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New Guitar Hero Drumset Showcased

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the new-challenge-means-continued-lack-of-sunlight dept.

Kotaku is just one of many to have captured a recent showcase of Guitar Hero World Tour by Activision's CEO, Bobby Kotick. They have a nice video highlighting gameplay on the fancy new drumset. Looks like Guitar Hero is really turning up the heat in the ongoing war with Rock Band for dominance.

75 comments

  1. What the... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Wouldn't that game be called Drum Hero?

  2. Drumming... by Notquitecajun · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Rock Band drumming on "expert" probably has the MOST skill required of any of the instruments. The REALLY hard levels require you to be an actual decent drummer to play the thing.

    1. Re:Drumming... by ChowRiit · · Score: 1

      Well, how much can you simplify playing drums?

    2. Re:Drumming... by Tenebrousedge · · Score: 4, Funny

      The rock band drum set requires you to have good coordination and rhythm, which are qualities that will make you a good drummer. The motions used in Rock Band are pretty similar to what actual drumming is like, but not equivalent. Take someone who has only played Rock Band and sit them in front of a real drum set, and they would probably require a significant amount of practice before being able to e.g. keep good time without a soundtrack, show up on time to rehearsal, or have a girlfriend. You know, like real drummers do...

      --
      Those who advocate genocide deserve every protection afforded by law, and none afforded by common human decency.
    3. Re:Drumming... by 1729 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I'm an experienced drummer, and I was completely baffled by Rock Band's drum kit. None of the patterns felt like "real" drumming (both in terms of the kit layout and the rhythmic feel), and the small sticks and plastic pads made it difficult to use proper sticking techniques. I didn't try expert mode, though, which some people claim is actually easier for real drummers.

    4. Re:Drumming... by Danny+Rathjens · · Score: 1

      I played Rock Band at a party a couple weeks ago. The drums were indeed much harder than the guitar or singing. The bass drum foot pedal is what adds to the complexity (and calf-ache :). The drums also require bigger physical actions to hit a specific drum rather than just push a button right next to your finger and strum on the guitar.

    5. Re:Drumming... by joggle · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You should consider buying a real pedal modified for the game (see here for more info). You can also try the sock mod to make the drums more sensitive.

    6. Re:Drumming... by 1729 · · Score: 1

      If I had my own copy of Rock Band, I'd be inclined to set up my electronic practice kit to work as a controller:

      http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20420

    7. Re:Drumming... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

      The Rock Band drumming on "expert" probably has the MOST skill required of any of the instruments.

      Ah, so it's the opposite of real life.

      Now now, drummers, don't get mad, I have a lot of respect for you. My father is a drummer after all, and I wouldn't even be here if drummers were capable of following the "rhythm method".

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    8. Re:Drumming... by hardburn · · Score: 1

      I played the drums way back in middle school, but not much since. I also have a friend who is really good at the drums, but he's completely baffled by the Rock Band set. The reason, it seems, is that good drummers don't really follow notes by rote, but listen to the music and come up with a pattern that works with it.

      That said, if you can play the harder levels of drums in the game, you probably have what it takes to be at least an adequate drummer on a real set.

      --
      Not a typewriter
    9. Re:Drumming... by mrbcs · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Excuse me ... Bull Farking Shit. It amazes me that people buy this thing. I am a drummer with 20 years experience and it's exactly the same motions and training. How do you think drummers learn timing? umm, by playing to albums, cd's etc. You could move that one pad and you'd have an electronic drum set.

      I would bet that you could take one of these drummers, sit them in front of a kit, and they could actually PLAY a song. Not like that joke of a guitar thing. My God! I have no talent or patience to learn an instrument so I'll spend close to the same amount of money to basically masterbate in front of a tv.

      In my not so humble opinion, this is the biggest joke I've ever seen. If you can play this "game" you can play drums. You can buy a decent begginer kit for under $500.

      --
      I'm not anti-social, I'm anti-idiot.
    10. Re:Drumming... by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's not really masturbation.

      It's Simon with a really intricate skin.

