Rock Band freeplay/competition updates! If you plan on playing, at least skim this.
1. I've got about three hours to work with this year, so I've decided to have TWO TOURNAMENTS/COMPETITIONS. I had to say both, because one isn't actually a tournament.
a. PERFORMANCE COMPETITION - This is the one for reaching down and dragging out your inner rock star. The performance comp is more about getting the audience into it, putting on a good show, and having fun. All skill levels are allowed, but it wouldn't hurt to actually be good at Rock Band before you...I don't know, enter a competition? Bands must contain at least four members, and judges will award stars based on individual effort, group chutzpa, and possibly SECRET UNLOCKABLE GOALS. It's almost like I'm still planning this thing out!
b. SCORE TOURNAMENT - This is SERIOUS BUSINESS. This isn't the tournament where you go "I'm pretty good at easy, I think I've got a good shot!" Because you are wrong. Bracket-style, starting with ~8 motley crews, until only one remains! Bands will compete using groups of time-tested songs from the Rock Band library, fighting for the biggest score and SWEET GLORIOUS CASH...which means there will be an entrance fee. The fee will be decided when I put out the sign-up sheet, because I know serious gamers like winning serious prizes, but don't always like forking out the money themselves.
2. Between myself and the other helpful furs who are shlepping their plastic instruments across the country, there should be no shortage of controllers to choose from. AND you're allowed to use whichever controllers you're more comfortable with. There should be at least two drum kits, probably one with cymbals, and one without. Your standard Rock Band keyboard, various guitar controllers spanning between Guitar Hero and Rock Band, MAYBE a pro guitar or two (those things are expensive...), multiple microphones (NO SWINGING THEM AROUND) and microphone stands. Two words that will describe the RB corner of the game room -- WELL STOCKED.
3. We will have ALL SONGS AVAILABLE as of a few days prior to Anthrocon, thanks to an awesome friend of mine. If we don't have it, it isn't in the game, and I don't want to hear you bitch about it (I'm looking at you, Muse fans...). Due to this massive list of available music to choose from, I've decided to print out a karaoke-style song book, to thumb through when you're not quite sure what to play.
4. When the tournament rolls around, if your band is entered, I want you to be there on time and ready to play. I don't want to hear "Oh, so-and-so will be here in fifteen minutes!". Anyone who has been in one of my tournaments knows how vulgar I can get on the subject of absent competitors (and my tendancy to remove my shirt). You can still play if someone is missing, but it definitely won't help the outcome.
5. You're allowed to enter both tournaments, BUT if the numbers are too huge, I'm going to make you decide which one you want to enter more. If you're expecting to destroy the score tournament, don't enter the performance comp just to make everyone feel bad.
6. There MAY be qualifiers. All that will be required is showing up with your bandmates in the video gaming room and playing a song together. I want to know you're serious about this, and not just dragging in a friend at the last minute to fill an empty spot.
7. Nobody wants to be that guy who ruins the run for everyone, so I'll have someone keeping an eye out for anyone misusing/potentially damaging any of the instruments. The harder you use them, the more wear and tear, and the more likely they'll break, and WE DON'T WANT TO REPLACE INSTRUMENTS MID-CONVENTION. I hate having to babysit, but that's how it has to be when people ignore the rules (which I will be writing a short list of, and keeping near the RB setup).
8. Have fun, and communicate with each other. If you're not sure who is next in line for an instrument, ask the people around you. If some friends want to get up and play as a group, tell everyone else so nobody thinks you're taking their turn. If someone gives you constructive criticism (i.e. "you accidentally hit me with the guitar" or "you're hitting the drum kit too hard") it's not a personal attack.
