Just so I'm clear, they don't have wired versions of the new instruments right? I don't really have a need for wireless instruments and would rather not pay for batteries.
This, exactly. I've found that I pretty much have no need for wireless controllers, as all they do is eat up batteries which costs way too much. Even with a battery charger it's just not worth it for me.
Which is why I really wished a new 360 didn't come with a wireless controller. Oh well.
Wireless 360 controllers are easily charged with a docking station or with a cord, which can be done during the times you aren't playing or (in the case of the cord) while you are playing.
I can understand how replacing normal batteries would get annoying though. I need to invest in some rechargeable ones because I swear my Wii remotes turn themselves on all the time or something because they die so fast in them.
The annoying thing about this though is that the 360 RB2 instruments won't take the Microsoft battery packs. You have to buy individuals.
Willeth on
@vgreminders - Don't miss out on timed events in gaming! @gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
So it finally happened... The rigged for reinforcement, nearly broken, launch pedal finally snapped last night when my wife was playing. Then today I see that the new instruments may not be available till next week?!?
Damn my laziness and procrastination on getting a new pedal thinking that we'd have a new kit when RB2 came and there was no rush. Our RB2 party starting on 12:30am Sunday is in serious jeopardy now.
New instruments for the 360 that are NOT in a bundle are available on the 14th at the latest. There are reports of places selling the new ones a couple of days early.
What brand is that? I can't tell from the picture. Welcome to the world of high definition. It's only going to get better (unless you have a Wii in which case it's going nowhere).
It's Olevia or however it's spelled. The other brands were like $50-100 more despite being smaller.
So it finally happened... The rigged for reinforcement, nearly broken, launch pedal finally snapped last night when my wife was playing. Then today I see that the new instruments may not be available till next week?!?
Damn my laziness and procrastination on getting a new pedal thinking that we'd have a new kit when RB2 came and there was no rush. Our RB2 party starting on 12:30am Sunday is in serious jeopardy now.
It's fibreboard and glue time.
Willeth on
@vgreminders - Don't miss out on timed events in gaming! @gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
So it finally happened... The rigged for reinforcement, nearly broken, launch pedal finally snapped last night when my wife was playing. Then today I see that the new instruments may not be available till next week?!?
Damn my laziness and procrastination on getting a new pedal thinking that we'd have a new kit when RB2 came and there was no rush. Our RB2 party starting on 12:30am Sunday is in serious jeopardy now.
Psh. I've been playing on a frankenstein pedal for months now. It is broken into no fewer than three pieces, and held together with tape, superglue, aluminum and sinew. Ok, maybe I didn't use sinew. But still, you can probably cobble something together for your party if you can't get a new one.
Also, instruments...what's the deal now? Someone posted a couple pages ago about HMX officially confirming dates, game on the 14th and instruments supposed to start shipping 'next week'. I realize we're seeing some show up in stores, so are they just being ambiguous with the instrument date to make sure that everywhere has them by the date they give? I'm really hoping to get my new strat at least same day as rb2, possibly even earlier.
So it finally happened... The rigged for reinforcement, nearly broken, launch pedal finally snapped last night when my wife was playing. Then today I see that the new instruments may not be available till next week?!?
Damn my laziness and procrastination on getting a new pedal thinking that we'd have a new kit when RB2 came and there was no rush. Our RB2 party starting on 12:30am Sunday is in serious jeopardy now.
Psh. I've been playing on a frankenstein pedal for months now. It is broken into no fewer than three pieces, and held together with tape, superglue, aluminum and sinew. Ok, maybe I didn't use sinew. But still, you can probably cobble something together for your party if you can't get a new one.
Yeah basically it's been held together with an oversized (compared to the pedal) piece of fiberboard that was taped to it with a combination of gaffers tape and metal slide tape for the past month or so when I noticed it was cracked about half way through. Tried re-taping the board to it last night in a slightly different position which lasted for a few more songs before it worked its way apart again.
Basically it's a low break, near the hinge, maybe an inch or 2 from the hinge. So it's easy to get the board attached to the top part of the pedal, but there is so little to work with on the bottom part that it keeps working its way out of the tape.
Anyone with a similar break have suggestions short of anything that would keep me from being able to send the pedal back incase EA/Harmonix ask for it since I plan on filling out the form for the RMA shortly?
