I was doing really well; for over two years, I’d managed to get by without ever picking up a plastic guitar and fake-rocking out to Guitar Hero. But Activision’s persistence prevailed, and last week it finally got its hooks into me. As a result, I now have a sticker-adorned Gibson X-plorer which inexplicably makes me feel heroic whenever I pick it up.

But seriously. Guitar Hero is a good time and a nice departure from more typical games, and we decided to pick up an extra guitar so we can both play at the same time (either guitar/bass or lead/rhythm, depending on the song). If it sounds nerdy, that’s because it is. If it sounds stupid, then you haven’t played it.