wildfire759

Psychotic173

demonknightinuyasha

Altima NEO

Dee4leeds

Now for GH 4, I finally saw a pic of the full set in Game Informer (the one shown here had the right cymbal mostly cut out, so you couldn't see the color), and the second cymbal's a different color than the first, so they probably won't have the cymbals be interchangeable. So unfortunately, unless they have the pedal do nothing, it looks like GH 4 won't be able to use the Rock Band drums.

NinjaMarion

SachiGaust

kylenalepa

BStu

NeoStarr

Fatmumuhomer

Jestersage

They should really put Dragon Blade ver 2.4.1, one of the overplay songs in GuitarFreaks/Drummania (even by GFV4, which is the one in Vancouver, it's still in second place, only beaten by Renai.)

Jestersage

Oh wait, thats what i've been doing with drummania and dtxmania for years, nevermind. (hurray for my jps2!)

wana10

The things I don't like are the note chords display, the songs that have been in both GH and RB, and the fact that it's too little too late and not many people are going to know Konami created the genre and than rebuy instruments yet again.

kylo4

If that were true, than Rock revolution could carve it's own niche. UNFORTUNATELY, the track list is more like this:

"All the Small Things" - Blink 182
"Sk8er Boi" - Avril Lavigne
"Dr. Feelgood" - Mötley Crüe
"Bad Reputation" - Joan Jett
"Joker & The Thief" - Wolfmother
"Pain" - Jimmy Eat World
"Paralyzer" - Finger Eleven
"Somebody Told Me" - The Killers
"Walk" - Pantera
"We're Not Gonna Take It" - Twisted Sister
"Magic Man" - Heart
"Round and Round" - Ratt
"Pull Me Under" - Dream Theater
"Highway Star" - Deep Purple
"Cum on Feel the Noize" - Quiet Riot
"Dirty Little Secret" - The All-American Rejects

And again, these are ALL COVERS. So yeah. Don't get your hopes up for a Guitar Freaks-ish track list (which would actually be cool).

Guitaratomik

(Those note charts are not very pleasing to look at. At least the RB/GH ones are eye-candy.)

Eiger

frozenfox13

Listen, industry, just because we all (read: quite a few of us) bought an entire toy music studio once does not mean we want to do it two or three times a fucking year. Nor does it mean that you have to jump in on this bandwagon. Pretty soon, even Wal-Mart will not have the shelf and warehouse space to hold all of this crap.

Lee A.

Samos42

Beatmania IIDX will never appeal to USA imo, the learning curve is too much + it doesn't have song that most kids who play music games would like (aka rock music), since it's mostly electronica stuff. Even if they pick the best of the best from 1st to DJ Troopers + Substream, all the good songs (music wise) are usually too hard for new people anyway.

If they released a dumbed down version, then the hardcore BEMANI players will probably not buy it either. They already failed IIDX, dont' see them doing another one in the USA.

djricekcn

I would play them, but they cost a lot more, take up a lot more space, and make a lot more noise than a videogame drum. So I'd love to have a VG set in which I could practice drumming, and then I'd be able to play the actual drums when my band is in actual studio practice (I play the bass and sing). Controlling both pedals while drumming is the trickiest part imo, and that's why I'd love to have a hi-hat pedal in a music game.

oh. btw, hi-hat:
[en.wikipedia.org]

solar_tf

Beatmania IIDX and Pop n' Music, on the other hand, will seem original and fresh and appeal to those who find GH/RB too easy. A new IIDX would probably find success on the 360 and PS3 while the cutesy graphics of Pop n' were practically made for the Wii. Until you realize how freaking hard the game is, that is.

Narsil

Sounds like you should just be playing... REAL DRUMS!

Ack, now I hate myself for using that lame viewpoint, even in jest.

Josh*

solar_tf

djricekcn

Josh*

Ping5000

umaxyome

Viduus

Anyway, here's the buying guide:
a) If you want classic rock, or have purchased Rock Band --> RB
b) If you prefer metal, and like challenge with vocals ---> GH4
c) If you want something even more extreme then metal (ie drumbeat at 400bpm ala Funky Sonic world), and screw vocal, or just prefer j-rock and j-metal --> Rock Revolution

Vancouver will probably sell well with Rock Revolution due to the majority of people being Asians. That alone I am happy.