This game is really REALLY good.
I played by myself last night for five hours. The Solo World Tour is incredibly fun. Challenges are cool too.
I made this logo for my band, Lemmingjuice: http://twinkle.tapulous.com/index.php?id=1717909
My breaks are right down at the hinge too. What I do is tape it longways against the support (plate, board, whatever). So that you have a strip of duct/electrical tape going over the heel of the pedal and then wrapping towards the toe on the top and bottom.
So it finally happened... The rigged for reinforcement, nearly broken, launch pedal finally snapped last night when my wife was playing. Then today I see that the new instruments may not be available till next week?!?
Damn my laziness and procrastination on getting a new pedal thinking that we'd have a new kit when RB2 came and there was no rush. Our RB2 party starting on 12:30am Sunday is in serious jeopardy now.
Psh. I've been playing on a frankenstein pedal for months now. It is broken into no fewer than three pieces, and held together with tape, superglue, aluminum and sinew. Ok, maybe I didn't use sinew. But still, you can probably cobble something together for your party if you can't get a new one.
Yeah basically it's been held together with an oversized (compared to the pedal) piece of fiberboard that was taped to it with a combination of gaffers tape and metal slide tape for the past month or so when I noticed it was cracked about half way through. Tried re-taping the board to it last night in a slightly different position which lasted for a few more songs before it worked its way apart again.
Basically it's a low break, near the hinge, maybe an inch or 2 from the hinge. So it's easy to get the board attached to the top part of the pedal, but there is so little to work with on the bottom part that it keeps working its way out of the tape.
Anyone with a similar break have suggestions short of anything that would keep me from being able to send the pedal back incase EA/Harmonix ask for it since I plan on filling out the form for the RMA shortly?
Worst case if you can't get it to hold together and the new instruments aren't available Sunday, Best Buy sells an accessory kit for like $20 that has the supposedly sound dampening pads and a new pedal. I think it's called the Rock Band Hit Kit or some such thing. It's just a thought if you really want to have a functional drum set for Sunday and don't have any other options.
I had a goddamn dream last night that I had found a Best Buy with a completely clueless employee who sold me the game and the drumset so long as I bought the replacement plan on the disc. I woke up almost in tears.
Battery gets me pumped. Listening to the opening segment and then getting to the part with the heavy riff makes me want to run out and punch someone in the face, and I'm a pretty calm guy. Every time I listen to Master of Puppets I can never skip past this one (it's the first track). I <3<3 that whole album so bad. But listening to it and playing it are two very different things ... beating Expert drums is going to be significantly harder than in RB1. I think I can do Battery just because I know the song so well, but I think the other final tier drum songs (Panic Attack, Painkiller) are going to take me a looooooong time.
Also, instruments...what's the deal now? Someone posted a couple pages ago about HMX officially confirming dates, game on the 14th and instruments supposed to start shipping 'next week'. I realize we're seeing some show up in stores, so are they just being ambiguous with the instrument date to make sure that everywhere has them by the date they give? I'm really hoping to get my new strat at least same day as rb2, possibly even earlier.
My GameStop is selling both the game and the standalone instruments starting on Sunday...which is next week...technically. I'd check with your retailer but I've only gotten mixed vibes from Best Buy and Circuit City so far.
My breaks are right down at the hinge too. What I do is tape it longways against the support (plate, board, whatever). So that you have a strip of duct/electrical tape going over the heel of the pedal and then wrapping towards the toe on the top and bottom.
Hmmm, so simple, just have to get the tape through the tiny gap between the pedal and the base, but it shouldn't be too much trouble. Dunno why I hadn't thought of that. I've give it a shot tonight after work. Thanks!
My breaks are right down at the hinge too. What I do is tape it longways against the support (plate, board, whatever). So that you have a strip of duct/electrical tape going over the heel of the pedal and then wrapping towards the toe on the top and bottom.
Hmmm, so simple, just have to get the tape through the tiny gap between the pedal and the base, but it shouldn't be too much trouble. Dunno why I hadn't thought of that. I've give it a shot tonight after work.
I usually knocked the pin out (you can use an icepick or nail), took the pedal off, taped it together, and then reattached it to the rest of the assembly.
