Touch sensitive guitar? The reason for a need for RB2?

[pbb76]

I've just read some news that may steer me towards GH4 and away from Rockband!!! As much as I dont want too!

Its rumoured the GH4 guitar will have a touch sensitive 'sliding' neck.

I am going to speculate this will mean no 'buttons' as such, but more like a laptop mouse pad type of afair.

If this is true, the limit to rhythm based action games is about to become unbound. Imagine being able to 'bend' notes, realistic hammer on/pulls that are touch sensitive, but more importantly, the ability to 'play' the whole neck of the guitar - not just either end like the RB one.

I will now be watching this with massive interest to see how it develops.

Maybe there is a real need for RB2 now so they can match the new peripheral from GH4?

Thoughts etc?

[SteveMega]

I can see that making it way to complicated to hit the actual notes as the come on the screen.

Don't like this idea... Could be interesting though. Maybe.

I'm betting it's just a rumour though.

[Spudd]

I, personally, think it's bull. Only because it would be too costly for the company itself. Same as the guitar hero name is driven into the ground by the new company.

I may be wrong! I don't know, this is just what I think when I read that.

[pbb76]

Yea, could just be a concept of an idea - but in all honesty, its an area you can definately see the rhythm games going (and would tend to be a nice compliment to the supposed touch sensitive drum pads in GH4).

I for one would love to see it happen (but loathed to get GH4), which I why I now hope RB2 would introduce something similar if it comes to it.

[SilentCapybara]

I can see that making it way to complicated to hit the actual notes as the come on the screen.

Don't like this idea... Could be interesting though. Maybe.

I'm betting it's just a rumour though.

In the issue of Game Informer with GH:WT as the cover story, the GI people talking and demo-ing saw tansparent notes. These are thought to be your own improvisation with the help of the sliding neck. So, you can solo how you want, but it's limited.

[pbb76]

In the issue of Game Informer with GH:WT as the cover story, the GI people talking and demo-ing saw tansparent notes. These are thought to be your own improvisation with the help of the sliding neck. So, you can solo how you want, but it's limited.

Hmmmm ok... but even so, if they still keep the stock 5 coloured buttons, I'd prefer them to be touch sensitive and 'flat' rather than a raised button. Would make the whole thing more immersive for sure.

[SilentCapybara]

Hmmmm ok... but even so, if they still keep the stock 5 coloured buttons, I'd prefer them to be touch sensitive and 'flat' rather than a raised button. Would make the whole thing more immersive for sure.

They are keeping the 5 main buttons (G R Y B O) up top, and down below is the touch sensitive neck.

[BriGuy]

The clear notes are for "open string" notes that so far have been attributed only to bass guitar. These will be played by strumming with no fret buttons held down.

The sliding "buttons" are where the solo buttons are on the Strat. They will supposedly allow you to "shred how you want" in your solos.

I'm not certain that this sliding button cluster will be able to be used outside of solos. I'm curious, but I think it's more of just a gimmick to get people to buy new guitars. You may call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think the Les Paul design had a built in defect (the detachable neck) that was designed to break over time and thus forcing you to buy a new guitar. With each new model, they have added some new feature (whether useful or not) to get you to abandon your old guitar.

[destrukshawn]

^ yeah you're a nut :) but we love you and your custom 'tars

if you check gh.com the shadowed graphic for the guitar has changed. it USED to feature the traditional buttons and then you could kind of make out a small touch bar. that leak is saying the ENTIRE guitar neck would be sensitive. I'm very curious to see how this is going to shake out.

[steve_gates]

In a world where products with a touch-screen are really expensive, I doubt that we will have a guitar with one.

[RockstarINXS]

I've just read some news that may steer me towards GH4 and away from Rockband!!! As much as I dont want too!

Its rumoured the GH4 guitar will have a touch sensitive 'sliding' neck.

I am going to speculate this will mean no 'buttons' as such, but more like a laptop mouse pad type of afair.

If this is true, the limit to rhythm based action games is about to become unbound. Imagine being able to 'bend' notes, realistic hammer on/pulls that are touch sensitive, but more importantly, the ability to 'play' the whole neck of the guitar - not just either end like the RB one.

I will now be watching this with massive interest to see how it develops.

Maybe there is a real need for RB2 now so they can match the new peripheral from GH4?

Thoughts etc? I think that they should come out with a RB2:D

[RockstarINXS]

I reallt think that they should come out with a RB2 B/C It would have better graphics and have a better experience.

[RockstarINXS]

I really think that they should come out with a RB2 B/C It would have better graphics and have a better experience.

[JuannaB]

I would fail instantly on a guitar with pressure sensitive buttons, since I rest my fingers on (not hovering above) the buttons when I'm not playing them. Can't believe I'm the only one. How else can you feel those raised bumps on the yellow button that help with hand location???

I'd sure be playing a LOT of four-note chords! I'll be the first one to say it: pressure sensitive buttons FTL.

[pbb76]

I would fail instantly on a guitar with pressure sensitive buttons, since I rest my fingers on (not hovering above) the buttons when I'm not playing them. Can't believe I'm the only one. How else can you feel those raised bumps on the yellow button that help with hand location???

I'd sure be playing a LOT of four-note chords! I'll be the first one to say it: pressure sensitive buttons FTL.

Ah yea, thats true.

But then, when you play a real guitar you dont do that of course, so maybe we would need to refine out play - which would be a REAL risk by GH/RB.

[grumpypariah]

seems like Activision is scared, and whipping NeverSoft and RedOctane to throw everything and the kitchen sink at GH:WT to keep the bucks rolling in.

i'm still not buying the full GH:WT bundle until it comes with its own stage kit and stripper pole that's touch sensitive.

