Harmonix's Rock Band - Out today!

[ChairHome]

This shows some promise:

Having cranked up the volume to 11 and wowed rock fans with Guitar Hero, Harmonix is planning to take the virtual videogame group genre a step further with its latest release, Rock Band.

The game, which was announced today, sees developer Harmonix, along with its owner MTV, teaming up with Electronic Arts to offer budding musicians the chance to create their own rock group. We're talking the shebang too, because the game will support four instrument controllers including lead guitar, bass, drums and a microphone for the lead singer.

Scheduled for release on PS3 and Xbox 360 this Christmas, Rock Band promises a wealth of online features, including the chance to team up with musicians in other countries and the ability to download songs.

Although a track listing has yet to be announced, EA has revealed that several major music publishers are involved with the project. EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music are allowing "unrivaled access to their catalogues of incredible songs". These mega-publishers house labels including EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group's Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment, which have all agreed to supply master recordings by their artists for use in the game.

With such a healthy list of labels backing its play, Rock Band will be able to offer music that "spans all genres of rock."

Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix said: "Rock Band is Harmonix's most ambitious project to date, and it will take music gameplay to an entirely new level. MTV has given us the freedom and the resources to really swing for the fences and make the game we've always wanted to make."

"Our vision for Rock Band is to completely change the way people interact with and enjoy the music they love," said Jeff Yapp, EVP, MTV Program Enterprises. "By joining forces with EA and the music industry's largest record labels and publishers, we are striving to create a groundbreaking new platform that allows people to connect with their favorite music and artists in ways they never have before."

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/777/777533p1.html

EDIT: Oops, Mr. Quotes beat me to this news in the Guitar Hero thread. Oh well, here's a thread on just this news.

EDIT: More info: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=167004

EDIT video:
GAMEPLAY VIDEO
(courtesy of Gamespot via NeoGAF)
Hmmmm....

Low res (http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/hd_sampler_download_start/http://www.gamespot.com/dl_movie/rockband_gp_mul_070307_lr.mpg?s=6173535&c=movie_ftp_938870&site=1&u=http://download2.gamespot.com/sd/mT4vT39MMCbcp3h8DHGPhU_neQ977KpvxvcC4aLC9gz8mPwELm b_nHP5MNjwSALC_IUgdgGojnfXiAgbySR64xqJOKDSovoN///d3/gsc/2007/07/rockband_gp_mul_070307_lr.mpg)
High Res (http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/hd_sampler_download_start/http://www.gamespot.com/dl_movie/rockband_gp_mul_070307_hr.mp4?s=6173535&c=movie_ftp_938870&site=1&u=http://download2.gamespot.com/sd/3TtE_75_RXUYDunsWOwOEKQ9tu5tjSQKqQOMnC8H3757AwY8qJ-4d3AcSxfxUA_lsn7LkQu4bzpnC3zwUtB6nkHkXvuE0-vu///d3/gsc/2007/07/rockband_gp_mul_070307_hr.mp4)

youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ITe-Zk0M4w)

Full Set List (without bonus songs)
1960's

* Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter

1970's

* Aerosmith - Train Kept a Rollin' (Cover)
* Black Sabbath - Paranoid (Cover)
* Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper
* Boston - Foreplay/Long Time
* David Bowie - Suffragette City
* Deep Purple - Highway Star
* KISS - Detroit Rock City
* Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' with Disaster
* Mountain - Mississippi Queen (Cover)
* The Outlaws - Green Grass & High Tides (Cover)
* The Police - Next to You
* The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
* Sweet - Ballroom Blitz (Cover)
* The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again

1980's

* Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive
* The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go
* Faith No More - Epic
* Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills (Cover)
* Pixies - Wave of Mutilation
* R.E.M. - Orange Crush
* Rush - Tom Sawyer (Cover)

1990's

* Beastie Boys - Sabotage
* Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly
* Garbage - I Think I'm Paranoid
* Hole - Celebrity Skin
* Metallica - Enter Sandman
* Nirvana - In Bloom
* Radiohead - Creep
* Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock
* Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
* Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline
* Weezer - Say it Ain't So

2000's

* Coheed & Cambria - Welcome Home
* Fall Out Boy - Dead on Arrival
* The Hives - Main Offender
* Jet - Are You Gonna be My Girl
* The Killers - When You Were Young
* New Pornographers - Electric Version
* Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds
* OK Go - Here it Goes Again
* Queens of the Stone Age - Go with the Flow
* Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
* The Strokes - Reptilia
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps

Also, news about GH controller compatibility... screw Red Octane.

You can't be blamed for being a little confused by yesterday's article examining some of the politics and behind-the-scenes drama that have determined which guitar peripherals will work on what games this Fall. Since then, we hadn't been able to personally test the Guitar Hero III controller in Rock Band, but the folks at IGN were kind enough to pass on word via podcast that the controller is compatible.

The fact that the Guitar Hero III controller works in Rock Band but not vice versa is very strange and something we're going to be looking into for you guys, but while we start asking some questions, here's the most to-to-date guide on which guitars are compatible with what:

Guitar Hero II's X-Plorer

# Rock Band? Yes
# Guitar Hero II? Yes
# Guitar Hero III? Yes

Guitar Hero III's Les Paul

# Rock Band? Yes
# Guitar Hero II? Yes
# Guitar Hero III? Yes

Rock Band's Stratocaster

# Rock Band? Yes
# Guitar Hero II? Unknown, but unlikely
# Guitar Hero III? No

Since Rock Band was first announced by Harmonix and MTV Games in March, the developers have made no secret of their ambitious plans for downloadable content. As the game's release has drawn closer, information about those plans has trickled out. At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Harmonix said it would be offering full downloadable albums from artists like The Who, with more tracks from Metallica, The Grateful Dead, and The Ramones among those that gamers could add on to the retail game.

With Rock Band set for release next Tuesday, Harmonix today finally took the wraps off its downloadable content model today. The studio has apparently heard complaints regarding the mandatory three-song bundles and $6.25 price point adopted by the Guitar Hero franchise's downloadable content, and is giving gamers a bit of a break.

Rock Band will still feature pre-selected three-song packs for download, but they will instead cost $5.49 (440 Microsoft points on Xbox 360). Songs will also be available individually for $1.99. Harmonix has said future songs will be sold individually for as little as $.99 (80 Microsoft points), and as much as $2.99 (240 points). However, "the vast majority" will come in at the standard $1.99 price point. The developer did not say how much full-album downloads would be, or when the first albums would be released.

Harmonix also detailed its release schedule for the first five weeks after Rock Band launches. The opening week will be highlighted by track packs from Metallica, The Police, and Queens of the Stone Age, with individual songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Foreigner, T-Rex, and more. Downloaded tracks will be integrated into all of the game's modes, and will be playable online only if all players have purchased the songs.

Week of November 20, 2007: (*--asterisk denotes a cover version)
Metallica Pack
"Ride the Lightning"--Metallica
"Blackened"--Metallica
"And Justice for All"--Metallica

The Police Pack
"Can't Stand Losing You"--The Police
"Synchronicity II"--The Police
"Roxanne"--The Police

Queens of the Stone Age Pack
"3's and 7's"--Queens of the Stone Age
"Little Sister"--Queens of the Stone Age
"Sick Sick Sick"--Queens of the Stone Age

Individual Tracks
"Fortunate Son" as made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival *
"Juke Box Hero" as made famous by Foreigner *
"Bang a Gong (Get It On)" as made famous by T-Rex *
"My Sharona" as made famous by The Knack *
"Cherry Bomb" as made famous by The Runaways *
"Joker & The Thief"--Wolfmother

Week of November 27, 2007
David Bowie Pack
"Moonage Daydream"--David Bowie
"Heroes" as made famous by David Bowie *
"Queen Bitch" as made famous by David Bowie *

Week of December 4, 2007
Black Sabbath Pack
"N.I.B." as made famous by Black Sabbath *
"Sweet Leaf" as made famous by Black Sabbath *
"War Pigs" as made famous by Black Sabbath *

Week of December 11, 2007
Punk Pack:
"Rockaway Beach"--Ramones
"I Fought the Law"--The Clash
"Ever Fallen In Love" as made famous by Buzzcocks *

Week of December 18, 2007
Individual Tracks
"My Iron Lung"--Radiohead
"Buddy Holly"--Weezer
"Brass in Pocket" as made famous by Pretenders *

[AzN_Skater]

Can't wait till they release the drum kit for xbox360. And I really can't wait to hear idiots singing over xbl.

[ChairHome]

Wii release is also being considered.
http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii/wii-rock-band-likely-248882.php

And here's the official site:
http://www.rockbandgame.com/

[TheSix]

....they need Roadrunner.

I call bass.

So I take it you'll have to pay for the game, and whatever "instrument" you want?

[ChairHome]

I guess so, this could be a disaster if the controllers are expensive. Considering that GH was $80 for PS2, add in "Next-gen costs" (i.e. $10 more than usual) then 4 peripherals times $30 or so each... the full package could end up being at least $180.

[X-Death]

Dammit harmonix just give me FreQuency 2. (Amplitude doesn't count)

[orochizoolander]

As soon as i read mtv was involved i immediately condemmed this game in my mind.

guitar hero was like yo mtv raps and rockband will be like trl:wasted:

[maxx]

haha holy shit me and my friends were saying they needed to do sumtin like this just a month ago. haha..epic

[VG Emblem]

There are just SO MANY things that can possibly go wrong with this game that I don't even know where to begin. I'll try anyway....

1. The cost (ChairHome mentioned this already, too). They can either go about this 3 different ways:
-A full package with the game and all 4 peripherals. This shit will costs AT LEAST $120 and may even be a full $160 or so. Not pleasant and doomed to fail most likely.
-There's 4 different versions of the game, one for each peripheral. I assume each version would be $80-$90. The problem with this, although a reasonable solution, would be that the guitar versions would ALWAYS be sold out and the other versions (especially bass) wouldn't be bought nearly as much, except for maybe singing.
-The game is sold separately and so are each peripheral. The problem with this, like option 2, is that guitar would be bought much more frequently and would create imbalances in the force.

