Ok, really need some help. Before I recently decided to modify my PS2, I purchased Guitar Hero and Beatmania as it finally hit America. I just purchased IIDX red, the reason why I decided to modify my PS2 in the first place, 'cause I knew this would give me plenty of songs to keep me busy as far as Beatmania goes. I enjoy playing Beatmania more so than Guitar Hero as of now, though I highly enjoy it, I've been playing guitar for at least 7 years now so I caught on pretty quick. If I want a challenge I have to constantly play songs on expert like Bark at the Moon and Get Ready to Rokk. I'm still unexperienced with the Beatmania series so low level Light7 songs are still a challenge to me. Maybe this is because I just purchased IIDX red and I'm still unfamiliar with the tracks. Anyway, when I found out I was going to have to wait until November for the Guitar Hero sequel, I looked into the Guitar Freaks series which I was completely unaware of. After coming across this knowledge and a few video clips, I saw the intensity of the tracks within the series. Then I found out that the most recent Guitar Freaks title had the Drummania accompaniment, and the thought of a rhythm game jam session probably got me way too excited. One thing led to another and I just began to enlighten myself with the knowledge of the variety of the Bemani series. I was completely unaware of these games, along with Pop'n Music and Keyboardmania. Though IIDX plays a good challenge for me as of now, I was always one of those kids who had a short attention span for video games, so I decided to quest for a new rhythm game. I have no idea which direction to go so I've decided to ask for everyone's opinion. This would be a lot easier if I'd have a chance to sample the games but unfortunately I'm unaware of an arcade with any such consoles available.
Pop'n Music - Looks like a really fun game. Though it is not eligible to make me acquaint with an actual musical instrument.
Keyboardmania - This looks like an awesome game! This could help me with my piano skills (now if it could magically teach me to read music, my choice would be made).
Drummania - This game looked awesome in a few videos I viewed. Of course, the boy in the video was getting scores so high it might have made the game look a lot more cool, when it won't be so cool when I can't coordinate my hands and foot just as good, but that's what practice is for
. Probably the best bet to go with in gaining skill in an actual instrument. I've drum for a while now, but not traditionally, so this could help.
Guitar Freaks - If I went with this or Drummania I could always obtain the other controller at a later date to perform jam sessions with friends, which would be totally awesome. The only problem I have with this one is the lack of pinky use (a very important finger in the world of guitar). Might be better to wait for GH2.
As I said before, I've been playing guitar for at least 7 years now. For a while I quit playing my actual guitar in exchange for time with GH and after picking up my actual guitar again, I felt like I hadn't gone a day without practice. In fact, I felt more in touch with it after the GH experience, I wasn't rusty at all! I feel that rhythm games really help with musical performance and that's what I really look for with these games. Though games like Pop'n Music can't help you to be better at an actual instrument, the ability to catch the rhythm will still enhance your skill in rhythm. I have a great ear for music, I've always been able to hear a song and play it back whether it be on guitar, piano, or singing. Whether you're born with an ear for music, or your acquire one later in life, after that, it's just a matter of rhythmic stamina. How long and how well can you keep the beat? I think that's the biggest problem with most musicians. I've seen people who can shred on a guitar like any other solo guitarist, but they can't keep a rhythm for the life of them. My father, who has been playing guitar since my age, can only say "so when are they going to make a game that teaches kids to read music?" Haha, there are such games, they're just not as fun. These games may not teach us to read music, but I can guarantee you they help with getting the true "feel" of music. Does anyone else agree? On top of that, back to my original dispute, which direction would you go in as far as investing in a new rhythm game?
Decisions, decisions... 
