Harmonix, you made a HUGE mistake with Rock Band.

[Emowii]

I was SO excited about getting home tonight with my Rock Band package. I had played the demo in the store, and enjoyed playing the drums more than you could ever imagine. I've never played the drums in my life, but I immediately felt I was comfortable playing them on the store demo. I was regularly averaging 90%+ on medium, and I think I've always had a slight predisposition to keeping time in music.



So I get home tonight after having spent $170 on my package, and I set up the drum immediately. I get into my first song on MEDIUM, and quickly fail the song miserably. I was thinking to myself "WTF"?

I soon realize that I failed because I didn't have the foot pedal connected to the drum set. I just wanted to get started on the drums, and figured I could set up the foot pedal later, as they had to make it optional somehow.


So, I begin the next song on the EASY setting figuring these is no way Harmonix could have forced even a brand new player to use the foot pedal with the drums. Sure enough, I notice immediately I am missing notes each time that foot pedal note comes along. :mad:


I honestly don't know what to even say in response to this, other than it was the stupidest thing Harmonix could have ever done to this game. They've designed this beautiful game, that encourages people to pick up these instruments for the first time in their lives, and enjoy the wonder of playing music together. Yet they chose to make the drums SO hard on even the easiest setting, that only the most rhythmically inclined among us will ever have a chance of playing them at any level in the game.


Harmonix, I have one question for you? Why would you do such a thing? This surely was a mistake, and you will realize it when you see how many people complain about this the moment they realize how ridiculously hard these drums are to play. Even worse you basically teased people by making the drums in the store demo easier to use, and it's a form of false advertising. Giving the impression to newcomers like me that this was possible for me to enjoy. Now after having spent $170 I find out that is not the case. I feel like I've been had, and you should feel guilty for doing this to loyal fans like myself, who have enjoyed your previous games.


This isn't like some $60 game that I can put aside with some regret when I find out I don't like it. I just dropped $170 on a Rock Band package, that also happens to include a guitar that is the worst your company has ever produced. The strum bar is a joke, and doesn't feel nearly as responsive as the older guitars. So not only am I pissed off about his drums situation, I'm now feeling equally unhappy about the guitar that comes with this package. How on earth could you have been happy with this guitar, and how on earth could anyone in your company have thought it was a wise idea to ship the store demo one way, and then the final product another way. You should be ashamed.

[HMXJohnlok]

As for the demo - retailers asked that we leave the pedal out.

I recommend you stick with the drums! I was a noob drummer when I came to Harmonix, and I can't describe the level of satisfaction I had when I finally started to master the basics!

Like I said - stick with it, once you get the hang of it I think you'll be glad that you did.

[Scynthe]

I only have one thing to say about this... it involves a mountain and a molehill.

Just keep practicing and you'll get used to it in no time! Harmonix is not wrong for making it so it actually takes some effort to learn. Just keep at it and you'll get it!

[blue_dragonzero]

Do you know how many people whine about guitar hero the same way on easy, and yes people do still fail on easy.

[foolosophy]

The games replay value and challenge on drums would be significantly lower without the pedal.

[Godfail]

Harmonix has never made a guitar before, that was Red Octane - the same people that made the guitar for GH3.

[batsu336]

The bass drum (pedal) and snare drum are the two most basic pieces of a drum kit. You wouldn't have drums without them, so it would be foolish to NOT have the pedal on easy. Suck it up and actually try to play and have fun. If all else fails, get your kid brother to drum while you stick to guitar or vocals. Seriously...some people go out of their way to look for a complaint when others have legitimate gripes.

[cutmaclass]

Hahahaha..... thanks for the laugh.

Well, at least you aren't complaining about the Les Paul :/

As for the foot pedal.... what's your issue? Just hook up the foot pedal and get used to it. I doubt EASY mode is for the "most rhythmically inclined". PRACTICE. As for why they didn't put it in the demo.... it would have been obliterated in a day by lots of enthusiastic stomping.

Have you even given the guitar a chance? You've obviously spent a lot of time formulating extensive complaints about a foot pedal, I doubt you've actually put effort into getting used to the new guitar or finishing the guitar campaign.

[dlisapussy]

They include the foot pedal during easy songs because they want you to learn how to use it. The hardest part about drums is the foot pedal. If you want to avoid the foot pedal, you can play easy all day. They don't want you to avoid the foot pedal. It's a crucial part of drumming.

[MountainKing]

You're kidding?

How about they put in a mode where it just plays the songs for you?

Try and remember the first time you ever saw Guitar Hero and you were like...." OH no, not the ORANGE button!"

Keep at it, you'll get better.

[SmokaCola]

This game is awesome man, it takes a bit getting use to but i've never played drums in my life, ever! I've started out on medium on RB though and I have to say, it's a blast but man will it give that leg a work out (and yes, i am doing it the right way :p I just played it all day lol)

[KazerX]

I'm honestly not trying to be mean or anything so hopefully you won't take this the wrong way. Just relax a bit and practice some more. My younger sister played Rock Band with me for a couple of hours, she plays the drums just fine. Sure she doesn't get all the notes and she had a rough start but now she's pretty good at it on medium.

I asked a couple of times if she wanted to sing or play the guitar but she's having a lot of fun on the drums. I'm not really into drums so I don't mind my sister hogging it. I have tried the drums on medium a couple of times. It didn't seem that bad too me at all. Maybe you have defective hardware. Might want to check into that as well.

At first with the guitar, I thought that it was not as responsive as the older guitars. After playing a couple of songs I got used to the strum bar and fret buttons. I now think that the strat is more comfortable as well as easier to play with.

[holyground]

Songs I could do really well at on Hard, I'm now finding myself having a lot of trouble with even on Easy. The pedal just really, really throws me off, and I'm 100% convinced that if I could disable the pedal, my fun factor with the drums (isn't it all about fun?) would increase ten fold.

This is my "I told you so" moment. For weeks, since the BB demo came out people were complaining that the drums were too easy and that they could FC Tom Sawyer on Expert. I tried to tell people that it would be very different when retail was released.


As for difficulty vs. fun... Here's my theory: Work on it. Think back to the very first time you played Guitar Hero. I mean the first time... did you fail? Did that stop you? You cant treat the drums like you treat the guitar... you've had years of practice if you started with GH 1.

To reiterate, Give the drums + pedal a chance. I have NO rhythm at all (Jewish stereotypes coming true ftl) And I'm already breezing through medium. Try the tutorial (btw, I watched some online drumming lessons because I was curious, and the tutorials do the same thing as basic drum lessons) and have patiences... Even medium feels like I'm really druming.

[AdamWill]

Quit whining and practice.

It has nothing to do with being 'rhythmically inclined' and everything to do with practice. It'll take you a day or so to be able to play easy fine, maybe a couple of days to play medium, and a week or two weeks to play easier songs on hard and expert. Just knuckle down and practice. Here's a heads-up: no-one owes it to you to make it so you can kick the ass of every game as soon as you open the box. If you're failing, then practice until you succeed. I'm a bit sick of modern day gamers who assume that any game they can't beat without ever dying is 'broken'. Learning is part of the game, dude.

[AdamWill]

and by the way, after you put in a minimum amount of effort and learn to play with bass, you *will* find it a hell of a lot more fun than playing without.

[Vertebreaker]

I'm by no means giving up on drums, or the pedal. I'd just like to have the option for myself or friends, so we might have an easier time with BWT, instead of arguing about who sucks least and whatnot.

Def Leppard's drummer lost an arm, and yeah, that dude was awesome.

I'll stick with it, because I'm determined to do well with the pedal...I just think it'd be a nice option, that's all. It can't be that hard to patch in, right?

[Patch_]

I've played about 10 hours today so far, god help me and yeah, the drums will kick your ass, I'm learning though and I'm having a blast, I think this game would have really sucked if I could have aced every song on drums, guitar in 1 day.

Though I will say this, it will be a good long while before I hit expert :p
Just have fun with it

[AdamWill]

oh, and quick note...a real drumkit has *two* pedals: bass and hi-hat. (disregarding dual bass pedal setups). so you have to deal with both your hands and both your feet.

you're already getting it simplified a hell of a lot with only four pads, one pedal missing, and really pretty easy patterns. not to mention you don't actually have to keep time accurately yourself (the screen does it for you) and the power you hit with doesn't matter. it's not teaching you to play the drums, it's a hell of a lot easier than that. just suck it up and practice for a while. then you'll get - shock - an *actual sense of achievement* when you get better! won't that be fun?

[AdamWill]

[unintentional dupe, stupid bb software]

[_GABO_]

I only have one thing to say about this... it involves a mountain and a molehill.

Funniest, smartest thing I've ever seen from a Junior Member. OP, you've got to complain less and realize how much of a great idea as a whole RockBand is, just because you can't suck it up and learn to play fake drums doesn't mean that everyone else who actually does play drums doesn't get to play the full kit.

[Emowii]

I guess I should have known better than to post an honest and sincere thread like this on a forum that is seething with fanboys of the game. :rolleyes:


If you stop and take a moment to look at my complaints like a mature adult, you'll see what I'm talking about. I'm sure many of you are expert Guitar Hero players, and thus you laugh because it's cool to be a badass at these games. Thats not what I bought Rock Band for. I bought Rock Band to have some fun with friends and family.


The people I'm gonna be playing this game with aren't college students who have 10 hours a day to master Jordan on expert. They're not the type who work a part time job while living with mom and dad so they have tons of free time to master Freebird. I'm talking about people who might come over to my house, and just love the idea of sitting down and playing the drums on a rock song for a while one day. Those people are gonna sit down at this drum set on EASY, and fail miserably. They won't have a good time doing so either. Thats the problem with this.


My proof of this is that I clearly have the basic abilities to play these songs without the kick pedal, as I did successfully in the store. But I struggle with some songs even on easy with the kick pedal. Yeah, I can almost score a perfect on EASY if I try, but I'm still not having fun because it's simply too difficult a jump for a total newb.


Harmonix perfectly laid out the difficulty levels for guitar, bass, and singing in this game, that is why it's all the more insane how they handled the drums. It's like a totally different mindset went into it. it really is exactly like forcing all 5 buttons on a guitar player on easy. It would be an incredibly dumb thing to do, and yet thats exactly what they did on the drums, and people are still defending that? It's just dumb logic. Plain and simple.

[sa_nick]

umm.... lulz?

Just keep practising, you'll get it soon, then realise how much more fun it is to have that bass pedal there.

[xTrolx]

My 8 and 9 year olds can play drums on easy. If they can keep from failing a song on easy, I'm sure with a little practice you will get it. Just pick a song that you are having trouble with it and play on practice. Keep on it until you are doing well (at least over 80%) and then try it in solo tour.

[MJDoja]

I was SO excited about getting home tonight with my Rock Band package. I had played the demo in the store, and enjoyed playing the drums more than you could ever imagine. I've never played the drums in my life, but I immediately felt I was comfortable playing them on the store demo. I was regularly averaging 90%+ on medium, and I think I've always had a slight predisposition to keeping time in music.



So I get home tonight after having spent $170 on my package, and I set up the drum immediately. I get into my first song on MEDIUM, and quickly fail the song miserably. I was thinking to myself "WTF"?

I soon realize that I failed because I didn't have the foot pedal connected to the drum set. I just wanted to get started on the drums, and figured I could set up the foot pedal later, as they had to make it optional somehow.


So, I begin the next song on the EASY setting figuring these is no way Harmonix could have forced even a brand new player to use the foot pedal with the drums. Sure enough, I notice immediately I am missing notes each time that foot pedal note comes along. :mad:


I honestly don't know what to even say in response to this, other than it was the stupidest thing Harmonix could have ever done to this game. They've designed this beautiful game, that encourages people to pick up these instruments for the first time in their lives, and enjoy the wonder of playing music together. Yet they chose to make the drums SO hard on even the easiest setting, that only the most rhythmically inclined among us will ever have a chance of playing them at any level in the game.


Harmonix, I have one question for you? Why would you do such a thing? This surely was a mistake, and you will realize it when you see how many people complain about this the moment they realize how ridiculously hard these drums are to play. Even worse you basically teased people by making the drums in the store demo easier to use, and it's a form of false advertising. Giving the impression to newcomers like me that this was possible for me to enjoy. Now after having spent $170 I find out that is not the case. I feel like I've been had, and you should feel guilty for doing this to loyal fans like myself, who have enjoyed your previous games.


This isn't like some $60 game that I can put aside with some regret when I find out I don't like it. I just dropped $170 on a Rock Band package, that also happens to include a guitar that is the worst your company has ever produced. The strum bar is a joke, and doesn't feel nearly as responsive as the older guitars. So not only am I pissed off about his drums situation, I'm now feeling equally unhappy about the guitar that comes with this package. How on earth could you have been happy with this guitar, and how on earth could anyone in your company have thought it was a wise idea to ship the store demo one way, and then the final product another way. You should be ashamed.

suck it up crybaby and learn how to drum

[Edgehopper]

(whining cut)

Harmonix perfectly laid out the difficulty levels for guitar, bass, and singing in this game, that is why it's all the more insane how they handled the drums. It's like a totally different mindset went into it. it really is exactly like forcing all 5 buttons on a guitar player on easy. It would be an incredibly dumb thing to do, and yet thats exactly what they did on the drums, and people are still defending that? It's just dumb logic. Plain and simple.

It's really not too difficult for a newbie. The bass drum pedal is always on beat on Easy, and almost always separated from another drum hit. The difficulty settings make perfect sense for the drums:

Easy: Bass pedal generally restricted to beast 2 and 4, and generally played by itself; typically no faster than quarter note beats.
Medium: Bass pedal generally restricted to on beats, may be at the same time as another drum; typically no faster than eighth note or fast quarter note beats.
Hard: Bass pedal can be off beat; weird parts and fills are softened to make them more playable.
Expert: Identical to the actual drum part as far as the hardware allows.

