GUITAR HERO

Here's a story (thanks to Expat-Canuck) claiming that an angry father sold his son's Guitar Hero III video game -- which the father paid $90 for -- online for $9,000. I don't know if this story is true, but I hope so, because I have Guitar Hero III, which Mrs. Blog gave me for Chanukka Hannuka Hanuka the holidays. Apparently this is the hot game to have this year; it's sold out everywhere. I don't know how Mrs. Blog got it, and I don't want to know. I do know it's an intense game. You stand in front of the TV, and a song plays while these notes come swooping toward you, and you have to press the right note and the strum bar at exactly the moment when the note reaches the front, while an enthusiastic electronic crowd cheers you on. At first it's hard, but after a while, if you practice, you feel like a complete idiot. Nevertheless it's addictive. All over America, millions of people are devoting countless hours and trillions of brain cells to playing this game instead of doing something useful. As a result, we, as a nation, could lose our competitive edge to China, except that millions of Chinese people are probably also playing Guitar Hero III. So we need to keep practicing, so we can kick their butts.

UPDATE FROM ANDY THE TROPICHUNT,COM GUY:

There's a NEW competing game with Guitar Hero III. It's Rock Band, and it includes drums and a microphone, as well as the guitar.

I got it for my birthday a couple of weeks ago...here's an action shot.

(That's Andy on drums, with his nephews.)

Thanks, Andy! It looks VERY dorky productive.

   

Comments

[tropichunt.com guy™]

I'm the first to say...ROCK ON!

[The Dread Pirate Scrooge]

This is your Wii.
This is your Wii on drugs.
Any questions?

Is it wrong that I would do EXACTLY the same sort of thing to my kids?

[Annie Where-but-here]

"I am still considering getting him a game for his Nintendo. Maybe something like Barbie as the Island Princess or Dancing with the Stars..."
Ouch!

[mudstuffin]

being an old fart of a different sort (the non gaming sort) and being a guitar player, i cannot picture how this is a game - i get that it's cheaper than a real guitar, but isn't it easier than playing a real guitar? i kinda 'ssumed that was a main selling point. can you actually p lay music with this thing, or do you just listen to recordings while flailing away at the fretboard? inquiriing minds wanna know. or not.

[Annie Where-but-here]

Think of all the weed stuff he can buy with 9 grand.

[MrBill]

Whatever.

[tropichunt.com guy™]

Rock Band. That's the way to go. Do more than the Guitar.

What platform, Dave? 360? PS2? PS3? Wii?

[Annie Where-but-here]

mud - if you hit the chords right, it plays ok. If you miss, you 'clunk.' You're part of a band that's also playing. If you stink, they eventually stop. Playing a chord means hitting a spacebar type button on the guitar neck on the proper fret. Much like what the RBR's do. ;)
If you're good, you move forward, getting sponsors like amp companies, etc. better equipment, outfits (shopping!!!), and bigger venues.
Plus it has oldie hits to bring in the geezer bus tour $.

[Annie Where-but-here]

I believe a former FCDA who frequents this blog also secured one. Not sure of her tactics, but I know a few kneecaps were 'corrected.' That's all I can say at this time.

[Dave]

mud -- What Annie said. It's actually not much like playing a guitar; it's closer to drums, because it's mainly timing. So I pretty much suck at it. But I suck at real guitar, too.

[Dave]

Andy: Wii.

[Jessica R.]

mud, I watched my brothers-in-law play one of the Guitar Hero games. I do not think that they had to make actual cords on the guitar. There are buttons on the guitar similar to other game controllers but on the neck of the guitar; then there is another button where the strings should be. You have to choose the correct combination of buttons to make the note at exactly the right time along with the music, sort of like guitar karaoke. If you miss too many notes, you get booed off the stage. If you get the notes right, the crowd goes wild.

My sister-in-law wanted to buy this game for my children. I politely declined. I think that she may buy it for my husband, her brother, instead.

[tropichunt.com guy™]

Dave: The Wii rules!

But I do Rock Band and, soon, GHIII on my 360. I like the surround sound. :)

[Recovering 24 Addict]

You are our Guitar Hero Dave.

[xlbjoker]

Kick China's butt? THIS country?

[Siouxie]

I'm waiting for the Kazoo Hero to come out. That's pretty much the extent of my musical talent.

[xlbjoker]

Kick China's butt? THIS country?

[xlbjoker]

Kick China's butt? THIS country? Where have you been since the beginning of time?

[Jessica R.]

Oh, come on Siouxie, you can play the radio.

[AmerInParis]

Dave, you sound a bit worked up over the whole thing. Take a stress pill, Dave, and chill out.