2. A large percentage of people would be looking to ONLY play guitar, since it's the "coolest" instrument. There'd probably be a decent amount of singers, then a passable amount of drummers, but almost no bassists. It'd be nearly impossible to form an actual band like this. There'd have to be some type of system to make people play a different instrument somehow.

3. The singing. Oh god, the singing. People can learn to play a fake instrument with practice and be at least decent with it, but there is no "fake" singing. It's almost impossible to practice singing, as it's largely a natural talent deal. I imagine that even if you get a competent guitarists, drummer and bassist together, the singing from some annoying brat would just ruin EVERYTHING.


Seriously, I cannot foresee any real way to make this workout well, at all....

[DarkGiygas]

they need to make a good home drumset thats compatible with drummania

i dont wanna buy one of the yamaha ones that are like $300

[DaDesiCanadian]

Why not just play a real guitar.

[Digitalbooty]

Why not just play a real guitar.

You know, that's what I said about Guitar Hero. I've been playing Guitar for 11 years and I find myself playing GH all the time. It's just fun.

[Bounce]

harmonix and ea/mtv scare me......hopefully ea gets regulated to just publishing, and mtv is regulated to marketing the game.

[orochizoolander]

Why not just play a real guitar.

clearly u have never experianced the greatness that is GH2

You know, that's what I said about Guitar Hero. I've been playing Guitar for 11 years and I find myself playing GH all the time. It's just fun.


QFT

I been playing guitar for bout 4 years but it's soo different in a game cuz ur being told what the timings are instead of ur body naturally adjusting urself...that and the fact GH doesn't measure ur knowledge of music theory but if u are musically inclined i would assume cuz i am a total beast in GH.

[Warpticon]

Why not just play a real guitar.

Why not jack real cars.

[MrQuotes]

this game is pretty damn ambitious i will say that...
whether or not it'll work.... i don't need a pretend drumset in my apartment

[Jr7891]

Damnit, I wanted a sequel to Frequency/Amplitude.

[AzN_Skater]

Why not jack real cars.

You know, that's what I said about Grand Theft Auto. I've been jacking cars for 11 years and I find myself playing GTA all the time. It's just fun.

[TheSix]

2. A large percentage of people would be looking to ONLY play guitar, since it's the "coolest" instrument. There'd probably be a decent amount of singers, then a passable amount of drummers, but almost no bassists. It'd be nearly impossible to form an actual band like this. There'd have to be some type of system to make people play a different instrument somehow.


I don't think so.

Most people im talking to would rather play something else since they have already been playing GH for years already.

And for the record Bass >>>>>> All

I really want to see how they intend on packaging the drums.

[Dummy Account]

I call backup bass(since I'm not that good yet) in this SRK "Dreamband".

[ChairHome]

So, a few more details have been put out there. Nothing too major, but since info is scarce, anything is good. First, the HUD is set up in a way that everyone can see the notes at the same time. Secondly, Guitar Hero controllers are compatible with this game.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3158437

[funkymusic]

I called this when they released gh2. God i wish i knew where that post was. But anyways me and my girl figured that with drummania, guitarhero/freak, and karoake rev. that all they had to do was add a bass guitar and there ya go. 4 player madness

[Digitalbooty]

I'm on drums.

[ChairHome]

Holy moly, this game is going to kick serious ass.

Game informer has loads of info on this game, maybe screens, too? Here's some info from Sallokin of NeoGAF.

- One disk with 4 separate campaigns. Guitar, Drum, Bass and Vocal. Each can be played on its own from start to finish, in addition, a full band game is designed to allow for one huge co-op playthrough.

- Will feature full support for four player online play on both 360 and PS3. Any combination of on/offline play will work and each player can pick their own difficulty setting.

- Flexible community system will allow you to find bandmates anywhere in the world

- There will be a way for you to share your band's triumphs with the world, but the details are still under wraps.

- Musical fret-boards are now transparent so you can see more of the background visuals. Guitar is on the left side of the screen, Bass on the right and drums down the middle. Vocals scroll from right to left along the top of the screen.

- Guitars and Bass now have 10 frets. 5 for the regular sections of the game and 5 for the newly designated solo sections.

- Whammy bar is back as is the tilt to activate rock band's version of star power

- there is a five way switch on the guitar that allows for 5 different self-applied effects to the sound.

- Singing is now more in depth. There is a phoneme detector that will pick up individual vowels and consonants you say. Build up enough highly judged phrases and you'll be able to sing free-form. If you do well enough in free-form, then you'll trigger the vocalist's version of star power.

- Microphone doubles as a tambourine on many songs to combat super long guitar solos where the singer doesn't have much to do.

- Drums are apparently insane. You use actual sticks and hit one of four colored pads in front of you, in addition to a kick pedal attached to the drumming unit. Drummers will also have the ability to do fills etc. in their own little free-form section, do well and you'll trigger the drummers version of star power.

- If one person fails, the whole band does not fail, their section simply turns gray and they have to sit out the rest of the song unless one your band mates initiates star power, which will bring you back into the fold.

- If all bandmates can reach the end of a song, you'll be greeted with one huge free-form jam session.

- There will be a character creation system, and you can create multiple avatars that play different instruments.

- Four themed clothing stores in addition to licensed guitars and pedals and other rock paraphernalia.

- A full set of mo-cap stage movements have been added for each instrument. You can decide whether your vocalist moves like Axel Rose, or stands his ground like Clapton.

- 40 performance venues planned

- All peripherals will be unique to each platform. This isn't the developer's decision. Apparently MS peripherals require special circuit boards.

- You'll be able to craft your own band logo

- The HUD in the screens isn't final but is a good indication of what you can expect

- 4 songs announced in the article, not sure if this is new or old but whatever.
Weezer - Say It Ain't So - Original Master Track
Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Original Master Track
The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again - Original Master Track
Nirvana - In Bloom - Original Master Track

INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTIONS

Sorry I can't post photos so my descriptions will have to suffice

Guitars/Bass

Guitars are an exact 3/4 replica of a Fender Strat.

Xplorer guitars will work for 360 owners, but you may not be able to pass on all the new stuff this model has.

Five familiar buttons near the top of the neck, five buttons near the body of the guitar. You will use these new buttons during specially designed solo sections using ONLY hammer ons and pull offs, no having to worry about your strum bar. Signature Fender 5-way switch has been added. By shopping at the in game store you'll be able to purchase several virtual effects pedals such as Flange, Wah, Chorus and Echo. These can be applied during your song by setting the 5 way switch to the desired effect.

Microphone

There will eventually be a Rock Band branded Mic

Other USB mics will be supported, but Harmonix will probably NOT allow the use of the 360 headset due to its low fidelity. Mics will be usable as tambourines during certain songs.

That's all for mics!

DRUMS

The picture of the drum peripheral in the mag is not final.

It consists of four pads, a kick pedal and legs for the enire unit to stand on. Think of it as a TV dinner tray stand only cooler

Leftmost pad (red) is your snare drum, everything else doubles as toms and cymbals depending on the song.

A set of real wooden drum sticks will ship with the unit.

A piece of the stand can be taken off so that the unit can sit lower, or on a coffee table.

There is a kick pedal

If you play drums in this game on hard or expert, then you're really playing the drums. Apparently you could sit down at a real set and play the same songs.


THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE

[goodm0urning]

It's almost impossible to practice singing, as it's largely a natural talent deal.All kinds of incorrect.

[Cowboyday]

Holy crap, I can totally see me and my friends playing this instead of our actual instruments and becoming scrubs.

[Episode_667]

Holy moly, this game is going to kick serious ass.

Game informer has loads of info on this game, maybe screens, too? Here's some info from Sallokin of NeoGAF.

JESUS LORD ALMIGHTLY. Looks like I'm buying a 360 in the near future. It kinda sucks that the RB guitars will have features not present in the GH2 model (10 frets?! WTF?!), as this will lead to peripheral overdose for a lot of people. The tentative songlist is already incredible though - the only better Weezer songs they could've used would have been "Good Life" or "El Scorcho", but SIAS does the trick nicely. And hooray for Paranoid, finally!

Only one legitimate request I have now - 2 kick pedals for the drums. Harmonix, you know you want to.

[ChairHome]

Yeah, I actually think I'll have to buy some guitar stands or something for all my instrument peripherals now. That stuff is awesome, but it seems like its going to be overkill. I want to see those pics now though, I'll have to pick up the issue unless someone wants to PM me some scans of the article :-D

[ChairHome]

Pictures of new guitar (http://kotaku.com/gaming/shred/rock-bands-fender-strat-270130.php): 3/4 scale of an actual Fender Strat.

I'm surprised there's not more hype over this game. I know I'm hoping for it to blow GH out of the water. Not that I think there's anything wrong with GH, I just want to see some escalation.

[ST Vega]

Skipping through most of this thread; in case you guys don't know yet, this game is going to be $199.99. It's already in the system for preorders at Gamestop.

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

Song selection, Song selection SONG SELECTION

That will make or break this game for me. I like GH2 songs, most I didn't know (not a rock head) but very disappointed no Hendrix was in it; with this....and MTV backing, I would expect *looking for the hopes to be shot down* a MASSIVE catalog

[ChairHome]

Don't know if you saw this a couple posts up, but these are the (only) 4 tracks announced so far:
Weezer - Say It Ain't So - Original Master Track
Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Original Master Track
The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again - Original Master Track
Nirvana - In Bloom - Original Master Track

And to ST Vega, I think that might be a placeholder price. I remember reading they're shooting for below $150. We'll see though.

[MrQuotes]

this is a game where i need to see the full song list before investing in

[ST Vega]

And to ST Vega, I think that might be a placeholder price. I remember reading they're shooting for below $150. We'll see though.

That's likely as well. With the Halo 3 Legendary, it was in our system was $99.99 until they actually announced the price as $129.99

[Doc Holliday]

Holy moly, this game is going to kick serious ass.

Game informer has loads of info on this game, maybe screens, too? Here's some info from Sallokin of NeoGAF.


Information awesomeness ensues

Except for the possible $199 price tag, I like where this is going.