[grumpypariah]

one other things.........

i stated before that the "create a song" feature in GH:WT was going to boil down to how can play faster and "top this" with no musical qualities what so ever.

this touch sensitive, slide, shred as you want neck only adds to my argument.

GH:WT created songs, 98.5% will be complete and utter garbage, IMHO.

[blakbuzzrd]

I'm sure this isn't going to happen, but I'd enjoy playing some plastic equivalent of slide guitar.

"Bad to the Bone," anyone?

[Ragin_Caucasion]

I really have a hard time believing that a touch sensitive neck would enable all that stuff. I think that current technology is not advanced enough to be able to recognize bends and other things of the ilk. This whole "ENTIRE NECK TOUCHIN" thing just seems like solo buttons with an added gimmick. Not to mention that I play these rythm games like I do my guitar, ie resting my hand on the "strings", so I see major issues popping up.

Activision's whole GHIV campiagn is just gross. They're just throwing in feature after feature which, while some like open notes on bass seem cool, are mostly unneccasary. Really, a wireless drumkit? Really, a touch-sensitive neck? Really, velocity sensitive pads (only useful during create-a-song)? Half these features are not needed.

[leroystanks]

In a world where products with a touch-screen are really expensive, I doubt that we will have a guitar with one.

The neck will be touch-sensitive... like the click wheel on an iPod. It's not going to be a touch screen...

[bloozman]

I am all for innovation, but at what point should I just pick up a real guitar.

One of the reasons why I love these games is because I am a REALLY bad guitar player, and can play RB on expert. If the technology makes "playing" more complicated, I just may have to dust off my guitar and actually learn to play it.

[JetWolf]

Touch sensitive guitar? Seriously?

Hm. As with everything else GH:WT related, I'm firmly entrenched in "wait and see" territory. You can promise me the world, but until I'm sitting on my throne with the entire population groveling at my feet, they're just sweet, sweet words.

I can't help but keep thinking though. With all the pretty paint and glitter features they're coating over the game ... what kind of horrible mess are they trying so desperately to cover up?

[TheBuddhistPalm]

The clear notes are for "open string" notes that so far have been attributed only to bass guitar. These will be played by strumming with no fret buttons held down.

The sliding "buttons" are where the solo buttons are on the Strat. They will supposedly allow you to "shred how you want" in your solos.

I'm not certain that this sliding button cluster will be able to be used outside of solos. I'm curious, but I think it's more of just a gimmick to get people to buy new guitars. You may call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think the Les Paul design had a built in defect (the detachable neck) that was designed to break over time and thus forcing you to buy a new guitar. With each new model, they have added some new feature (whether useful or not) to get you to abandon your old guitar.
just to set the record straight. in gameinformer they said that the open bass notes were shown on screen by a line across the fretboard similar to the line we use to show a bass drum hit here in rockband. the "ghost" notes in guitar hero 4 were shown on a guitar note chart. definately NOT the same as the open notes on bass. so who knows WHAT that could be.

the touch sensitive neck is STILL just a rumor, the open notes on bass guitar notated on screen by a line is fact... and i hope it makes its way into guitar note charts AND rock band 2.

[moneyp]

Absent everything else, I would kill for touch-sensitive pads as opposed to buttons, but the stability/resilence/expense of the peripheral would undoubtedly be problematic. I can see a third-party or even independent mod pulling this off, though. I'd try it.

[moshun]

Touch sensitive frets sounds like an innovative idea, but in all practicality it also sounds too good to be true too. :p I haven't read up or researched at all on the GH4, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they're throwing in a lot of cool sounding features but there'll be caveats to it like.. that feature is only enabled in the song creation mode and not very useful for actual gameplay.

[Dalamari]

Sounds interesting, I don't see this turning out well though...


I am all for innovation, but at what point should I just pick up a real guitar.

Agreed

[Melchiah]

I can't help but keep thinking though. With all the pretty paint and glitter features they're coating over the game ... what kind of horrible mess are they trying so desperately to cover up?

The horrible mess is the inability to create note charts that make sense and are enjoyable to play.

[tombrady]

I wanted to hate GH4 until I read this:

June 16, 2008 on 9:50 am | In Alex Grey, Other People, Tool | 11 Comments

A usually reliable source told me over the weekend that Tool will be appearing in Guitar Hero 4, with the track Schism, Vicarious and Parabola available to play. Apparently the graphics used during the songs will not be the usual seen in GH, but a conglomerate of Alex Grey artwork and the eyes from Lateralus and Aenima. More details on this as they come to hand.

Sounds like fun, but personally I’d be a little dissappointed with the track selection if this was the case. I wouldn’t have minded seeing Stinkfist, Aenima, or for something a little more challenging - Rosetta Stoned. What would you guys like to see?




I hope that's not true because Danny Carey + 5 pad drumkit = another 200 in the hole for me :'(

I wanted them in RB so bad :\

[m00p]

They have enough problems in Rock Band with the drums breaking. Why would Activision create a touch sensitive guitar, if only to break in a week or two after purchase?

Simple, basic, instruments is the way to go.

[SmokaCola]

That sounds pretty sweet, I really hope they don't decide to throw a release on RB2 until AFTER GH4 though. Mainly because they could calculate how long it would take to make their game/hardware a lot better than GH4. Which in turn would make for a better game :)

These "transparent" notes as everyone is talking about though may be what they were saying to make the game harder. Which really i'm all for a challenge, I just hope they don't get too over excited.

[m00p]

I don't think Guitar Hero could get any harder. I'm a pretty damn good guitarist and what not (not bragging), but GH3 really challenged me. The reason I like Guitar Hero Aerosmith is that its supposed to be easier.

But then again, I think GH3 improved my play. I could play on expert in GH2, but I'd get around 3 stars per song. Now in gh3, im five starring the entire setlist.