Oh hey, so since some people might actually be getting the new drum kit today (I think some GameStops said they would have it, though they're likely lying): If someone scores the kit, can you detail how the expansion port for the second bass pedal works? I'm curious if I can just plug the kicker from my RB1 set in and get an automatic double-pedal setup.
EDIT: Also, lovingly stolen from CAG because I love you all. If you buy your stuff from Best Buy next week, there's currently an e-mail coupon circulating to get $10 off a $75 purchase that can be found here. If you can't print it, just screengrab/print screen and print it out that way. Also of note is the fact that bestbuy.com has the new drum kit at $80, not the $90 I've seen other places. I'm going to call and double-check at my BB today to see if that's truly the case, but jjust a heads up.
Worst case if you can't get it to hold together and the new instruments aren't available Sunday, Best Buy sells an accessory kit for like $20 that has the supposedly sound dampening pads and a new pedal. I think it's called the Rock Band Hit Kit or some such thing. It's just a thought if you really want to have a functional drum set for Sunday and don't have any other options.
I've seen the silencer kit (or whatever the dampening pads are called) there, but not one including a pedal or even just a separate pedal anywhere. If we can't work out a way to rig the broken pedal and the new drum kit isn't available on release we may be scouring the town for that Hit Kit if it exists. Truely worst case senario is Hobo (my wife) ends up with a magnet taped to her foot and taps on the pedal base. :P
Oh hey, so since some people might actually be getting the new drum kit today (I think some GameStops said they would have it, though they're likely lying): If someone scores the kit, can you detail how the expansion port for the second bass pedal works? I'm curious if I can just plug the kicker from my RB1 set in and get an automatic double-pedal setup.
I don't want you to get your hopes up Lunker; IIRC the double bass thing is supposed to be, or just plain rumoured to be, a future expansion (like the cymbals). All the pictures show only one orange port on the kit itself so unless there is a splitter in the box, I think we're stuck with one bass pedal for now.
People are hoping for hi-hat abilities with this, too, but I really don't see this happening until RB3.
Awwwwww yeah! My Ion Kit shipped today. My balls are officially "to the wall".
This is the best music week ever. We have our Harvest Jazz and Blues festival here this week until Saturday (seeing Derek Trucks tonight, Buddy Guy tomorrow, Bloc Party on Saturday) and then RB 2 on Sunday. Life is gooood.
Oh hey, so since some people might actually be getting the new drum kit today (I think some GameStops said they would have it, though they're likely lying): If someone scores the kit, can you detail how the expansion port for the second bass pedal works? I'm curious if I can just plug the kicker from my RB1 set in and get an automatic double-pedal setup.
I don't want you to get your hopes up Lunker; IIRC the double bass thing is supposed to be, or just plain rumoured to be, a future expansion (like the cymbals). All the pictures show only one orange port on the kit itself so unless there is a splitter in the box, I think we're stuck with one bass pedal for now.
People are hoping for hi-hat abilities with this, too, but I really don't see this happening until RB3.
Going by this pic I'd say there is a possible port for one.
Top to bottom: 1st Kick (orange hole), possible 2nd kick (black hole), cymbal addons (green, blue, yellow).
Oh hey, so since some people might actually be getting the new drum kit today (I think some GameStops said they would have it, though they're likely lying): If someone scores the kit, can you detail how the expansion port for the second bass pedal works? I'm curious if I can just plug the kicker from my RB1 set in and get an automatic double-pedal setup.
I don't want you to get your hopes up Lunker; IIRC the double bass thing is supposed to be, or just plain rumoured to be, a future expansion (like the cymbals). All the pictures show only one orange port on the kit itself so unless there is a splitter in the box, I think we're stuck with one bass pedal for now.
People are hoping for hi-hat abilities with this, too, but I really don't see this happening until RB3.
Going by this pic I'd say there is a possible port for one.
Top to bottom: 1st Kick (orange hole), possible 2nd kick (black hole), cymbal addons (green, blue, yellow).
Hmmm. Thanks for tempering my hopes; I remain cautiously optimistic. I don't even know if a double-bass setup will be comfortable to play, but I'm thinking it would make the later metal songs (especially Disturbed) actually fun to play again.