[ChairHome]

Frankly, after reading the details I posted above, I WILL buy this game, no matter the track list. Pity me.

I mean, can you imagine? You can probably learn how to play drums from this game.

[Episode_667]

Frankly, after reading the details I posted above, I WILL buy this game, no matter the track list. Pity me.

I mean, can you imagine? You can probably learn how to play drums from this game.

Very much so. Beats importing a Drummania PS2 controller and games. But again, where's the DOUBLE BASS?! Metalheads, rise up and demand 2 kick pedals!

[DarkGiygas]

drummania home controllers are pieces of shit

[Episode_667]

drummania home controllers are pieces of shit

I'll avoid them like the plague then. From the picture I saw on Play-Asia they looked kinda cheap.

[DarkGiygas]

its literally not even 2ft wide, the drum pads are SO close together, the bass pedal is shit, it usually doesnt register all the hits if you have to do a fast drum roll or something

[Ninja Wallace]

As a drummer, I'm really looking forward to getting this with the drum peripherals.

[BananaWeed]

My gf might buy me a Wii for my birthday, so I hope this comes out for the Wii. :(

[ChairHome]

Its rumored that they're working on it right now, but only confirmed for PS3 and 360.

[Ninja Wallace]

My gf might buy me a Wii for my birthday, so I hope this comes out for the Wii. :(

If she does, your girlfriend is fuckin' awesome.

...Dibs.

[ChairHome]

Here's the scan (http://kotaku.com/gaming/peripherals-to-rock-with/rock-bands-drumkit-and-microphone-271777.php) with the mockup of the drum controller. Kinda ugly, but its not final.

[ChairHome]

More screens (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=167004) showing the HUD and info... looks awesome.

[ChairHome]

GAMEPLAY VIDEO
(courtesy of Gamespot via NeoGAF)
Hmmmm....

Low res (http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/hd_sampler_download_start/http://www.gamespot.com/dl_movie/rockband_gp_mul_070307_lr.mpg?s=6173535&c=movie_ftp_938870&site=1&u=http://download2.gamespot.com/sd/mT4vT39MMCbcp3h8DHGPhU_neQ977KpvxvcC4aLC9gz8mPwELm b_nHP5MNjwSALC_IUgdgGojnfXiAgbySR64xqJOKDSovoN///d3/gsc/2007/07/rockband_gp_mul_070307_lr.mpg)
High Res (http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/hd_sampler_download_start/http://www.gamespot.com/dl_movie/rockband_gp_mul_070307_hr.mp4?s=6173535&c=movie_ftp_938870&site=1&u=http://download2.gamespot.com/sd/3TtE_75_RXUYDunsWOwOEKQ9tu5tjSQKqQOMnC8H3757AwY8qJ-4d3AcSxfxUA_lsn7LkQu4bzpnC3zwUtB6nkHkXvuE0-vu///d3/gsc/2007/07/rockband_gp_mul_070307_hr.mp4)
** The above two might not work, as I've heard that GS took them down.
youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ITe-Zk0M4w)

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

GAMEPLAY VIDEO
(courtesy of Gamespot via NeoGAF)
Hmmmm....

Low res (http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/hd_sampler_download_start/http://www.gamespot.com/dl_movie/rockband_gp_mul_070307_lr.mpg?s=6173535&c=movie_ftp_938870&site=1&u=http://download2.gamespot.com/sd/mT4vT39MMCbcp3h8DHGPhU_neQ977KpvxvcC4aLC9gz8mPwELm b_nHP5MNjwSALC_IUgdgGojnfXiAgbySR64xqJOKDSovoN///d3/gsc/2007/07/rockband_gp_mul_070307_lr.mpg)
High Res (http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/hd_sampler_download_start/http://www.gamespot.com/dl_movie/rockband_gp_mul_070307_hr.mp4?s=6173535&c=movie_ftp_938870&site=1&u=http://download2.gamespot.com/sd/3TtE_75_RXUYDunsWOwOEKQ9tu5tjSQKqQOMnC8H3757AwY8qJ-4d3AcSxfxUA_lsn7LkQu4bzpnC3zwUtB6nkHkXvuE0-vu///d3/gsc/2007/07/rockband_gp_mul_070307_hr.mp4)
** The above two might not work, as I've heard that GS took them down.
youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ITe-Zk0M4w)

That shit looks tight! Now, you can play MP with his, as in, Chair Home is a drummer, me a guitar and someone else is singing?

[platinum_pinoy]

You know there's one point in a video game where I say, "Man, why not just learn the guitar/create a band?"

I said the exact thing when playing GHII on hard. That shit is ridiculous. I cant even fathom what expert looks like.

[ChairHome]

That shit looks tight! Now, you can play MP with his, as in, Chair Home is a drummer, me a guitar and someone else is singing?

Yup, and one more as bass. This game is the future, haha.

[Galactic]

I can 5-star every song on expert in GH2 except Freebird and Jordan, I claim the Bass if SRK forms a "band" lol.

Bass is mad fun to play, don't know why people are hating. They have slower hammers and pulls cooldowns. In War Pigs bass is more fun to play than the guitar part.

^_-;

[OMG AntiAir Dust]

Game looks awesome. Hope the drums are responsive and dont miss notes.

[platinum_pinoy]

Bass is mad fun to play, don't know why people are hating. They have slower hammers and pulls cooldowns. In War Pigs bass is more fun to play than the guitar part.

^_-;

I found Rock this Town's bass to be very fun.

[BananaWeed]

i NEED this for the Wii. D:

[Warpticon]

Game looks pretty awesome. But I hate those drums.

[DarkGiygas]

wow i hate how the bass is just a line going across the notes

[Warpticon]

The game will hopefully have some songs with some more intricate basslines, and less root not echoing. throw some Fishbone, RCHP, Funkadelic or something in there.

[AmbiguousCrosup]

Needs more 80's hardcore. Bad Brains anyone?

[TheSix]

I can 5-star every song on expert in GH2 except Freebird and Jordan, I claim the Bass if SRK forms a "band" lol.

Bass is mad fun to play, don't know why people are hating. They have slower hammers and pulls cooldowns. In War Pigs bass is more fun to play than the guitar part.

^_-;

Too late. I been claimed bass a long time ago. It better have a separate bass guitar(w/ slap mechanism) too.

Who's fault is it if they pick songs with shitty bassist? Get some more RATM and less shit bands.

[AzN_Skater]

Just watched the vid for this, wow, it's going to be so fun.

[ChairHome]

Remember, this vid isn't exactly final. They said that the song in the video isn't even locked down yet.

In related news, Red Octane is hating on this game a lot. They first say its a GH rip-off.... how can it be a rip off if they created the first game? Now they don't want it compared to GH III (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=168788)... EGM wanted to do a feature comparing the two games and Red Octane declined.

In more news I just stumbled upon at NeoGAF, new tracks confirmed from IGN (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=168814)

Brace yourself...

Mountain "Mississippi Queen"
The Hives "Main Offender"
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Blue Oyster Cult "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"

I know you can use the mic as a tambourine when you're not singing... I wonder if they'll let you use it as a cowbell (they need to)

[Chachi]

How dare they put "Don't Fear the Reaper" in the game without the gaudy overpriced cowbell accessory.

Epic fail.

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

I NEED some Hendrix....

Wait, didn't red oct get bought by MTV or something like that???

[gridman]

So is there a bass pedal for the drums? in the video it looked like the setup was snare, hihat, tom, cymbal. no spot for a bass drum unless im missing something

[ChairHome]

Yeah, there is a kick pedal for the Bass, and MTV bought Harmonix (I think), since MTV is involved in the game as well.

[ChairHome]

A new video. Darker, but you can see more how the game is played. It looks pretty damn awesome.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/kotaku.s-own/new-rock-band-vid-275067.php?autoplay=true

[ChairHome]

So, I think Rock Band has unofficially won E3. And my heart. But, yet, it had it before this.

New info gleamed from NeoGAF from the EA press conference:

- Full albums will be available as DLC. The Who - Who's Next is the first album
- Shitloads of Metallica as DLC
- Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive in game
- Indie bands will be able to submit their music
- Little Steven from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band is picking the music for DLC
- New DLC every week.

They just better not rape us with the pricing like GH II

Also: track list :-D
The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again"
Mountain "Mississippi Queen"
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Black Sabbath "Paranoid"
Blue Oyster Cult "Don't Fear the Reaper"
The Ramones "Rockaway Beach"
Rush "Tom Sawyer"
Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead or Alive"
Nirvana "In Bloom"
Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
Weezer "Say It Ain't So"
Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly"
Metallica "Enter Sandman"
The Hives "Main Offender"
The Strokes "Reptilia"
Queens of the Stone Age "Go With the Flow"

[platinum_pinoy]

So, I think Rock Band has unofficially won E3. And my heart. But, yet, it had it before this.

New info gleamed from NeoGAF from the EA press conference:


They just better not rape us with the pricing like GH II

Also: track list :-D
The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again"
Mountain "Mississippi Queen"
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Black Sabbath "Paranoid"
Blue Oyster Cult "Don't Fear the Reaper"
The Ramones "Rockaway Beach"
Rush "Tom Sawyer"
Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead or Alive"
Nirvana "In Bloom"
Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
Weezer "Say It Ain't So"
Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly"
Metallica "Enter Sandman"
The Hives "Main Offender"
The Strokes "Reptilia"
Queens of the Stone Age "Go With the Flow"

They need some muhh-fuggin RHCP up in that list. No Frusciante, Flea, Kedis and Chaz loses a lot of cool points.

[Warpticon]

Not a single great bass song in that bunch. Boo.

[FurryCurry]

They need some muhh-fuggin RHCP up in that list. No Frusciante, Flea, Kedis and Chaz loses a lot of cool points.

Right for real. The doors to their development chambers must have huge signs that say "WE HATE BASS! DOWN WITH THE FUNK!"

[DarkGiygas]

Not a single great bass song in that bunch. Boo.
Rush "Tom Sawyer"
:confused:

[platinum_pinoy]

Right for real. The doors to their development chambers must have huge signs that say "WE HATE BASS! DOWN WITH THE FUNK!"