Jestersage

At first I though competition would drive the series for the better, but it's looking more and more like these companies are looking at the situation as an opportunity to gouge the consumer.

Strangelove

Six pads... wow.

Jestersage

@topaz420: SOLD! Load me up with one o' them professional grade jobbys and let me delve further into the delusion that I could actually play a real kit!

@Mr.SithNinja: You make me smile. Someone please get me some duct tape for this horse peripheral to put on my MIDI kit.

@Gunloc: I like where you're going there (esp. the turntable part)

@Guitaratomik: OUCH! No masters? That makes the decision to pass rather easy.

@Everyone Else: I crack up every time I see one of you guys snark on the Coors aspect of KotaCoors. Hell... I'm half drunk by the time I scroll past the first banner!

marfpilf

Floreum

We were all like "hey, that's pretty cool, I'll buy it".

Guitar Hero I-II passed, we could just use the same stuff.

Then there was Rock Band. "Woah, that's sweet! It'll be expensive, so I'm buying it!"

Activision looks at that, laughs while smoking a cigar, "That's where the money's at, we need to make peripherals!" Now, I understand the logic in that, but seriously, at least make it compatible with Rock Band. You're losing customers here.

So Konami wakes up from a five year nap and says "What the fuck? Didn't WE do that? Oh, we better get moving!" But they jump sloppily onto the bandwagon while it's rolling down the street, not seeming to notice anyone else and makes their damn game. Now,where they REALLY screwed up was going all the way to make DIFFERENT peripherals that do the same damn thing. Now we got three different high priced sets of peripherals on the market, if you knew nothing about games, which would you buy? a)Guitar Hero, the sensational game that's taking casual gamers by storm, b) Rock Band, a lesser known apparent "ripoff" that you have heard good things about, or c) A random rhythm game with NO recognizable brand name whatsoever, and DEFINITELY a ripoff of Guitar Hero?

NachoDude

currently they are going to release GFDMV5 in Arcades, which makes it the 16th GF and 15th DM

djricekcn

Seriously, try something motherflippin new fer cryin out loud! Keyboards, horns, even accordians would be cool. Polka Hero or bust!

errol

elpflasa

NimbusTLD

MINIBOSS

So really, let's not give half the screen to the characters.

TRT-X

what0080

GhaleonUnlimited

mexfreak86

But GF/DM aren't confined to one style of music ("U.S. & Brit rock/pop), and they stay pretty fresh. It's great how Konami actually has to "write" a ton of new songs for each mix.

GhaleonUnlimited

NoBullet

Banjo-Paste

DarkTetsuya

1. Crappy (small) Song list

2. Ultra steep learning curve.

IIDX & Pop'n Music are the two best rhythm/music simulation games. GH/RB can't hold a candle to them as far as I'm concerned.

I hope Konami does well with this, as they "should" know how to make a killer music game, since they already have several.

I just don't get why Konami thinks America won't buy and appreciate Gitadora, if they released it over here.

Oh wait, that's right. They wouldn't.

ncsbert

Chewbenator

ST19AG_WGreymon

Roflcopter_Down: Wants you to follow HIM!

I got roped into that crap.. Just awful.

In the end, it's about the playlist now, no longer if it will include drums or not. However, with GH4 and RB2 on the way, with the hundreds of songs already released for both, over saturating the music genre is what is going to end up killing it.

And for the love of god, IF YOU ARE GOING TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC GAME, PLAY IT ON HARD OR EXPERT. I understand if your tabs aren't complete, or the people who play it miss notes on medium... but holy shit, I'm not spending 80$+ for something that looks boring to play, or out of 2 minute of a video, only recognize 2 songs out of 11+.