I honestly don't know about the open/closed hi-hat setup; I think HMX has painted itself into a corner due to how it charted certain earlier songs by making Yellow the closed hat and Blue the open one. Unless there's a massive recharting endeavor for the 500+ songs promised to hit by this holiday season, I think the hi-hat pedal is going to be out of reach.
Oh hey, so since some people might actually be getting the new drum kit today (I think some GameStops said they would have it, though they're likely lying): If someone scores the kit, can you detail how the expansion port for the second bass pedal works? I'm curious if I can just plug the kicker from my RB1 set in and get an automatic double-pedal setup.
I don't want you to get your hopes up Lunker; IIRC the double bass thing is supposed to be, or just plain rumoured to be, a future expansion (like the cymbals). All the pictures show only one orange port on the kit itself so unless there is a splitter in the box, I think we're stuck with one bass pedal for now.
People are hoping for hi-hat abilities with this, too, but I really don't see this happening until RB3.
Going by this pic I'd say there is a possible port for one.
Top to bottom: 1st Kick (orange hole), possible 2nd kick (black hole), cymbal addons (green, blue, yellow).
Oh wow, how did I not see that. o_O
I'll maintain my Spartan reserve, but I just had a happy moment. That black hole holds so many answers and so much potential for happiness.
I put down my pre-order for the new strat. I never really liked the old one. Something always felt "off" about it but I read that they were fixing some of the issues. I've been using my GH3 Les Paul pretty much exclusively since RB 1 came out. I've had to do the fixes (duct tape the hell out of the neck) to keep it from missing frets, but I've been happy with it, outside the fact that with the raised frets its harder to slide for my hand and I lose my streaks if I use the whammy bar sometimes. The strat made it easier to slide but my big issue was that Overdrive activated anytime I reached enough points even just have it.
My question is, should I go ahead and get the new strat? My biggsest complaint with the first one was the strum bar, it just didn't feel right. I played the new GH guitar at PAX and it WORKED, but it double strummed a couple times screwing up my streak. I didn't get the chance to try out the new RB strat though.
So any suggestions from someones who got the chance to play with both or at least the new strat would appreciated.
I'm looking at right now on the dashboard in fact.
FyreWulff on
0
Doctor FinkBishounen ChewbaccaRegistered Userregular
edited September 2008
I'm sticking with my X-Plorer for the time being. I got a fresh Strat from RMA a couple weeks ago, I tested it and it was working peachy, but then I soon remembered why I got an X-Plorer in the first place (damn mushy strat bar).
Regarding batteries, I am so surprised everyone here does not have a good AA/AAA battery charger. You can get some great ones for around $30 (Powerex makes one that is very good for cheap). You want to read a review to be sure they won't damage the batteries if you leave the batteries in there.
Then online it isn't that hard to find some good deals on rechargable, high mA batteries that will last a real long time.
I have about 8 wireless controllers that use AAs (and 2 toothbrushes, flashlights, etc...), and a remote and about 6 RC vehicles that use AAAs, so I always have about 6 extra charged batteries of each type and just cycle through them. Since I bought the charger and the batteries about 4 years ago I have not paid a penny on batteries. These things last a LONG time when being cycled with other batteries and the upfront cost is not that much either.
A decent charger and a handful of extra rechargables is a MUST OWN for any gadget geek.
The guitar question is entirely preference, but after using the Strat for 15 minutes I knew I could never go back to the GH guitars. And I loved the Les Paul. But the teeny little whammy bar and the clicky, triangular-plastic strummer just infuriate me now. By the by, it was in the GH thread I think, but the GHWT guitar's strum bar is surprisingly similar to the RB Strat's, though there's still an audible click.
EDIT: After seeing the video, I know I need to make myself a Colbert. So awesome.
Anyway, tried my pit of hell K-Mart yesterday in case they broke street date. After 15 minutes I finally flagged down someone working there to check for me. She was reasonably clueless, yet kept saying "if it's supposed to be for sale, they'll have put it out here by now." Sadly enough, there was a big ugly locked cage full of boxes that probably had Rock Band 2 in it sitting in the middle of the electronic section. So I more than likely walked past it. Sigh.
Incidentally, when the person helping me opened up the game section to check, everything was out of order. Meaning the game in front that was visible could have five different random games behind it and you'd never know. What the hell?
