Holy S*!t !!!

[Ga_rocker]

the guitars strum bar at my walamart was exremley slow on the rebound time and it was not cool. is it going to be like this in the game cuz if it was i wouldn't buy it.

[TheRocker]

Its probably lag , you should be able to play fine when you get the final version.

[Bakkster]

Or the hundreds of people who abused it before you even touched it.

[Xzyliac]

Why do people flip out over demos?

Common sense should say "Here's the million varibles, here's the million chances."

[toefer]

Or the hundreds of people who abused it before you even touched it.

What's great is at first when people were saying this, I initially didn't want to believe it. Can people really destroy things? But then I remember first seeing a PS3 at a store, days after it game out, and the controller looked like it was caked in grease, and it was broken off the flexible arm thing it was attached to, and one of the analog sticks was broken. I want to meet the people that do this kind of stuff.

[skyehill]

Or the hundreds of people who abused it before you even touched it.

OK, so the Xplorer that's been on display in my Best Buy for about 8 months is still going strong, and the guitar for Rock Band, which has been on display for a day, is virtually unusable. Your theory fails. Either the demo guitars are crap to begin with, or we're all going to have issues with these guitars after a couple days of use.

[RiskyChris]

Damage control in this thread is outstanding.

The OP is referring to rebound, which the Rock Band guitar lacks by design. A mushy strumbar will not bounce back like the previous ones did.

And that sucks.

[HPLabonte]

OK, so the Xplorer that's been on display in my Best Buy for about 8 months is still going strong, and the guitar for Rock Band, which has been on display for a day, is virtually unusable. Your theory fails. Either the demo guitars are crap to begin with, or we're all going to have issues with these guitars after a couple days of use.

wow, your Best Buy's GH controllers actually work well!?!?

I was playing GHIII at my Best Buy and the damn controllers were whacked, when they had Rock the 80's on display, the wireless controllers they were using were f<boo>ucked and the GHII Display doesn't even work.

[The_Vampire_Lestat]

The only problem I've had with in-store guitars is the whammy bar usually doesn't work.


As I've said in many other threads... the Strat seems unresponsive. When you strum you expect something from the guitar. It's a lot harder to strum with the rhythm of the guitar when you aren't sure if you've strummed.

People keep saying they prefer a quiet strum bar.... quiet is not the issue.. you can have a quiet strum bar that is responsive.

[SmokaCola]

OK, so the Xplorer that's been on display in my Best Buy for about 8 months is still going strong, and the guitar for Rock Band, which has been on display for a day, is virtually unusa...

The RB controller doesn't make a "click" noise. The GH controllers do. So what do you think an uninformed kid is going to do when they pick up the RB controller? Mash the hell out of it, because they're the idiots that actually use the clicking for rhythm, not the game.

[The_Vampire_Lestat]

The RB controller doesn't make a "click" noise. The GH controllers do. So what do you think an uninformed kid is going to do when they pick up the RB controller? Mash the hell out of it, because they're the idiots that actually use the clicking for rhythm, not the game.

I take it you haven't used the strat yet.



Why do I have to keep saying this? It's not the fact that it doesn't click...

[SmokaCola]

I take it you haven't used the strat yet.



Why do I have to keep saying this? It's not the fact that it doesn't click...

It's not a matter of using it yet, You can still read about something after many people input on it and have a good idea of what it's like. Some say it works fine after a day, some say it doesn't. So either HMX made a ****ty guitar design or kids like to abuse controllers. I don't know about you man, but after what i've seen in stores all around with guitars on display and such. I'll take the "kids like to abuse controllers" over HMX making a ****ty one.

Hell I even went into EBGames the day after it was over. The strap was already broken, went back recently (just about 2 days after being in there) to put more down on my RB pre-order. So what does that tell me? The Les Paul is a ****ty controller and kids don't find it amusing to break things that aren't theirs?

[skyehill]

It's not a matter of using it yet, You can still read about something after many people input on it and have a good idea of what it's like. Some say it works fine after a day, some say it doesn't. So either HMX made a ****ty guitar design or kids like to abuse controllers. I don't know about you man, but after what i've seen in stores all around with guitars on display and such. I'll take the "kids like to abuse controllers" over HMX making a ****ty one.

Hell I even went into EBGames the day after it was over. The strap was already broken, went back recently (just about 2 days after being in there) to put more down on my RB pre-order. So what does that tell me? The Les Paul is a ****ty controller and kids don't find it amusing to break things that aren't theirs?


Until you use it and see what we're talking about, shut up. You just look stupid.

[SmokaCola]

Until you use it and see what we're talking about, shut up. You just look stupid.