Monstercloud

Actually, finally everything is back to its rightful place: GutarFreaks and Drum-Mania were linked WAAAAAY before Rock Band ever existed, there's actually a set up that links DDR with GF and DM so I woulnd't be surprised if this game also includes dance steps.

Half the songs in Rock Band are by unknown smaller bands everywhere, so konami originals will be even better...Dj Taka..yay.

blurayforever143

The song list includes Avril Lavigne's Sk8tr Boi and ALL of the songs are covers.

Yeah. Pass.

Guitaratomik

Furu

Maybe you're right, though- outlandish character models and annoying boss battles are much higher priority. I guess good note charts aren't a part of the core experience.

Xerxes3rd

GOD-FUCKING-DAMMIT KONAMI OF AMERICA, HAVE YOU ALL LEARNED NOTHING SINCE THE HIPHOPMANIA DAYS? JESUS CHRIST, 40 FUCKING SONGS OUT OF THE ENTIRE GF/DM LIBRARY? -_-

I will be glad when this sells nil and is outsold by Guitar Hero 12 and Rock Band 5, way to take 2 steps back guys!

Genocyde

Uh, GuitarFreaks/DrumMania predates Guitar Hero by 6 years and Rock Band by 8 years. There were a couple versions of GF/DM which even linked up with KeyboardMania, Konami's piano simulator.

Those were the golden days of music games; I wonder if they'll ever be back.

chardish

ClackyJ

@BrocStoppable:

*brain asplodes*

Please, for the love of god, READ THE COMMENTS SECTION BEFORE YOU POST.

Komrade_Kayce

Nauser

djricekcn

ShinjiKinomoto

Daisuash

To be honest, I'm sick of rhythm action games now. GH was good when it began but now the market is saturated and the quirkiness of the gameplay has lost its appeal. I doubt I'll be buying this, GHIV or RB2. I'll just stick with my actual guitar and be done with it.

Nauser

zakky venom

after guitar hero 2 was released, activision bought red octane and mtv bought harmonix. harmonix wanted to make their dream game (rock band) and mtv loved the idea and was happy to fund it, essentially passing on being the developer for GH3.

activision said no worries, we have a dev team in our back pocket - neversoft. thus guitar hero development went to neversoft. harmonix, however, was smart enough in the beginning of their deals with red octane to stipulate in their development contract that they maintain rights to the engine they create for the guitar hero game. thus neversoft had to start from scratch, which is why GH3 looks so different visually.

AgainstOne

To state it more obviously: Guitar Hero 4 that works with Rock Band drums and guitar (assuming all games continue to use pretty much universal usb mics) = Game I will most likely buy.
Guitar Hero 4 that only works with the new 5-padded drum set, the new, non-Gibson guitar controllers, and a Guitar Hero brand microphone = Waste of money that I will avoid completely

To Konami's credit, however, those screens make it look like there's only 5 buttons used on drums, so it could still be possible to use the Rock Band drums for it. And if both cymbals serve the same purpose (say, both being yellow and allowing you the choice of hitting the left or right cymbal when a yellow note comes up rather than them being two independent cymbals for two independent notes), then it's still possible the Rock Band kit could work.

NinjaMarion

order of ripoffery goes: guitar freaks ripped by guitar hero, guitar hero ruined by activison, guitar her improved one hundred fold by rock band, rock band soon to be ganked by EVERYONE WHO WANTS MONEY

zakky venom

Gunloc

Mara

Gunloc

Koolsen

I'd love to see a game devoted to the keyboard.

It's been done. One word: Keyboardmania. Produced by, wait for it, Konami.

houkoholic

fuchikoma

Ugh.

VixDiesel

cybereality

Rock Band was NOT a ripoff of Guitar Hero. Anyone who was following the Harmonix-Neversoft dispute will tell you that Guitar Hero 3 is the true ripoff of the GH series, NOT Rock Band.

Eranmane

LoopyChew

now this just puts me more on the fence as to which one of three drum kits to get - perhaps one of them will work for all 3 games, that would make the decision pretty easy, but i guess i'll have to wait a long time to find out

JustFrozen

Ruisu

This one better have Sobakasu like that Guitar Freaks arcade I found... haha.