If you didn't have the bass pedal on Easy, you'd be playing the quads, not a drum set. This is Rock Band, not Marching Band :) You can't play rock without the bass drum, it just doesn't work.

[BizzyTone]

Practice, Practice, Practice and more Practice. The fun part is the challenge, what fun is it being able to pick it up and beast right away? I take much pleasure in improving and then others noticing it when they attempt it and see lesser results. As is everything with life.

[nicko68]

I don't have RB (yet), but I think I see what the OP is saying.

He thinks that Easy should be easy enough that anyone can just play and do decently. Like in GH, someone who's never played before should be able to pick it up and pass (not 5* or anything). I did that with GHII. Like a party game, which RB is being partially billed as... not people who are going to practice and practice to become good, just people goofing around and having fun. And he feels that the foot pedal keeps that from happening, and ends up being frustrating, if people fail.

I can see his point.

The foot pedal should be like the Orange button in GH. Maybe not wait until Hard to introduce it, but leave it out of Easy.

Maybe RB needs a "Party" mode which is meant for straight goofing around.

[bounchfx]

this game is awesome.

[eVan_Diesel]

Yea, that's a lame complaint.

[Vertebreaker]

While I disagree on the guitar, and am having lots of fun and success with it, I'm completely with you on the drums.

I'm not a musical expert by any means. I don't want to be. I just want to play the game and have fun with it. When I was playing the demo at Best Buy, I was having a blast with the drums because it only required me to hit four notes, just as I saw them on screen.

Adding in the bass pedal has thrown all that out of the window. Songs I could do really well at on Hard, I'm now finding myself having a lot of trouble with even on Easy. The pedal just really, really throws me off, and I'm 100% convinced that if I could disable the pedal, my fun factor with the drums (isn't it all about fun?) would increase ten fold.

[admanimal]

If this is the biggest mistake Harmonix made with Rock Band, then congratulations to them!

[returnx]

Are you serious? You're really complaining that basically, the game is "too hard"?
I'm sorry, but that is not a valid complaint. As they say, it's not rocket science. You shouldn't expect everyone to hand everything to you. If you can't play with the bass pedal at the same time, then practice your coordination instead of whining that it's too hard.

[jaydajedi]

im just thankful i still have both my feet :)

[BeatJunkie]

By the way, there was once a famous one-armed drummer who rocked pretty hard, I can't remember his name or the band he played in though. If that guy can play a REAL drum set with one arm, I think you can learn to play a Rock Band drum set with one foot. (When the real thing requires two.) Just practice, man.
For those who have it on the tip of their tongue -- The one-armed drummer you speak of is Rick Allen of Def Leppard. Blew me away first time I heard he was a drummer with one arm.

Ahhh, the 80's. :D

And yeah, I have to agree, complaining that the pedal is too hard is a weak complaint. Practice!

[Mr_Urlacher]

LMAO! HAHAHAHA!

After reading this thread it really made me laugh. Dude are you serious??? Can you read what your typing? Try using the bass pedal on easy and tell me that you fail out. Ive never played the drums in my life and i find easy to be REALLY easy. My 12 year old brother can do expert on almost any song, but hes been playing drums for 5 years now... But still I havent played the drums at all and I can do easy REALLY REALLY easily so I think that you should be able to. I would have been MAD at HMX if they didnt put in the bass pedal, its being true to the drums! Without the bass pedal would have been REALLY REALLY ****ing stupid. Heres the problem to your solution: Grab the pedal, hook it up, play on easy... Im pretty sure that you will do JUST fine.

[Vertebreaker]

Are you serious? You're really complaining that basically, the game is "too hard"?
I'm sorry, but that is not a valid complaint. As they say, it's not rocket science. You shouldn't expect everyone to hand everything to you. If you can't play with the bass pedal at the same time, then practice your coordination instead of whining that it's too hard.

That's fine, but I don't want to learn how to play drums. If I wanted to learn how to play drums, I'd go buy a real kit. I want to have fun with it, and at the moment, the pedal is removing a lot of the fun.

What about the handicapped? How are they supposed to play with the pedal if they don't have full use of their legs? Just saying.

[deepbluevibes]

As for the demo - retailers asked that we leave the pedal out.

I recommend you stick with the drums! I was a noob drummer when I came to Harmonix, and I can't describe the level of satisfaction I had when I finally started to master the basics!

Like I said - stick with it, once you get the hang of it I think you'll be glad that you did.

I tried to PM you and it kept on asking me to login, so i'll ask you here, straight up;

Does it void your warranty to put tape on your drums if they're already malfunctioning/not working good at all and you have a video of such? I just want to help people out and show them how I did it but I don't want to get my warranty voided, as I still intend to send my drums back... :/

[k_luva]

I actually like the challenge...makes you think twice after playing rock band.....I also like the way they switched colors around...SCREWS WITH YOUR HEAD...

[Oblong]

Let me get this straight...

YOU'VE HAD THE GAME LESS THAN ONE DAY AND ARE READY TO GIVE UP?!?!?!?!?


How did you ever learn how to ride a bike? Or were you popping wheelies day 1 with that too?:rolleyes:

[Vertebreaker]

I don't have RB (yet), but I think I see what the OP is saying.

He thinks that Easy should be easy enough that anyone can just play and do decently. Like in GH, someone who's never played before should be able to pick it up and pass (not 5* or anything). I was able to do that with GHII. Like a party game, which RB is being partially billed as... not people who are going to practice and practice to become good, just people goofing around and having fun. And he feels that the foot pedal keeps that from happening, and ends up being frustrating, if people fail.

I can see his point.

The foot pedal should be like the Orange button in GH. Maybe not wait until Hard to introduce it, but leave it out of Easy.

Maybe RB needs a "Party" mode which is meant for straight goofing around.

This is exactly what I'm trying to say. Friends who come over because they have an interest in the game, want to play drums, and get their ass kicked might be turned off by the difficulty. They may give up and not go back to it, and eventually choose to maybe pass on a game they may have purchased.

I think all we're saying is that the bass pedal should be a little forgiving on beginners. Don't remove the bass pedal from the game...maybe just Easy, or Medium until the last half or so.

[returnx]

This is where people make a misconception, I think.
Harmonix said that if you can play the drums on Expert in Rock Band, you can pretty much play the drums in real life. Note that that doesn't mean that because you can play the drums in Rock Band, you can also play the drums it real life. It's the same as the guitar, it's just a GENERAL idea of the instrument.

By playing drums on Rock Band, you are not learning to play a real drum set. It is that simple. Just like in guitar you don't have 5 frets and one string, in drums you don't have 4 pads and a bass drum. It is just a game made to IMITATE the real experience, and if you're going to imitate drums, a bass pedal is a must.

As for the handicapped? The cruel reality of the situation is, "tough." How are handicapped people with no arms supposed to play video games? They don't. That's just how it is. We don't design products around handicapped people.

By the way, there was once a famous one-armed drummer who rocked pretty hard, I can't remember his name or the band he played in though. If that guy can play a REAL drum set with one arm, I think you can learn to play a Rock Band drum set with one foot. (When the real thing requires two.) Just practice, man.

[FragginNewby]

IMO, the guitar is far better than the explorer that came with GH2 - very smoth and quiet, I love it.

Drums are difficult, but they definitely rock. Gonna hit them big time after I get home from work tomorrow.

[nicko68]

I don't have RB (yet), but I think I see what the OP is saying.

He thinks that Easy should be easy enough that anyone can just play and do decently. Like in GH, someone who's never played before should be able to pick it up and pass (not 5* or anything). I was able to do that with GHII. Like a party game, which RB is being partially billed as... not people who are going to practice and practice to become good, just people goofing around and having fun. And he feels that the foot pedal keeps that from happening, and ends up being frustrating, if people fail.

I can see his point.

The foot pedal should be like the Orange button in GH. Maybe not wait until Hard to introduce it, but leave it out of Easy.

Maybe RB needs a "Party" mode which is meant for straight goofing around.

[Anthonysandoval]

By the way, there was once a famous one-armed drummer who rocked pretty hard, I can't remember his name or the band he played in though. If that guy can play a REAL drum set with one arm, I think you can learn to play a Rock Band drum set with one foot. (When the real thing requires two.) Just practice, man.

Rick Allen- Def Leppard

[Transbrak]

first of all, i want to thank the op giving me the biggest laugh ive had all day

second of all, really do you suck so bad to fail on easy, the first song I played i missed most of the bass hits and still managed to pass, and after a long day of playing ive moved up to medium, while i agree you shouldnt have to devote your life to have fun you should at least be able to devote a couple of hours


why dont you trade this games in as its clearly beyond your reach I hear there's a sale on barbie's horse adventure at gamestop, if you hurry they might have a copy left

[johnnytightlips]

They also didn't put it in the demos because the foot pedal would have been stolen very easily, like the top piece (Sorry when it comes to music terminology I can fall a little short sometimes.... :eek: ) on the guitar that you have to snap in place. Most of the strats in the Best Buys here in Phoenix? Those pieces were stolen the first day... Though... I'm really not sure why anyone would want just that piece...

lol, people these days. so classless. what the hell are they even going to do with that?

[Supergeek]

You can probably just skip the bass pedal and pass a lot of songs anyway on easy. Do it that way. Or use the practice modes.

[Eman311]

I don't have RB (yet), but I think I see what the OP is saying.

He thinks that Easy should be easy enough that anyone can just play and do decently. Like in GH, someone who's never played before should be able to pick it up and pass (not 5* or anything). I was able to do that with GHII. Like a party game, which RB is being partially billed as... not people who are going to practice and practice to become good, just people goofing around and having fun. And he feels that the foot pedal keeps that from happening, and ends up being frustrating, if people fail.

I can see his point.

The foot pedal should be like the Orange button in GH. Maybe not wait until Hard to introduce it, but leave it out of Easy.

Maybe RB needs a "Party" mode which is meant for straight goofing around.
I've never picked up a drunk stick before and I can EASILY pass easy (no pun intended). Yea, the bass pedal is there but it's really not that difficult to learn to use. I'm already on the third tier of medium, it really isnt that huge of a challenge.

The OP is just being a huge wuss, expecting the game to come naturally to him. Suck it up and learn to play, it's the whole point of having the drums!

[ThePaska]

Taking away using the pedal for easy on drums would be like saying you want easy guitar to require no strumming.

I think it is good that it is there, and it is one of the most important things you need to learn how to do if you are going to play the drums at all, and especially if you want to move on to a higher difficulty.

[doodoopoop]

I don't think many people will have any trouble on easy with the drums...I've never touched a drumset before and easy seemed pretty...easy.

If you're really struggling just keep trying and you'll eventually get the hang of it. A drum game without a kick pedal would be a pretty ****ty drum game.

[jkilby99]

My friend who has never played drums (and only briefly played Guitar Hero) told me he had no problems using the pedal... his initial frustration was over hitting two notes at the same time (the standard patterns like [yellow]-[yellow & red]-[yellow]-[yellow & red]).

So to this I say: practice makes perfect.

[InuHanyou1701]

As for why they didn't put it in the demo.... it would have been obliterated in a day by lots of enthusiastic stomping.



They also didn't put it in the demos because the foot pedal would have been stolen very easily, like the top piece (Sorry when it comes to music terminology I can fall a little short sometimes.... :eek: ) on the guitar that you have to snap in place. Most of the strats in the Best Buys here in Phoenix? Those pieces were stolen the first day... Though... I'm really not sure why anyone would want just that piece...

[LS1_DemoN]

i was a little suprised to see the kick drum in easy...but i think now it was a good idea. it forced me quickly into finding a comfortable setup and got me use to using it. i ran thru easy for a bit until i started getting 98s-100s fairly consistantly and bumped it to medium. first song on medium made me glad that i had to get use to that kick drum, that's for sure.

[Tendoza]

I can see why you're a little upset over the difficulty of the drums.

For being on easy, in comparison to guitar it is actually pretty tough. My mom likes to give games a shot and strummed through Crossroads in GHI on easy. But when she went to play Should I Stay or Should I Go on easy, she failed out 3 times; bringing me down with her.

My dad wanted to play Dont Fear the Reaper and made it through on easy with no problems.

What Im getting at is some people are just naturally better than others, but practice makes my statement null and void.

Keep practicing and rock on dude. :)

[johnnytightlips]

stop whining.

i get like 90% on easy on my 2nd or 3rd try.

they made it hard cause people were complaining guitar and bass were too easy.

GREAT GAME HARMONIX!:D

[Tarzanman]

After reading through your post, I have come to the conclusion that you are being a little ridiculous.

While I have no doubt that *you* would probably get a good deal of quick enjoyment (more like instant gratification) out of being able to drum without the kick... it would absolutely destroy the learning curve of the game.

As you have said, part of the problem is that you don't have the time (I think that your desire rather than your time is lacking) to devote to learning to use the kick pedal properly... and honestly, your relative lack of talent seems to be exacerbating the problem.

I started in on the drums on hard (having never drummed in my life). Passed Say It Aint so on my first try (despite much fumbling with the kick pedal). I'm not saying that I'm a natural or anything, though.... I doubt I will pass any 2nd tier songs on my first try. At the moment I am treplaying Weezer over and over to refine my technique (how I hold the sticks, how I work the kick, building a sense of which pad is which drum so that I can play a song from memory like a real drummer, and developing a sense of rhythm beyond the quarter-note snare/cymbal, etc).

Nevertheless, changing the game the way you say would take some of the real-world skill out of the drumming... running the risk of making it absolutely no challenge for someone like me.

The easy is easy enough, IMO. Learn how to position your foot do that your shin doesn't get tired after 1-2 songs and keep working at it.

[Emowii]

So many childish responses in this thread. Sad to see.


Let me make this clear for some of you who are logic impaired. I never said I failed songs on easy. I never said I couldn't handle easy. What I said was that it just doesn't make sense to have the foot pedal on easy, and it's going to drive away most potential players the minute the realize that unless they use the foot pedal they can't ever get a good score on easy.


