I just got back from playing Rock Band 2 at Tyler's house, and I have to say, it is a major let-down. New Stuff: The thing that most stands out about Rock Band 2 is the Battle of The Bands function. Knowing that somewhere in the world some guy is crying over ...

Rock Band 2 is set to be released this Sunday! (For the Xbox 360, at least.) As usual, ARSON News will be there to review it. In the meantime, here's a list of the top ten features you can look forward to.

They have obscure inside jokes, such as "i liek mudkips" and "pool's closed". They come together in large group events like ROFLcon as well as virtually on sites like 4Chan. They often make the claim that females do not exist within their ranks, though evidence suggests otherwise. They worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Google, and Longcat. They - we - are not a cult, we're the internet… or are we? Wikipedia (say what you will about it, I like it) defines a cult as "a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding population considers to be outside the mainstream." So, do you feel that the internetters fall into that description?

In these times, Guitar Hero is no longer “just a game” — it’s a way of life. Okay, maybe not that much. But it’s definitely gotten to the point where you can ask any person on the street about the game, and nine out of ten times they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about and be able to play on at least medium. This guide will show you how to go from “that guy who was playing on easy”, to “that crazy guy who FC’d Through the Fire and Flames on expert”.

Hello, everyone! I was thinking of starting a new site where I could talk about things not immediately technically related as I do on my blog. Then I realized something. I created a site where I could do that quite a while ago. I worked on it for a while. Then I let it die. I'm talking, of course, about The Association for Reason and Societal Outreach Now, which I'm sure you know better as ARSON news. So, to David, Cole (are either of you subscribed, even?), and anyone else who subscribes to this feed (I'm really surprised you stayed subscribed this long!) I will make you a promise. Before mid-August, I will get this site back up, with content and whatever else is necesary.

The first thing everyone notices about Rock Band is the fact that it is more or less a copy of the widely revered Guitar Hero. The second thing the notice is that it has two more instruments: drums and vocals. To all the ignoramuses out there who said "What the hell, they're stealing Red Octane's idea!" You all deserve to be fed to Swedish mountain goats because the guys who made Rock Band are THE SAME GUYS who made GH1 and GH2. Let me explain: After Guitar Hero 2 was made, the developers, Red Octane and Harmonix, split up. Red Octane went on to make Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (disappointing), and Harmonix went on to make Rock Band. And their "idea" isn't actually theirs: there have been several games before Guitar Hero which attempted to accomplish what the GH series did. But enough about that. I'm going to point out everything Harmonix did right and wrong in Rock Band.