2 player is still tons of fun!

Need help deciding which game... GH3 bundle or RB Bundle (please no flame war).

Heres the deal... we have GH2 with the xplorer guitar now and the wife and I love it. I really want a second guitar so we could play coop. It started me thinking GH3 bundle is the way to go. However, we aren't all that great and hard is the best we can do in GH2... it's my understanding that GH3 is much harder.

So now I'm thinking about RB as the difficulty (at least for guitars) is more our speed, and the allure of drums is calling me. I also really like RB's model for downloadable content and would be up for some occasional vocals. Please understand most times it would only be two people playing (the wife and I) and sometimes solo. We would rarely have a full band (although it will be a blast to have some friends over).

So the million dollar question, would RB satisfy for 1-2 players or should we just stick to GH for solo and coop?
I own GH2 and 3, as well as rock band. I haven't touched the GH series since I got RB, and I either play with myself (hehe) or with a buddy.

I say get the RB bundle. Besides, GH3 has put out what 6 songs as DLC? While RB has put out over 20.

I own GH2 and 3, as well as rock band. I haven't touched the GH series since I got RB, and I either play with myself (hehe) or with a buddy.

I say get the RB bundle. Besides, GH3 has put out what 6 songs as DLC? While RB has put out over 20.

actually current count is 35.

"actually current count is 35"

Yeah! With Rock Band you have the option of buying the game for $60 or $170, and then can spend another $70 within two months of release to get the rest of the music! Woot!

Really, I jest, and I do love RB. I also realize that there is no requirement to buy all 35 tracks. But damn, they sooo held back content just to sell it as DLC later.

damn, they sooo held back content just to sell it as DLC later.

You make it sound like they are either greedy or just trying to make easy money.

RockBand, the $60 game (http://www.amazon.com/MTV-Games-Rock-Band/dp/B000TT2D0M******pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1199452764&sr=8-4), includes 45 songs and 13 bonus tracks. That's a full game. Many of these are original artists (expensive to license) and include guitar, drum, bass and vocal charts. The setlist is varied and quite good.

That's almost $1 a song, a pretty good value for a game. I concede the game is at it's best if you buy the $170 Special Edition with the controllers, changing the cost per song quite a bit. But the bundle is not required for 360 owners who have 360 Guitar Hero controllers and/or a USB mic available, so in reality, RockBand is still a $60 game (available seperately) that is at its best with the expensive controllers.

In addition to the generous amount of good songs in the main game, they are also being very fair with the extra DLC because: 1) it's not required, 2) it isn't in forced bundled groups, and 3) some of the DLC is a continuation of bands already in the main game. Having multiple Sabbath, Weezer, Police, Queens of the Stone Age, and Metallica songs in the main game would get tiring for people who aren't fans of those bands.

Yeah I think RB is a great value. Heck GH3 was $100 and the only thing I got out of it was the Les Paul...to use with Rock Band.

I busted my bass pedal last night in the midst of a jam session with my buddies - the room just totally deflated instantaneously. Huge buzzkill. Now...I wait. I guess I'll finally work on the Guitar career now.

"actually current count is 35"

Yeah! With Rock Band you have the option of buying the game for $60 or $170, and then can spend another $70 within two months of release to get the rest of the music! Woot!

Really, I jest, and I do love RB. I also realize that there is no requirement to buy all 35 tracks. But damn, they sooo held back content just to sell it as DLC later.

The DLC takes about 3 months to complete and that's after they get full rights to the song and masters. meaning at one point they had to lock down teh final track list and then finish the game while continuing work on DLC content. they've supplied the DLC at regular intervals in lots of varied but fair packages. There's plenty of value. having 35 tracks available seperately or in value packs is better than having a measly 15 tracks for 45 in unfair bundles.

Would you guys recommend getting the Wally world protection plan for $17.99?

Would you guys recommend getting the Wally world protection plan for $17.99?

Not really, it seems like EA has the warranty repairs under control and the process is really simple...hopefully the QC issues some of us are experiencing are more from bugs in the early production runs.

So I grabbed 7 dlc songs last night and I'm enjoying every last one of them. First try on Roxanne on expert I hit 100% and got that achievement. It was by far the easiest song in the game on guitar/expert.

Has anyone else broken their drumsticks yet? My buddy broke his right hand stick 6 days after he got it.

Yeah, he beats them pretty hard.

Has anyone else broken their drumsticks yet? My buddy broke his right hand stick 6 days after he got it.

Yeah, he beats them pretty hard.

He has hand-specific sticks??? ;)

I bought a set of Vic Firth 5As when I got Rock Band and they've held up well. I'm more concerned with the bass pedal...

Has anyone else broken their drumsticks yet? My buddy broke his right hand stick 6 days after he got it.

Yeah, he beats them pretty hard.

If he broke sticks on these pads, he is playing WAY too hard as you state, and incorrectly. I am surprised the pads have held up??!! He is at risk for damaging himself also. Yikes....:D

i was finally able to find rock band here in toronto - alot of fun. the store i went had one ps3 and one 360 version left.

game is so fun. all that i expected. question: why am i getting a small black box around the image on screen? its like 1/2 inch bar all around the screen kinda. noticed it on both my plasma and my 1080p lcd. not a problem really but wondering if anyone else getting it. haven't changed any of my settings.

I think there is an overscan setting in your options. Should clean that right up!

i was finally able to find rock band here in toronto - alot of fun. the store i went had one ps3 and one 360 version left.

game is so fun. all that i expected. question: why am i getting a small black box around the image on screen? its like 1/2 inch bar all around the screen kinda. noticed it on both my plasma and my 1080p lcd. not a problem really but wondering if anyone else getting it. haven't changed any of my settings.

It's a problem with the game. If you have a TV without overscan settings there's nothing you can do.

It's a problem with the game. If you have a TV without overscan settings there's nothing you can do.

yeah that's what i figured. my plasma has a little overscan so its barely noticable but my lcd has zero overscan and its readily evident. oh well. thanks for the info.

Dumb question: creating a "bass"-only character isn't possible - which means there's no bass solo tour, right?

Hey guys.... question. Is this game in DD 5.1? I have my xbox plugged into my Sony receiver via optical and component to my TV. When I start Rock Band and its at the MTV logo my blue DD light on my Sony Receiver comes on and it says DolbyDigital(3/2).

But when the opening movie comes on and during gameplay... it shuts off. I never see the blue light again so I am not sure if I am in DD51 anymore.

Here's another question for you guys. :D

Do you guys get as much enjoyment playing with headphones on as I do? With the wife around... I cannot crank the TV as loud as I would like to be able to play the game and play it well (since my xbox is in my living room).

But lucky for me my audio rack where my xbox is... is right next to where I like to drum. So its easy for me to plug my headphones into the receiver. Its great cause I can play it nice and loud since I have big headphone cans. AND since the cans are big... I can't hear the annoying sound the drums make. :D Am I crazy?

Hey guys.... question. Is this game in DD 5.1? I have my xbox plugged into my Sony receiver via optical and component to my TV. When I start Rock Band and its at the MTV logo my blue DD light on my Sony Receiver comes on and it says DolbyDigital(3/2).

But when the opening movie comes on and during gameplay... it shuts off. I never see the blue light again so I am not sure if I am in DD51 anymore.

The game defaults to Dolby Digital off. You can turn it on under the options, but this setting is profile based - meaning it will be be off until you load a profile which you have previously turned it on.

"which means there's no bass solo tour, right?"

Right. I wish there was a bass solo tour though! My and my girl trade off who is bass or guitar in the World Tour all the time. It's fun to have a different guitar part to play sometimes. :)

Here's another question for you guys. :D

Do you guys get as much enjoyment playing with headphones on as I do? With the wife around... I cannot crank the TV as loud as I would like to be able to play the game and play it well (since my xbox is in my living room).

But lucky for me my audio rack where my xbox is... is right next to where I like to drum. So its easy for me to plug my headphones into the receiver. Its great cause I can play it nice and loud since I have big headphone cans. AND since the cans are big... I can't hear the annoying sound the drums make. :D Am I crazy?
Nope!! That's the best way to play! It really puts you in the game. And you don't need to stick mousepads on your drums!!

Another kick pedal mod. (http://www.metafluence.com/rock-band-drum-pedal-problem-turned-mod/)

I'm waiting for someone to release a bass "pad" and stand where we can add a true, weighted kick pedal w/ hammer. :D

He has hand-specific sticks??? ;)

I bought a set of Vic Firth 5As when I got Rock Band and they've held up well. I'm more concerned with the bass pedal...
No, the one in his right hand broke while he was playing.

Well, he does have hand specific sticks now I guess. He hasn't picked a new set of sticks yet, and had to repair the broken one with some duct tape, so now it is his left hand stick, because he doesn't smash as hard with that one I guess.

He's a self taught "musician", which means he's picked up instruments and taught him self to play, complete with bad technique and everything. I can't criticize or help because the closest I've come to playing a real instrument is a 52 channel Yamaha console :D

"which means there's no bass solo tour, right?"

Right. I wish there was a bass solo tour though! My and my girl trade off who is bass or guitar in the World Tour all the time. It's fun to have a different guitar part to play sometimes. :)

plus the bass gets a higher multiplier in bwt so they can be a more valuable for higher scores/stars

UPDATE: I hope this helps others out....

I consulted with a friend who was a pro drummer and drum teacher about my wrist pain. He showed that I my drumming motion was completely wrong and was the cause of the pain.

I was holding the sticks thumb up and rotating the wrist, so my high hat motion and cymbal strikes was like pounding a nail with a hammer. Completely wrong.

He explained that the back of hand should point up. And from elbow to knuckles there should be a straight line (not a perfect line, but close). The wrist is still doing a lot of the stick movement, along with some slight elbow and fingertip control.

He also said that, even with proper technique, some drummers still develop wrist problems... usually carpel tunnel.

So advice the aspiring wanna-be RockBand drummers... check your technique. If you are pounding the drums like a hammer as I was, you might be playing wrong. :o

Just an fyi - got back from a gig last night with a pro drummer (who has a few platinum albums) who drums the way your friend says is wrong. He told me the name of the grip which I can't remember now, but the way your friend does it is just an alternative grip. Neither one is incorrect.

Just an fyi - got back from a gig last night with a pro drummer (who has a few platinum albums) who drums the way your friend says is wrong. He told me the name of the grip which I can't remember now, but the way your friend does it is just an alternative grip. Neither one is incorrect.

Thanks for posting this jokell... I've been meaning to correct that post for a while.

I've worked some more with my friend/drum teacher -- I misquoted him in saying the thumbs-up technique was wrong. :o What he said was that grip, along with hitting too hard and overplaying, was the cause of my sore wrist. He advised the back-of-the-hand-up technique to correct my improper playing because this alternate grip helps avoid hitting too hard and uses a different part of the wrist.

I'm slowly getting back into the drums again, but I can't play for more than 30 before my wrist starts hurting again. It usually flairs up when riding or crashing on green (rightmost pad), so that's got to be something I doing wrong over there. :( ...maybe it's those felt pad mods I put on? :confused:

Thanks for posting this jokell... I've been meaning to correct that post for a while.

I've worked some more with my friend/drum teacher -- I misquoted him in saying the thumbs-up technique was wrong. :o What he said was that grip, along with hitting too hard and overplaying, was the cause of my sore wrist. He advised the back-of-the-hand-up technique to correct my improper playing because this alternate grip helps avoid hitting too hard and uses a different part of the wrist.

I'm slowly getting back into the drums again, but I can't play for more than 30 before my wrist starts hurting again. It usually flairs up when riding or crashing on green (rightmost pad), so that's got to be something I doing wrong over there. :( ...maybe it's those felt pad mods I put on? :confused:

I think the back-of-the-hand up grip is called a German grip, and allows you to hit harder, but the action is pretty much all in the wrists. The hitting-like-a-hammer grip is called a French grip, and you shouldn't hit very hard, and the action is pretty much all in the fingers. There's an in-between called the American grip where the hands are at a 45* angle to the drum heads and you hit harder than French by using your wrists but also use a lot more finger action than German.

Your wrist may indeed by hurt by your felt pad mod. I'd think that provides less rebound for the sticks, so you're having to use your wrists a lot more to both strike and pull the sticks back up.

It's a problem with the game. If you have a TV without overscan settings there's nothing you can do.

it's not a "problem with the game"

if you go to options, and then calibrate system, the third screen lets you turn overscan compensation on or off.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2351/cimg5160smallle3.jpg

Doesn't ANYONE sing (voice) for this game?

I keep reading about how people play the guitar, bass, and drums, but IMHO, the singing sets RB apart because with the mic you are actually creating music (assuming of course, you turn down the vocal track and turn up the mic sensitivity and mic volume as I do).

I do play in a RB "band," but I sing. In fact since I got the full set, I've sung about 90% of the time, guitar/bass 9% of the time, and drums 1%.

AVS RB 360 singers, where you at?

I have played the singing career a little bit when playing with friends. I'm waiting to grab a real mic before going full bore on it though.

I finished vocal career on hard, working through expert now. Been doing band world tour solo.

Mostly doing hard/expert bass and hard/expert vocals at the same time. I'm up to 606,000 fans and I'm close to getting a PR firm with this band. I already got in the hall of fame with another band when I was visiting family over the holidays, but now I'm working on my band.

THE WYLD STALLYNZ!!!

it's not a "problem with the game"

if you go to options, and then calibrate system, the third screen lets you turn overscan compensation on or off.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2351/cimg5160smallle3.jpg

Yeah I was thinking of Guitar Hero 2 - sorry.

Anybody else having really long waits when firing up the game with a long stall with the "Loading Additional Content" logo up?

It's making me wish I didn't buy so much DLC. Hopefully it's just the XBL issues and will clear up soon, but I'm wondering if anybody else is seeing this delay.

Anybody else having really long waits when firing up the game with a long stall with the "Loading Additional Content" logo up?

It's making me wish I didn't buy so much DLC. Hopefully it's just the XBL issues and will clear up soon, but I'm wondering if anybody else is seeing this delay.

I have that problem too. I also sometimes have a long wait at the end of a song as the system saves my progress (or whatever it is doing at that point).

Just finished guitar and drum Solo careers on Expert, both in a day each.

