(Artist's rendition of) What's wrong with the RB Drums

[Maposaurus]

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i4...hereswaldo.jpg

Yes, I know my MS Paint skills are comparable to that of an autistic monkey, but you don't need to compliment me on them.

Well, this is a rant from a real drummer, so sit on down or get out before it's too late.

First, before you make a quip about it being a prototype, remember it's a working prototype, and the game is pretty close to final production. So while the design can be changed before manufacturing, it's likely it won't be drastically so.

Well, the most obvious thing from the picture is the awkward looking design. From the scans, it looks like a set of quad-toms on a stand with a pedal. First off, I can understand why they'd only put five buttons on the design, but the four in a line (and according to GI, uncustomizable) design is the real heartbreaker. It's probably the worst design they could have picked to emulate the feel of a real set of drums short of a vertical line.

A 2x2 square would be a far better choice, as you could simulate hi-hat on the TL, snare on the BL, ride on the BR, and splash or effects on the TR, and it could change in a fly to a standard snare/rack toms/floor toms for fills. I don't know where the crash would go for fills, but my assumption would be crash on the TL and crash ride on the TR for the end of fills.

I'm not demanding there be six pads like in my picture (which I think would be awesome and help the drums stay in synch with the new and more realistic guitars, plus ramping up the difficulty and make difficult beats that span multiple drums and cymbals feel more natural), but I personally think it would be a great addition. They should at least change it to a 2x2 square over a 4x1 rectangle. Maybe even an upside down isosceles trapezoid, which looks like

\__/

For the geometrically challenged.

Second off, I know this will change, but currently the drums don't look very aesthetically pleasing. Maybe put a large metal or plastic round in the bottom (a great place to fit that ever important logo) to simulate the look of a bass drum from the front. It doesn't even have to have depth, just be there and look pretty. The drums themselves should look less metal and rubber and more plastic and wood. I'm fine with the metal rack, that's natural.

And lastly, why no double bass pedal? Seriously, it doesn't even have to do anything extra than hit the same trigger the normal one does. It would make faster passages on the bass more manageable, and really, so much more metal than it would be with one.

Commence rabbling.

[c0nd0rd4myt]

think the thing you need to remember here buddy, is that most people who are playing this game are not drummers, nor do they ever plan to be one. its intended to be a somewhat accurate simulation, but without being too outwardly difficult. for those of us who want try the drum periphreal but have never picked up a pair of sticks, this is perfect (in my mind anyway).

also gotta keep in mind storage and construction into the design. your idea could work if the thing wasnt gonna move or get put away somewhere. the flat, straight design of this makes it easier for storage and transportation.

and like you said it is a working prototype, meaning the basics features and design is done. they could at the last second change it, or at the least make the periphreal an elipses.

[Maposaurus]

think the thing you need to remember here buddy, is that most people who are playing this game are not drummers, nor do they ever plan to be one. its intended to be a somewhat accurate simulation, but without being too outwardly difficult. for those of us who want try the drum periphreal but have never picked up a pair of sticks, this is perfect (in my mind anyway).

also gotta keep in mind storage and construction into the design. your idea could work if the thing wasnt gonna move or get put away somewhere. the flat, straight design of this makes it easier for storage and transportation.

and like you said it is a working prototype, meaning the basics features and design is done. they could at the last second change it, or at the least make the periphreal an elipses.

I don't see how changing it from a line to a square would make it any more difficult for non drummers. You're learning the exact same basics, it'll just be better for you from a learning standpoint, and it will make it easier for existing drummers to get into it.

Changing it to a square wouldn't change it at all as far as storage and transport is concerned. It's still the same base, and the drums will have the same area.

Also, I know this. The point is, it probably won't change unless they get some negative feedback about it, hence, I'm voicing my opinion.

[zankfrappa]

he's right i think a square would be more natural and easy to use. It'd be easier to cross the arms for playing the hi-hat and snare. I guess we'll just have to see how things pan out.

[Brock_Landers]

I'm not a drummer but I'll chime in and say that I agree the current proposed setup order of the drums does seem odd to me. That could just be part of my drum noobness, or out lack of understanding how the note charts have gotta be tailored for it tho.