You know Flea is hella upset with the poor Bass rep. Fuck those bitches.

[TheSix]

Change of heart***

[TheSix]

http://www.rockband.com/mbt/schedule

I'm going to check it out tomorrow...and pretty much all week.

[MrQuotes]

i am marking down november 17th

[EveryFlowerFlow]

http://www.rockband.com/mbt/schedule

I'm going to check it out tomorrow...and pretty much all week.


Oh shit at my school. :lol:



good looks.

[Chaos]

I will buy this game. I will sing and I will play drums (Mother F'in TOM SAWYER!!!!). I am so stoked I feel like a complete loser. Way to old to be this pumped about singing in a video game and playing instruments. Sign me up for an SRK band, I want Galactic on bass with those monster GH scores. :)

[TheSix]

So I played pretty much all day with random people...and I am about to go back with friends.

In short:

- I can see the drums breaking on a lot of people. Well...those with no idea of common sense and restraint. They are sturdy.....not so much durable.

- This game is FUN....with other people. The problem with this being directed towards casual gamers - it is too easy! Even the most remedial guitar hero players can start playing on Hard and Expert relatively fast. Not to mention the vocals are very forgiving to even the most horrible. Only the drums seem to post the most challenge(and I am probably only saying that because I never played DrumMania).

In short, if you want a more hardcore experience, you may want to stick with GH3. But if you plan on playing this game with people, it is FUN AS HELL. Unless you only plan on playing the drums pretty much exclusively, the SP experience is not worth the price of admission IMO.

With that said, my buddies and I are going back now :tup:

[ChairHome]

So, there's been some news on this game as of late.

The "Campaign Mode" know as "Rock Band World Tour" is ironically offline. You can only multiplay this game locally. Kind of a drag, but not too big a deal considering you'll probably have all the instruments that you want at home.

Release Date has been mercifully pushed up to November 20. The old date was on Black Friday, and I was not looking forward to that.

Where do you plan on getting yours? I have it pre-ordered on Amazon, but if I keep it, either it'll end up getting to my house on Black Friday anyways, or I'll end up paying more than I would with tax if I picked it up at a store just to get it before Thanksgiving. I'm thinking about pre-ordering it at Gamestop (though it pains me to do so) just so I can make sure I'll have it before Thanksgiving.

[ChairHome]

The full set list is out:
Full Set List (without bonus songs)
1960's

* Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter

1970's

* Aerosmith - Train Kept a Rollin' (Cover)
* Black Sabbath - Paranoid (Cover)
* Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper
* Boston - Foreplay/Long Time
* David Bowie - Suffragette City
* Deep Purple - Highway Star
* KISS - Detroit Rock City
* Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' with Disaster
* Mountain - Mississippi Queen (Cover)
* The Outlaws - Green Grass & High Tides (Cover)
* The Police - Next to You
* The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
* Sweet - Ballroom Blitz (Cover)
* The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again

1980's

* Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive
* The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go
* Faith No More - Epic
* Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills (Cover)
* Pixies - Wave of Mutilation
* R.E.M. - Orange Crush
* Rush - Tom Sawyer (Cover)

1990's

* Beastie Boys - Sabotage
* Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly
* Garbage - I Think I'm Paranoid
* Hole - Celebrity Skin
* Metallica - Enter Sandman
* Nirvana - In Bloom
* Radiohead - Creep
* Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock
* Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
* Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline
* Weezer - Say it Ain't So

2000's

* Coheed & Cambria - Welcome Home
* Fall Out Boy - Dead on Arrival
* The Hives - Main Offender
* Jet - Are You Gonna be My Girl
* The Killers - When You Were Young
* New Pornographers - Electric Version
* Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds
* OK Go - Here it Goes Again
* Queens of the Stone Age - Go with the Flow
* Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
* The Strokes - Reptilia
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps

I know I'm going to catch some flack for this, but I really want to play FOB's Dead on Arrival.

Also, news about GH controller compatibility... screw Red Octane.

You can't be blamed for being a little confused by yesterday's article examining some of the politics and behind-the-scenes drama that have determined which guitar peripherals will work on what games this Fall. Since then, we hadn't been able to personally test the Guitar Hero III controller in Rock Band, but the folks at IGN were kind enough to pass on word via podcast that the controller is compatible.

The fact that the Guitar Hero III controller works in Rock Band but not vice versa is very strange and something we're going to be looking into for you guys, but while we start asking some questions, here's the most to-to-date guide on which guitars are compatible with what:

Guitar Hero II's X-Plorer

# Rock Band? Yes
# Guitar Hero II? Yes
# Guitar Hero III? Yes

Guitar Hero III's Les Paul

# Rock Band? Yes
# Guitar Hero II? Yes
# Guitar Hero III? Yes

Rock Band's Stratocaster

# Rock Band? Yes
# Guitar Hero II? Unknown, but unlikely
# Guitar Hero III? No

In other news, I ended up buying GH III. Pretty good, but I can't wait for this game.

[ChairHome]

Details on the DLC, with pricing and release dates:
Since Rock Band was first announced by Harmonix and MTV Games in March, the developers have made no secret of their ambitious plans for downloadable content. As the game's release has drawn closer, information about those plans has trickled out. At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Harmonix said it would be offering full downloadable albums from artists like The Who, with more tracks from Metallica, The Grateful Dead, and The Ramones among those that gamers could add on to the retail game.

With Rock Band set for release next Tuesday, Harmonix today finally took the wraps off its downloadable content model today. The studio has apparently heard complaints regarding the mandatory three-song bundles and $6.25 price point adopted by the Guitar Hero franchise's downloadable content, and is giving gamers a bit of a break.

Rock Band will still feature pre-selected three-song packs for download, but they will instead cost $5.49 (440 Microsoft points on Xbox 360). Songs will also be available individually for $1.99. Harmonix has said future songs will be sold individually for as little as $.99 (80 Microsoft points), and as much as $2.99 (240 points). However, "the vast majority" will come in at the standard $1.99 price point. The developer did not say how much full-album downloads would be, or when the first albums would be released.

Harmonix also detailed its release schedule for the first five weeks after Rock Band launches. The opening week will be highlighted by track packs from Metallica, The Police, and Queens of the Stone Age, with individual songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Foreigner, T-Rex, and more. Downloaded tracks will be integrated into all of the game's modes, and will be playable online only if all players have purchased the songs.

Week of November 20, 2007: (*--asterisk denotes a cover version)
Metallica Pack
"Ride the Lightning"--Metallica
"Blackened"--Metallica
"And Justice for All"--Metallica

The Police Pack
"Can't Stand Losing You"--The Police
"Synchronicity II"--The Police
"Roxanne"--The Police

Queens of the Stone Age Pack
"3's and 7's"--Queens of the Stone Age
"Little Sister"--Queens of the Stone Age
"Sick Sick Sick"--Queens of the Stone Age

Individual Tracks
"Fortunate Son" as made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival *
"Juke Box Hero" as made famous by Foreigner *
"Bang a Gong (Get It On)" as made famous by T-Rex *
"My Sharona" as made famous by The Knack *
"Cherry Bomb" as made famous by The Runaways *
"Joker & The Thief"--Wolfmother

Week of November 27, 2007
David Bowie Pack
"Moonage Daydream"--David Bowie
"Heroes" as made famous by David Bowie *
"Queen Bitch" as made famous by David Bowie *

Week of December 4, 2007
Black Sabbath Pack
"N.I.B." as made famous by Black Sabbath *
"Sweet Leaf" as made famous by Black Sabbath *
"War Pigs" as made famous by Black Sabbath *

Week of December 11, 2007
Punk Pack:
"Rockaway Beach"--Ramones
"I Fought the Law"--The Clash
"Ever Fallen In Love" as made famous by Buzzcocks *

Week of December 18, 2007
Individual Tracks
"My Iron Lung"--Radiohead
"Buddy Holly"--Weezer
"Brass in Pocket" as made famous by Pretenders *

[1]

I'm interested in this game for the drums and the massive tracklist. I'll porbably pick this up during employee appreciation weekend on the 31st so I can get 25% off.

I've been hearing reports of faulty strum bars on the controllers.

[MrQuotes]

i have enough plastic toy insturments in my room right now :sweat:
maybe in the future

[ChairHome]

Pre-ordered at Amazon and should be coming in tomorrow. If anyone has a Sam's Club membership, I hear they're selling for $150.

[iwst99]

Got mine today...didn't plan on buying it, but I was there, and it was there...so yeah.

I'll play it after work.

[Stabby]

You live in Orlando? I'm coming over right now. I got downs on drums.

[final_cut]

Drums are hard as FUCK! I'll post more later.

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

soooooo tempted to get it.....

[DarthTrey]

SO the place that I work at just had a raffle for our copies of Rock Band that we are getting in and I totally won the first round, $120 SE > store bought version w00t!!!

[1]

post pics!

[Bacardi]

damn one coheed & cambria track,I must buy now :( since gh wont include them not even one fucking track even as acover or something :(

[f_man]

is this selling like hotcakes everywhere? i tried going to the best buy midnight launch in SF at 11PM and was SOL on getting a ticket. apparently they were selling at least 66 xbox versions.

[TheSix]

Sigh.

I think I will pass. How much money are you seriously going to spend on plastic instruments for one lifetime?

My friend got it though so I'll just leech off of his.

[AlphaDragoon02]

Holy shit the drums are hardcore. I played it at work today (work as a game tester, so we do that kind of shit at lunch), it's really fun. But the guitar is too easy (I hear people whine, I suck so it's okay for me), especially for those well initiated in GH3 Expert.

[1]

Man, I wish they sold this as a drum only package. A keytar would've been cool too.

Can someone post a video of the drums for "Say it aint So" on hard? That's one of my favorite songs and I want to see what it's like.

[TempestFox]

Yeah, I'm on this. Lets get the SRK band rollin.

[TheRock-BoS]

My brother just got this. I can't calibrate this thing for shit. I choose LCD settings, but it punishes me for hitting notes on time. GRRRRR!