Wow well that was a reasonable reaction. I'm sorry kid, it just annoys me when ignorant people act like the game or the game's controllers will be complete crap because what they've seen at demos. I mean really, if your intelligence is lacking so bad that you actually judge a game's controllers or gameplay on the demo. You need help.

[franknbeans]

its a demo..

[Pandacon]

Well, I personally didnt experience this problem when I play it at PAX, so yeah, good luck with all that.

[DShiz1029]

I wrote what I thought was a good review about the Rock Band demo and more specifically the Strat itself...go read it in the General Topic section.

[skyehill]

Wow well that was a reasonable reaction. I'm sorry kid, it just annoys me when ignorant people act like the game or the game's controllers will be complete crap because what they've seen at demos. I mean really, if your intelligence is lacking so bad that you actually judge a game's controllers or gameplay on the demo. You need help.

Wait wait wait, so you're saying Harmonix released a demo to all of these stores so we wouldn't form an opinion?! You're brilliant.

[SmokaCola]

Wait wait wait, so you're saying Harmonix released a demo to all of these stores so we wouldn't form an opinion?! You're brilliant.

Yep, I knew that was going to go right over your head.

[DShiz1029]

Wait wait wait, so you're saying Harmonix released a demo to all of these stores so we wouldn't form an opinion?! You're brilliant.

I think what hes saying is demos never do the game complete justice. In the Rock Band demo you dont get to go on the world tour, you dont get to create your custom rockers and band logos...you dont even get to play online, plus it offers limited songs.

[WeaveMN]

Here is my research so far on the matter:

The strum bar is significantly different than the GH controllers, no argument there.

Having played at 3 different Best Buy's in the Twin Cities Area, 2 have guitars that work flawlessly and feel great after the initial "wow this is different" moment. The 3rd location (and sadly the one closest to my house) has a downstrum that doesn't work.

The first 2 locations have the smaller LCD demo stations tucked into the back corner of the store. The last one had a huge setup, 50 inch TV, the works, right as you walk in the door.

I'll let you draw conclusions from there. Just providing some more info.

(as a side note the drumset had a broken pad at the 3rd location as well)

[skyehill]

I think what hes saying is demos never do the game complete justice. In the Rock Band demo you dont get to go on the world tour, you dont get to create your custom rockers and band logos...you dont even get to play online, plus it offers limited songs.


I never complained once about the content other than every song being too easy on Expert, which is fine based on what Sean said the game's intent is. The issue is that my local Best Buy has had GH2 on display for 8 months and the guitar is still working. Day 1 of the Rock Band demo and the strum bar is already broken? I'd accept that if it was one store, but it sounds like its the case at many many stores. Don't tell me there is no cause for concern.

[Jack_Harvard]

I dunno. I didn't notice any unresponsiveness, and the Strat I used worked like a dream both days I used it.

[Saltines]

These are really the only incidents ive heard of where the guitar isnt working right. My friend went to best buy and it worked great. Alot of people i know on here did the same. I'm going to go with people ****ing these things up.. It's unbelievable why someone would do that. Are they ******ed? I dont really care if it's just a little kid.
Easy concept, push button, press bar, commence solo.
BTW...

I like the clicky noise.....

[acetabulum]

Wow well that was a reasonable reaction. I'm sorry kid, it just annoys me when ignorant people act like the game or the game's controllers will be complete crap because what they've seen at demos. I mean really, if your intelligence is lacking so bad that you actually judge a game's controllers or gameplay on the demo. You need help.
That's basically what demos are for. So you know what you're getting before you buy the actual product. I'll eventually test out a friend's bought RB guitar, but until then I'm still concerned.

[SmokaCola]

That's basically what demos are for. So you know what you're getting before you buy the actual product. I'll eventually test out a friend's bought RB guitar, but until then I'm still concerned.

Wow... I'm not even going to try to explain anymore, I'll just keep out of this thread.

[Qweets]

I had the same experience in my local area, the guitar seems completely unresponsive for being setup just a day or so ago. Having to press really hard up or down to get it to register as a strum is weird, it was very stiff/sticky feeling, and the drums you had to bang the hell out of them and it wasn't registering alot either. Not bashing it at all just concerned a bit, sure its a demo but those perpherials are the FINAL products are they not? They are probably already producing them in a factory I'd assume so no last minute tweaks, if they could get broken that fast its kinda scary. Overall though I loved the drums such a new addition, it'll be what I play most. I'll still buy the game regardless.

[tbradshaw]

OK, so the Xplorer that's been on display in my Best Buy for about 8 months is still going strong, and the guitar for Rock Band, which has been on display for a day, is virtually unusable. Your theory fails. Either the demo guitars are crap to begin with, or we're all going to have issues with these guitars after a couple days of use.