[AmerInParis]

Or, as they say over here, Restez Zen, Dave. ;-)

[Siouxie]

OHhand Dave, don't sell yourself short. You don't suck as much as Stephen King.

[Siouxie]

*plucks the extra 'h' from up yonder*

[AmerInParis]

That reminds me, Siouxie, I just sent Dave a suggestion to take the RBRs to England, where they're having their own literacy crisis and are dealing with it in a naive, trustingly British fashion: by writing a letter to the Prime Minister.

[Recovering 24 Addict]

Personally I am waiting Legends of Druming.

Now on to more important things from this story we have learned two very important things.

1. Dave has Guitar Hero III

2. Dave has a Wii

Dave do you need a kidney and/or liver as my brother would gladly give you his for both of these items.

[Siouxie]

Amer, that's a great idea! Maybe they'll sound better in British!

[daisymae]

This 'game' sounds boring. Speaking of addiction, try computer mahjong.

[Annie Where-but-here]

Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. It's very fun. And you only suck if kids are watching.

It will be easy to kick Chinese butt - they have lead in their fingers.

[AmerInParis]

Siouxie, do you mean if the RBRs put on a post British accent? Or the British authors?

I think it might work better if Dave, Ridley, Amy, Steve, et al fake British accents. I mean, British rock stars are one thing, but British authors? Hmmm. Maybe that's why they wrote a letter instead of setting up their own band of rocking authors.

[AmerInParis]

Posh, I meant POSH, not post. ;-)

[DeskDiva]

I have never heard of "Druming," recov. Is that a Tolkien book coming out soon?

LOL, daisy. ;-) I like the kid-style arcade games. Those are more my speed.

Jessica - Thank you for "brothers-in-law." You've made my day!!

[Steve (The 24 Guy)]

Dave,

If you enjoyed playing the hyperactive version of that old game Simon Says that has been redone to music as Guitar Hero, you'll like those other discs as well. You should really look into getting the disc for the original Guitar Hero and the Guitar Hero 80s disc.

The first one has a lot more "classic" 70s rock. My youngest daughter got so good at playing "Ironman" that she played the whole thing without missing a single note.

A couple of days later, a truck commercial came on, and she realized they were playing the Ironman music, and started singing along with it.

The 80s disc has...well, 80s music.

They also have the same feature that will make you feel like a complete idiot trying to press buttons on a giant piece of plastic, so they have that covered too.

[ellie]

I wonder if Stephen will be getting Cowbell Hero for Christmas...

[ubetcha]

If it wasn't for South Park, I'd have never heard of this. Stay clear of the heroin, Dave.

[Siouxie]

That's exactly what I meant, Amer. Fake accents. Couldn't hurt.

[AmerInParis]

I think you're absolutely spot on, Siouxie!

[Siouxie]

lol ellie!

*clank* *clank* *clank*

WOO HOOO! Andy! you totally ROCK! in a geeky sorta way..but you ROCK DUDES!

[Annie Where-but-here]

Whut Steve (24) said - Ironman rawks!!

OT -trash day here on Candy Cane Lane. Had to put trash cans in front of our lovely overly lit home. So I trimmed the cans with garland. Next, I'm putting reindeer antlers on my suv. And no one can stop me.

[Siouxie]

Annie, I've seen those and I want some for mine!
Anyone know where to get 'em??

btw, we need a picture of the "Holiday Trash Cans".

[DeskDiva]

Annie - they do that in Texas, only with steer horns.

ellie - ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[queensbee]

that game sounds like too much work...

[tropichunt.com guy™]

We need to get some Rock Bottom Remainders songs on there...I'm sure I can play THOSE on expert setting. :)

[Siouxie]

Hey Andy, I went back to your site...great job as always! Thanks for including some of my pics ;-P

[tropichunt.com guy™]

FWIW, the band you're seeing in that picture is (don't laugh) "Mr. Spring".

[tropichunt.com guy™]

Siouxie...thanks for contributing! I still have MORE stuff from this year...and years past...to put up.

And, of course, don't forget: The Post Hunt is coming in May to D.C.! Stay tuned!

[daisymae]

Annie - how can I try it without buying the game and a Wii set? Which I wouldn't want to do just to 'try' it.

However, I can say, *Rock On* to all of you closet rock stars. I'll be singing along in the car with you. That doesn't cost anything.

[Siouxie]

daisy, me too. I prefer singing in the shower though. That could be a problem with the electrical chords.

[tropichunt.com guy™]

Wow! Talk about spooky/freaky timing!

No joke, I just now received my copy of Guitar Hero III via UPS.

I only paid about $9k for it from some guy in Canada...

[Eleanor]

*zips in*™

Good morning.

