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Move over, Pin the Tail on the Donkey. You were but a cruel diversion for simple-minded prepubescents.

Sayonara, Scattergories. You too, Pictionary. Poker? Trivial Pursuit? Balderdash? Hungry Hungry Hippos? Welcome to the dark recesses of the closet.

Fact is, a group of friends aren't maximizing the night's fun potential if they're not playing "Rock Band." It is, quite simply, the greatest party game ever.

Let me assure from the sagest piece of my brain matter that "Rock Band" is like no other video game and can be played and enjoyed by anyone from snotty kiddies to nappin' old grannies. If you like music, you'll like "Rock Band."

Dropping $170 on a video game might sting, but here's what you get: the game, a microphone, a plastic, life-size guitar and a drum set with four color-coded pads, plus a kick pedal you stomp for the bass and a pair of legit sticks.

They all hook up together, transforming a group of three (or four, if you've got another guitar to unleash bass grooves) into a vicious gang of rock gods. All the instruments are responsive and easy to pick up, though the bass drum brings searing shin pain on harder songs and the guitar is prone to break. (This is a first-wave problem, and the developer will replace it for free.)

There are more than 40 songs to choose from, most by their original artists, and they include the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz," R.E.M.'s "Orange Crush," Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" and the Killers' "When We Were Young."

It's all fun, even singing. The mike reads the pitch in your voice, so as the words stream across the screen you've got to match the highs and lows. Plus, the louder you wail, the better your score. This makes for a lot of laughing — think karaoke with points at stake.

The guitar's not quite as responsive in rival game "Guitar Hero," but "Rock Band" is so much more enjoyable it doesn't matter.

Have a battle of the bands, start switching up who plays what, or form a band online with strangers (there are some lousy singers out there). Whatever. You can't beat it. "Guitar Hero" is a snack. "Rock Band" is three- or four-course fun.