Showing some love for Rock Band

[Stevenam81]

It's been a few days since I've made any posts about the things I love about Rock Band. Yeah, I may be having hardware issues with my drums, but it's just hardware and they are taking care of it. I'm convinced that they are serious about their 100% satisfaction guarantee. We just have to give them some time and patience to continue to prove it. Eventually everyone will be rocking out without any issues.

Anyway, I just wanted to say Rock Band is definately my favorite game. I haven't played Guitar Hero 3 once since Nov 20. I really like how they handled the overdrive. I like it much better than star power. I like the fact that using it can't count against you. I hate when I use star power in Guitar Hero and end up missing a star power section because my star power is in use. That also doesn't help me learn where the sections are. You pretty much have to play the song without using star power to see where the sections are at. With Rock Band, I can use overdrive anytime I want and still be able to find all the overdrive sections. The strategy of layering the overdrive is much more fun than trying to time when to use start power so all of the star power can be collected. I love seeing how long I can make overdrive last. So many more options.

I also like the fact that they don't change the color of the notes while overdrive is in effect. That always messed with my head in Guitar Hero. The fretboard effects are a nice touch. I also like how the fretboard lights up to let you know when overdrive is ready.

The star progress at the top right is an outstanding improvement. I like knowing where I stand in a song as I'm playing. At first I thought gold stars couldn't be earned because I had gotten 100% on a song and didn't see them. I later realized they are earned through score. I really like this idea. I think gold stars can only be earned on expert. I finally got gold stars on Mississippi Queen, even though I hit 98% notes. I've gotten gold stars on one other song since. I love the fact we can still gold star a song even if we make a mistake or two as long as we kick ass on the score.

I also like how the DLC is worked into career and BWT mode. It actually feels like it becomes part of the game. On GH3 I bought the Velvet Revolver pack, downloaded the Boss Battle tracks and the Halo theme. I only played the GH3 DLC a couple of times. I haven't even played the Halo theme. I just downloaded it because it was free. I just haven't felt like bothering with playing GH3 to check it out when I can be playing Rock Band.

I've been playing drums for 8 years and used to play a lot of Metallica when I jammed. There have always been parts to their songs I never bothered learning. I just winged it. I love sitting down in practice mode, picking a section I want to work on, and doing it over and over until I hit 95-100%. I can see expert mode improving my drumming already. Ok, this is getting long enough. Just thought I'd post something good instead of griping about my hardware, which has nothing to do with how great the software is. This very well could be the game that I get the most replay value out of. So far Goldeneye 007 on Nintendo 64 has that crown. I know it's old but I can't think of another game since that I have played as much or had as much fun with. My friends and I played it almost every day. We even taped a big piece of cardboard to the TV so we could play teams and not cheat by looking at the other teams screen lol.

What do you guys love about Rock Band?

[Conner Malvecino]

I've been playing drums for 8 years and used to play a lot of Metallica when I jammed. There have always been parts to their songs I never bothered learning. I just winged it. I love sitting down in practice mode, picking a section I want to work on, and doing it over and over until I hit 95-100%. I can see expert mode improving my drumming already. Ok, this is getting long enough. Just thought I'd post something good instead of griping about my hardware, which has nothing to do with how great the software is. This very well could be the game that I get the most replay value out of. So far Goldeneye 007 on Nintendo 64 has that crown. I know it's old but I can't think of another game since that I have played as much or had as much fun with. My friends and I played it almost every day. We even taped a big piece of cardboard to the TV so we could play teams and not cheat by looking at the other teams screen lol.

What do you guys love about Rock Band?

I’ve always been fascinated on how Matt Cameron and Stewart Copeland played the drums….so I was super ‘stoked’ to have a change to learn a Matt Cameron drum lick in the midsection of Black Hole Sun….and wow, thank you Harmonix for dissecting Neil Peart’s Tom Sawyer so we can admire his genius.

Speaking of Stewart Copeland, I’ve yet to see any videos of drummer’s playing <strong>traditional grip</strong>. Anybody seen some yet?

[DesiredFX]

It didn't take me long to realize that Rock Band was the game I really wanted when I was playing Guitar Hero games. I mean, like, within an hour, I found that virtually everything in RB was an improvement over GH.

I had struggled getting the GH3 Les Paul to calibrate properly on my PS3, but in Rock Band, it was just select and go. Couldn't have been simpler.

The silly approach to the characters in GH3 didn't really bother me until I saw the "more serious but not TOO serious" approach in RB.

Everything about RB feels like it's trying to simulate the band experience. I don't get that sense from GH3 at all: it seems like it took a step backwards toward just being a toy.

When we were playing as a group the first day I got it, people were not only psyched about what songs they got to play, but loved the audience sing-along touch, and all the little slides that show your band with your band's name on the art.

Overall, it's just a very well thought-out game that appeals to me in every respect. The only thing that frustrates me about it is having a busted guitar right now.

But instead of picking up GH3 and the Les Paul, I've just been sticking with vocals and drums until it's fixed.

[Matt_Really]

I have to agree with everything that's already been said. I also want to add my praise for the return policy and customer service. I can't tell you how many times I've had a problem with something I bought, tried to get customer support for and then been given nothing but run around. I know some folks had to wait a while for their replacement guitars to come, but I received mine exactly two days after I ordered it. The issues with hardware are unfortunate, but these guys are doing everything in their power to make things right and that's what really matters. If the only thing you can complain about is the occaisional hardware problem in an otherwise perfect game, you ain't got much to complain about.

[corscore7]

The hardware may be problomatic for many of us, but the software is awesome. I would like to see some new uses of xbox live though.

