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[AMUSIX]

To the folks that already have their IONs, why are you not using a more "traditional" configuration with the snare low and centered? Is it too hard to make the mental translation from chart to pad?

I am using a more traditional setup (I posted images the previous page.) Basically, I'm close to this layout:

edit: this is my layout...

I will say that reteaching my arm to not automatically fly to the right for the crash cymbal took some getting used to (and I find I do better after learning a song, and learning when to use the green cymbal vs the green pad).

Also, after playing open for so long with the Rock Band pads, it's still taking abit to get used to playing closed.

If you use one of you cymbals as Green, I would strongly suggest putting it where I have mine. It makes certain songs flow a lot better, and you still have the green pad as an option.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Bad Reputation looks like being Seven, but without being as awful. I'll just think of Freaks and Geeks and I'm sure I'll enjoy myself.

 

[AMUSIX]

Bad Reputation looks like being Seven, but without being as awful. I'll just think of Freaks and Geeks and I'm sure I'll enjoy myself.

Bad Reputation is AWESOME on drums. One of my favorite to play. It's two rhythyms repeated, but that chorus is a great, bouncy, playful pattern.

 

[TheGreatDave]

I enjoyed Seven on drums. The similarities are just never ending

I really want your drums. I'm just gonna be strong and resist, but you can be happy knowing I'm jealous.

 

[Struct09]

Old? The Spike TV Rock Band 2 special is now up on Gametrailers.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

 

[Stormwatch]

I'm glad it doesn't. Seeing Barack Obama sing Bad Reputation is hilarious.

Yeah, and seeing a viking sing "You Outta Know" is great as well

 

[AstroLad]

I'm glad it doesn't. Seeing Barack Obama sing Bad Reputation is hilarious.

yeah i wouldn't worry about it ever changing. the transitions are still totally broken just like rb1 too don't think the actual concerts will ever really change.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

yeah i wouldn't worry about it ever changing. the transitions are still totally broken just like rb1 too don't think the actual concerts will ever really change.

How do you mean? Like going from a duet to crowd surfing in one cut? That kinda stuff?

 

[AstroLad]

How do you mean? Like going from a duet to crowd surfing in one cut? That kinda stuff?

yeah. haven't seen that one specifically yet but that's generally what i'm referring to.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Do they still smash guitars during BRE, then hold them again at the end?

 

[EazyB]

Just wondering, but why is that terrible Anarchy Club labeled 2009?

 

[Stormwatch]

Do they still smash guitars during BRE, then hold them again at the end?

Yeah, I've seen that. I forgot where I read it, but some developer said that they envisioned the gigs in Rock Band being similar to music videos in that you don't have to have smooth transitions from one scene to the next. The video we are watching is more like a compilation of a few "takes" edited together.

 

[DuckRacer]

Just wondering, but why is that terrible Anarchy Club labeled 2009?

It's from their upcoming album "The Art of War," which is to be released early '09.

 

[Uncle AJ]

Have you ever used the guitar before?

You insult me! :O

Spoiler

Never noticed the dots on the original Strat before

Good to hear about the battery life, though.

And since I just got done playing it for about an hour, Freestyle Mode in Drum Trainer + MP3's is so awesome I'm amazed no one has thought to implement something like this before. Just getting that "Holy shit - I'm playing a drum beat... and there are no notes on screen!" feeling is amazing.

Of course all of you actual drummers out there have been feeling that for years now. :/

 

[TheGreatDave]

Yeah, I've seen that. I forgot where I read it, but some developer said that they envisioned the gigs in Rock Band being similar to music videos in that you don't have to have smooth transitions from one scene to the next. The video we are watching is more like a compilation of a few "takes" edited together.

Well, that's a lot easier to do than seamless animation transitions

 

[Uncle AJ]

Do they still smash guitars during BRE, then hold them again at the end?

I believe I saw the guitar get elbow-dropped Ric Flair style at the end of Let There Be Rock. And yeah, he's holding it after another camera cut.

 

[TAJ]

Just wondering, but why is that terrible Anarchy Club labeled 2009?

Because the year is when the album came out. Sometimes that's after they appear in these games. For example, Even Rats was in GH1 in 2005, but the album it was on didn't come out until the end of 2006. The other one I can think of offhand is Thunderhorse. It was in GH2 in 2006, and the Dethalbum came out in 2007.

 

[AstroLad]

Yeah, I've seen that. I forgot where I read it, but some developer said that they envisioned the gigs in Rock Band being similar to music videos in that you don't have to have smooth transitions from one scene to the next. The video we are watching is more like a compilation of a few "takes" edited together.

I could see that being one excuse, but frankly it's completely at odds with the theme of the game which is you and your friends getting together to play a show. Plus the transitions look so sloppy I sincerely doubt that's anything more than a post hoc justification.

 

[TheGreatDave]

I think Rock Band 3 is gonna be the game where they finally introduce guitar straps.