I have no problem getting 90%+ on most songs on easy. I'm already more than halfway through the career mode on easy. What I'm saying is that the bar for entry has been raised significantly for the drums, and it's far more difficult on easy than the Guitar is on medium. It's simply out of whack with the rest of the game, and while many people won't fail a song on easy, they're not gonna have a great time when they are told repeatedly that they scored 75% even though they hit every note they were asked to with the sticks. That kick pedal will be the magic barrier for most people. I NEVER suggested that I be able to play the entire game without the kick drum. So stop replying with studid suggestions otherwise. I simply said that EASY should not include the kick drum. That is all.


I'm gonna say this right now. Next year's version of this game WILL NOT have the kick pedal on easy. Take it to the bank. Harmonix will realize this was a mistake for a game they are trying to market to the mass market, and they will also fix the stupid strum bar they put on this guitar. Mistakes were made, and some of you fanboy loons need to take your head out of your ego filled clouds and think about the target demographic for this game, and how some families might want to try playing this together. Not everyone works a part time job and has 10 hours a day to devote to learning the drums in Rock Band so they can do well on medium.

[Thrashdragon]

Well, the "Emo" part of your name certainly fits. And the "Wii" part seems to as well, considering you want the game dumbed down to something a three year old could handle.

Leaving the kick pedal off of a drumset would be like leaving the strumbar off of the guitar. I seriously wonder why you would be interested in a rhythm game if you have no rhythm whatsoever. I could 90%+ most songs on medium on the drums playing them for the first time last night, and I'm certainly no drummer.

Perhaps this would be more your speed, however it does still require the use of a stick, so try not to hurt yourself: http://www.abcdrums.com/kids-hand-drum.htm

[Rook_x51]

Dear Harmonix,

What were you thinking? I don't want to have to learn the words to a song! Just automatically pass me so I can do whatever I want and still beat the Solo tour!

And what do you mean I have to learn how to use 5 buttons on a guitar!? I only have 4 available fingers (unless you somehow want me to use my thumb).

I'm with the original poster here. You guys are dumb for making us learn something and practice at it.

Rook

[IbanezBassist_v2]

I honestly don't know what to even say in response to this, other than it was the stupidest thing Harmonix could have ever done to this game.

I've got an idea. This is what you should say. "I'm an idiot and can't believe that I would think that in any way, shape, or form did I think drummers never used a bass pedal."

"I realize that my original posting was due to me being on some form of medication that renders me in a useless state and while in this state I posted out of turn."

"I feel that it's necessary to have my prognosis re-evaluated so I can fairly and rightfully give Harmonix and Rock Band the proper respect that it deserves."

[COMASUTRA]

Im sorry but...... STUPID thread. I know everyone else is trying to be encouraging saying "dont give up on the drums" etc... Dude, what the hell do you expect... Drums use pedals for bass man... if you arent satisfied then wait til Rock Band African Jungle beats content comes out... ;) good luck though....

[whalemangler]

He's not saying that there should be no kick drum, just that easy mode should be sticks only. I personally think this is a good idea. I tried the drums last night and the kick drum not only made my brain explode (i have no rythm), it made my leg extremely tired.

If all of you play on expert, then why do you care how easy easy mode is? Why should everyone be forced to use their feet on easy? What about people in wheel chairs?

[remotehomelife]

When I started on drums yesterday I was suprised that the footpedal was used on easy. In retrospect I am glad that it was because you need the experience with it when you progress to harder diffculties. The foot pedal is not over running on easy it is pretty simple to grasp after about three or four songs, just give it a chance man instead of just giving up. I did and now I can already tell you I'm much better with keeping a beat and using my arms and legs to keep time than I was before yesterday.

[dinga6969]

You complain about the game having to use the kick pedal and that you are upset and this isn't fair and all of that yet you fire the game up on medium out of the box and get mad when you fail. You then move it to easy and its still too hard. Here's a word of advice, slow down, assemble the kit fully, and do the tutorials as THATS WHAT THEY PUT THEM IN THE GAME FOR! If its too hard keep practicing. I've never played the drums in my life and I love it. I'm so so at it but thats why you practice. If you were gonna pick it up and be a master what would be the point? Quit looking for the easy way out.

[Elvisman2001]

I would only like to say,
I completely disagree with the original post.

The only thing they screwed up in, was not making a "deluxe" drum kit that looked more like drums. Maybe they still can or will in a future game. Because, i would have paid more for that option.

out of curiosity, can the original poster pat his head and rub his belly at the same time?

[LtDansNutz]

I can just imagine the ripping harmonix would get if they made an option to leave out the foot pedal. That's one of the most basics of drumming. Sorry it's so hard for you but you'll get it. HMXJohn is so right. It may seem impossible now but once you get it you'll have a great sense of pride and satisfaction like you actually accomplished something.

Quite whining about how hard the game is and keep practicing. It amazes me the different things people complain about.....too hard, too easy, this game sucks cause i cant 100% every song. Get over it and just rock!!

[Smidget]

I think he's made it perfectly clear that he isn't having trouble with it as he can 90%+ most Easy songs. That means that with maybe 5 more hours of playtime his skills will increase A LOT (really, 5 hours of drumming is a lot of practice and time for things to "just click").


I seriously wonder why you would be interested in a rhythm game if you have no rhythm whatsoever.

Thats kind of, or rather IS, a silly statement


I think the argument (or observation or whatever this has become) has valid grounds on both points of view. I haven't been playing Easy (been on hard and expert) but I was initially kinda surprised they included the kick on Easy because in my mind it is the equivalent of the Orange button for new players. For having friends/family (who aren't gamers) over to just have a good time I can see it maybe being trouble. You can't have fun if you keep getting bad scores (though it is always about just having fun in the end, people want to do well and not everyone can be "meh, I had a blast, thats all that matters! rock!").

After reading peoples testiments on here on how easy Easy has been for them, watching my non-drummer friends play last night, and reading that, after some play, you can 90%+ most songs and are halfway through Easy career, I think they made the right choice to include the kick (keep reading, it all evens out :) ) Though the game is marketed towards "party" play, the people who just play it as in the case above are just playing it because its there. Catering the entire Easy career to individuals like that would not have been smart at all. Seeing as you can 90%+ most songs right now, I'm guessing that if the kick wasn't there you would be pretty much 100%ing nearly all songs and as you get to the end of Easy career it would drop a little bit. If you're playing through an entire career getting 95-100% without trouble then its time to step it up. As you are playing now, you are playing through an entire career getting 90%+ WITH "trouble" (trouble a.k.a. just taking some work/effort/learning) and you havent' even been playing a few days. That to me sounds like a well-designed game. Though breezing through something is easy, it really isn't fun and is why many people have probably skipped Easy and went to Medium. For them personally it wasn't challenge. Easy is a challenge for you and after little playtime you are doing very well.

Having said that, I think it would have good for them to have implemented something into the game for Drums that does not include the kick for non-gamer get-together party type situations but I do not think it should have effected the Easy career. It wouldn't even have to be something extensive as the people who would be playing in this way aren't looking to beat the game, get achievments, etc. They just want to jam out with friends without failing out every time.

I don't think its a design flaw in the Easy career but perhaps a design flaw in leaving a game mode/option out that could have been there. THAT I think we could very well see in the next RB but I do not think the kick will be taken away from Easy career as you have proven from posting your accomps that with little time, Drums do "click". People who are just "there to have a good time" don't want a career though, which is where a new, simple mode/option would work because this is and can be a great party game for all.

Regarding "Yeah, I can almost score a perfect on EASY if I try, but I'm still not having fun because it's simply too difficult a jump for a total newb." You ARE obviously someone who wants to play career. For this, as others have said, just give it a bit more time and I think you will be having fun more than annoyances :) The game did just come out yesterday afterall :p


(sorry if that was somewhat longwinded)

Afterthought: Can the kick drum be turned off as it was in the demos? If so, then all is solved. (I'm at work and can't check right now)

Second afterthought: If that option isn't available, it could be made available via a patch. Then, all is solved.

[maddrummerdan86]

oh my, the noobs we have these days!

[TreoRock_]

There is a tutorial for durms and I was failing to at first on medium, so I did both of the tutorials and now I'm much better. I also did the practice part and it did helped a lot. Good luck..! Rock Band Rocks..!

[Johnny_Pig]

Whoa...you failed on Medium? Yeah, I get a chance to play games maybe once a week. I got RB last night, broke out the drums which I had never even demo'd before and still managed to get 3 stars without the kick pedal on Say It Aint So. My wife then accomplished the same feat on Fortunate Son. I guess if you're looking to play this as a party game then as a drummer in BWT you'll need to rely on your other band mates to pull you out of the fire when you skip the bass drum, because really in BWT, the bass drum becomes almost optional. You won't rack up high scores, but you'll get through the songs. I say almost optional though because you will fail out on some songs without it and someone will have to save you. I have since started using the bass drum and found it to be quite satisfying.

[PinkFloyd]

I also thought the "jump"-button in Super Mario Bros was a HUGE mistake :D

seriously though, get practicing and eventually you'll nail it. The pedal is the hardest part about drumming all together, but once you get it, it's rewarding.

[Julio_No_Mas]

I guess I should have known better than to post an honest and sincere thread like this on a forum that is seething with fanboys of the game. :rolleyes:
If you stop and take a moment to look at my complaints like a mature adult, you'll see what I'm talking about. I'm sure many of you are expert Guitar Hero players, and thus you laugh because it's cool to be a badass at these games. Thats not what I bought Rock Band for. I bought Rock Band to have some fun with friends and family.
The people I'm gonna be playing this game with aren't college students who have 10 hours a day to master Jordan on expert. They're not the type who work a part time job while living with mom and dad so they have tons of free time to master Freebird. I'm talking about people who might come over to my house, and just love the idea of sitting down and playing the drums on a rock song for a while one day. Those people are gonna sit down at this drum set on EASY, and fail miserably. They won't have a good time doing so either. Thats the problem with this.
My proof of this is that I clearly have the basic abilities to play these songs without the kick pedal, as I did successfully in the store. But I struggle with some songs even on easy with the kick pedal. Yeah, I can almost score a perfect on EASY if I try, but I'm still not having fun because it's simply too difficult a jump for a total newb.
Harmonix perfectly laid out the difficulty levels for guitar, bass, and singing in this game, that is why it's all the more insane how they handled the drums. It's like a totally different mindset went into it. it really is exactly like forcing all 5 buttons on a guitar player on easy. It would be an incredibly dumb thing to do, and yet thats exactly what they did on the drums, and people are still defending that? It's just dumb logic. Plain and simple.

It's not Harmonix's fault that you suck at a video game. Practice makes perfect.

[digbeta]

I guess I should have known better than to post an honest and sincere thread like this on a forum that is seething with fanboys of the game. :rolleyes:


If you stop and take a moment to look at my complaints like a mature adult, you'll see what I'm talking about. I'm sure many of you are expert Guitar Hero players, and thus you laugh because it's cool to be a badass at these games. Thats not what I bought Rock Band for. I bought Rock Band to have some fun with friends and family.


The people I'm gonna be playing this game with aren't college students who have 10 hours a day to master Jordan on expert. They're not the type who work a part time job while living with mom and dad so they have tons of free time to master Freebird. I'm talking about people who might come over to my house, and just love the idea of sitting down and playing the drums on a rock song for a while one day. Those people are gonna sit down at this drum set on EASY, and fail miserably. They won't have a good time doing so either. Thats the problem with this.


My proof of this is that I clearly have the basic abilities to play these songs without the kick pedal, as I did successfully in the store. But I struggle with some songs even on easy with the kick pedal. Yeah, I can almost score a perfect on EASY if I try, but I'm still not having fun because it's simply too difficult a jump for a total newb.


Harmonix perfectly laid out the difficulty levels for guitar, bass, and singing in this game, that is why it's all the more insane how they handled the drums. It's like a totally different mindset went into it. it really is exactly like forcing all 5 buttons on a guitar player on easy. It would be an incredibly dumb thing to do, and yet thats exactly what they did on the drums, and people are still defending that? It's just dumb logic. Plain and simple.

Seriously man, calm down. Look at it as a challenge. I have a problem divorcing my right foot from my right hand but I'm having fun learning. Even my 11 year old said it was hard but he can't wait to master it.

I bet one of your friends is going to show up and kill on the drums. Then you'll be the only one left whining. Learn2relax.

[joeincolorado]

I'll tell it to you like I told my friend yesterday. You can't win the first time out. If you do, it's a fluke. What I mean by that is, you think drummers just jump on a drum and know how to play...NO! You work at it man. Just like when I got Guitar Hero...I blew ass man. Sucked royally. But now I'm decent enough to ace some songs on expert. The drums...I'm not so good. Am i discouraged? NO! Just keep trying and you'll be fine. You'll get in a rythym and be awesome. GIVE IT TIME!

[Symphonite]

It's all about the learning curve, as you said. Good learning curves teach you good habits. While it is difficult to a new player to use the kick pedal, if they went through the whole easy solo career without using the kick pedal at all it would make learning the kick exponentially harder. It's a technique that needs to be learned early or else it becomes extremely hard to pick up. The kick notes on easy are pretty sparse and are there to help get in good habits.

[monstrado]

I was SO excited about getting home tonight with my Rock Band package. I had played the demo in the store, and enjoyed playing the drums more than you could ever imagine. I've never played the drums in my life, but I immediately felt I was comfortable playing them on the store demo. I was regularly averaging 90%+ on medium, and I think I've always had a slight predisposition to keeping time in music.



So I get home tonight after having spent $170 on my package, and I set up the drum immediately. I get into my first song on MEDIUM, and quickly fail the song miserably. I was thinking to myself "WTF"?

