So I Went to PAX...

[PsycoCheerio]

Right...first off RB was infinitely better than i had hoped and playing in front of a audience was amazing!

So played all the instruments and sang so i got opinions on everything...

The first time i waited in a line for an hour to play bass in "Won't Get Fooled Again" it was amazingly fun keyboard solo in the middle then going back to rockin' out felt awesome...Expert was kinda what i expected for difficulty not too hard but not the easiest, for GH vets should be good.

I got to play guitar a number of times, played "Epic" which was an extremely fun song, i honestly think the difficulty was a bit higher than that of an average GH2 song, but it could have just been from the controller. I did try to use the solo buttons, did it for a little while but it was actually quite difficult...but it did feel awesome, even if i didn't do so hot through that solo section.

EDIT: I think the solo buttons was just a weird transition, not having to strum, they were a lot closer together than the other frets, but it did feel awesome...

The controller by the way is AMAZING. After playing bass i went and played some GH2 in a freeplay area and the GH controller really felt like crap by comparison. It took a bit of getting used to, but it felt so much better once you got it all figured out.

Drums...What to say about the drums...Now, I have never used a drum set before, and I played on Medium, which was a perfect difficulty level to start out on playing "Tom Sawyer" it did take some time to get the hang of it, with the bass pedal and everything, but the sections that i was doing good on, no better feeling...indescribable really...

smidget did play some expert drums in "Epic" which looked crazy hard, but pulled it off...so he probably will have a better feeling of what the drums are like when he gets back home to post his thoughts.

The singing...So i was thinking i wasn't gonna sing...not a big singer. There was "Mississippi Queen" going on and they needed one more, so i decided to hop up on stage, got stuck singing...The thing is, i didn't know any of the words except for Mississippi Queen. Up in front of probably 40 odd people and about to sing a song i don't know the lyrics to. But i honestly think it was my favorite part of the whole day no comparable feeling...i honestly can't describe it. Just, it was awesome...

Every time I played in front of an audience since it was nearly impossible not to with the huge crowd around the booth at all times, even when the exhibition hall was actually closed...that i think will be hard to replicate, because the feeling was just pure awesome!

Yea...I'm really tired so if there is anything i should need to clarify, since I am still overwhelmed by the whole event, let me know...

Overall if I don't have this game on release day, whenever that may be, I'm going to cry myself to sleep every night until i do have it...

Sorry i didn't have a camera...smidget and the HMX folk all did of course and i assume all of those will be up soon if they aren't already.

They did have a USB hub that looked like it was a custom hub for RB that they were using for all the instruments on the 360.

[Terranova]

Glad you had fun.. what was it about the solo frets that made it hard to use

[TheGreatWhiteDope]

Glad you had fun.. what was it about the solo frets that made it hard to use

just pute speculation from me...but i'd say if you hardcore play some GH and GH2....going to a game that has you drop all the way down the fret to the bottom to do some hammer-ons would be semi-difficult.

at least odd at first. It probably becomes natural after awhile just a guess though

[PsycoCheerio]

They aren't necissarily hammer-ons, during the solo section it is basically every note is a hammer-on whether or not you are hitting all the notes in a row, so it basically strums for you.

That and when i tried to go back to the other frets i didn't go back enough because the guitar is longer and i was so used to the GH guitars, i ended up about two frets off...

[TheGreatWhiteDope]

They aren't necissarily hammer-ons, during the solo section it is basically every note is a hammer-on whether or not you are hitting all the notes in a row, so it basically strums for you .

yeah i just figured that'd be the term they'd use for it.

unless there is a newer one....that i've missed on other forum posts?

[Terranova]

They aren't necissarily hammer-ons, during the solo section it is basically every note is a hammer-on whether or not you are hitting all the notes in a row, so it basically strums for you.

That and when i tried to go back to the other frets i didn't go back enough because the guitar is longer and i was so used to the GH guitars, i ended up about two frets off...

ahh so it was the size of the guitar and needing to get use to it that was the problem. good to know it wasn't something else like the fret buttons being unresponsive. :)

[JimNasium]

Great story. Thanks!

[Xzyliac]

yeah i just figured that'd be the term they'd use for it.

unless there is a newer one....that i've missed on other forum posts?

In real life it's called taps.