They typically replace the Xplorer's when they have problems, since they can just pop open a box and grab another. The best buy in my little college down hasn't been around that long, and while all of the xplorers that they've had on display have worked great, it's been a exchanged for a new one pretty often.

[tbradshaw]

Day 1 of the Rock Band demo and the strum bar is already broken? I'd accept that if it was one store, but it sounds like its the case at many many stores. Don't tell me there is no cause for concern.

While the xplorer comments are a Non Sequitur, I'm with you on the later part. It is definitely true that the number of comments that we're getting over guitar quality at the demos are a cause for concern. What would be great, is I would like to see come hidden camera footage at these demos. While it only takes one dickhead to ruin a controller at a demo, a broken guitar on the first day isn't leaving much time for that one dickhead to show up.

So yeah, these stories of poor guitar response are inconclusive, but definitely a cause for concern.

[Xzyliac]

Wow well that was a reasonable reaction. I'm sorry kid, it just annoys me when ignorant people act like the game or the game's controllers will be complete crap because what they've seen at demos. I mean really, if your intelligence is lacking so bad that you actually judge a game's controllers or gameplay on the demo. You need help.

Thank you. A demo, especially one needing a special controller, are cheap placeholders meant to be fùcked up.

[sporkBrigade]

The only problem I've had with in-store guitars is the whammy bar usually doesn't work.


As I've said in many other threads... the Strat seems unresponsive. When you strum you expect something from the guitar. It's a lot harder to strum with the rhythm of the guitar when you aren't sure if you've strummed.

People keep saying they prefer a quiet strum bar.... quiet is not the issue.. you can have a quiet strum bar that is responsive.

So by responsive, you mean that you hit the bar, and the game registers? This is where I get confused on the complaints, because with my playtime the guitar was perfectly responsive my entire time with it.

What was lacking was feedback. There was no click, audible or by feel, and I have no problem with that. The mushiness also had a great bonus, though I think a lot of you don't experience it because you don't actually strum the bar. The "Clicky" bars of GH have a really bad side effect of getting a double stroke when you strike it . On the rebound, the guitar registers a second hit. The new mushy bar never ever does this. I guess this is tricky, since people who don't actually want to strum their guitar like a real guitar will never benifit from this, and all they want is to hold the bar and play that way.

But technically, both strumming styles work perfectly fine, at least with my testing. You just won't get any feedback. I guess if it's that important to you, I understand. But I'd give it a few more chances before condemning it, I think you'll get used to it more then you think.

If you truely don't care about feedback, then the above wasn't directed to you. If you're complaint is responsiveness, the ability for the bar to consistantly pick up any stroke, then all I can say is that I did not experience what you did, so take that how you will.

[sporkBrigade]

Damage control in this thread is outstanding.

The OP is referring to rebound, which the Rock Band guitar lacks by design. A mushy strumbar will not bounce back like the previous ones did.

And that sucks.

It's not damage control, it's a reaction based on a different experience. The OP claims the bar didn't rebound fast enough. I played some of the running 8th notes using nothing but my thumb, kind of like slap bass, always going down. If I could move my thumb fast enough, I hit every note. I never missed a note due to rebound, and I can single strum pretty god damn fast.

So I'm sorry if what you see is damage control. But personally, I'm just saying I didn't experience what the OP experienced. At least not with the actual gameplay. I suppose the bar may have not returned to it's center position in between each note, but since I hit every single note 100% and ran a 4x the entire time, I'm not sure why that would matter. I think there are two different reactions going on with this guitar, and those of us who had a positive experience are just baffled by those who didn't.

[dragulaAC]

It's not damage control, it's a reaction based on a different experience. The OP claims the bar didn't rebound fast enough. I played some of the running 8th notes using nothing but my thumb, kind of like slap bass, always going down. If I could move my thumb fast enough, I hit every note. I never missed a note due to rebound, and I can single strum pretty god damn fast.

So I'm sorry if what you see is damage control. But personally, I'm just saying I didn't experience what the OP experienced. At least not with the actual gameplay. I suppose the bar may have not returned to it's center position in between each note, but since I hit every single note 100% and ran a 4x the entire time, I'm not sure why that would matter. I think there are two different reactions going on with this guitar, and those of us who had a positive experience are just baffled by those who didn't.

THat about sums it up for me. I had no problems whatsoever downstrumming everything I've tried so far. I think some people have become too reliant on the 'click'. Eventually they will be able to wean off of the 'click' sound, or 'security blanket' if you will, hah.

Anyway, i don't think that there's really any point to continue the ongoing debates with the strat until we all get our own personal guitars home and test them for a few days on our own. There's way too many variables and personal preferences here voiding an actual review of the strats quality and ability.