Scott Hardie | October 14, 2007
I've decided to take an old suggestion from Aaron, and give each RB player a free card on their birthday. But not just any free card: You get to request any rock performer of your choice to be added to the game, and you'll get a copy of their brand-new card. Bands who have already been added to the game are ineligible. Request somebody super-famous if you want to get a free high-ranking card, or take the opportunity to add somebody obscure to the game who wouldn't get a chance otherwise. There has to be a decent color photo of this performer available (send me one if you like), as well as a video on YouTube.

This policy is retroactive to the start of the game, so Aaron, Kelly, Erik, and Adrianne, you get to go first. Please send me your requests using the "feedback" link at top. Miah will be next on October 29. If you play RB but don't have your birthday recorded, click on "options" at top to enter it, and please be honest about the date.

Unrelated announcement fyi: During my trip last weekend, I left the new band poll running, and got many more responses than usual. I've decided to run the poll weekly instead of bi-weekly so that more people get a chance to participate each time.

Erik Bates | October 14, 2007
[hidden by request]

Russ Wilhelm | October 14, 2007
It is rather overdue that I add something to my bio, eh?

Joanna Woods | October 14, 2007
About time people get to know something about you Russ...

Scott Hardie | October 14, 2007
I figured you left it blank for the same reason that you didn't provide a photo. But I'd love to read it if you fill it out.

Russ Wilhelm | October 14, 2007
Not necesarity for the same reason, but it started off due to not providing a photo. After that, I think it was pure laziness that kept me from doing it, but there's a short synopsis there now.

Tony Peters | October 14, 2007
actually I was born on OCT 21st which makes me next (yes I just entered my info and Amy will vouch for my birthday being in OCT)

Scott Hardie | October 14, 2007
It's all good. I figured this would inspire a few more people to enter their birthdays. :-)

Requests have been granted so far for Tony, Erik, and Kelly. Who's next?

Jacob Martin | October 14, 2007
Wow i just realized from all of this...im the youngest on this website lol (or at least that i know of but i highly doubt there is someone younger)

Erik Bates | October 14, 2007
[hidden by request]

Justin Woods | October 15, 2007
So what kind of bands are we going to have to pick from come April and May birthdays!!!

Russ Wilhelm | October 15, 2007
True, you may have to be creative come then, but there are plenty of bands out there. If your're worried about what rank they might be, present your case to attempt to get the level you think they should be, and why. You may not get an R10 but you may sway Scott into making it a higher level than he normally would. I can almost guarantee mine to be an R1, but it has to be included, and that's what was important in my choice.

Scott Hardie | October 15, 2007
Jacob, you are indeed the youngest user at the moment. We rarely attract young users, which has let me add a small assortment of adult content to the site with a clear conscience. But you're welcome all the same, and I'm glad to have you.

Justin, you should request some kind of obscure band that you like, that would never get into the game otherwise. So far the requests have been semi-mainstream, and that's fine, I want people to honor their favorite musicians. But I was also expecting more underground and local requests. There will be plenty of bands left in the spring; I have nearly a thousand bands on my list for future additions, and it grows steadily.

Erik Bates | October 15, 2007
[hidden by request]

Aaron Shurtleff | October 15, 2007
I'm torn for my choice. I'm leaning towards They Might Be Giants, but... I'm worried that I would pick a band/artist that would not be "rocking" enough. I don't want to be the one responsible for bringing the non-rock into Rock Block!

I'll be getting with you soon with my choice, Scott. It'll be rockin'...at leats a little bit.

Speaking of EoDM, I think I saw them in an Ask.com advertisement during the football game, and I thought to myself, "That's that band that was in the GOO game that what's-his-name requested!!" (That's full disclosure right there. I could have pretended I knew who requested it, but I didn't.) Very cool!

Joanna Woods | October 17, 2007
It is hard for me to think of band. Everyone I think of is considered a country music artist. I know what you are saying Aaron. I don't want to bring down the rock but I love my country music.

