Living in the UK has been a b*tch when it comes to the genre of music rhythm games. I am sure most gamers are aware of the controversy regarding RockBand's European launch, at almost triple the price of the US counterpart and a 6-month delay, and as a result many of us gamers from this side of the world registered upon Harmonix's forums to protest at their shoddy treatment of half of their potential consumer base. Given the independent status and general favour of the development crew, it is natural to assume they meant their claims to turn their fans and customers into an entire 'community' full of musical richness, intent on creating the ultimate rhythm game.

This is not the case. Not if you do not like mainstream 70's music or are not American. Anything else gets you flamed and branded undemographic to their 'cause'. The majority placated with lacklustre weekly downloads, presumably just because it is their they must collect, like a 12-year old with his grubby little pokemon cards. The users there take the p*ss out of Guitar Hero on an hourly basis, the two biggest complaints being about the DLC - specifically the No Doubt pack (fantastically fun, and now they are in the process, I really hope for more in later releases) and the Muse Pack. Jealousy plays a major role in the latter, however. Yet these same naysayers are the ones with the biggest smiles for this weeks Jimmy Buffet release. I have never heard of him before, hate his music now I have tried it, but you try saying that in the forums, which should be a place for discussion, not for kissing up to the developers.

Neversoft's Guitar Hero forums, however, are a much friendlier place, where I have seen very little hostility and much more open-minded discussions on music. Especially so given the assumed large budget about to be spent on Guitar Hero 4's all-masters set-list. With very little competition between themselves and RockBand, the general consesnsus appears to one of a challenge to produce the best music and funnest product they can.

In short, deveopers and their fans are people, with all the large mouthed and bigoted opinions which come with being so. When these idiots are controlled by the biggest egos of all, the Harmonix crew (specifically John Locke whose definition of 'soon; surmounts to 'anything up to 6 months - we know but don't want to take all the surprise away from when we decide to rape your wallets). Yes, it is a community alright, but one much more akin to Communist Russia where 'the maker is always right'.