@josh924:
No, they need to ACTUALLY release it. Not a watered down US version in five stores for a week with no advertising. I buy every Beatmania and I let that one go. I want it over here, but that was just weak.

"TaQ, Slake, Taka, Outphase, Good-Cool, Orange Lounge. Amen."

--- The following is an advertisement ---

Coors Light! The label changes color to let you know when the taste gets tolerable! Take a silver bullet for the team! (Or was that another company... I don't watch commercials.)

This post was brought to you by the Olive Garden: Home of the never ending random plugs on a certain gaming podcast. :p

fuchikoma

BrocStoppable

Gray665

Mr.SithNinja

I just don't understand why they couldn't capitilize on consoles earlier.

If I sat in a room with the original xbox live in its infancy, actual Freak and Mania equipments, excellent understanding of integrating music with the videogame medium, and an avid fan of music across all genres; it doesn't not take a nuclear scientist to you know, mash it up.

I have bet every single adult here have unconsciously bobbed their heads, sang in the showers, and air guitar'ed once in their life; thats what Konami was aiming for with thier cabinets, I do not know why no one in their R&D/Dev team followed through with it.

Konami was in its glory 5 years ago, it had the funding to venture into the now Harmonix/Acti market.

Capcom took a stab with a $200 game, only 2000 were made but it was a hit. Konami could have easily gotten a Q&A of the same size just for giggles.

Fyren

.:: Dubdoob ::.

bigman88zz

KA-CHING!

topaz420

Unless these are all compatible with each other, i'll be sticking with Rock Band.

Desfunk

.:: Dubdoob ::.

Iceman B.

XbhaskarX

Hi, Flynn.

justhesh

This is too much.

angry_gamer

tsukasa1288

this is getting to be like fighting games after SF2 & MK came out.

string_theory

If they drop drummania tracks in this, I'm so there, otherwise, pass.

Oh, and they tried IIDX, no one cared, so they gave up. Sucks to hell, really.

CyricZ

Thanks Sage!

Lazlo

Kayeliminal Antithesis

if all instruments aren't compatible with each other, it's gonna be a really ugly fight.

what someone should do is introduce a new instrument, the synthesizer.

phrequency

As the Mortal Kombat announcer would say..."choose your destiny." I'm taking the Rock Band path.

KaneRobot

I'll wait for reviews of this game and I'm still not sure I'll buy it. It's gonna take a lot to make me buy another set of plastic gear.

IndustrialJones

I always viewed the next step in the genre to be the compositional side, allowing gamers to write and share their own tracks and charts. Something both Guitar Hero IV and new Rock Revolution are going to supposedly provide.

I have a feeling, though, that this is something HMX was already planning for Rock Band 2. And now that both Konami and Activision have made their annoucements, it gives HMX a chance to sit back on that feature and further tweak it based on what works and what doesn't in these two clones.

TRT-X

CheckersMcGavern

OW OW OW MY BRAIN.

I know who made Rock Band you chuckleheads. Rock Band still ripped off Guitar Hero the same way Guitar Hero ripped off Guitar Freaks. As in, it did not. It evolved it.

Komrade_Kayce

SPni

Furu

Struct09

But seriously, where is the innovation? And I don't mean gimmicky gameplay mechanics like Battle of the Bands for Wii. If we're really going to progress in the genre I think we need to change how we interact with the instruments rather than just hit the right colored circle at the right time. I was really hoping Guitar Hero IV would have stuck with the guitar only - but dug deeper into the technical guitar playing mechanic so that it was actually more like playing the real thing. Instead, we get the same experience but with drums and vocals added to the mix (a year late to the party, mind you).

I'd love to see a game devoted to the keyboard. It doesn't have to be overly complicated like the real thing if execs want it to appeal to the masses (heck, just give it one or two octaves of keys, dumb it down or whatever). At least that would be different. And it'd be much easier to make your own music that way through create a song.

I bet retailers are concerned about this too, particularly smaller shops like Gamestop. How in the world are they going to have the floor space for a third oversized music game bundle?

