Rock Band Reflection - Part I

My co-workers don't know everything about my gaming habits. They don't know, for example, that I took off the day after Halo 3 came out so I could go to the midnight release.



They do, however, know some things. They know I'm the one to ask if they have any questions about video games because I either know the answer or where to find the answer.



I think that's how we got started on Rock Band. Before the game came out, one co-worker was thinking about getting it for her son, and she asked me what I knew about it. I told her the basics and compared it to Guitar Hero, which her son already owned.



A few weeks later, after I had Rock Band, I recommended the purchase to my co-worker and told her the game was awesome. By this time, her son had already said he didn't want the game, but this conversation took place at lunch and was overheard by everyone.

A week later, another co-worker told me that she and her husband had gone over to a relative's house and played Rock Band. They loved it. She had particularly enjoyed the drums, but found the bass pedal a challenge. I was both pleased and intrigued to hear it. This co-worker didn't own any sort of game system yet she was able to play the Rock Band drums? Cool.



As we geared up for our math department Christmas party, my co-workers started insisting I bring "this Rock Band game" to the gathering. I don't know if you've tried to transport all the equipment required for Rock Band in your car, but it's almost like taking a real band on the road.

Once I got everything to the party house, hauled it in and hooked it up to an old, but large SD television, my co-workers tentatively stood around looking at the game and equipment. Fortunately, our department head had his sons with him. They showed no fear. One strapped on a guitar, the other sat down at the drums, I picked up the microphone, and we were off.



Then a funny thing started to happen. My co-workers, of all ages, started taking turns with the peripherals. Most were afraid to sing, but they all wanted to try the drums. I controlled the song selection, but everyone was always able to hit A to join when needed.



I'm telling you, these people loved this game. The young, single and adorable (if not a little uptight) blonde. The fifty year old geometry teacher. The department head himself. They rocked out with their chalk out. Okay, they didn't actually have chalk at this party, but you get the idea.

As I downloaded the Jimmy Buffet song pack the other day, I thought about that party. My co-workers brought it up often. I would even have students say, "I heard about how the math teachers love to play Rock Band." Evidently, these teachers saw fit to chat up the game in their classes. Students wondered if we had it in the math office. My co-workers talked about how much better lunch would be if we actually did have it in the math office.



It always makes me happy to share something that I love with others. Often, though, they cannot appreciate it as fully as I do. When that happens, I always feel disappointed. Sharing Rock Band with my co-workers did not leave me disappointed.

Check back later for another Rock Band related post.