I soon realize that I failed because I didn't have the foot pedal connected to the drum set. I just wanted to get started on the drums, and figured I could set up the foot pedal later, as they had to make it optional somehow.


So, I begin the next song on the EASY setting figuring these is no way Harmonix could have forced even a brand new player to use the foot pedal with the drums. Sure enough, I notice immediately I am missing notes each time that foot pedal note comes along. :mad:


I honestly don't know what to even say in response to this, other than it was the stupidest thing Harmonix could have ever done to this game. They've designed this beautiful game, that encourages people to pick up these instruments for the first time in their lives, and enjoy the wonder of playing music together. Yet they chose to make the drums SO hard on even the easiest setting, that only the most rhythmically inclined among us will ever have a chance of playing them at any level in the game.


Harmonix, I have one question for you? Why would you do such a thing? This surely was a mistake, and you will realize it when you see how many people complain about this the moment they realize how ridiculously hard these drums are to play. Even worse you basically teased people by making the drums in the store demo easier to use, and it's a form of false advertising. Giving the impression to newcomers like me that this was possible for me to enjoy. Now after having spent $170 I find out that is not the case. I feel like I've been had, and you should feel guilty for doing this to loyal fans like myself, who have enjoyed your previous games.


This isn't like some $60 game that I can put aside with some regret when I find out I don't like it. I just dropped $170 on a Rock Band package, that also happens to include a guitar that is the worst your company has ever produced. The strum bar is a joke, and doesn't feel nearly as responsive as the older guitars. So not only am I pissed off about his drums situation, I'm now feeling equally unhappy about the guitar that comes with this package. How on earth could you have been happy with this guitar, and how on earth could anyone in your company have thought it was a wise idea to ship the store demo one way, and then the final product another way. You should be ashamed.

So...let me get this straight.

Your complaining because you suck at the instruments? Harmonix cannot help you with that, sorry.

http://www.roflcat.com/images/cats/emo.jpg

[idiotec]

This has to go down as "THE WORST COMPLAINT EVER!"

[Grey_Street]

I really don't think this is that crazy of a suggestion. Easy mode for guitar only has 4 aspects to figure out...3 buttons and a strum. Then as you move up you add to your repetoire(sp?). With drums, aside from getting harder note patterns you really don't add anything. You are still using all of the same things as you were on easy...

Everyone says that it's not a true drum experience w/out the pedal...well is it a true guitar experience w/out the last two buttons, or even w/ them for that matter. It's a game and not able to be completely realistic.

[miketoast]

The fact that this dude *****ed about this is the ultimate in gheyness

Please, HMX disregard this tool.....

[ifiseeyouiwillendyou]

The games replay value and challenge on drums would be significantly lower without the pedal.
I totally agree. I've never played the drums in my life, but when I tried out the demo, I was like "Oh hell yeah! Now if they only would add a Bass pedal!" Then when I got the game there was my pedal! Excited, I tried it on easy and failed -miserably- because I was not used to having to worry about 4 drums AND a pedal. Regardless, I got used to it and now that pedal has become both friend and foe. I WILL conquer it! haha

I mean honestly, do you want a game that's so easy that you don't learn anything?

[tucsonovernite]

Hey if the OP could have had some tact when posting he wouldn't have had the negative reaction....what the hell is up the the thread title?? Really comes across as ignorant and juvenile.....so sad for you OP!?!?

[sonicbrew]

I totally agree. I've never played the drums in my life, but when I tried out the demo, I was like "Oh hell yeah! Now if they only would add a Bass pedal!" Then when I got the game there was my pedal! Excited, I tried it on easy and failed -miserably- because I was not used to having to worry about 4 drums AND a pedal. Regardless, I got used to it and now that pedal has become both friend and foe. I WILL conquer it! haha

I mean honestly, do you want a game that's so easy that you don't learn anything?

The sig rocks my friend :D

[EricRx]

This is an interesting topic. Not so much the OP wanting to change the game, but the skill level involved to play the drums. I find the foot pedal to be difficult, but not too hard. My six year old son can play the drums with foot pedal about as well as I can at this point. We both have the advantage of playing GH before. I think this is a HUGE benefit because we can we pick up the scrolling notes better and have a better since of timing. GH taught us both that. My wife hates guitar hero because she can't get the timing right. Guess what? She has a hell of a time with drums now as well. The game also puts more pressure bc you don't want to let the other players down.

Just my two cents.

I remember someone from Harmonix mentioning that if you could play these drums on expert then you can pretty much play the drums. I am looking foward to that.

[logicalnoise]

This is an interesting topic. Not so much the OP wanting to change the game, but the skill level involved to play the drums. I find the foot pedal to be difficult, but not too hard. My six year old son can play the drums with foot pedal about as well as I can at this point. We both have the advantage of playing GH before. I think this is a HUGE benefit because we can we pick up the scrolling notes better and have a better since of timing. GH taught us both that. My wife hates guitar hero because she can't get the timing right. Guess what? She has a hell of a time with drums now as well. The game also puts more pressure bc you don't want to let the other players down.

Just my two cents.

I remember someone from Harmonix mentioning that if you could play these drums on expert then you can pretty much play the drums. I am looking foward to that.

yeah if you can beat the game on expert you should have all the major foundations for playing on a real set. You'd still need to work out a real hi-hat but logically you could walk into guitar center sit down and a drum set and jam out a bit by recalling some generic beat in RB.

[PunkJr]

I'm a rhythmically challenged player too, but I'm not letting it stop me from trying to get better. I'm playing the drums on Easy, I still get frustrated when I mess up or lose my timing, but I'm not letting it upset me to the point where I want them to change the game.

It's like saying that I can't beat the boss in a platform game & I want the developers to take away his weapons so I can kill him. =\

[OverkilleD]

Emowii, you're actually being rather childish yourself. You're acting liking a petulant child because the game isn't EXACTLY the product you wanted. You're insinuating that the only people who can practice at the game are partially employed college students...which is an incredibly lame excuse. I had a houseful of people over last night who were able to pick up ALL aspects of the game in under an hour and enjoy it considerably...and mind you, we're all successful professionals who work more than 40 hours per week. Suck it up, accept a challenge and practice to get better at the game...or stop *****ing. Harmonix doesn't have to cater just to YOU.

[ShadowOfEden]

Just get used to it. If you get killed by a boss in a more traditionnal game, do you give up? I hope not. Try again, you'll get used to it. I failed my first song on GH, and my second. I can play it now.

[cwb420]

since this is a topic about drums... my drum pedal broke in half right below the orange bar... am i the only one this happened to? im not a drummer but i was playing medium.. not stomping it to hard... and it started bending in the middle then snapped.. kinda weak considering its a pedal u step on... seems kinda cheaply made compared to the microsoft wheel pedals... hate to see new drummers trying to play this... alot of broken pedals prolly

[VixDiesel]

I failed the first few songs i played on drums with the kick pedal but now i'm getting the hang of it. besides, what drum kit doesn't have a pedal? i couldn't imagine if the demo had the pedal how quick it would have got trashed. the drum kit at my best buy was barely working a week after it appeared.

[logicalnoise]

since this is a topic about drums... my drum pedal broke in half right below the orange bar... am i the only one this happened to? im not a drummer but i was playing medium.. not stomping it to hard... and it started bending in the middle then snapped.. kinda weak considering its a pedal u step on... seems kinda cheaply made compared to the microsoft wheel pedals... hate to see new drummers trying to play this... alot of broken pedals prolly

or your part of teh 1% who got a defective pedal. Call EA and explain they will arrange to get you a new one.

[j7wb07]

While I think you have a somewhat valid point about Easy Mode, I have to say (like almost everyone else said) practice, practice, practice. Drums aren't easy. They are arguably the hardest instrument to play well. You need coordination and independence. Taking the bass drum out of the mix would kind of negate the drum playing experience. I could buy easy mode having absolutely no high-hat or ride cymbal parts, but taking the bass drum out would be a mistake. Most "real-life" drummers start out by learning basic "1 and 2" patterns on the bass and snare, then add the high hat/cymbal patterns as they progress.

Here's a tip:

Remember that in most (basic) songs in 4/4 time (counting 1,2,3,4), the high-hat, bass drum, and snare parts are going to be together in many parts of the song. That is, the high-hat part will be on 1, 2, 3, 4, while the bass drum is on 1, 3 and the snare is on 2, 4. Your hands are naturally wired to play the same thing your feet do.

Here's an example of a simple 1 measure beat in 4/4 time:
x = High-Hat (1,2,3,4)
b = Bass (1,3)
s = Snare (2,4)

xxxx
b s
1234

Practice playing this type of beat, keeping in mind that either your snare hand or your bass drum foot is always playing at the same time as your high-hat hand. Of course, this changes as the songs progress in difficulty, and you will have to learn independence on harder levels...and in songs with odd-time signatures (Tom Sawyer,etc.)

Hope that helps some...

[omnithrope]

Practice. It's worth it.

[GAMERx24x7]

The foot pedal is awesome....i think w/o it the gm would not work as well........u might just be a moron!!!!! Its awesome...its needed....end of discussion

[cwb420]

thats cool and all logical but... what about the weeks shipping time? i basically paid 180$ for a game and guitar/mic when one of the main reasons for my purchase was the drums...If i could have bought the drums pack i would have... and if it was defective, doubt im part of 1% seeings how theres an awful amount of posts about broken strats...i hope EA will take care of this.. :cool:

[LongDarkBlues]

...
You are hilariously lame. None of my friends are real drummers, most are not musicians at all, and most are not gamers even a little bit, but everyone - 6 people so far - had absolutely no trouble playing the drums on easy with the kick pedal - after a couple of hours most of them upped it to Medium.

[311chaos]

I agree with this being a mistake. And to all the people who keep replying with "practice" I think you are completely missing the point. Easy is set up on the guitar, bass, and mic to allow for someone to pick up the instument and go. There is really not much of a learning curve. Easy seems to be the setting for someone who hasnt played this game before. And this is just not the case for the drums.

For the practice argument, that really only makes sense if you are trying to get good at playing the drums and can spend hours or days doing so. This makes perfect sense if you are trying to work your way up to expert. You are going to have to invest time and effort in practicing to get up to that level. Easy should be just that, easy. This way it could be a family game and allow for anyone to pick up one of the instruments and play for 30 minutes to an hour without first having to spend a few hours/days "practicing".

And I agree, its not really the real experience of playing the drums without the kick drum, but big deal. It's not the real experience of the guitar when you are only playing 1/30 notes in 3 different frets or strings.

The main point is that it is not consistant across instruments.

[Eman311]

I agree with this being a mistake. And to all the people who keep replying with "practice" I think you are completely missing the point. Easy is set up on the guitar, bass, and mic to allow for someone to pick up the instument and go. There is really not much of a learning curve. Easy seems to be the setting for someone who hasnt played this game before. And this is just not the case for the drums.

For the practice argument, that really only makes sense if you are trying to get good at playing the drums and can spend hours or days doing so. This makes perfect sense if you are trying to work your way up to expert. You are going to have to invest time and effort in practicing to get up to that level. Easy should be just that, easy. This way it could be a family game and allow for anyone to pick up one of the instruments and play for 30 minutes to an hour without first having to spend a few hours/days "practicing".

And I agree, its not really the real experience of playing the drums without the kick drum, but big deal. It's not the real experience of the guitar when you are only playing 1/30 notes in 3 different frets or strings.

The main point is that it is not consistant across instruments.


311 FTW

[Eastwood]

I was 5 starring songs on medium by the time I shut it down. I only played on drums about an hour. Maybe percussion just isn't your bag of chips?

[admanimal]

I think the "no pedal" people should fight it out with the "we want double bass" people while the rest of us enjoy the game as it is.

[SuburbanHell]

You're kidding?

How about they put in a mode where it just plays the songs for you?

Try and remember the first time you ever saw Guitar Hero and you were like...." OH no, not the ORANGE button!"

Keep at it, you'll get better.

LOL I still go "OH NO, NOT THE BLUE BUTTON!" But I still play. Admittedly, the kick pedal takes some getting used to, but it shouldn't detract you from playing. I heart my drum kit, even if I do kind of suck at it.

[admanimal]

I started out with the drums on medium and I still miss probably every other pedal note unless it is in a very repetitive part, and I can still get through most of the songs I have played so far. I don't see what the big deal is, even if you are missing most of the pedal notes you should still be able to get through the song, and hopefully by the time you get to harder songs that require you to hit most of the bass notes, you will have had enough practice to be able to do it.

[311chaos]

I was 5 starring songs on medium by the time I shut it down. I only played on drums about an hour. Maybe percussion just isn't your bag of chips?
I can also 5 star the songs on Medium, I haven't had a problem with it. I am just trying to point out that it is inconsistant degrees of difficult among the instruments. The guitar on EASY is nearly impossible to fail at. I handed my Dad the guitar (he is 50 and has never played a real guitar, never played xbox before, and had never seen the game before) and he was able to pass songs off on Easy with maybe a 1 song learning curve. This seems ideal for EASY. This is not the case with the drums, that is all that I am saying.

Make the guitar and bass use all 5 buttons on easy and then it would be the same degree of difficulty.

[Smidget]

I don't think he's reading this thread anymore. I wonder if we can probably let it die (5 minutes later this post get buried...)

[anubis311]

Hate to break it to you but I'm having a hard time feeling sorry.

Nice answer: Practice more, play in practice mode if you have to, you'll get better!

Mean answer: Sorry man you found a rhythm game where you had an option of only 4 different notes to play and you even get to use 2 hands to hit those 4 so you only have to worry about timing 2 different actions for each hand and they had to screw it up for ya and add the foot.

Seriously without the foot thats only like--what 10?--different actions that are possible...

XOOO
OXOO
OOXO
OOOX

XXOO
XOXO
XOOX

OXXO
OXOX
OOXX

That'd be all of them right? Not much replay value there sport...

