently Asked Questions page which saves your customer support staff valuable time. It's important to have a web host that offers instant access to change information in a speedy manner. Having adequate hosting really simplifies your life. The higher standard your web host provider is the easiest it will be for potential customers to find you. Your sells can skyrocket with a website on a popular web host. For more information about quality web hosting you can visit: http://www.getagreenwebhost.com.

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When you want to rent your apartment, then you require renters insurance. This insurance will cover yourself and also cover any damage arising to your personal property.

Your apartment owner might have insured the building but that will not cover your property. You must have apartment rental insurance to cover your property. Danger to your property may arise out of Vandalism, Theft, Smoke or fire.

You will have to research so that you can find cheap apartment rental insurance. You can start your search from the cyberspace. There are many sites from where you can take insurance online or you can get quotes from different insurers.

You can carry out the following:

• You can compare the different quotes which you get.
• You will have to find if the company selected by you are trustworthy.
• Select the best quote.

Bear in mind the following cost savings tips when you go in for apartment rental insurance.
You will have to find out from your rental insurers if you already have one for other property, if you can get discount for multi policy assurance. For example if you have your auto assurance then you can claim discount for your apartment assurance also. At the same time you can claim discount on your motor assurance also.

You will also have to check if the insurance company whom you select gives you discounts for non-smoking. You will have to check for discount to non-smoker's or senior's discount. You can insure your apartment with the insurer who gives you the maximum discount.

You will have to find whether your apartment is qualified for discounts on security. Some of the insurance company give discount for some security features on rental houses like smoke detectors, burglar alarms and deadbolts.

Your deductible should be as high as can be. Deductibles are amounts which you pay for a claim even before your insurance agent pays anything. The more your deductible is the less your premium will be on your rental property.

The author is a prolific freelance writer. His clients include some of the biggest names in the writing industry. He is an expert in all the different forms of the written word and specifically in content for the web. He is the owner and CEO of WritersInc Writing Solutions and can be reached at http://www.writersinc.co.nr

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