      But really, who cares? If someone wants to play Red Steel instead of learning how to fence, that's their prerogative too. Surgeons don't get uppity about Trauma Centre, do they?

      I've been playing Baritone for almost 20 years. I guarantee you that there's a community band out there who would like to have another percussionist join. Heck, we'd like to see someone whose interest in music has been kindled by the fun they had playing Rock Band or GH:WT.

      Should I tell you that several of the people I'm in the band with get together and play RB? I'm a reasonably good singer, too - I spent 8 years in a Convert Choir and have nearly perfect pitch. (Thanks to a quirk in my physiology, my natural speaking voice is a perfect D.)

      And for those who enjoy irony, I sing baritone. When I sing, I can't read treble clef. When I'm playing brass, I can't read bass clef.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    11. Re:Drumming... by Essron · · Score: 1

      I play music too (bass and a little drums) and I love to hate on Guitar Hero on principal, but I have to admit this interface has far more potential to work like a real instrument than the silly guitar doohickey. Could have a lot of value for training a real student without the noise and with fewer lessons.

      Since it appears to track velocity, it probably has a midi output, which means someone will hack it to be a synth controller, which would be really cool and make me, a musician who loves to mock guitar hero, have to stop mocking guitar hero, if the hero is playing drums, thru a synth. Might make for an interesting and cheap electronic instrument even if its not geared for normal kit use.

      You could set a learning workstation like that up right now with midi drums to "play with albums", maybe a sequencer and a giant screen but the cost and level of knowledge required make it untenable for a student. I'm sure some wealthy folks have this set up so that they don't have to hear how bad of a drummer their spoiled kid is.

    12. Re:Drumming... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting


      Ah, so it's the opposite of real life.

      I play both drums and guitar. I really cant say one's easier than the other.... they're just different instruments to me. Imho, the competition between them is just in the heads of some musicians, especially those who get special satisfaction out of "being a drummer", "being a guitarist", instead of what it should be: "Making Music".

      think in terms like "drummers" it's necessary to be better than the other band members.

      What i do know though, is that i gotta jump around and make it a performance act to get sweating with my guitar. I *can* just sit back and play it lazylike.

      Drumming usually is a tougher experience for me, physically. You can play drums lazylike, just not as lazy as guitar. Also, drumming can feel like a sports game by itself. Guitar does not. You'd have to be jumping *while* playing guitar.

    13. Re:Drumming... by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I am a drummer with 20 years experience and it's exactly the same motions and training.

      Really? These games teach people the proper wrist action to play drums? Dynamics? Paradiddles? The multiple-bounce roll? ANY rudiments at all? No?

      You've got the prickish attitude down, but I think you need to go back to drum school before you can call yourself a drummer.

    14. Re:Drumming... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, it teaches proper wrist action and paradiddles, for those who play enough to figure out sticking. The multiple-bounce roll is pretty easy to learn. Have you ever played Rock Band drums?

    15. Re:Drumming... by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      It's not Simon, because you actually get to see the notes as you have to play them. Simon on the other hand required you to memorize the sequence it played (which often made no musical sense), and be able to keep up. I remember I had a portable Simon, and I actually beat it, because it only had a memory of 20-30 (32??) moves.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    16. Re:Drumming... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OH SNAP YOU SAID RUDIMENTS

    17. Re:Drumming... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

      think in terms like "drummers" it's necessary to be better than the other band members.

      Oh, I agree man. I didn't want to start a fight or anything. Getting your ask kicked by a drummer sucks, you know? It's not just the pain and humiliation. It's that you never know when the next blow is going to come.

      Yeah, I got a million of em. ;)

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    18. Re:Drumming... by LordSnooty · · Score: 1

      I call it Klax with licensed music.

    19. Re:Drumming... by tlacuache · · Score: 1
      As a guitar player (actual wood and strings, not plastic), I've also viewed Guitar Hero with some distaste for the same reason: "Why not just learn how to actually play the guitar?" I've played the game a few times, and it was more fun than I thought it would be, but I couldn't help thinking the whole time, "I can play this song much better in real life..."

