Rock Band - Impressions...

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:56 am

I am 5 songs away from beating the game on medium solo drum career.. and my initial impression would have to be, "I have a lot more respect for drummers now."

Getting 5 stars is sooo hard. I get 97% on some songs and am still only getting 4 starts.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:28 pm

bdunn13 wrote:my initial impression would have to be, "I have a lot more respect for drummers now."

No doubt. The first couple of times I tried the drums I couldn't help but wonder how in the hell ANYONE could do that. While it seemed well beyond my capability to ever learn for the first dozen or so times, I'm hopeful I can finish on Easy.

My only gripe so far is that there are so few songs unlocked to begin. The ones that are there are classic, but get very old very fast. If I ever hear "Should I Stay or Should I Go" again... On the other hand, somehow "Wave of Mutilation" still sounds fresh. Damn, The Pixies were f'ing brilliant.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:21 pm

The drums are definitely the area where it is extremely advantageous to have real world experience. While I am mainly a guitar player, I can play drums as well and it helps a ton while being a guitarist has always hindered me in a lot of ways playing the Guitar Hero games and now the guitar parts in Rock Band.

With guitar, there is a lot more interpretation, feeling and style of playing that handicap me when trying to play the dots on screen. Real chords and hand placement are completely gone and leave me confused a lot of the time. While it is nice to have a basic feel for guitar when playing these games (like rhythm and coordination) I find myself having to detach myself from a real guitar playing mentality to succeed which can be difficult.

BUT with the drums it is totally different. While some may have their actual drum kits set up differently the fundamentals are exactly the same and experience is WAY more beneficial than it is a hindrance. My only struggle is the preciseness required in the game. Most drummers are not walking metronomes and this game forces you into very strict timing. This is actually another very positive aspect as it provides less experienced drummers with a click track type experience. Drumming to a click track is a totally different beast but is usually a must for any type of studio work. Playing drums in Rock Band is not much different of an experience as once I get the patterns down it just becomes a battle of me trying to keep the precise pace vs. playing a groove my way or speed (this will make more sense to drummers…sorry).

The only aspect as I see thus far as a major challenge (aside from learning the patterns and precise timing which can be overcome) is the kick drum and some of the very fast double hits that are required in some of the later songs on Expert. I just don’t see how anyone, even experienced drummers or people that become very comfortable with the game can hit these accurately with the hardware limitations. There is no bounce with the kick pedal to make those quick hits like that so I am at a loss there.

Oh…and I already broke my first kick drum pedal. It just snapped right in two while playing. Not a good sign but I think it may have been due to me playing it for a bit on a semi-uneven surface with it half on my rug and half on the floor.

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:00 pm

I am really having fun with this game but with no musical background at all, the drums on medium are presenting a real challenge, which i like. It feels so good when you get on a role. Unfortunately there are those times as well when i feel like a monkey trying to hump a football. Those times are not quite as enjoyable.

slyguy · Post by **slyguy** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:15 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:I am really having fun with this game but with no musical background at all, the drums on medium are presenting a real challenge, which i like. It feels so good when you get on a role. Unfortunately there are those times as well when i feel like a monkey trying to hump a football. Those times are not quite as enjoyable.

I know how you feel Rally. I am in the same boat, but some songs i can play really well on medium level(may even try hard

) But on the other hand my oldest son plays them like a champ. Well it helps that he has been playing the drums for his Middle and High School band

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:09 pm

Reliability of these RB instruments seems to be horrendous. I'm seeing a lot of posts on various forums about drum petals breaking, guitars no longer strumming, drums no longer picking up the beat, etc.

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:46 pm

webdanzer wrote:Reliability of these RB instruments seems to be horrendous. I'm seeing a lot of posts on various forums about drum petals breaking, guitars no longer strumming, drums no longer picking up the beat, etc.

Yep, which is why I'm glad I got the 2-year replacement plan from Best Buy. I'm sure I'll be using it...

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:08 pm

webdanzer wrote:I'm seeing a lot of posts on various forums about drum petals breaking

Freudian slip or a subconcious dig at the hardware issue?

Leadfoot5 wrote:Yep, which is why I'm glad I got the 2-year replacement plan from Best Buy. I'm sure I'll be using it...

With your nick, that's probably good advice...

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:48 pm

This looks like the best bet yet to quiet down the Rock Band drums... I might have to try this out...

http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/ ... crafts.php

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:57 pm

Leadfoot5 wrote:This looks like the best bet yet to quiet down the Rock Band drums... I might have to try this out...

http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/ ... crafts.php

What a great find!

Thanks!!

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:46 pm

Thanks...

I did this mod to the kit last night and it works GREAT!!

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:54 pm

Leadfoot5 wrote:This looks like the best bet yet to quiet down the Rock Band drums... I might have to try this out...

http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/ ... crafts.php

If you need to turn up the game to hear it over your drumming, why not just wear headphones?

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:05 pm

Question for you guys with the game.....

I would just be playing this solo, so I have been aprehensiive since it seems to be designed as a party or game to play with others, BUT... I have always wanted to play real drums, but the noise wouldn't sit well with my wife or neighbors, so I thought this might be the next best thing.
Question is....is the drumming in this game close enough to real drumming to be satisfying or does it feel more like a "toy"? I am more that happy getting my guitar kicks from my real guitar and from GH2 & 3, but am really tempted to get this game JUST for solo play with the drums. Am I nuts or is this a good idea? The kiosks at Best Buy don't allow you to sit down for the drums, so it's hard to really test them out.