Compare that to even the established guitar controller:

XOOOO
OXOOO
OOXOO
OOOXO
OOOOX

XXOOO
XOXOO
XOOXO
XOOOX

XXXOO
XXOXO
XXOOX

OMG Thats already 12 and I've only broken down single fret notes and combinations that use green fret.

Play on easy until you get the foot pedal down, it will be glorious when you find yourself finally playing well and establishing a beat. Whoops that was sorta too nice for the mean answer...

[Angry_Games]

I guess I should have known better than to post an honest and sincere thread like this on a forum that is seething with fanboys of the game. :rolleyes:


If you stop and take a moment to look at my complaints like a mature adult, you'll see what I'm talking about. I'm sure many of you are expert Guitar Hero players, and thus you laugh because it's cool to be a badass at these games. Thats not what I bought Rock Band for. I bought Rock Band to have some fun with friends and family.


The people I'm gonna be playing this game with aren't college students who have 10 hours a day to master Jordan on expert. They're not the type who work a part time job while living with mom and dad so they have tons of free time to master Freebird. I'm talking about people who might come over to my house, and just love the idea of sitting down and playing the drums on a rock song for a while one day. Those people are gonna sit down at this drum set on EASY, and fail miserably. They won't have a good time doing so either. Thats the problem with this.


My proof of this is that I clearly have the basic abilities to play these songs without the kick pedal, as I did successfully in the store. But I struggle with some songs even on easy with the kick pedal. Yeah, I can almost score a perfect on EASY if I try, but I'm still not having fun because it's simply too difficult a jump for a total newb.


Harmonix perfectly laid out the difficulty levels for guitar, bass, and singing in this game, that is why it's all the more insane how they handled the drums. It's like a totally different mindset went into it. it really is exactly like forcing all 5 buttons on a guitar player on easy. It would be an incredibly dumb thing to do, and yet thats exactly what they did on the drums, and people are still defending that? It's just dumb logic. Plain and simple.

I'm a mature, level-headed adult who has only played drums waaaay back in college when I was in a band (I've been a guitarist for 15 years). The drums are pretty tough for non-drummers. Just like the guitar is pretty tough when you first learn to use the last orange button.

As everyone else says, stick with it and practice. Harmonix did not make a mistake at all with this game other than I don't think they realized so many guitars would fail so quickly.

There's no reason to go on and on about how fanboys here are evil and won't take your side. It's the same as if you came in here complaining how the guitar was too hard with the orange button. Get used to it by practicing.

[Eastwood]

I think the "no pedal" people should fight it out with the "we want double bass" people while the rest of us enjoy the game as it is.

I rofled... Classic RB forum throwback... Shows who the grizzled vets are around here.

[Quastor]

I rofled... Classic RB forum throwback... Shows who the grizzled vets are around here.

Yeah, it's funny isn't it? To the double bass people we were telling them that the game should be accessible to all and fun to play. Now someone comes in saying the pedal is too hard and doesn't make the game fun to play or accessible on easy, and we all tell him to practice. :D

We're hypocrites! :confused:

[mattitude]

I read this post last night and ignored it... but it's been nagging at me since, so I have to state my two cents.

I had never touched a drumset before, and never played a RB demo. So I sat down with the RB drums for the first time yesterday morning. I sucked at first, naturally. But I kept at it.

I've had the game for a day and a half now, and I can now comfortably play the drums on Medium, usually scoring in the high 90s.

Anyway, my point is... it sure is easier to blame the creators of the game than to admit you just suck, eh?

[Jimmik]

wow man, learn 2 play noob :D

Foot pedals are part of drums. While I agree easy could be easier, it would be just a silly idea to not have you use the foot pedal at all for an entire difficulty mode.

[Seroth]

They're trying to train you to use the pedal. They can't train you if you don't use it. Are we gonna say that Easy on the guitar shouldn't make you use the strum bar, either?

[Apoc29]

Toyota also made a huge mistake putting gas and brake pedals in all their cars. Don't they know only superhuman geniuses can learn how to drive?

[MOFO]

Hello all I'm new here..In fact I registered here just so I could post my thoughts on this. I'm going against my better judgement in doing this I know. Here's the thing you see I completely agree with the OP about the kick pedal but for differant reasons, for you see I am in a wheelchair and its extremely hard for me to do the kick pedal for many reasons one of them is its really hard for me to push it down with my feet. Not because my feet are weak just the pedal is that hard to push down. I really wish there was an option to disable it or a future patch maybe? *hopes* It wouldn't ruin the game in any way if there was such an option. I just wanna be able to pass some songs on medium and its not for lack of trying because god knows I'm really giving it my all. All I get in return is a failed song and being dead tired. I hope that many of you can see my point and won't just write this off as whining. By the way anyone with any idea that could maybe help me play it better, I'm all ears.

[Blu Fox]

Dude, you cant say a game sucks if youve played it for a minute and a half. Practice, its a game youll get better if you have the brain on a six year old. PRACTICE YOU FOOL:mad:




At least you have the game.

[AdamWill]

btw, for those who just won't learn, and for those with a decent excuse (like the wheelchair guy :>), you could always use the ultimate lamer Drummania trick: have someone else play the bass for you. there's a few DM players who, instead of using autobass, just have a friend sit to their right and play only the bass pedal (reason being that this way they get more correct hits which contribute to the life bar, making it *even easier* than autobass, where bass hits just don't count at all). so...yeah...if you want to be lame, or you are in fact disabled, you can use that tactic. of course, it requires friends. :)

[DemonOfRazgriz89]

wow dude, wow. its really not that big of a deal. and it is NOT "sooo hard" on easy difficulty. wtf are you talking about? easy as pie. get over it, noob.

[Se7enLawliet]

You're jerking my chains. You can't get the hang of the pedals on easy? Even my girlfriend who completely sucks at games got the hang of 'em and was jamming with me on medium in an hour.

[MOFO]

btw, for those who just won't learn, and for those with a decent excuse (like the wheelchair guy :>), you could always use the ultimate lamer Drummania trick: have someone else play the bass for you. there's a few DM players who, instead of using autobass, just have a friend sit to their right and play only the bass pedal (reason being that this way they get more correct hits which contribute to the life bar, making it *even easier* than autobass, where bass hits just don't count at all). so...yeah...if you want to be lame, or you are in fact disabled, you can use that tactic. of course, it requires friends. :)

You have a good point but I'd like to also be able to play alone as well. Call it a pride thing or whatever I just wanna be able to play on my own. Does anyone know if anyone whom works at harmonix reads these forums? Maybe there is someone whom I can get a hold of that can lobby for my cause. I really think this game is amazing, all I want though is be able to fully enjoy it. *sigh* I realize that this probably won't change anything just because I'm hoping for it and I'm just one person. Oh well I can hope still..:(

[the_spike]

Plain and simple, you just suck. Stick to guitar, bass or vocals.

The pedal is nothing on Easy and doesn't even start getting slightly tricky until about half way through Medium.

Did you complain about having to strum and push buttons at the same time when you played GH1? Don't blame Harmonix for your lack of rhythm.

[Feigned]

You have a good point but I'd like to also be able to play alone as well. Call it a pride thing or whatever I just wanna be able to play on my own. Does anyone know if anyone whom works at harmonix reads these forums? Maybe there is someone whom I can get a hold of that can lobby for my cause. I really think this game is amazing, all I want though is be able to fully enjoy it. *sigh* I realize that this probably won't change anything just because I'm hoping for it and I'm just one person. Oh well I can hope still..:(

There are plenty at Harmonix that read the forums. I don't know if they are working on anything to help those that have physical conditions that prevent them from properly using the bass pedal. I can assure you that they're reading these sorts of things though, so don't think that your concerns are falling on deaf ears.

If I happen to talk to someone that may know more about this, I'll gladly ask. No guarantees though.

As for those with no physical limitations, just practice man. I remember back when I thought the orange button was impossible to hit. Just calm down and take some time, you'll get the hang of it. :cool:

[tmanrocks]

I agree but in a different way

The game needs TWO bass pedals

My leg... ****ING HURTS because of green grass and high tides

If I had double bass for that song my leg would not hurt right now... because my right leg would be doing half as much work as it does now

[Rock_Starman]

Don't feel like reading the whole thing so maybe someone already mentioned it...but would height matter? I'm pretty tall so was wondering if that'd make it any easier or harder or would it be the same?

[Poppinfresh]

Whether the TC's original post was coming off as "whiny" or not, he raises a good point on the kickpedal in general.

I'm sorry, but all the practicing in the world isn't going to make one of my legs grow back. If it would, you can bet your ass I'd have downed so much Red Bull by now that you'd think I owned the company as I played this game 24 hours a day since getting it.

They really should have a way to disable the kickpedal for those who don't want to/can't use it. I paid a lot of money for this game, I should be able to play it the way I want/need to.

[SlivedCupWinner]

I'm the type of player that likes to play all of easy, then medium, etc....

I play real drums and easy is hard for me because I have to prevent myself from hitting all the real bass hits (and other) in the songs. The point I'm making is that I'm playing the song and not aiming for points on the screen. I don't know what songs you know, but it might help if you start out by sticking to songs that you know really well.

Another thing, you know when you buy a new car and then all the sudden you start noticing other people driving that car a lot more than you used to? Along those lines, when I listen to music, I hear the drums. Even during guitar solos and other parts, I listen to the drums. Funny, when I started playing GH, I started hearing guitar parts that I had never noticed. Try listening to those songs and focus on the drums.

To throw the OP a bone, I am a little surprised at the level of skill needed to play on easy, though not for the same reason. And I don't think removing the bass pedal is the answer. Removing it will make higher difficulty levels much harder because you absolutely have to figure out how to include your leg while playing trap. For easy, I would suggest just having the bass, snare and hi-hat. Then, increasing difficulty would introduce the other tom/cymbal.

[MacGrad]

I paid a lot of money for this game, I should be able to play it the way I want/need to.

My thoughts exactly -- hell, I paid a lot of money for my PS3 as well! Why isn't the patch out to have it accept my Atari 2600 paddles as controllers? :mad:

(You play the game as the developers make it -- the good thing about the US & Canada is if you don't like how it plays, you can always not buy it or sell it. "Ratchet" has no multiplayer... "Lair" has no control stick options... "COD4" has a short single-player mode... at this point, you can make suggestions (hopefully in a mature manner) on how to make the next version better, but asking for major revisions to gameplay at this time is hopelessly optimistic.)

[Poppinfresh]

My thoughts exactly -- hell, I paid a lot of money for my PS3 as well! Why isn't the patch out to have it accept my Atari 2600 paddles as controllers? :mad:

Don't be a moron. There are already plenty of those on the internet.

[Poppinfresh]

My thoughts exactly -- hell, I paid a lot of money for my PS3 as well! Why isn't the patch out to have it accept my Atari 2600 paddles as controllers? :mad:

(You play the game as the developers make it -- the good thing about the US & Canada is if you don't like how it plays, you can always not buy it or sell it. "Ratchet" has no multiplayer... "Lair" has no control stick options... "COD4" has a short single-player mode... at this point, you can make suggestions (hopefully in a mature manner) on how to make the next version better, but asking for major revisions to gameplay at this time is hopelessly optimistic.)

A firmware update is not out of the question, and that's all it'd take to allow the pedal to be disabled.

And had I KNOWN there was a kickpedal, I probably wouldn't have gotten it. I played the demo at Best Buy and there wasn't a footpad to be found anywhere. They were knowingly deceitful in that regard by making it appear you were playing the game as it plays when in fact you weren't.

For most people, that's just a nuisance; you learn to use the kickpedal, suck it up and deal with it. Guess what? I'm NEVER going to be able to use it. Not ever. It's just how it is. What they did with the demo amounts to bait and switch for a guy like me. It got me all hyped up that there was a game where I could get some drumming in, only to have the rug snatched out from under me. And since it's opened, I can't return it.

[AdamWill]

A firmware update is not out of the question, and that's all it'd take to allow the pedal to be disabled.

And had I KNOWN there was a kickpedal, I probably wouldn't have gotten it. I played the demo at Best Buy and there wasn't a footpad to be found anywhere. They were knowingly deceitful in that regard by making it appear you were playing the game as it plays when in fact you weren't.

For most people, that's just a nuisance; you learn to use the kickpedal, suck it up and deal with it. Guess what? I'm NEVER going to be able to use it. Not ever. It's just how it is. What they did with the demo amounts to bait and switch for a guy like me. It got me all hyped up that there was a game where I could get some drumming in, only to have the rug snatched out from under me. And since it's opened, I can't return it.

There *was* a note on the demo to say that the real game had a pedal.

[NattyLight]

Whether the TC's original post was coming off as "whiny" or not, he raises a good point on the kickpedal in general.

I'm sorry, but all the practicing in the world isn't going to make one of my legs grow back. If it would, you can bet your ass I'd have downed so much Red Bull by now that you'd think I owned the company as I played this game 24 hours a day since getting it.

They really should have a way to disable the kickpedal for those who don't want to/can't use it. I paid a lot of money for this game, I should be able to play it the way I want/need to.

I hear you. I'm blind and it's not fair that I have to be able to see to play this game. There should be a voice shouting out th colors to me or some sort of braille output. I paid good money for this game and it should cater to my every whim.

I know a guy with only one arm. It's not fair that he can't play the guitar. they really should have removed the strum bar. it's not fair. he paid good money to play this game and he should be able to play it exactly like he wants.

Who wants to start a petition?

[admanimal]

And had I KNOWN there was a kickpedal, I probably wouldn't have gotten it. I played the demo at Best Buy and there wasn't a footpad to be found anywhere. They were knowingly deceitful in that regard by making it appear you were playing the game as it plays when in fact you weren't.



Next time look at the picture on the box before you buy something. Problem solved.

The retailers were the ones who requested no kick pedal. Go complain to them.

