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#304231 - 27/11/2007 14:57 Re: Rock Band [Re: frog51]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Quote:
Dunno why there would be a difference between England and Scotland?


Ah! That's simple! We can afford them

Ok I'm running off now before they set of in their kilts to come and get me

Cheers

Cris.

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#304232 - 27/11/2007 16:23 Re: Rock Band [Re: Tim]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
I checked when GameStop didn't have them. In this area, this is the list of stores that we checked (these were all checked yesterday evening):

Best Buy
CostCo
WalMart
Circuit City
GameStop/EBGames
Fry's Electronics
Toys R Us

I'm not sure if my area just got hosed on the distribution, but nobody in the valley is hoarding them.


Well, you certainly covered all the bases there. Sorry to hear you're out of luck.

Fortunately I'd heard that the initial distribution of the game wasn't going to meet Xmas demand, so I pre-ordered mine from Amazon a few weeks ahead of time.

Does Amazon have any in stock?
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#304233 - 27/11/2007 16:26 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
This is exactly what the Penny Arcade guys were saying last week...


And another thing the PA guys were saying just bit me last night: Strum bar stops working on the controller.

Really crappy leaf-spring switches, exposed to the elements right next to the strum bar opening, get gunked or corroded easily. Fortunately, easy to repair/clean/mod them to work better. Just hope I don't have to keep doing it over and over again.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#304234 - 27/11/2007 16:34 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
Tim
veteran

Registered: 25/04/2000
Posts: 1522
Loc: Arizona
Quote:
Fortunately I'd heard that the initial distribution of the game wasn't going to meet Xmas demand, so I pre-ordered mine from Amazon a few weeks ahead of time.

Does Amazon have any in stock?

Not as of last night. I have an order up with them, so I can get one shipped when my number is up in the queue. I figure if I find one locally, I can always cancel the Amazon order before it ships.

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#304235 - 27/11/2007 17:17 Re: Rock Band [Re: Cris]
frog51
pooh-bah

Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
Quote:

Ah! That's simple! We can afford them



Hahahahahahahaha
_________________________
Rory
MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock
MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock

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#304236 - 27/11/2007 22:16 Re: Rock Band [Re: wfaulk]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
Quote:
Quote:
are Wii's as rare as hen's teeth in the US like they are in the UK?

Yes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071127/ap_on_hi_te/us_holiday_sales_wii_2

Interesting numbers out of that, production was at 1.2 million a month, and they bumped it to 1.8 million per month. Though Nintendo still believes this won't improve availability for the holidays.

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#307156 - 11/02/2008 17:25 Re: Rock Band [Re: drakino]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
I finally got to play Rock Band at a friend's place over the weekend. It's very fun. I had never played Guitar Hero before, so my skills on the guitar were pretty crappy for the first few songs. By about the fifth song I could get through some of the simpler numbers on easy and sometimes medium difficulties.

The drums were a cinch for me on most of the songs, which I half expected since I've played "real" drums for a few years. Some of the faster tempo songs (Maiden, Ramones) pushed me to my speed limit, but I was able to get through most of the songs we played on medium or hard difficulty.

I concur with those who've said that the drums are the instrument that most closely map to real-life drumming ability. It definitely forces you to develop limb independence once the level gets medium or higher. I'd love to see them add a left foot pedal for hi-hat and double bass in the future.

What surprised me a bit was how easy the vocals are. I was able to get 70%-80% on the hard level of many of the songs, and I have no vocal talent whatsoever. What I can do, however, is see the little triangle thing pointing and telling me I'm flat or sharp, and change my voice accordingly. Does it take the little hint thingies away on expert level? Seems to me a vocal "expert" should know whether they're singing on key or not.

Anyway, fun game. Looking forward to its Wii release.
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#307157 - 11/02/2008 17:57 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
No, singing on the expert skill level simply grades the pitch and phrasing even harder. Other than that, it's the same user interface.

Still love the game. Have less time to play it lately, but will get back into it more in April after I finish the album.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#317347 - 15/12/2008 20:05 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
I'm raising this thread from the dead to point out that Rock Band 2 for PS3/360 is only $109.99 this week at Toys R' Us, and you get a $25 gift card as well.
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#317348 - 15/12/2008 20:07 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Wait another two weeks and it should be even cheaper then! smile

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#317353 - 15/12/2008 23:31 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
That's with the wireless guitar and drums? I already have the game, but that's a decent price to get a wireless guitar and wireless drums. Still want to get a wireless mic, supposedly compatibility with the "Lipps" microphones is coming soon.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#317354 - 15/12/2008 23:49 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
We got Guitar Hero III: World Tour (full pack with new guitar, drums, mic) as a Christmas present, and we are loving it! smile I don't know Rock Band, but I guess it's the same sort of fun smile
_________________________
= Taym =
MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#317357 - 16/12/2008 00:46 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Yeah, wireless guitar and drums. I got up early on Sunday to make sure I got mine, and it was the last PS3 version in stock.