Question #2...Can I buy just the game and just the drums? thanks.

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:07 pm

JackB1 wrote:
Leadfoot5 wrote:This looks like the best bet yet to quiet down the Rock Band drums... I might have to try this out...

http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/ ... crafts.php
If you need to turn up the game to hear it over your drumming, why not just wear headphones?

Because then I wouldn't be able to hear my friends/family. Besides, the loud sound of the drum kit to others in the house is the real issue.

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:10 pm

JackB1 wrote:Question for you guys with the game.....

Question is....is the drumming in this game close enough to real drumming to be satisfying or does it feel more like a "toy"? I am more that happy getting my guitar kicks from my real guitar and from GH2 & 3, but am really tempted to get this game JUST for solo play with the drums. Am I nuts or is this a good idea? The kiosks at Best Buy don't allow you to sit down for the drums, so it's hard to really test them out.

Question #2...Can I buy just the game and just the drums? thanks.

Yes, the drumming is very satisfying, and on the Hard and Expert levels you are playing rhythms/patterns that are almost identical to what a real drummer would be playing if he were sitting in front of a digital kit.

I know that you can buy just the game, but I'm not sure that the drums are available as a seperate purchase yet, though I'm sure they will be in the future.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:44 pm

Leadfoot5 wrote:
JackB1 wrote:Question for you guys with the game.....

Question is....is the drumming in this game close enough to real drumming to be satisfying or does it feel more like a "toy"? I am more that happy getting my guitar kicks from my real guitar and from GH2 & 3, but am really tempted to get this game JUST for solo play with the drums. Am I nuts or is this a good idea? The kiosks at Best Buy don't allow you to sit down for the drums, so it's hard to really test them out.

Question #2...Can I buy just the game and just the drums? thanks.
Yes, the drumming is very satisfying, and on the Hard and Expert levels you are playing rhythms/patterns that are almost identical to what a real drummer would be playing if he were sitting in front of a digital kit.

I know that you can buy just the game, but I'm not sure that the drums are available as a seperate purchase yet, though I'm sure they will be in the future.

I just saw them on Amazon for $80 - available I think in Jan. So the game + drums only would be around $140. What does the full package cost?

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:52 pm

Full pack is $170. Worth the extra $30 IMO to get a guitar and microphone.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:27 pm

They should redesign the drums using exactly what the guy uses in the video.

I would bet at some point, some 3rd party company will come out with those pads you install yourself.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:45 pm

Great, great, great game BUT...

Is anyone else having hardware issues?

I have already had one kick drum pedal break (just completely snapped in two) and now have come to realize that I have an issue with my "red" drum not registering fast rolls or hits so getting multipliers in harder songs is out. This issue is well documented on the Rock Band Forums (which have been quite informative) and there is even a YouTube video demo’ing the exact issue. It appears that both the kick pedal breaking and red drum issue are quite common.

I already contacted EA Cust Service and got a replacement kit that is just as bad as my current one so I am sending them back. While my drums are still very functional overall, this is an annoyance but not a show stopper.

The biggest issue seems to be with the guitars strum bar. Haven’t had that one break yet but it appears to be only a matter of time.

Yuck!

Oh...and where the hell is my full Who’s Next album (best rock album of all time BTW) download that they promised at launch!?!?!?!

spooky157 · Post by **spooky157** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:02 pm

Spooky wrote: The biggest issue seems to be with the guitars strum bar. Haven’t had that one break yet but it appears to be only a matter of time.

Seems like EA is aware of the strum bar issues.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/ea-re ... d-guitars/

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:37 pm

I'll probably jinx myself, but I have had no issues with either the strum bar or the drums. My son, who's a drummer, is pretty hard on the drums too. It looks like EA/Harmonix is making it very easy to RMA your broken gear for new gear, so that's good.

Also, I got the 2-year warranty from Best Buy, so if I encounter a problem, I can also go that route (assuming that the bundles are in stock at the time).

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:42 pm

I wonder if some of these issues will be corrected when the game gets released in Canada.

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:23 am

I thought for Canada all they were doing was updating packaging/manuals to include french.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:34 pm

Have any of you DSP regulars played this online yet with each other?
I haven't seen any "Rock Band/Poker Night" threads and was wondering, why the heck not? Does the game not play as well online as offline?
Also, what's the deal with not hearing the vocals online? How does that work? Is there a replay where everyone can just sitback and watch/listen to what they just created?

I am still on the fence about getting this, just because I would be playing mostly solo, unless the wife wants to try some vocals???

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:54 pm

JackB1 wrote:Have any of you DSP regulars played this online yet with each other?
I haven't seen any "Rock Band/Poker Night" threads and was wondering, why the heck not? Does the game not play as well online as offline?
Also, what's the deal with not hearing the vocals online? How does that work? Is there a replay where everyone can just sitback and watch/listen to what they just created?

I am still on the fence about getting this, just because I would be playing mostly solo, unless the wife wants to try some vocals???

The game shines online with other humans for sure! It really just shines with any type of multiple players whether online or in person.

The only issue with online is that you don't hear the real singers vocals, just the original song vocal track which takes away from the full band feeling IMO. But it is great fun to get 4 players and go to town with everyone just chugging along at their own pace/difficulty.

The other mulitplayer modes are funs as well like tug-o-war and score dual. Although those are new as they have the same type of modes in GH3. But to be able to battle with the drums is a whole new experience.

Most people are probably just playing with people in their own house instead of online because it is such an incredible party game.