Rock Band Thread (DLC Priced, Cheaper than GHIII)

[carlcarlson]

I haven't actually gotten that far in the guitar solo mode, because when i play I always play drums. When I play with friends we rotate, though, so I end up on guitar eventually. I agree with you, nothing about the guitar feels responsive. The buttons are mushy and my strum bar is loose. The whole thing feels cheap. I dont' understand how they went from making great Guitar Hero guitars to this garbage. I guess they were so focused on making it LOOK cool that they forgot about functionality. I mean the freaking whammy bar is directly over the "select" button, so it's not uncommon for me to whammy myself right into star power. At least there is a tone switch...

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While I understand that Rock Band is a different game than Gutar Hero ... my main frustration with Rock Band lies in the dis-similarity of the "note" movement/structures between the games.

Guitar Hero 1-3 can get pretty complex and challenging, even on 4-button "normal" mode, whereas Rock Band is FAR TOO EASY on normal. So much so that I blew through every song with nothing less than 5 stars on every single one.

I've never made the step up to 5-button "hard" in any of the 3 Guitar Hero games ... so, attempting to do so now in Rock Band JUST FOR THE SAKE OF playing at a near-challenging difficulty is very frustrating. My brain just can't process that 5th key correctly ... especially with the extra length of the fret keys on the Rock Band guitar.

Anybody esle think "Normal" is WAY too easy on Rock Band?

(Also, I still have no issues with any of my Rock Band hardware. 100% functional since day one.)

[geneshifter]

Anybody esle think "Normal" is WAY too easy on Rock Band?

Oh yes. I went through the songs on Hard no sweat and even Expert isn't too bad for most songs. I think it's easier but I like it better than GH since most songs are the real deal. After playing this, I want the real songs - no more covers.

[norkusa]

I guess they were so focused on making it LOOK cool that they forgot about functionality. I mean the freaking whammy bar is directly over the "select" button, so it's not uncommon for me to whammy myself right into star power. At least there is a tone switch...

Yeah, I can't stand the whammy bar placement either. I'm a lefty too, so the only way I can position it so it's NOT in the way of the strum bar is if I point it down towards the floor. But in that position, it's such a hassle to use that I don't even touch it unless I'm hitting REALLY long energy notes.

I actually like the feel of the Rock Band guitar though. It's bigger than the GH guitars and feels more like a real one instead of a toy. It took me a while to get used to the strum bar but now I like it more than the GH one. I just wish they would have done something to make those fret buttons more responsive.

Also, does ANYONE use the high notes for solos? They just seem like a totally pointless feature that should have been left out.

[TurboGenesis]

(Also, I still have no issues with any of my Rock Band hardware. 100% functional since day one.)

We are the lucky ones! I am with out issue --- so far (knock on the wood desk).

[carlcarlson]

Also, does ANYONE use the high notes for solos? They just seem like a totally pointless feature that should have been left out.


I use them for the free-for-all at the end of some songs, cause I can get more points that way. Other than that I never use them. I tried using them in practice mode over and over to get used to them, but I never did, and did much worse than if I used the normal buttons. They are helpful for some parts, but in the end I get lost because they are too small, and it's too hard to transfer up that high on the neck without looking.

[spoon]

I also only use the high notes for the free for all section. Easiest way to rack up a ton of points. I find them pointless for the solos and have a hard time remembering when to get ready to use them for solos.

[MoreEbolaForYou]

I switch between the Guitar Hero one and the Rockband one all the time and while I feel I can do a little better with the Guitar Hero one, the Rockband one aint so bad. I tried to use the solo buttons in my quest in finishing Green Grass and High Tides on expert, but they didn't really help. It seems strumming helps me keep time so the "solos with no strumming" feature is pretty much useless to me. I've made it to 95% on that stupid song at least 5 times. What a pain. If it was only 4 minutes long, whatever, but jesus, having to play 6.5 minutes of a 7 minute song over and over just to fail right at the end each time. A kick to the balls for sure.

So I guess for you complainers that the game is "too easy" try out that last tier on expert and get back to me. Some of the DLC is also pretty tough.

[unwinddesign]

For the people saying that they're lucky for getting working guitars, not so fast:

1) EA gave me a free 360 game of my choosing because my guitar was busted
2) They 2-day shipped me a new guitar
3) Your guitar will probably break after that offer ends.

Anyhow, I thought it was pretty cool of them to give me a free game; still kind of dumb that it broke after four hours. Whatever; I have multiple Guitar Hero controllers available anyway, which are better (although I don't like the clicking noise).

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Oh yes. I went through the songs on Hard no sweat and even Expert isn't too bad for most songs. I think it's easier but I like it better than GH since most songs are the real deal. After playing this, I want the real songs - no more covers.

Guitar Hero III has almost all master recordings (more masters than covers), and alternately, there are more than a few tracks both main game and downloadable in Rock Band that are covers...

...so, while the complaint is valid for the early Guitar Hero games, it looks like master tracks will be the way they go forward with both games whenever they can.