      I've read about an upcoming game called Guitar Rising which looks to have a promising concept for me:

      Guitar Rising is a music video game where the player plays a real guitar as cued by the game's visuals. Following rock music sequences and streaming notes, players play guitar melodies and rhythms. Beginner difficulty levels are designed for non-guitar players and hard difficulties will challenge experienced guitarists.
    20. Re:Drumming... by Tabernaque86 · · Score: 1

      Not like that joke of a guitar thing. My God! I have no talent or patience to learn an instrument so I'll spend close to the same amount of money to basically masterbate in front of a tv.

      I think you're missing the point of playing a game.

      Or do I need to enlist in the army before I can play an FPS ever again?

      Then again, joining a hippie farm before playing Viva Pinata again might be an interesting experience.
    21. Re:Drumming... by Reapy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because guitar is hard as fuck. Before I eventually got rock band (play drums all the time now ) I've had zero musical training, and had just bought a guitar and was trying to teach myself via videos/books whatever. All I ended up being able to do is play a few chords and bore myself trying to learn scales. So after a few months I could finally comfortably get into chord positions, and kinda sort switch in a second or two (not fast enough to play a song correctly), I still couldn't play ANYTHING I wanted to play. Every time I tried to get tabs, people would all be like, oh this song is easy, and it did look easy, and then I tried to play it, and I just did not have the hand speed to keep the rhythm of the song.

      So guitar hero in 3 minutes i'm "playing" a song that I like. Real guitar, a few months in I just put the thing down out of frustration. I kinda half want to play the guitar, but I don't really want to take the years it would take to do it right.

      Now, someone trying to learn guitar hero III on expert, i can see, maybe they should seriously think about picking up a real guitar, but if someone just wants to have a good time playing on med/hard difficulty, theres no sense in learning the real thing unless you want to.

    22. Re:Drumming... by Spectre · · Score: 1
      I'd have to agree.

      My buddy teaches drumming at the Paul Green School of Rock Music (Kansas City branch).

      A few weeks ago, he had a prospective student come in, say he wanted to apply to the school to see if he could learn to play "real drums".

      When asked what he meant, he said he was doing well at Rock Band on drums in "expert".

      It took all of fifteen minutes to acclimatize to a real drum set, and the kid is already many months ahead of being a "beginner" on the drums.

      --
      "Flame away, I wear asbestos underwear"
    23. Re:Drumming... by JCSoRocks · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you really should have played expert. Even just as a musician (but not drummer) I found it confusing at times playing some of the lower difficulties on the drums. You'd hit the snare once for every 4 times it was really hit. Or you'd hit the kick once instead of three times. Give it a try on expert - it can be tough, but it's a lot of fun.

      --
      You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
    24. Re:Drumming... by pklinken · · Score: 1

      Now _that's_ masturbation!

    25. Re:Drumming... by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      It is the 90s.. and it is time for KLAX.

      That game and the Zeldas probably got more playtime on my original NES than any other.

    26. Re:Drumming... by Ninja_Popsicle · · Score: 1

      I would bet that you could take one of these drummers, sit them in front of a kit, and they could actually PLAY a song. Not like that joke of a guitar thing. My God! I have no talent or patience to learn an instrument so I'll spend close to the same amount of money to basically masterbate in front of a tv. Obligatory anti-anti-Guitar Hero/Rockband response: http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20070509
  3. pretty worthless preview... by psychicninja · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It doesn't even show Chad playing the drum pads. All that told us is that they're pressure sensitive... great. I would have like to have seen his reaction to playing it; not just his reaction to hearing about what it was.

  4. gh could be better than rock band by Dart524 · · Score: 1

    well then all gh4 needs is a great soundtrack now and i think they would win in a competion. If they keep the gh note style it would defenitly look better

    1. Re:gh could be better than rock band by flitty · · Score: 1

      I'm TOTALLY looking forward to a Chad Smith/ Neal Pert "boss battle", playing drum solo's that they concoct in the depths of hell. Also, looking at the track listing for all the Activision GH's (80's, GH3, and Aerosmith), i'm not hopeful for a decent set list. Seriously, go look up the GH:80's track listing and tell me someone wasn't fired for those choices. If they weren't, they should be.