If you get a real electric guitar, put the amp into overdrive, maybe get a lil' feedback to be safe, and then just tap the string the note will play. That's because by tuning the amp the way you did it's become uber sensitive. It's used alot for insane solos especially in Metal.

[thegame696911]

This will become the greatest game ever made

Soo can't wait for this to come out !

[ThePaska]

PAX sounded awesome. I wish I could have gone. Rock Band looks and sounds like so much fun, I cannot wait for this game to come out. Thanks for the report, makes me want to play each and every instrument and sing so badly.

[mobhit101]

Wow man! Sounds like you had a real blast! That's so cool dude! Maaaaaaaan I wish I coulda gone! I'm so excited! I wan't to playyyyyyyyyy. Awesome story. If you can think of anymore that happened let us know!

--OH i know! Did you get to play "Gimme Shelter"?????????????

[karlkaza]

Did you try useing the solo buttons on any other part of the song?
Or can you not do tha?
Thats a big Q I would like ansewered.

THANSK FOR EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!

[Magnet]

You can't just play the solo buttons throughout the whole song. Then there would be no real point in even having the top five frets anymore.

[Brock_Landers]

So would the awesome way to use those lower five frets be to bring your strumming hand up to work them during the solos?

Any idea if this was the the finalized guitar (I'd heard the PAX one would be somewhere)? Were worries of the strum bar being too "mushy" unfounded?

[PsycoCheerio]

--OH i know! Did you get to play "Gimme Shelter"?????????????

Nope...it wasn't in the build...


Did you try useing the solo buttons on any other part of the song?
Or can you not do tha?

I didn't try through any other part of the song...it was pretty overwhelming because there was always a huge crowd and you didn't want to mess up and be the one guy who ruined it...although we may have messed up once...not really sure ;)

I know you can use the buttons, but you have to strum as if you were using the other frets.


So would the awesome way to use those lower five frets be to bring your strumming hand up to work them during the solos?

Any idea if this was the the finalized guitar (I'd heard the PAX one would be somewhere)? Were worries of the strum bar being too "mushy" unfounded?

Yea, if you used some crazy tapping skills with both hands, that would be awesome..no one really tried to use them most the time...

I don't know if it is the finalized guitar didn't occur to ask...

Strum bar was awesome...seriously...the guitar puts the xplorer and the SG to shame...

[Smidget]

Instead of going to the third day of PAX I'm going to the zoo with some of my family out here so I will wait to post my full thoughts until I get back (im being rushed to leave). I have about half of it written and will just wait to post it all at once :) But for you viewing pleasure until then:

Community peeps and mr hmxsean!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0781.jpg

hmxsean himself
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0780.jpg


now off to the zoo!

[Magnet]

hmxsean looks very, very different from his pic on these forums. He looks much cooler in those pics.

[PsycoCheerio]

The one of hmxsean himself is awesome, seeing how he just spun around and then BAM!

[the_spike]

I always though hmxsean was fat for some reason, lol.

[skyehill]

Whenever you see someone from Harmonix, it's almost impossible not to think of the phrase "living the dream". You guys must have a blast doing what you do. Grats on a great PAX showing.

[admanimal]

You can't just play the solo buttons throughout the whole song. Then there would be no real point in even having the top five frets anymore.

According to Alex during the e3 gamespot interview, you can just play the solo buttons during the whole song.

Also...I think those cool Rock Band tshirts like the one hmxsean is wearing should be a free gift when you buy the bundle.

[Electric_Zen]

Thanks for the recap, guys! One follow-up question:

Who do I have to screw to get one of these T-Shirts?

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/1242311404_6824fa3a16.jpg"/>

[Magnet]

According to Alex during the e3 gamespot interview, you can just play the solo buttons during the whole song.

Yeah, but I assume you have to strum the non-solo parts still, which would make using them pointless during those parts of the song (unless you prefer those bottom buttons).

[admanimal]

Yeah, but I assume you have to strum the non-solo parts still, which would make using them pointless during those parts of the song (unless you prefer those bottom buttons).

Hmm yeah I watched that section of the interview again and he said something about being able to play the whole thing with one hand and using the other for showboating, but it's not clear if "the whole thing" refers to the whole solo or the whole song...

[IErrantVentureI]

Sounds... #*#^@*!... Awesome...

Glad to hear the guitar rox ur sox.

