Collegio Online

Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: After Hours

Media Credit: Teresa Gawrych Cole Spencer, junior in recreation management, furiously beats the drum set while playing a song on Rock Band. Players can choose to be a singer, drummer, guitarist or a bassist.

Media Credit: Teresa Gawrych Levi Welling, left, sophomore in nursing, sings lead vocals to a classic rock song while Jon Hill, center, sophomore in construction management, and Cole Spencer back him up with a guitar and drum set during a game of Rock Band at their house Monday evening. "We'll probably be up to 4 playing this," said Hill. Rock Band was released on Nov. 23, 2007 and is available for the XBox360 and Playstation 2 and 3.

These days, aspiring rockers don't have to be good at playing instruments to be in a band. In fact, they don't have to play an instrument at all.

"You just basically have to get in the groove before you're able to play," said Levi Welling, sophomore in nursing, tapping a beat onto an electronic drum pad.

"Rock Band" is a videogame for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 where up to four people can play faux instruments and attempt to make it big as rock stars.

A focus on multiplayer fun means that to many people, "Rock Band" isn't just a game; it's a social event.

"This is what we do before we go out," said Cole Spencer, junior in recreation administration.

Spencer and Welling are part of a group that meets three or four times a week to work on their "Rock Band" skills. Jon Hill, sophomore in construction management, is the owner of the game, which costs around $170 for a full bundle with a guitar, a microphone and a drum set.

Hill says that he and his group, named "The Regulators," are sometimes up until 4 a.m. playing the game.

"I like it because you can have more than two people perform at one time," Hill said. "It gets everyone involved."

Hill added that "Rock Band" is a very physical game. Unlike other video games, Hill says that players' muscles are often sore after playing.

"It feels like you're actually doing something," Hill said. "You're interacting more."

Welling says that his favorite aspect of the game is that it has a large selection of rock, punk and metal songs, including classic rock songs that he wasn't familiar with before playing.
"Now we know more songs on the radio and we can actually sing them," Welling said.

During the game, all of the players have to play well together to maximize their points. If one player encounters a tricky part and fails, they can be bailed out by one of their band mates.
There are four difficulty levels ranging from easy to expert.
According to Hill, the drums, which consist of four pads and a kick pedal, are the most difficult feature. The game even comes with a set of genuine Ludwig drumsticks.

"I can't even play medium yet (on drums) and I've been playing for a while," Hill said.

Welling said that the game comes with over 50 tracks and more can be purchased online. However, the biggest problem that Hill has with the game is that they've already exhausted the songs that came with the game.

"I think they'll come out with a 'Rock Band II' with more songs," Hill said.

Until then, Hill says, the Regulators will keep rocking.
"Once you start playing, you can't stop," Hill said. "I'll tell you that much."

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