Scott Hardie | October 17, 2007
Aaron, less-rocking is ok. I'm the one who put up a video of "Baby Love" on the Supremes card.

JoJo, you list four favorite musicians in your profile. All four would be legitimate cards, and only one of them is so far.

Amy Austin | October 17, 2007
Aaron -- that should be an easy pick, dude... *Don't* disappoint me!

Joanna Woods | October 17, 2007
Out of the four listed in my profile there is only one that I sat in the cold and rain for.....That is my request....to everyone else you will have to wait to find out.....

Amy Austin | October 17, 2007
Isn't Reba on the banner for the video link discussion???

Amy Austin | October 17, 2007
I'd like to make an overdue suggestion, if I may... and I didn't want to bog down the enormous RB21 thread or start a new discussion, so... I hope this is all right...

Scott -- on the concert start pages... is there any way to integrate the level selection with the next step? I hate having to try and figure out the level before I can see my card selection, thus forcing me to either pick the highest level and then go to my cards and go back... or else open a new window to see my collection (which doesn't help much in the case of concurrent concerts, where some of your cards are preoccupied). It seems like kind of a big (enormous?) request -- due, in fact to the concurrency issue -- but I just thought I'd throw it out there... anyone else thinking such craziness???

Joanna Woods | October 17, 2007
I have started many concerts over trying to figure out what cards I want to play then having to change the level. Then again I like having a set number then making it work from there.

Scott Hardie | October 17, 2007
That is indeed Reba on the main menu this week. Good eye.

Long answer: My original plan for the Start a Concert form was to build it in ajax, a new web technology that allows you to query the database and display fresh data on the page without necessarily making the user refresh the browser or submitting a form. This would make the whole form one combined process instead of eight separate steps, and it would be much easier to pass values back and forth like you describe. What stopped me from doing this is that the logic was already very complicated and I didn't want to have to learn another new platform on top of php to pull it off; if I had gone that route, I'd probably still be coding it now instead of playing the finished game with you. Instead, I built eight separate steps, each with its own error-checking that requires previous steps to be complete. Thus, you can't choose five cards until it knows what level you intend to play, and putting those two choices in the same step isn't feasible without some rebuilding.

Short answer: Not at this time. I would like to rebuild the whole form to be a lot smarter, but I have bigger fish to fry at the moment and no time to fry them, sorry. Hang in there. :-)

Amy Austin | October 17, 2007
S'cool -- I knew it would be a complicated matter and expected pretty much that answer.

And don't you mean... "Goo-d eye"??? (insert Ralph Wiggum laugh here)

Jacob Martin | October 20, 2007
I'm surprised with myself. When my birthday rolls around i dont know what im gonna choose. Since Queen's already in the game, but if i had to i Think ill choose either Pantera or Jonny Lang. Seeing as i doubt they will be chosen by anyone or be in the game by then.

Scott Hardie | October 20, 2007
Jacob, when's your birthday? I don't have you on the list.

Jacob Martin | October 20, 2007
May 23

Scott Hardie | October 20, 2007
You're on. Mine's two days later.

Jacob Martin | October 20, 2007
Nice, thanks

Aaron Shurtleff | October 20, 2007
Ooh! Pantera is a great idea! I won't steal it.

Scott Hardie | October 20, 2007
Agreed. I think they'll be in the game before May.

Aaron, I'm still waiting for your card request whenever you're ready (and Adrianne's).

Lori Lancaster | October 20, 2007
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | October 21, 2007
I did. They were one of the top metal bands of the 90s; they'll show up in the game before long. Lang might take a little longer, but he'll show up too.

Lori Lancaster | October 21, 2007
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | October 21, 2007
Ha, I just started discussing it in RB. Let me move it here:

Academically, Nirvana has stature as one of the great rock bands in history, even though it's been less than two decades since they formed. They show up time and time again in critic's lists of the greatest rock bands.

Aerosmith has a lot of hit songs, and is very popular.

For what it's worth, I like both bands but love neither. I have no particular affection for one over the other. It's as objective as I can be.