I believe K-Mart and Sears merged, or one bought out the other, right? There's a handful of really backwater half-abandoned Sears stores by my house, which I occasionally ransack for really good gaming deals. Such a store is where I bought my $200 360 Core a year and a half ago. 8-) I haven't thought of going there to see if they have RB2 early, but it's so difficult finding someone who actually gives a shit in the store that it might not be worth the hassle.
K-Mart is just a shitty retailer. They are the absolute last stop I ever make if I'm looking for a game, or anything really. It's just a depressing experience. Parking in a quasi-wasteland of a parking lot with less than 1/3rd of it taken up, walking into a store where every thing just feels dirty and uncared for, the feeling that the entire store hasn't changed a bit since it was built in the 1970's or 80's, and just a general sense of haphazardness around the store including the video game section which is not only shoved back in a tiny cabinet in a corner of Electronics, but looks like they just crammed every game in there with little to no thought.
If anybody were to break the Rock Band 2 street date, it'd be them (or Sears, but kind of the same thing now). That's how sad they are.
Omeks on
Online Info (Click Spoiler for More): |Xbox Live Tag: Omeks |PSN Tag:Omeks_R7 |Rock Band:Profile|DLC Collection
If you want a second pedal, don't sweat it too much, worst case scenario, you just have to drop $25 on the twinrocker splitter that will allow two pedal to work even if you play foot-down:
Posts
METAL on PLASTIC instruments
I have 549 Rock Band Drum and 305 Pro Drum FC's
REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS
Rock Band Profile/Rock Band DLC
The annoying thing about this though is that the 360 RB2 instruments won't take the Microsoft battery packs. You have to buy individuals.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
Damn my laziness and procrastination on getting a new pedal thinking that we'd have a new kit when RB2 came and there was no rush. Our RB2 party starting on 12:30am Sunday is in serious jeopardy now.
Battle.net: IronSquirrel#1462
That free track is short and sweet.
It's Olevia or however it's spelled. The other brands were like $50-100 more despite being smaller.
It's fibreboard and glue time.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
That looks fun and quadricep destroying. :P
What now? Free song? Need more info.
Also, instruments...what's the deal now? Someone posted a couple pages ago about HMX officially confirming dates, game on the 14th and instruments supposed to start shipping 'next week'. I realize we're seeing some show up in stores, so are they just being ambiguous with the instrument date to make sure that everywhere has them by the date they give? I'm really hoping to get my new strat at least same day as rb2, possibly even earlier.
twit feed
Basically it's a low break, near the hinge, maybe an inch or 2 from the hinge. So it's easy to get the board attached to the top part of the pedal, but there is so little to work with on the bottom part that it keeps working its way out of the tape.
Anyone with a similar break have suggestions short of anything that would keep me from being able to send the pedal back incase EA/Harmonix ask for it since I plan on filling out the form for the RMA shortly?
Battle.net: IronSquirrel#1462
I played by myself last night for five hours. The Solo World Tour is incredibly fun. Challenges are cool too.
I made this logo for my band, Lemmingjuice:
http://twinkle.tapulous.com/index.php?id=1717909
Battery gets me pumped. Listening to the opening segment and then getting to the part with the heavy riff makes me want to run out and punch someone in the face, and I'm a pretty calm guy. Every time I listen to Master of Puppets I can never skip past this one (it's the first track). I
My GameStop is selling both the game and the standalone instruments starting on Sunday...which is next week...technically. I'd check with your retailer but I've only gotten mixed vibes from Best Buy and Circuit City so far.
Battle.net: IronSquirrel#1462
EDIT: Also, lovingly stolen from CAG because I love you all. If you buy your stuff from Best Buy next week, there's currently an e-mail coupon circulating to get $10 off a $75 purchase that can be found here. If you can't print it, just screengrab/print screen and print it out that way. Also of note is the fact that bestbuy.com has the new drum kit at $80, not the $90 I've seen other places. I'm going to call and double-check at my BB today to see if that's truly the case, but jjust a heads up.
Battle.net: IronSquirrel#1462
I don't want you to get your hopes up Lunker; IIRC the double bass thing is supposed to be, or just plain rumoured to be, a future expansion (like the cymbals). All the pictures show only one orange port on the kit itself so unless there is a splitter in the box, I think we're stuck with one bass pedal for now.
