As a rhythm game fanatic, I thought I’d share  my expertise within the genre (though my first loves are FPSs and RPGs) for those who are searching for the perfect gift for music game mavens such as myself. In this Holiday Gift Guide for the Musically Inclined, you’ll find a sampling of some of the best ideas for that rhythm gamer dear to your heart this holiday season. Get your credit cards ready and make sure you’re in tune, because I’m parading out a symphony of the best of the best, from this year and years past!

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The goddess of groove. The baroness of beats. The, er, well, you get the picture–I’m quite fond of music and rhythm games. Considering PaRappa the Rapper was my first taste of hot, steamy next-gen graphics (way back when), it’s only natural that my insatiable lust for all things musical began back then. And before the PS1, there was Tempo for the Genesis that incorporated musical motifs. It seems I was born to appreciate the more melodious notes of gaming. While I do enjoy every type of game out there, there’s a special place in my heart for those that get me flailing around on a dance mat or belting out tunes in front of friends and family. That’s why it gives me great pleasure to bring you my top ten music and rhythm games of all time. But everyone and their brother either owns or has played Guitar Hero or Rock Band, so don’t expect to find them on here.

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Are you anxiously counting down the days until you can bring home that sleek new DJ Hero controller and mix hip beats till your fingers bleed?  Here’s a little something to help make the wait a little easier (or maybe even harder) to bear. Get your groove on as Daft Punk mixes it up with Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
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John, Paul, George, and Ringo – four young men who would unknowingly change the face of the music world forever. Regardless of your personal opinion as to the quality of their work, one cannot deny their influence on the way music has been shaped over the years. With infectious hooks, haunting melodies, and musical trips, the Fab Four have entranced us for years with a song catalogue that had never before been allowed to see its way onto a rhythm title, and for quite a while it seemed as though this was an event that would never occur – that is, until now. Though, sadly, John Lennon and George Harrison could not live to see it happen, the day has finally come that the Beatles’ music has been extended a warm welcome into the world of music gaming. Using what can arguably be called one of the most accessible music titles to general audiences, Rock Band, The Beatles have finally been immortalized in digital form, complete with their likenesses, voices, and even photographs, and they are ready to sing with you via the magic and intrigue of The Beatles: Rock Band.

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While scrolling through my inbox today I almost fell out of my chair upon checking out the latest from Harmonix from their latest GamesCom announcements. As a goliath Beatles fan, my wait for the colossal release of The Beatles: Rock Band was made to feel even longer with the official announcement of the very first three downloadable albums from the Fab Four, as well as the unveiling of “All You Need is Love” as an additional DLC track for $1.99 on September 9, 2009.

In addition, CEO and founder of Harmonix Alex Rigopolus revealed some very juicy tidbits regarding upcoming tracks that could very well be hitting the Rock Band Music Store in the near future. Color me well excited. I’m chomping at the bit to get my Paul, John, George, and Ringo on as it is. So what are you waiting for? It’s time for another exciting Rock Band Roundup.

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What a load of trash, or more accurately, what a bunch of garbage. Shirley Manson, frontwoman of Garbage (likely well-known to many of you as Catherine Weaver) will be appearing in the upcoming Guitar Hero 5 in the vein of past characters such as Hayley Williams (gag me), Slash, Jimi Hendrix, and Ozzy Osbourne. She will be joining a currently unknown gaggle of other artists to be appearing onstage in the fifth installment of Guitar Hero. I’m actually pretty excited about this, considering Ms. Manson is a longtime favorite vocalist of mine. Good job, Activision!

If you’re anything like me then you’re just counting down the days until the much anticipated release date for The Beatles: Rock Band. We’ve seen a few snippets of the songs that will be included by way of E3 and the two wacky Beatles, Paul and Ringo, who behaved as if they were stoned out of their minds at the presentation, but we’ve been in the dark up until now. Harmonix has kindly responded to the fans’ demands for some light to be shed on the iconic band’s Rock Band venture, and has announced fifteen more tracks that will be coming on the disc. I know September can’t get here quickly enough.
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