Rock Band - Impressions...

[Teal]

Wow, you just beat me to it!

Yeah, me too!

If anyone downloads in the next hour or so, please let me know how big the file is.

Thanks!

EDIT: NM, 540ish mb.

I can handle it, but I'm getting awfully close to spending a stupid amount of $$ for a hard drive.

I've been poking around ebay for a new xbox 120gb hard drive. I think you can get one for ~$90 ($150 in stores).

Just got my free 20 song download code.

From where, for what, how?

There is a link in this thread I think where you enter a code on your instruction booklet to get a download code for 20 new songs.

I bought a 60 gig yesterday. I can breathe again!

[webdanzer]

There is a link in this thread I think where you enter a code on your instruction booklet to get a download code for 20 new songs.

Here you go:

http://register.rockband.com

I'm hoping that hard drive prices come down with the NXE stuff that they are pushing. I'll probably go 120gb too, since I see myself continuing to dl tracks for GH and RB, but sheesh, those current prices are a rip.

[Teal]

Got the DL. Glad I bought the 60 gig yesterday...

[Diablo25]

I never got the email with my DL code.

[MizzouRah]

There is a link in this thread I think where you enter a code on your instruction booklet to get a download code for 20 new songs.

Here you go:

http://register.rockband.com

I'm hoping that hard drive prices come down with the NXE stuff that they are pushing. I'll probably go 120gb too, since I see myself continuing to dl tracks for GH and RB, but sheesh, those current prices are a rip.

Thank you!

[Naples39]

Played about 10 of the news songs yesterday on guitar.

Meh.

[sportdan30]

Played about 10 of the news songs yesterday on guitar.

Meh.

Figures

[Diablo25]

I never got the email with my DL code.

Got it yesterday. Songs are decent. Hey, they are free.

[dbdynsty25]

Guys...if you could pick one system...do you get Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero World Tour?

I played my buddies GHWT and it was awesome...just wondering if RB2 is better than it.

[Diablo25]

Guys...if you could pick one system...do you get Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero World Tour?

I played my buddies GHWT and it was awesome...just wondering if RB2 is better than it.

I am more of a fan of RB...especially RB2. The hardware is much improved over RB1 and the soundtrack, IMO, is better. MANY more songs available for RB also. If you don't have RB1 you can always rent it and rip the songs to your XB HDD for the $5 fee. I have only played GHIII so I have no experience with the GHWT hardware. You hear great things about the GHWT drums and then you hear horror stories. Just my 2 cents.

[webdanzer]

I'm partial to RB2 as well, but I really think it's gotta be a choice you make for yourself.

RB was first, so the amount of songs available for it right now is insane. There is a ton of DLC, and like Diablo mentioned, you rent the first game and for $5 you double your tracklist in RB2!! RB also does a much better job of integrating DLC into 'regular,' play, and has a much better song display/sorting interface.

However, being second, GHWT had the chance to innovate with some additional features to their instruments...the additional cymbal on drums,'accent notes,' the touchpad on guitar, etc. I probably have to say that if GHWT was your first experience in the genre, if you go to RB you might feel that a few things are missing. They are minor, but they are there.

Gameplay is pretty similar overall, honestly. RB requires tighter timing with hitting the notes, while GH is much looser while (generally) making you do a little bit more finger gymnastics. Again, this will be a preference thing for you. I tend to think the tighter timing fools you into thinking you're actually the one playing a bit more.

Though cartoony, GHWT tends to have more presentation flourishes. Game versions of Ozzy, Zakk Wylde, etc...more extreme venues. RB is more 'realistic' looking in its presentation, but also more plain.

Consensus seems to be that if you were picking up one set of instruments to play with both, the RB2 pack is better in handling both games without things feeling weird (mostly speaking of drums), but you lose some of the extra functionality of the instruments.

I find the drum charting to be better in RB, the bass better in GHWT, the guitars about equal but maybe slightly better in GHWT, and vocals equal. I think RB plays slightly better in a group, but the GHWT tracks are generally more recognized by non-gamers and thus they get more excited about what tracks are on disc. RB's wealth of DLC goes a long way to balance that out, though. I like RB's online modes much better.

There *do* seem to be fairly widespread issues with GHWTs drum sets. RB1 went through that too, though.

