Game Informer snags first pic of Guitar Hero IV drums

by Justin McElroy { May 14th 2008 at 10:15AM }

Some of you may have already received the June 2008 issue of Game Informer in the mail, but, for those who haven't, we thought you might enjoy seeing the first image of the new Guitar Hero IV drum kit one subscriber scanned. As you can see, the main difference from the Rock Band kit is that the yellow and orange drums have been turned into two wedge-shaped pieces elevated above the others.

Cool as it looks, we still don't have the most important piece of information about the kit: If it will be compatible with Rock Band, or if RB's kit will work with Guitar Hero IV. We like fake instruments as much as the next nerd, but two fake drum kits may just be more than our dens, living rooms and dignity can withstand.

[Update: Just so there's no question, you have to click the picture to see the full image. There is totally a foot pedal. Update 7/2/08: Gamestop, owner of Game Informer, has demanded that we remove the small thumbnail showing a piece of the drumkit. Considering the official press shot came out over a month ago (seen above) we've gone ahead and removed the thumbnail. Of course, if you still wanted to read the whole magazine, it's still out there.]

Tags: activision, drums, guitar-hero-iv, rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

koehler83 @ May 14th 2008 10:20AM

I still only want to play guitar... This game better not cost $200+ cause it can eat my ass if it is. I'll even give Activision the spoon.

Jeff @ May 14th 2008 10:54AM

200Bucks or not, its not getting one cent from me. These guys are so unoriginal its never been about how can we make it more realistic, its "How can we make it harder?" Case and point... 5 drum pads AND a foot peddal. "Oh rockband has 4 pads and a foot peddal, how can we make it better? Oh we cant make it better? LETS MAKE IT HARDER" These guys are a bunch of no talent assclowns.

Vcize @ May 14th 2008 11:15AM

Yes, because using square notes instead of round ones and renaming star power "overdrive" is so original.

neondoto @ May 14th 2008 11:26AM

Except, Harmonix created Guitar Hero and SOLD the rights to Activision. Activision didn't create Guitar Hero, Harmonix did. So it's not accurate to say they ripped off Guitar Hero when they're the ones that originated the franchise.

Jon @ May 14th 2008 11:28AM

Dear Vcize,

u r dum

lulz.

Sincerely,
-everybody

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 14th 2008 11:31AM

The irony of your comment, Vcize, is that Harmonix originally developed Guitar Hero. So you can't exactly claim they are being unoriginal for ripping off their own game. Likewise, score multipliers were introduced to the rhythm genre (beating even Pentavision and DJ Max cell games) by Harmonix in Frequency (Which is also the origin of attack powerups in a rhythm game since PIU introduced battle mode after their original run of mixes 1-3). And Harmonix pioneered the karaoke portion when they were hired by Konami to develop Karaoke Revolution.

I mean, if you're going to bash Harmonix for unoriginality, at least research man. Aside from Bemani itself, no other company has pushed the music genre forward more than Harmonix.

elmersglue @ May 14th 2008 2:01PM

wow, i must say, I completely disagree with you jeff...

As unoriginal as the entire premise of the game might be... that drum layout seems much more realistic to me and to anyone else who's played drums before... I mean really, what the hell is 4 pads layed out on a single plane(rock band)? Thats doesnt feel very authentic to me...

It might be harder, but it should make it a tad more realistic.

Although i still think they need to lower and flatten a pad to make it distinctively a snare, with 2 toms, a hi-hat, and one symbol. So basically how they have it in that picture except with the leftest pad looking more like a snare and the leftest symbol more to the left so it could be the hi-hat

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ May 14th 2008 3:50PM

Not sure how many times I need to say this people: who gives a damn if GH 'ripped off' Rock Band? I would wager that almost every fucking game you play is 'ripped off' from some other game. There doesn't have to be one end-all rhythm game. Competition fuels innovation/creativity. Be glad Activision is doing this.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 14th 2008 5:52PM

Cesario, I'd be the first one to clap a firm hand across Activisions back in complete approval if this actually was adding competition and driving the music genre forward. But Activision's performance thus far has been less "competing" as "embarassing itself while frantically toweling the panick piss of their leg." Damn, did I just channel yahtzee or something?!?

