Gaming World Forums

General Category => Entertainment and Media => Topic started by: kentona on January 06, 2008, 07:51:38 pm

Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on January 06, 2008, 07:51:38 pm
So last night (until the wee hours of the morning) my wife and I were rocking out with my brother- and sister-in-law (and their friends) on Rock Band for the Xbox 360.

Awesome.

Seriously, this game was a blast to play.  Despite the guitar strummer being defective (could only sturm up) and the drum's foot petal snapping (we fixed it with a ruler and some hockey tape), we rocked out hard.  My brother-in-law's friend had an extra guitar from GH3 so we had the full band.  I played guitar, bass, and drums (with drums being my favorite - even though I have no rhythm).

Bass was the easiest, guitar can get crazy hard but is still easier than the crazy hard drums.  But, I enjoyed the drums more because, even though I lack any sort of rhythm, I have even less manual dexterity.  My wife loved the vocals (and was quite awesome).  She wants a PS3 now so that she can play Rock Band and Singstar.  We'll probably pick one up (I have to jump on any opportunity for a new gaming system whenever I can.  Plus, might as well get a blu-ray player for my HDTV).

My only complaint was that there weren't enough songs, or song variety.  And no Weird Al.  But, with Downloadable Content, this is being address.  Also, Feb 2008's issue of Official Xbox Magazine will include a free bonus disc with three exclusive songs for the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band.

Has anyone else played this game yet?

PS. Boogie sucks.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pugwash on January 06, 2008, 08:19:01 pm
I wish i had  :fogetsad: (Damn, I can't wait for this to be released in Europe, or is it???)

As you were saying, it looks to be a seriously awesome party game! (Even if i didn't have any friends i'd buy it to try out the drums!)
It's good to know the foot pedal can be fixed, I was worrying about that after reading IGN.

And with Song's like Enter Sandman to begin with, golly.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you have to pay for the whole package?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Vellfire on January 06, 2008, 09:46:21 pm
I've not played it, but from what I know about it it's a good party game if you have the exact number of people needed for the game.  Anything over that is no good.  My brother went to a New Years party one of his friends was at and they were doing NOTHING but playing Rock Band, and he left about an hour into it because it gets old to watch.

But like I said I've not played it so I have no idea if this is true or not.  So yeah if you are having a party (or just a group of friends over) think about that ahead of time.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on January 06, 2008, 09:55:20 pm
Man, this game is so much fun.  Like, my roommate, two friends of ours, and I have our band set up (called Griff and the Narwhals) and we are rocking out almost every other night or so.  Words cannot explain how much fun this game is, and I don't think that they ever will be able to.  The game is not perfect, by any means, but the options it gives you and the fun that can be had playing a game like this with your friends is just phenomenal.  I love it to death, and I do not feel bad at all spending the decent amount of money it costs to have.

On top of that, they already have a CRAPLOAD of extra content, something I am very happy that they (finally) got right.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Jester on January 06, 2008, 10:22:08 pm
do they have any weird al then, yet?

i dont really like guitar hero but id love to try the drums and vocals on this, haha
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: pburn on January 06, 2008, 10:23:02 pm
I want to play this game so bad. I don't have no friends who own it and/or are regular gamers, nor anyone in the area. I'd buy it, but it's not worth playing by myself(+ cost).
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Shadowtext on January 06, 2008, 10:27:16 pm
I played it with a friend the other day. It was pretty great. The only problem is the singing....you've really got to feel comfortable with your singing voice to do the singing, even at a party. That's the same problem with karaoke, I guess, so obviously it's not going to affect everyone.

I'm honestly considering buying an XBox 360, with Rock Band being the primary motivator. The PS2 version isn't even an option, since Downloadable Content's a huge deal this time around.

Only thing making me hesitate really is that Band World Tour isn't online yet and I don't have people over here often, so I'm not sure if I should buy it for (mostly) solo and band quickplay. I mean the XBox 360 would get other uses, obviously, but should I drop $200 for solo Rock Band?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on January 06, 2008, 11:30:03 pm
Yes, it is great.  I wouldn't buy it because (a) it's $170 and (b) two of my friends already have Rock Band at their apartment where they have all the songs unlocked and have made it through the Hall of Fame already.  How could I possibly convince half of the usual band to go out of their way to come over to my house and use a fresh set when they already have it and could just play at their house?  Other than that I've seriously logged a lot of hours on this game and was not kidding when I said it was game of the year material.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Mateui on January 06, 2008, 11:34:03 pm
I played it with a couple of my friends and I wasn't really impressed with the song choices... I know that this is ROCK band, but I just wish there was more variety in genres.. perhaps in a future installment.. Anyway, I'm not a huge fan of playing guitar since I just can't get used to holding the guitar and being able to hit the four buttons without looking. I just can't differentiate which finger is on what button and therefore I suck at it.

Anyway, drums and vocals are great for me. I'm used to playing DDR both with my feet and fingers on Stepmania, so hitting drums is so much easier since I can see what I'm hitting at all times. I'm comfortable with vocals since I do own all four PS2 Singstar games and we all get together and sing like there's no tomorrow. But yeah, since all the songs in Rockband are rock (which isn't a genre I enjoy listening to) unfortunately I don't know close to even 6 songs in this game, which makes singing them more difficult.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Sredni Vashtar on January 07, 2008, 12:18:20 am
my friend bought this, and since my apartment came with an HDTV, he just left it at our place... right before finals. Needless to say, we were all taken completely aback about how awesome that game is and for a straight week got noise complaints almost every night.

