GameDaily
Rock Band for the Nintendo Wii arrives in about two weeks and Harmonix was kind enough to send us a drum and guitar set to play with. To our surprise, we found a few hardware improvements.
Yeah, it's white. Really, really white. What kind of rocker uses a white drum set?
The most obvious improvement is seen with the pedal. As you can see below, the new pedal features a stronger spring. While they didn't send the game (booo hiss), the new spring adds a quicker response and it doesn't feel like your foot is still attached to the pedal as you drum.
There was also improvements to the construction of the pedal itself. It's a lot more sturdy and it feels like it has a bit more meat to it. Still, you're going to have to put something behind it to keep it steady while you play Enter Sandman on Expert.
The drum heads also sounded a bit quieter, but that might be attributed to the fact that we haven't worn them down with the game yet. I detected less of an echo effect coming from the Wii drum heads, but they're still a little too loud in general. Where are my drum covers Harmonix?!
And for the first time, the Rock Band guitars are wireless! While Harmonix didn't change the look or feel of the guitar, there are few new additions, specifically with the back.
Besides a fancy new Rock Band sticker, the guitar's power switch has been placed next to the battery cover. It's set deep in the guitar body, so you'll have no fear strumming along while you're standing. While we could see where some dude hooks the button on his big belt buckle during a sweet solo, most players will have nothing to fear.
What's that? You don't own a Wii or Rock Band yet? Don't worry. All of the newer revisions from the Wii set have been added to the newer models for the PS3 and 360.
Check out the gallery below for a more close-ups.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. The wireless guitar for Wii is not the first wireless guitar. The PS3 has wireless guitars as well and we had them first.
Posted at 11:06AM on Jun 22nd 2008 by Roger
2. i think its great that the "instruments" have been improved, as a Nintendo fan boy i am a little upset that the game is just coming out now for the wii, rock band was the reason i bought a 360 and tho i don't regret it i love to stand strong for the wii. All in all looks good, hopefully it can sell before this fall for guitar world tour is coming and thats one game im getting the second it hits stores
Posted at 7:24AM on Jun 13th 2008 by Joshua
3. it said that the guitar will be the first "rock band" guitar to be wireless. not the first wireless guitar ever.
Posted at 9:30AM on Jun 13th 2008 by mersch
4. Rock Band for PS2 came with a wireless guitar
Posted at 10:05AM on Jun 13th 2008 by Blake smith
5. wow, do you really think we care who got it first?
Posted at 11:37AM on Jun 13th 2008 by Luke
6. I have rock band for PS3, i totally hate the guitar, and im sure everyone else does too. Harmonix really needs to stick with the old stum bar and some how improve on the rock band keys, i find it alot harder to strum with the new look and feel of the strum bar.
And!!! Harmonix? why didnt you let the guitar hero 3 guitar work with rock band for the PS3?? 360's works.. thats really lame, now i need to buy another guitar for mine
Posted at 11:59AM on Jun 13th 2008 by Dave
7. THERE ARE ACTUALLY ALOT OF DRUMMERS WHO PLAY WHITE SETS.......... www.myspace.com/edhillmusic
Posted at 12:09PM on Jun 13th 2008 by edhillmusic
8. too bad the wii version is gimped like my ps2 version, otherwise i'd think about buying it. its a waste of money
Posted at 12:18PM on Jun 13th 2008 by pulm0naryarcher
9. Yeah, I was going to say the same thing, too. The my PS3 version has a wireless guitar.
Posted at 1:17PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Kevin Bernatek
10. GEE SURE AM GLAD I BOUGHT THE 360 VERSION :|
Posted at 6:28PM on Jul 12th 2008 by daniel
11. lol, way for them to fix the wrong problem, the problems not the spring, the problem is the drum set is gonna break 2 months down the road, mainly the bass pedal
Posted at 12:37PM on Jun 13th 2008 by robert
12. Guitar Hero 4's Drum set is completely better,In all, Guitar hero's always had a better guitar and now a better drum set. Looks like bye bye Rock Band.
Posted at 2:56PM on Jun 13th 2008 by JUST_ BLAZ3
13. It is clear that Harmonix was taking user feedback when they released this. And why wouldn't they? They are trying to mask the fact that they don't have custom characters or DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT! The ps2 version had an excuse, but the Wii doesn't. Shame on you nintendo for making such a small hard drive.
Posted at 12:09AM on Jun 14th 2008 by thunderstruck560
14. bye bye rock band my ass, the guitar (Frets and Strum bar) i feel are so much easier then the old guitar hero shit.
Posted at 3:48PM on Jun 13th 2008 by theantkid12
15. New songs for Rockband Wii!
Posted at 4:18PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Luke
16. I like to play Rock Band on a wireless Guitar Hero guitar. Since I'm more used to that one, it's easier for me to play when i can feel the frets. Plus, theyre more spaced out then the Rock Band guitar's where i often press more then one button. I guess it's to each his own really. But I think it's cool that RB has come out with wireless guitars for the game.
Posted at 4:38PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Lilie
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