Yay, another useless talent to add to the list :)

I have that problem too. I also sometimes have a long wait at the end of a song as the system saves my progress (or whatever it is doing at that point).

That's only happened to me recently when XBL was having issues. Normally it's pretty quick, though.

I have that problem too. I also sometimes have a long wait at the end of a song as the system saves my progress (or whatever it is doing at that point).

"Contacting Rock Central"

Yeah, I've been seeing that too.

Yeah I was thinking of Guitar Hero 2 - sorry.

you better be.









:D

Just finished guitar and drum Solo careers on Expert, both in a day each.


I hate you. ;)

I'm jealous. I got to Vasoline on drums on hard and hit a wall. We started packing for our move and I haven't had a chance to get back to it yet and may not really be able to practice again until we get relocated. Frustrating part? I can 5-star Sandman and 4.5 star Justice on quickplay mode.

I'm jealous. I got to Vasoline on drums on hard and hit a wall. We started packing for our move and I haven't had a chance to get back to it yet and may not really be able to practice again until we get relocated. Frustrating part? I can 5-star Sandman and 4.5 star Justice on quickplay mode.

If you think Vasoline is bad, wait till you get to the last 15% of Don't Fear the Reaper or the double kick runs in Tom Sawyer.

You guys are so far ahead of me. I am working on Medium now... up to Stockholm so I have the dreaded Green Grass and High Tides that everyone here talks about to deal with.

Hopefully i'll be able to clear medium and start hard difficulty by next week. :D

If you think Vasoline is bad, wait till you get to the last 15% of Don't Fear the Reaper or the double kick runs in Tom Sawyer.

4 words: Run. To. The. Hills. :eek:

4 words: Run. To. The. Hills. :eek:

and tomarrow we get "number of the beast" YAY! *foot falls off*

then again my 360 is still in the shop, so good luck fellas.

4 words: Run. To. The. Hills. :eek:

You ever get this one wrapped up?

up to 850,000 fans in BWT doing one man band expert bass/vocals

tomorrow I'll be hitting 1 million fans so I'm excited, I'm also 40 stars away from unlocking the endless setlist though I won't be trying that anytime soon

You ever get this one wrapped up?

Nope, but I've been sporting a drumming-related wrist injury so I've been at reduced playtime. I think I'm almost back to full power to take on Clive Burr and his machine-gun highhat. :p

The Who song on Hard is also somewhat tough too, mainly because Keith Moon rarely plays standard rhythms. And when he does, it's usually like an ADD kid that gets bored doing the same thing twice. :eek:

So Won't Get Fooled Again is well within my grasp (hopefully) once I learn its surprises. But Hills...? That's based on constant speed -- probably the toughest thing to learn for us non-drummers.

Any other non-drummers make it through Hard yet?

The Who song on Hard is also somewhat tough too, mainly because Keith Moon rarely plays standard rhythms. And when he does, it's usually like an ADD kid that gets bored doing the same thing twice. :eek:

I'm wondering how Who's Next will play out. Seems like it could be a difficult album for drumming. The Who often have very strange drumming because they take their time not from the drums like most bands but from Pete Townshend's guitar.

Any other non-drummers make it through Hard yet?

Not me, I'm about where you are. I'm stuck on Long Time in the 2nd to last tier, I cannot the timing down of the fast R/G+O in the beginning.

I've passed all of the last tier in quick play except for Next To You and RTTH. I think if I slow down RTTH I can get it, haven't really tried yet. Speed on the pads is not my problem, I have more trouble with the songs with quick bass pedal rhythms and double/triple bass hits. My pedal technique sucks :mad:

I need to just play pedal heavy songs and get better at it, but I get annoyed and go play something more fun :D

4 words: Run. To. The. Hills. :eek:

I tried that last night, but unfortunatly it looks like my drumkit has decided to start crapping out. I made it through the high-hat run just fine (read way in the green), but when it got to the snare rhythm my red pad started registering just like 1 out of every 3 hits.

After that happened I did a couple of other songs, and indeed, my red pad is starting to die on me. At least it's in the 2 month window, so I can RMA the bad boy.

It sucks though RttH and Next To You are the last two songs I have left on hard.

I tried Run To The Hills with the stock kit on Expert, failed at 10%.

Taped down the pads to get a better response, and aced it at about 92%. Try taping the pads down, it will really help for those fast 16th hi-hat notes.

How are the new downloads? Interstate Love Song anyone? :)

How are the new downloads? Interstate Love Song anyone? :)

(For those that don't know) The new downloads are:

Content: "Number of the Beast"*
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Only in Canada, United States
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: *"Number of the Beast" is a cover version of a song as made famous by Iron Maiden.

Content: "Die! All Right"
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Only in Canada, United States
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: "Die! All Right"--The Hives.

Content: "Interstate Love Song"
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Only in Canada, United States
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: "Interstate Love Song"--Stone Temple Pilots.


Definitely interested in Interstate Love Song - will probably buy it after work tonight.

Not me, I'm about where you are. I'm stuck on Long Time in the 2nd to last tier, I cannot the timing down of the fast R/G+O in the beginning.

I've passed all of the last tier in quick play except for Next To You and RTTH. I think if I slow down RTTH I can get it, haven't really tried yet. Speed on the pads is not my problem, I have more trouble with the songs with quick bass pedal rhythms and double/triple bass hits. My pedal technique sucks :mad:

I need to just play pedal heavy songs and get better at it, but I get annoyed and go play something more fun :D

yeah that took me a while and even now I rarely nail it. Center on the red snare hits, they have an off timing and will kill you faster than worrying about the G+O hits.

How are the new downloads? Interstate Love Song anyone? :)

Interstate is awesome, one of my favorite songs.

Number of the Beast is probably the worst cover I've ever heard. I regret getting it.

I think the problem with the "Foreplay" chart is the song has triplets with an accent on the first note... yet the charts asks you to skip the first note, snare the second and crash/kick the third? :confused:

I don't know if that's entirely accurate, but it's certainly a weird chart that thankfully gets much easier once the "Longtime" part of the song starts.

Interstate is awesome, one of my favorite songs.

Number of the Beast is probably the worst cover I've ever heard. I regret getting it.

Sweet, one of my fave's too. Thanks for the head's up on Beast, lol.

So what kick pedal mod are you guys using? I want to get something to reinforce the pedal. Mine hasn't snapped yet but since I am getting up there in difficulity I am wailing on the pedal a lot more. I feel like I am babying it and it's affecting my play.

Thanks in advance.

I think the problem with the "Foreplay" chart is the song has triplets with an accent on the first note... yet the charts asks you to skip the first note, snare the second and crash/kick the third? :confused:

I don't know if that's entirely accurate, but it's certainly a weird chart that thankfully gets much easier once the "Longtime" part of the song starts.

That is correct. Speaking on Expert, it's all triplets. The triplet crash part is realtively easy if you put it on Lefty Flip for that section, that way you can crash with your left hand and double-tap the right. Then just turn Lefty Flip off for the rest of the song.

So what kick pedal mod are you guys using? I want to get something to reinforce the pedal.

Here's what I went with. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12618185#post12618185)

Scroll down a few posts from the link to see how it finally turned out.

Here's what I went with. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12618185#post12618185)

Scroll down a few posts from the link to see how it finally turned out.


I wonder how strong... durable the carbon fiber one is. Since mine isn't broken it would probably make more sense to get that one? That one would probably also be easier on my feet as it sticks on and screw heads wouldn't be sticking out.

I wonder how strong... durable the carbon fiber one is. Since mine isn't broken it would probably make more sense to get that one? That one would probably also be easier on my feet as it sticks on and screw heads wouldn't be sticking out.

properly made carbon fiber is as strong as steel but it shatters when it fails instead of just bending.

properly made carbon fiber is as strong as steel but it shatters when it fails instead of just bending.

Uh, wouldn't a proper carbon fiber footpedal cost like $200 bucks? :) That stuff ain't cheap.

Maybe a Fiberglass (blown onto a mold, lets say) pedal.....which will bend and give....??

Uh, wouldn't a proper carbon fiber footpedal cost like $200 bucks? :) That stuff ain't cheap.

Maybe a Fiberglass (blown onto a mold, lets say) pedal.....which will bend and give....??

I wasn't suggesting he use it but yeah fiberglass might work but basic steel would be even better at that point. If you had some time you could make some carbon fiber yourself. It's messy and troublesome but making it yourself would cut the price down to about half I'd think.

I was actually talking about the carbon fiber pedal metal bracket, not an actual carbon fiber pedal.

Just go on ebay and search for pedal metal rock band carbon. It's there.

Couple of quick questions guys:

1) I finished my solo Guitar career on Hard. But on the summary screen it shows something like "46 of 63 songs". So what are the other 20-some songs then if it completed the career? Are there songs omitted from solo career in Guitar that are available elsewhere such as drums?

2) Like so many others I am totally stuck on GG&HT in my solo "Medium" Drum career. However I am wondering - is this the final song in the career or are there others after it?

3) If I've played through the full Guitar career on Hard and the full Drum career on Medium, have I unlocked all the available songs in the game's Quick Play mode (non-DLC)? If not, what else do I need to do?

4) Is it just my imagination or does hitting a star power (or whatever RB calls it) section while star power is enagaged actually lengthen your star power time before it exits? I no with Guitar Hero this wasn't possible but with RB it seems to do this.

Thanks!

Couple of quick questions guys:

1) I finished my solo Guitar career on Hard. But on the summary screen it shows something like "46 of 63 songs". So what are the other 20-some songs then if it completed the career? Are there songs omitted from solo career in Guitar that are available elsewhere such as drums?

You need to play the bonus songs. It shows up as "Bonus Tour" at the bottom of the song list and takes you to a separate page. You unlock each song individually there, but they're pretty easy up until the last couple.

4) Is it just my imagination or does hitting a star power (or whatever RB calls it) section while star power is enagaged actually lengthen your star power time before it exits? I no with Guitar Hero this wasn't possible but with RB it seems to do this.

Yeah, you can hit SP phrases and increase the length of your SP mode. It's a really good addition. Also, be sure to whammy held SP notes when you're already in SP. If you don't your meter will continue to drop, but if you do it will hold steady while you're whammy-ing.

You need to complete any downloaded songs as well, so each time you download new content it will show songs incomplete for the tour.

does anyone struggle with rolls on the red pad? especially on Aerosmith's Train Kept a Rollin . I cannot ever pass the section with the long drum roll. I am trying to figure it out whether it is me or if it is the pad that is not registering properly. Anyone have thoughts?

You need to play the bonus songs. It shows up as "Bonus Tour" at the bottom of the song list and takes you to a separate page. You unlock each song individually there, but they're pretty easy up until the last couple.


Thanks. I blew those off as they were songs I didn't recognize and I was always interested in getting to the next tier to see what was next. :)

However from what I recall, each one I looked at for those tours showed only a single song. Are you saying that within each tier there are a group of songs in the bonus tour, or just a single song in each bonus tour?

You need to complete any downloaded songs as well, so each time you download new content it will show songs incomplete for the tour.

Thanks - didn't realize that. Do each of those songs count toward your "career score"? If so that would seem to put those at a disadvantage in the leaderboards compared to those that were downloading many/all songs...

Thanks - didn't realize that. Do each of those songs count toward your "career score"? If so that would seem to put those at a disadvantage in the leaderboards compared to those that were downloading many/all songs...

You gotta pay to play :p

downloaded songs don't add to your career score

Some prototype third party RB drums were shown at CES

beware awesomeness awaits:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/ion-audio-shows-off-prototype-of-alternate-rock-band-drum-set-at/

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/01/ion-audio-drum-set-proto.jpg

http://i2.tinypic.com/85kusno.jpg

like teh article says they showed up to guage consumer interest. SO email them!

I was a huge Guitar Hero fan until Activision screwed up the 3rd one. I have always been a huge fan of Harmonix even back during the Amplitude/Frequency days. I was going to switch to Rock Band once it was announced because the song list is a lot better than Guitar Hero and the downloadable content is pretty impressive. I am worried the single player experience won't match Guitar Hero's. I honestly won't have friends over that much (maybe once every couple of months). I did play the game in the store and it seemed like the medium difficulty was like easy on Guitar Hero. I did have a great time when I put it on hard though. I am a drummer so I had a blast playing the drums. I am not going to support Guitar Hero and Rock Band so I have to make a choice. Is Rock Band still fun if you are playing solo quite a bit of the time?

does anyone struggle with rolls on the red pad? especially on Aerosmith's Train Kept a Rollin . I cannot ever pass the section with the long drum roll. I am trying to figure it out whether it is me or if it is the pad that is not registering properly. Anyone have thoughts?

Like anything it's just timing. What I've found out is that often you don't have to hit the notes as quickly as you think you do. You just have to have a consistent rhythm about it. Have you gone to the practice area to work on those sections?

Quick question for everyone. I don't have the patience to search the entire thread for it. I live in Chicago. My buddy lives in Connecticut. I know I can jam with him in the "band quickplay" mode and tug of war, etc. But can I invite him into my band for band world tour for which to get achievements? I tried last night but it seems that co-op play for bands has to be together in the same room, not online. Is this correct?

I was a huge Guitar Hero fan until Activision screwed up the 3rd one. I have always been a huge fan of Harmonix even back during the Amplitude/Frequency days. I was going to switch to Rock Band once it was announced because the song list is a lot better than Guitar Hero and the downloadable content is pretty impressive. I am worried the single player experience won't match Guitar Hero's. I honestly won't have friends over that much (maybe once every couple of months). I did play the game in the store and it seemed like the medium difficulty was like easy on Guitar Hero. I did have a great time when I put it on hard though. I am a drummer so I had a blast playing the drums. I am not going to support Guitar Hero and Rock Band so I have to make a choice. Is Rock Band still fun if you are playing solo quite a bit of the time?


While the difficulty on Rock Band is easier than that of Guitar Hero, I feel that on the later parts of hard as well as Expert, you will be sufficiently challenged. In EVERY other way, I feel Rock Band is a far better game than Guitar Hero, especially GH3. The songs are better, the background visuals are better, playing the drums and even singing are a blast and co-op is a ton of fun with 3-4 people. I don't think I'll ever guy another Guitar Hero game. I had more fun in single player with Rock Band than I ever had with Guitar Hero.

