My fifth year aniversary as a Gamespot member has come and passed. Whether that is something to be proud of has yet to be determined. In any case, a lot has changed since I first visited this site in the late 90's. Things in my own life, and especially the site itself. If you wont take my word for it, try the Way Back Machine.
I was a Junior in High School when I registered my account, and I'm now a Senior in college. Things such as the hell that was the site redesign in October 2005, Greg K leaving, and the whole Jeff controversy are memories that I won't be likely to forget. In fact, the Jeff controversy was the reason I cancelled my subscription. I don't visit the site nearly as often as I used to, due to various reasons. Though I would be lying if I said that I would stop visiting this site altogether. Something will always lure me back.
If there is anything that I've taken away from this whole experience, its that nothing lasts forever. Whether its a cool community on a video game website, or a reputable editoreal team, or for you Bond fans, Diamonds.
I have to say, there is nothing like playing imaginary instruments in public with people you just met 5 minutes ago. However, it can be inredibly fun particularly if the music is great, and the people you are playing with are pretty darn cool.
That was the situation I found myself in a couple weeks ago while I was sitting in the Student Union watching the Akron/VCU game on the big screen at my university. I was the only one watching the tv which is in a public viewing area with stadium seating (4 or 5 rows of seats). Some people who were visiting BashCon (wich is an annual gaming convention on campus), asked me if I didn't mind them playing Rock Band there (I couldn't believe my luck!). Of course I didn't object. and They asked me if I wanted to play!
Now, I had played a little of the original Guitar Hero, and got to the point where I could complete some songs on medium, but I hadn't played it in about 2 months. My sister had borrowed it from one of here friends, and she was much better at it than I was. Nevertheless, I gave it my best shot and got 95% with the guitar on easy. I barely made it through medium though, and had to be saved once, ugh.
I think the most interesting thing about Rock Band is the Drum Set. Its decidedly more difficult than the Guitar, and more like the real thing. I don't think I got through a song once (I was close), but I have to say that if your a real drummer, you'll probably be at home with this game. And if you aren't, and your really good with the Rock Band Drum Set, consider being a real drummer. The pedal thing is what threw me off though, not to mention a general lack of technique. There was a 10 year old girl there who was pretty darn good with the drums, and made me look really bad.....really really bad.
I had a good laugh watching someone sing "Timmy & The Lords of the Underworld", which was rather amusing if I may say so; and I will. A couple people there weren't half bad at ye old vocals.
Alas, it had to come to an end, and I had to go to work, even though I wanted to call in sick (I need to brush up on my sick voice and fake coughing) 
. It was a pretty darn fun experience playing Rock Band in front of about 20 people (which slowly grew from just me, and the two guys who brought Rock Band). I just happened to be at the right place at the right time on a frigid February Weekend. 
To my suprise (and apparently Glen Beck's chagrin), my city was voted 3rd most liveable in its population category (200,001-750,000) in the world, taking home the silver award. I always thought that because our population is declining slightly (though not as much as other major cities in the region), and that corporations are moving out of the city (usually to neiboring suburbs) on a pretty consistent basis, that we would never get any sort of recognition, especially for most liveable.
Despite these drawbacks, I've always known that Toledo was an easy place to live (as long as you can find employment). Low cost of living, the fact that traffic jams are a rareity, very stable weather (we hardly ever get any real bad storms), and good city services are reasons why I feel that Toledo was nominated for this award. So I think we deserve a pat on the back for this one, and notch one point on the scoreboard for the rust belt.
Heres a link to the Livecom Awards, check caegory D:
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