A few cool things:

1) If you play on the higher frets for guitar, there's no penalty during normal parts, and during solos you get double score. Also, just on those frets, you don't have to strum, meaning you can two-handed tap the entire solo just like a regular guitar.

2) If you play the drums on expert, you are actually playing the drums. You should be able to go to a real drumset and crank out a decent beat with confidence if you master rockband drums.

3) The guitar tracks are a shitload easier than any of the guitar hero games. Except for Green Grass and the High Tides, which will rape you regardless.

4) Don't even worry about singing the words. You can de doo doo doo doo all the way through a song on expert and still get 100% if you're in tune.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Jester on January 07, 2008, 12:33:31 am
can you do the doo dee doo thing on the singstar games? i found out you could on boogie and i was kinda surprised, i thought voice recog technology was better than that
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: xanque on January 07, 2008, 12:42:31 am
Rock Band is the greatest game ever made.  I'm completely addicted to it.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Dapper Swindler on January 07, 2008, 02:27:08 am
Okay, my roommate just got Rock Band so I have some questions/comments.

Our guitar didn't seem to work, wouldn't connect at all.  So I had to order a new one.  Still shy of the microphone, so all we are left with is Drum Band at the moment. 

What is the Rock Band/Guitar Hero guitar compatibility situation for the Xbox 360?  Does the Rock Band guitar work with guitar hero?  Or only vice versa? 

I'm embarassed to say that the drums were a lot harder than I anticipated.  Maybe I just suck.  But the hard parts is when you have to hit the drums in a long rhythm sequence very quickly.  Now I can get the rhythm right but I'll be drumming at just slightly off of where the beats are supposed to hit (hard to explain).  So I'll miss like a hundred in a row at these parts even though it feels like I'm doing it right.  Does this get easier with practice?

How exactly are new songs unlocked?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on January 07, 2008, 03:20:09 am
Oh, also, the Strat is a piece of shit.  True story.

You'd be way better off if you can acquire an Xplorer somehow, or if you wait for the wireless instruments supposedly coming next month.  At first, I liked the Strat.  It felt good in my hands, it felt good to strum, had those high fret buttons, and generally just looked classy.  Then it started only registering half of my downstrums.  I also had to hold it vertically in order for it to even REGISTER Overdrive.

We haven't had any problem with the drums though, although the kick pedal is starting to cave in a bit.  If you're an early purchaser, you probably have Gen. I drums.  You can send those to EA to exchange them for the Gen. IIs, which are really sensitive in comparison.

Having said what I needed to say about the instruments, I think that EA/Harmonix's exchange program is one of the best return programs I've ever seen.  You fill out a form, you get postage to send the broken instrument back, and you get a new instrument.  Now, all that needs to happen is they need to fix the bugs in the instruments, and they'll be good.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: HL on January 07, 2008, 04:06:50 am
The Strat is a peice of shit, i hate how its barely noisy. its hard to tell at first if youre strumming imo it just botheres me

<3 xplorer
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on January 07, 2008, 04:08:17 am
Okay, my roommate just got Rock Band so I have some questions/comments.

Our guitar didn't seem to work, wouldn't connect at all.  So I had to order a new one.  Still shy of the microphone, so all we are left with is Drum Band at the moment. 

What is the Rock Band/Guitar Hero guitar compatibility situation for the Xbox 360?  Does the Rock Band guitar work with guitar hero?  Or only vice versa? 

I'm embarassed to say that the drums were a lot harder than I anticipated.  Maybe I just suck.  But the hard parts is when you have to hit the drums in a long rhythm sequence very quickly.  Now I can get the rhythm right but I'll be drumming at just slightly off of where the beats are supposed to hit (hard to explain).  So I'll miss like a hundred in a row at these parts even though it feels like I'm doing it right.  Does this get easier with practice?

How exactly are new songs unlocked?
You can use the guitar hero guitar with Rock Band but not vice versa, afaik.  The vocals and stuff are a whole lot of fun, and I really recommend you try them.

Also Ballroom Blitz, Blitzkrieg Bop, and Run to the Hills are probably my favorite songs right now.  Apparently I sound really good singing them all (according to my friends) and that makes me really happy :D
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on January 07, 2008, 06:57:53 pm
I played it with a friend the other day. It was pretty great. The only problem is the singing....you've really got to feel comfortable with your singing voice to do the singing, even at a party. That's the same problem with karaoke, I guess, so obviously it's not going to affect everyone.

With singing, certain combinations of difficulty level and song can actually produce strange results in this game.  There are songs where the vocalist scoops a lot and if you don't scoop in exactly the same way, you can fail the song if you aren't playing on Easy or Medium.  Other times, the game wants you to hold a steady tone when the recording has the singer scooping.  It doesn't seem very consistent and it sometimes it seems like the more comfortable you are with your singing voice, the worse you'll actually do.  A few of my friends and I, who are all musicians and can definitely sing in tune, were pretty frustrated by a few of the songs.  The game has a very strange and sometimes finicky way of determining whether you are singing the right notes.  Conversely, on Easy or Medium, you can just scoop random sounds up and down without any regards to the actual part and you'll do very well as long as your pitch matches the music for at least a split second.  WEIRD.

