Over the past few weeks our intrepid Robyn Dobson has been working tirelessly, strumming virtual cords as she plays Activision’s upcoming [i]Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s[/i] for Snackbar’s upcoming review. The game, which ships a month from now, is shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated summer releases for the PlayStation 2, offering rhythm action enthusiasts some thirty “new” songs against which to test their hard rockin’ mettle.

However, with [url=http://www.snackbar-games.com/n2640.html]most of the tracks known[/url], it’s become painfully obvious to many that their favorite 80s band or song might not be represented in this latest title in the [i]Guitar Hero[/i] franchise. It’s true, that for a title that puts itself out there as representative of an entire decade of music, not only are some of the track selections questionable, but so too are the obvious omissions.

Granted, the build we have been playing was designed for preview purposes, and anything is subject to change, but the completeness of the game in our hands makes us quite confident in the realization that despite our wanting to the contrary, some things were simply not meant to be. Because of this, we’ve put together a small list of iconic bands and songs that should have been included in the game, but were left out. Licensing fees be damned.

[b]1. Def Leppard[/b] – While established in the 1970s, Def Leppard truly hit its stride in the 80s, becoming one of the most influential rock bands of the decade and a linchpin in what would later be referred to as “The New Wave of British Heavy Metal.” Yet, despite this, not one song from their four albums released during the 80s make an appearance on Encore. [i]Pyromania [/i]is particularly notable in that it managed to rank as the second most popular album in the US in 1983, being beat only by Michael Jackson’s iconic [i]Thriller [/i]album – another record mysteriously absent from this title. Seriously, WTF?

[b]2. Van Halen[/b] – Another band that traces its roots back to the 70s, Van Halen’s influences on 80s rock are almost too many to recall. The band’s monumental [i]1984 [/i]record produced a bevy of hit singles, including both hard rock and pop hits that garnered praise from both camps. How can you have a game about 80s music without a single lick from Eddie Van Halen, really?

[b]3. Bon Jovi[/b] – The rock and roll voice of New Jersey needs representation in an 80s rock game, and yet, inexplicably, Bon Jovi is nowhere to be heard. The band’s 1986 album, Slippery When Wet, gave us such rock anthems as “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” any of which would have found a welcome home in Encore‘s set list. Maybe making this list was a mistake…I’m starting to get depressed.

[b]4. Pat Benatar[/b] – The female singer’s 1980 chart topper “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” seems tailor made for [i]Guitar Hero[/i], as the song punctuated early 80s radio as one of the most popular songs of the era. Her Crimes of Passion album also produced the heavily MTV played “You Better Run,” another valid candidate for Encore as well.

[b]5. Dire Straits[/b] – Perhaps more electronic than some [i]Guitar Hero[/i] fans may enjoy, the guitar riffs in the intro to 1985’s “Money for Nothing” alone beg for rhythm game treatment. In fact, the song’s rocking guitar licks by Hal Lindes helped define the decade’s music video generation. Hey, Activision, I want my MTV!

[b]6. R.E.M.[/b] – Now, true, the bulk of Micheal Stipe and Company’s alternative rock band R.E.M.’s draw didn’t kick up until the 90s were well underway, the group’s poppy “Stand” quickly became an anthem for roller rinks across the county when it hit radio waves in 1989. The song is fast and fun, and has a great guitar undercurrent that would make it a worthwhile addition to [i]Guitar Hero[/i]’s set list.

[b]7. John “Couger” Mellencamp[/b] – The socially charged, farm boy lyrics of the 80’s “Couger” still ring out on 80s-themed radio stations today, though it’s the singer’s “Jack and Diane,” which creates a kind of Normal Rockwell-style lyrical painting, that is perhaps most deserving of a place on this disc. Plus, the song packs a pretty meaty guitar as well.

[b]8. INXS[/b] – This is perhaps a bit of a personal indulgence of mine, but any game claiming to be a window into the 80s that doesn’t feature Australia’s INXS is sorely incomplete. Honestly, you could create entire games based solely on the albums [i]Kick [/i]or [i]Listen Like Thieves[/i], but I have to say that the latter’s “What You Need” particularly stands out as perfect material for any guitar hero in training.

[b]9. Kenny Loggins [/b]- Kenny Loggins’ is perhaps a bit too cheesy for [i]Guitar Hero[/i] normally, but cheese was the aural h’orderve of choice in the 80s, and in this capacity his music was perfect. I defy you to listen to “Danger Zone,” a rocking cool track in its own right, and not come away weeping for its absence on this game. “Footloose” as well, though I can scarcely imagine a tougher song to play on Expert.

[b]10. George Michael [/b]- Speaking of cheese, George Michael’s early career is something that is perhaps best forgotten. However, the singer’s 1987 pop album [i]Faith [/i]gave us a string of great tracks, not the least of which was the record’s title track. George Michael’s ass is practically burned into the retinas of those who grew up watching MTV, and my fingers itch to rock out to “Faith.” Please please please don’t go away.

Some of my earliest memories are of gaming, be it at a Tandy computer adventuring through the undergrowth of planet Xenon, checking my inventory via a text parser while lost in The Great Underground Empire, or even making by way through traffic as an suicidal amphibian. Playing video games has always been a touchstone of who I am, so I suppose it’s come to little surprise to those around me that I have ended up working in the industry I do today, least of all my dad.