Nate128

And if it somehow is made compatible, I fully expect some very awkward "layouts".

TRT-X

Put another kick pedal on that set and toss out the pop/rock, make it all metal. Metal Revolution.

Thyrfing

Proz

solidblur

I'm also wondering if Rock Revolution is getting grouped under the BEMANI label or not.
Either way, I SO do not get this. What the FUCK is Konami thinking? They HAVE all the GuiterFreaks/Drummania games, is it so hard to adapt those to the western market?

I assume they have their reasons to make a new IP but don't they realize that this will simply appear as "a GH4/Rock Band clone"?

Iceman B.

Note to Konami: When trying to set oneself apart in the suddenly saturated "full-band experience" genre, it's probably a wise idea to not release a demo in which 75% of the songs area already available in a competitor's product.

@Komrade_Kayce: "My brain hurts. So, Guitar Hero rips off Konami, Rock Band rips off Guitar Hero and Konami rips off Rock Band?"

Guitar Hero ripped off Konami. Then the guys who made Guitar Hero left to make Rock Band. Meanwhile the new Guitar Hero guys rip off Rock Band, and then Konami wakes up and cries: "Me too!"

Of course, they're spin is the 6th drum pad (as though GH's 5th weren't absurd enough).

They may have started it, but HMX pulled it all together and made it work.

TRT-X

ElMuerte

neoyaku

[www.konami.com]

Or do you mean that they need to release more beatmania games in the US?

josh924

*sigh*

And I know for sure that I will only have one of those fake plastic drum sets in my apartment... who ever caters my need in Sweden first will be my sole provider from there on. I just hope it will be Rock Band with sane pricing...

The Whaleman

steve86uk

liquid_kore

but it's good that konami's finally trying to get their groove back.

ChibiKyKiske

Jakuub

josh924

geoffcbassett

Kinda like how Guitar Hero IV is mainly centred around the guitaring but it has drums and i assume bass available as well?

Ryumeka

While GHIV will at least sell a good amount, if for nothing else than for the guitar riffs, this will most likely do relatively poorly. Who gave this the go ahead? The market for over sized peripherals is saturated. End of story.

Anarchist_Gamer

please release beatmania here in the US as well!

FullyShadow

How many toy drum sets do these people expect us to have in our homes?

avenger339

Well, I find it cool to see a rhythm game centered on drums..

CockroachMan

A-bleeding-memory

best part, and also the 2d note charting.

Looks like it'll be awesome, the drums really shine in Rock Band.

Kinda like the shine of the midday sun off the top of the rockies. The refreshing taste that one can tap into with an ice cold bottle of Coors.

Grumpz®

Kanik

dontEATnachos

kylenalepa

CheckersMcGavern

The game is still fun, and after playing through Rock Band on expert guitar, I don't see RB as any better in terms of note charts. Ryfael, this isn't directed to you, but just everyone who is harping on GH3...who gives a shit anyways? Is the game fun? If yes, kindly shut the hell up. If the note chart really bothers you to the point that it ruins the game, then maybe you should work on setting your priorities straight. I'll take fun game over 100% accurate note charts any day. You all should too.

Sheen_Latrine

I'm going to need to sell my couch so I can fit more plastic drum sets into my living room at this rate.

Sundermania

kojirodensetsu

Im not going to poke you in the eye for you thinking you just told me something I didnt know.

Instead, we will share this two-four of ice cold coors light together.

Komrade_Kayce

half-beast

So Flynn, no picture of the drumset in question?

Spoony Bard

Technically, Rock Band is Guitar Hero. Harmonix made the first two GH games and then moved on to make Rock Band. Activision picked it up from there.

Stratovarius

...you have my attention.

jonathan.

thaKingRocka

inkycap

I wonder if they will incorporate some of their Drummania/GuitarFreak tracks.

Iceman B.

Ow.

I need something cold... refreshing... possibly brewed in the heart of the rockies...

someone help me out here.

Komrade_Kayce

/P.S Guitar Hero 3 note charts are garbage.

Ryfael