Anyway, this game is the worst thing that has ever happened to me because my girlfriend plays it literally without interruption.  She's smitten with the drumset, which makes it worse because I hear the constant CLACK-CLACK-STOMP-CLACK-STOMP-STOMP of her vigorous playing.  Curiously, the guitar accessory is much more quiet than Guitar Hero's, so when she plays that instrument it isn't nearly as annoying as it was when she was obsessed with the original Guitar Hero.  It gives me a chance to catch up on the stack of PC games I haven't been able to play (she previously had taken over my computer), but if I hear that stupid OK Go song one more time I am going to snap the game in two.  Also, my friends Dustin and Alex have stopped being my friends and have become Kyrsten's friends because she invites them over to play Rock Band and drink until three AM and I'm the LOSER who won't play with them.

I hate these stupid BE A ROCKSTAR games because my girlfriend loves them so much and they've ruined all sorts of really good songs for me :( :( :(
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Vellfire on January 07, 2008, 08:18:51 pm
Also:  I am suddenly interested in playing this game at some point simply because Ballroom Blitz has always been one of my favorite songs of all time.


Except I can't imagine there being anyone playing this game who can sing that song well, you really need a...different voice for it.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Jester on January 07, 2008, 08:44:37 pm
oh wow ballroom blitz

i could totally down the vocals for that
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Kalar on January 07, 2008, 10:04:11 pm
I imported this fucker from the states, and parties are yet to be the same again
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Shadowtext on January 08, 2008, 12:22:32 am
With singing, certain combinations of difficulty level and song can actually produce strange results in this game.  There are songs where the vocalist scoops a lot and if you don't scoop in exactly the same way, you can fail the song if you aren't playing on Easy or Medium.  Other times, the game wants you to hold a steady tone when the recording has the singer scooping.  It doesn't seem very consistent and it sometimes it seems like the more comfortable you are with your singing voice, the worse you'll actually do.  A few of my friends and I, who are all musicians and can definitely sing in tune, were pretty frustrated by a few of the songs.  The game has a very strange and sometimes finicky way of determining whether you are singing the right notes.  Conversely, on Easy or Medium, you can just scoop random sounds up and down without any regards to the actual part and you'll do very well as long as your pitch matches the music for at least a split second.  WEIRD.
I meant more in terms of "to sing in front of other people." I was able to do that part, but activating Star PowerOverdrive was much more difficult.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on January 08, 2008, 01:04:12 am
I played it with a couple of my friends and I wasn't really impressed with the song choices... I know that this is ROCK band, but I just wish there was more variety in genres.. perhaps in a future installment.. Anyway, I'm not a huge fan of playing guitar since I just can't get used to holding the guitar and being able to hit the four buttons without looking. I just can't differentiate which finger is on what button and therefore I suck at it.

Anyway, drums and vocals are great for me. I'm used to playing DDR both with my feet and fingers on Stepmania, so hitting drums is so much easier since I can see what I'm hitting at all times. I'm comfortable with vocals since I do own all four PS2 Singstar games and we all get together and sing like there's no tomorrow. But yeah, since all the songs in Rockband are rock (which isn't a genre I enjoy listening to) unfortunately I don't know close to even 6 songs in this game, which makes singing them more difficult.
I feel the same way about the song choices - there just wasn't enough.  Compared to Singstar series (which has hundreds of songs), Rock Band seems a bit light.  But then, I figure that it takes far more work to make a song for Rock Band than Singstar.  This is why DLC is so important for this game.  I didn't know half the songs, and I don't like that particular Pixies song - it should have been Where is my mind? or Monkey gone to heaven.

And the next Rock Band (or perhaps Pop Band?) needs dance mats option - for Dancers.  Damn, that's be awesome.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: The Penguin on January 08, 2008, 02:48:56 am
And the next Rock Band (or perhaps Pop Band?) needs dance mats option - for Dancers.  Damn, that's be awesome.
Introducing Posse Band! Including 6 dance mats, five guitars, a bongo player, a drum set, two microphones (one for melody, the other for harmony), a trumpet, a trombone, a tenor sax, a digareedo, and a thumb piano.  Play with all 20 of your friends in this latest installment!

Oh, btw, my friend is getting this on Wednesday so I'll be rocking out then.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Bravo on January 08, 2008, 04:11:03 am
This game assumes you have friends.....its discouraging.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: DarkPriest on January 09, 2008, 04:09:31 pm
When they release "Prog rock band" I'm gonna buy an XBOX360 and that.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on January 09, 2008, 07:52:11 pm
I feel the same way about the song choices - there just wasn't enough.  Compared to Singstar series (which has hundreds of songs), Rock Band seems a bit light.  But then, I figure that it takes far more work to make a song for Rock Band than Singstar.  This is why DLC is so important for this game.  I didn't know half the songs, and I don't like that particular Pixies song - it should have been Where is my mind? or Monkey gone to heaven.

And the next Rock Band (or perhaps Pop Band?) needs dance mats option - for Dancers.  Damn, that's be awesome.
The Singstar series has about 30 or 40 songs in each game, and Rock Band has 58.  That's at least one and a half times the song list of any single Singstar game, and all of the choices within a single SingStar game are about as limited (if not MORE) as Rock Band's.  Basically your argument about Singstar's selection is invalid.