Jacob Martin | October 21, 2007
I love Nirvana (im a dying breed). I love Aerosmith also, but seriously even though i love Nirvana so much i think the band is overrated and the members of Nirvana are underrated. I think the members are genius. Though i since ive been a kid dont get grunge. (i like music about happy stuff rather then that stuff.)(Probaly why i listen to Prince, Queen and, 80's metal =) ) thats just my opinion. Anyone agree??? My mother doesnt like Kurt Cobain cuz well she used to work at the Strawberries record chain headquarters. So she met Crazy amounts of ppl including Metallica, she made friends with Alice Cooper etc. So she asked Kurt Cobain to get her a coffee once when she at some big guys office (before Nirvana was huge) and he said no so she has an eternal hatred for him. (Overreact much?? lol)

Joanne Martin | October 21, 2007
Eternal hatred is so true. It was a french vanillia. After all Darrel Hall and John Oats felt the need to get me one.

Lori Lancaster | October 21, 2007
[hidden by request]

Jacob Martin | October 21, 2007
1. Ms Martin
2.Make sure its french Vanilla =)

Lori Lancaster | October 21, 2007
[hidden by request]

Aaron Shurtleff | October 26, 2007
OK, after much internal debate, I'm sending along my request to Scott for my birthday card. And I'll give you all a hint as to who I picked: This artist has a song called "It's Not My Birthday".

I am such an attention whore! ;)

[EDIT- OK, I didn't realize that typing It's Not My Birthday into Google would pull up exactly who it was in the first link... Sort of too big a hint! ;)]

Amy Austin | October 26, 2007
YESSSSS... I *knew* you wouldn't disappoint me, Aaron! Of course, now this means that *I* can't request them on *my* birthday... ;-( but... I'll be expecting to see an appearance in concert before then -- and maybe a play for trade on my birthday? ;-) (I'll take it on "not my birthday", too... ;-D)

Aaron Shurtleff | October 26, 2007
It's not my birthday so why do you lunge out at me?

Of course, I am required by..myself..to mention that depending on me not disappointing you is a dangerous gamble; one that you should avoid in the future. However, I am glad to have pleased you with my choice! :)

Well, let's see, as far as seeing it in a concert, not on your birthday, because that's the day in 1991 that "Steamin'" Steve Clark of Def Leppard was found dead, and as a loyal Def Leppard fan, that is a day of intense mourning, but previous to or afterwards (assuming you don't win it from me before then) would be fine. (And, yes, I remember exactly where I was when I first heard the news.. I am the uber-fan!) It kind of sucks to have a birthday on such a horrible day, but I guess that you had claim to the day first, so I'll let it pass this time! :)

By the way, let me just get this out of the way so you can ridicule me later on next week (or even Sunday morning): As a loyal graduate of the University of Georgia, I am required by mandate to state that the Dawgs are going to totally "whoop on" the Gay-ters at The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (which it will always be called, no matter what they think to change the name to!). Go Dawgs!!!

Amy Austin | October 26, 2007
Oh, geez. I did not know this, and I'm afraid that it really colors things now. Badd.

Also, I think you are taking the responsibility of "not disappointing" me waaaaayyyyyyyy too seriously. After all... it's not like you're asking me for a divorce.

So sorry for Steve and your personal tragedy... but... it is FAR from being enough to make my birthday "suck" -- period. I may feel sorry for folks whose birthdays fall on dates like 12/7... or... 9/11... or... five days before 9/11... but if my birthday were on one of those days, I would still have plenty o' reason to be Loud And Proud. So there.

Aaron Shurtleff | October 26, 2007
Oh, no, Amy, you misunderstand. It is, in fact, that I feel no responsibility to not disappoint you, which is why I said don't depend on me not doing it! ;)

What, being a graduate of UGA colors things? Does it color them red and black? :D

Although, I did tend to use the "I am required by X to say Y" thing twice in one comment... That's excessive.

And I didn't say your birthday sucks, just that it sucks that something tragic happened on that day. You can still be plenty "Loud And Proud" (not that you need my permission!). And really, it's probably only a tragedy to a few thousand diehard Def Leppard fans anyways.