      --
      Whether or not there is some sort of god, I'm not supposed to say/god is a word and the argument ends there-Smog
    2. Re:gh could be better than rock band by nordee · · Score: 0

      Actually, Rock the 80s was done by Harmonix. Neversoft/Activision took over for GHIII

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_hero#Expansion

      Disclaimer: I work for Harmonix.

      --
      still no sig
  5. another drum set? by Harlequin · · Score: 1

    Here's the obligatory I don't need another plastic drum set in my house comment. Plus, with Activision blocking the Les Paul compatibility with Rock Band for ps3 patch, I don't feel the need to support GH or have incompatible instruments sitting around.

    1. Re:another drum set? by hardburn · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I was thinking about that problem the other day. The Rock Band set is a normal USB HID device, and I wrote a program a while back to play sounds on a normal computer when the pads are hit (link for the interested). Presumably, the GH kit will also be a USB HID device, so if they're not compatible, then it should be possible to easily create an adapter using an AVR USB device that translates codes between the games. For that matter, it should be possible to do the same for guitars.

      --
      Not a typewriter
    2. Re:another drum set? by JCSoRocks · · Score: 1

      I've been thinking this myself. I think that most of the people that want rock band have bought / will soon purchase rock band. As an owner of rock band, this new game looks cool and everything, but I really don't need yet *another* set of drums and guitars and mics laying around. That crap already takes up a ton of space in my tiny living room. What am I going to do with 2 sets? eesh.

      --
      You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
  6. Harmonix is screwed by AKAImBatman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Looks like Guitar Hero is really turning up the heat in the ongoing war with Rock Band for dominance.
    Especially when it comes to the most popular console in this generation: The Wii.

    Harmonix got a lot of bad press lately for declaring that the Wii version would have no online play, no band tour support, no custom characters, no DLC, no support for the GHIII guitar, and just about every other major feature removed or gimped.

    Harmonix has tried to pass the blame on to every possible target, especially Nintendo and Activision. Yet Activision already had most of the features in GHIII that Harmonix removed from Rock Band. Now with GHIV, Activision is announcing every feature that Harmonix claimed was impossible to support on the Wii, AND they have the full band support. Which further makes Harmonix look like they're trying to gyp customers.

    The truth is that Harmonix had a contracted developer do a cheap-o port of Rock Band to the PS2. Since the PS2 had the weakest hardware of the last generation, they replace the game visuals with FMV and hoped that no one would notice. (Thus the lack of character creator.) At some point, some Harmonix or MTV exec got the bright idea that doing a quicky port of the PS2 revision (which is completely inappropriate for a console of the Wii's caliber, regardless of its graphical capability in comparison to the 360/PS3), thus resulting in a ton of missing features. Especially things that didn't make sense on the PS2. (e.g. No networking meant no online play or DLC. And the more massive FMV wasn't a problem since no one could download new songs anyway.)

    Honestly, I think Harmonix would do a lot better if they just owned up to their mistakes and worked to correct them in the future. Instead, they keep blaming Nintendo for all their problems. As a result, I've decided that Harmonix does not need my $170. I'll be saving it for GHIV.
    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    1. Re:Harmonix is screwed by morari · · Score: 1
      My thoughts exactly. The fact that Guitar Hero IV will be coming to the Wii with features intact only solidified my distaste (to put it nicely) for the Wii port of Rock Band.

      Besides, I heard Guitar Hero IV is going to pit you against Ted Nugent on Stranglehold as a Boss Battle. Beat that, Rock Band! :P

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
    2. Re:Harmonix is screwed by Atomm · · Score: 1

      I am with you. I am having a blast with my WII and GH3, even if I am terrible at it. I was going to buy Rock Band and was still considering it, even though I was disappointed with the PS2 port. However, now that GH4 is going to include everything Rock Band has and more, not to mention I have a GH3 Guitar already, I'm going to save my money for GH4: World Party! Rock On Guitar Hero!