[McDeezy]

This makes the wait so muuuuch harder! :D

[IErrantVentureI]

Thanks for the recap, guys! One follow-up question:

Who do I have to screw to get one of these T-Shirts?

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/1242311404_6824fa3a16.jpg"/>

Dunno. Just checked ebay. And I don't think I'd sell mine if I got one at PAX.

[Smidget]

ok, back from the zoo!



So umm....WOW.

The game is so much more than I had hoped for. First off, when they say that one of their main goals is to convey what it feels like to play music as a group, THEY SUCCEEDED. When watching a full band perform where all 4 of the players are having fun and rocking out; it literally feels like you're watching a band perform. You want to jump around, sing with them, clap with them, its great! Everyone in the crowd was cheering on whoever was playing. The stage setting probably helped a little bit, haha but I guarantee whenever the game is played in public where a crowd is present, there will be rocking out. Speaking of playing in public, just an FYI, the tamborine = the official que to clap along. When the vocalist is playing tamborine, the crowd will clap; it is guaranteed.

So as PsycoCheerio mentioned (who by the way is a super cool rad dude) I kinda focused on drums. I'm a drummer and it's definitely the part of the game I'm most excited about. I started on Friday (I got a three day pass) playing OK Go for the Yahoo Games recording (being at the right place at the right time, score!). I played it on medium to make sure I didn't screw it up for the taping and I really had no idea what the difficulty would be like so just played it safe for the first go around. I don't remember any specifics of the song, just that on medium it was quite easy. Playing Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly on hard started off Saturday. It actually wasn't bad at all and gave a very enjoyable stressfree drumming experience that didn't push the player too hard. I then tried the same song on expert, really curious as to how much harder it would get. It was a blast! I'm guessing it will be an easier expert because I never felt lost but I definitely messed up a good bit on small things that I think would come easily with just a few plays. Later in the day I played Mississippi Queen on hard, not knowing how it compared in difficulty to Learn to Fly hard. It was certainly a bit harder, perhaps even about equal to Learn to Fly expert but I still found myself wanting to play expert. So I'm kind of feeling that someone who can pick up the drums fairly quickly will spend a little while on the harder hard songs to get the mechanics of the game down and will be on expert fairly quickly; a few weeks or so (with play each day). The only other song I played on expert was Faith No More - Epic. Yeah; it was friggin sweet! I was actually feeling really good about it until it went into this section completely different from the rest of the song and my eyes started getting lost, haha. It was most difficult when the bass drum was on consecutive beats combined with other drum heads. It caused my eyes to get lost with so many things on the same line at once happening right after one another. During this challenging section I failed out once and was brought back in where it continued patterns that were similar from the other parts of the song. These parts weren't so bad after I had played them for a little while. Overall it was a real challenging song but one, again, I think wouldn't be so bad with some practice time on it where you could learn the patterns of certain sections. I never once questioned the responsiveness of the pads. The bass pedal is perfectly springy, responding fast enough to even do a heel-to-toe double kick.

I played bass twice; only on hard each time so not much to comment on as far as difficulty goes. What going to take the most time to get used to for me is how its a little bit easier to lose track of where your fingers are because the buttons are more flush. Adding to that, whenever there's a break in the notes I like to sometimes press the buttons to check where my fingers are, looking at the bottom of the screen for those cues (where they light up). Those cues are harder to see and at first I didn't they were there at all. I LOVE how the hammer-ons and pull-off's are actually smaller notes; SO much easier to read; very nice touch. The guitar itself felt incredibly sturdy. Gone is the clickiness of the strumming. I didn't try the solo buttons so I can't truly comment on them but after feeling the new flushness of the top buttons; it would seem that it could be easy to get lost in them if they match that flushness. But the buttons "issues" are just things to get used to, nothing bad; just need to get used to them as something new.

I sang once on Dead or Alive and it was just friggin awesome. The solo areas were unnerving, haha. It's like "hey, I have to make something up and be individualistic with my vocals now" :p But really, a blast.


I CAN'T WAIT

[Brock_Landers]

I wonder who will be the first person to build a stage in their home/garage :P You know it's gonna happen somewhere!

I also think we're gonna get some pretty lol stuff coming out of the singers freeform sections online

[IErrantVentureI]

Wish I was one of the people got who got to check it out..