[Frederf]

During GH1/GH2/GH-Encore/GH3 I've played on Expert.

I played drums on Easy in RB and it was pretty much my level. You know what I didn't think? I didn't think "Waaaah, I am a gaming god, I should be able to play medium/hard straight out of the box!" Instead I thought "Cool, an Easy mode that isn't a complete waste of time. I will enjoy learning to play on this entry level and progress as I improve."

Every time someone comes on and says "I have a disability that prevents me from playing the game because of X" I really want them to be able to play but it's simply not practical for everything to have option this and workaround that. I've seen FPS people saying they're color blind so please devs add Y, missing arm/leg/head/fingers/whatever.

What about blind or deaf people? Clearly HMX are heartless bastards. I'm happy if you might have to enter a cheat code to disable the need for the pedal or need another controller plug that made the bass pedal activated by your left eyelash or something, but as nice as it would be, blind people can't drive cars on public roads.

Seriously, it wouldn't be too hard to rig up a thumb switch to the bass pedal notes.

=====

On an agreeable note I do have to say that drums are pretty freaking challenging for Easy. I think the fact that Easy isn't coded too easy combined with some goofiness in if the drum controller feels like registering your hit or not that day combine to make the drums a lot harder than say playing GH2 on easy.

[espher]

Decided to try drums today after polishing off Medium vocals. Being brazen, and because I'd bet a friend of mine the night before that I could get 90% of the notes on at least the first three tiers on Medium drums (to which he laughed in my face), I jumped right into Medium having never played them before. It was trickier than I expected, but after a couple of hitches in the first few seconds I didn't have any problems.

Lowest % of notes hit I had was 95%, and I was getting 4* and 5* the whole way (Reptilia was my best at 99%).

Tonight I was doing co-op and we ended up doing Enter Sandman and Foreplay/Long Time. I have no clue where they are in the solo drum career, but I expect they're pretty high up, because they were messing me up a fair bit -- but I still had 92% on Enter Sandman and 91% on Foreplay/Long Time.

If you're having trouble with it on Easy, the drums may not be for you period -- just like how some of my friends cannot play GH, but have a knack for drums or vocals. If practicing for a week doesn't help you, I'm not quite sure what to say.

[admanimal]

If you really can't/don't want to play with the pedal....then just ignore it!

To see if it worked, I just played Say It Aint So (which is in the easiest drum tier) and Sick, Sick, Sick (which is DLC in the most difficult drum tier, with pedal literally every other beat). I played both on medium and I passed both with about 80% accuracy without ever touching the pedal.

Furthermore, you can practice any song you want on drums without ever touching the pedal.

[NattyLight]

I hear you. I'm blind and it's not fair that I have to be able to see to play this game. There should be a voice shouting out th colors to me or some sort of braille output. I paid good money for this game and it should cater to my every whim.

I know a guy with only one arm. It's not fair that he can't play the guitar. they really should have removed the strum bar. it's not fair. he paid good money to play this game and he should be able to play it exactly like he wants.

Who wants to start a petition?

Come on guys! We can't stand for this injustice

[MJDoja]

hmx says if anything, play the kick and the snare because you get the most points and crowd for that.

if you cant play easy drums KEEP TRYING
some people are good at reading and rhythm games, they can get to medium no problem.

others who need to break down their limbs and understand the format that the notes are coming.. just keep playing easy and learning the songs.. then go up to medium and youll be jammin before u know it.

[MOFO]

I really am truly amazed at a lot of those on here who posted such jackass comments. Making fun of a disability or even mocking it (sarcastically or not) like some of you have done here is horrible. I posted my concerns hoping it would be handled maturely but as it seems I was dead wrong. I'm not whiny in the least bit here, I think HMX made a fantastic game and I've been a fan of their games since frequency. Also I should add that I'm not one of those people who suck at guitar hero. I've 5* all of the songs on GH3 on expert. *sigh* I raise a real problem and it gets mocked...You just gotta believe if there's a hell some of you are going there.

[Teh_Nfsjunkie91]

Decided to try drums today after polishing off Medium vocals. Being brazen, and because I'd bet a friend of mine the night before that I could get 90% of the notes on at least the first three tiers on Medium drums (to which he laughed in my face), I jumped right into Medium having never played them before. It was trickier than I expected, but after a couple of hitches in the first few seconds I didn't have any problems.

Lowest % of notes hit I had was 95%, and I was getting 4* and 5* the whole way (Reptilia was my best at 99%).

Tonight I was doing co-op and we ended up doing Enter Sandman and Foreplay/Long Time. I have no clue where they are in the solo drum career, but I expect they're pretty high up, because they were messing me up a fair bit -- but I still had 92% on Enter Sandman and 91% on Foreplay/Long Time.

If you're having trouble with it on Easy, the drums may not be for you period -- just like how some of my friends cannot play GH, but have a knack for drums or vocals. If practicing for a week doesn't help you, I'm not quite sure what to say.

Exact same thing for me, didn't even try easy, and now I'm already starting to venture into hard territory.

EDIT: I don't know if you guys remember, but Guitar Hero on easy was a pain in the ass too. Hell, I couldn't even do sharp-dressed man on easy, now I just played through the other day and beat Bark at the Moon. It's really all about practice, if you don't have the natural talent.

P.S.: Maybe we should have asked for the strum bar to be taken out on easy mode. ;)

[Booker]

I really am truly amazed at a lot of those on here who posted such jackass comments. Making fun of a disability or even mocking it (sarcastically or not) like some of you have done here is horrible. I posted my concerns hoping it would be handled maturely but as it seems I was dead wrong. I'm not whiny in the least bit here, I think HMX made a fantastic game and I've been a fan of their games since frequency. Also I should add that I'm not one of those people who suck at guitar hero. I've 5* all of the songs on GH3 on expert. *sigh* I raise a real problem and it gets mocked...You just gotta believe if there's a hell some of you are going there.

Mofo, I'm pretty sure most of the abusive posts after yours are aimed at the OP rather than you. People have a tendancy to read the first post and then hit the reply button rather than read the rest of the thread.

I've been following this board for a while and most of the people here are from a higher gene pool than your average forum troll so please don't take any of the nastier ones as a personal attack.

Although I will say since the game has been released the number of asshats posting here has increased quite alot :(

[matrix2222]

I would really appreciate everyone telling us crappy drummers to be quiet and just practice to please go somewhere else. Seriously, you people play instruments, you play drums, those skills don't come easy to non music people. But the drums are friggin hard on easy, I can 5 star medium songs all day long, but have a hard time finishing drums on easy. Its not about us not wanting to practice, its about the level of difficulty of what we expect easy to be. Hitting 4 drum pads is one difficulty, but to expect people to use a stick and hit a pad while we press our foot down on a pedal, sorry but that is NOT EASY.

[toefer]

Tonight I was doing co-op and we ended up doing Enter Sandman and Foreplay/Long Time. I have no clue where they are in the solo drum career, but I expect they're pretty high up, because they were messing me up a fair bit -- but I still had 92% on Enter Sandman and 91% on Foreplay/Long Time.


For what it's worth, those two are in the 2nd to last tier (along with Don't Fear The Reaper, Cherub Rock, and something else that I don't remember).

As for people complaining about the kick pedal on easy, I can kind of understand. But at the same time, imagine the jump it would create when going from easy to medium, when you suddenly have to play more notes on the pads, and also add in this tricky kick pedal thing. I think by putting the kick pedal in on easy, it allows you to get used to it early on, which helps later on.

I started playing drums on medium, because thats what it was set at by default, and I assumed there was no easy. I didn't fail out of a song until Green Grass & High Tides, but that's 4-5 tiers in. And no, I don't play the drums. I've never even banged on a drum set in real life.

[webduelist]

Harmonix has never made a guitar before, that was Red Octane - the same people that made the guitar for GH3.

are you freaking serious go to www.harmonixmusic.com I think that is it, god I know there are people this stupid out there becuase they are all over youtube.

[LongDarkBlues]

Sorry webduelist - you're wrong. Harmonix made the first 2 GH games, but Red Octane, a peripherals manufacturer, made the actual guitars for all 3 GH games..

[Edgehopper]

Hello all I'm new here..In fact I registered here just so I could post my thoughts on this. I'm going against my better judgement in doing this I know. Here's the thing you see I completely agree with the OP about the kick pedal but for differant reasons, for you see I am in a wheelchair and its extremely hard for me to do the kick pedal for many reasons one of them is its really hard for me to push it down with my feet. Not because my feet are weak just the pedal is that hard to push down. I really wish there was an option to disable it or a future patch maybe? *hopes* It wouldn't ruin the game in any way if there was such an option. I just wanna be able to pass some songs on medium and its not for lack of trying because god knows I'm really giving it my all. All I get in return is a failed song and being dead tired. I hope that many of you can see my point and won't just write this off as whining. By the way anyone with any idea that could maybe help me play it better, I'm all ears.

I actually think that's a reasonable idea; maybe patch in a cheat code that allows you to disable the bass pedal but not save scores or report it to the leaderboards (like the Unlock All cheat). Remember, HMX has to also deal with fairness concerns, and the bass pedal adds in so much difficulty that it wouldn't be fair to let people playing without a pedal compare to people playing without it.

But it should be a cheat code meant to help the disabled, not the lowest difficulty level. Putting the bass pedal on Easy helps new players ease into it and makes it actually feel like a drum part; otherwise, Easy to Medium would be too big of a difficulty jump.

[Badosh]

bass drum is an important part of every song
so of course theyd put it in on easy

[MOFO]

I'm really happy that some of you understand my concern and take it serious. I want to apologize for my post from earlier its just with all that mockery and sarcasim anyone in my position would be pissed off. Anyway I would love if HMX could make a cheat to disable the pedal. I really hope that someone from HMX will help me in this. Well for all the nice comments esp to the guy who said if he got the chance to speak to someone from HMX about it, I thank you all.

[admanimal]

I've suggested this before- An immediate solution is to just play the song and ignore the bass pedal. I've done this on several songs in solo tour at different difficulties and passed every time. Additionally you of course can play in practice mode and not worry about the pedal either. The only negative is that a little bass pedal icon pops up to remind you to play it, but it's not that intrusive.

So my suggestion is to open up all the songs you want to play using the guitar or vocals and then you can play any song you want on drums in practice mode without using the pedal.

[GregoryHarbin]

Yeah, so last night we had several people, most of which had never touched a rhythm game before in their life, couldn't play any instruments, and weren't even familiar with video games. They sat down for the first time, played drums on Medium, and were able to win with 80, 90 per cent each time. Granted, this was on the easier songs, but they could breeze through ANYTHING on the über-simple Easy mode.

[NattyLight]

I would really appreciate everyone telling us crappy drummers to be quiet and just practice to please go somewhere else. Seriously, you people play instruments, you play drums, those skills don't come easy to non music people. But the drums are friggin hard on easy, I can 5 star medium songs all day long, but have a hard time finishing drums on easy. Its not about us not wanting to practice, its about the level of difficulty of what we expect easy to be. Hitting 4 drum pads is one difficulty, but to expect people to use a stick and hit a pad while we press our foot down on a pedal, sorry but that is NOT EASY.

It takes 5 minutes to learn the standard rock beat. Seriously, kids learn this crap in kindergarten. You just suck for some reason. Go to the drum lessons part of the game and practice. If you can't play drums on easy, you probably have some sort of defect.



I really am truly amazed at a lot of those on here who posted such jackass comments. Making fun of a disability or even mocking it (sarcastically or not) like some of you have done here is horrible. I posted my concerns hoping it would be handled maturely but as it seems I was dead wrong. I'm not whiny in the least bit here, I think HMX made a fantastic game and I've been a fan of their games since frequency. Also I should add that I'm not one of those people who suck at guitar hero. I've 5* all of the songs on GH3 on expert. *sigh* I raise a real problem and it gets mocked...You just gotta believe if there's a hell some of you are going there.

Let's band together. I think we should get rid of the strum bar because it's too hard for people born without or who have lost a hand or an arm.

Easy on guitar is also way too friggin hard because you have to press any of 5 different buttons and strum at the same time. Easy should get rid of the strum bar.

[JohnnyLobes]

I have a friend who has NO RHYTHM

He came over last night and I had to talk him into playing the drums. after a few songs you couldn't get him off of them. He couldn't get the foot pedal at all at first but then things fell into place and he might even get the game now.

[jordan15b]

i have mastered medium drums but the step to hard is pretty big difference

[MOFO]

It takes 5 minutes to learn the standard rock beat. Seriously, kids learn this crap in kindergarten. You just suck for some reason. Go to the drum lessons part of the game and practice. If you can't play drums on easy, you probably have some sort of defect.




Let's band together. I think we should get rid of the strum bar because it's too hard for people born without or who have lost a hand or an arm.

Easy on guitar is also way too friggin hard because you have to press any of 5 different buttons and strum at the same time. Easy should get rid of the strum bar.

You've just proved to me and all who read this just what a jackass you are.

[Hanover]

The reason why everyone says that the guitar parts are too easy is because everyone who has been through the guitar hero series KNOWS HOW TO PLAY. We come to this series with plenty of experience and skill already.

The first time I picked up Guitar Hero I, I was failing through a lot of the "easy songs" until I re-wired my brain to start automatically recognizing the patterns so that my fingers would automatically know what to do...but it was a brand new experience for us back then.

It's the same thing on the drums. But hey, thats what practice mode is for...be lucky! We didnt even have practice mode in Guitar Hero I! The cool thing about the drums is there is usually one rhythm that you might not understand, practice it on slow two or three times and you'll get it much more easily than you will trying to learn the tricky hammer-on/pull-off riffs on the guitar part.

