Video Game Heroin
Rehab you say? Yep - here at the Syndicate, we may have been bitten by a new bug.
Mrs. Syndicate recently brought home a Wii.
Ok - yes, the Wii is silly. The Wii is not serious gaming. The Wii is designed from drunken parties, where you just don't have the time or patience to discuss with already intoxicated visitors WHY it makes sense, in Halo 2 and 3, to have two different weapons at once, and why you should have the plasma pistol because of its homing capabilities... etc... You get it. Its complicated.
And nothing kills a buzz faster than trying to explain15 pages of very small text on how a game works.
The Wii on the other hand, is basically lots of bright colors, funny images and easy controls that involve making a fool of yourself.
It comes with a basic set of games, where some rounded, funny looking avatars can bowl, play tennis or golf. All in good fun. There are intensly complicated games like NBA Jam or Call of Duty (neither one of which have we purchased yet, so no reviews).
Then... there are the others....
For Mrs. Syndicate - its Dance Dance Revolution. Just like the freestanding video game of the same name - there is a pad for the floor, and dance moves projected on the screen while disco music plays. Entertaining, easy to explain, and fun for parties.
There is also... dare I say it.... Guitar Hero.
Now, I confess - I did not understand the appeal of the game. But, you pick up your axe, strum a few chords, and its instantly apparent. The music selections track certain demographic (if you were born anywhere in the early to mid seventies, this music is instantly recognizable - From classic rock to hair metal and beyond). Familiarity with the music is handy, because you get the "gist" of what kind of sounds you're supposed to be making.
After one or two tries where you're not in sync - you end up catching your pace, and off you go... Joan Jett, no problem. Poison... bring it on...
So, I might be a convert.
I'll let you know...
...after the next level.....