[Shazay]

Drums are hard as FUCK! I'll post more later.

More like, disappointingly easy.

I was 95-98%ing songs on expert first try. I used to play Percussion Freaks (DrumMania) so thats probably why but its way too easy imo.

Its still fun though~

[final_cut]

I was up till way too late playing this game last night. I warmed up with Guitar hero 3 before setting this up, so playing the guitar parts in this game were absolute cake when compared to that. The thing is, though, that there is so much more emphasis put on the team dynamic, working together as a band. So perfecting that isn't as important as mastering how you play together.

When my friends left, I played single player career mode for a little bit, and it was boring as hell.

About the guitar controller- its super weird. The flipper is soft, and doesn't make any noise at all when you flip it down or let it go. Its a lot easier to strum like a real guitar, and the shape is pretty much a Fender stratocaster made out of lightweight plastic. It feels really cheap at first, especially compared to the Les Paul from GH3 packages, but after you get used to it your fingers will appreciate the design of the fret buttons so much more. Its a lot easier to slide your fingers in a realistic way.

While the flipper noise is almost silent, the drums still make a loud smacking sound when you hit them, so be sure to play this game at MAXIMUM VOLUME. I can't stress that enough.

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

I played the demo drum set at BB, when I was trying it out, the drums seems REAL picky on where you get the set. I had to hit it perfectly in the center for it to register...is that normal?

[final_cut]

In the tutorial they tell you to hit it as close to the center as possible. I know the drums were hard as fuck to play until we realized the lag needed to be calibrated. Initially, we were having to hit them right at the beginning of that tiny window of opportunity to hit the note. After we fixed it, playing got a good deal easier. (but still not easy for me, by any means)

[final_cut]

My brother just got this. I can't calibrate this thing for shit. I choose LCD settings, but it punishes me for hitting notes on time. GRRRRR!

Yeah, make sure to go to the manual setting. The presets aren't any good.

[Colt Steele]

The Knack?!? in Rock Band?!!! Fuck, does the microphone come with all the versions of the game?

[TheRock-BoS]

Yeah, make sure to go to the manual setting. The presets aren't any good.

The manual settings are a pain to set for my set for some reason. :confused:

[ChairHome]

The Knack?!? in Rock Band?!!! Fuck, does the microphone come with all the versions of the game?

Right now you can only get the game as a bundle or as a stand-alone game. Any USB mic should work though, and I heard you can even use the Xbox live headset as well (for when you want to sing and play an instrument at the same time).

[CrouchingTiger]

I played this in Best Buy with 3 other dudes. Man was it fun! Just like Guitar Hero, except with much more charisma due to having 3 other people play along with you.

[dereklearnslow]

My yellow pad broke already. 60 day warranty FTW.

[final_cut]

Right now you can only get the game as a bundle or as a stand-alone game. Any USB mic should work though, and I heard you can even use the Xbox live headset as well (for when you want to sing and play an instrument at the same time).

You can. there are two adapters that you can use to plug into up to two guitars. I think you can only use the headsets with 2 people at a time. As previously mentioned, I haven't had enough alcohol to even want to try to mess with that.

[Klizza]

I picked up the big ass bundle for the 360 yesterday.
The only thing that really makes playing the guitar difficult for me is reading the hammer ons and pull offs. Couldn't they have made it a little more distinct looking? Getting used to the smaller buttons for the solos are still tough for me atm (I'm not sure if I really want to use them in the future). But other than that everything else is cake. I think this game has more dynamic notes for the bass than GH3.
Ever since I heard of the game, I've wanted to play the drums. Having long legs, I wish there were more notches in the kick pedal to put it more under the pads. Having no real drum playing experience, and having too much price in my hand-eye coordination and rhythm detecting/creating ability I chose to skip medium and play through on hard. See when playing guitar I usually rely on the drums to set my pace, but it doesn't work too well the other way around. When I'm stuck I usually go to practice to listen to the song. I don't like the practice mode that much presentation and sound wise. The slowed down drums sound horrible and there is no guitar to play along with.
Either my headset has gone to crap or those headset extender things do not work well at all. Sometimes I can hear people, but I know when I try to speak, nothing goes through; I have it plugged in all the way (yes that is a semicolon, just felt like usin' it).
Quick question, when playing Should I Stay or Should I Go, does the intro get glitchy for you?

[Hawk]

Game looked fun. Guitar controller with lots more buttons looked fun. Drums looked fun.

The price tag, however...

[final_cut]

I haven't actually played with the drums too much or used the mic, but what my drummer ended up doing was placing the kickpedal BEHIND the pads, and then sticking something heavy behind/on top of the back of it so it didn't move around. It seemed to be more comfortable with him.

On another note, Scorehero just split up their forums into rockband and GH, so I was able to get some worthwhile info on their new site. If you guys are having problems or questions, you should check it out:

http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/

[ChairHome]

My guitar isn't registering the down strum very well, which I hear is a common problem. I'll try it out more later, but for now I've been using the GH controller. The drums are fun but hard.

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

MY CAVS ARE BURNING.......

LOL, so much fun with the fam!

[TheRock-BoS]

I suck at the drums. I can't tell my brain to hit the floor pedal when I see an orange line..... :sad:

[Ninja Wallace]

I am pissed. I've been wanting this game for awhile, but because of high demand in the US it doesn't come out in Canada until December 17th.

[Som]

how does online work? do you just log on and find your homies to play?

[Colt Steele]

I tried out the drums at Best Buy yesterday. Gotta say that I was instantly hooked, even though I had problems getting the blue to register. I had no idea they let you put in your own fills, and if they come through on the DLC the game will actually be worth all the bread.

[Galactic]

I just bought the game for Xbox360 and man it's a blast. Now I need to go buy Guitar Hero 3 for Xbox. I already have GH 3 for my PS2 but fuck it, I need a new Rock Band guitar, lol.

Only bad thing is my fuckin Rock Band guitar is already broken, like it won't detect my down strum, so we have to play it by stroking up, which is a pain in the ass... Warranty ftw I guess, how lame, we were having so much fuckin fun.

^_-;

[1]

A possible fix I found at another forum

This post is a public service announcement. Last night, my Strat developed the dreaded "downstrum has stopped registering intermittently" problem that so many people seem to be having. Sometimes it worked fine, but other times (especially in fast-strumming rhythm sections) it would either not register some of the time, or double-strum. Upstrum (the real downstrum, for actual guitar players) still worked fine. It was bad enough that I was failing out of songs on which I can normally get four or five stars.

I read all the official forum posts in the RB tech forum (which propose a number of different remedies), and then decided to open up the case and have a look at the mechanism for myself. Unlike the GHIII guitar, you can open the back of the Strat without voiding your warranty (the Les Paul has a sticker over one of the screwholes that voids the warranty if you break it). So before RMAing it, why not have a look?

I'm glad that I did, because I was able to determine what the problem was, and I fixed it. My Strat downstrum now works 100%. I just went and played Maps on hard (my default calibration song), and scored 99%. Oh, and one other thing: if you hear a little rattling sound inside the Strat, that's normal. It's not a broken piece of innards kicking around in there, it's just the normal sound that the tilt sensor makes. I had the same thing, and thought something must have broken in there, but nothing was.

If your downstrum has stopped working, I'll bet you a dollar that you are experiencing exactly the same problem. Which means that you can fix it, too. It's not difficult, but it does require:

1. A very small (jeweller's) screwdriver. The screw that you will be adjusting is Phillips, but the slots are very thin and flat, so a flathead actually works better.

2. A regular phillips screwdriver. This is for the screws on the back of the guitar. They look small, but trust me, you'll want a good sized screwdriver to get the necessary torque. If you have a power screwdriver, that will reduice the amount of time required for this operation significantly (there are a lot of screws).

3. A set of tweezers. The type that comes in those little computer tool kits is ideal.

Proceedure
1. Remove all the screws from the back of the Strat with the Phillips screwdriver. There are quite a few, and if you are not using a power screwdriver, this will be the most time-consuming step of the process. Take note of where the screws go: they come in three different lengths. The two short ones go in the two holes at the top (where the guitar body is cut out), the four long ones go in the four holes on the back of the neck, and the medium size ones go in the rest of the holes.

2. Carefully lift the back off. You are now looking at the back of the strummer mechanism. It looks like this:

http://www.odditorium.net/strummer.jpg

It's a pretty simple mechanism. Basically, you have a microswitch that consists of two metal contacts sticking out of a square plastic housing ("tension screw housing") affixed to the body by a tiny screw ("tension screw"). A spacer between the contacts holds them apart in their resting state. When you strum, the plastic nub on the strum bar ("A") pushes the plastic nub affixed to the bottom contact and presses the contacts together. When you release, the contacts seperate. The plastic spacer between the contacts ensures that the bottom contact is under greater tension than the upper contact when the strum bar is pressed, making sure that when you release the strum bar, the bottom contact will snap away quickly. Note that there is a rubber pad affixed to the screw post that is above the top contact. This serves to dampen vibration when you press the strum bar (vibrating contacts can cause double-strumming). It is not, as some people on the official RB tech forums suggest, meant to push the top contact closer to the bottom one. In fact, ideally, the top contact should not even be touching the rubber pad in its resting state.

The problem
Here's what happens: the whole microswitch mechanism can rotate. The thing that prevents it from doing so is the tension screw that attaches the microswitch to the guitar body. If you are having problems getting downstrum to register consistently, chances are very good that the microswitch for downstrum has been rotated out of alignment slightly. It's possible that some of the guitars come with misaligned microswitches, or that the tension screw was not tightened sufficiently at the factory. It is also possible that even with a properly tightened screw, the microswitch gets pushed out of alignment over time through regular use.

Whatever the case, here is what a properly aligned microswitch SHOULD look like: The contacts should angle down towards the strum bar; they should not be parralel to it. The top contact will likely not be touching the rubber pad on the screwpost above it. The two plastic nubs (A and B) should be touching when the mechanism is in its rest state. If there is a small gap between them, then your microswitch has been knocked out of alignment.