      --
      RTFG - Read The F#$%ing Google!
    3. Re:Harmonix is screwed by loafula · · Score: 1

      Lets not forget that in the Wii version of GHIII, the songs do not play in stereo.

      --
      FOXTROT UNIFORM CHARLIE KILO
    4. Re:Harmonix is screwed by AKAImBatman · · Score: 1

      They fixed that. And sent replacement discs to everyone who had the problem.

      There's definitely plenty to be upset at Activision for, but at least they own up to their mistakes after being caught. Harmonix just sticks their fingers in their ears and sings, "LALALALALALANINTENDOLALALALALAICANTHEARYOULALALALA".

      --
      Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    5. Re:Harmonix is screwed by morari · · Score: 1

      They also sent everyone who suffered from the mono sound a complimentary faceplate for their guitar controller. It may not be much, but it was a decidedly unexpected bonus. It almost made me feel as if they cared about the consumer... ;)

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
  7. I'm actually by abolitiontheory · · Score: 1
    impressed. That video was really impressive, and the fact that they have Travis from Blink 182 (yes, let the hating begin now) doing mo-cap is awesome.

    Obviously Guitar Hero has the budget to do this kind of thing, and it's all publicity and hype for their set, but I think they're doing a pretty good job on this. It still just rubs kind of weird when you realize that the closer and closer they get to the real thing, the more people are just going to want to play the real thing. I don't know about you, but that video actually made me wish I was real drummer more than anything else.

    Power to Guitar Hero. As long as the competition between you and Rock Band is fair and lively, the consumer benefits! Yay competition.

  8. Stupid by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Anyone who actually plays the drums can spot this as garbage from planets away. It isn't even set up like a real set... it is set up as a midi instrument like one of these instead of an actual drum set, like one of these.

    You need a foot pedal. Your snare should be between your hi-hats (I don't even see any... am I supposed to ride the crash?) and your toms, which are best on a DIFFERENT level than your snare.

    It is a glorified midi drum kit. Not a drum set.

    --

    "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
    1. Re:Stupid by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 1

      First link SHOULD have been here

      --

      "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
    2. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And I heard the guitar controller isn't a real guitar either. WTF?

    3. Re:Stupid by Cornflake917 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Anyone who actually plays the drums can spot this as garbage from planets away. It isn't even set up like a real set Damn, I never would have guessed. Well, at least the guitars are still completely identical to real-life guitars.
      --
      Abaddon: An Xbox 360 Indie game
    4. Re:Stupid by Negatyfus · · Score: 1

      Get this: it does not matter. Of course you do realize that every drummer's setup is different. The great thing is that after a certain level of expertise, it really doesn't matter where your drums are located. You get used to them and hit where you need to. You can ride your crash, not a problem. You can ride your floor tom for all that matters. I'm more concerned about the pads and how natural they feel compared to actual skins. That is, my real kit has mesh skins for practice, but I'll prefer real skins for the feel they have any time. Location and number of pads? Not so important. Oh, and the kit has a pedal, like Rock Band has, too. What I want is twin pedals. :)

    5. Re:Stupid by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      What's your opinion of the more advanced electronic drum kits.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    6. Re:Stupid by Atriqus · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, and while we're at it, everyone should stop playing GTA since it doesn't even come close to operating a gun, or a helicopter, or a.... what was that? Nintendo has a bowling game and you don't actually throw a 12 pound ball at your television?! Heresy I tell you!

      Oh, and that was sarcasm. I thought it was obvious, but since you're so dense as to completely miss the fact that it's just a damn game, I thought I'd point it out for you...

      You Welcome, BTW. :)

      --
      Hey, look! It's Bono's brother.
    7. Re:Stupid by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 1

      Ill reply to you since you are the last reply that I see, and an obviously someone who enjoys getting mad.

      GTA simulates what you would do if you were to steal a car and go on a killing spree. What would make stupid if it was Big Bird going on a killing spree using a blimp.