I'm with you on the point that there are not enough songs in Rock Band, but it is MUCH harder, like you said, to make a song for Rock Band than it is to make one for SingStar.  I'm happy with what there is, and I know that my feelings of NOT ENOUGH SONGS only exist because I can never REALLY be satisfied with the amount of songs that there are, as long as they are good songs.  I guess that's why I'm happy that they HAVE followed through with their promises of more downloadable content. (Seriously check the Rock Band stuff out on the marketplace, there's some decent stuff up there)
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: DS on January 09, 2008, 08:22:44 pm
I haven't played Rock Band but looking at the list of songs, it's definitely better than in any of Guitar Hero games imo.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Nightmare on January 09, 2008, 08:29:32 pm
GHIII had a DAMN good song list (which is the main reason why I got it) and looking at the song list in Rock Band and the downloadable songs (which I heard you can request on their forums) this doesn't seem like such a bad game. I might buy it.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on January 09, 2008, 09:09:21 pm
do they have any weird al then, yet?
I wish.

@Iaman: I guess I just recognized wayyyy more songs on Singstar than on Rock band.   Like what is a Coheed and Cambria?*

Also, what's a prog rock?  Is that some sort of muppet?

*admits he hasn't listened to music since 1996.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: DarkPriest on January 09, 2008, 10:07:42 pm
Also, what's a prog rock?  Is that some sort of muppet?

Quote
Progressive rock ("prog") is an ambitious, eclectic, and often grandiose style of rock music which arose in the late 1960s principally in England, reaching the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s, but continuing as a musical form to this day. Progressive rock was largely a European movement, and drew most of its influences from classical music and jazz fusion, in contrast to American rock, which was influenced by rhythm & blues and country, although there are notable exceptions in the New World such as Kansas and Rush — considered by many to be the finest examples of the form. Over the years various sub-genres of progressive rock have emerged, such as symphonic rock, art rock and progressive metal.

Progressive rock artists sought to move away from the limitations of radio formatted rock and pop, and "progress" rock to the point that it could achieve the sophistication of jazz or classical music. It is admired by its fans for its complexity, requiring a high level of musical virtuosity to perform. Critics have often derided the genre as pompous and self-indulgent. This is because, unlike such stylistically consistent genres as country or hip hop, progressive rock is difficult to define in a single conclusive way. Outspoken King Crimson leader Robert Fripp has voiced his disdain for the term. The major acts that defined the genre in the 1970s (Yes, Genesis, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Rush and King Crimson) do not sound alike. There is also debate on whether bands such as The Beatles, Phish, and Radiohead belong to the genre.

Read more at http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive-rock.asp
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on January 09, 2008, 10:33:11 pm
Stuff

That definition of prog rock is extremely editorialized and generally ridiculous.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Shadowtext on January 09, 2008, 10:38:49 pm
To give a simpler definition, Prog Rock is what you get when nerds play Rock and Roll. And it kicks ass.

They've already got Tom Sawyer, and I hear they just added Limelight to the DLC list, so at least they've got a start. Doesn't Blue Oyster Cult count as Prog Rock? They've got Don't Fear the Reaper, but they really need to go more in an "Astronomy" direction.

Too bad a lot of prog rock uses instruments that aren't covered by Rock Band, like violins. No Kansas for us. T_T
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Fire Mage on January 09, 2008, 11:17:15 pm
This game assumes you have friends.....its discouraging.
In terms of Band World Tour, it IS discouraging. I have friends to play the game, but they're just not on my level, and so it pretty much limits progress. I mean...I don't know. I can't blame the game really, because it's more fun in a room than over the internet. But stilll, I don't know.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on January 10, 2008, 12:37:10 am
I wish.

@Iaman: I guess I just recognized wayyyy more songs on Singstar than on Rock band.   Like what is a Coheed and Cambria?*

Also, what's a prog rock?  Is that some sort of muppet?

*admits he hasn't listened to music since 1996.
Coheed and Cambria's a decently new band that has some really awesome melodies in their music.  They keep getting better and better each album, which are all concept albums.  They're a lot of fun and they've got a lot of influence from various other bands (Iron Maiden, Queen, and Led Zeppelin, to name a few) and it REALLY shows.

They're definitely worth checking out.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on January 10, 2008, 07:53:54 am
ugh dude

go with the flow is way harder than enter sandman on drums.  i don't know why you unlock go with the flow first.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: DarkPriest on January 10, 2008, 08:24:59 am
That definition of prog rock is extremely editorialized and generally ridiculous.

What do you expect from a prog rock website, huh?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on January 10, 2008, 06:27:41 pm
What do you expect from a prog rock website, huh?

I suppose you're right  :sad:
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Niitaka on January 11, 2008, 08:06:17 pm
Yeah like Sredni said, the drums on higher difficulty is really playing the drums. My roommate who was a drummer back in high school (and does not normally play video games) plays this every day now.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: jman00 on January 11, 2008, 09:02:14 pm
I usually play either the drums, or do the singin' I ace all the songs on the singer part, but the drums require a bit more timing. :P My roommates play the game more then me though, its hard to sleep when they play it all day and night.  :fogetlaugh:
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: The Penguin on January 11, 2008, 11:28:09 pm
I played yesturday for about 4 hours in a row and it is awesome.
The expert guitar was really easy for me most of the time and I was getting at least 95%-100% each song, but I like that.  It actually feels like I'm playing the song rather than inpersonating a someone playing the song.
The high singing part in Creep just killed me though.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on January 12, 2008, 12:01:16 am
The high singing part in Creep just killed me though.

Falsetto!
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: thejackyl on January 12, 2008, 12:53:43 am
Coheed and Cambria's a decently new band that has some really awesome melodies in their music.  They keep getting better and better each album, which are all concept albums.  They're a lot of fun and they've got a lot of influence from various other bands (Iron Maiden, Queen, and Led Zeppelin, to name a few) and it REALLY shows.