I don't even have my PS3 yet, but it's supposed to arrive tomorrow. I was looking forward to the Wii release of RB2, but Sony has a credit card that gives you $150 off a PS3, and then with a Dell 20% off coupon, I end up paying less than $200. Not bad for a Blu-Ray player and, oh yeah, a game system. And I hear it runs Linux, too!
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#317369 - 16/12/2008 16:42 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
frog51
pooh-bah

Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
Comparing the Wii RB2 with the PS3 RB2 andf I have to say the PS3 version guitars are more solid. I have had the PS3 for a while so have up until now gone for GH1, 2 and 3 and RB, but my in-laws have bought a Wii for Christmas so I was tempted to get RB2 for it.

Don't think I will - but I will get Super Mario Galaxy :-)
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Rory
MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock
MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock

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#317370 - 16/12/2008 17:06 Re: Rock Band [Re: frog51]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
The biggest problem with the Wii isn't the controllers, it's the lack of a hard disk; i.e., no huge downloadable song library.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#317372 - 16/12/2008 17:39 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Quote:
Comparing the Wii RB2 with the PS3 RB2


I thought RB2 for Wii wasn't being released until Thursday.

Quote:
The biggest problem with the Wii isn't the controllers, it's the lack of a hard disk; i.e., no huge downloadable song library.


Definitely, being limited to what fits on an SD card was a factor in my decision as well. I'm surprised Nintendo haven't come up with a storage add-on yet, but then again, I was also surprised to see a third Holiday season where it's near impossible to find Wii systems in stores, not to mention the insane supply problems with Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii.


Edited by tonyc (16/12/2008 17:39)
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#317379 - 17/12/2008 01:15 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
msaeger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
If I read/heard correctly you can download songs and play them from a SD card on the wii version and those are pretty cheap. Not saying I would choose that version but if you only had a wii it sounds ok.

So do you have Lipps ? I have been thinking of getting a karaoke game. Sing star has better reviews but those aren't always right.
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Matt

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#317391 - 17/12/2008 15:34 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
frog51
pooh-bah

Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
Originally Posted By: tonyc


I thought RB2 for Wii wasn't being released until Thursday.



Depends entirely on where you buy things from. Had a good play on RB2 for Wii on Saturday :-)
_________________________
Rory
MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock
MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock

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#317392 - 17/12/2008 16:04 Re: Rock Band [Re: frog51]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
I got my PS3 yesterday and had some fun playing RB2 with my fiancee. The one thing I didn't realize is that you need to have a copy of Rock Band 1 to get the tracks from that game; they're apparently not available via the Playstation store, which is a bummer.

I guess I need to buy a used RB1 copy just so I can import the tracks. Or maybe I could rent it, but my guess is everyone else on the planet is trying to rent it right now for the exact same reason... I wonder why they're not offering them as DLC?
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#317393 - 17/12/2008 16:21 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I would guess licensing issues.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#317394 - 17/12/2008 17:02 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Originally Posted By: tonyc
I wonder why they're not offering them as DLC?


Possibly licensing issues, as Bitt said, however, I could swear they said that the extra money you pay to Xbox to import the RB1 tracks (there was some small nominal fee) was supposed to cover the re-licensing. Plus, if they did re-offer the songs as DLC, they would stand to make *more* licensing money. So that doesn't make a huge amount of sense.

I'm guessing it's more to prevent confusion, to keep people from accidentally buying a song as DLC that they already own on a disc. (That double-jeapordy thing is already a problem with album packs versus single songs anyway.) And also, possibly, to drive up sales of the leftover RB1 discs.

Maybe it's a code compatibility thing: Offering the RB1 songs as DLC might break the RB1 software somehow?
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#317395 - 17/12/2008 17:06 Re: Rock Band [Re: tfabris]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Bah. Whatever it is, it's annoying. I love some of the RB1 tracks, but I wasn't looking forward to buying the game just to get them.

Anyone think any of the game rental services (GameFly, etc.) are worth a damn?
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#317398 - 17/12/2008 20:32 Re: Rock Band [Re: tonyc]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
For those Wii owners not dissuaded by the lack of storage, Rock Band 2 for Wii gets a darn good review at IGN.
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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