But, none of that has to do with birthday cards. LOL!

And don't think I missed your not-so subtle reference to my own birthday! I'm just letting it go...this time. :P

Amy Austin | October 27, 2007
No, no... I understood perfectly -- and I think that if you look at what I said long enough, it will make sense... but maybe not to the beautiful retard. Or the retard born on 9/6.

Btw... I already said what it colored you -- BADD. ;-p

Amy Austin | October 27, 2007
Btw... if Kris happens to be reading, I have to say "happy birthday" to him -- I'm not starting birthday discussions anymore, but I do still like to make mention!!

Aaron Shurtleff | October 27, 2007
Ouch! Color Me Badd reference? That's low, even for you. :P

And I must be more retarded than I thought, because now I'm confused. Nothing new, though. Don't explain. I might figure it out on my own later, and then I can salvage some small satisfaction out of it...

Amy Austin | October 27, 2007
LOL... well, I'm glad that I didn't have to explain the CMB reference more than once... and you're right -- it's pretty low, even for me. ;-)

Scott Hardie | October 27, 2007
Sorry, i can't grant Aaron's request. I went with his second choice.

Aaron Shurtleff | October 27, 2007
See what I mean, Amy! ;)

He's probably saving it for your birthday. I am satisfied with my second choice. Glad I gave you a second choice now! :D

Amy Austin | October 27, 2007
???

Is this true? What was your second choice, Aaron... Color Me Badd??? It should be.

Aaron Shurtleff | October 28, 2007
It's true. My e-mail is down, so if there's a reason he privately e-mailed me, I can't read it, but I got my second choice (a little band called Savatage).

I should have asked for Queensryche. ;)

Color Me Badd? That's twice in two days. Are you a closet fan?

Scott Hardie | October 28, 2007
There is a reason, waiting for you to read when your email service returns.

Aaron Shurtleff | October 28, 2007
I figured there would be. :)

Amy Austin | October 28, 2007
A closet fan knows more than one song -- the answer to that is NO.

Matthew Preston | November 28, 2007
Question: If I start my own band, could that be my birthday card request?

Steve Dunn | November 28, 2007
Question: If I start my own band, could that be my birthday card request?

Are we talking about an actual band or a bunch of guys playing Rock Band? (Not that it necessarily matters).

Denise Sawicki | November 28, 2007
A color photo and a video on Youtube could be arranged for just about any band you start yourself, I'm sure. I don't think I'll request Darrell's band though, for the simple reason that if anyone other than me received his card in the exchange by accident they'd just be too pissed off. Ha ha ha.

Sorry, it's sadly a running joke how ridiculously unpopular his band is... I'm a big Cedars fan myself. :-P

Scott Hardie | November 29, 2007
They have other fans! One in Florida, at least. :-)

Yes, Matt, you could. Miah Poisson was in a band years ago and wanted to include them, but doesn't have good footage. I have his alternate request, but I still hope he can find a way to include his own band.

Steve, you were in a band for years too, right? I still hold out hope that you'll try the game even though I respect your decision not to, but there's another candidate. Same goes for Jesse Thomas, aka Mr. Gregoline, who is about to come out with an album, which I hope Anna does not mind me mentioning.

Eric Wallhagen | December 1, 2007
Whoops. I don't pay enough attention to the other areas of this site enough. I just added my birthday. w00t.

Lori Lancaster | December 1, 2007
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | December 1, 2007
Yes, any rock performer qualifies, no matter how obscure. I just need a 180x220 color photo, and preferably a YouTube clip. I'd rather not admit a band that doesn't have a YouTube clip because it opens the same floodgates as adding a black & white photo would, but I can be talked into it for a very special occasion. Even if you have just an audio recording and a photo, a YouTube clip can be manufactured.

Lori Lancaster | December 1, 2007
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | December 1, 2007
I did. You've given me a lot to watch. :-) If you want to pick a favorite, I'll change the official video to it.


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