[ocfanman]

I always though hmxsean was fat for some reason, lol.

no way, so did I, I think hes just too close to the camera, I guess

cool shirts, I would love one ;)

congrats to all who got to play the game at pax, very cool

[Brock_Landers]

You're seeing the before and after pictures of hmxsean. Developing games is the next best thing to a coke addiction when it comes to reducing yourself to a skeleton with skin hanging off it.

By the time the game is released hmxsean will be getting chased after by He-Man.

[sa_nick]

I always though hmxsean was fat for some reason, lol.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/1244759044_42bc56f790.jpg

lulz

[admanimal]

Haha that is fantastic.

[masterx1918]

is he playing the cowbell? haha

[Smidget]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0779.jpg

RB stage
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0777.jpg


RB stage
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0775.jpg


Guilty Gear Rock Band
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0773.jpg

[Smidget]

Gamespot sesh
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0769.jpg

Gamespot sesh
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0767.jpg

Guitar
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0764.jpg

Drums
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0763.jpg

[Smidget]

Entering PAX on day 1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/LittleSmidget/PAX%202007/IMG_0761.jpg

[Brock_Landers]

I always though hmxsean was fat for some reason, lol.

Whatever gave you that impression?

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6263/homerseanqt4.jpg

All in jest my man. All in jest!

[sushi111]

Whatever gave you that impression?

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6263/homerseanqt4.jpg

All in jest my man. All in jest!

I loled

But seriously Sean is the greatest dude to ever rock the face of the earth:cool:

[TheKanbo]

Yeah, waiting in line to get in the first day was a *****....
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y268/kanbo/DSC00211.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>


Wil Wheaton and his band of Merry Men
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y268/kanbo/DSC00337.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

The amazing smidget on drums! (Honestly, the best performer I saw on stage all three days, hands down.)
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y268/kanbo/DSC00349.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[skeltonath]

W00t! That's me on the drums in the first picture smidget posted on the last page :D

Smidget and Sean rockin'!
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/skeltonath/DSC00313.jpg

These guys were really rockin' out (sorry for the blurriness)
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/skeltonath/DSC00322.jpg

Here's me and a couple of friends playing Won't Get Fooled Again with Sean
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/skeltonath/DSC00321.jpg

[sushi111]

Sweet, which one is you and how hard was WFGA on the instrument you played.

[Desensitized]

Yeah, how hard was it? Did anyone play it on expert?

[skeltonath]

I'm the one on drums.
It was my first try on drums, and I did medium. Sadly enough, I picked the song, and totally forgot that the drum part on WGFA would be pretty hard. I failed in the beginning twice, hehe. But afterwards I picked up on it, and didn't fail again.
I had played Drum Mania the previous week, and was stoked to finally try it on Rock Band.
I found myself missing the drum pads sometimes, and forgetting the exact position. I think that if the two outside ones were raised higher than they are, it'd be easier to keep track of them all. But it was still awesome! :D

No, I don't think anyone played WGFA on expert drums, but I guess somebody might have. If they did, I wasn't there to see it.

[bounchfx]

Thanks for the recap, guys! One follow-up question:

Who do I have to screw to get one of these T-Shirts?

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/1242311404_6824fa3a16.jpg"/>

seriously that would make an amazing pre order bonus!

or perhaps a gift to some forum members from hmx? =D?<3

[PsycoCheerio]

I didn't realize it...but every time smidget was on drums i was playing guitar...pretty rockin'
Even got a pic with me using the solo buttons a lil' bit.

[Sons_of_Kyuss]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/skeltonath/DSC00322.jpg

The guy on drums looks a little bit like Kurt Cobain...I was like...woah, wait a minute! Must be the blur...;)

[hmxsean]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/skeltonath/DSC00322.jpg

The guy on drums looks a little bit like Kurt Cobain...I was like...woah, wait a minute! Must be the blur...;)


Those are the Mega64 guys who stopped by the booth during the community hour. They ruled and are also a really awesome bunch of guys.

[Smidget]

Yeah, the Mega64 guys got up there and pretty much said "we own this stage" and rocked out as such. It was great.

Thats awesome you got pics of me playing Kanbo. I thought about asking someone to get a couple but decided not to. sweet.

I just realized I never gave Sean his props!!! Man, you totally rocked the weekend. You exhibited so much awesomeosity!
I think those burritos tasted twice as good after traveling days to get them. It was great to meet you man; thanks for taking to the time to chill with us community folk.