I dont know what the deal is but I have a glitch somewhere...I decided to start a solo career on guitar figured i would just do easy and work my way up. I have played a couple of songs and come across this same issue.... I am able to strum perfectly, but it shows that I am missing the note as far as the multiplier and crowd meter goes. This happens randomly. So i get a barely a 4 star rating on a song but have 100 percent accuracy? Whats the deal here. Anyone have any ideas?

...The songs are better, the background visuals are better, playing the drums and even singing are a blast and co-op is a ton of fun with 3-4 people..

I agree with this with one clarification. The *presentation* of the visuals is much better, but the graphics are more on par with the Wii and SD then HD.

In other words I love how the zoom in on the right instrument (drums during heavy drum parts) and the presentation used is much more dramatic. But the graphics are pretty fugly. I know its not about the graphics so I don't discount that from the value of the game. I'm just making the point that from a graphics standpoint there is a ton of room to make the models look HD while still preserving that same-style presentation.

Is GG&HT the last song in solo career mode for Drums on Medium? Or after finishing that one does it open up another venue/additional songs?

Is GG&HT the last song in solo career mode for Drums on Medium? Or after finishing that one does it open up another venue/additional songs?

2 or 3 more tiers after GG&HT. None as difficult as GG.

Quick question for everyone. I don't have the patience to search the entire thread for it. I live in Chicago. My buddy lives in Connecticut. I know I can jam with him in the "band quickplay" mode and tug of war, etc. But can I invite him into my band for band world tour for which to get achievements? I tried last night but it seems that co-op play for bands has to be together in the same room, not online. Is this correct?

No online Band World Tour.

While the difficulty on Rock Band is easier than that of Guitar Hero, I feel that on the later parts of hard as well as Expert, you will be sufficiently challenged. In EVERY other way, I feel Rock Band is a far better game than Guitar Hero, especially GH3. The songs are better, the background visuals are better, playing the drums and even singing are a blast and co-op is a ton of fun with 3-4 people. I don't think I'll ever guy another Guitar Hero game. I had more fun in single player with Rock Band than I ever had with Guitar Hero.


Thanks for the reply. I think that made up my mind to pick it up in a few weeks. Like you, I doubt I will ever pick up another Guitar Hero game. After playing Rock Band, Guitar Hero seems very inferior.

I dont know what the deal is but I have a glitch somewhere...I decided to start a solo career on guitar figured i would just do easy and work my way up. I have played a couple of songs and come across this same issue.... I am able to strum perfectly, but it shows that I am missing the note as far as the multiplier and crowd meter goes. This happens randomly. So i get a barely a 4 star rating on a song but have 100 percent accuracy? Whats the deal here. Anyone have any ideas?

you need to return your guitar to EA for a new one.

2 or 3 more tiers after GG&HT. None as difficult as GG.

Thanks. At this point it doesn't look like I would ever have figured that out on my own. :) I keep keeping booted at 68%. I've spent some time in practice in that section, but not nearly enough. Its actually gotten to the point where it is no longer fun and I just want to move on... As a result I finished my solo career on guitar instead and haven't really wanted to start playing drums again.

I was a huge Guitar Hero fan until Activision screwed up the 3rd one. I have always been a huge fan of Harmonix even back during the Amplitude/Frequency days. I was going to switch to Rock Band once it was announced because the song list is a lot better than Guitar Hero and the downloadable content is pretty impressive. I am worried the single player experience won't match Guitar Hero's. I honestly won't have friends over that much (maybe once every couple of months). I did play the game in the store and it seemed like the medium difficulty was like easy on Guitar Hero. I did have a great time when I put it on hard though. I am a drummer so I had a blast playing the drums. I am not going to support Guitar Hero and Rock Band so I have to make a choice. Is Rock Band still fun if you are playing solo quite a bit of the time?

I'd say the last tier of RB expert feels like the first (maybe second) tier of GH3 expert. There's some challenge, but not much. A lot of the songs you will 5 star or 5 gold star your first time through, depending on how good you are at GH.

The songs are really good. There's a lot more variety, although GH3 really did a good job of providing more variety than previous GH games also.

Drumming is a blast. Singing is ok.

The graphics and presentation or much better than GH3, but there is *always* a filter of some type over the image, reducing the image quality quite a bit.

DLC is far better for RB than GH3. Not only is it cheaper, but there is far more of it.

I'd say the guitar portion of RB is quite a bit more short-lived than GH3, unless you're willing to continually pony up money for the DLC.

Thanks. At this point it doesn't look like I would ever have figured that out on my own. :) I keep keeping booted at 68%. I've spent some time in practice in that section, but not nearly enough. Its actually gotten to the point where it is no longer fun and I just want to move on... As a result I finished my solo career on guitar instead and haven't really wanted to start playing drums again.

I think many people have been here. I was there, for sure. After failing GG 10 or so times, it was a good 2 or 3 weeks before I put it back in my xbox. Then, I started trying again. After another 10 or 20 tries, I was able to get through it....and things started to click.

Like I said, you'll pretty much breeze through the rest of the career once you get GG over with. At least for me, the bass pedal started becoming more second nature after beating GG, too. Seems like GG is the first time you have to really keep 2 different rhythms going for a substantial amount of time.

(for me, I got through playing softer than normal. Kept me a bit more focused. Don't give up, either. Miss a few, quickly regroup and keep hammering through the song. Eventually, you'll get it.)

^^^ION drums^^^
This looks awesome!

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/01/08/555720.aspx

^^^ION drums^^^
This looks awesome!

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/01/08/555720.aspx

I want.

2 or 3 more tiers after GG&HT. None as difficult as GG.

Really? I got through that one my first try on medium with a 4 star score and actually got a 5 star the first time on Hard. I didn't find it NEARLY as difficult as some other jams like Cherub Rock, Enter Sandman and the Queens of the Stone Age tracks. The off beat kick drum in the Queens track is a bitch for me.

So I attempted GG&HT on Medium for the first time yesterday. I almost passed it and failed probably during the last minute of the song (somewhere around the second guitar solor... maybe 2H or 2I?).

I may have passed it but since the song was so long I was wailing away at the drums. My drum kit started moving forward (and away from me). By the time that solo came on the drum set was like 2 feet in front of me! LOL I failed it at the end... I was so pissed.

This is a song that I can only try once or twice a day. I have never slammed the crap out of the drums as I did with this song (since it moves so fast)... so I think I am going to have to order some sort of pedal reinforcement so it doesn't impair my play (thinking I am going to bust the pedal).

Ugh. :D

I think many people have been here. I was there, for sure. After failing GG 10 or so times, it was a good 2 or 3 weeks before I put it back in my xbox. Then, I started trying again. After another 10 or 20 tries, I was able to get through it....and things started to click.

Like I said, you'll pretty much breeze through the rest of the career once you get GG over with. At least for me, the bass pedal started becoming more second nature after beating GG, too. Seems like GG is the first time you have to really keep 2 different rhythms going for a substantial amount of time.

(for me, I got through playing softer than normal. Kept me a bit more focused. Don't give up, either. Miss a few, quickly regroup and keep hammering through the song. Eventually, you'll get it.)

Here's a tip for the drums and one that got me through GG&HT. Focus on the kick drum and red notes. If you miss the green, blue or yellow notes, the crowd doesn't react as strongly as if you miss a kick drum or red note. Also, if the kick drum part is really tough (as it is at the end of GG&HT), then CREATE YOUR OWN BEAT. What I mean by that is only play every other kick drum note or whatever. I found in a couple songs that trying to play every note got me off rhythm but if I just focused on slowing down the beat and playing the song as if it was half speed, I hit more notes, and got through the challenging parts by staying on the natural rhythm of the song.

I agree with this with one clarification. The *presentation* of the visuals is much better, but the graphics are more on par with the Wii and SD then HD.


I pretty much despise the graphics in Rock Band. Yes, creating your character is cool, but it loses all of the fun over-the-top goofiness that the Guitar Hero games have. GH3, IMHO, does much better presentation-wise with its silly band-cut-scenes in betweeen new venues, and your characters outrageous costumes and such. RB just takes itself too seriously, IMHO.

Others have argued here about how things like the singers mouth dont match up as much with the lyrics in GH3....eh, me I focus on the notes....but I will say that if I'm just watching the game, I prefer GH3 over RB, its just more visually entertaining to me. Although I guess visuals are about as least important in this class of game as they come.

I like playing as the Grim Reaper and seeing the funny stage-sets, playing in the Prison when they lob tear gas into the crowd and so on...all that goofy stuff, I enjoy it, it gets me into "silly mode" I guess....gets me into the game. Rock Band makes being in a band feel more like being in a real band..aka: More like Work. Guitar Hero is silly, colorful, etc. Rock Band is more like "you're playing a gig and your friends are shooting your performance on 2nd hand camcorders in a dimly lit bar" kinda graphics.

Two approaches.....GH3 has the better graphics IMHO, but RockBand as a game destroys GH3. GH2 has a strong enough setlist that I'd hold it up against Rock Band, however.

PS: Those Ion Drums?

Any of you pretend musicians who want to start investing in a kit like that, be smart: Get yourself a real drumset and just play along with a pair of headphones. NO achievements, except..you'll really be playing the drums :D

If that ION set can seperate out the cymbols, then they should be able to put out a real drumkit with crossover style play, a working hi-hat and a few additional toms to make the rolls more natural!

I'd suggest that you should ALSO be able to just put some simple pressure sensors on a REAL drumkit and play along to any song in RockBand, with the unfortunate side effect being that real drums generally make noise when you play. But at least that way you could position the pads wherever you want them. (and you could put practice pads over your kit if you wanted to mute them down).

Anyone else have trouble activating star power with the guitar by tilting? I never had an issue with Guitar Hero, but with RB I find myself having to try a couple of times before it actually registers, and by that time I've already screwed up a bunch of notes b/c of it.

p.s. I know you can hit the "select" button, but position-wise it doesn't really work for me b/c of the wammy bar.

Really? I got through that one my first try on medium with a 4 star score and actually got a 5 star the first time on Hard. I didn't find it NEARLY as difficult as some other jams like Cherub Rock, Enter Sandman and the Queens of the Stone Age tracks. The off beat kick drum in the Queens track is a bitch for me.

Well, technically speaking, it's definitely not a difficult song. It has a single time change, and other than that it's a very simple song. The problem is that until then on the medium tour you haven't needed the stamina nor the speed with the kick pedal that is required in GGaHT. So for people new to the drums it is a very large jump.

Any of you pretend musicians who want to start investing in a kit like that, be smart: Get yourself a real drumset and just play along with a pair of headphones.

Where do I get the scrolling dots to show me what to play with a real set? :confused:

;)

Well after playing a few songs on expert and REALLY getting into it, I realised that it would be a good investemt to pick up the pedal metal and soound dampening pads. Cant wait to try them out!

PS: Those Ion Drums?

Any of you pretend musicians who want to start investing in a kit like that, be smart: Get yourself a real drumset and just play along with a pair of headphones. NO achievements, except..you'll really be playing the drums :D


At the end of the day, what does playing real drums over this game get me? Nothing really. I'm not going out to start a band or join one.

At the end of the day, what does playing real drums over this game get me?

Personal satisfaction?
Musical creativity?
Deeper understanding of music, time signatures, tones, notes, syncopation, polyrhythms, etc...
Lots of noise?
Not sitting in front of a plastic toy and your TV?

I can think of lots of benefits of learning a real musical instrument over playing the video game.

Personal satisfaction?
Musical creativity?
Deeper understanding of music, time signatures, tones, notes, syncopation, polyrhythms, etc...
Lots of noise?
Not sitting in front of a plastic toy and your TV?

I can think of lots of benefits of learning a real musical instrument over playing the video game.

Ummm.....why in the world are you wasting your precious time posting in an Xbox video gaming thread? Shouldn't you be out practicing your real drums, or learning a new instrument, or at the rifle range firing a real weapon, or enlisting in the Marines?

Well after playing a few songs on expert and REALLY getting into it, I realised that it would be a good investemt to pick up the pedal metal and soound dampening pads. Cant wait to try them out!

Carbon or steel metal?

I'm worried that my wrist is permanently hosed from playing this game. I hope it's not the felt pads that caused this. Once those constant sixteenth note highhats start flying, or off-beat crashes, that wrist pain starts flaring and will stay throughout the song -- then, once the song is over it's fine again. :o

I talked with my friend (who has also taught percussion years ago) and he wants me head over to his place and try out a real kit to watch me play. Maybe we can figure out what I'm doing wrong. He's convinced it's tension from my grip, even though I try to hold the sticks as loosely as possible. But once the song starts rocking... well, you saw what I did to my kick pedal. :o That and some warmup exercises should do the trick, but it's frustrating to do all that just to play a videogame. :(

I'm worried that my wrist is permanently hosed from playing this game. I hope it's not the felt pads that caused this. Once those constant sixteenth note highhats start flying, or off-beat crashes, that wrist pain starts flaring and will stay throughout the song -- then, once the song is over it's fine again. :o


My guess is like me, you're past 30 right? So figure 2-3 weeks of NO INTENSIVE WRIST USE to make this go away...or, do like I told you....pop a couple of Advils or Tylenols (or something with a good anti-inflammitory in it) and then play :)

But the real issue is this: Real drums take the energy of you whacking them and turn that into sound. Pads, either the Rock Band pads or real practice pads, offer no energy dispersion and simply send all that force right back up into your wrist and arm. Now, if you are really playing, you're probably hitting the pads pretty hard even though you dont think you are, and thats alot of energy coming back up your arm.

once the song starts rocking... well, you saw what I did to my kick pedal. :o That and some warmup exercises should do the trick, but it's frustrating to do all that just to play a videogame. :(

At least you are a dedicated pretend percussionist :D

MY LIGHTER IS OUT FOR YOU, DUDE!!!!

((PS: Considering how I never did much with my drumming, including ever really improve, I consider myself a non-dedicated pretend percussionist who actually owned a kit...so you're already beyond me in mad skillz!)

Thats exactly what I was thinking headrusch. Take some time off, put some ice on it and rock out! ha ha.

By the way I got the diamond plate one. I love carbon fiber and I know how strong it is but cost vs durability potential with that and the metal one... its a no brainer imo.