[meancode]

Guitar Hero III has almost all master recordings (more masters than covers), and alternately, there are more than a few tracks both main game and downloadable in Rock Band that are covers...

...so, while the complaint is valid for the early Guitar Hero games, it looks like master tracks will be the way they go forward with both games whenever they can.

The only reason GH3 has more master recordings is because it has more indie songs. If you count the master tracks for the MAIN setlists, they are pretty close. Rock Band has two more or maybe three. Not much of a difference.

[dave2236]

For the people saying that they're lucky for getting working guitars, not so fast:

1) EA gave me a free 360 game of my choosing because my guitar was busted
2) They 2-day shipped me a new guitar
3) Your guitar will probably break after that offer ends.

Anyhow, I thought it was pretty cool of them to give me a free game; still kind of dumb that it broke after four hours. Whatever; I have multiple Guitar Hero controllers available anyway, which are better (although I don't like the clicking noise).

how do you get a free game? my drums broke and they didn't send me anything and it took 9 days to get a replacement set and I used the 2 day shipped option also.

I never bitch about stuff, but when I , pre-order it on their website and spend $170 , it had better work.

on a related note, Ricardo I sent out a box of 100 empty genesis cases, you should have them next week sometime.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[carlcarlson]

how do you get a free game? my drums broke and they didn't send me anything and it took 9 days to get a replacement set and I used the 2 day shipped option also.


From what I gather, the people getting the free game are people that reported a broken piece of hardware on day 1. So basically if your hardware was broken right out of the box, or broke within hours, you got a free game.

And I feel you on the shipping thing. I reported my drum pedal on Saturday, got the 2-day express option (along with the $120 hold thank you very much), and all it says is "billing information received". Thank you, that's very helpful.

[walrusmonger]

I reported my broken guitar a few days after the game came out, and they took 2 weeks just to ship out my replacement to me. 14 business days it took to get it.

This is why they sent me the free game. I imagine it applies to those people that were in the guitar queue for so long.

So it's not a "replace my equipment get free game with replacment." Also- the free game will be sent before the end of January, we have a whole lot of waiting to do

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The only reason GH3 has more master recordings is because it has more indie songs. If you count the master tracks for the MAIN setlists, they are pretty close. Rock Band has two more or maybe three. Not much of a difference.

"Indie" songs? Ummmmmmmm .... you're joking right?

Can you please point out the "indie" rock bands on the main track listing(s) for Guitar Hero III and/or Rock Band?

Every band on Guitar Hero III and Rock Band's respective main track lists are signed with major labels...so I'm not sure what you're eluding to.

[Joker T]

I think I'll be getting this game soon, looks really fun.

How is the HDTV calibrator with the game?

[carlcarlson]

How is the HDTV calibrator with the game?

It took my friends and I about 10 tries to get it on a DLP set, and even after that the cowbell/tamborine wouldn't line up for some reason. The game comes with preset offsets for each type of setup, but it was way off for our TV. We tried doing the semi-manual setting after that, which got us closer, but still no dice. Finally we found the fully manual setting and got it pretty close. It was kind of confusing for us, but maybe that was our fault...

[norkusa]

The game comes with preset offsets for each type of setup, but it was way off for our TV. We tried doing the semi-manual setting after that, which got us closer, but still no dice.

Yeah, those lag calibration presets were my biggest "WTF?" moment with Rock Band. All HDTV's have different response times, so it doesn't make sense that they'd include universal lag presets.

I used the presets at first too. Felt fine in the beginning but when I started playing Hard songs, I could tell something was off. Then I did manual calibration and it played a lot smoother after that.

[Oobgarm]

Finally get around to playing the game proper, and my strum stops working after 4 songs.

I continued on with my GH3 guitar and had a blast, but I'm kinda disappointed about the poor manufacturing of the RB guitar.

[rbudrick]

I there any news at all about a Wii version yet other than the CEO of whatchamacallit saying he absolutely wants to do it for all systems?

-Rob

[FlufflePuff]

My guitar broke after 2 songs. Strum bar stopped working on downward strokes (and I was being extra careful with it too). Called into EA and they said they couldn't even process the swap until the 3rd and I would have to call back. Pretty aggravating. Also, why in the heck do they think their guitar is worth $125???

[meancode]

My guitar broke after 2 songs. Strum bar stopped working on downward strokes (and I was being extra careful with it too). Called into EA and they said they couldn't even process the swap until the 3rd and I would have to call back. Pretty aggravating. Also, why in the heck do they think their guitar is worth $125???

The 3rd is tomorrow. That is pretty aggravating? You have to wait an entire day. EA is doing a bang up job with the replacements on these things, I would cut them some slack. One day to process doesn't seam out of the question considering how much of this hardware is breaking.

As for the $125, just return your broken one and you won't get charged. I am sure they put the cost for not returning high so that people WOULD return the broken ones.