In summary, I think the main thing that differentiates between the two right now is that RB has a buttload more songs, and GHWT has more 'flourishes' that make its instruments a little more fun to play.

I really suggest you check out the track lists, too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_in_Rock_Band
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downloadab ... _Rock_Band

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_so ... World_Tour


I don't know that you can really go wrong. I like and play them both and I'm glad I have both.

[sportdan30]

Just my two cents. I much prefer RB2 over GH:WT. Everything from the menus to the interface to the graphics seems more complete. That said, GH:WT might have more songs that appeal to you. Being able to grab all of the RB1 songs for $5 is a huge bonus IMO.

[dbdynsty25]

Thanks guys for breaking it down. I guess I'll just go through those huge song lists and just pick the one that has the better songs. Is it safe to assume that Rock Band has a much larger library? That's what it looks like in the wikis.

The drums on GHWT were awesome...I definitely dug them, so if the Rock Band drums are equal or better, I'll probably just go with RB2. Tho, it would be cool to learn in GHWT so that way when I get together with my buddy and his girl, it would be cool to battle them...knowing the same songs and instruments.

[webdanzer]

RB's library is ridiculously larger, yes.

See if you could try the RB drum set before buying somewhere, though. Honestly, since you are coming from the GHWT drum experience first, you may really feel let down by the RB set's single plane experience.

Maybe Spooky can chime in here again, as I know he's spent a good amount of time with both sets. Though I think RB does a great job with how they chart the drum parts, going back to the RB set might be hard if you have spent a lot of time on the GHWT set, just from a feel perspective.

[Teal]

I started on the GH drumset, db, and after playing that one...I just can't get into the RB one-feels like a toy to me, vs actually getting the feeling that I'm playing drums with cymbals on GH's drums.

And there may be more songs on RB, but with that comes alot of stuff I really dislike. I'm more of a rocker guy, and I hate the punk/skateboardy stuff, the emo stuff, and the feather lite stuff. Rock, a little metal, classic rock...that's more my style. The AC/DC pack is a VERY welcome addition to RB2, but I love playing the Metallica album on GH. Nowadays, I don't play the tour of RB anymore, just pick out songs and go to work. That way I don't have to play all that garbage that was such a pain in the butt to suffer through on tour mode.

I also enjoy the personality and 'attitude' of GH:WT over RB2. I know most of the time you just look at the 'highway' and miss all the other stuff, but I get a kick out of the (admittedly) more cartoony rockers in GH, because they are more animated, in a way. They are far better than the superdeformed people in GH3. But that's really just more of a taste issue.

I've heard people talk about how RB is 'easier' in ways than GH is. I don't find that to be the case. I think they both are easier or harder depending on the song. For instance, play 'Livin' on a Prayer' by Bon Jovi on hard in RB2, then again on hard in GH:WT. On the hard setting, RB is more intricate and difficult than GH:WT. In fact, I had to put GH's version on Expert in order to get an identical note chart for the 'hard' difficulty in RB2.

I have both, and I love both, but if the drums don't gel well with RB, I simply won't play them with RB. Got enough trouble as it is doing it in GH, because I absolutely suck as a drummer...

[10spro]

DB, should you be inclined to go for RB, I have the original guitar and mic in the original box unopened as I prefer the GH guitar. Like the guys were saying above, you can't go wrong with all the songs in RB although I do prefer the variety in GHWT better. PM me if interested.

[JackB1]

Has anyone ever found a good fix for the loose neck on the Les Paul from GH3? I have tried a few things but nothing works 100%. Not sure I want to glue the neck in case I want to resell it. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[JackB1]

Thanks guys for breaking it down. I guess I'll just go through those huge song lists and just pick the one that has the better songs. Is it safe to assume that Rock Band has a much larger library? That's what it looks like in the wikis.

The drums on GHWT were awesome...I definitely dug them, so if the Rock Band drums are equal or better, I'll probably just go with RB2. Tho, it would be cool to learn in GHWT so that way when I get together with my buddy and his girl, it would be cool to battle them...knowing the same songs and instruments.

The general consensus is that GHWT is still a ways behind RB2....gamewise. But that GHWT has better hardware (instruments).
Since the RB2 kit works good on both games, you can't go wrong with RB2. Go to a Best Buy and check them all out. Between that and the song lists, you can make a decision.