Ummm.....why in the world are you wasting your precious time posting in an Xbox video gaming thread? Shouldn't you be out practicing your real drums, or learning a new instrument, or at the rifle range firing a real weapon, or enlisting in the Marines?

The point is, spending $180 for a game and box of pretend instruments is fun, but if you start investing $200, $300+ just for one instrument for one game....at that point you have to start asking yourself if you'd be smarter buying an actual real instrument :) (particularly when the game's current set of drums works adequately)

Another thing...unlike any other instrument (sans perhaps the skin flute or meat organ), anyone can pick up some sticks and play the drums. Perhaps not well, perhaps not Neil Pert or Buddy Rich level without years upon years of practice, but just about anyone with a sense of rythim can listen to a rock song and bang out a plausable version in very little time. So the only thing stopping you from playing the drums is the noise you're gonna make. :)

anyone can pick up some sticks and play the drums. Perhaps not well, perhaps not Neil Pert or Buddy Rich level without years upon years of practice, but just about anyone with a sense of rythim can listen to a rock song and bang out a plausable version in very little time.

Spoken like someone who knows how to play. Myself, I would sit behind a kit and listen to Stone Temple Pilots and go "...uhhhhh, what do I do with these sticks?" :D

I might be able to get to "Meg White" status by myself, but I really need someone, or in the case of RockBand, someTHING show me what to do. :o Or at least how to start to learn these songs. I mean, there's things in the kick drumming I had no idea that's how drummers do these things.

Anyone else have trouble activating star power with the guitar by tilting? I never had an issue with Guitar Hero, but with RB I find myself having to try a couple of times before it actually registers, and by that time I've already screwed up a bunch of notes b/c of it.

p.s. I know you can hit the "select" button, but position-wise it doesn't really work for me b/c of the wammy bar.


Happens to me a lot. I always seem to screw up the note right before activating the SP. I didn't know about the select button.

I think many people have been here. I was there, for sure. After failing GG 10 or so times, it was a good 2 or 3 weeks before I put it back in my xbox. Then, I started trying again. After another 10 or 20 tries, I was able to get through it....and things started to click.

Like I said, you'll pretty much breeze through the rest of the career once you get GG over with. At least for me, the bass pedal started becoming more second nature after beating GG, too. Seems like GG is the first time you have to really keep 2 different rhythms going for a substantial amount of time.

(for me, I got through playing softer than normal. Kept me a bit more focused. Don't give up, either. Miss a few, quickly regroup and keep hammering through the song. Eventually, you'll get it.)

Thanks. Any tips for trying to sneak my way through? For instance will my meter fall less if I just concentrate on hitting all the base drum notes in the 68% section, vs. the two left-hand notes? Or is missing any consistently going to get me booted either way?

I've practiced that section quite a bit. I can get through it ok at 50-60% speed. Once I get up to about 80%+ speed I fall apart. Any tips for training myself to keep the rhythm better? So far just simply practicing it over and over isn't proving itself as a worth strategy...

...unlike any other instrument (sans perhaps the skin flute or meat organ), anyone can pick up some sticks and play the drums. Perhaps not well, perhaps not Neil Pert or Buddy Rich level without years upon years of practice, but just about anyone with a sense of rythim can listen to a rock song and bang out a plausable version in very little time. So the only thing stopping you from playing the drums is the noise you're gonna make. :)

I've done that, and made nothing but a muddy racket. Whereas I was able to pick up an electric guitar and with nothing more than two fingers of my left hand and a slow strum make a very recognizable go at "Smoke on the Water" and "Iron Man". :D

So yeah, you sound like a real drummer. This thread is for video gamers. :)

Ok i got through GG&HT on Medium Drums today. Thank god. Did it on my third shot.

I almost failed during the beginning of the second guitar solo... but somehow I survived. I went in with a gameplan and followed it and it paid off.

I held off doing any fills until "i needed them" for crowd support.

I also held off doing fills so I could regroup during the really fast parts.

Both of these tips really helped.

When I access the Guitar Solor career Leaderboards via XBOX Live it shows me the last page (those ranked down to 100,000th place and at the bottom of the screen says "You must play to be in the leaderboards" or something like that.

However I have played and completed a solo Guitar career on Hard. And my score is like 3,200,000 which is better than the 2,900,000ish range that occupies 100,000th place. So why am I not showing up? Why is it saying I need to play when I've already completed the career?

When I access the Guitar Solor career Leaderboards via XBOX Live it shows me the last page (those ranked down to 100,000th place and at the bottom of the screen says "You must play to be in the leaderboards" or something like that.

However I have played and completed a solo Guitar career on Hard. And my score is like 3,200,000 which is better than the 2,900,000ish range that occupies 100,000th place. So why am I not showing up? Why is it saying I need to play when I've already completed the career?

Strange... either you're in RB and haven't logged in with the account and the character that you used to complete the solo career, or possibly XBL is still having issues and not connecting properly. I would say the later is probably most likely.

Be advised that it takes a couple hours for the leaderboards to be updated.

Ummm.....why in the world are you wasting your precious time posting in an Xbox video gaming thread? Shouldn't you be out practicing your real drums, or learning a new instrument, or at the rifle range firing a real weapon, or enlisting in the Marines?

I do practice my real drums, just not 24 hours a day... which leaves me with extra "precious" time to post in "an Xbox video game thread".

As for weapons and the Marines (particularly strange, considering we don't have a Marine Corps in Canada - ah, ignorance).... well, not sure what relevance that has to anything mentioned thus far, other than simply trying to be a condescending prick.

Be advised that it takes a couple hours for the leaderboards to be updated.

Ah, maybe that is it. My score wasn't high enough to make the top 100,000 when I started up the game. But after completing some songs in the Bonus Tour that I didn't realize were part of the game my score was then high enough to make the list. Then when I went it I was surprised to see I wasn't on the list. So this may explain it. Next time I am online I will check.

Another possibility- although it said "congratulations you finished the career mode" I realized that I hadn't played all the songs yet. There are still a few more in the Bonus Tour I have to do. So many it is waiting for me to finish those songs...

I do practice my real drums, just not 24 hours a day... which leaves me with extra "precious" time to post in "an Xbox video game thread".

As for weapons and the Marines (particularly strange, considering we don't have a Marine Corps in Canada - ah, ignorance).... well, not sure what relevance that has to anything mentioned thus far, other than simply trying to be a condescending prick.
First off, this probably won't come off sounding this way, but I want you to know that I'm saying this with the utmost respect.

I think his response kind of assumed that you recognized that you're making an old, old argument that essentially boils down to "instead of pretending to do something in a video game, why not do the real thing?" It's something that we gamers have been hearing for a long long time, and you apparently don't realize just how tired we get of hearing it. It's part of the conventional wisdom template, that "video games are bad".

When kids get a gun a shoot up a school, it's because they learned how to do it playing Doom/Quake/Halo. Video games are the problem.

Yet when kids play "Guitar Hero" but don't express any interest in learning to play a real guitar, then the video game is the problem there, too. Are we supposed to take what we learn from games and apply it in the real world or not?

The truth is that games are for entertainment. And that entertainment takes the form of actively participating (oh yeah, we're told "kids watch too much TV," but video games never get credit for being active instead of passive) in a wide variety of activities that no one could do all of in real life.

It's not that I'm playing a game instead of learning to play drums (BTW, I am an amateur drummer, so I'm a bad example....)--it's that I don't have the time to learn to play drums, play guitar, fight in wars, race cars, fly planes, command armies, AND play 4-5 professional sports in real life.

Also, the argument REALLY falls apart when it takes the form of "why not use your ability to learn the ways of the Force to become a Jedi and save the Republic from Darth Malak . . . in real life?"

That's why someone like DaverJ isn't going to buy a real drum set.
(I already had one before I got Rock Band. Ironically, I haven't touched my real drums since getting Rock Band, and I'm having a BLAST!)

--Dwayne

i preordered the drum set a few hours ago. i dont even have the game yet. :D

That's why someone like DaverJ isn't going to buy a real drum set.
(I already had one before I got Rock Band. Ironically, I haven't touched my real drums since getting Rock Band, and I'm having a BLAST!)

--Dwayne

Not really sure where you are going with this, but it has nothing to do with DaverJ who, as a man who plays real guitar (I believe he has mentioned), he is very likely to go out and buy a real drum kit if the bug bit him.

And I'd have to agree, if you're spending $200-$300+ on a pretend instrument to play Rock Band (when the included kit works perfectly fine) then your priorities are somewhat messed up. In this world, you can generally buy whatever the hell you like, no matter how stupid and without any justification whatsoever.....but that doesn't make it a smart move.

And I'd make the same arguement to someone who spent $250 bucks on a custom lightgun to play Time Crisis with, or a dude who spent $500 on a custom guitar hero guitar to play GH with.....there reaches a point where you kinda have to step back and say "Woah, what the hell am I spending my money on here, exactly". If the original equipment didn't work, thats one thing....but you aren't getting any extra features with those custom drums as far as I can see, except maybe replicating some of the pads on those electronic cymbol sensors so you can play those "if you chose to" instead of hitting the pads (again, confusing).

<shrug>.

Buy what you like, I say....but some of us are gonna shake our heads at the whole thing :)

i preordered the drum set a few hours ago. i dont even have the game yet. :D

How, exactly, do you pre-order a Prototype?
:rolleyes:

I think people are willing to drop 300 on those ion drums instead of getting a real drum kit is simple. As a video game drummer... you still need rock band to tell you WHAT notes to hit and WHEN.

This drum kit sounds like a happy medium between feeling like you are playing on a real kit... yet enjoying the video game aspect of it.

Not really sure where you are going with this, but it has nothing to do with DaverJ who, as a man who plays real guitar (I believe he has mentioned), he is very likely to go out and buy a real drum kit if the bug bit him.
Well, I was just using DaverJ as an example of a non-drummer enjoying Rock Band drums, because using myself as an example wouldn't work. He's posted quite a bit in this thread, but AFAIK has never expressed interest in becoming a real drummer.

I wasn't referring to the Ion Drums at all. (On that subject, all I have to say is "It's your money. Knock yourself out.")

DaverJ: Sorry for dragging you into this. :)

--Dwayne

I dunno guys, what do these drums by you that the RB drums dont?? 3 cymbols that are just the same as the 3 pads they are dangling above?? And a more spread out number of pads...I mean drums? Didn't you get 90% of this for free already?

"Didn't you get 90% of this for free already?"

Please show me where to get free Rock Band drums! I only have two guitars right now, still need some drums and a mic. These free ones sure do sound nice. :)

On a more serious note: HeadRusch, your argument makes no sense. Using the same logic, why would I spend $2000 on a nice 42" Pioneer plasma when I can get a piece of crap 42" Insignia LCD for $800? Why would I spend $40,000 on a Lexus when I can get a used Daewoo for $2,000? Some people like nice stuff.

Something I would get is a "real" electronic kit that can register as USB triggers for RockBand. That would be hot! :cool:

I know... dream on. :rolleyes:

(For the record, HeadRusch was looking into spending a couple hundred $$$ on one of those steering wheel chairs for his force-feedback wheel to play Forza2, soooo..... :p )

How, exactly, do you pre-order a Prototype?
:rolleyes:

i didnt preorder the ION set. just the regular drums that come with the normal bundle. they arent being sold until january 31st.

"(For the record, HeadRusch was looking into spending a couple hundred $$$ on one of those steering wheel chairs for his force-feedback wheel to play Forza2, soooo..... :p )"

That is some quality hipocracy you pointed out there. :)

"they arent being sold until january 31st"

Maybe. There is still no release date for any of that stuff. All stores are doing is guessing and putting filler dates into their systems.

"(For the record, HeadRusch was looking into spending a couple hundred $$$ on one of those steering wheel chairs for his force-feedback wheel to play Forza2, soooo..... :p )"

That is some quality hipocracy you pointed out there. :)


NO... I was exaggerating. A little. For, you know, "comic effect". :o

And I'm sure he didn't buy one... he was just curious. Anyway, sorry to joke OT.

Some pretty good basic RockBand drumming tips for non-drummers. (http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/01/rock-band-featu.html)

I think those ION drums are a cheap set of electronic drums converted to work with the game (at least someone suggested this on the RB forums). So at some point it should be possible to buy an electronic drum kit along with a device that lets you use it as a RB controller. Best of both worlds.

"Didn't you get 90% of this for free already?"

Please show me where to get free Rock Band drums! I only have two guitars right now, still need some drums and a mic. These free ones sure do sound nice. :)


I thought the only way to buy Rock Band currently was to buy the bundle that includes all the instruments, if you can buy Rock Band WITHOUT The drums, well then I guess this becomes a different arguement....


On a more serious note: HeadRusch, your argument makes no sense. Using the same logic, why would I spend $2000 on a nice 42" Pioneer plasma when I can get a piece of crap 42" Insignia LCD for $800? Why would I spend $40,000 on a Lexus when I can get a used Daewoo for $2,000? Some people like nice stuff.

Actually, it does make sense. The Pioneer will give you a better picture than the Insignia, and the Lexus will give you more creature comforts and more performance than the Daweoo....but those expensive rock band drums are doing to do the exact same thing as the standard rock band drums, they will sound exactly the same, they will perform exactly the same, except give you more places to hit the same 4 notes by adding cymbols.

Which is the likely draw. And, while I can't tell for sure, I dont think those pads look adjustable in terms of placement...tho I could be wrong.

"(For the record, HeadRusch was looking into spending a couple hundred $$$ on one of those steering wheel chairs for his force-feedback wheel to play Forza2, soooo..... :p )"

That is some quality hipocracy you pointed out there. :)


The word is "hypocracy" :)

And its not at all hypocritical:
Rock Band Drums versus ION Drums: Exact same sound, exact same performance, still hitting pads. What do you get? More spaced out pads and 3 cymbols that mirror the pads in the game. Great for the occasional smacking of the crash cymbol, but otherwise its the exact same controller.

GamePad versus Wheel on Mount: Completely different controller that completely changes the feel of the game, and your ability to interact with it.

a valid comparison would be: Using the joypad to play rock band versus buying the ION drums to play rock band, in which case, I'd say definately buy those drums :)

I thought the only way to buy Rock Band currently was to buy the bundle that includes all the instruments, if you can buy Rock Band WITHOUT The drums, well then I guess this becomes a different arguement....