      The Wii bowling simulates actual bowling... just like you would expect. You move your arm in an underhanded throwing motion to knock down the pins as best you can. Stupifying it would be like throwing a banana down the street to knock down homeless guys.

      Guitar hero at least has an instrument shaped like what you are simulating, even if the handling is simplified, the concept is still the same.

      This drum is NOT a drum set, but a glorified set of bongos, with sticks. Sure, there is nothing wrong with that, but, jesus christ, don't make the ignorants think this is how a rock band drummer plays the drums. It is flat out wrong. What would you say if guitar hero came with a harp controller instead?

      --

      "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
    8. Re:Stupid by morari · · Score: 1

      Heh. I have the exact drum set. It's been good to me for over a decade now.

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
    9. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, it is a game controller, not a drum set.

    10. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What would make stupid if it was Big Bird going on a killing spree using a blimp. Stupid? That would be entirely awesome. Show me where to buy/download that game - I'll play it for a year!
  9. but seriously Re:I'm actually by Essron · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I would be happy to hate Travis from Blink 182 for you. Seriously.

    But seriously, this interface has far more potential to work like a real instrument than the silly guitar doohickey. Could have a lot of value for training a real drummer without the noise and with fewer lessons.

    Even more seriously, since it appears to track velocity, it probably has a midi output, which means someone will hack it to be a synth controller, which would be really cool and make me, a musician who loves to mock guitar hero, have to stop mocking guitar hero, if the hero is playing drums, thru a synth.

    One final for serious: You could set a learning workstation like that up right now with midi drums, a sequencer and a giant screen but the cost and level of knowledge required make it untenable for a student, but I'm sure some wealthy folks have this set up so that they don't have to hear how bad of a drummer their spoiled kid is. Seriously.

    1. Re:but seriously Re:I'm actually by ChronosWS · · Score: 1

      Or you could set up a workstation and the game with a real (electronic) drum set for maybe $100 and a few hours of time.

      May I recommend the following:

      http://theflashspeaks.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/playing-rock-band-with-a-yamaha-dtxplorer-how-to/

      Having done this mod myself, I can say with confidence that it works perfectly and is easy to do for someone wh has basic soldering skills (which you could learn as part of doing this project.) And it doesn't cost a fortune, just need the original drum controller and about $100 worth of parts (detailed in that posting.)

  10. High Speculative Wii Features? by EXTomar · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The reason why features were stripped out of the Wii versions of both games is that the Wii itself doesn't support the features very well. How in the world is Activision going to support downloadable content on a system that only allows 512 MB of accessible space? 4 songs can add up to be 100 MB. Now they are saying they'll allow "Create A Song", downloadable content, dynamic customizable characters, "just like the other versions"? Where are they going to hold all of that on the Wii??

    I don't think Activision or Harmonix had much choice of a choice but to strip these features out. So what has changed on the Wii where suddenly Harmonix is screwed and Activision can succeed? It still has the same storage restriction. It still has no common online framework. Nintendo's online store isn't geared to sell this type of DLC. I'm very dubious of Activision suddenly claiming they can do now do it for GH4.

    ps. I don't know if anyone is blaming Nintendo/Wii for any of the problems but consider what happens to those faithful GH3 who bought 3 song packs at $6.25US. Compatibility goes beyond the stuff you plug into the console...

    1. Re:High Speculative Wii Features? by HalAtWork · · Score: 1

      You can plug in an SD card to the Wii, and even use it to play MP3 files in some games, so it's possible for games to access the files off of the SD storage and it's not just for backing up. Harmonix can just use that as storage.

      --
      Twinstiq, game news
    2. Re:High Speculative Wii Features? by AKAImBatman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      4 songs can add up to be 100 MB.
      4 songs for 100MB is not a problem. That's ~80 songs per 2GB SD Card. The problem is that the Rock Band FMV would be a lot more than 100mb/4 songs. That's the real reason why Harmonix thinks Nintendo "needs a hard drive". High-quality, FMV-based songs would chew through the available storage at an ungodly rate.