They're definitely worth checking out.

sound wise, they are which is a major plus, but I still prefer SSTB and IKSSE, over GA:IBS, and NWFT, simply because the songs from the first two albums have a lot more feeling in them then the last two.  The Last album(NWFT) is definately a step above Good Apollo

Also, they are even more awesome live.  I love the studio versions of the songs, but they kick some serious ass live.  (Most bands sound worse live, Co&Ca actually sounds about the same)

Anyways, on topic:
My friend was thinking about getting Rock Band, and when he does, I will crank out on Lead Guitar and/or Vocals, he'll do Rythm and Bass, and another friend will lights the drums on fire.

Falsetto!
There are some people (like me) who cannot hit their falsetto.  When I try to go for a note there, my voice cracks, and then silence, but I also have a larger vocal range then most guys. (Bass to Mid/High-Tenor maybe)
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Fire Mage on January 12, 2008, 02:36:53 am
I played yesturday for about 4 hours in a row and it is awesome.
The expert guitar was really easy for me most of the time and I was getting at least 95%-100% each song, but I like that.  It actually feels like I'm playing the song rather than inpersonating a someone playing the song.
The high singing part in Creep just killed me though.
What, you mean when you sung it, or the part itself in the song did? Because that's the real song...
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on January 12, 2008, 03:29:46 am
I have the vocal range of a rock.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: The Penguin on January 12, 2008, 05:31:27 pm
What, you mean when you sung it, or the part itself in the song did? Because that's the real song...
I know it is the real song.  I'm just saying that when the guy goes into falsetto mode, I found it really difficult.  I did better yesterday (94% on medium... which is decent), but my falsetto voice isn't that great.  I have the range of a medium tenor (into some of the low tenor also) to a high tenor (otherwise my voice gets a little edgy).
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on January 13, 2008, 12:24:03 am
R.I.P. kick pedal No. 1.  It broke while I was on Hard, drumming, appropriately enough, Don't Fear the Reaper.

The only thing about singing is that you just have to work at it.  Learn the pitch, learn the words, etc.  Not saying you aren't doing that, but it really helps.  I can't really help you out otherwise because I have a naturally good singing voice.  You could try:

-Altering your posture (stand up straight with your chest out a little bit).  I know I sing better when I stand up straight, because my friends and I have a habit of playing Creep while lying down (seriously, that song is kind of depressing to be in a game about ROCK OUT) and I can't sing it lying down.
-Drinking some water to clear out your throat instead of soda

The more you actually sing, the more you should be able to maximize the use of whatever poor range you have.

Edit:  I tried singing with guitar for the first time today.  I slung it on the drum set, adjusted the mic sensitivity, and went at it online.  I didn't do too bad considering things.  My highest was a 98% guitar and 100% vocals on Blitzkrieg Bop and an 87% guitar and 77% vocals on Sabotage, but I always suck on Sabotage's vocals.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on January 13, 2008, 11:46:42 pm
Guys my group and I are all playing on Expert now and FUCK IS IT HARD.

Seriously I sang Expert for FIVE HOURS STRAIGHT last night and my voice is practically DEAD today.

But it was so much fun and TOTALLY WORTH IT.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: The Penguin on January 14, 2008, 02:48:21 am
I thought all the guitar parts would be fairly easy until all the songs after you get the jet.  Seriously, Tom Sawyer on expert is insane.  I could only get an 88%, and almost failed out of the solo section.   And my friend was doing drums on expert... and he almost didn't make it either (he plays drums in real life).  Just... so... trying...
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Sredni Vashtar on January 14, 2008, 05:47:03 am
ballroom blitz on expert is pretty damn difficult as well
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: theHunter on January 14, 2008, 06:00:55 am
I've been playing Guitar on medium and I'm getting pretty damn good!

I'm pretty excited about it to as I've never played Guitar Hero.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on January 14, 2008, 10:17:20 pm
woo

goldstarred buddy holly last night


also the talky parts are a bitch.  I am sure i will never be able to do sabotage on anything above medium.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on January 16, 2008, 01:37:27 am
woo

goldstarred buddy holly last night


also the talky parts are a bitch.  I am sure i will never be able to do sabotage on anything above medium.
Yeah I want to go and rape the Beastie Boys after having to do that song on Expert.

Seriously the flaws in the game's vocalist system become REALLY APPARENT when you do that song.  It really pisses me off.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on January 17, 2008, 04:36:43 am
dufrene's blog 01.16.2008

last night me and the bassist were fighting over some jerky.  he punched me in the face and i kicked him out of our tour bus.  we weren't talking until he overdrived and saved my ass.  we're best buds now <3

protip:  if you attempt to drum run to the hills on anything above medium, you might want to consider castration instead
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: The Penguin on January 17, 2008, 05:42:09 am
True story:
Friend and I were playing (I on expert guitar, him on expert drums) and we are going through a mystery setlist.  At first it was Black Hole Sun, and we completely dominated that song (like GOLD STARRED it [what ][/what]).  Next it was Tom Sawyer; we are both horrified, but we passed.  We laughed saying it would be hilarious if the next two songs were Cherub Rock and Run to the Hills.  Next song was Cherub Rock, took us about three tries for my friend to pass it (and he died right before the end, it was a magical).  Next song: Run to the Hills.  We basically just gave up then.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Shadowtext on January 17, 2008, 06:07:04 am
A friend and I had a similar experience, only it was Tom Sawyer (which we only barely passed. I think I ended up reviving him twice) then....it was a Metallica song that he had downloaded, but I can't remember if it was Enter Sandman or Ride the Lightning. Either way, it totally stomped us. So that was fun.