[Spraynwipe]

Smidget was easily the most pro drummer of the show. I'm still in awe of his expert drumming skills after just a few songs.

[AVC808]

i am so jealous. to those that had a blast at PAX, i hate you all. tell me, now that you've had a chance to experience it, does it make it easier or harder to wait for the release?

thanks for the review of the whole experience. :)

[TheKanbo]

i am so jealous. to those that had a blast at PAX, i hate you all. tell me, now that you've had a chance to experience it, does it make it easier or harder to wait for the release?

Well, having had played Rock Band with one of the developers was insanely awesome, and getting to stay and play it after the exhibition hall was closed to the public was also just amazing. The experience will never be the same, though. A guy next to me pointed out that "To ever have this much fun with the game, you need to invite 16 other people to your house to watch you play, because its not as cool to play a bunch of plastic instruments without a ton of people cheering at you the whole time." There's definitely not going to be a time when playing Rock Band will be nearly as cool as this, but it did make it a lot harder to try and wait until it's released to us.

[AVC808]

Well, having had played Rock Band with one of the developers was insanely awesome, and getting to stay and play it after the exhibition hall was closed to the public was also just amazing.
you definitely gotta hand it to harmonix for really extending their arms out to us. way to go! that kind of relationship makes it that much easier to fork over the $200 or whatever it will be for the bundle.


The experience will never be the same, though. A guy next to me pointed out that "To ever have this much fun with the game, you need to invite 16 other people to your house to watch you play, because its not as cool to play a bunch of plastic instruments without a ton of people cheering at you the whole time." There's definitely not going to be a time when playing Rock Band will be nearly as cool as this, but it did make it a lot harder to try and wait until it's released to us.
So true, I was kinda laughing looking at all the videos because it appears it makes you truly feel like a rock star. that probably wont happen for most of us, but we'll still get what we expect out of it. but this is also meant to be a party game, and im sure a lot of us will have a few friends over (maybe not 16 people, but definitely more than just the standard 4). so it will still be fun to play and have a few friends behind us singing along and having a blast.

[Smidget]

Smidget was easily the most pro drummer of the show. I'm still in awe of his expert drumming skills after just a few songs.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN :eek: Following to the other question...makes it harder to wait fo sho.

[hmxsean]

So true, I was kinda laughing looking at all the videos because it appears it makes you truly feel like a rock star. that probably wont happen for most of us, but we'll still get what we expect out of it. but this is also meant to be a party game, and im sure a lot of us will have a few friends over (maybe not 16 people, but definitely more than just the standard 4). so it will still be fun to play and have a few friends behind us singing along and having a blast.

Man, I think people are totally going to start playing out with this. Bands that get really good and have a touch of the theatrics are going to play to crowds. mark my words...and if I am wrong... i dunno, I'll have to make some demeaning video of myself and post it up on the forums...again. :D

[skyehill]

Man, I think people are totally going to start playing out with this. Bands that get really good and have a touch of the theatrics are going to play to crowds. mark my words...and if I am wrong... i dunno, I'll have to make some demeaning video of myself and post it up on the forums...again. :D

Please tell me you have a 'Free Moustache Rides' t-shirt somewhere in your collection.

Seriously though, is there going to be a Rock Band store on the site from where we can buy t-shirts and other cool items?

[skeltonath]

Yeah, I really wanted one of those T-shirts...
I should have grabbed more of those stickers, so I could have a Rockband shirt anytime I wanted...

[PsycoCheerio]

i am so jealous. to those that had a blast at PAX, i hate you all. tell me, now that you've had a chance to experience it, does it make it easier or harder to wait for the release?

thanks for the review of the whole experience. :)

So very much harder to wait, because i know now how freaking awesome it is...

just using the new guitar has basically made me shun my GH2 controller...I'm sure I'll get over it when i need a fix before RB is released...

[Toneman]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/1244759044_42bc56f790.jpg

lulz

lol, that's my roomate on guitar and you can barely see me on drums. We didn't have a singer and hmxsean was cool enough to not only sing for us, but to add in the much needed cow bell. I also recal them filming us during that performance. Maybe if we bug Sean he'll post the video.