      I don't think Activision or Harmonix had much choice of a choice but to strip these features out.

      Activision didn't strip anything out. Online play exists in GHIII. Varied characters and costumes and purchases exist in GHIII. Even DLC is supposed to be arriving for GHIII. (Though I get the distinct impression that Activision is reneging on that particular promise in favor of making it a feature of GHIV. DLC was supposed to arrive as part of the "Pay to Play" branding that Nintendo released with WiiWare.)

      So what has changed on the Wii where suddenly Harmonix is screwed and Activision can succeed?

      Oh, I dunno. Activision already does everything that Harmonix says is impossible? Or am I just imagining that Nintendo WiFi support in GHIII? Harmonix can claim that the problem is that Rock Band is so much more complex than GHIII, but that excuse isn't going to fly with GHIV coming out. (Not that anyone bought it to begin with.)

      Harmonix did a cheap port to the Wii. Worse yet, they expect everyone to pay PS3 and 360 prices for a PS2 game. Those are the facts. People are upset and are going to continue to be upset. Given that Harmonix shows no real signs of fessing up to their (rather stupid and transparent) attempts to pass blame onto Nintendo, they can expect that consumers will tell them to go screw themselves.
      --
      Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    3. Re:High Speculative Wii Features? by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      Worse yet, they expect everyone to pay PS3 and 360 prices for a PS2 game. Cause buying a $170 game is so much more noticeable than buying a $160 game.
      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
  11. Re:Hero! by Qetu · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://xkcd.com/359/

  12. Re:Hero! by statemachine · · Score: 1

    they do not really simulate their actual counterparts

    Duh!

    Here's an F chord for you.

  13. release date battle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm wondering what the chances are that GH4 will actually be released before Rock Band over here.

    And whether GH4 will also cost more than twice the american price...

  14. GH: World Tour Rock Band (especially Wii revs) by The+Joe+Kewl · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    As many previous posters have said, Whoremonix is totally screwed when it comes to the Wii version comparisons.

    I wish I had mod points today because I could use them all on this article alone!

    The Wii IS the most popular current gen console right now. What it lacks for in graphics, it more than makes up for in other features.

    For Whoremonix to try and pass off them Wii Rock Band game like they are is an absolutely pathetic joke. Nintendo should revoke their software license for that garbage. The abortion called Wii Rock Band has:
    No Online
    No Controller compatability
    No DLC
    No World Tour Mode

    I could keep going on with Whoremonix mistakes with the Wii version, but I'll stop for now...

    Activision has seen this, and they are putting the resources in to make the Wii version a real, and complete version that it should be.

    To reply to some of the complaints - No Wii Hard Drive, only 512MB memory:
    --SD Cards! Ever heard of them? 2GB can be had for about $10 is you shop around a little bit. That would easily hold almost all the DLC I would buy.

    Someone (Troll) mentioned only MONO sound in the Wii GH:3
    --True, the release day disc did play in mono sound on a Dolby (pro logic ii) surround system. I'm pretty sure you could turn down the settings to just Stereo, and actually play it that way. Or, for FREE, you can also return the disc to Activision, and they will replace it with a re-mastered disc. You even got a FREE faceplate for you Guitar Controller too.
    Pretty sure also, that any copy of GH:3 you buy in a store today, has the re-mastered (surround sound) disc.
    http://www.activisiongameexchange.com/

  15. Re:Hero! by FooAtWFU · · Score: 1

    It is, of course, one thing to detract from those playing Guitar Hero when one has little music experience, and another thing when a music afficionado has devoted years of practice to learning how to really play music and sees people devoting great time and effort (and a nontrivial amount of money, for that matter) towards mastering some freakish simulacrum of real music, and expresses disappointment at untapped potential.

    --
    The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
  16. Re:Hero! by FooAtWFU · · Score: 1

    Here's a B-flat half-diminished seventh chord right back at you, buddy!