One last thing...playing the drums...means YOU ARE LEARNING THE DRUMS! How are they supposed to make this "fake" like the guitar? Put the drums on some sort of keyboard with buttons you push with your fingers? There's really no way to make them more fake than to dumb the parts down in the easier levels and give us fewer drums to hit than in a real kit. So your complaint is like sitting down at a piano and yelling at the teacher that there are way too many keys. It's a skill...and a much more real skill than playing the fake guitar....and that means its going to be tougher because it's not just about pushing a button and brushing a lever...it's about actually playing an instrument.

[Athangu]

All things about this game rock why whine about a foot pedal it is there to learn just like all of the other portions of the drum set ummmmmmmm if I remember right a bass drum is included on real drums

[kildain]

I didnt read through all 11 pages but I agree 100% with the orginal poster. You are not forced into 5 buttons on the guitar right away, why not go easy on the drums and add an element with each increasing difficulty? I was most excited about the drums and while I can play the lighter stuff on medium, its just not fun, its work. Its the same reason I dumped gh3, when a game feels like work, I would rather do something else. I am not a fan of the guitar either, I went back to my Xplorer to rock. I do enjoy the mic but my wife doesn't, lol.

Overall, I like the game but feel like the drums are not introduced in easy enough to enjoy and get the hang of. I feel like I am fighting for my life on the easy stuff... I would probably crap my pants on Sandman. The guitar stuff starts off a little too slow for me as well, I was five staring everything till Tom Sawyer and Sandman without much sweat. I guess game balancing is tough work.

As long as I am griping, the online play kind of sucks too. The headset adapter thing is kind of crap, and why can't I unlock songs together? Its gh3 all over again! The BWT sounds cool but as the only player at my house, I guess I wont know if/when they enable it online, heres hoping its very soon!!

I hope they smooth out the rough edges soon, I really like the songs and would rather keep this game than have to buy Rock Band 2 to really play online smoothly with good quality instruments.

[webduelist]

really how much more can they dub it down they take out almost all the bass hits the whole point of easy mode is to make it so you can use your foot and hands seperately. but I was kinda disappointed that they made it so you had to have the kick pedal (hold on a min let me explain). my uncle is parlized from the waist down so he cant move his feet and he was really looking forward to this game.:(

[Goldenfox]

In this guys' defense, MOST people don't have the coordination between their hands and feet to handle drums. I think there should have been an option to have it function as the Best Buy demos did, with the game worrying about the bass on its own, just so people like this guy can take the time to get a handle on the already monumental task of learning how to corrdinate the hand-related parts of drumming first. At least on easy and medium modes, I think the option should have been there.

[alz]

I have to agree ... the drums are far too difficult for the common joe to play on Easy. Easy should be 3 input types only. The same way the guitar works. Its simple. It makes sense.

Just imagine trying to pick up Guitar Hero 1 and playing all 5 keys on Easy. Everyone would have complained about difficulty (the common public, not fast-finger-freddy-folk) and the GH series would have never been a big hit. Rock Band would've never happened.

Guitar games were created before GH and they didn't succeed for whatever reason. GH had just the right formula. So why not extend that formula to the drums?

ps. why can't I use my guitar character to play the drums?

[NattyLight]

In this guys' defense, MOST people don't have the coordination between their hands and feet to handle drums. I think there should have been an option to have it function as the Best Buy demos did, with the game worrying about the bass on its own, just so people like this guy can take the time to get a handle on the already monumental task of learning how to corrdinate the hand-related parts of drumming first. At least on easy and medium modes, I think the option should have been there.

WRONG. Most people, with less than 6 minutes of practice, are perfectly capable of doing this. Ask any elementary school music teacher.

Do this now and I promise that you will be playing drums
With your RIGHT HAND, tap FOUR times on the desk in front of you . . .

ONE . . . TWO . . . THREE . . . FOUR.

Now we will do it again but this time you will pat your RIGHT FOOT on the count of ONE and tap your LEFT HAND on the count of THREE.

It should be like this: http://www.drumdrums.com/vids/8throch1.wmv

Work very slowly at first until you get the hang of it. Keep it steady! Repeat this pattern over and over until you can play it comfortably and rapidly from memory. It might take four or five minutes of intense concentration before it becomes easy to do.

musics teachers use this for children and it is VERY rare that people are unable to do it with a few minutes of concentration.



Do you also think it's too hard to have to strum and push buttons at the same time?

[idiotec]

Just to put this in perspective.

My wife, who had never touched a set of drums in her life, is completing songs on Easy no problem.

Again, this is the WORST COMPLAINT EVER.

[admanimal]

I am also baffled as to how people have such a problem with this. I have never touched a drum set in my life but I played through the whole medium solo tour and only failed one song along the way.

If you're having trouble with just the hands, try tapping along to your favorite song with some pencils on a table or something so you get the hang of moving your arms to a beat.

[Siberian]

Sorry the original poster just needs to stop worrying so much about it.

I played yesterday with half a dozen friends several of which either never played much Guitar Hero or were at best Medium level players who still had a hard time w/ more difficult songs.

Nobody had such a horrible time w/ the kick pedal that they failed out of songs on easy on their first run (now, I'm of course ranking 'failure' as the 3-strikes your out failure in coop).

After a song or two there wasn't anyone who wasn't able to pick it up enough to be be able to play w/o needing to be rescued on easy.

And of the Guitar Hero players, most of them can play on medium at first pass on the easier songs w/o too much difficulty.

[admanimal]

Nobody had such a horrible time w/ the kick pedal that they failed out of songs on easy on their first run (now, I'm of course ranking 'failure' as the 3-strikes your out failure in coop).



I've mentioned this a bunch before in the thread, but even on medium you can get away with virtually ignoring the kick pedal altogether on songs and still pass them. I tried it on on Say It Aint So and Sick, Sick, Sick and I passed both without touching the pedal. That's why I really don't understand what the huge deal is.

[espher]

I didnt read through all 11 pages but I agree 100% with the orginal poster. You are not forced into 5 buttons on the guitar right away, why not go easy on the drums and add an element with each increasing difficulty?

It's a cute comparison that people are trying to make, but the pedal is a crucial part of keeping the beat. It's best to get VERY BASIC patterns out of the way on Easy (which is EXACTLY what is being done), then move to slightly more complex ones on Medium, and go up from there. If I weaned myself on Easy without a bass pedal I'd probably have a much harder time making the jump to Medium. The bass pedal is a critical piece.

And, again, to be completely honest, if you're rhythmically challenged, maybe a rhythm game is not the choice for you. I don't expect my friends with motion sickness issues to play Unreal Tournament with me.

I hadn't even played a rhythm game before Guitar Hero II. I beat Medium on that within a couple of nights, and Hard within a couple of months. It took me about six months of on and off play after that to beat Expert on Guitar Hero II, I, and almost all of 80s (damn you Play With Me). My mother, after the same period (although with much less play time), can finally beat Easy. I had to play and practice a lot to do that. She had to practice less, but still quite a bit proportionate to the time played. A friend of mine, after a month of trying, still has difficulty coordinating holding frets and strumming at the same time -- but he's willing to learn.

If you don't have a knack for it out of the box, put some practice into it. If you aren't willing to practice it or try and learn it (like you need to do with, oh, just about every other video game) or just can't keep a simple beat, maybe this just isn't the game for you.

And as an aside, if they'd started you on RYB for guitar, and then added O on medium, and G on hard/expert, it would have been much easier to make the difficulty jumps because your fingers would have been placed ideally for hard/expert and you'd have that much more experience with them.

It's just a trivial complaint.

I can't do it, so I want it removed.

Those with a disability have more of a valid case, although they may want to look into a solution akin to what you'd get with a car: hand controls.

[FultonPub]

I was SO excited about getting home tonight with my Rock Band package. I had played the demo in the store, and enjoyed playing the drums more than you could ever imagine. I've never played the drums in my life, but I immediately felt I was comfortable playing them on the store demo. I was regularly averaging 90%+ on medium, and I think I've always had a slight predisposition to keeping time in music.



So I get home tonight after having spent $170 on my package, and I set up the drum immediately. I get into my first song on MEDIUM, and quickly fail the song miserably. I was thinking to myself "WTF"?

I soon realize that I failed because I didn't have the foot pedal connected to the drum set. I just wanted to get started on the drums, and figured I could set up the foot pedal later, as they had to make it optional somehow.


So, I begin the next song on the EASY setting figuring these is no way Harmonix could have forced even a brand new player to use the foot pedal with the drums. Sure enough, I notice immediately I am missing notes each time that foot pedal note comes along. :mad:


I honestly don't know what to even say in response to this, other than it was the stupidest thing Harmonix could have ever done to this game. They've designed this beautiful game, that encourages people to pick up these instruments for the first time in their lives, and enjoy the wonder of playing music together. Yet they chose to make the drums SO hard on even the easiest setting, that only the most rhythmically inclined among us will ever have a chance of playing them at any level in the game.


Harmonix, I have one question for you? Why would you do such a thing? This surely was a mistake, and you will realize it when you see how many people complain about this the moment they realize how ridiculously hard these drums are to play. Even worse you basically teased people by making the drums in the store demo easier to use, and it's a form of false advertising. Giving the impression to newcomers like me that this was possible for me to enjoy. Now after having spent $170 I find out that is not the case. I feel like I've been had, and you should feel guilty for doing this to loyal fans like myself, who have enjoyed your previous games.


This isn't like some $60 game that I can put aside with some regret when I find out I don't like it. I just dropped $170 on a Rock Band package, that also happens to include a guitar that is the worst your company has ever produced. The strum bar is a joke, and doesn't feel nearly as responsive as the older guitars. So not only am I pissed off about his drums situation, I'm now feeling equally unhappy about the guitar that comes with this package. How on earth could you have been happy with this guitar, and how on earth could anyone in your company have thought it was a wise idea to ship the store demo one way, and then the final product another way. You should be ashamed.


You are a moron.

[dalecoop]

This post reminds me of the "Flaming Moe's" episode of the Simpsons, where Homer's yelling at Moe that he's lost a customer, but Moe can't head him over the constant ringing of the cash register. Minus, of course, the part where Homer's anger was justified.

The complaint that the game functions differently from the demo is justified, and the opinion that it would be nice to be able to play without the foot pedal is valid. Expressing these concerns in a request for a patch or an enhancement to a future version, including an explanation of why you're upset about it, might be a good way to get your concerns addressed. Performing the cyber-equivalent of stomping your feet (sorry, guess that's a sore spot... I mean flailing your arms wildly) and holding your breath until you turn blue is a good way to get yourself called names like "moron," "idiot," and "douchebag" as evidenced by this thread.

[Frederf]

Here's an interesting exercise:

Imagine you are HMX making Rock Band and you have only 4 difficulty levels to get from new player up to matching the real part note for note. Expert pretty much decides itself based on the real part so you basically have HARD, MEDIUM, and EASY to play with. Do you make EASY really easy and make a mammoth jump in skill to MEDIUM?

The bass pedal is trying to be introduced early in EASY, learned in MEDIUM, refined in HARD, and mastered in EXPERT. Yes this EASY mode isn't as easy as the EASY mode with the guitar, but if it was there would be the same level of complaining about the crazy difficulty jumps.

[hankmallon]

Oh come ON! I'm a horrible drummer and I managed to get through Medium solo career on my first try ever!

[seanmadi]

i havent read this whole thing because its gigantic. but you DONT have to use the foot pedal until hard. on easy and medium its at most on the first of every 8 beats. that requires absolutely no thought. its always on the first note at a steady pace. theres no beat to it, its just B 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 B 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. your an idiot.

[admanimal]

i havent read this whole thing because its gigantic. but you DONT have to use the foot pedal until hard. on easy and medium its at most on the first of every 8 beats. that requires absolutely no thought. its always on the first note at a steady pace. theres no beat to it, its just B 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 B 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. your an idiot.

Yeah I have mentioned a few times in this thread that you can actually play songs on medium and pass them (with like 80% accuracy) without ever touching the pedal.

[DivaMom]

When we first brought the game home, I had similar thoughts about the drum part. I played guitar, and my husband played drums to begin with, because he'd bee playing GH3 and the drums were the part he was REALLY excited about. It seemed like the drum parts were pretty involved, even on easy. (Now, this was just me hearing what he was doing while I concentrated on the guitar parts... I've never had good luck with stringed instruments, even virtually speaking, so it takes some decent concentration on my part :p )

I decided to give the drums a try, but I actually played through the tutorials first.... and the drums on easy mode are a serious breeze. Just take a deep breath, go through the tutorials if you haven't yet, and don't give up. They're not that bad, I promise ;)

[arcadefreaque]

I don't know how to say this without offending the whiny people.. but if you have no legs to use the kick pedal, then modify the setup so that you can use your hands or other body parts. That's what people with no legs have done for ages - figure out ways to do what they want to do within the bounds of possibility. You will be proud of yourself for having accomplished this, and people will be impressed by your abilities and your ingenuity.

My son is legally blind, he doesn't ask game manufacturers to make braille versions of all of the games. He uses magnifiers on handhelds and plays console games on a 100" projector screen, and doesn't cry about the fact that he can't do things as well due to reduced vision.

I sympathize with the trouble that such a disability can cause, yet it irritates me to think that because someone has a disability, he expects to be catered to. I know people who operate under those principles and they are normally angry and bitter about a lot of things. I know others who find happiness in the things that they can do, and work hard to figure out how to do the things that they enjoy - and they tend to be happy and cope easily with even the things that would drive non-disabled people a little batty at times.

[Grayshadow]

My wife, a 27-year old, who has no musical background and has never played drums at all, started playing Rock Band on easy drums. She fumbled through it for a bit before she got her arms and leg coordinated enough to control them independently. After a few hours, she moved up to medium. She's now attempting hard - we've had the game less than a week, and have not been playing it constantly. Similar experience with a friend of mine. After a little while, easy is too easy, but there is that initial barrier than any aspiring drummer needs to overcome to be able to control arms and legs to keep a beat.
Have newbies run through the drum tutorial to get them used to the controls, that should be enough to get most people started.

