drums posts(Subscribe to this feed)

Swag Saturday: Guitar Hero 5 with Logitech Wireless Drums (PS3)

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 3rd 2009 at 8:30PM }

Ever dreamed of owning your very own ridiculously high-priced fake drum set? No no, silly goose, not that ridiculously high-priced fake drum set! The Logitech Wireless set, of course!

For Swag Saturday this week, we're giving you (and consequently ridding ourselves of) a mammoth wireless drum set care of Logitech (only for the PS3/PS2, folks!) and a complimentary copy of Guitar Hero 5. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us how you're going to celebrate your Rocktober. When the contest runs out tomorrow, we'll pick one lucky winner to receive the whole schebang.

Leave a comment telling us how you're going to celebrate your Rocktober.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, mostly because of the accent)
Limit 1 entry per person per day
This entry period ends at 8:31PM ET on Sunday, October 4
At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Guitar Hero 5 ($60 ARV) and a Logitech Wireless Drum Kit ($230 ARV)
For a list of complete rules, click here

Logitech's high-end Guitar Hero controllers headed to Wii

by JC Fletcher { Sep 9th 2009 at 1:30PM }

If you want to spend way too much money on game instruments, but don't want to buy the fancy Beatles: Rock Band box, Logitech has you covered. Following the launch of the Wireless Guitar Controller for PS3/PS2 and Xbox 360, Logitech is bringing the $199 peripheral to Wii in North America and Europe this October.

The controller, which was black in its PS3 incarnation and orange for 360, will have a white body (with room to attach a Wiimote), and the same "maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets" that help justify the price of the other versions.

Logitech is also introducing a Wii version of its $229 Wireless Drum Controller, which is designed to fold up easily, and features both drum pads and kick pedals that are improved over the basic Guitar Hero drums -- which, at that price, they'd better be.

Gallery: Logitech Wii instruments

RedOctane unveils Guitar Hero 5 drums

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 16th 2009 at 10:30AM }

We're guessing that of all the tiny plastic instruments you've collected in your den, drum sets are still the most uncommon. Therefore, you may be able to scrounge up a smidgen of enthusiasm for the image above, which depicts the drum peripheral that will come bundled with select versions of Guitar Hero 5 when the game launches this September.

This revelation brings up two interesting points -- first, RedOctane is viciously taking the wind out of the sails of Logitech, who revealed its own cymbal-equipped drum peripheral yesterday at an unwelcoming price point of $229. Second, it looks like the leaked pictures and list of features we received earlier in the month were legit -- and as you surely know, every time a leak is proven legitimate, an angel gets its wings.

[Via Engadget]

Rumor: Guitar Hero 5 drum set to look an awful lot like Rock Band's

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 6th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Is the drum kit above (to the right) what Guitar Hero 5 will be shipping with when it hits this September? We're not 100% sure, but a trusted source at our sister site Engadget sent in the blurry shot, leading us to believe it could very well be.

The new set bears a strong resemblance to that other full band music/rhythm game -- hey, there's even a lower bar support where the kick pedal could possibly hook on! Additionally, as Engadget rightly points out, the system controls have been moved in front of the pads. The back of the set allegedly features two kick pedal jacks and a "mysterious black mini jack" as well. We've asked for comment from Activision for confirmation of the set and have yet to hear back.

Gallery: Guitar Hero 5

Today only: get Guitar Hero Smash Hits with drum, microphone for $99

by JC Fletcher { Jun 24th 2009 at 9:15AM }

If you already have a Guitar Hero guitar sitting around (at this point, it's statistically likely), RedOctane is offering an opportunity to finish your band kit and get a new(ish) game for a great price. The company's website is selling a pack containing a copy of Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, along with a drum set and a microphone for $99.99, with free shipping. That's the exact same price the company is charging for just a drum set!

This package is, inexplicably, only available for Xbox 360 and Wii, and is only available today, so you don't have too much time to think about how weird it is to sell a Guitar Hero bundle with everything but the title instrument.