 

[EazyB]

I think Rock Band 3 is gonna be the game where they finally introduce guitar straps.

There would be so many clipping issues the the variety of clothing. I don't see what the big deal is anyways.

 

[AstroLad]

I think Rock Band 3 is gonna be the game where they finally introduce guitar straps.

Unfortunately, this gen's systems--yes even the HD ones--just don't have the power to handle guitar straps and seamless transitions.

We all saw the slowdown caused by the cheapo special effects in GH3; guitar straps would probably make the 360 explode.

 

[TheGreatDave]

There would be so many clipping issues the the variety of clothing. I don't see what the big deal is anyways.

Cos it looks stupid having them just float there. I don't really care about it but it seems like something they should probably get around to doing sometime soon.

 

[Bogus]

I could see that being one excuse, but frankly it's completely at odds with the theme of the game which is you and your friends getting together to play a show. Plus the transitions look so sloppy I sincerely doubt that's anything more than a post hoc justification.

Actually, I'm noticing the wonky animation transitions more in Rock Band 2 than I did in the original game. Maybe I've just got a critical eye turned towards the sequel due to expectations of improvements, I don't know. Regardless, since I usually get relegated to singing when I play with friends, I have a lot of opportunities to watch the action onscreen.

When I was singing the Paramore song (I forget the name), I noticed my character go through the same canned animation stream four times in a row. Granted, the camera angles were different each time, and the game focused on a different band member for a few seconds in between each shot, but it was still jarringly obvious. Honestly, what's the point of hiding the transitions with cuts to other parts of the stage when the game can't even prevent repeating the animation loops back-to-back?

Disappearing mic stands, guitars that reform after being destroyed, instantaneous teleportation back across the stage after epic powerslides... rock n' roll really is magical!

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Okay I gotsa question.

Recently, I upgraded to an LCD Philips HDTV, and I calibrated my system, and it's been working okay... but now that I started the drums, I notice definite lag on the fills. I checked in the Freestyle mode, and it's there. Now the thing is, when I play the game, I don't have a problem with beats not registering; it's just the fill lines.

Any advice GAF? Is it just crummy calibration, or is this something I'm doomed to have?

 

[XShagrath]

Cos it looks stupid having them just float there. I don't really care about it but it seems like something they should probably get around to doing sometime soon.

Didn't you say before that you didn't care about any of the character stuff? And it's all just about the songs and the charts? That you'd be happy with just the note "highway" on a black background?

You're just looking for something to complain about.

 

[TAJ]

Didn't you say before that you didn't care about any of the character stuff? And it's all just about the songs and the charts? That you'd be happy with just the note "highway" on a black background?

You're just looking for something to complain about.

Yeah, this is some serious hypocrisy. He worships GH3, and the animation in that game is laughable. Just noticing the drummer is enough to make me break combo.
Band interaction is non-existent.

 

[AstroLad]

Didn't you say before that you didn't care about any of the character stuff? And it's all just about the songs and the charts? That you'd be happy with just the note "highway" on a black background?

You're just looking for something to complain about.

Well, I can't speak for Dave but here are my thoughts.

It's certainly reasonable to "not care" about anything but the charts, but it's just as reasonable to actually care about the presentation. Particularly since Rock Band is sold so heavily as an "experience." I was saying yesterday how I played the game all evening and could probably play for 24 hours if I had the chance, so the presentation foibles are far from dealbreakers, but they're still as disappointing to me as they always have been. Even more so in a sequel where at least some of the performance aspects could have been improved.

 

[Ding]

I am using a more traditional setup (I posted images the previous page.) Basically, I'm close to this layout:
[pictures snipped]

Ah... so you are straddling the red pad? (Your left leg is to the left of it?)

I just checked and my ION has been delivered. I think I'm gonna sneak out of work a tad early.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Didn't you say before that you didn't care about any of the character stuff? And it's all just about the songs and the charts? That you'd be happy with just the note "highway" on a black background?

You're just looking for something to complain about.

Well, I said "I don't really care". I just find it humorous that it's been years since GH1 and the guitars still float.

The only thing that really does bug me is the guitar smashes during BRE, because when I'm there playing it and the character isn't, it's really, really obvious.

 

[Affeinvasion]

While the transitions are a bit the same...there are some things that look much better. The vocalist's animations look much better overall...sometimes I feel like they are actually singing the song. And camera moves to specific people during songs is pretty cool. I like it zooming in on my guitarist doing a fist pump when "Let there be Rock" mentions the guitarist.

 

[Uncle AJ]

I'm a big fan of the bassist/guitarist/singer synchronized one-foot galloping toward the camera myself.

 

[radiantdreamer]

Not everyone can afford the game.

A controller would fuck with the leaderboards.

Not if the controller could only be used for non-rank. Besides, it's not really all that easy playing with the controller.