    --
    The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
  17. Re:Hero! by Sobieski · · Score: 1


    It is, of course, one thing to detract from those playing Guitar Hero when one has little music experience, and another thing when a music afficionado has devoted years of practice to learning how to really play music and sees people devoting great time and effort (and a nontrivial amount of money, for that matter) towards mastering some freakish simulacrum of real music, and expresses disappointment at untapped potential.

    Of course, just like it is one thing to detract from those playing Counter-Strike when one has little war experience, and another thing when a soldier has devoted years of practice learning how to really kill and sees people devoting great time and effort (and maybe money for a new mouse) towards mastering some freakish simulacrum of real killing, and expresses disappointment at untapped potential.

    --
    Particles, stuff that matters.
  18. Drums aren't new by Haoie · · Score: 1

    I'm not sure if US arcades ever saw it, but the various incarnations of the Konami series DrumMania have done an excellent job of drum simulations.

    There's a machine in my local arcades [I'm in NZ].

    --
    If each mistake being made is a new one, then progress is being made.
    1. Re:Drums aren't new by mark_hill97 · · Score: 1

      I have seen those here in the states. I used to be a drummer, though its been 5 years since i sold my kit, and yes those do an excellent job of imitating a drum kit, but for obvious reasons that a little big to put in the average person's living room.

  19. Its a question of quality by Corrado · · Score: 1

    Will the GH drum kit hold up to real world use?

    I have gone through 2 Rock Band pedals (and 1 guitar) in the last 6 months or so. The first one snapped in two - both the pedal *AND* base. My son just informed me this morning that the second one had developed a large crack in the pedal but the base was still holding (for now). They have been very good about replacements so far, so I am not too upset, but when you pay almost $200 for a game you don't want to keep sending it back to get fixed.

    My question to the GH folks is will the drums (and pedal) hold up to real use? We do not abuse our equipment and our GH guitars have held up for more than 2 years. I am very disappointed with RB specifically and am wary about purchasing games with elaborate controllers: Wii Fit I'm looking at you!

    Oh, and make it so the singer actually has to sing properly and not just hum into the mic for a 99%. Please!

    --
    KangarooBox - We make IT simple!
    1. Re:Its a question of quality by DarkJC · · Score: 1

      If there's one thing I have faith in for GH4, it's the build quality of the instruments. Hardware is what Red Octane does, and so I would expect stuff that lasts a long time. Remember that it was Red Octane that brought the hardware to Harmonix and said "make a game for this". Everyone gives credit to Harmonix for the software of GH1 and GH2, but Red Octane deserves credit for quality hardware. It's something that doesn't get noticed until things go wrong, and with the fiasco that has happened with the Rock Band instruments, it's clear neither the hardware or software companies are easily replaceable in these games.

    2. Re:Its a question of quality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahh, so its all becoming more clear now. Red Octane are the hardware masters and that explains why my GH stuff just keeps working no matter what I do to it. But, Harmonix went off and made the hardware for Rock Band without Red Octane. Therefor my Rock Band hardware is as reliable as a teenager.

      Well, that puts one more another notch in the GH vs. RB list. Thanx for the info!

  20. Re:Hero! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can't help but read these discussions. To read the idiotic replies about "time wasted" and "not real instruments" amuses me for some reason. Next time you feel the need to say something stupid about Guitar Hero or Rock Band, or those that play it, just repeat to yourself, "It's just a game", over and over until the feeling goes away.

  21. Re:Hero! by MaugChief · · Score: 1

    The XKCD comic has it right. It's not about trying to be a real musician. It's about having fun. If you are a professional musician who makes your living playing music, I can almost agree with your argument of "untapped potential". However, if someone is simply a "music afficionado" as you say, what makes their choice of entertainment any better than the next person's? They play music because they enjoy it. Other people play Rock Band because they enjoy it. Neither is right or wrong. They each just have a different preference for how to spend their free time.

  22. Re: masterbating in front of a tv. by trdrstv · · Score: 1

    My God! I have no talent or patience to learn an instrument so I'll spend close to the same amount of money to basically masterbate in front of a tv.

    You just described my favorite past time! and no I'm not talking about Rock Band, were you?