You could buy the game by itself for $60 since day one.

The word is "hypocracy" :)

And its not at all hypocritical:
Rock Band Drums versus ION Drums: Exact same sound, exact same performance, still hitting pads. What do you get? More spaced out pads and 3 cymbols that mirror the pads in the game. Great for the occasional smacking of the crash cymbol, but otherwise its the exact same controller.

GamePad versus Wheel on Mount: Completely different controller that completely changes the feel of the game, and your ability to interact with it.

a valid comparison would be: Using the joypad to play rock band versus buying the ION drums to play rock band, in which case, I'd say definately buy those drums :)

ION Drums vs Rock Band Drums: same basic performance, but spacing and additional cymbals more accurately replicate the experience of playing drums. Could be a good way to transition from Rock Band drum playing to real band drum playing.

It's more like using a racing wheel on your couch or building a racing chair setup.

ION Drums vs Rock Band Drums: same basic performance, but spacing and additional cymbals more accurately replicate the experience of playing drums. Could be a good way to transition from Rock Band drum playing to real band drum playing.

It's more like using a racing wheel on your couch or building a racing chair setup.

Sorry, but due to the placement of the "hi hat" and "snare" and a slightly lesser extent the "toms" and "ride" and damn, while I think, the kick pedal - ergonomically speaking, these ION drums still come nowhere near an actual kit setup.

I continually support that a "non-drummer" playing this game and doing "well" at it has a much better starting point for trying to play an actual kit, than a "non-gamer". But there would be a new learning curve to adjust to a normal kit set up and the actual feel of striking cymbals and drum heads.

Sorry, but due to the placement of the "hi hat" and "snare" and a slightly lesser extent the "toms" and "ride" and damn, while I think, the kick pedal - ergonomically speaking, these ION drums still come nowhere near an actual kit setup.

I continually support that a "non-drummer" playing this game and doing "well" at it has a much better starting point for trying to play an actual kit, than a "non-gamer". But there would be a new learning curve to adjust to a normal kit set up and the actual feel of striking cymbals and drum heads.

I said *more accurately* - not accurately. You can't seriously say that the Ion Drums are less like a real drum kit than the standard Harmonix kit.

I said *more accurately* - not accurately. You can't seriously say that the Ion Drums are less like a real drum kit than the standard Harmonix kit.

Wasn't really trying to challenge the verbage. But since you bring it up -

"but spacing and additional cymbals more accurately replicate the experience of playing drums."

The only "more" I can give you is the cymbal pads are up in the air, but they still reference colors and thus would at times translate into tom hits. And no, toms aren't that high and at that angle. They introduce as much inaccuracy as the harmonix kit. But this is a game, not a trainer.

So I can seriously say the ION drums are JUST as UNLIKE a real drum set as the Harmonix ones. :D

cool RB drum mod-(site is now down thanks to digg but it should be back up in a while).
http://www.otronicon.org/InDash_Display.aspx?PGID=440
the site has full pics showing what he did but again the site may be down due to high traffic.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3435/drumxw9.jpg

Like a few people that have modded full sized guitars I did the same with one of my PS2 controllers using an Ibanez guitar. But, since others beat me to the punch I didn't bother with a build report for it.
However, I haven't seen anyone mod the drum pads yet so here goes a full build report.


The first thing that I had to do was start assembling the Gibraltar drum rack. I wanted to use a rack specifically because it keeps all of the drums hard mounted to each other which is important since there will be wires linking them all together. It will also make it easier to transport the kit to the stage when Otronicon begins.


Now that the rack is assembled I can get to the business of figuring out how the drum pads work. I started by removing the red pad which is held in place using shaped rubber inserts. The rebound and shock absorption of each pad is just four pieces of foam cut into pie shaped pieces.

The pads that come with the game are on the right and the high tom drum is on the bench to the left.

After opening up one of the pads I found that it uses a simple piezoelectric cell to detect vibration. Pretty ingenious and elegantly simple.

Now that I understand how that works it is time to move on to completing all hardware components before dealing with the electronics.


One of the common points of failure with the Rock Band kit is the kick drum pedal. The plastic foot pedal has a problem with breaking from people stomping on like like they were riverdancing. So, to alleviate that I used the steel foot pedal that came with the drum kit.

The kick drum switch on the game is triggered using a magnetic reed switch in the base of the pedal that is activated by a small NeFeB magnet on the foot controller. I made a s-shaped bracket and mounted a heavy duty SPST NO Momentary switch to replace the magnetic reed one in the foot pedal since all of this metal would interfere with the magnet anyway.

The kick drum clamp acts as a mechanical stop for the pedal to keep it from crushing the button. Also, the game pedal using a compression spring with a constant K value (meaning pressure increases that further you press down) whereas the professional drum kit pedal uses a chain and cam to provide progressive resistance and then release to snap at the bottom of the stroke. This makes the kick drum notes feel much more natural.


The next challenge was to mount the LCD monitor for the drummer. Since each of the guitarist and the lead vocal have their own screen I wanted the drummer to have the same convenience. The monitor is a 21" Dell with a composite input just like the others. However, I needed to find a way to mount it in the rack.

The kick drum had a mounting point for the high tom which was no longer being used. So, I went into the shop and found a piece of aluminum bar that would fit the mount. next, I had to machine an insert that would fit into the bar so that I could drill and tap it with a 1/2-13 thread. I wanted to use a big bolt because this is the ONLY thing attaching the monitor to the rest of the drums.

Unfortunately, the bolt that I had was too long and the head was too tall and it had a shoulder that had to be turned down. Fifteen minutes on the lathe and I had a bolt that was short enough, had a low profile, and would screw in flush to work to mount the monitor.


Viola! We have a monitor mounted in the rack.

You will notice that the screen seems to be highly reflective. That is because I put a sheet of 1/4" Lexan polycarbonate over the screen to protect it from errant flailing drumsticks. You can smack the dead center of the screen with the sticks and it doesn't even phase it.

Next you will notice that the heads of the drums are now black versus the usual white or clear ones. That is because I replaced them with Kydex. This stuff is so strong that I played one song on the drums using two crescent wrenches and didn't even leave a scratch on them.

Now that the hardware stuff is done it is time to move onto the electronics.


After removing the pads you can see the piezoelectric cell in the center of the pad. It is held in place with a spring and a retainer to make sure that the cell is pressed flat against the pad.

The next few pictures came out a little blurry but they are basically the cell removed from it's cradle (showing both sides).

The second group of pictures is of a piece of foam being placed over the cell on the back of the Kydex to act like the spring in the original mount.


You will noticed also that I had to splice longer lengths of wire to make sure that they would reach the control panel when it is finished.

Okay, now the cell is mounted so let's see if it works...


Yep, after plugging it into the open spot where the red pad used to be it seems to work very well. So well in fact that just tapping on the side of the drum is enough vibration to trigger it.

So, the next few hours was spent putting the cells in the other three drums. After finishing the install I tried all drums and they worked very well. The only drawback was that the drums still sounded like drums even with the Kydex heads on them.


In an effort to help quiet the drums I fill each one with foam. It did work to an extent. There is still a rather loud tapping sound from striking the plastic heads but it isn't quite a pronounced as before. Another side effect is that the piezoelectric cells aren't as sensitive since all vibrations are damped almost immediately.
Once I have the stage set up I am planning to remove the foam to improve sensitivity.


Now comes the fun part; dealing with all of the interconnects from the pads to the controller.
After removing all of the electronics I take the plastic shell over to the band saw and cut out just the control box. This is the first thing that I have done to the pads that is irreversible.


The picture to the left shows the control box mounted under the monitor but I haven't wrapped the wires in split loom yet.
the picture to the right has all of the wires covered in split loom to match the color of the drum kit. The odd silver wire is a shielded two-conductor wire that leads to the kick drum pedal.


Finally! Drum kit is done! Now it is time for some banging on the drums (yes, that is me :-p)
Overall I am very pleased with the outcome and I think that it will withstand a lot of abuse.


This drum kit will be available for public play at the next Otronicon, January 18-21, 2008 at Orlando Science Center in Orlando, Florida. We will also be holding Rock Band and Guitar Hero competitions and the first place winners will get to perform live at Hard Rock Live in Orlando as the opening acts for Video Games Live!
I will post pictures of the completed stage within a week as well as posting videos of the drums and the rest of the Rock Band stage in action so be sure to check back here!
Also, check out the rest of otronicon.org to see all that's going on at this year's Otronicon V.3!
- Buzz

Wasn't really trying to challenge the verbage. But since you bring it up -

"but spacing and additional cymbals more accurately replicate the experience of playing drums."

The only "more" I can give you is the cymbal pads are up in the air, but they still reference colors and thus would at times translate into tom hits. And no, toms aren't that high and at that angle. They introduce as much inaccuracy as the harmonix kit. But this is a game, not a trainer.

So I can seriously say the ION drums are JUST as UNLIKE a real drum set as the Harmonix ones. :D

They would only translate into tom hits if you hit them when you're supposed to hit a tom. And toms *are* that high and at that angle if you use a rack (other than the floor toms). I've seen toms mounted perpendicular to the ground - it's not like there is a certain position you *have* to have your drums mounted.

They would only translate into tom hits if you hit them when you're supposed to hit a tom. And toms *are* that high and at that angle if you use a rack (other than the floor toms). I've seen toms mounted perpendicular to the ground - it's not like there is a certain position you *have* to have your drums mounted.

Granted...don't "have to" is correct..personal preference. Disagree that they are the same height as rack mounting....up near the shoulders?? Would love to see that drummer play. :eek:

But again, I don't refute that some drummers are warped with their ergonomics.

Granted...don't "have to" is correct..personal preference. Disagree that they are the same height as rack mounting....up near the shoulders?? Would love to see that drummer play. :eek:

But again, I don't refute that some drummers are warped with their ergonomics.

You must be looking at some strange pictures of them. These are definitely not up near the shoulders (unless you're talking about the cymbals, but I thought we were talking about the toms):
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/01/ion-audio-drum-set-proto.jpg

don't feed the troll

I was curious if people who downloaded dlc songs could comment on them.

I was curious if people who downloaded dlc songs could comment on them.

Best thing to do is go to youtube and search for Rock Band [name of song]. There are videos of pretty much all the songs so you can hear the song and see the notechart, to see if you think the song would be worth it.

The Police Pack and Metallica Pack are worth the price. Buddy Holly is pretty fun to play on guitar. The 5 songs that came out for 80 points each are worth the $1 asking price, and I have already gotten my $1 worth of fun out of them. I will never go in and manually choose to ever play them again though.

I was curious if people who downloaded dlc songs could comment on them.

If you like the song in real life, it will be fun, especially to sing!

I found a USB Logitech Mic at Gamestop today used for $10! Woot! It is for some PS2 game called "Get On Da Mic", but Rock Band sees it and it works great. It seems to be the exact same mic as the official one, but without the stress relief. Now to start up my singing career. Anyone know if one can play Mic+Bass in Band World Tour? My girl is transitioning to Hard Guitar, and is finding Hard Bass to be a good stepping stone.

"The word is "hypocracy" :)"

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypocrisy

It's appearantly "hypocrisy". Won would think that if my posts were to be checked for speling and grammer, the one doing the checking would get it write. :)

The proper spelling is what I learned from singing Blackened in Rock Band today! :)

"The word is "hypocracy" :)"

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypocrisy

It's appearantly "hypocrisy". Won would think that if my posts were to be checked for speling and grammer, the one doing the checking would get it write. :)

The proper spelling is what I learned from singing Blackened in Rock Band today! :)

You Sir, are correct.

And I shall now beat myself into submission on your behalf! :D

i just beat the hall of fame on medium and didn't get the achievement points, did this happen to anyone else

I was curious if people who downloaded dlc songs could comment on them.

oxm reviews them every week
http://oxmonline.com/category/features

Just got this email regarding my RMA

"Hello,

I know that many of you have been waiting for quite awhile, but we have good news.

All Canadian RMAs placed before January 9th, have shipped!

You should see that your RMAs have all been updated to Parts Shipped to reflect this. Depending on where in Canada you live, you should receive your replacement item within the next six days. If you have not received your new peripheral by January 16th, please contact customer support at www.support.ea.com. Be sure to create a new incident rather than updating your RMA incident to prevent any possible issues.

In appreciation of the patience of our Canadian customers who placed an RMA prior to January 9th, we are not requiring customers receiving this set of RMAs to return your faulty peripheral to us and we will also be removing your credit card hold within the next few days.

Thank you again for your patience as we build and improve our Canadian Rock Band warranty program. Please accept our apologies for the wait and any inconvenience.

EA Customer Support"

Thanks, uhhh...I guess. So I get to keep a broken guitar instead of getting an EA game like the American customers? hmmm, I guess I'll try to take my broken one apart and fix it myself...

Anyone here fixed a faulty guitar (strum bar issue) before? Any tips?

http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?t=40188

Putting "rock band strum fix" in Google does wonders. :)

I found a USB Logitech Mic at Gamestop today used for $10! Woot! It is for some PS2 game called "Get On Da Mic", but Rock Band sees it and it works great. It seems to be the exact same mic as the official one, but without the stress relief. Now to start up my singing career. Anyone know if one can play Mic+Bass in Band World Tour? My girl is transitioning to Hard Guitar, and is finding Hard Bass to be a good stepping stone.

I got over 1 million fans in BWT doing expert vocals and bass by myself so it's possible. I don't know if I can do the endless setlist all by myself on expert though.

Thanks!

So I finally beat Keith Moon's craziness in "Won't Get Fooled Again" in the drum/hard/solo tour -- ...ok, it wasn't "beating" as much as struggling to hit a couple consecutive notes to stay alive. :o

This just leaves Iron Maiden standing in the way of those Achievement points. Maiden was my favorite band in high school, but right now I'm cursing the day they stepped foot in a studio to record Run To The Hills! :D

I just got the pedal metal in the mail yesterday and its fantastic. i highly reccommend this to anyone. It takes some of the sluggishness out of the plastic pedal, and feels great.

