How Rock Band's drum set is better than Guitar hero's and how to improve it

[Alonzo1948]

While the drum set in GH4 looks cool it has a number of flaws. 4 pads on the RB are simple yet extremely effective. With the RB drum set Harmonix can set any part of the drums to any pad in the game which is why every song on the drums feels like your actually playing the real drums. With the GH4 drum set they have to set the cymbals to the cymbal pads. This might not seem like a problem, but they only have 3 pads now which will make some songs difficult to chart.

For example try to remember enter sandman on expert drums. During the intro you use all four pads and its charted just like a real drum set. I can say now that I can play the song on real drums. If the song were on GH4 it wouldn’t flow as nicely and you sure would be able to play it on real drums.

Another example is the drum roll on run to the hills. In rock band you use all 4 pads to replicate how a real drummer would do it. If the song were in GH4 you would reach the third pad you would just keep going on the third pad. This wouldn’t feel right and it would be less like the real thing.

It may seem like I’m coming down hard on the new GH drum set, but I have to be truthful there are number of problems with it. On the plus side it is said to be quieter than the RB drum set and it looks cooler.

The best thing Harmonix can do to combat the new drum set is have an updated version of the one out now. If Harmonix does these three things there drum set will be superior in almost every way.

1. Make them quieter
2. Make them sturdier
3. Make a better foot pedal (possibly even a double foot pedal)

There you go Harmonix, here are my ideas and now use them if you want to beat GH.

[Ragin_Caucasion]

THANK YOU!!! I've been saying this since GHIV was first announced! Don't forget hi-hat placement.

[Kaptankrunch92]

yeah another thing hmx can do is make a newer set that is sturdier and whatnot like you said above, but add in cymbals and adjustability.

You could have three cymbals (yellow, blue, green) that you could use at anytime you want. so if you want to you can hit the cymbal instead of the pad and vice versa, it would make it more fun on songs you now, and more functional on songs that are tougher or if you don't know them.

They can also make the pads adjustable, you could swivel the snare and crash pads into a manner that is suited for you (this would obviously be extra but would make some real drummers very happy being able to put the snare in a more realistic arrangement).

[Xerosnake90]

Wow, so first off, can you tell me what song you were playing whilest you played on GH4's drumset? I'd really like to know since apparantly you know everything about the drumset and enough at least to be able to say RBs drums are better. Please, I'd love to try them oh so much.

Jackasses and acting like the know everything. You've never touched the drumset, so why the hell are you making a comparison topic?

[Alonzo1948]

Wow, so first off, can you tell me what song you were playing whilest you played on GH4's drumset? I'd really like to know since apparantly you know everything about the drumset and enough at least to be able to say RBs drums are better. Please, I'd love to try them oh so much.

Jackasses and acting like the know everything. You've never touched the drumset, so why the hell are you making a comparison topic?
Did you read my post? While its true I never played the GH4 drum set you can see some of the problems with it without playing the game. It isn’t like I’m saying things just to bash the drum set, I put some thought into my post. Maybe using the word "better" wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but I stand by my original post.

[K_rok8923]

I see your point in that it is easier to assign the differnt parts of the drum tracks if all the pads are the same.

But if you think of it differently what is a real drum set(like basic starter kit) have in it. A snare, two toms, floor tom, bass drum, hi hat and crash cymbal. So if you relate that to the GH4 kit you get red=snare, blue=the two toms, Green=floor tom, And then the two cymbals and bass. It seems like a more realistic set up to me.

[TheyCallMeRooster]

They can also make the pads adjustable, you could swivel the snare and crash pads into a manner that is suited for you (this would obviously be extra but would make some real drummers very happy being able to put the snare in a more realistic arrangement).
I think that would be cool, but it might cause problems that cheap electric drums have, like loose grips that cause the pads to swivel when you hit them. Hmm and It seems that a custom arrangement could make a song easier to play, but it might make it a chore adjusting for every song.



Jackasses and acting like the know everything. You've never touched the drumset, so why the hell are you making a comparison topic?

Really hows namecalling helping anything? And the OP never says a thing about actually playing it. He only infers what he can from what he knows about real drums, the present rock band drumset, and the pictures of the GH4 drumset.

I suppose -you- would have to visit the Sahara to believe its hot.

[Destromas]

Wow, so first off, can you tell me what song you were playing whilest you played on GH4's drumset? I'd really like to know since apparantly you know everything about the drumset and enough at least to be able to say RBs drums are better. Please, I'd love to try them oh so much.

Jackasses and acting like the know everything. You've never touched the drumset, so why the hell are you making a comparison topic?

You're stupid. Learn to read. Especially since the only thing you can compare the two drum sets when you play on them is the actual playing on them. He's taking an observation from how you WOULD play a song. Since you started calling names, you're a stupid idiot numbnut waste of flesh and bone.

[jeff1920]

When rb 2 comes with the new drumset HMX should allow you to send your old drums and pedal in for the new ones and the guitar also.

[CCDaDon]

When rb 2 comes with the new drumset HMX should allow you to send your old drums and pedal in for the new ones and the guitar also.

WILL YOU GUYS STFU ABOUT RB2! Jesus Jumping on a Pogostick RB2 is a LONG way from reality at the moment

[woodsman707]

I think the best improvements would be a double-bass pedal and mesh pads, similar to those found on Roland V drums. They are quiet and responsive.

On some songs, the double-pedal could act as a bass pedal AND hi-hat pedal. It would broaden the number of songs that would be playable.

I know that as a natural drummer, I find that some of the songs with double-bass sections, like Blackened would be much more intuitive to play...

[Jimmik]

I agree with the OP!