I think that was on the Roadie Challenge.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: The Penguin on January 17, 2008, 06:33:02 am
Oh, I also tried out Green Grass, and I could get through it pretty easily (still intense, however), until the point in the solo where you have to strum so incredibly fast (I think it might be twice as fast as Misirlou or Creep on expert), and that part just basically rapes me.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Blitzen on January 17, 2008, 06:43:42 am
Rush is one of m favourite bands. Has anyone downloaded and tried the Limelight track yet?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Marcus on January 17, 2008, 09:08:08 pm
Have you guys fucking seen this!?

ROCK BAND LIGHTS AND SMOKE SHOW (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/13/rock-band-stage-kit-with-lights-smoke-leaked-by-gamestop/)

It's an accessory coming out in mid-summer that includes positionable lights and a fucking smoke machine.

Next up, real groupies that give you blowjobs backstage with an arrow pointing to where you can do lines of fake coke off their buttcrack!
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on January 17, 2008, 09:26:27 pm
Oh dear....

next we'll be seeing a shitload of lame videos on youtube of kids rockin' out with fog and lights.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Fire Mage on January 17, 2008, 10:05:04 pm
Rush is one of m favourite bands. Has anyone downloaded and tried the Limelight track yet?
I like it, simply because I love the song.

Of course it's a cover so it's only as good as you can think. I think it's better than the Tom Sawyer cover though.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Shadowtext on January 18, 2008, 01:14:27 am
I hear they're bringing Working Man in the Progressive Pack at the end of the month, so that'll be cool, too. Three Rush songs down, about a billion to go. When am I gonna get some Spirit of Radio?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Kalar on January 23, 2008, 09:34:49 am
protip:  if you attempt to drum run to the hills on anything above medium, you might want to consider castration instead

my gf did this on expert last night. the collective farewell party we'd gathered for a few friends suddenly turned on her - like a starving pack of sopranos, we tore her apart and drank her blood while chanting alphaville's forever young. it was a magical evening....

in other news, this game has robbed me of my privacy. i can't remember the last time i came home and there wasn't people outside my door (hoho, GOLDFISH).
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: wishiel on April 13, 2008, 01:27:33 pm
yeah... if u like Party Like A Rock Star , there is a compilation series you should check out called "Euro Club Hits" --

it's pretty clear that dance music is coming back around the world  -- just check the recent big American hip-hop and R&B hits which are clear rip-offs of the european dance style.....

here's the direct iTunes link to the "Euro Club Hits" series.....

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/advancedSearchResults?albumTerm=Euro+Club+Hits+Vol+
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: thejackyl on April 13, 2008, 03:12:27 pm
I was skeptical about this game at first, mainly because it was a rip-off of Guitar Hero (though made by the same company, so...) with the addition of drums and vocals.

My favorite part is the vocals.  I'm the only one of my friends that can handle them on hard, second is guitar, then drums...  I can't move my arms and legs in rhythm at the same time, so it makes any song that uses the bass pedal with any other beat impossible for me to hit.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Christophomicus on April 13, 2008, 03:27:14 pm
Fuckin'... fuck all you guys. I preordered this in like friggin' January for a March release, now they've delayed it until September over here! Fucking ridiculous.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Rone Rivendale on April 14, 2008, 03:17:12 am
I love doing vocals and I'm good on the guitar too.

I HATE the drums. Period.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on April 14, 2008, 02:31:14 pm
Weird that this thread is back.

Fuckin'... fuck all you guys. I preordered this in like friggin' January for a March release, now they've delayed it until September over here! Fucking ridiculous.

Also isn't it $300?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on April 14, 2008, 03:48:17 pm
Rock Band rocks.  My wife and I have played it practically every night since we bought it two weeks ago.  We just bought a second guitar, too, for bass.

I love drums the most.  As much as I do NOT have any rhythm, I have even less manual dexterity.  Stupid fat stubby fingers.  And my voice sounds like someone stepping on a duck.

Playing Enter Sandman on MEDIUM drums (I can barely do hard on songs like Black Hole Sun) is a lot of fun.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on April 14, 2008, 04:26:53 pm
Weird that this thread is back.

Also isn't it $300?
I love how the thread got revived by a forum spam bot.

Anyway, what's everybody's opinion on Still Alive?  I like it and all, but it's in such an awkward key for taking it down to the male vocal range that it sounds REALLY WEIRD to me.  I guess I'm just picky or something.

Also Last Train to Clarksville is fucking amazing.  The Rock Band Shop says it's a 9 on vocals but I'm entirely convinced that's only for the "do do do" section in the middle, which anybody who used to listen to the Monkees should already know.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on April 14, 2008, 04:40:03 pm
Anyway, what's everybody's opinion on Still Alive?  I like it and all, but it's in such an awkward key for taking it down to the male vocal range that it sounds REALLY WEIRD to me.  I guess I'm just picky or something.

I think the problem might be that the lyrics are like a digitized/filtered voice put through pitch correction to make musical notes and it's a little too mechanical to feel natural to sing along with.  After a few minutes though I fell into the groove and didn't have too much trouble with it.  That does not address the issue that I and pretty much everyone else is sick of Portal now because internet kids thought it was awesome to spout Portal memes for an entire month THANKS A LOT 4CHAN
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Christophomicus on April 15, 2008, 10:20:34 am
Weird that this thread is back.

