Phase: The Next Generation

I’ve been fighting the new generation iPod craze for awhile now. My flashy gold iPod Mini always seemed to be enough for me, even with the lack of a colorful display screen and less than sufficient storage space. My assumption has always been: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

All technological devices seem to be shrinking. Everything from cell phones to portable music players are getting smaller and smaller. I suppose I’ve become paranoid of news reports on cell phones exploding in peoples’ hands due to powerful electrical components being condensed into such small housing units.

I’m not so much a luddite as it may appear. Just a stubborn individual opposed to change.

I have not been tempted by the fruits of the new generation iPods. That is, until I heard about Phase.

Phase is a game that is available on the iTunes music store. Its format is similar to popular music based video games such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution. The only differences are that you can synchronize Phase with your iTunes library and it only costs $4.99.

It may seem silly that a simple game piqued my interest in the new iPod nano and iPod classic. But, ashamedly, it did.

I caved in and purchased an iPod nano with 8 gigs of storage. I have to say that I was excited to double my music listening capabilities, not to mention my media watching capabilities. I never thought that people would actually sit, stare, and watch a 2-inch screen for hours on end, but I have discovered that it is, in fact, pretty awesome.

Other than loading my music library, my main goal was to load Phase. However, I waited about a month to actually purchase Phase so that I wouldn’t have to admit doing so was one of my main goals.

I was not disappointed. Phase is a lot of fun to play. I have yet to sync my music with the game, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the limited playlist included.

It’s fairly addictive, and I was immediately reminded of an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that a game made for next generation iPods reminded me of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In all honesty, I can draw parallels between ST: TNG and just about anything.

The episode I have in mind is “The Game,” aired in the 5th season of the series. Essentially, Wesley Crusher returns home to the Starship Enterprise for his vacation from Starfleet Academy. He is welcomed home by a ship full of video game addicts under the influence of an evil mind controlling holographic game whose introduction is courtesy of the lovable Commander William Riker who obtained the devilish device from the hedonistic leisure planet, Risa. Once again, Wesley is obligated to save Enterprise from eminent destruction with the help of Ashley Judd.

I digress.

In short, I’m afraid that I’ll become a mindless drone to Phase.

I really wouldn’t mind because I’m having so much fun!

I definitely recommend paying the $4.99 and loading this entertaining program onto your next generation iPod today.