[Stevenam81]

If the only thing you can complain about is the occaisional hardware problem in an otherwise perfect game, you ain't got much to complain about.

Yep. I couldn't agree more. And like I have seen another member state, forums are a place for irritated people to group together and *****. Anyone who actually believes nearly ever person has broken instruments is naive. People aren't going to stop playing Rock Band to spend hours on the forum complaining that all of their equipment works. They will be too busy having fun with Rock Band. I just laugh when I see anyone making a poll asking who has broken equipment vs working equipment. I'm very impressed with their customer support.

They have also done an excellent job of releasing the DLC as promised and on schedule. I am looking forward to next week. The Black Sabbath pack will rock! I really can't wait to start seeing full albums. I know the Black Sabbath pack is covers but here is my take on that. With Gutiar Hero, having the original is more important. You are forced to listen to the vocals and let's face it, for the most part that is the major difference that sticks out. So far the bands selected have always done a great job with the instrumental part. In Rock Band, you are a cover band. It's actually more realistic in a sense to use a cover. Don't get me wrong though. You can't beat the original, but with Rock Band it doesn't matter to me as much. When playing in a full band setup, you will be hearing your band's singer anyway. For most of us, the on track cover singer is still better than that lol.

One more thing worth mentioning. The advertisements in Guitar Hero 3 are ridiculous. They have a cheesy Pontiac stage. They even made an AXE body spray guitar. There are AXE body spray girls that come out and dance in the bar stage. I tried to make excuses for them over on the guitar hero forum a while back saying that maybe those girls just happened to be there that night like the Miller Lite girls are sometimes doing promotions at places lol. Many people found their ads lame. I know in Rock Band they have branded shirts but it is completely normal for a drummer to wear a Ludwig t-shirt. All their ads make sense and do not stand out at all.

I'm sure one day when nobody is looking, the Guitar Hero 3 fanboys will play Rock Band and realize what they've been missing. Just be sure not to point them out and say, "Hey, finally realized how bad ass Rock Band is huh?" They are very fragile minded and spook easy. They are likely to run away back to Guitar Hero 3.

[Maggot_Brain]

Did I mention I love this game? I've got nine DLC already and Sabbath makes 12 next week. This is the most addictive kick ass game ever.

(Yes, I'd like a few changes made, like the fan cap, but it doesn't change how much I and my family and friends love RB.)

[Edgehopper]

I've actually now had two equipment problems (guitar just broke yesterday, and I just got to the level of drum difficulty where the roll defect is noticeable), but I still love the game. A big thank you to EA & HMX customer support for the equipment return system, and to those modders and drum players who figured out the "taping down the drum" solution to the roll problem. Meanwhile, I've now logged probably a good 25 hours playing this game (and that's with no play over Thanksgiving break), and still have lots more to go. I love it.

Incidentally, has anyone else felt like it just wasn't right playing an Xplorer after playing the Strat for a while? I went back to the Xplorer when my Strat broke, and it just felt like a silly toy now.

[topperharley]

One more thing worth mentioning. The advertisements in Guitar Hero 3 are ridiculous. ... I know in Rock Band they have branded shirts but it is completely normal for a drummer to wear a Ludwig t-shirt. All their ads make sense and do not stand out at all.

Exactly. RB's product placement/in-game advertising is very common sensical ...


Incidentally, has anyone else felt like it just wasn't right playing an Xplorer after playing the Strat for a while? I went back to the Xplorer when my Strat broke, and it just felt like a silly toy now.

Compared to the way the Strat is designed, the Xplorer is a silly toy.

I love being able to customize my character. If only I could customize the rest of my band in solo play, that would be huge. And I love being able to earn more cash for playing songs I've already played in solo tour.

I also like the song list a lot more than either of the first two GHs (didn't play III, and from all of heard about it, I don't want to). And they've already done more with DLC than we ever got from GH.

[PhattyBoomBatty]

I love the sound quality in Rock Band. It is leaps and bounds better than GH2. I have a pretty decent home theater in my basement where I play my video games, and it is actually enjoyable to pump up the volume in RB.

I also really like the song selection. There are a lot of classics that everybody knows and loves, as well as a bunch of songs that I hadn't even heard before that I really like.

[Stevenam81]

Yeah, I was also really impressed with the quality of the Metallica songs. You can actually hear the bass in the songs from ...And Justice For All. It sounds so much more full and awesome. Hearing those tracks on Rock Band makes me wish they would release a re-mastered version of that album. All in all they did a great job on the balancing of the tracks. I remember reading on the Guitar Hero forum that many people were not satisfied with the audio quality of the GH3 DLC. Mainly the Foo Fighters pack. I didn't download that one so I don't know. I don't plan on buying any DLC for GH3 anyway lol. Not when DLC for Rock Band is cheaper, better, and allows for more interaction.

[boboette]

Good thread. This forum is becoming too negative.

I agree with everything said above, and especially love the guitar notes matching the melody. I really feel like I'm playing the real thing. The drum is my favorite part of the game. Return policy is rather painless, albeit the long wait.

All in all, the concept of the game that brings all popular rhythm games together is simply ingenious.

[Stevenam81]

Good thread. This forum is becoming too negative.

Yeah, and negativity speads fast. According to psychology it takes like 7-10 positive things to equal 1 negative thing. It makes sense. People are already critical by nature. It's usually a lot easier to point out and aggree to negative things. So when a kid gets made fun of at shool, it takes at least seven compliments to balance it out. Just think about the kids who get made fun of all day every day. It's sad.

I'm glad to see people actually posting in this thread and adding some positive things. This is a great game and it deserves to have some nice things said about it.