Also isn't it $300?

Something like $250-$300 over here, yeah. Getting fuckin' jipped, I swear to god. If I wasn't so keen on the game, I'd avoid buying it.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: theHunter on April 15, 2008, 11:45:53 am
WTF? The Wii version costs the same as the PS3/360 versions but theres no World Tour, no Character Customization, no DLC, and no Online! You also cant use GHIII guitars with it, wow talk about fucking someone in the ass.

And yeah the European version is £180 thats $360 bucks.  Its fucking stupid that the game isnt included with all the instruments.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on April 15, 2008, 03:03:14 pm
wow talk about fucking someone in the ass.

Dude do I really need to post the same image again?

Anyway yeah it's pretty wild that the Wii version is such a truly inferior video game but apparently costs about the same?  It should at *least* be $10 cheaper because the benchmark for Wii games is $50 compared to $60 for the other two consoles.  The peripherals are probably just about as expensive to manufacture as they always have been, though, so it's not that unreasonable that the package is roughly the same price even though the game disc has a lot less content.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Christophomicus on April 16, 2008, 12:48:52 pm
oh man fuck this

They finally released message in a bottle as DLC! Fuck that! That is like my favourite song ever by The Police, and just about in existence. I would just about buy Rock Band to play only that.

God damn it, September release. Argh!

Does anyone know if the may 23rd release date for europe is solid? If so, would importing it from Europe (seeming as that's a PAL country and so is Australia) mean I'd have access to the DLC, or would they only update that with the Australian servers too...? I don't have much of a handle of how that shit works.

Even so, Rock Band minus DLC four months early sounds lovely. Shame it's going to cost a pretty penny.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on April 16, 2008, 02:28:37 pm
I love how the thread got revived by a forum spam bot.

Anyway, what's everybody's opinion on Still Alive?  I like it and all, but it's in such an awkward key for taking it down to the male vocal range that it sounds REALLY WEIRD to me.  I guess I'm just picky or something.
I like it, and so does my wife.  She has no idea what Portal is, but she did see a YouTube video of the end credit as it made its way through Facebook.  She loves the lyrics and enjoys singing them.  I was quite surprised that something like this got released!

I'm waiting for songs by Weird Al.  (Or a Singstar: Weird Al - that would be awesome).
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: theHunter on April 17, 2008, 06:32:02 am
Dude do I really need to post the same image again?

Anyway yeah it's pretty wild that the Wii version is such a truly inferior video game but apparently costs about the same?  It should at *least* be $10 cheaper because the benchmark for Wii games is $50 compared to $60 for the other two consoles.  The peripherals are probably just about as expensive to manufacture as they always have been, though, so it's not that unreasonable that the package is roughly the same price even though the game disc has a lot less content.

But its basically the PS2 version with 5 extra songs... it shouldn't cost more than the PS2 version. But alas, it IS EA.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on May 12, 2008, 01:36:27 am
Updates:  Apparently they are thinking about expansion discs for the Wii version.  I have heard this from my friend who apparently keeps up on this stuff.  Not going to make it as good as the versions for PS3/360, but at least it's not losing new songs.

Here it is:

Quote
Rock Band Track Pack Vol. 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_in_Rock_Band#Track_Pack_Vol._1) will be released for the Wii and Playstation 2 on July 15, 2008. This disc will contain 20 songs previously released as downloadable content for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, and will have a suggested price of $29.99.

Also:  New and upcoming albums!  Judas Priest's Screaming For Vengeance was released on April 22, The Cars' debut album is coming out this month, and Pixies' Doolittle is being released sometime in June (thank christ).

Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_in_Rock_Band#Downloadable_songs) is the list of downloadable songs so far.  But mainly I am posting this stuff to grab people who have PS3s and Rock Band, as I would like to play with you!  My PSN is technicalbabel.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: DDay on May 12, 2008, 11:42:20 am
I have rock band it's a game you can keep on coming back to and run for the hills on expert  (for guitar) gets really hard on the solo(witch I always seem to bomb out) also same for high way star Seems to get me in the solo.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: tuxedo marx on May 12, 2008, 11:50:11 am
Hopefully I will have a 360 soon so I can get a none-shit version of this. =P
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on May 12, 2008, 12:02:05 pm
hey I'm going to be an ass

what's up with people getting obscenely good at these games. they are clearly no longer having fun in any way. I mean I can understand THE MOUNTAIN IS THERE I MUST CLIMB IT but when the mountain is something anyone can achieve with maybe a week's worth of solid practice (no one wants to put in that time) and it's not actually a mountain at all but something very few people will be impressed by, I really don't get it.

it's not even speedrunning where you can always get slightly better because you can get a perfect in the game and eventually enough people will so it's not a grand feat.

I bet this question is a little too complex and about HUMAN NATURE but still.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Iaman on May 12, 2008, 03:17:38 pm
Yeah I dunno one of my friends is like that with the guitar part on this game and I really can't imagine it actually being fun at all.

And then another friend of mine is like that with both the guitar and vocals...  And it just ends up feeling terribly mechanical.  Like, it's not like he's having fun, he's just doing the songs.  Not playing them.  Just doing.

