I’m a failed musician. I majored in music in college, but a mix of stage fright and being an absolutely terrible performer made me decide that I might be better suited to a career in English. Maybe that’s why I find games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero so appealing: they provide the illusion of being a successful rock star — of playing packed venues and impossible riffs — without having to leave my living room.
As much as I enjoyed Rock Band 2, though, even that experience has gotten a little stale. Bi-weekly Rock Band parties tapered off; once you’re able to sight-read a song on Expert guitar, you realize that the only way to get better is by slowly, methodically practicing — but if you’re going to put that much time into a fake plastic instrument, why not learn the real thing? Even Rock Band’s drums, my instrument of choice, don’t present the most realistic set up. Basically, unless you get excited about holding the high score on a leaderboard, or breaking the game out for an occasional karaoke party, there isn’t much incentive to continue playing Rock Band 2 once you’ve reached a certain level of aptitude.