The thing is, nub A is supposed to push on nub B when you strum, not hit it like a hammer. If there is a gap between the two nubs, then A is hitting B like a hammer when you strum. This will cause the lower contact to vibrate when you release the strum bar, which in turn will cause double-strums. Also, if the microswitch is rotated away from the strum bar, then you will have to press harder on the strum bar to make contact. This makes it much easier to miss notes, especially when you are strumming fast.

My microswitch was rotated away from the strum bar (I used the upstrum microswitch as a reference, since upstrum on my guitar was still working perfectly). The contacts were parallel to the strum bar, and there was a gap between plastic nubs A and B. The top contact was pressed against the rubber pad in its rest state. If your downstrum microswitch looks like this, then you have the same problem.

The fix
1. Using the very small jeweller's screwdriver, loosen (but don't remove) the tension screw that holds the microswitch in place. This will make the switch VERY loose. You'll be able to rotate/wiggle it freely.

2. With the tweezers in your left hand, grasp the tension screw housing. Rotate it counterclockwise (if you are fixing the downstrum microswitch) until the two plastic nubs are touching. Put some pressure on it--you want the plastic nubs to make good contact--but don't use so much pressure that the contacts are pressed together. Hold it in place.

3. With the jewellers screwdriver in your right hand (still holding the microswitch in position with the tweezers in your left), retighten the tension screw. Torque it down tightly (but not so much that you strip it out!).

4. That's it. Reassemble your guitar. It should now function properly.


Long-term prospects
It's not clear whether or not this problem will reoccur. If the misalignment was caused at the factory (perhaps the tension screw was never properly tightened, or perhaps the whole thing was just misaligned to begin with, when they tightened it), then this fix may be permanent. It could also be a design flaw, though--it is possible that normal play will slowly push the microswitch away from the strum bar over time, even if you have it tightened down properly. If that's the case, then a possible permanent fix would be to glue the thing in position with superglue. Then tighten the screw (to hold the microswitch in place while the glue cures), and give it plenty of time to cure before playing it again.

Personally, I'd rather avoid that sort of irreversible fix unless it's really necessary. If my strum bar gets flaky again, though...


Mythbusting
There are some suggestions on the official Rock Band forums for how to fix the strummer. Many of them are wrong, and a few suggest doing things that you should probably avoid. Such as:

1. Filing down the "raised bits" of the contacts with a metal file. Don't do this. Those raised bits are an important part of the microswitch.

2. Placing tape (or some other sort of spacer) between the outside contact and that screw post that has the little rubber pad stuck to it. Some people claim to have had luck doing this, but I think it's a bad idea. All this does is bend the outer contact closer to the inner one. This may make it easier to register strums, but if you have space between your plastic nubs, then I suspect that it will do nothing to prevent double-strums, and it may evenexacerbate the problem.

[Chaos]

Ok so any word on when world tour is available online? I still have a few songs to unlock but between myself, randomplayerx/ajl and remy martin we are going along well. None of us had ever played any music game before but remy plays both drums and guitar IRL. Currently I can play medium drums and pass without savior on any song almost all of the time (the who song gets me maybe 1 time in 10 or so to fail once). On hard drums I am moving along nicely and passed in a set today Creep/Wanted dead or alive/when you were young with at least 90% on all scores. I can also sing hard level, but only songs I really know.

Remy plays drums a bit less well than me (not as much practice) but he is a savant guitarist who moved to expert on his fifth song. He Can pass the first two or three levels of songs on expert.

Ajil sings hard level songs and guitars medium on anything and some on hard. I say this to say I want to play with solid people online. Generally I drum and ajil sings, so we need guitarists to play with. Post up those who would like to jam.

[Klizza]

So . . . has anyone else tried playing the drums with their hands?
29 Fingers is the perfect song for it. It was like being a lil kid banging beats on a table. I have yet to see anyone play the drums on anything ither than medium. I can do expert in a few songs. I just tried out the vocal part today and having a low bassy voice doesn't help.


Available guitar/bass/drummer down for random jam sessions. :bgrin:

[Klizza]

Woot! Rank #2 in guitar and #1 in bass for 29 Fingers (solo).
On another note, my foot petal snapped near the base (my foot is bigger than the pedal), but it's not needed for 29 Fingers. Actually looking at it for once, why didn't they make the pedal out of metal or something way more solid? The good news is that a replacement should be coming next week. The way EA is going about replacing hardware is actually interesting. After getting your cc info, they ship the replacement to you and you send the broken item back. And they only charge you if it isn't returned in 28 days.

[Alex]

I tried out the drums at Best Buy yesterday. Gotta say that I was instantly hooked, even though I had problems getting the blue to register. I had no idea they let you put in your own fills, and if they come through on the DLC the game will actually be worth all the bread.

this game lets you freestyle? I diddnt like how guitar hero penalised you just for trying to play notes when no notes were playing. Even karaoke revolution and parappa the rappa let you freestyle as long as you hit the right notes when they did come up.

[holler mcdollar]

maybe it's just me, but even though rock band and gh3 both have good songs (and a few of the same songs,) gh3 is just more fun to play guitar-wise... like, hard in rock band is easy as fuck and expert isn't hard enough. and gh3 songs are more guitar-friendly with solos and whatnot. (who the fuck wants to play a yeah yeah yeahs song or david bowie? i was falling asleep playing these songs on expert guitar.)

oh, and drumming is the biggest gimmick ever. after playing it a bit the novelty wears off and you're left thinking "what the fuck am i doing? this is nothing like real drums."

i played with 3 other people last night and the mess of noises all the instruments were making + the singing basically drowned out the music.

gh3 >>>>>>>>>>>> this, sorry.

[Klizza]

With drums if you get half a meter full of energy, you get a small fill section. Basically in order to activate your energy you hit the last note of the fill which will always be a green one (cymbal). If you want to, you could choose not to use your energy and get all the fills in the song to do what you want with.

The novelty seen in drumming isn't much different than the guitar. If anything the drumming is more realistic than the guitar, imo. It could've been better if there was some way to reposition the pads and a better placing for the kick pedal.

If the song has a big rock finish, everyone can play whatever they want during that part, but you only get the points for the notes if everyone hits the final notes after it.

I actually like playing bass in this game (Bass + Wah effect = happy). In GH3 the bass was nowhere as challenging as the guitar. To me, the only non guitar that I wanted to play was Holiday in Cambodia, Impulse, and Cliffs of Dover.

Rock Band ftw.

[Luckychrono777]

maybe it's just me, but even though rock band and gh3 both have good songs (and a few of the same songs,) gh3 is just more fun to play guitar-wise... like, hard in rock band is easy as fuck and expert isn't hard enough. and gh3 songs are more guitar-friendly with solos and whatnot. (who the fuck wants to play a yeah yeah yeahs song or david bowie? i was falling asleep playing these songs on expert guitar.)

oh, and drumming is the biggest gimmick ever. after playing it a bit the novelty wears off and you're left thinking "what the fuck am i doing? this is nothing like real drums."

i played with 3 other people last night and the mess of noises all the instruments were making + the singing basically drowned out the music.

gh3 >>>>>>>>>>>> this, sorry.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, but if not you make no sense.

RockBand's songs were chosen so a group of people can play. So of course you won't have every song with difficult vocal, guitar, bass and drums parts because there aren't very many of them. Guitar hero's were chosen just for the guitar so they will obviously be more difficult.

How is drumming the biggest gimmick ever? Drumming in RockBand is way more realistic than playing the 1 string 5 note guitar that these games are based around. If anything the guitar is the gimmick in both games.

As for drowning out the song.....don't be a dumbass turn the volume up.

It's fine if you like GH3 more than this, just don't use these dumb reasons.

[randomplayerx]

I dunno what that one guy's problem is, the game is awesome. You can't really expect it to be challenging on the guitar if you are a guitar hero expert. That game has more focus on the guitar than this one. So logically if you can expert it, you should be able to play rock band guitar on expert easily. Duh, rock band is more of a party game. And the guy above me makes valid points as well.

As for the rest of the topic, I can now play every song on medium, and several on hard. Once I get my xbox fixed (it randomly freezes a lot), I will buy the game and sing/ play guitar. If world tour mode ever opens up I would love to have some srk people to play with!

[Kuya]

I played this at my brother's house (Chairhome) this weekend and it was sooo much fun lol. Played with my three younger brothers (I took bass guitar because it's USUALLY the easiest :lol:) and it's one of the best group games ever. I also tried to play bass and do vocals (with semi-terrible results). :tup:

[f_man]

he cant turn the volume up because his mom will yell at him to turn it down.

this is the greatest party game ever. it feels awesome when youve got a 4 piece thats meshing so well on a song....the biggest downside for me though is not being able to go through world tour online

im slightly wary of the instrument quality. if you can shell out the money, or somehow coordinate with friends on swapping instruments/buying stand-alone versions of the game, itd be well worth it.

[ChairHome]

The game is great. As Kuya said, we played this on Saturday almost all night, and it was great. Had about 12 people rotating in and out of the game at my house and it was good times. Thinking about picking up some songs from DLC...

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

I need a carrying case for all this...this game is perfect for family get togethers...

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

Get this, come home and try to play...disc is scratched!

So I went to BB to return the game, didn't have a recepit, but they looked it up for me. Lady said..."Oh....you bought the special version...you need to exchange everything!"

So I have a drag everything back to the store, just to get a new disc....that sucks, but also my guitar is a big faulty...so at least I kill 2 birds with one stone!

[1]

Did anyone get their replacements in today from EA? My drums should be shipping out today and arrive on Wednesday.

[final_cut]

maybe it's just me, but even though rock band and gh3 both have good songs (and a few of the same songs,) gh3 is just more fun to play guitar-wise... like, hard in rock band is easy as fuck and expert isn't hard enough. and gh3 songs are more guitar-friendly with solos and whatnot. (who the fuck wants to play a yeah yeah yeahs song or david bowie? i was falling asleep playing these songs on expert guitar.)

oh, and drumming is the biggest gimmick ever. after playing it a bit the novelty wears off and you're left thinking "what the fuck am i doing? this is nothing like real drums."

i played with 3 other people last night and the mess of noises all the instruments were making + the singing basically drowned out the music.

gh3 >>>>>>>>>>>> this, sorry.

