The old XBox is repaired and in its new home, I got a lovely note from the new recipients (thank you) and is apparently doing well.
My friend R’s XBox-bought-from-eBay RRoDed just last week (It’s an epidemic!) and happily found out that the warranty stretched to just the day when he called Microsoft about the RRoD (and having this particular repair done automatically extends the warranty out another year). He is suffering XBox withdrawal while it’s out for repairs, but is coming to visit tomorrow to play the following 3 (below) with me to help. Apparently his XBox is just about to make it to Microsoft as we speak (according to the tracking info on the package).
I’ve been playing Beatles Rock Band either with a mix of voice and guitar controller and am practicing by listening to the track list while at work. I’ve actually been experimenting with playing this game on Expert at least with the guitar controller.
As I said to a friend, trying to cajole her out of Medium setting (where you use 4 fret buttons with 4 fingers) to Hard (where you use 5 fret buttons with 4 fingers and have to get used to moving around on the fret board), the jump from Medium to Hard was really just a few evenings of sucking until I got used to it. Similarly Expert really isn’t that much harder than Hard. Primary differences: More hammers-on and pulls-off, faster tempo and some long really fast runs and some 3-finger chords (Hard sticks with 2-finger chords and a moderate amount of hammers-on and pulls-off). But honestly when you’re used to Hard, the speed of things coming at you on Expert isn’t that frantic.
All this said, I am not so good when singing AND playing the guitar controller. With both microphone and guitar controller set to Medium, I’m only adequate if I know the sung melody and the lyrics. Reading lyrics while playing is a recipe for disaster. Gonna have to memorize one or the other if not both. And I am OK on just singing on Hard, but Expert, I think, will also require memorization and really nailing the tone.
I am also playing Halo 3: ODST, which I really enjoy when playing with friends, but which I find pretty lonely when playing by myself (that’s intentional in the story-telling). It’s also interesting to visit the Halo universe when not playing as the ultimate walking tank character.
Also also I am playing Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, which is meatier and more interesting than the first edition. I have primarily been playing as Wolverine, speaking of walking tank characters.