[Terranova]

lol, that's my roomate on guitar and you can barely see me on drums. We didn't have a singer and hmxsean was cool enough to not only sing for us, but to add in the much needed cow bell. I also recal them filming us during that performance. Maybe if we bug Sean he'll post the video.

that would be cool to see.. come on Sean post the vid.. pretty please with bottle of JD on top.. :D

[Smidget]

Man, I think people are totally going to start playing out with this. Bands that get really good and have a touch of the theatrics are going to play to crowds. mark my words...and if I am wrong... i dunno, I'll have to make some demeaning video of myself and post it up on the forums...again. :D

so who wants to join my glam cosplay rock band? first scheduled performance Christmas eve 2007. hmmm???

[hmxsean]

that would be cool to see.. come on Sean post the vid.. pretty please with bottle of JD on top.. :D

We actually aren't able to post the video up. We don't have the rights to use the song that way, sadly.

I think you can pretty much imagine how it went, though.

[espher]

It would be a crying shame if it anonymously ended up on YouTube somehow.

[skyehill]

We actually aren't able to post the video up. We don't have the rights to use the song that way, sadly.

I think you can pretty much imagine how it went, though.

Dude, if you're going to leave me to my own imagination, all I'm going to get is you with your shirt pulled up banging on a cowbell. And that just ain't right.

[MartyMcFly]

Dude, if you're going to leave me to my own imagination, all I'm going to get is you with your shirt pulled up banging on a cowbell. And that just ain't right.

That's probably very accurate anyway lol

[TheKanbo]

so who wants to join my glam cosplay rock band? first scheduled performance Christmas eve 2007. hmmm???

If we can wear space helmets and viking boots, I'm totally there.

[Toneman]

We actually aren't able to post the video up. We don't have the rights to use the song that way, sadly.

I think you can pretty much imagine how it went, though.
Maybe bonus content on the game disc? Anyways it was awesome. My roommate said you messed him up by making him laugh. That's how awesome it was.

[Terranova]

We actually aren't able to post the video up. We don't have the rights to use the song that way, sadly.

I think you can pretty much imagine how it went, though.

Ah well it was worth asking.. :)

[Ghaleon]

I have a question for those whom got a chance to try out the new guitars at PAX. While it's a bit of a side-track, it didn't seem worth starting a new thread for..

How does the strum bar compare to the PS2 and 360 guitars? From the videos it could be construed that they are less.. for lack of a better word, clickeriffic; but one thing I haven't seen mentioned is whether they are any less springy. The current strum bars are prone to bouncing back for an extra press if you strum like a regular guitar or attempt to do finger picking on the bass tracks. I'm moreso concerned with the latter as mixing it up a bit injects a bit more entertainment value into some of the more ho-hum bass lines.

[miketoast]

I heard it's alot smoother than the GH guitars....

[Smidget]

I have a question for those whom got a chance to try out the new guitars at PAX. While it's a bit of a side-track, it didn't seem worth starting a new thread for..

How does the strum bar compare to the PS2 and 360 guitars? From the videos it could be construed that they are less.. for lack of a better word, clickeriffic; but one thing I haven't seen mentioned is whether they are any less springy. The current strum bars are prone to bouncing back for an extra press if you strum like a regular guitar or attempt to do finger picking on the bass tracks. I'm moreso concerned with the latter as mixing it up a bit injects a bit more entertainment value into some of the more ho-hum bass lines.

hmmm, good question. Well it definitely is less clickeriffic; thats fosho. I'm trying to remember how the strum bar felt as I only played it twice and didn't pay attention to that. I did play by moving it up and down for strings of notes and that felt fine without any lossyness or lack of resistance to each pull or push on the strum bar. I don't think I ever hit or pulled it and let it fully bounce back though. PsychoCherio, you played it more than I did; any thoughts?

[xfMike]

They did have a USB hub that looked like it was a custom hub for RB that they were using for all the instruments on the 360.

Now that is an interesting tid-bit of news, and I wonder if anything else regarding a "RB HuB" has been discussed in greater detail (I remember a HMX Dev saying "USB HUBS work wonders" or something when asked about the 3usb slots/4 instruments...



Thanks for the hands on recap guys, must've been fun... especially being on stage in front of every one, must've been a blast. :D

[skeltonath]

I have a question for those whom got a chance to try out the new guitars at PAX. While it's a bit of a side-track, it didn't seem worth starting a new thread for..