Alright, who's going to be the first to buy this? lol.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/13/rock-band-stage-show-coming-to-gamestop-in-june/

So I finally beat Keith Moon's craziness in "Won't Get Fooled Again" in the drum/hard/solo tour -- ...ok, it wasn't "beating" as much as struggling to hit a couple consecutive notes to stay alive. :o

This just leaves Iron Maiden standing in the way of those Achievement points. Maiden was my favorite band in high school, but right now I'm cursing the day they stepped foot in a studio to record Run To The Hills! :D

All I have left is Run to the Hills (still!). I gave it up for a bit, and went onto hard guitar tour, now I only have one song left on that too...lol, it's GGHT, and it's a pain.

So I finally beat Keith Moon's craziness in "Won't Get Fooled Again" in the drum/hard/solo tour -- ...ok, it wasn't "beating" as much as struggling to hit a couple consecutive notes to stay alive. :o

This just leaves Iron Maiden standing in the way of those Achievement points. Maiden was my favorite band in high school, but right now I'm cursing the day they stepped foot in a studio to record Run To The Hills! :D

Yeah, it was nice of Keith to let Pete and John do the majority of time-keeping in that song. Of course, that's in most any Who song from the early 70's. Keith basically played lead and let Townsend and Entwistle take turns keeping time.

I just got the pedal metal in the mail yesterday and its fantastic. i highly reccommend this to anyone. It takes some of the sluggishness out of the plastic pedal, and feels great.


Very nice. I just ordered one for myself.

From the RockBand Forums:
This week at $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) we have-

"Action" made famous by Sweet (cover)

"Last Train to Clarksville" made famous by the Monkees (cover)

"All the Small Things" by Blink 182

WOW. The Monkees? THAT was unexpected. I'll buy that in a heartbeat. RockBand is fulfilling the promise the GH II made to me a year ago. Good variety, steady releases....I just bought a 120 GB hard drive for the 360 yesterday because of it. :)

From the RockBand Forums:
This week at $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) we have-

"Action" made famous by Sweet (cover)

"Last Train to Clarksville" made famous by the Monkees (cover)

"All the Small Things" by Blink 182



AWESOME... I think all 3 of those should pose different and fun challenges -- all are buys for me. :cool:

.....damn it it seems like ages since I've had my 360. Frankly unless I hate a song it seems likely that I'll buy it for rock band just to have it. Even with blink 182 I know travis' drum line will be fun.

That Blink song is probably going to be a bitch on drums. Travis is no joke when it comes to fast drumming.

I've been thinking for a while that several Monkees songs would adapt well to the game's mechanics. However, I never thought Harmonix would even consider looking at material so old and, let's face it, not looked upon too favorably by purist rock fans. If the cover isn't terrible, it's something I'd definitely want.

Wow, never expected the MONKEES! Pretty soon Rock band will be Boy Band ha ha.

YES! keep it up with the kick-ass downloads!

I'll be getting the Blink song, one of my favorite songs by them too.

Wow, never expected the MONKEES! Pretty soon Rock band will be Boy Band ha ha.

heh...

I know you are joking, but to re-iterate what the developers said in on of the game's videos, they feel the perfect group to represent RockBand is a band like The Who... guitar, bass, drums and vocal -- each doing something skilled and unique.

heh...

I know you are joking, but to re-iterate what the developers said in on of the game's videos, they feel the perfect group to represent RockBand is a band like The Who... guitar, bass, drums and vocal -- each doing something skilled and unique.

which again makes me question why they've never approached Dream Theater.

The developers have also gone on the record of saying that a lot of what makes it into the game is "what we like", so perhaps they aren't DT fans?

which again makes me question why they've never approached Dream Theater.

Probably because if you asked most people about Dream Theatre you'd be greeted with the same kind of stare that a dog gives you when you ask him what time it is.

Few people know about Dream Theatre..and before you go off on a tear about them being the greatest musicians inhistory or something, that doesn't sell games. Games sell on names that people recognize. "INCLUDES TRACKS BY DREAM THEATRE" just doesn't have thes ame impact as "INCLUDES TRACKS BY MOTLEY CRUE" or "..BY DIO" or "..BY TWISTED SISTER"...etc.

Plus...I mean....the game is Guitar Hero/Rock Band, do you really want to sit there playing pretend guitar to some complex musical score? Isn't that just insulting? :) I dont want any Steve Vai 20 minute solos, no Escobar, no Jimmy Page "comes with special violin bow" accessories, etc......

Personally I want Queensryche.....anything off of Mindcrime will do, but they'd probably screw it up and give us like......Jet City Woman or something crappy but better known :P

Just as an FYI, my bass pedal "Express" RMA arrived today...10 days from start to finish.
Next time I'm just frankenstein-ing it myself; I'm sure it will break again.

Probably because if you asked most people about Dream Theatre you'd be greeted with the same kind of stare that a dog gives you when you ask him what time it is.

Few people know about Dream Theatre..and before you go off on a tear about them being the greatest musicians inhistory or something, that doesn't sell games. Games sell on names that people recognize. "INCLUDES TRACKS BY DREAM THEATRE" just doesn't have thes ame impact as "INCLUDES TRACKS BY MOTLEY CRUE" or "..BY DIO" or "..BY TWISTED SISTER"...etc.

Plus...I mean....the game is Guitar Hero/Rock Band, do you really want to sit there playing pretend guitar to some complex musical score? Isn't that just insulting? :) I dont want any Steve Vai 20 minute solos, no Escobar, no Jimmy Page "comes with special violin bow" accessories, etc......

Personally I want Queensryche.....anything off of Mindcrime will do, but they'd probably screw it up and give us like......Jet City Woman or something crappy but better known :P


You've got a better chance of seeing the Bee Gees than Dream Theater.
Come to think of it that would be freaking awesome in a room full of people.

Monkees is a bit interesting if not out of left field.

I would love some Rage, Queensryche, Motley Crue, Audioslave, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Manson, Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Guns & Roses, Ozzy (solo stuff with some Rhodes and Wylde!) and many more missing rock bands.

which again makes me question why they've never approached Dream Theater.

maybe because dream theater blows?

Monkees is a bit interesting if not out of left field.

I would love some Rage, Queensryche, ..., Audioslave, Tool, A Perfect Circle, ..., Floyd, Porcupine Tree,...

NOW you're talking!

Tool and Porcupine Tree would be stellar.

Hey all opinions aside I acknowledge that DT isn't a huge band. It is indeed likely that HMX doesn't have many DT fans internally as well. Though the fact that there is an ongoing 6month topic on the official boards discussing DT songs that would work great in RB should say something. But hey if anyone has a request they have the song request function on the official site.

Probably because if you asked most people about Dream Theatre you'd be greeted with the same kind of stare that a dog gives you when you ask him what time it is.

Few people know about Dream Theatre..and before you go off on a tear about them being the greatest musicians inhistory or something, that doesn't sell games. Games sell on names that people recognize. "INCLUDES TRACKS BY DREAM THEATRE" just doesn't have thes ame impact as "INCLUDES TRACKS BY MOTLEY CRUE" or "..BY DIO" or "..BY TWISTED SISTER"...etc.

Plus...I mean....the game is Guitar Hero/Rock Band, do you really want to sit there playing pretend guitar to some complex musical score? Isn't that just insulting? :) I dont want any Steve Vai 20 minute solos, no Escobar, no Jimmy Page "comes with special violin bow" accessories, etc......

Personally I want Queensryche.....anything off of Mindcrime will do, but they'd probably screw it up and give us like......Jet City Woman or something crappy but better known :P

I don't mind "Jet City Woman". In fact, I think the entire Empire album is fantastic, nearly on par with O.M. But it doesn't lend itself nicely to a game such as this. The only song I can see that fits is the title track. The other songs, while good, are more more mellow, like "Della Brown". But I would love anything off Mindcrime as well.

For those who say Dream Theater doesn't fit the game, but GG&HT by the "Outlaws" does? I had never heard of this song before playing the game and I feel my rock knowledge is fairly decent.

Everyone has an opinion about what's good music and what itsn't. I hope this doesn't turn into a thread discussing each person's respective tastes. Some may feel DT "blows". I certainly do not.

I don't mind "Jet City Woman". In fact, I think the entire Empire album is fantastic, nearly on par with O.M. But it doesn't lend itself nicely to a game such as this. The only song I can see that fits is the title track. The other songs, while good, are more more mellow, like "Della Brown". But I would love anything off Mindcrime as well.

For those who say Dream Theater doesn't fit the game, but GG&HT by the "Outlaws" does? I had never heard of this song before playing the game and I feel my rock knowledge is fairly decent.

Everyone has an opinion about what's good music and what itsn't. I hope this doesn't turn into a thread discussing each person's respective tastes. Some may feel DT "blows". I certainly do not.

Indeed, HMX has always lead me to otehr bands I start liking. I've picked up some outlaw tracks since buy RB and enjoy them. I mean if you look at the criteria DT makes sense. You have soem insanely unqiue and inricate drum lines, John Petrucci's guitar solo's are insane in many levels and if like the bass line on war pigs DT is right up your alley. SInging wise it depends on whether you liek classic metal vocs or more modern stuff. RB has proven that you have to like a band to enjoy playing one of their songs. I hate fall out boy but dead on arrival is pretty fun to play(not to sing though).

The f***ing monkeys?

Honestly...

This thread has a habit on sucking money out of my wallet. :D Saw the pedal metal mentioned here and had to have one (carbon fiber).

I don't mind "Jet City Woman". In fact, I think the entire Empire album is fantastic, nearly on par with O.M. But it doesn't lend itself nicely to a game such as this. The only song I can see that fits is the title track. The other songs, while good, are more more mellow, like "Della Brown". But I would love anything off Mindcrime as well.

For those who say Dream Theater doesn't fit the game, but GG&HT by the "Outlaws" does? I had never heard of this song before playing the game and I feel my rock knowledge is fairly decent.

Everyone has an opinion about what's good music and what itsn't. I hope this doesn't turn into a thread discussing each person's respective tastes. Some may feel DT "blows". I certainly do not.

While I don't have any real opinion on DT I think "Silent Lucidity" would be interesting on RB. The game doesn't really approach some of the great rock ballads much. Just like I would love to see "Mama I'm Coming Home" or titles that are similar. "Like a Stone" by Audioslave would be great as well.

Great songs are great songs and I don't think the game should pidgeon hole too much. The Monkees might be a way to test the waters a bit with something a bit different to see what kind of response they get.

Personally I am hoping for some full length albums soon. Stuff like Metallica's Black album, Ten, Siamese Dream, Appetite for Destruction, and more would definitely get my money. Stone Temple Pilot's Core would be great too.

so, i think the red pad is going out on my SECOND set of drums.... i should have pulled out and kept all of the sensors from the first set that i returned to EB games, this whole bundle is plagued with bad hardware.

I am really looking forward to getting my hands on some of the DLC. I am just waiting till I clear all the songs on Medium before I start with the DLC. I figure the jump from Med to Hard will be a big one so I want to tone my skills.

The Blink track will be real nice to play.

The f***ing monkeys?

Honestly...

Yes, The Monkees. Honestly. One of the best things about the weekly RB release schedule has been that they've been releasing songs for a wide spectrum of audiences and tastes. This release marks one of the few songs that dates to the 60s and is a welcome addition to my library, if not yours. Every week, someone is happy and someone is unhappy....because Harmonix simply can't please everyone all the time. With a weekly release schedule, the have plenty of time to weave back and forth from genre to genre.

I am really looking forward to getting my hands on some of the DLC. I am just waiting till I clear all the songs on Medium before I start with the DLC. I figure the jump from Med to Hard will be a big one so I want to tone my skills.

The Blink track will be real nice to play.

The jump from Medium to Hard is not as brutal as it is in GH. It also depends on the difficulty rating on the song in question. "Blitzkreig Bop" or "Creep" is still pretty simple on Hard, in some cases only having a few orange notes at all.

The jump from Medium to Hard is not as brutal as it is in GH. It also depends on the difficulty rating on the song in question. "Blitzkreig Bop" or "Creep" is still pretty simple on Hard, in some cases only having a few orange notes at all.

He might be playing drums -- going from Medium to Hard is a pretty big step on that instrument for non-drummers.

Yes, The Monkees. Honestly. One of the best things about the weekly RB release schedule has been that they've been releasing songs for a wide spectrum of audiences and tastes. This release marks one of the few songs that dates to the 60s and is a welcome addition to my library, if not yours. Every week, someone is happy and someone is unhappy....because Harmonix simply can't please everyone all the time. With a weekly release schedule, the have plenty of time to weave back and forth from genre to genre.

I hear ya.

There is some amazing music from the 60s and would like to see much more 60s/70s content in RB. I just don't get adding The Monkeys.

Do the downloadable songs find their way into the single player modes?

Do the downloadable songs find their way into the single player modes?

Yes, via bonus shows ("Tokyo").

Do the downloadable songs find their way into the single player modes?

Well they will show up in random set lists in BWT, etc. Pretty cool, but that's not single player. Not sure how they are worked into the solo tours.

Like Daver said, they show up in the Tokyo Gorilla show.

He might be playing drums -- going from Medium to Hard is a pretty big step on that instrument for non-drummers.



Yes. I am a drummer. :D

I played the guitar for the first two days of owning Rock Band (was too lazy to set the drums up on Christmas). :D

I haven't touched the guitar since. ;)

Monkeys "Last Train to Clarksville" is a pretty good song if you like those 60's pop classics (and I'm pretty sure they covered it when they did it, I dont think they are the original recorders of that tune but my memory could be failing me) and its got some interesting music to play along to. But if they start tossing out more of the genere, Hermans Hermits and that ilk, I'll probably go cold pretty quickly.

Its an odd choice to be sure.

But at least there is DLC always coming, thats refreshing....I grabbed the Iron Maiden tune from last week or th eweek before and my WRIST is practically broken from trying to strum, I'm still lousy with the up/down timing so its painful playing quick-tempo guitar tunes that require lots of fast strumming!

But to the guy who wanted more rock ballads......I think the idea of the game is to not have people just standing around barely playing their instruments while your vocal crooner serenades his HDTV set, a-la many ballads. Where's AC/DC's contributions?
Metallica BLACK? Oh sweet lord please no..............no sell out metal. MASTER OF PUPPETS, dats what we wantz :D

\m/ \m/ \m/

Monkeys "Last Train to Clarksville" is a pretty good song if you like those 60's pop classics (and I'm pretty sure they covered it when they did it, I dont think they are the original recorders of that tune but my memory could be failing me) and its got some interesting music to play along to. But if they start tossing out more of the genere, Hermans Hermits and that ilk, I'll probably go cold pretty quickly.