Ben Heck creates breath-controlled drum pedal for Guitar Hero World Tour

by Griffin McElroy { Mar 4th 2009 at 2:31PM }

Last June, Kinetic Communications created a clever workaround for wheelchair-bound gamers who possess a penchant for Rock Band drumming, but were unable to use the kit's kick pedal due to their disability. Ben Heck, modder extraordinaire, recently did the same for the Guitar Hero: World Tour set -- however, rather than attaching an extra button to drumsticks, Heck found an altogether brilliant method of using the set's foot-activated percussion: He made it breath-controlled.

It took a fair amount of fancy engineering, but Heck recently uploaded instructions to his blog that show how to remove the pedal's piezoelectric sensor, and make it respond to air pressure rather than, well, foot pressure. You can get further details on the modification, as well as a video of Heck giving it a test run, on his site. It's definitely an intriguing idea, though it more or less prohibits the drummer from simultaneously singing, making Phil Collins role-playing a near impossibility. Still, great work, Ben!

[Via Engadget]

Guitar Hero World Tour standalone drums, guitar available now

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 16th 2009 at 7:40PM }

Releasing right on schedule, standalone versions of Guitar Hero World Tour's drums and guitar are now available at retail. The percussion set and the axe have a suggested retail price of $100 and $70, respectively. The Guitar Hero community site notes the items are available at Best Buy and Gamestop, but we've also seen them available online at Amazon.

The standalone plastic peripherals are currently available only in North America. Europe and Australia will receive the items at "a later date." If you have any questions regarding the compatibility of the items across rhythm games, please check out our "Instrument Compatibility Matrix" for a complete rundown.

Blondie drummer and UK Universities study effects of drumming games

by David Hinkle { Feb 10th 2009 at 1:00AM }

Playing drums in games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero: World Tour could be far more beneficial than you may think. A study being conducted by the universities of Chichester and Gloucestershire, in collaboration with Blondie drummer Clem Burke, seeks to show the physical and mental benefits from banging away on a plastic kit.

Dr. Marcus Smith, Principal Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the University of Chichester, explains that he's "particularly interested" in seeing how the drumming affects "child and adult obesity, autism, stroke patients, disengaged communities, and health and mental well-being in the workplace." Regarding that last part, Dr. Smith thinks that a game like Guitar Hero: World Tour could do a lot of good in the workplace, saying the game could be like "a rock venue," lowering stress and increasing "productivity for the business." Sure, if something is going to get your workers to pump out those Excel spreadsheets faster, it's taking a quick break to sing some Elvis Costello.

[Via GameDaily]

Guitar Hero: Metallica includes extra pedal so you can try to be Lars Ulrich [update]

by David Hinkle { Jan 19th 2009 at 12:39PM }

A listing for upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica has popped up on GameStop, along with an interesting bonus for pre-ordering the game. According to the site, the game will include a bonus drum pedal, along with a splitter, which will allow would-be rockers to drum with dual pedals if you order early. You know, just like Lars Ulrich.

The listing is for the Xbox 360 version of the game, but it's a safe bet to expect this for Wii. It's a multiplatform game after all and if one version is going to offer dual pedals, we doubt it would be excluded from the other versions and a bonus exclusive to the Xbox.

Update: Added further clarification that this is a pre-order bonus.

[Via Joystiq]

Guitar Hero: Metallica pre-orders come with bonus drum pedal

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 18th 2009 at 7:30PM }

There's a thick cloud of fear hanging over fans of faux-drumming in games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero: World Tour -- fear inspired by the near-impossible rhythms which will need to be kept when Guitar Hero: Metallica hits store shelves. We're not sure how familiar you guys are with the speed with which Mr. Ulrich is capable of producing percussion, but we assure you, his work will be most unpleasant to attempt to mimic.

Thankfully, an uncharacteristically useful pre-order bonus from GameStop will give the game's quick-to-act reservers an extra bass drum pedal and input splitter. This will allow the player to use both pedals to tackle the game's more heel-punishing tracks. It's certainly a better option than splitting your foot down the middle, and training yourself to control both halves independently, which, now that we think about it, would be pretty rock-and-roll.