I can imagine it must be something like being a band that's existed forever and played their songs a million times and lost whatever made them excited in the first place.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on May 12, 2008, 03:20:32 pm
seriously this game is a lot of fun but already one guy gets mad when Jon or I puts the vocals on high because that means we will either fail or barely pass and really you are supposed to have fun ok!
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on May 12, 2008, 03:32:19 pm
you ass

i was going through that phase with expert vocals and i eventually went "fuck this" and dropped it down to hard because I actually wanted to inject some fucking STYLE into it instead of surfing the pitch wave and I'm about to taper off with drum skill too.  honestly bringing it out at parties (we did this for a company picnic on friday) is good enough for me now but I'm pretty sure if you asked all of my friends two months ago "who is that guy who takes playing with plastic instruments way too seriously" they would point at my sorry ass.

it's good to curb that kind of behavior because it ends up not being an enjoyable experience for anyone once one guy gets in there talking about full comboing and his fucking note streak and how the red pad "doesn't seem to be registering"
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: kentona on May 14, 2008, 08:58:35 pm
hey I'm going to be an ass

what's up with people getting obscenely good at these games. they are clearly no longer having fun in any way. I mean I can understand THE MOUNTAIN IS THERE I MUST CLIMB IT but when the mountain is something anyone can achieve with maybe a week's worth of solid practice (no one wants to put in that time) and it's not actually a mountain at all but something very few people will be impressed by, I really don't get it.

it's not even speedrunning where you can always get slightly better because you can get a perfect in the game and eventually enough people will so it's not a grand feat.

I bet this question is a little too complex and about HUMAN NATURE but still.
Don't ask me.

But as I get better at the game (I average MEDIUM hohoho), I find that the lower-tiered songs become less challenging, and thus less fun.

A game needs some challenge to be fun.  As you get better, you have to increase the challenge for it to be fun.  Of course, you are talking about crossing the line from CHALLENGE-FOR-FUN to CHALLENGE-FOR-SAKE-OF-BEING-THE-BESTEST.

I don't really understand the drive for perfection on expert, though, except for maybe YOUTUBE CRED.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on June 03, 2008, 06:31:45 am
hey guyt

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/06/harmonix-q-ente.html

basically Harmonix and Q Entertainment (Rez, Lumines) are teaming up to localize Rock Band for Japan.  Seeing as how we already have German and French (there's a French rap-rock song on there for christ's sake), I hope they throw the songs our way when it comes out.

seriously, though, that's like the best partnership ever.  please god bring me the pillows.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Christophomicus on June 03, 2008, 10:19:59 am
Dude I saw this on Kotaku today. It would be pretty sweet, and pretty much every japfag's dream to be able to sing AKFG or something. The Pillows would be pretty sweet though.

I fucking want this game so badly, but it's like $600 to import it from Europe or something ridiculous because the Pound -> Aussie Dollar conversion rate is ridiculous and postage costs both arms and legs. Australian gamers are getting fucking jipped. :(

Again. :(
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: tuxedo marx on June 03, 2008, 01:24:25 pm
Yeah, this game looks great and all, but why is it taking so long to port it to Wii? Considering the US/Europe release date differences this will probably come here on Wii by the 12th of never!
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Christophomicus on June 03, 2008, 03:04:29 pm
Porting to Wii I can get because it's a different platform, but porting to PAL countries arasdlgahfads 7 months for Europe and like 11 for Australia, what the hell can take that long! It's like Smash Bros over here, delayed until June for like NO REASON.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: maladroithim on June 03, 2008, 05:05:46 pm
Don't have to add several languages for the PAL releases?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: DS on June 03, 2008, 05:11:50 pm
Yeah, I reckon PAL releases take a long time because games are released at the same time everywhere in Europe so that includes countries like Germany, France, Spain and Italy (and I'm sure there's more) where the games are translated to another language, and that's probably the main reason it's taking such a long time.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Artis Leon Ivey Jr on June 03, 2008, 05:12:58 pm
oh wow how did I never think of that.

DIFFERENT LANGUAGES that's why it takes so long!

I'm such an ethnocentrist :(

what about Australia though, don't they get games later?
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Christophomicus on June 03, 2008, 05:15:36 pm
Yeah but Australia is PAL too.

Hey if I get the European bundle (drums, mic, game, guitar), will it work with my Australian GH3 guitar do you reckon? What about downloadable content, will it work when it finally hits the Aus marketplace? 'cause I am seriously considering laying down that sum of cash to get this fucker early
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on June 05, 2008, 07:43:41 am
1) No.  Harmonix gave a patch to Sony on Dec. 12 and Activision objected to it unless Harmonix paid them more money than they wanted to.  Gibson Les Pauls/Xplorers do not work with Rock Band in ANY region.

2) DLC is not confirmed for AUS, NZ or Asia.  That doesn't mean it's denied, but if there's no DLC by the AUS release, there are ways to 'convince' a PSN account that you live in the US, which allows you to access US DLC, and since PS3s are region-free, you can also import the US Rock Band to go with it, which I believe will cost less (not factoring in shipping.)
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Christophomicus on June 05, 2008, 11:15:37 am
Whoop whoop whoop I am talking about 360 here.
Title: Yes, Rock Band rocks
Post by: Pasty on June 06, 2008, 02:50:02 am
*farttzz*

1)  Yes.

2)  If you don't have any DLC by release time, you can buy US points cards over the internet and use those.  Kind of a pain, but there's a lot of good stuff you'd be missing.  Original statement still stands--DLC isn't confirmed for AUS, NZ, or Asia.