Yes, this FCDA has secured Guitar Hero III, bundle, for Xbox 360, for CG's 14 year old son.

To say it was difficult to find would be an understatement. I was on the phone for approximately 2 hours a day for a week with various stores and web sites that claimed to have them, but upon my brilliant cross-examination, did not. But I finally found one (no, I can't say where), drove, drove, drove, got lost, got more lost but eventually was successful - yay me!

I hope it's as good as you say, Dave, because if the kid plays with it for an hour and then sticks it in the back of the closet, heads will roll.

[DeskDiva]

Wow, Eleanor. That's insanity dedication. ;-)

[Nurse Tammy]

I think random (and not-so-random) persons will put out a hit on Tropic in hopes they can loot his house during the funeral...

[JEC666]

I got Solitaire with my laptop. And wii is wayy over-rratedd

[Jessica R.]

Rock on, Andy!

Annie, some places put up demo games. I saw one kid playing Guitar Hero at Wal Mart.

Diva, brothers-in-law is correct, right?

[Annie Where-but-here]

Jessica, yes, that's correct.

What's worse than paying thru the small intestine for a Wii on eB@y? Having a 'friend' tell you they saw EIGHT of the stinkin' things at Walfart.

[Siouxie]

El, you did GREAT!! now CG's gonna have to get your that laptop.

[Not My Usual Alias]

Wait a sec. The Wii is still hard to get? I just walked up to the counter and paid for it at Meijer.

I got into line at 2 am on the Friday after Thanksgiving for the right to walk and buy, but it sounds better that way.

[DeskDiva]

Absolutely, Jess! That's why you made my day! :-)

[Soulchef]

GHIII is on it's way to me as we speak. Have looked for 2 months for it for PS3. Could not get it. Staked out stores that said they were getting shipments, spent hours online and on the phone-no luck. Then yesterday, I get on a site......we'll call it Shmamazon and there it was!! Just goes to show how I'd rather be lucky than good.

[tropichunt.com guy™]

I ordered mine from KBToys last week. They had 'em come in stock briefly and I was lucky to get mine.

[xlbjoker]

Does tropic guy do inagaddadavidda? Ba rum pa rum pum.

[Eleanor]

Yes, it seemed like the one for PS3 was easier to find.

What ticked me off the most was when I got an e-mail from "PerfectCity" telling me they had them in stock!!! I called. No, we don't.
But you said.
And then she had the nerve to say to me, well, maybe we only got ONE in and sent out a bazillion e-mails and someone else bought it!!!
And then she went on:
The World Wide Web is open 24/7 you know.

I hung up on her. ISIANMTU.

[PirateBoy]

If I had a Guitar Hero III game, I'd probably do nothing but fret over it all day....

Tip your servers. Try the veal. We're here all week!

[Alfred Simon Fyodorovich]

So Dave has a Wii, and Guitar Hero III... Wow. Do any of you realize how difficult it is to get either. He has both.

Congrats Dave. Make sure to frisk your friends after they play. Not so much that they robbed you (It is possible, but your a columnist that can have the crooks hunted down pretty dang well.) But as an idea to keep it feeling like a real concert.

[casey]

As soon as I master Pong, I might try this.

[Alfred Simon Fyodorovich]

The last three songs in Guitar Hero are Hammer on songs. Next to Immpossible.

[telecomdropout]

Huh. I found GHIII in an ad for circus sitty before Thanksgiving, and then went to the store during my lunch and bought it, along with the extra guitar and the guitar stands for the xbox 360. Being anal retentive has its advantages.

[NotSoShyJan]

Looking good, Fred!

[Alfred Simon Fyodorovich]

Tele- Congrats on the find.

NotSoShyJan- Uh, thanks.

[tropichunt.com guy™]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That didn't work out the way NSSJ thought it would! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Dammit, missed a note...darn, another one....DAMMIT!

[Republichik]

He sounds like my kind of dad. During my DH's last deployment, our son gave me nothing but grief so I mailed his XBox to his dad in Iraq (made him accompany me to the post office to watch it leave.) Now he's a couple years further into the teen years and my husband's off to Afghanistan, so I think this time if he acts up, I'll sell his current system, make a tidy profit, and just send my husband half the cash. Saves on postage! Bwahaha

[PirateBoy]

Republichick: Why not mail the kid, and keep the proceeds?

(I hate the new Bot software! Judi, it needs tuning, badly!!!)

[catman]

"Losing our competitive edge to China?" Heck, I'd guess there may be a bit of Chinese content in Guitar Hero III.

Naw... 'couldn't be true.

[meelash]

Hey Andy the TropicHunt guy, who's the chick on the couch behind your "band". Presumably, she's not one of your nephews as well....