Slight issue with mic usage...

[Mistersh0w]

So, was at best buy for about 2 hours yesterday playing RB on the mic the entire time,(No one else wanted to try out the mic! Go figure...) we had a small crowd going cheering us on too! Was an awesome time. As a side note, RB should have some kind of "Street Team"-like service where peeps can go to their local BB's and ROCK OUT for a certain amount of time, and get free stuff for doing so! The reason I suggest this is because all the playing me and my pal were doing was drawing in a TON of other people who had NO IDEA what RB was!! After lengthy explanations (as well as repeatedly informing it wasn't out yet.), 9 out of 10 were seriously hooked and converted! We were, is some ways, SELLING RB to people who didn't know what it was! FREE PUBLICITY, you know? But, I digress...

To the point: I had a slight issue with the mic. And mind you, it was the ONLY problem I had with it. And now that I think about it, this may be a little "naggy" issue with the game itself. Ok so, when you get to the screen where everyone in the band is supposed to press their confirmation buttons to proceed to the difficulty selection screen, you come to find that there's no such button on the mic. So many times, the whole band will confirm, but you (singer) didn't have time to grab your controller and press the button necessary to continue. This most likely happens because everyone is so eager to get on with the ROCKIN'! So you're left with having to buzz kill with a polite: "Hey guys, we need to go back, I didn't get to join in!".

Now I know it's not the WORST thing in the world to have to go back and let the singer confirm his selection, but it's slightly annoying. Especially when, and let's face it, load times aren't exactly the fastest. Which is understandable, the game has a lot of things to load up and register before you can make confirmations willy nilly! I'm not complaining about load times here... It just kind of sucks you have to have your respective controller at hand somewhere close to be able to confirm selections, and other such modifications. At that point it would have been a little better to include just a simple button on the mic peripheral specifically for the purpose of being a "confirmation" button. But hey, like I said it's a "slight" issue, and for the most part it probably won't affect most people... Just my two cents from a singer's point of view.

[Bakkster]

The problem with that is that if you added buttons the mic would no longer fit into a mic stand. It would also mean you could accidentally hit buttons while rocking too hard.

Also, it's a mic. It does what it's supposed to, and that's good enough for me.

[Mistersh0w]

The problem with that is that if you added buttons the mic would no longer fit into a mic stand. It would also mean you could accidentally hit buttons while rocking too hard.

Also, it's a mic. It does what it's supposed to, and that's good enough for me.

Well, most mic stands have the standard "U" shaped clip to easily slide the mic, and cable in and out of the stand, which would make sliding in the mic with the button facing upward an easy solution. I do however, agree with the rocking out part... Though, a simple "lock" switch would do the trick for such problems...

[tf5_bassist]

My friend Brie and I were thinking that the other day as well (we also went to Best Buy while bored to go play Rock Band)... It wouldn't be that hard to do, but honestly that wasn't my biggest complaint. It seemed like the mic had cut out a few times, with the cord having issues... So... I'll be replacing that mic with a good quality mic asap.

[Bakkster]

Well, most mic stands have the standard "U" shaped clip to easily slide the mic, and cable in and out of the stand, which would make sliding in the mic with the button facing upward an easy solution. I do however, agree with the rocking out part... Though, a simple "lock" switch would do the trick for such problems...

Wait, you want only one button? Why? To be useful I'd think you'd want a D-pad (to select difficulty) and the A and B/X and O buttons (to select/deselect). Now the mic is no longer functioning as a USB mic, and is now a gimped controller. This also means that you can't take your PS3 mic to an XBox360. You also (maybe) couldn't take a standard USB mic and use that.

I don't see it being an issue at all, it never was for Karaoke Revolution and Singstar...

[Mistersh0w]

Wait, you want only one button? Why? To be useful I'd think you'd want a D-pad (to select difficulty) and the A and B/X and O buttons (to select/deselect). Now the mic is no longer functioning as a USB mic, and is now a gimped controller. This also means that you can't take your PS3 mic to an XBox360. You also (maybe) couldn't take a standard USB mic and use that.

I don't see it being an issue at all, it never was for Karaoke Revolution and Singstar...