I definitely think GH is a better single player experience, maybe even a better 2 Player experience, but playing rock band as a group of people is really fun. I get what you are saying about the noise level of the instruments, if you are using a guitar hero guitar with the game, and the drums, you got a whole lotta banging and clicking going on... and you have to turn the music way the fuck up. But there is even a load screen that tells you to do that, lol.

I see why the Fender Strat guitar was made without the clickiness... but I still think it sucks and I don't think there is a single one that was made that will be fully functional after 12 hours of gameplay. Straight up, the different tones rarely matter, and the finger tapping buttons aren't good for much else. Its good in theory, but when the product feels so cheap, it really detracts from the game. I'll probably get my replacement guitar in about 3 or four days, but I don't really expect it to be awesome or way better.

[MrQuotes]

im thinking that this game is kinda losin to gh3 right now cause i hvaent heard much hype at all about it. maybe the idea of having an assload of equipment and paying for it turned off the general gamers who enjoyed the novelty toy guitar thing...

or am i completely wrong? how are the sales doing right now? i just havent heard much lately.

[Colt Steele]

I tried to pick it up on Saturday, Best Buy had not one copy, stand alone or boxed juggernaut. I dunno what the actual figures are, but I would definitely invest in RB over GHIII as a multiplayer experience. People who haven't tried this kind of game will have an easier time finding their niche, plus the difficulty level isn't trying to beat you into the dirt like it is in GHIII.

Anyway I wanna try the online band tour, anyone that needs a bass/axe player please feel free to add me.

[Pimp Willy]

I haven't played my copy yet, but I thought that the band tour mode couldn't be played online?

[Wolfkiller]

My friend picked it up and we rocked out two nights in a row. I'm loving the drums. Can get through pretty well in medium. Need some practice before moving up. Have a whole new respect for real drummers now. So hard to disconnect hand from hand and hands from foot!

[Chaos]

Playing all of the first two tiers of songs on hard drums now. I have actually passed Creep on expert but thats a function of the song rather than my skill level. Will play more tomorrow once I can pass all songs on hard I will be back online. It is ridiculous you can't play world tour online btw.

[randomplayerx]

couple of things, game must be doing well, it is sold out at least 2 walmarts, a gamestop and bestbuy here. Interesting though, I was able to order from bestbuy.com and avoid having to pay extra from ebay. Secondly, the developers claim they really want world tour online, and when asked about it said something along the lines of keep your eyes open. My game should be here thursday or friday, looking forward to having my own copy.

[Galactic]

I actually own a mic stand and I set up the mic to tape it to said mic stand. Needed to tape it up tho since the Rock Band mic is a bit too big for reg mic stands to hold. But I gotta say playing guitar AND singing at the same time is a BLAST! Only if you actually know the song fairly well tho.

SO far I can play Guitar on Expert while at the same time singing on Medium the following songs:

Creep
Say it Ain't So
Maps
Learn to Fly
Dani California
Sabotage

I haven't tried many of the others yet, but I'm gonna try drumming and singing on those songs as well.

My only gripe is the guitar is WAY easier in rock band than Guitar Hero. I can play any song on Expert on Rock Band with relative ease so far. Except my guitar broke, so now I have to wait for a new one, which is why I'm on SRK and not playing right now....

^_-;

[ChairHome]

I haven't played my copy yet, but I thought that the band tour mode couldn't be played online?

You can't play the tour mode, but you can play as a band online. I think that's what he meant.

For anyone that can tell me... is there a way to set up the vocals and guitar as one player? I know you can hook up a headset to the guitar and sing, but I'm getting the impression its just for backup vocals. How can you set it up so you can get scored on the vocal parts while doing guitar? Thanks....

[f_man]

For anyone that can tell me... is there a way to set up the vocals and guitar as one player? I know you can hook up a headset to the guitar and sing, but I'm getting the impression its just for backup vocals. How can you set it up so you can get scored on the vocal parts while doing guitar? Thanks....

i just put it on multiplayer world band tour, so there are band members for the mic and guitar.

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

Isn't there a converter piece that makes it compatible? I havent ventured into doing two at once yet.

[asianhitler]

I played this game at a friends house over the weekend, what a blast. The drums were by far the most popular instrument. The down strum on the guitar started giving out tho. =\ Are there problems with any of the other peripherals?

Cannot find this game! :annoy:

[Contra]

cant wait to try vocals / drums ^^

[final_cut]

what is that song in the intro to the game? I dunno what it is, but it sounds badass. I wanna play that song.

I wish I had a mic stand so I could try singing myself. I mean, there is no way I would try doing this with anyone around, but Its soo tempting. Playing this game, I wanna fucking swing that shit around and go apeshit with it like I never did with that shitty band I was in in high school.



A funny side note, when I was putting my 2 year old in his car seat yesterday, he was anxious to get home, and started shouting "HEY, OH! LETS GO!" It made me cry a little bit with tears of joy. (but not outwardly, I'm trying to raise him to be a man) I'm glad my kid can appreciate the good music he hears from me playing rock band, and not just the crap his mom listens to.


What are your favorite songs, SRK?

My favorite song to play as a group is "Won't get fooled again" by the Who... with that long ass pause, and then the part where it goes "MEET THE NEW BOSS!" I get stoked as fuck. Man this game makes me so stoked to play.


Colt Steele mentioned before that the Knack was in here, but I'm seeing this band called "The Knock", maybe that was a typo? I don't see no 'My Sharona' in here.

Edit: the Knack is DLC, guess that is why I missed it.

[AcEtUrNeDjOkEr]

Mississippi Queen right now, all my cousins were singing it the whole weekend.

[Chaos]

Galactic you have hit on the games number one complaint. The problem is you GH God's have such skill level that the game is to easy. Remember this is a band experience not a single player one like GH though. Although if you can already play everything on expert that kinda ruins the fun. Trust me expert drums are not nearly so easy.

My favorite songs to play (drums) are Maps, Reaper and of course Tom Sawyer.

[Pimp Willy]

I played this game at a friends house over the weekend, what a blast. The drums were by far the most popular instrument. The down strum on the guitar started giving out tho. =\ Are there problems with any of the other peripherals?



Drums by far have the biggest problems, but the downstrum giving out has an easy fix I saw on some forums that involved opening the guitar, and straightening out the microswitch, and re-tightening it.

Edit: It's actually on the previous page, but heres the external link http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1831

[Chaos]

Holy hell. So I'm doing well on hard drums solo mode, have made thru Orange Crush, Dani, Black hole, all the solid songs and then I attempt "Go with the flow". WTF. This song is miserably hard I"m really struggling.

[NegroNinja]

Anyone else play with a group that has a sucky member? Most likely drums?

My singer's girlfriend is playing dums, but she really sucks...I tried not to let it bother me because it's just a game right? But then we hit that "Play harder modes to get further" wall, and she refuses to take herself above normal.

I wanna replace her with someone else, but my singing friend's gonna flip out over it cause he's afraid of hurting her feelings blah blah blah...it's his game, his house whatever, but he's also the one pushing for this to be a real team effort and wants to get on the online rankings..we can't do that with this chick! We're gonna get roasted!! FUCK!!!

...So yeah, South Park hit the nail on the head.

[Galactic]

Galactic you have hit on the games number one complaint. The problem is you GH God's have such skill level that the game is to easy. Remember this is a band experience not a single player one like GH though. Although if you can already play everything on expert that kinda ruins the fun. Trust me expert drums are not nearly so easy.

My favorite songs to play (drums) are Maps, Reaper and of course Tom Sawyer.

Yeah having played Guitar Freaks years ago, and playing and mastering all 3 Guitar Heroes has kinda made Rock Band's guitar parts fairly easy for me. But it's still really fun, that is, when the goddamn guitar that comes with Rock Band actually WORKS.

Drums are really challenging though. I have no drum experience whatsoever, so it's actually a lot of fun learning how to play along to some of these songs. The singing is a bit meh sometimes.

^_-;

[Chaos]

Anyone else play with a group that has a sucky member? Most likely drums?

My singer's girlfriend is playing dums, but she really sucks...I tried not to let it bother me because it's just a game right? But then we hit that "Play harder modes to get further" wall, and she refuses to take herself above normal.

I wanna replace her with someone else, but my singing friend's gonna flip out over it cause he's afraid of hurting her feelings blah blah blah...it's his game, his house whatever, but he's also the one pushing for this to be a real team effort and wants to get on the online rankings..we can't do that with this chick! We're gonna get roasted!! FUCK!!!

...So yeah, South Park hit the nail on the head.


You need to take into account that drums are by far the most difficult part of the game. Hard drum mode for a girl who isn't a gamer or musician is gonna be a huge undertaking.

[Colt Steele]

what is that song in the intro to the game? I dunno what it is, but it sounds badass. I wanna play that song.
"Highway Star" by Deep Purple. I had no idea DP could rock like that :rofl:

[NegroNinja]

You need to take into account that drums are by far the most difficult part of the game. Hard drum mode for a girl who isn't a gamer or musician is gonna be a huge undertaking.

Yeah I know, which is why it's irritating that he's trying to force it and she's not really into it and he two of us want to get further...anyway last night I had to practically break his arm to get him to start another band. Afraid she was going to be pissed at him for leaving her out.

But yeah drums seem to require the most musical talent/skill which is both great and possibly a bad move. Great for people who can play or want to practice and get better, but a bad move for people like my singer's girl who just wanna sit down and play and enjoy the game to the maximum extent without having to become a musical prodigy overnight.

[iwst99]

I haven't played this since I got it the day it came out. I finally played it again with my roommate yesterday....we stayed up late, that's all I can say. Him on guitar me on drums. Shit's 2fun4u. Having to play Nirvana and Weezer like 8 billion times on the sets = notfun4nebody.

[Colt Steele]

I'd rather get stuck with Nirvana and Weezer over and over rather than some of the marathons that get dropped into the random sets, like that Aerosmith song and the Boston one. The song by The Outlaws almost made me cry....I didn't think any song had a longer solo than Freebird.