[carlcarlson]

The 3rd is tomorrow. That is pretty aggravating? You have to wait an entire day. EA is doing a bang up job with the replacements on these things, I would cut them some slack. One day to process doesn't seam out of the question considering how much of this hardware is breaking.

As for the $125, just return your broken one and you won't get charged. I am sure they put the cost for not returning high so that people WOULD return the broken ones.

I'd say it's aggravating if I just spent $170 on a game and then had it break after playing two songs. Also, chances are he was on hold for awhile before being told to call back tomorrow. I wouldn't be happy either.

I'm going to have to disagree that EA is doing a "bang up job" with these replacements. It took over two weeks for me to get my replacement drum pedal, even though I "paid" for the 2 day express shipping. And the fact that everyone is having these hardware problems in the first place is enough to be pretty pissed at EA in my opinion.

[sisko]

I can't tell if my guitar is busted or not.

When I tap the down strum, sometimes it registers as two strums. One for the hit, and one for the release.

Is the guitar normally hypersensitive like this, or is mine just messed up like everyone else's?

I don't remember if it always did this, but I also know that I play it very little because of this.

[Nirvana]

Well, I sent my guitar in to get it replaced. I've been using the X-Plorer Guitar from Guitar Hero II and it's been working excellent for me. I'm considering just using this one.

Anyway, what do you guys think of the DLC? Buddy Holly is so damn fun. I'm glad Limelight was available to download, even though it isn't the real version.

I'm not gonna lie; I have fun playing Dirty Little Secret. o_O

[Oobgarm]

Dunno how we missed this, but after seeing display boxes in the store, I had to look it up myself.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/13/rock-band-stage-kit-with-lights-smoke-leaked-by-gamestop/

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I can't tell if my guitar is busted or not.

When I tap the down strum, sometimes it registers as two strums. One for the hit, and one for the release.

Is the guitar normally hypersensitive like this, or is mine just messed up like everyone else's?

I don't remember if it always did this, but I also know that I play it very little because of this.

It's broken.

There are two major symptoms of a broken guitar - no strum and double/multi strum on a single strum.

Go to RockBand.com and set yourself up for a replacement, EA/Harmonix has made it a totally painless process.

[carlcarlson]

are they still doing free replacements? the 60 days are up for the original batch, and I thought they said those were the only faulty ones.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

are they still doing free replacements? the 60 days are up for the original batch, and I thought they said those were the only faulty ones.

Still doing.

They're continuing to make every effort to prevent people bringing their hardware back to retailers, who in turn will exchange out another "Bundle" causing for one less bundle sale.

https://ea.riverstarsoftware.com/ea_inventory/rockband.php

They don't ask for proof of purchase, receipt ... nothing. Just fill out the form and get your new hardware sent to you (with a temp hold on a credit card) or have them send you an empty box with a return mailer UPS label and wait out the return time.

Either way, my experience with the process, and other people's seem to have been ... pretty painless.

[Oobgarm]

Sending off for guitar #2 now. The replacement from EA sounds like there's busted plastic on the inside, and the srum is even more mushy now than before.

[MoreEbolaForYou]

I'm on my third guitar and also my third drum set. I'll concur that the replacement process is easy. No problems with it yet.

[NE146]

Nothing wrong with my launch gear yet albeit I don't think they've been played enough to really fully check their durability (drums hardly played.. and I use a GH guitar for the songs). One thing I notice on my guitar for example is the strum bar feels really flimsy.....

So, in light of the failure rates, I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and trade em in for the newer models? Are the newer guitars more durable than the launch one I have? Think I should send it in? I'm just afraid it's going to break sometime down the road when someone actually plays on the thing.

[carlcarlson]

You'll have to break it before you can get it replaced. Personally I have been playing my guitar a little harder than normal in hopes that it will fail so I can get a replacement. Unfortunately, it seems the replacements are no better than the originals.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I'd reccomend playing either Run to the Hills on BASS, Number of the Beast on Guitar, or Highway Star on Guitar if you want your strum bar to break ... those provide the most strum-abusive note lines.

[Oobgarm]

Rock Band outsells Guitar Hero III for the month of January on the Xbox 360:

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/rock-band-outsells-guitar-hero-iii-on-xbox-360-in-january/

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

This weeks tracks are reported as :

Weezer - "El Scorcho"
Stone Temple Pilots - "Sex Type Thing"
Garbage - "Why Do You Love Me"

pardon me while I do a little "dance of excitement" for EL SCORCHO!

http://www.ilovehou.com/twonicknames/gifsite/july02/happydance.gif

I honestly didn't think we'd ever see any Rock Band releases from Weezer's fan-favorite but Weezer-front-man-Rivers-Cuomo-disowned-album "Pinkerton", much less one of the best cuts off of it!!

I'm SO freakin' excited to rock out with another great Weezer track ... and if Rock Band is set up at Nava I'll totally buy a Microsoft Points Card to add some tracks (including that one) to the Digital Press XBL account!!