[ifiseeyouiwillendyou]

The sig rocks my friend :D

HAHA
Well thank you! Not bad for a girl, eh? It has a nice long back story to it too ;)

But anyway, slightly OT.

RockBand 4 life:D

[macafied]

Never played drums before and i started on Medium. Passed all songs until i got to ggaht (used practice mode for parts i was struggling on). Made it through medium solo in 2 days 4 and 5 starring most songs. Now on hard mode. You all think medium is hard? Wait till u get to hard mode O_O.

Just keep at it and it should "click" eventually and you wont even have to think about the bass drum.

[thehelixreaper]

I agree with everything that everyone has been saying. Practice and you will get better.

The first song I ever played on drums was "Cherub Rock" on medium. I proceeded to fail out 2 times before being saved one last time. My sheer determination not to ruin it for my friends (we were doing BWT and the song was almost over) allowed me to finish the song, in the red. My sense of satisfaction was huge. I realized I needed to start on easy and work my way up, but now I am playing on medium and doing pretty well. I think it is only a matter of time until I get to hard. *nods*

Harmonix rules! :D ROCK BAND FOR LIFE!!!!

[Ordnalac]

The other day I went to the basketball court to play basketball. I watch basketball all the time and see the players in the NBA dunking every night. So, of course, you could understand my disappointment when I could not do the same. Why would they ever make all the hoops 10 feet high?...

Come on guy! It's an accurate simulation of playing music. It's a video game and the easy is very easy. Even my girlfriend can play drums on easy and she actually does well (>90%).

[DCfella]

The first time I tried the drums on EASY, I absolutely did not want to play it again. I sucked at it and it seemed like i couldn't get any notes right. After 3 days my strum bar for my guitar broke so I've been kind of forced to play the drums while I STILL wait for my new guitar to come in. After a few days, I've gotten the hang of things. Whereas I used to get booed of the stage playing the drums, I regularly get 90+% on easy level and it's become fun for me.

[reverser]

All these people whining about difficulties. This game is NOOB MODE x 5000 vs. most real rhythm games. Try Drummania or Beatmania. Now those are hard games. It will take you years to even advance to a decent level of proficiency. Just another example of how lazy Americans have become and how the rest of the world (i.e. Japan) excels to far superior levels of greatness because they never just look for the easy way out.

[Weezbo]

I'm kind of surprised that no one has pointed out that OP shot himself in the foot by playing enough to have any proficiency on the demo units. That muscle memory built up practicing that way is working against him the way it wouldn't for a total noob.

Easy mode on drums is almost three button play during the first few tiers. Kick, red, and yellow. You have to hit green to activate overdrives and very rarely during the songs, but that's about like tilting the guitar for overdrive in easy mode. Blue is so rare early on that having it show up in songs threw me even more than the kick did at first.

That having been said, OP's comments are way over the top regarding it being a "HUGE mistake" (especially since the "band leader can't switch instruments" is a bigger mistake :) ), but it is valid that it would be nice to include reasonable accommodation for people who are physically or "coordinationally" disabled and have a no kick option. That option would, of course, have to be barred from the leaderboards.

[Symbiosis]

Umm... It's not that ridiculous that they put a kick pedal with drums for a drum simulation...

Even beginners need to learn about the kick pedal.

I remember when I got my first Guitar Hero. I sucked horribly on easy. But, after practice, I never play anything past expert. It's just a new controller to get used to. You shouldn't expect it to be that easy.

All I can say is. Suck it up.

[ManOwaR]

Don't bring that weak smack in here! the easy easy songs are meant as training tools for the medium easy songs..likewise,etc.and soforth. Cripes, some of the easy drum starter songs only use a couple beats the whole song, Ignoring that part would be silly.

[sohei]

The best thing you can do to learn how to play the drums is count.

On easy, you just need to count eighth notes like this: "One and two and three and four and" The game even shows you the lines for each 1/8 beat.

For the vast majority of songs, you will hit red (the snare) on two and four. While the kick drum will almost always be on 1 and 3, if it's there at all. Sometimes you'll have to hit an extra beat on the kick drum on "and." Occasionally it'll be on all four beats (just stomp on every full beat). With your right hand, you'll play the high hat/cymbal (yellow, green, or blue) on every count (e.g., hit it on "one" hit again on "and" hit again on "two" etc.).

It takes time and practice, but think of it like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time. It's difficult at first, but gets easy once you get the hang of it. Also, take the game's advice and play the right arm part first, add the left arm part, and then add the kick drum. I think its good that the game introduces you to the kick drum on easy; otherwise the learning curve for medium would be too hard for most people.

Now, those with a disability do have a legitimate gripe, and I think it would be a good idea to bring back the "best buy" option for them. But anyone who has full movement in the arms and legs should be able to play with some practice. By counting, my wife figured it out easily. And she's ... well... somewhat musically challenged.

[DesiredFX]

The foot pedal should be like the Orange button in GH. Maybe not wait until Hard to introduce it, but leave it out of Easy.

I have never played drums in my life, but I sat down to play RB on Easy with a sense of dread about the foot pedal--I didn't think there was any way in the world I'd be able to coordinate that.

Imagine my surprise when I finished my first song as the Top Performer in our band.

I understand the complaint, but, really, it's a non-complaint. Anyone who has trouble should just keep plugging at it. Pretty soon, you'll wonder why you ever complained.

[Darpan Zind]

Since I have a broken Strat, I decide to learn the drums last night. It was the first time I have played drums in my life. I read up on how to use the foot pedal. Of course, I had a little trouble the first two times around. Never failed, but barely got by. However, I quickly learned after that and just about 5-starred every song in Easy and started 5-starring at the first city on Medium. I'm loving the drums and this is after only 2 hours of play time. I end up keeping the beat by just counting the notes. It's the same thing I do when I play the guitar on a highly repetitive fast part.

[NattyLight]

Since I have a broken Strat, I decide to learn the drums last night. It was the first time I have played drums in my life. I read up on how to use the foot pedal. Of course, I had a little trouble the first two times around. Never failed, but barely got by. However, I quickly learned after that and just about 5-starred every song in Easy and started 5-starring at the first city on Medium. I'm loving the drums and this is after only 2 hours of play time. I end up keeping the beat by just counting the notes. It's the same thing I do when I play the guitar on a highly repetitive fast part.

Get out of here. You mean by just playing instead of complaining you got good enough to increase your skills. I don't buy it. Sure every single person that has palyed on my set has done the same thing but I think they are hustling me.

[Spooky73]

To the original post...


Wah, freakin' wah!

Please...this is Rock Band, not High School Musical Sing Along.

Sorry to be harsh but seriously, what did you expect? I never heard anyone complain when Guitar Hero first came out that they shouldn't make you have to strum as well and hit the colored buttons!

Just practice. My 9 year old girl beat "Blackened" on easy within 2 hours of play (and she had never touched a drum set before).

[560sdl]

The first night we played, the drumming was so bad it was hysterical and the loudness of hitting the drum surface was really annoying. Completely out of time and random.

Now I listen to my daugher bang away from another room and the difference is amazing. I have trouble not playing the drums because it is so new and I am learning so much from it. So I think they did a great thing.

[HMXJohnlok]

To be clear: we don't currently have any plans to turn off the kick pedal (practice mode is a great tool, where you can avoid kicks if you want to learn, and then add it later). Again, I'm sorry for the OP's disappointment, and I appreciate both arguments. Picking on the OP or others for having their opinion isn't adding anything to this discussion however, so keep it clean and on topic please.

[thegreatpablo]

I haven't really had a chance to read all of the replies, but I did want to put my two cents in.

First of all, not having the kick drum parts on easy would be a bigger mistake, and for a few reasons.

By design, in order to play Rockband on the drums, you kind of have to learn how to play the drums...or at least the basics. The very basics of a drum set and keeping time usually consist of three items: the snare, the hi-hat, and the kick drum. As you progress in the game, more complex concepts, rhythms and combinations are thrown at you, but without the very basics as a foundation, you'll flounder around quickly.

And as others have pointed out, sure, on Easy and Medium you are not introduced to the Orange button on guitar on Guitar Hero, however, what you do with the orange button is exactly the same as any other button on the guitar, you press it and strum, so the comparison is moot. A more apt comparison is if they had let you tap all of the notes on easy rather than having to use the strum bar.

[TheKT]

Ok I know this post has been beat to death, but dammit, I read all of your s***, so now I will inendate you with mine. I play guitar, I have since before GH came out. And the first day my friends and I played GH I was better than they were, some of them even failed on easy the first couple of times. But it didn't stop them from playing and enjoying the game. No one gave up and never played again because they couldn't do it very well. In fact about 90% of them have actually gone out and bought the game themselves.

When we got Rock Band of course, I played the guitar as I am the best out of our little group. But I eventually did try the drums, and I was not very good at all, I didn't fail on easy, but I was pretty damn close a few times. But you keep at it like everything else. I believe that if you had a get together with non musicians, and non gamers that some one would be able to pass the drums on easy, and have an enjoyable experiance.

Oh and if you don't like people flaming you, don't post a disparaging(sp?) comment about a game being too hard, on the games website, the day after you got it.

[Emowii]

Ok I know this post has been beat to death, but dammit, I read all of your s***, so now I will inendate you with mine. I play guitar, I have since before GH came out. And the first day my friends and I played GH I was better than they were, some of them even failed on easy the first couple of times. But it didn't stop them from playing and enjoying the game. No one gave up and never played again because they couldn't do it very well. In fact about 90% of them have actually gone out and bought the game themselves.

When we got Rock Band of course, I played the guitar as I am the best out of our little group. But I eventually did try the drums, and I was not very good at all, I didn't fail on easy, but I was pretty damn close a few times. But you keep at it like everything else. I believe that if you had a get together with non musicians, and non gamers that some one would be able to pass the drums on easy, and have an enjoyable experiance.

Oh and if you don't like people flaming you, don't post a disparaging(sp?) comment about a game being too hard, on the games website, the day after you got it.


I stand by every single thing I said in my original post. The drums are too hard, and that will be realized by many people when they find that their friends and family don't want to play them anymore, because they're just too hard.


I know, some of you are going to tell me how your 2 year old daughter can play them on medium, or some other silly story, but I'm not talking about barely making it through the song as success. When I talk about this game being hard, I'm saying that it's not FUN to play the drums. Not that it isn't possible, or that no human being will be able to do it. My statement from the beginning has been that most people will find the drums too unforgiving, and will simply lose interest in them. That is bad game design. Just because it's more hardcore doesn't mean it was a good design choice.


The easy setting on drums is in no way comparable to the guitar on easy. This will be different for the next Rock Band game, and I hope this thread is still around whenever that game comes out, so I can point this thread out at that time. Just like they'll change the strum bar for their next guitar, they'll adjust the difficulty level on drums to be more user friendly from the beginning.

[SoulScreme]

I stand by every single thing I said in my original post. The drums are too hard, and that will be realized by many people when they find that their friends and family don't want to play them anymore, because they're just too hard.


I know, some of you are going to tell me how your 2 year old daughter can play them on medium, or some other silly story, but I'm not talking about barely making it through the song as success. When I talk about this game being hard, I'm saying that it's not FUN to play the drums. Not that it isn't possible, or that no human being will be able to do it. My statement from the beginning has been that most people will find the drums to unforgiving, and will simply lose interest in them.


The easy setting on drums is in no way comparable to the guitar on easy. This will be different for the next Rock Band game, and I hope this thread is still around whenever that game comes out, so I can point this thread out at that time. Just like they'll change the strum bar for their next guitar, they'll adjust the difficulty level on drums to be more user friendly from the beginning.

Oh no, the game is challenging. God forbid you actually have to work for something. Ugh, I mean, really, find, then keep the casual folks on guitar/vocals. The drums are totally learnable. I 4 starred my first song with no previous experience. I mean, it just means you lack rhythem, in which case you should stink at a RHYTHM game.

[Emowii]

Oh no, the game is challenging. God forbid you actually have to work for something. Ugh, I mean, really, find, then keep the casual folks on guitar/vocals. The drums are totally learnable. I 4 starred my first song with no previous experience. I mean, it just means you lack rhythem, in which case you should stink at a RHYTHM game.

Oh god, will you just shut up with this crap? I know, you have rhythem from the gods, and you also have woman fawning over you every day of your life. Thanks for sharing.


Would you just do yourself a favor and re-read my initial post, or even the one you just quoted and think about it for a second. I NEVER said the drums shouldn't be hard, or shouldn't require some learning. I simply said the EASY FREAKING SETTING should not be as hard as it is. I NEVER suggested that medium, hard, or expert be changed at all. If you actually thought for a moment, that might just register in your brain.

Unfortunately a lot of the children around here just read a line of a post, and just hit that reply button like a lab rat hoping for some food. Think before you post, and really read what I'm saying next time. Please.

[thegreatpablo]

I know, some of you are going to tell me how your 2 year old daughter can play them on medium, or some other silly story, but I'm not talking about barely making it through the song as success. When I talk about this game being hard, I'm saying that it's not FUN to play the drums. Not that it isn't possible, or that no human being will be able to do it. My statement from the beginning has been that most people will find the drums too unforgiving, and will simply lose interest in them. That is bad game design. Just because it's more hardcore doesn't mean it was a good design choice.


I think there's an old addage that fits in here, it goes "Different strokes for different folks". Basically, you and one or two other people in 20 pages of posts see this as a problem, but no one else does. What this means is that Harmonix did a good job catering to the majority. There will always be exceptions to the rule, but cannot make those exceptions the standard.

I think you'll find that your statement of "most people will find the drums too unforgiving" to be a gross over exaggeration given the number of people who oppose your stance.

[HMXJohnlok]

Thanks for weighing in, folks. We do appreciate the feedback and it has actually been discussed internally on a number of occasions. This is turning into too much bashing, so I'm afraid that a lock is necessary.