[Leebo33]

I freakin' love Rock Band (playing RB2 with RB 1 equipment...I've never played GH). I picked up the AC/DC pack and it is truly awesome. I wish there was more Metallica, but Sandman, Battery, and Metallica pack1 isn't too bad. Rock Band is expensive though. I spent $170 on the original game, $60 for RB2, $5 for the transfer code, $50 for an extra guitar to replace the one that just broke, $40 for AC/DC, and around $30 for other DLC. Ouch!

That said, the entertainment/replay value for me and my family/friends has been outstanding.

[webdanzer]

I freakin' love Rock Band (playing RB2 with RB 1 equipment...I've never played GH). I picked up the AC/DC pack and it is truly awesome. I wish there was more Metallica, but Sandman, Battery, and Metallica pack1 isn't too bad. Rock Band is expensive though. I spent $170 on the original game, $60 for RB2, $5 for the transfer code, $50 for an extra guitar to replace the one that just broke, $40 for AC/DC, and around $30 for other DLC. Ouch!

That said, the entertainment/replay value for me and my family/friends has been outstanding.

It's...um...quite possible to spend more than $30 on other DLC as well.

It's also going to end up costing me a new harddrive for the 360.

But I agree that the entertainment/replay value is through the roof.

[Brando70]

It's really a win-win decision. I liked Rock Band better than GH II and III because I thought GH was too heavy on nu-metal. Nothing wrong with that, I just don't find stuff like Slipknot and Freya very fun to play. When I got RB, I was amazed that I knew almost every song in the game.

However, I think GHWT has really broadened its list, to where it comes down to personal preference for the track lists.

It's a testament to RB1 that I still haven't picked up RB2 yet. With the DLC available for both, I have been adding new songs and just playing around in the original. I will definitely pick RB2 up, but I don't think I've played a game before where, after having it for a year, I am not in a huge hurry to pick up the sequel because the original is still good.

[dbdynsty25]

After reading all this, I think I'm going to stick with GHWT, just for the simple fact that I can play my buddy online in a battle of the bands. My girl likes playing it, so does his, so it seems like it would be cool to get together, or play over the internet in a battle setting.

I also am a bigger fan of the multi level drum set that GHWT has instead of the four drums in a row. I can see that RB has many more songs...is it possible to use the GHWT hardware w/ the RB2 game? I know people have gone back and forth with hardware...so that's why I'm basing my decision mostly on hardware at this point.

[webdanzer]

...is it possible to use the GHWT hardware w/ the RB2 game?

Assuming you are on the 360, Yep. (PS3 needs a patch) Sometimes things get a little weird, though, in that you'll be hitting a cymbal on your set but outputting a tom, or vice-versa. When playing RB, the charts reflect the fact that sometimes each drum is something else, so they keep your hands moving somewhat properly. GHWT drums pretty much are what they are, so when RB's tracks do one of those switcheroos, things can get awkward.

From what I understand, though, this is only an issue with some songs and parts of songs. For a lot of it things should feel fine. (Though you'll never use the 'extra' cymbal.)

[dbdynsty25]

Hmmm...thanks for the info.

I'm also contemplating just getting RB2 now because my buddy has GHWT and if I got RB2 we'd have the best of both worlds...meaning ALL of the songs. So that's a consideration as well. Dammit...so difficult. But it's 190 bucks, rather than a 60 dollar game. A little more thought needs to go into it. LOL.

[Spooky]

The more I play it, the more I love the GH:WT drum kit, but still despise the kick pedals movement in my room/floor.

I also spent a fair amount of time playing the GH kit in RB and have become more accustomed to it. The only time I have major issues with using the GH kit in RB is when they use the red drum for the fast, two handed hi-hat sections (only a few tunes). Just doens't work for me.

But using the yellow cybmal pad for a tom doesn't really bother me at all actually (most real drum kits actually make you move 'up and over' to hit the first tom anyway).

I also really like GH's drum charting. 'Demolition Man' is a great example. I have a hard time playing GH with the RB kit and knowing I am missing out on the 'true' experience with the extra pad and the cymbal placement. Not a big difference gameplay-wise, but mentally it is.