[R4di4ti0n]

Did you read my post? While its true I never played the GH4 drum set you can see some of the problems with it without playing the game. It isn’t like I’m saying things just to bash the drum set, I put some thought into my post. Maybe using the word "better" wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but I stand by my original post.

ignore xero. Hes an ignorant ass. Probably dropped on his head or, at the very least, and experimental test tube baby that was cultured in tubes that were previously used to make meth.

[snwns26]

Undecided, have to play with the GH4 drum set before I make my decision

Anyone that doesn't vote this is a fanboy. Seriously. GH4's might be a giant failure of a drumset and won't even offer RMA. There's no problem with the drumset yet because we haven't played it. Blah blah blah, not enough pads, that's not a problem with the pads, it's song choice. Most songs don't need two toms.

[ClassicCarraway]

WILL YOU GUYS STFU ABOUT RB2! Jesus Jumping on a Pogostick RB2 is a LONG way from reality at the moment

Really? I think it's more foolish to think that there WON'T be a Rock Band 2 sometime later this year or very early next year. Rumor is fall 2008, which ain't that far away.

It'll likely be just a new disc though, with no real advancements on the equipment (not counting the new instruments from Mad Catz coming out soon).

[Alonzo1948]

Blah blah blah, not enough pads, that's not a problem with the pads, it's song choice. Most songs don't need two toms.
Alot of song do use more than two toms, also in regards to the song choice I dont think Activsion would limit themselves to songs where the drummer only uses two toms.

Im not a GH4 hater, nor am I a RB fanboy, I just dont like the fact that most pepole think GH4's drum set is better simply because it has cymbols.

[chos3n one23]

As a drummer in real life, I really don't like GH4's set up.

Rock Band has four pads already. All they need to do is add two or three cymbals to make it the most realistic. You can't really do much with 3 pads.

Thats like taking a button off the guitar controller in my opinion.

[Headdie]

WILL YOU GUYS STFU ABOUT RB2! Jesus Jumping on a Pogostick RB2 is a LONG way from reality at the moment

Indeed. Rock Band 2 has at least 3 years before release, probably 5+.

I'm perfectly fine with 4 pads in Rock Band. Anything so complicated that expert mode requires years of drumming first is pushing it for the interests of the general public, which these games were made for, right?

I won't make any further judgement until I see the final product...

[R4di4ti0n]

Indeed. Rock Band 2 has at least 3 years before release, probably 5+.

I'm perfectly fine with 4 pads in Rock Band. Anything so complicated that expert mode requires years of drumming first is pushing it for the interests of the general public, which these games were made for, right?

I won't make any further judgement until I see the final product...

Please tell me you are being sarcastic with the 5+ years remark. Honestly, you think that a game is going to get 5 years without a sequel? Especially in todays video game market? Thats like saying "well, i bought madden '08, i cant wait for their next sequel, Madden '13" Games come out, and fast. The companies want money, the developers want work, and the consumers want more content. Works out for everyone. I give 12-16 months. So sometime between nov. and march, i would expect a sequel, and if i didnt see one by November '09. (24 month cycle) i would complatly crap myself in suprise.

Edit: Just as a comparison. GH will have had 3 releases this year. Call of Duty tries to stick to at least 1/year. Rainbow 6 only had a (correct me if im wrong) 15 month gap between sequels. Hell. DDR was <12 months apart for the 360 version, i believe.

[Firecatman]

another thing with the guitar hero drums is the foot pedal doesn't have anything 2 keep it in place, so whats gunna stop it from sliding all over the place, I know even the rb drums the whole set slides around a bit on hardwood and I'm not sure how strong the cymbals are but it looks like those would be the first thing to break

[gorillawarfare]

If there is a rockband 2, and I think there shouldn't be, I would want two changes to the drum set.
1. snare pad. Every song has snare, pretty much no matter what. It would be very safe to have a specific pad for it. It would go between the red and yellow pads, it would look like this, approximately.this is pretty much a basic full set now, hihat, 2 toms, ride, snare and pedal.

2. Double bass/hi-hat pedal. If a song doesn't have double bass then it probably has a hi-hat. at the beginning of the song it would tell you if it was a double bass or hi-hat song. Double bass just means you can use both bass pedals. Hi hat would have a bar going along the side of the chart. the bar would have two different colors, one for pedal up and one for pedal down. This would make heroes a much more difficult song.

[AeroZeppelinSevenfold]

i agree with almost everything you said. while our set isn't perfect, the only other thing i would want besides what you mentioned is a cymbal add on.

the cymbals are completely optional, so that way hardcore players can use them if they want to.

[TheyCallMeRooster]

You know all this talk about Rock Band 2 has got me thinking.
I know Harmonix has to have something up their sleeve to compete with GH4. Maybe not a full fledged sequel but heres what I would do:

Make a new Rock Band disc and call it Rock Band: World Tour (that ones just for laughs, in reality it would be better)

And put things on it like a dozen new venues, bass world tour, Online Band World tour, new avatar clothing and more instruments, and finally 30-50 new songs/bonus songs (this would be especially great for those who have the wii/ps2 and cant download DLC)
On top of all of this Version 2.0 instruments (sold separately and in different bundles) like attachable cymbals for drums, a bass guitar, or a microphone with a controller in it (or maybe that cowbell attachment I've always wanted)

This would not be a direct sequel, but a few steps above a software update (save that harddrive space for music not polygons and patches). It'll look all nice and shiny next to GH4 and be completely backwards compatible with all previous DLC and periphials (which should make christmas-shopping-mommy feel warm and secure).

[Alonzo1948]

i agree with almost everything you said. while our set isn't perfect, the only other thing i would want besides what you mentioned is a cymbal add on.

the cymbals are completely optional, so that way hardcore players can use them if they want to.

I take it you mean something similar to this drum mod, if so I completely agree with you.

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37640