Its an odd choice to be sure.

But at least there is DLC always coming, thats refreshing....I grabbed the Iron Maiden tune from last week or th eweek before and my WRIST is practically broken from trying to strum, I'm still lousy with the up/down timing so its painful playing quick-tempo guitar tunes that require lots of fast strumming!

But to the guy who wanted more rock ballads......I think the idea of the game is to not have people just standing around barely playing their instruments while your vocal crooner serenades his HDTV set, a-la many ballads. Where's AC/DC's contributions?
Metallica BLACK? Oh sweet lord please no..............no sell out metal. MASTER OF PUPPETS, dats what we wantz :D

\m/ \m/ \m/

Interesting. Dream Theater is not mainstream enough according to you, but "Master of Puppets" is? I agree, "Master of Puppets" is an awesome album and I'd love to see it, but as far as DLC goes, the "Black" album, and just about any known song off it would outsell MOP DLC 3 to 1.

Monkeys "Last Train to Clarksville" is a pretty good song if you like those 60's pop classics (and I'm pretty sure they covered it when they did it, I dont think they are the original recorders of that tune but my memory could be failing me) and its got some interesting music to play along to. But if they start tossing out more of the genere, Hermans Hermits and that ilk, I'll probably go cold pretty quickly.

Its an odd choice to be sure.

But at least there is DLC always coming, thats refreshing....I grabbed the Iron Maiden tune from last week or th eweek before and my WRIST is practically broken from trying to strum, I'm still lousy with the up/down timing so its painful playing quick-tempo guitar tunes that require lots of fast strumming!

But to the guy who wanted more rock ballads......I think the idea of the game is to not have people just standing around barely playing their instruments while your vocal crooner serenades his HDTV set, a-la many ballads. Where's AC/DC's contributions?
Metallica BLACK? Oh sweet lord please no..............no sell out metal. MASTER OF PUPPETS, dats what we wantz :D

\m/ \m/ \m/

Not really ballads in the sense of crap like "Carrie" or a lot of that 80's crap. I just meant some of the slower stuff that still features great guitar/drum material. Mama I'm coming home is a great example. The guitar riffs would be fun and its a great track.

AC/DC would be outstanding as well. I can only imagine how hard Thunderstruck would be on Hard for guitar!!

I wouldn't call the Black album a sellout at all. The only thing that really changed is the level of production, which I think was well deserved. Didn't sound like it was recorded in a garage like some of Metallica's earlier works (which I like as well). Sell out would be more in line with the albums proceeding it. Speaking of Metallica, I would have LOVED to get Fade to Black as DLC. Another ballad type song that has some monster guitar and drum work.

MOP is just for headbangers trying to relive their glory days of wearing their denim jackets all day long in high school, and smoking cigs in the bathroom while they tease their mullets... :p

I'm quite happy that Rock Band seems to be establishing itself as just that - Rock Band, not Metal Band. Nothing worse than doing BWT with a girl singing and you have to play Metallica. And I LIKE Metallica.

Anyway I'll take Last Train to Clarksville as nothing else but a poor man's imitation Beatles song until that fateful day when we get some DLC love from the Fab Four...you KNOW McCartney's hurting for money, it should be any day now :rolleyes: .

Sell out would be more in line with the albums proceeding it.

To listen to the metalheads they were just supposed to make the same album every 2 years until they die.

I grabbed the blink-182 song but won't get to try it till later tonight after school.

Interesting. Dream Theater is not mainstream enough according to you, but "Master of Puppets" is? I agree, "Master of Puppets" is an awesome album and I'd love to see it, but as far as DLC goes, the "Black" album, and just about any known song off it would outsell MOP DLC 3 to 1.

MOP is a multi-platinum album. DT has a grand total of 1 gold album and their other albums have sold in the 200k range. Any Metallica DLC would outsell DT at least 10-fold. The only DT song that might sell decently is "Pull Me Under".

I got my pad silencers in yesterday and installed but didnt get to play until 9 last nite. Man, these things are so much better! They not only cut the noise in half but the noise that is there is much more pleasant than the clacking of old. It sounds like your hitting a practice pad if anyone has heard one. Improved feel, bounce, and reduced noise are great!

As big of a DT fan as I am (I own every label release, and have seen them live 4 times), their music (and most really heavy prog in general) wouldn't fly too well in a Rock Band kind of environment.

They are amazing muscians, but they are too amazing for a video game context. The really bizzare time signatures and changes (like the 19/16 that's done in Home) would destroy all but the best drummers; Petrucci and Myung activly sound (i.e. pick/sound) way more notes than a lot of shredders do (Petrucci's alternate picking is simply godly) so you'd probably see a lot fewer HO/PO's which could frustrate people; LaBrie's vocal style would be hard to replicate completely and doesn't feature as broad an appeal as other screamers out there, etc...

Some bands simply wouldn't translate well. I personally would love some of their stuff in there (Under a Glass Moon, Dance of Eternity, Metropolis Pt. 1), but I'm enough of a realist to concede that it probably won't happen.

MOP is a multi-platinum album. DT has a grand total of 1 gold album and their other albums have sold in the 200k range. Any Metallica DLC would outsell DT at least 10-fold. The only DT song that might sell decently is "Pull Me Under".

RB's support for metallica isn't being contested but I mean RB is going for an all over DLC experience. They are supposedly in it for the long haul. They're releasing mainstream stuff as well as classics. record sales don't and really shouldn't affect HMX's decision making. I mean "the sounds" aren't that popular here but that track was likely picked up by anyone else buying tracks that week. HMX has shown that they are going for quality with steady quantity. Some people have been asking for DT for a while both on GH and RB boards. There's a demand for it. Same as tool People have been begging for tool but as of yet neither game has claiming victory in nabbing their support.

Monkeys "Last Train to Clarksville" is a pretty good song if you like those 60's pop classics (and I'm pretty sure they covered it when they did it, I dont think they are the original recorders of that tune but my memory could be failing me)

Your memory fails you. It was written especially for the Monkees by Boyce and Hart (who also wrote their theme song). You might be thinking of another song they wrote, "Not your stepping stone", which was originally done by Paul Revere and the Raiders, that became a hit for the Monkees, instead. 'Clarksville's' whole Vietnam-theme was a trend for the Monkees...chipper songs with darker lyrics.

As for 60s releases, there's just as much rock (and pop) there as anywhere else. Cream would be a good source for Rock Band. So would groups like the (already promised) Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Hendrix, Blind Faith, Traffic and a ton of others.

The thing that makes happiest about Rock Band's DLC is that they keep pulling rabbits out of the hat. Some weeks are not to my taste...and that's fine. As long as they keep mixing it up for everyone, I'll be patient and wait for stuff I do like on the weeks when they release something I don't.

"I am just waiting till I clear all the songs on Medium before I start with the DLC. I figure the jump from Med to Hard will be a big one so I want to tone my skills."

Me and my girl have started playing Medium with only 3 fingers instead of 4. It has forced us to get used to the one fret shuffle, without throwing in the extra speed of Hard. I now have 9 songs on Hard under my belt, instead of only 2 after I hit the wall the first time. :) Give it a try, it might help the transition to Hard. Or go play some GH3 on Medium, as it is more difficult than RB Medium.

MOP is a multi-platinum album. DT has a grand total of 1 gold album and their other albums have sold in the 200k range. Any Metallica DLC would outsell DT at least 10-fold. The only DT song that might sell decently is "Pull Me Under".

Let's put it this way: Dream Theater has covered the entire album of "Master of Puppets" in concert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_puppets), not the other way around. I'd never even HEARD of them until last year, due to a special on MTV HD. I've never listened to MoP, but I'm aware of it. It's sold 6 million-plus copies to date, and is on a lot of 'greatest albums' lists. Metallica's self-titled album has probably sold more copies than Dream Theater's entire catalog to date (25 Million).

That's no a reflection on their musicianship...Dream Theater is widely recognized for their skills. But they are a far less commercial band with less general recognition and songs that don't really fit that well in the context of Rock Band as a game....any more than many of my favorite Prog Rock bands would.

RB's support for metallica isn't being contested but I mean RB is going for an all over DLC experience. They are supposedly in it for the long haul. They're releasing mainstream stuff as well as classics. record sales don't and really shouldn't affect HMX's decision making. I mean "the sounds" aren't that popular here but that track was likely picked up by anyone else buying tracks that week. HMX has shown that they are going for quality with steady quantity. Some people have been asking for DT for a while both on GH and RB boards. There's a demand for it. Same as tool People have been begging for tool but as of yet neither game has claiming victory in nabbing their support.

I'm not saying that DT shouldn't be offered as DLC. It's just hard to make the case that DT would be more popular than MOP. I don't really get into most of their stuff but I do think "Pull Me Under" would be a good number. It's very hard to compare Tool and DT. Tool is very popular and gets a lot of airplay on alternative radio. I'd like to see "Prision Sex" be offered, but I'm guessing EA wouldn't sign off on it.

BTW, for some fun at John Petrucci's expense check out these vids:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uea8k5sJ5qg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SKMYeXkYcgs

I say keep the pre-glam Sweet songs flowing! Desolation Boulevard as a downloadable album would be, ahem, "sweet" in my book. :)

I'd love to see some BÖC, too. Like ETI and Harvester of Eyes. Hot Rails to Hell would be a good one for all parts, too, as would Then Came the Last Days of May.

I'm not saying that DT shouldn't be offered as DLC. It's just hard to make the case that DT would be more popular than MOP. I don't really get into most of their stuff but I do think "Pull Me Under" would be a good number. It's very hard to compare Tool and DT. Tool is very popular and gets a lot of airplay on alternative radio. I'd like to see "Prision Sex" be offered, but I'm guessing EA wouldn't sign off on it.

BTW, for some fun at John Petrucci's expense check out these vids:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uea8k5sJ5qg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SKMYeXkYcgs

I agree on the popularity and pull me under is their biggest hit so yeah maybe. Anything from tool would work for me. I can't view the youtube vids at work but if it's more of those redubbed solos I've seen them all. They are pretty funny.

My new guitar came in today, works perfectly...now to get to fixing the broken one they let me keep...

I am picking up a second RB guitar from someone at work that already has 2 or 3 GH guitars.... He was only asking for $40 unopened box.... I cannot wait...

Hey homeless.. Couldn't you get that guitar replaced as well through EA support....

I got my pad silencers in yesterday and installed but didnt get to play until 9 last nite. Man, these things are so much better! They not only cut the noise in half but the noise that is there is much more pleasant than the clacking of old. It sounds like your hitting a practice pad if anyone has heard one. Improved feel, bounce, and reduced noise are great!

Which pad silencers are these? I did the felt mod and like it but it really doesn't do anything to cut down on the noise.

i bought these because they were the cheapest, lo and behold I really likem. If you want 100% sound deadening you'll risk loosing sensitivity. Being an experienced drummer, this is a much needed improvement to get that "feel" of hitting real drum heads. Try it, if you dont like it, its only 9 bucks +shipping lost. These pads feel like hitting heads on a tom, love it!

http://cgi.*********/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280192518904&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=280190463942&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

Edit: Ok, just search for

Wii PS3 XBOX Rock Band Drum Pad Cover Silencer - SALE!

Hey homeless.. Couldn't you get that guitar replaced as well through EA support....

Yeah I thought of that, maybe just sending it in with my brothers name and address on it, but it might be fun to try it myself.

got the newest OXM in the mail today so I added 3 more songs to my playlist in the game

took about a minute to download the songs off the dvd to the hard drive

Just bought the Rock Band kit today........Wow! I love the drums! It seems they are working great too, because they are very sensitive, I barely have to touch the pads for them to register. My Stratocaster seems to be good too.......I think I still like the Les Paul better though.

just put a top 20 score up for bass guitar on All the Small Things, I wanna try some more and try and crack top 10

i bought these because they were the cheapest, lo and behold I really likem. If you want 100% sound deadening you'll risk loosing sensitivity. Being an experienced drummer, this is a much needed improvement to get that "feel" of hitting real drum heads. Try it, if you dont like it, its only 9 bucks +shipping lost. These pads feel like hitting heads on a tom, love it!

http://cgi.*********/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280192518904&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=280190463942&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

Edit: Ok, just search for

Wii PS3 XBOX Rock Band Drum Pad Cover Silencer - SALE!

Thanks for the heads up Jason! I have the felt mod on my set, but wonder about the effect of the felt with the bounce of the stick. So if an actual drummer approves this ^^^ eBay set and says it feels more like a real set, at the price I figured "what the heck" and decided to check them out.

It was hard to tell from the photo... what is the top surface like? It is smooth and rubbery, like a practice pad?

Interesting. Dream Theater is not mainstream enough according to you, but "Master of Puppets" is? I agree, "Master of Puppets" is an awesome album and I'd love to see it, but as far as DLC goes, the "Black" album, and just about any known song off it would outsell MOP DLC 3 to 1.

Yes, because everyone and their mother has heard of Metallica..not just metalheads....and unless you're into metal prog rock or metal in general, Dream Theatre sounds like the name of an 80's synth pop band (which is who I thought they were until learning they weren't who I thought they were, back in the early 90's).

Thing is, Master is on the list of every metalhead in the world. Black is on more peoples lists, I agree, tracks off that would probably outsell MOP tracks, but not for me.

Your memory fails you. It was written especially for the Monkees by Boyce and Hart (who also wrote their theme song). You might be thinking of another song they wrote, "Not your stepping stone", which was originally done by Paul Revere and the Raiders, that became a hit for the Monkees, instead. 'Clarksville's' whole Vietnam-theme was a trend for the Monkees...chipper songs with darker lyrics.


You must be right....I knew one of their hits was a cover of a song done fairly recently, ie: within the past few years, which struck me as odd. I MEAN Recently as in the 60's...it was a cover of a song that wasn't very old when they covered it.

As for 60s releases, there's just as much rock (and pop) there as anywhere else. Cream would be a good source for Rock Band. So would groups like the (already promised) Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Hendrix, Blind Faith, Traffic and a ton of others.