And it'd be cool if there was a port in the drums for those who wanted to attach a second bass peddle to it (course, finding a spare one may be a hassel)

[Darkseed]

I completely agree with the original poster. Using the high hat and snare on the proposed set up just seems unnatural to me, and seeing as though these will be the two pads used most shouldn’t they at least be positioned more accurately? While I’m not a drummer per se (I have dabbled), 2x2 square (as the OP suggested) seems as though it would be the more obvious choice.

Furthermore, reading the article from GI revealed the snare will be on the far left pad! What the hell? Surely this can’t be right. I hope this changes, or at least be customisable, so that we can rock out with the snare and high hat more accurately.

On a side note, I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t realise an extra pedal for the kit seeing this would make metal tracks much easier (and appropriate) as Maposaurus pointed out.

[xCHRISx]

Yes, *PLEASE* change the horizontal layout! Either make it a square or bring the outermost pads down and in a bit, like so:

...OO...
..O..O..

This would be *much* more realistic and fun, in my opinion. That's my biggest gripe, is the setup of the pads, although a 5th dedicated hi-hat pad would be gravy. Please listen to us HMX!

[bounchfx]

I don't think it should be a square. I think it should be the trapezoid shape you described, because that is what I imagine would work best, with the outside 2 being the cymbal/hi-hat, besides the shape change (maybe even have the outside 2 be able to slide up into the square shape? but NO to the square shape, that is not how the notes line up on the screen, at least with the trapezoid they still run from left to right in a line, just a better overall shape), I would love to see a second pedal, or at least a second pedal sold separately for those of us who want to do Double bass. Double bass in the game would totally make my day as well as tons of other people.

then again, there needs to be songs in there that utilize it, which Is why it probably isn't there to begin with which makes me a sad panda.

back to the point - trapezoid! or inverse trap? hell, just let us slide the outside 2 around the inner 2.

aren't you glad you opened these forums? you get all this great feedback before you even ship out the game =D. I know, I know. Thank us later. With cash. or free copies of rock band.

[Maposaurus]

At this point, a fifth pad is probably out of the picture. They'd have to redo the UI and all the note charts, and that's just a huge hassle. I agree it would be nice, but from a developmental standpoint, it isn't gonna happen.

A double bass pedal can still be done, because it isn't adding anything new to the game, just a second trigger for the bass. It's pretty much like putting a second right mouse button on a mouse, they both do the same thing, but you sure as hell can right click faster now.

[Maposaurus]

I don't think it should be a square. I think it should be the trapezoid shape you described, because that is what I imagine would work best, with the outside 2 being the cymbal/hi-hat, besides the shape change (maybe even have the outside 2 be able to slide up into the square shape? but NO to the square shape, that is not how the notes line up on the screen, at least with the trapezoid they still run from left to right in a line, just a better overall shape), I would love to see a second pedal, or at least a second pedal sold separately for those of us who want to do Double bass. Double bass in the game would totally make my day as well as tons of other people.

then again, there needs to be songs in there that utilize it, which Is why it probably isn't there to begin with which makes me a sad panda.

back to the point - trapezoid! or inverse trap? hell, just let us slide the outside 2 around the inner 2.

aren't you glad you opened these forums? you get all this great feedback before you even ship out the game =D. I know, I know. Thank us later. With cash. or free copies of rock band.

Two problems with the trapezoid. First, though beats will be easier, fills will become a lot more awkward, where the meat of the difficulty is. With your rack toms panning out like that, your arms would be moving a lot more than needed, and it would get tiring. For fills, unless you're rocking out to an extreme, you're pretty much just moving your arm up and down from the elbow and readjusting your wrists to hit what you want. If it were a trapezoid, you'd either have to move a lot more at the shoulder, or have your elbows tilted out at a quite odd angle.

Second off, it's harder to ship. This may seem stupid, but trapezoids in square boxes waste a lot of space. They'll either have the space being eaten like that and waste shipping space, or have to make specially shaped boxes, which will add up to less net for them. From the standpoint of a business, it's a bad move.

The idea of the sliding, while good, would add at least ten dollars a unit to the cost of the drums. That's a pretty big increase over the price it'll likely be, and that might drive off customers. They're walking a very very thin line with the price, and if they don't nail it, they might have a bit of trouble moving certain units of the game (in this case, the drums), which amounts to wasted manufacturing cost.

Now, I'm not saying the square is perfect, but it works from a drummer's standpoint, and makes sense from a business standpoint.