Unused RB2 drum port to unlock hidden feature

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 4th 2008 at 3:25PM }

Well, well, well. As it turns out, Harmonix hasn't been entirely honest about the unused input on the back of the Rock Band 2 drum set. Sandwiched between the orange kick pedal and multi-colored cymbal ports (see above), the extra jack was initially explained away as an expansion port for a second kick pedal, as corroborated by a review guide sent to OXM UK: "It was stated in prior interviews/demos that this input was a jack for the second kick pedal," begins the explanation, before ending with the kicker, "which is not the case." Dun-dun-dunnnh.

The guide continues, teasing that Harmonix "has not revealed the functionality for this input," which will "be announced at a later date, along with further details for double-kick functionality." So ... the port is for a second kick pedal, after all? Along with a ... what? Perhaps Harmonix is vying to make good on one of a couple shelved Guitar Hero add-ons? You tell us.

Rock Band 2 drum kit hides mystery port

by David Hinkle { Dec 4th 2008 at 1:40PM }

The updated drum kit for Rock Band 2 apparently has a mystery port located in the back. This port, which was speculated to be used for a second kicker, won't actually be used for that. This, of course, has led to all kinds of speculation about what it's function actually is. Could it support something new, like the Guitar Hero rumor we heard awhile back? Harmonix isn't saying, for now.

[Via Engadget; image courtesy of Joystiq]

Rock Band 2 vs. Guitar Hero: World Tour. For other systems, it's an arms race for the most features. For us, it's a battle to remove the fewest. For Australian Wii owners, the winner will be the game that actually gets released!

GHWT drum tuning app now available, Red Octane shipping midi-USB cables for free

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 1st 2008 at 8:00PM }

Well, dear readers, we've got good news and we've got bad news ... and then we've got good news again. The (first) good news -- the promised Guitar Hero: World Tour drum tuning application is now available for download on Red Octane's customer support site. The bad news is that the application requires you to connect your drum kit to your computer using a midi-USB cable, which we imagine few of you actually possess. The (second) good news -- Red Octane is shipping these cables, free of charge, to anyone who requests one on their support site.

We suppose it's bad news that we'll be waiting for these cables to ship before we can give our drum kits some much-needed sensitivity training -- on the other hand, the fact that we won't be dealing with any suggestive, RealDoll-sized replacement boxes (or the resulting judgment from nosy neighbors) is good news indeed.

[Thanks, Eric G.]

Activision gives sensitivity training to Guitar Hero: World Tour drums

by JC Fletcher { Oct 29th 2008 at 5:17PM }

Some Guitar Hero: World Tour players are reporting sensitivity issues with the drums -- basically, that they have to pound the hell out of them to register a hit. If you're tired of having to go all Keith Moon all the time, Activision and Neversoft have a solution for you, and it's kind of an unexpected one: drum sensitivity tuning software.

Activision has released Windows-based tuning software which will allow players to connect their drum kits to their PCs and manually alter the sensitivity of each input. If that doesn't help, provided your overworked (but totally buff) arms can deal with the searing pain of motion long enough to lift the phone, you can report your sensitivity issues to Activision online or by phone at (310)255-2050.

Gallery: Guitar Hero World Tour

[Via Joystiq]

GHWT drum tuning app coming soon, ION Drum Rocker patch now live

by Ross Miller { Oct 29th 2008 at 11:54AM }

In addition to announcing new track packs, Neversoft has issued a trio of updates concerning the Guitar Hero World Tour drumset. First off, those who have been experiencing sensitivity issues with the set will be happy to know that the developer will be releasing a drum controller tuning kit for Windows "very soon," so users can self-tune their skins at home. Neversoft also recommends that if you're currently having issues, you should contact Activision customer support.

For Xbox 360 owners, the ION Drum Rocker compatibility patch should now be available for download. As for PlayStation 3 owners still waiting on the promised GHWT drum compatibility with Rock Band 2, Neversoft said it's all up to Harmonix to release an update for the game. We'll poke them again to see if we can get an ETA on that patch.