How does the strum bar compare to the PS2 and 360 guitars? From the videos it could be construed that they are less.. for lack of a better word, clickeriffic; but one thing I haven't seen mentioned is whether they are any less springy. The current strum bars are prone to bouncing back for an extra press if you strum like a regular guitar or attempt to do finger picking on the bass tracks. I'm moreso concerned with the latter as mixing it up a bit injects a bit more entertainment value into some of the more ho-hum bass lines.

Well, like smidget said, it really doesn't click at all anymore. Which is good and bad. As for having bounce back, I didn't notice any. It is definitely smoother. Since the click is gone, it's not really pushing against anything when you push it down, so it seems to be a lot smoother, therefore I don't think you have to push as hard, eliminating any bounce-back. If you push the strumbar hard it could happen, I never really pushed it too hard (didn't wanna hurt the great piece of equipment).

[Toneman]

I hit the strumbar hard and I had no bounce back. I think it's safe to say that the RB guitars are all around better than the GH guitars. The only complaint I have is that when I reach for the whammy bar I tend to hit the noise changing toggle. (The toggles that changes the guitar sound.) But that's most likely my clumsiness. Other than that, the guitar felt nice and seems like it can take some pretty hard strumming.

[PsycoCheerio]

No real clickyness, and i was hitting pretty hard...the only problem i came across was the solo buttons were difficult, but that's because I didn't really know what i was doing...so it's a practice thing. The guitar rocks...and i really want to play GH now, but i start a song and the guitar just feels bad...

[Toneman]

Here's (http://www.thomastruong.com/extra/PAX%20091) another picture of Sean doing his best Will Ferrell. Bigger and better quality.

[miketoast]

Here's (http://www.thomastruong.com/extra/PAX%20091) another picture of Sean doing his best Will Ferrell. Bigger and better quality.

WHOA!!!!! Dayum dude!!!!!

LOL!!!!

[gates_apco]

... (I remember a HMX Dev saying "USB HUBS work wonders" or something when asked about the 3usb slots/4 instruments...

The wireless guitars should help eliminate that problem, no?

[xfMike]

The wireless guitars should help eliminate that problem, no?

That is true. However, I have a wireless controller and a wired controller... and I hardly ever touch my wireless.

I don't mind wired peripherals at all, but I am interested in seeing whether or not we have to go out and buy our own USB Hubs or if there will be an official one.

[IErrantVentureI]

Here's (http://www.thomastruong.com/extra/PAX%20091) another picture of Sean doing his best Will Ferrell. Bigger and better quality.

Holy crap, look at the guy to the right of Sean looking through the curtain. Creepy.

[hmxsean]

Holy crap, look at the guy to the right of sean looking through the curtain. Creepy.

I know. It is hard. But people are willing to go through any and all lengths to see those goods. BAM!

[IErrantVentureI]

I know. It is hard. But people are willing to go through any and all lengths to see those goods. BAM!

I actually did laugh out loud to that. I checked that picture again, it could possibly be a girl, checking you out from behind. ;)

[PsycoCheerio]

You know...i was peeking through there...i don't think it was me though...but you never know i was to involved with the pretty screens and the overall look of the booth...

[Toneman]

LOL, didn't even notice that guy till you pointed him out to me.

[sushi111]

Sean knows how to explore the space!

[sushi111]

Sean Sean Sean Sean! :D

[skeltonath]

Lol, nice bump Sushi

[sa_nick]

Lol, nice bump Sushi

But its stickied, it doesnt need to be bumped. Still, as far as bumps go sushi's wasnt bad

[polishdog90]

PAX Owned! I wish I would have played GH on the big stage. I only played the Guitar only version and it was still awesome. Did anyone else see the bald guy that was next to the mainstage that was screaming Are you wanna be my girl? I was lmao of that guy he was wearing headphones so he probably didnt know how loud he was yelling.

[Smidget]

for some reason that post hurt my head

[Apples]

With PAX fading into the horizon and minimal discussion on this thread, it seems appropriate to de-sticky the subject.

Farewell PAX, we knew ye all too briefly. We rocked and rolled, and jammed with enthusiasm in your hallowed exhibit. We even saw Wesley Crusher. But new stickies with new Rock Band goodness must be forged ahead.