*edit*

btw, I'll bet any takers that the "unspecified Metallica album" that will be added to the DLC in upcoming months will be the black album. I don't know why they don't just come out and say it....it's the only obvious choice. It's the most commercially widespread material they've done. The first four albums also all include instrumental tracks, something that the mic guy/gal would just have sit through in a random set. Plus there are already tracks for sale from Lightning and Justice. People won't pay for a new'tallica album, and Sandman is already included as part of the in-game setlist. They'd most likely just make the rest of the album available for dl, with maybe some stuff from Puppets or Kill Em All later on a la carte(I'm crossing my fingers for Orion and Horsemen).

[ChairHome]

So has anyone d/l'd any DLC yet? I'm thinking about it, but not sure what to get yet.

After "fixing" the guitar, I think it broke again. I'm going to open it and try to fix it while waiting for my replacement guitar.

[1]

Im waiting for "Buddy Holly" to drop next week and then I'll DL all the available DLC. I'm still working my way through expert on drums. I'm stuck on Vasoline. :(

[Colt Steele]

So has anyone d/l'd any DLC yet? I'm thinking about it, but not sure what to get yet.
I can't really recommend you anything without having even a rudimentary grasp of your musical taste, but what the hell;

The Metallica pack's kind of a no-brainer, all master tracks and all over 5 minute songs. Big-time bang for your buck.

The Sabbath pack is a good mix, track- and difficulty-wise. Covers, but luckily people who can sing like Ozzy seem to be commonplace enough that I never notice enough difference to complain.

The Bowie pack was so-so, good for mixing up the tempo in BWT fan-pick sets but I'm not huge into Bowie.

The Queens pack is actually pretty damn good, the one track from GHIII is there and 2 others that are fairly challenging. If you're a QotSA fan it's a good pick, I'm not really a fan myself but I have fun playing the note charts.

The punk pack is pretty much what it sounds like, more Clash and Ramones. I could really do without the Buzzcocks track though.

The a la carte stuff~~
The CCR cover is very good, the vocals are an absolute bitch to nail though.
The Knack. I shouldn't need to elaborate here. Get it.
Wolfmother. Bleh. Skip it unless you really need another $150 for each dl tour track.
Foreigner. I have it and I can say it without shame because my girl wanted it...not because I would ever admit to liking Foreigner...not more than a little anyways.
That one T-Rex song is real catchy, give it a listen before you dl it.

[final_cut]

I like the Bowie pack a lot actually. The cover really isn't that bad, and the other two are good as well. I was Kind of disappointed with the "Bang a Gong" cover, it doesn't seem to have the punch that the original had, seems more like a cyndi lauper tune with a guy singing. Not terrible, I just like the T-Rex version a lot more. I like Wolfmother though, I'm going to get that pack anyway. Same with the punk pack, I like those bands so I'll give that one a shot.

[mastermind]

I found one! They had two at my local GameCrazy so I picked it up! Unboxed it and it looks awesome! Gonna start playing here in a minute. Hard to rock out on an empty stomach.

[Autocrat1]

Activision, DEACTIVATE!!1 :devil:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/say-it-ain.t-so/activision-roadblocks-ghiii-guitar-support-for-ps3-rock-band-333279.php

[mastermind]

Wow, dude. I think they let that Vivendi merger get to their heads.

[Colt Steele]

Wow. Activision is actually being made to look bad by a software house owned by EA, of ALL people. Do they not realize they look like sulking children by continuing this shit? Not like I care about compatibility on a system I'll probably never own, but it's the principle. That and it also makes them appear to be pissing their pants over how quickly RB's popularity has climbed.

[ChairHome]

Not so fast...

Activision: "OBJECTION! (http://kotaku.com/gaming/rock-band/activision-on-gh-not-so-fast-mtv-333855.php)"

[mastermind]

So I'm confused here. Where does this leave 360 RB/GH3 owners? All this hub-bub is with the PS3 versions. Right?

[AmbiguousCrosup]

AFAIK, GH3 guitars work fine in RB on the 360.

[final_cut]

Yeah, the thing is , activision wants something monetary for allowing the patch, which is pretty much their way of saying "no way, Jose." I don't get it, because they'd still be selling GH guitars. Well, they would be if they were sold seperately.

[the_dannobot]

So wtf is going on with the PS2 version? I had it preordered and paid for at Amazon, but I just got an email saying they wouldn't have it.5

[Episode_667]

So wtf is going on with the PS2 version? I had it preordered and paid for at Amazon, but I just got an email saying they wouldn't have it.5

I know development for it was outsourced to not-Harmonix, but this worries me, as I won't have any next-gen systems until next April / May at the earliest. Not to mention the fact that it's been delayed until the end of January in Canada already.

[final_cut]

Someone on scorehero said they bought the PS2 version, and it was extremely nerfed. As in, you don't create characters, only band names. Its basically single or co-op career mode, and none of the touring stuff either. I haven't seen or played it myself. They said they got it at wal-mart.

[Episode_667]

Someone on scorehero said they bought the PS2 version, and it was extremely nerfed. As in, you don't create characters, only band names. Its basically single or co-op career mode, and none of the touring stuff either. I haven't seen or played it myself. They said they got it at wal-mart.

I just read the thread now, and the PS2 version does seem extremely gimped. Maybe I have space in my room for a 360 after all...

[epp1e]

Holy shit. Just tried the game for the first time today & I'm hooked... definitely picking it up once my Holiday shopping is paid off in full. GH3 controller works for it, right?

Edit: Damnit, just read that it doesn't.

[mastermind]

Took apart my guitar and it looked nothing like the one in that ScoreHero link. The small microswitches are small, plastic, and have already failed. I have a one-year warranty that I picked up at the GameCrazy I bought it at, so I'll just talk to the manager and have them swap it out.

[Morphiend]

well i got rock band today for xmas and i tried hooking up the drums and the mic but for whatever reason the mic isn't recognized when i plug it in. do i have to turn it on or something?? i couldnt find a switch for it anywhere. i hope i dont have a defective mic =( anyone have this problem at all???

doh never mind i googled it and didn't know you had to use the controller.

[mastermind]

So I had EA send me an empty box to send back the guitar. Hope they'll send it back by the time I get back from vacation. And fixed.

[Debaser]

What exactly makes the guitars faulty? I notice that mine plays notes about half a second late so I need to strum early to hit them. Is this the error or is it something else?

P.S.: and the 60 day warranty can replace the guitar right?

[mastermind]

Yeah the 60-day warranty can replace it. Just hop on http://support.ea.com/rockband and fill out a claim.

The faulty thing that a lot of people have experienced is just the downstrum not registering. Popping it open, it's NOTHING like the GH guitars where the strum bar is above two actual arcade-grade microswitches. The RB guitar has like this tiny little leaf-style switch on the up and down strum that is REAL flimsy and unresponsive after only a few sessions.

[ChairHome]

What exactly makes the guitars faulty? I notice that mine plays notes about half a second late so I need to strum early to hit them. Is this the error or is it something else?

P.S.: and the 60 day warranty can replace the guitar right?

That sounds more like you need to calibrate for lag in the options.

[Pimp Willy]

Im about to ask a retarded question, so I'm sorry.

Yesterday, when messing around with the character creation mode, I managed to get into a mode that let me add decals onto my instrument, and changed the color of the microphone and put some flame decals on it. I didn't think much of it, except that it was a fun feature, and turned off my xbox.

Later, when we were going to do band world tour mode, we made characters and a band... and for the life of me, I cannot find where I was able to put decals onto the instruments. It's been driving me crazy, does anybody know?

[Ninja Wallace]

I got this a week ago, because it just came out a week ago in Canada. I'm loving it. I've been playing drums for 2 years, but I can't beat some of the songs on drums for the life of me yet.

[WasFemto]

Man, THIS FUCKING GAME NEEDS CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS!!!

Visiting fam and little bro' has this so figured, why not it it's no Guitar Freaks but whatever then I see it...LIVING-FUCKING-COLOUR - Cult of Personality. When I get back home I'm picking this shit just based on that, but damn this needs custom OST option where you can set how it's played. If that happened I wouldn't have to buy any other game...ever

Songs I would create my own levels for

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAnDXpkgNfE

with lyrics in english http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2vfTAdxCfA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1q_0AqynNs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECSWSBH7Ltg OG version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fp7SiyAekI New version

so much more + plus what's there(Living Colour) it too much win!

Copy and pasted from the GHIII because every game like this NEEDS to have this option
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[Wolfkiller]

Hahaha....I want this in Rock Band if they ever figure out some kinda custom system...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmaltChJnV0

[Luciano Leone]

Im gonna make a very speculative post.. I dont really care though.. Ive been playing this game all fuckin day with my friends and we got hella stuck and ended on a way bad note. Dont get me wrong I still fuckin love it and havent been bored since I got it.

Some songs off the top of my head that I would add in a heartbeat if I could:

Michael Jackson - "Black or White"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot9n_uHPvfc

Michael Jackson - "D.S." Slash!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euPhpXJquB8

Paramore - "Misery Business"
Dont have the will power to find a link

I dont want it to change to pop band though, so I'll stop

I also wish these would be available (but I realise it wouldve made it into guitar hero redux or some shit):
Killer Queen
More Than a Feeling
Sunshine of Your Love
Paint It Black
Ziggy Stardust (why didnt they include that in the David Bowie pack?!)
Fuckin anything by Rage or GNR

Tracks that I really could have done without (aka shit I cant stand): Fall out boy, new pornographers, molly hatchet, OK go, outlaws, and freezepop (I really hate freezepop)..

Tracks I'm fuckin happy they were implemented in one way or another:
Buddy Holly
Roxanne
In Bloom
Suffragette city
Mississippi Queen
Fortunate Son

Amazing party game. Just fuckin amazing. Thought Id add that. I played it so much today and I was so focused on it that when I took a break and came back, my vision was getting all distorted cause I was so used to that track moving toward me.. like the walls were fucking up and the tv was moving upward. Stop me if Im not making sense.. cause I dont think I am..

[Rickstah]

I've been thinking about getting