With at least 2 full months of winter ahead, we find ourselves with a lot of Wii time. My son is the number one user. He is especially fond of Lego Star Wars and New Super Mario Bros. The rest of us don't use it that much really. (Although we did spend a lot of last winter completing all the levels on the New Super Mario. It was really fun to do that as a family.) Thoughts of upgrading to xbox or Playstation went unanswered by Santa, so still using the Wii with more new games.This brings me to my favorite Wii game. Band Hero. I think I must be a closet rocker because I love Band Hero. I love the guitar and I love the drums. A lot of time was spent in 2010 on Band Hero. But, like most games, it ran its course and interest was lost. Until recently. . .
In an effort to get our son interested in music, we have agreed to let him get a real drum set and join his friend in drum lessons. His friend was lucky enough to get a nice full acoustic drum kit from a relative. But when we visited and heard the noise coming from it, instant panic set in. It was LOUD. Really LOUD. It wasn't going to work in our small neighborhood. So, we discussed with friends dad and all agreed that electronic drum kits were the way forward. Set them up, give the boys some headphones, and we're all happy.
Step two. Find a drum set. There are tons of used sets for sale everywhere. A run through ebay shows a lot of choices out there. I started checking them out and setting up ebay searches. The problem is the prices. A lot of over £1000 kits out there and out of our range. The search dragged on. . .
Meanwhile, the drumset from Band Hero was covered up and lost in the corner. The little control knob broke and was loose in the case making it nearly unusable. This along with the guitar which got a remote control unit yanked out of it and made it also unusable.
While Christmas shopping at the Game store, I found some used Wii guitars and immediately grabbed one. Back in business! I ran home and set it up and started enjoying the game again. But son was now getting more interested in the game and pulled out the broken drums and tried to join in. Hmmm. Back to the search.
Here is where the point of this is. . .I had no idea how really cool games like Rock Band and Band Hero really can be in learning music. The new Rock Band 3 supposedly really teaches you the guitar with more detail then ever before. And the drums - well, I found this cool place which repairs those controllers. And even neater, is that you can hook up your real drum kit and override the game one and really play the drums along in the game. I am excited to get my son set up and try this.
Of course, I know I will be giving a go as well! :p