 

[TheGreatDave]

My favourite bit of Rock Band choreography is the beginning of that At the Gates song. It just seems to fit the song perfectly, it always stuck with me.

 

[AstroLad]

I'm a big fan of the bassist/guitarist/singer synchronized one-foot galloping toward the camera myself.

I like when the guitarist jumps in and sings during the duet parts. Especially in "The Time We Had" that part always stuck with me.

 

[sneaky77]

After playing the songs in the first 2 tiers and most of the 3rd, I have to say I am pretty underwhelmed and kinda dissapointed in a high majority of the songs. But personal taste and such...

 

[Archie]

Oh god. One Step Closer is fun on vocals. :'(

 

[Belgand]

Thanks for reminding me because I just got one too!

Me too. Works fine on the PS3. You just put in a code on the promo code section of your account and it gives you $2-3.

 

[Belgand]

Yes, I know what real bass players do. I am a real bass player. (Although not a very good one, anymore.) I pretty much exclusively up-strum in RB. (I'll sometimes alt-strum long chuggy parts, pick style.) I tend to use two fingers most of the time.

None of that requires a split strummer. (Just as playing with your fingers on a real bass does not require "split strings", if such things even existed.)

While I haven't yet tried one of these new-fangled split strummers, it seems like they would be harder to use than a regular one. You'd have to make sure the split fell exactly between two of your fingers. The slightest misalignment would result in both strummers being activated by a single pluck, which would probably register as a extra note. And if you wanted to use three fingers... well, it would be awkward.

A slightly longer-than-standard strummer would have made some sense, but two shorter-than-standard strummers? No. Just no.

[BTW, I did stop at the local GameStop, and they had the game, and the new guitar, and the new bass. I didn't ask about the drums.]

I can't play the normal guitars finger-style because it seems to flap out too much and it isn't back in place quickly enough for the next pluck. I've found these... interesting, but too expensive to bother with.

While the transitions are a bit the same...there are some things that look much better. The vocalist's animations look much better overall...sometimes I feel like they are actually singing the song. And camera moves to specific people during songs is pretty cool. I like it zooming in on my guitarist doing a fist pump when "Let there be Rock" mentions the guitarist.

They already did this last year. "Ballroom Blitz" would be an excellent example of exactly the scenario you're describing.

 

[Grecco]

Me too. Works fine on the PS3. You just put in a code on the promo code section of your account and it gives you $2-3.

Bah i wanna win free music too. I want that new Dashboard Confetional track. Still waiting to see if i win once

 

[Belgand]

Bah i wanna win free music too. I want that new Dashboard Confetional track. Still waiting to see if i win once

That's why you're not getting it. You'd just go waste it on total shite.

I can't think of anything I want to spend mine on yet. They haven't really been big on releasing quality singles for a while now.

 

[sneaky77]

Yea I don't think they changed much in the graphics/animation department other than adding couple of venues I guess, a least I didnt notice many changes

 

[Grecco]

Yea I don't think they changed much in the graphics/animation department other than adding couple of venues I guess, a least I didnt notice many changes

Ive seen a couple of new animations.

 

[Tiduz]

((((((((((((((

i cant get the free songs, i dont live in the US

but i have US ps3 rockband

DAMN YOU STRIDE

 

[fistfulofmetal]

I used mine to get Skullcrusher Mountain and one of the All That Remains songs.

 

[Uncle AJ]

Oh god. One Step Closer is fun on vocals. :'(

It lets me relive my junior high years, when I watched Dragonball Z and never went outside.

Thank god those days are over, huh?

Spoiler

I don't watch anime anymore - don't hurt me!

 

[darkressurection]

So, people with the RB2 drums, how are they working out for you? I see a lot of stuff on scorehero with people complaining about them, but we all know about the vocal minority.

 

[TAJ]

So, people with the RB2 drums, how are they working out for you? I see a lot of stuff on scorehero with people complaining about them, but we all know about the vocal minority.

Even the comments I've seen that didn't start out as bitching have basically been, "Got the RB2 drums. They're pretty cool. EDIT: Wait, they fucking suck. " so I don't think it's just a vocal minority.

 

[ahoyhoy]

Yea I don't think they changed much in the graphics/animation department other than adding couple of venues I guess, a least I didnt notice many changes

For some reason the animations seem more... well... animated. The characters seem to move a bit more fluidly and it's much more entertaining to watch.

 

[darkressurection]

Everything I've seen has basically been, "Got the RB2 drums. They're pretty cool. EDIT: Wait, they fucking suck. " so I don't think it's just a vocal minority.

Actually a lot of the stuff I have read was the opposite. "WTF tons of crosstalk shitty drums EDIT: O wait they work now."

 

[TAJ]

Actually a lot of the stuff I have read was the opposite. "WTF tons of crosstalk shitty drums EDIT: O wait they work now."

I steer clear of anything that doesn't work out of the box after some really bad experiences with mods working at first, then failing. (RB1 drums, GH3 guitar)