I wouldn't lump most of those guys in as Pop.....I think it would be very cool to play along to Somebody To Love or Terapin Station (drummers, prepare your arms now!)....Hey Mr. Spaceman...etc. ;) I'm not a huge fan of the blusey sound of CREAM, but I can see where that would appeal to some folks.


The thing that makes happiest about Rock Band's DLC is that they keep pulling rabbits out of the hat. Some weeks are not to my taste...and that's fine. As long as they keep mixing it up for everyone, I'll be patient and wait for stuff I do like on the weeks when they release something I don't.

I agree....and because they offer the songs up as tracks, I have no real qualms about buying individual songs....GH3's making me pay 3+ bucks for perhaps 2 songs I would never want to play just to get one tune is less desirable to me.

XBox.com leaked the info on the next two weeks of downloads:

Week of Jan. 22: Oasis Pack (440 MS points/ $5.50)

* Don't Look Back in Anger (160 MS points/ $2)
* Live Forever (160 MS points/ $2)
* Wonderwall (160 MS Points / $2)

Week of Jan. 29: Progressive Pack (440 MS points/ $5.50)

* Siva - Smashing Pumpkins (160 MS points/ $2)
* Working Man - Rush *Cover* (160 MS points/ $2)
* Ten Speed (Of God's Blood and Burial) - Coheed and Cambria *Cover* (160 MS Points / $2)


I'll definitely pick up the Oasis pack. I'm a sucker for 90s pop/rock.

Anyone see if the latest OXM is in stores yet? I want that Freezepop track!

Anyone see if the latest OXM is in stores yet? I want that Freezepop track!

I picked it up at the airport but the disc didn't work. "Replacements" from the online customer support could be 6 weeks. There is an interesting article about taking your gear apart, but most of it and more you can find somewhere on the web.

In other news: Take away my maple syrup, but I think I've run the course on Rush unless its Subdivisions or Spirit of Radio.

Thanks for the heads up Jason! I have the felt mod on my set, but wonder about the effect of the felt with the bounce of the stick. So if an actual drummer approves this ^^^ eBay set and says it feels more like a real set, at the price I figured "what the heck" and decided to check them out.

It was hard to tell from the photo... what is the top surface like? It is smooth and rubbery, like a practice pad?

Thanks DaverJ, by the way the pads have more of a smooth soft feel. Easiest way to describe it is a mouse pad on steroids.

I picked it up at the airport but the disc didn't work. "Replacements" from the online customer support could be 6 weeks. There is an interesting article about taking your gear apart, but most of it and more you can find somewhere on the web.

In other news: Take away my maple syrup, but I think I've run the course on Rush unless its Subdivisions or Spirit of Radio.

did you try the boil method? Those OXM discs can be pretty cheap. I also picked up the disac but I'm still waiting for my 360 to come back from MS.

"I picked it up at the airport but the disc didn't work."

Sucks that your disc didn't work! :( I just grabbed the mag, but I haven't put the disc in yet. Here's hoping...

Wait, since when is anything associated with Billy Corgan considered "Prog".

IIRC, Siva has like 1 time change and while is more progressive sounding than alot of the Pumpkins' stuff, it's hardly what I'd consider prog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellon_Collie_and_the_Infinite_Sadness

Smashing Pumpkin's Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness seems to be a shining example of the definition of Prog Rock.

Oh, and my OXM disc worked! Yay! :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellon_Collie_and_the_Infinite_Sadness

Smashing Pumpkin's Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness seems to be a shining example of the definition of Prog Rock.

Oh, and my OXM disc worked! Yay! :)

You say tomato, I say to-mah-to.

To me Mellon Collie (which I really like) has more in common with straight avante-garde (sort of like Varese in a rock context, though not like Zappa did) music than Prog.

Yes, it's a concept (kinda) album. Yes, Corgan used more diverse instrumentation and a wider tonal pallate than SP was used to, but to me it just doesn't say progressive rock.

Week of Jan. 22: Oasis Pack (440 MS points/ $5.50)

* Don't Look Back in Anger (160 MS points/ $2)
* Live Forever (160 MS points/ $2)
* Wonderwall (160 MS Points / $2)


BLEECH... They should rename this the A-Hole Pack.... :)


Week of Jan. 29: Progressive Pack (440 MS points/ $5.50)

* Siva - Smashing Pumpkins (160 MS points/ $2)
* Working Man - Rush *Cover* (160 MS points/ $2)
* Ten Speed (Of God's Blood and Burial) - Coheed and Cambria *Cover* (160 MS Points / $2)


I'd buy the cover of Working Man, but if its the same dudes that did Limelight...they can forget it, that imitation Geddy Lee postively sucks and ruins the entire song (Limelight that is)......IMHO of course :P.

As for Pumpkins...Zero...Bullet With Butterfly Wings.....Please? Nothing wrong with Siva...but...its a bit...oobbbbscure.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/07/18

So I've played the three OXM tracks on Medium Guitar now. Here's a mini-review!

Freezepop is Freezepop. You should know by now if you like playing their stuff. Ever since seeing them live at PAX this year, I am fascinated by them, so Spode was fun to play.

The Count Zero track has some fun HO/PO sections.

The Bang Camaro track feels like playing a guitar solo the entire song. It's pretty great as there is minimal repetition of sections.

Overall, if you already get OXM, or if you actually see value in the demo disc or the magazine, then the tracks are worth the $2 subscription price, or $10 retail price. If all you want is the 3 tracks, and see the magazine as something to be shucked (see above link), then $10 is a little much. :) I'm somewhere in the middle. The Freezepop track is worth $5 to me, all by itself, and there is something novel about holding this antiquated thing that they call a "magazine" in my hand.

Ok... so I officially cleared all 58 songs on Medium and started drumming on hard. All I can say is HOLY ****.

I was doing fine with New York. Cleared all the NY songs like In Bloom and such without too much difficulty.

But when I got to the next city... my god. I failed the Pixies track within the first 45 seconds.

So I started a pracrice session with that song and I had to drop it to 50% to be able to finish the intro part of the song. I am having serious problems hitting the repeated blue beat with the every other red... when it gets to the point where you have to hit a triple blue and then an immediate double pedal.

I can't seem to get this drumming technique down. not only do I miss it... but it screws up my entire rhytm for the song causing me to miss a ton of following easier beats eventually failing the song.

Anyone else having issues making the jump to hard? I can't seem to nail those really fast hits that require you to use both hands in sync.

I never thought I'd say this... but I'd take GG&HT on medium anytime over these songs on hard.

Ok... so I officially cleared all 58 songs on Medium and started drumming on hard. All I can say is HOLY ****.

I was doing fine with New York. Cleared all the NY songs like In Bloom and such without too much difficulty.

But when I got to the next city... my god. I failed the Pixies track within the first 45 seconds.


As a fellow non-drummer learning the skins via RockBand... I feel ya bro.

But as just about everyone else who was where you were will tell you... RockBand drumming on the "Hard" level is where the fun really kicks in (heh, no pun intended). This is where all the core drumming (or at least faux-drumming) essentials are really introduced -- steady rhythm, syncopation, alternating kick/hits, off beat hits, etc.. Each song in the game seems to add at least one unique element to the drumming arsenal, so there are going to be songs that trip you up. The only way to make it to the last tier is simple -- "practice". ;) Slow down the songs and get used to how the rhythm works, then bring up the speed.

You can do it! I've been playing RockBand since it launched and being a non-drummer with a bad sense of rhythm, I had a hard time getting used it this foreign way of thinking. Now I can pass every song on Hard without much problems -- save "Run to the Hills", which is brutally impossible! :o But I'm at the 3rd tier on Expert and still having a blast.

Stick to it and don't expect everything to come to you at once. You will feel your skills get better the more you play. Have fun! :D

Its just like the guitar, practice practice practice. Eventually you're hitting stuff you couldn't before. I can 5 star GH2 songs on hard (time to start going through on expert to see if I can really step it up..and this is mostly due to song preference over GH3/RB right now,just to mix it up)...then I can do Bang Camaro's Push Push on Hard and barely get by :P (mostly due to unfamiliarity and lack of practice of the charts).

PRACTICE!

The toughest part about these games is that you aren't allowed any creativity...and by creativity I mean, being able to compensate for your own weaknesses :) Example, there may be a triple-kickdrum beat combined with some odd snare/tomtom work in a real song, which if you just can't seem to get it down, you can..well, fudge :) Do what works for you...so long as it doesn't throw off the feel or beat of the song.

But in RB you can't do that...if Neil Pert is playing Triplets on his bass pedal, you are too....and if you happent o have a problem doing that....and you'd rather play an eighth note with a spash cymbol thrown in to put your own style on the song.....you can't.

There's a guy on YouTube who plays a nifty electronic set out in the UK, he plays along to songs....so last night I'm air-playing along with this guy, seeing if I've still got my chops...and I'm doing pretty good (and my arms are ready to fall off 1/2 way through).....but I go to Rock Band and I can barely pass some of the songs on hard...Rock Band is pretend, not real, so you gotta work within its limitations (tho playing drums on RB is definately setting you up for the real thing).

I think this is the same bitch Guitarists had about trying to play the GH guitar..their fingers wanted to do something but the game said "NO, DO THIS".

I might just start drums on expert since I find on Hard I hit beats that I think SHOULD be there...I even ordered a set of those practice foam pads that someone listed further up in the thread, I do so hate the clacking of the drums..we'll see how they work out.

And damnit..I almost do need to get a throne :P

I may as well just order up a set of Pearls to go along with it...:D

I might just start drums on expert since I find on Hard I hit beats that I think SHOULD be there...I even ordered a set of those practice foam pads that someone listed further up in the thread, I do so hate the clacking of the drums..we'll see how they work out.




Yes... I tend to "improvise" too. :D But the only issue that introduces is lowering my score because when I hit a beat that shouldn't be there I lose my multiplier. It doesn't mess me up too bad overall like the Pixies song was doing.

Oh and in regards to the pads... I will probably eventually buy a set. But I play with headphones on since I drum right next to my audio rack where my receiver is. I love the headphones. ZERO lag since its directly connected... and I don't hear those annoying drum pads (only my wife hears them). :D

This thread has a habit on sucking money out of my wallet. :D Saw the pedal metal mentioned here and had to have one (carbon fiber).

Got the carbon fiber one yesterday. I can't speak to how much support it adds (it is a pretty thick piece of material though) but I love the looks of it.

***Is it bad forum etiquette to quote yourself??? :D

Where is the official song list request thread for RB on the 360? (either here or rockband.com)?

darklord,

do the songs get 'installed' to your hard drive? can you keep playing them later without the oxm disc? if so, mail it to me... ;)

"do the songs get 'installed' to your hard drive? can you keep playing them later without the oxm disc? if so, mail it to me... ;)"

The disc downloads the tracks to your HDD just like any other RockBand DLC. As for mailing my disc away, I've already got a group of people locally that I'm passing my disc onto. :) You may not be the recipient of the DLC lovin', but the lovin' is happening. :)

Well I've hit a brick wall for now. I am doing the solo drum tour on Hard and just can't get through two of the songs in the London set. Blue Oyster Cult and the Boston one. I can 5 star Metallica and 4 star the others but the other two are killing me. Oyster isn't too bad until the very end with that fast off beat, especially when the snare kicks in on the last riff. Ouch. Guess I'm just gonna have to keep at it!

Considering that I've never played drums at all before this game I'm surprised at how well I've picked things up. I never even tried easy and went right in with medium and had a great time. Now medium seems too slow and almost pathetically easy. Eventually I will try the other instruments but I MUST BEAT HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:p

Where is the official song list request thread for RB on the 360? (either here or rockband.com)?

you have to be logged in at the community section of the site. The link is way at the bottom the last choice in the red row of links. If your not logged in the link will not be there.

Well I've hit a brick wall for now. I am doing the solo drum tour on Hard and just can't get through two of the songs in the London set. Blue Oyster Cult and the Boston one.

Yep, that ending of the BOC song is wicked tricky. Fortunately in practice you can slow down just that section and get a feel for that strange rhythm. Also, try going back to the easier tiers and replay anything that's 3 stars to try to get an extra star or two. Also, aim for 5 stars on all your favorite songs. It's good practice to eventually nail "Reaper".

"Foreplay/Longtime" (Boston) is only hard for the snare/crash sections during the triplets in the first minute of the song. I don't think this chart matches the rhythm of the song very well, so just concentrate on hitting the crashes on the strong part of the beat and try to anticipate the snare hit before each crash. It doesn't really make sense if you listen too closely to the song, so only used the music as rough guide. Good news is the rest of the song is cake, and quite fun.

Good luck Kris!

Ok I took another stab at hard today and the Pixies song and cleared it. But I cleared it as badly as you possibly can. LOL Three stars and I was literally in the blinking red ready to be booed off at the applause (or was it that applause that they are actually laughing at you? You know the kind of applause a goalie gets when he makes a save after allowing four straight goals LOL).

Anyways... I cleared that city and am on to the next city... the one with Suffagate City. I almosr couldn't clear Epic and that would have REALLY pissed me off as FTM is my favorite band on this. ;)

How is the online element on this game? Good cooperative play? I will probably attach my ethernet cable this weekend to get the DLC and to activate my live 12month account.

Oh and I attached my Pedal Metal yesterday. I didn't know you had to actually drill holes into your pedal so that scared me a bit.

I only attached the top screw and the bottom screws where the arch of my foot would be so far. Seems solid enough for now. I didn't want to attach more screws because the screw heads he provides protrude out and I figured they would irritate my foot if I played barefoot. will try to get "flatter" screws this weekend.

Petal Medal is awesome though. I think that helped me clear the pixies song as I was able to wail away on the pedal and didn't have to hold back. ;)

I took quite a bit of abuse from the wife though when I took it out of the package. At first she thought it was a cosmetic mod and she was like wtf you get that for? I tried to explain to her the issue with the broken pedals but she wasn't having it.

I then told her the guy sold over a thousand online with 100% feedback. She then did the math and figured out that the guy has made over 15k. lol I then got yelled at for "not thinking of these things myself to make money". lol can't win I guess. :-)

He's got a new one that has screws that don't stick out:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g308/rasehead/DSC00094.jpg

I'm trying to decide if I want that one or the carbon fiber one (so as to not actually screw into my pedal). I really like the look of that new one and I also like that it's $10 cheaper. ;)