My father, while not an avid gamer – save for a period lasting from 1989 through 1991, which we all playfully refer to as the ‘Tetris Years’ – has always supported my hobby, while ensuring that as a hobby it did not overshadow my other, ‘real world’ responsibilities. I was always keenly aware that any princesses in need of saving would have to wait patiently in their dragon guarded towers until I took out the trash or finished my homework.

However, growing up there were those occasions in my youth that helped further my love of video games, not just as as solitary pastime spent in front of a glowing screen, but also as something that both my father and I could play together. While admittedly these represented a minor subset of the complete library of games played growing up, some of my fondest memories are of those times spent going head to head with my dad in Air-Sea Battle, or scouring the globe for Carman San Diego as he pored over an encyclopedia. My father even sat and helped me quell the racial and political tensions building between the Kindar and the Erdling, though truth be told neither of us had the slightest clue what was going on in Below the Root.

Now a father myself, I too have found myself staring down a similar, though perhaps more complicated path, knowing full well that as my son Joseph grows up, and sees the flood of games and consoles that come through our home, a line will have to be drawn as expectations are set. I think I’m up to the task, but even as my son turns just four years old on this Father’s Day, I can see my will may not as rigid as previously thought.

And maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t have to be. Within limits, gaming can be a tool for building stronger relationships between family members, just as it was some twenty odd years ago with my father and I. It just takes a bit of discipline, and just like any tool, the key is in using it responsibly. Joseph is perhaps an extreme example – I don’t know of many children who had a Game Boy gifted to them at their birth by Nintendo as a congratulations for coming into the world – but with the growing popularity of educational video game consoles and games from companies such as V.Smile and LeapFrog, any new or upcoming parent is advised to keep gaming on their parental radar.

Now, I know what you are thinking. There is a world of difference between these games and platforms that are tailor made for youngsters, and the more visceral experiences offered by conventional video games. And you’re right. However, save for a few extreme examples of overtly violent or vulgar games that are plainly labelled as being for adults only (remember the parent is the gateway for all games that are played in the home), every console or handheld on the market offers a bevy of engaging titles that can be not only fun, but also useful in bringing you and your offspring closer together.

Of course there are the obvious examples, mainly games based on popular children television properties or those tied to the day and date release of a popular movie, but the reality is so much bigger than I think most parents give credit. For example, from the time my son was barely able to support the weight of his own head, he’s had more toy cars than he could possibly count. My brother, an avid car enthusiast, made sure of this, and now my son is completely drawn to fascination when presented with anything with four wheels. Because of this, last year I introduced him to the world of EA and Criterion’s crash-centric racing series Burnout, and that, as they say, was that.

Using EA’s explosive racer as a jumping off point, Joseph and I now set aside short amounts of time several days a week, usually right before nap time or just after dinner, to play a racing game, and I have found my son’s tastes to be mildly eclectic, encompassing simulation style racers like Atari’s Test Drive Unlimited, to his current favorite, Motorstorm for the PlayStation 3, a game he affectionately refers to as “the buggy game.”

The sheer variety of experiences available for purchase on retail shelves these days is staggering, and while as with everything else in life moderation is key, video games are certainly not the societal ills that some paint them to be. As another personal example, the Guitar Hero franchise has become a household favorite in our home, with my wife and I passing the controller back and forth, most times with our son sitting on our lap bobbing his head to the music.

I cannot tell you how surreal it is to see Joseph rocking out to the likes of Warrant or Flock of Seagulls, but to him it’s just “the guitar game,” and I hope that like with me and my dad, he will look back and hold onto these years through photographs and dream-like recollections as something truly special.

As the world tips its collective hat to dads everywhere, Nintendo has announced the winners of its Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Father’s Day Challenge, which took place over the weekend at the Nintendo World store in New York. The event, which partnered dads with their kids in a bracket-style playoff to compete for the title of “Biggest Brain,” saw Rick and Michael Singer of Vienna, VA taking home the coveted distinction.

The father/son duo walloped more than 30 other teams in various mental exercises to take the crown. For their efforts, the Singers took home a Wii console and a copy of Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, which by the end of the day they were probably sick of anyway.

“I asked my son to come to New York with me for Father’s Day, but he said he’d only come if we could go to the Nintendo World store,” said Rick Singer. “We entered the Father’s Day Challenge to have fun, and had no expectations of winning. This was certainly a memorable experience.”

I like [i]Guitar Hero[/i]. Quite a lot, actually. However, after watching the latest video for the upcoming, now Neversoft developed sequel, I find myself holding my ears while asking whatever rock gods will listen Just what in hell went wrong. Granted the game is not out, and I my change my tune after playing it – I hope – next month at E3.

From what can be seen in the clip, it appears that the developers have seen fit to change up the game’s head-to-head mode by adding a variety of offensive and defensive power ups coupled with some of the most intrusive sound effects I’ve ever heard. The ‘clank’ that has always followed the missing of notes in [i]Guitar Hero[/i] is meant to be annoying, but here the good and the bad are accompanied with the gnashing of metal and other grating noises that obscure Living Colour’s otherwise fantastic “Cult of Personality.”

Power ups such as these, which include “broken strings” and “lefty notes,” could be a nice addition, but with such a proven formula, it seems a shame that any tweaks should soil the otherwise pure rocking experience. From what’s shown here, it looks like someone got a puzzle game in my rock concert, and just like with Dance Dance Revolution‘s battle mode, I’m none too pleased.