People are hoping for hi-hat abilities with this, too, but I really don't see this happening until RB3.
Rock Band Profile/Rock Band DLC
This is the best music week ever. We have our Harvest Jazz and Blues festival here this week until Saturday (seeing Derek Trucks tonight, Buddy Guy tomorrow, Bloc Party on Saturday) and then RB 2 on Sunday. Life is gooood.
Going by this pic I'd say there is a possible port for one.
Pic came from here: http://kotaku.com/5045854/a-close-look-at-the-rock-band-2-drums
Battle.net: IronSquirrel#1462
Hmmm. Thanks for tempering my hopes; I remain cautiously optimistic. I don't even know if a double-bass setup will be comfortable to play, but I'm thinking it would make the later metal songs (especially Disturbed) actually fun to play again.
I honestly don't know about the open/closed hi-hat setup; I think HMX has painted itself into a corner due to how it charted certain earlier songs by making Yellow the closed hat and Blue the open one. Unless there's a massive recharting endeavor for the 500+ songs promised to hit by this holiday season, I think the hi-hat pedal is going to be out of reach.
Oh wow, how did I not see that. o_O
I'll maintain my Spartan reserve, but I just had a happy moment. That black hole holds so many answers and so much potential for happiness.
Rock Band Profile/Rock Band DLC
I put down my pre-order for the new strat. I never really liked the old one. Something always felt "off" about it but I read that they were fixing some of the issues. I've been using my GH3 Les Paul pretty much exclusively since RB 1 came out. I've had to do the fixes (duct tape the hell out of the neck) to keep it from missing frets, but I've been happy with it, outside the fact that with the raised frets its harder to slide for my hand and I lose my streaks if I use the whammy bar sometimes. The strat made it easier to slide but my big issue was that Overdrive activated anytime I reached enough points even just have it.
My question is, should I go ahead and get the new strat? My biggsest complaint with the first one was the strum bar, it just didn't feel right. I played the new GH guitar at PAX and it WORKED, but it double strummed a couple times screwing up my streak. I didn't get the chance to try out the new RB strat though.
So any suggestions from someones who got the chance to play with both or at least the new strat would appreciated.
That's Stephen Colbert? It's out now? Is there any written confirmation on this?
It's real.
I'm looking at right now on the dashboard in fact.
Also,
Charlene (I'm Right Behind You): RB2 Version
With Colbert on Vocals!
Then online it isn't that hard to find some good deals on rechargable, high mA batteries that will last a real long time.
I have about 8 wireless controllers that use AAs (and 2 toothbrushes, flashlights, etc...), and a remote and about 6 RC vehicles that use AAAs, so I always have about 6 extra charged batteries of each type and just cycle through them. Since I bought the charger and the batteries about 4 years ago I have not paid a penny on batteries. These things last a LONG time when being cycled with other batteries and the upfront cost is not that much either.
A decent charger and a handful of extra rechargables is a MUST OWN for any gadget geek.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
MMOG Comic, Quests, and News. www.thebrasse.com
EDIT: After seeing the video, I know I need to make myself a Colbert. So awesome.
Anyway, tried my pit of hell K-Mart yesterday in case they broke street date. After 15 minutes I finally flagged down someone working there to check for me. She was reasonably clueless, yet kept saying "if it's supposed to be for sale, they'll have put it out here by now." Sadly enough, there was a big ugly locked cage full of boxes that probably had Rock Band 2 in it sitting in the middle of the electronic section. So I more than likely walked past it. Sigh.
Incidentally, when the person helping me opened up the game section to check, everything was out of order. Meaning the game in front that was visible could have five different random games behind it and you'd never know. What the hell?
There's a reason why they went bankrupt.
If anybody were to break the Rock Band 2 street date, it'd be them (or Sears, but kind of the same thing now). That's how sad they are.
|Xbox Live Tag: Omeks
|PSN Tag: Omeks_R7
|Rock Band: Profile|DLC Collection
http://omegapedal.com/twinrocker/index.html
Also, their kick pedal is awesome.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
MMOG Comic, Quests, and News. www.thebrasse.com