You're probably right. It would just be nice to have a solution to the selection issue. Possibly a remote dongle with a D-pad and the 4 buttons necessary for select and deselect? I dunno, just trying to simplify a slight problem. Guess I'll have to keep the ps3 controller in my pocket while I sing! Haha...

[DrunkOldMan]

A remote dongle with a D-Pad and 4 buttons, conneted to or dangling off a mic is an easier and simpler solution than just having a controller handy? I really don't think it's going to be that big of an issue.

You don't have to have it in your hand the whole time. Just put it on the floor, or on the couch, or somewhere else convienent (your pocket sounds like a dumb idea).

[Mistersh0w]

A remote dongle with a D-Pad and 4 buttons, conneted to or dangling off a mic is an easier and simpler solution than just having a controller handy? I really don't think it's going to be that big of an issue.

You don't have to have it in your hand the whole time. Just put it on the floor, or on the couch, or somewhere else convienent (your pocket sounds like a dumb idea).

Well the "pocket" comment was a joke. There's no way I'd keep a controller in my pocket, for obvious reasons... Like I said, it's not that big of a deal, just a little annoying. I just don't really want to have to fumble with a controller when I play a music based game... Wouldn't it suck if you had to have the controller handy when using the guitar? Or the drums for that matter? I don't know about you guys, but I like to stand when I rock out, and with singing it's a given. If I toss the controller on the couch after selecting my preferences and joining the game, once we're done rocking one song, i'm gonna need to fumble for it again to select the next set of options. And like I said, everyone is so eager to get into the next song once at the selection screen, and it's not necessary to have all players confirm their instruments to move to the difficulty screen. the problem with that is, if you didn't confirm your instrument, everyone will have to go back to the controller selection screen and allow you time to join in... This was a frequent issue at best buy, and was a total RAWK buzzkill!

I know that there's no real practical way to get around the "buttons on mic" debate, just a little miffed about it is all... Especially when it comes down to game play.

[4degrees]

They should make it so you just need to bang the mic to confirm.

[Bakkster]

I think a lot of the issues you are having are a product of the demo setups. Especially once you start playing setlists, you shouldn't need to touch the mic between every song. If you do, there should be plenty of time for you to find it again.

For a proactive solution, maybe you can make a holster for your controller?

[Mistersh0w]

I think a lot of the issues you are having are a product of the demo setups. Especially once you start playing setlists, you shouldn't need to touch the mic between every song. If you do, there should be plenty of time for you to find it again.

For a proactive solution, maybe you can make a holster for your controller?

Haha, I like that... And true, it is more of an issue with the demo setup. But, if you choose to do a band quickplay, which I plan on doing a lot of the friday of the release week, which will be a party at my place, it becomes an issue again. I like Bakkster's idea of hitting the mic like when you hit it for tambourine, to select... hit it twice to move up and down, and once for select.

[Bakkster]

I like Bakkster's idea of hitting the mic like when you hit it for tambourine, to select... hit it twice to move up and down, and once for select.

I can't take credit for that idea, look again ;)

[nicko68]

Why not some simple voice recognition? It apparently has phoneme detection. :)

[Eastwood]

How about just a metal type scream. High pitched and loud... Just scream "yeaaaaaaaah" in vibrato fashion... That's just me, though. :p

[HMXJohnlok]

You know, it really is a minor issue, but I agree with you: a button on the mic would be sweet (god I'm lazy...).

[Bakkster]

You know, it really is a minor issue, but I agree with you: a button on the mic would be sweet (god I'm lazy...).

As long as it doesn't have a Guide button on it. It would be like Peter Moore came into your house every time you started playing and said "What does this button do?" and pressed it in the middle of every song. :D

[SmokaCola]

As long as it doesn't have a Guide button on it. It would be like Peter Moore came into your house every time you started playing and said "What does this button do?" and pressed it in the middle of every song. :D

Thanks, now the next 8 days of my waiting for rock band will consist of horrible nightmares :( I hate you so much right now.

[Mistersh0w]

I can't take credit for that idea, look again ;)

Ah yes, it was 4degrees... But yeah, to a degree it is laziness I guess. The game is damn near absolute perfection, something this small doesn't do a thing in the way of fun factor. Just a minor gripe is all...