Regardless, Guitar Hero 3 is broken, Aerosmith isn't targetting those issues, DLC remains a joke about as funny as watching a legless dog crashing down 15 flights of stairs, and the much better product on the market is not only leading the way, but giving Activision a roadsign of where they can fuck up next.

And if you think I'm trying to take the piss out of Neversoft for shits and giggles let's just mention another project which was ran frantically into the ground from trying too hard while never really fixing issues but adding more to the list...

Tony Hawk Pro Skater.

Kellydude025 @ May 14th 2008 8:01PM

I dont understand why Activisionn decided to take this direction with the frachise. Guitar hero is nice because you have songs that are hard for every instrument, while on guitar hero they have songs STRICTLY for guitar. Now i see them having "Play this song if your want your ass kicked in drumming" and "This song is meant for guitar, but its an easy full combo for drums"

Its unoriginal, and its a major kick in the balls to people already have the Rock Band Drum set, i cant see them being compatible.

I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens, kind of disappointed though.

Kellydude025 @ May 14th 2008 8:07PM

LMAO, wow i fcked that comment up real good...

Guitar hero is nice because the songs in the game are MADE for ONE instrument, Now i see them having "Play this song if your want your ass kicked in drumming" and "This song is meant for guitar, but its an easy full combo for drums". K, srry, fixed

kathartik @ May 17th 2008 3:06AM

jeff, how is this making it harder? look at a real drum kit. a standard beginners kit is usually around 5 drums, at least 2 cymbals (a crash and a ride) a high hat, and 2 pedals (one for the high hat)... that would total 7 pads and 2 pedals. This doesn't make it harder, it makes for more variations.

Saneless @ May 14th 2008 10:22AM

Why 2 cymbols? And no foot pedal? That's what makes me feel like a drummer, the fact that I'm actually using 3 appendages.

I still refuse to have another drum kit, though missing out on "Guitar" hero isn't going to make me very sad the way the game's gone since GH2

wscbrown @ May 14th 2008 10:40AM

Epic ocular fail.

There is clearly a prominent kick-pedal in the larger picture.

Lars @ May 14th 2008 3:39PM

I agree with the Ocular Fail comment. Too funny. But also, playing with ALL limbs makes you feel like a drummer... They definitely 1-upped Rock Band's drums by using cymbals and arranging in a slightly better layout, but STILL NO FREAKING HI-HAT PEDAL! wtf?

Kris @ May 14th 2008 10:23AM

no kick drum? oh noes... :(

Nate @ May 14th 2008 10:27AM

it has a kick pedal

Kris @ May 14th 2008 10:29AM

I dont see it in the picture.

Nate @ May 14th 2008 10:34AM

Click on the picture....

Tiptup300 @ May 14th 2008 3:28PM

reply
BETTER REPLY

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 14th 2008 10:23AM

Those cymbol designs are often the first thing to break on electronic drum sets. Good to see Red Octane researching this stuff before designing peripherals...

In fact, I don't think any current electronic drum sets use that design anymore....

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 14th 2008 10:27AM

Oh, color me corrected...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-DM5-Pro-Electronic-Drum-Kit?sku=490095

But wait...

"went through 2 brains right out of the box because the high hats were cutting out if you hit them too hard or fast."

Well then...

jsn @ May 14th 2008 2:28PM

knowing how people beat the crap out of them, you can guarantee they will break.

The guitar hero name might have some clout, but when it's attached to a $200 bundle it's not going to mean a thing. There's no way they'll release this for any less than $199 if they bundle it at all. It's entirely possible they might only sell it indivudually to lessen the sticker shock.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ May 15th 2008 3:12AM

I owned a Roland electronic drumset back in Paris, and it had those full-rounded cymbals: since it was balanced on its center, whenever you smacked the cymbal too hard, it'd just slightly sway, with the rear portion as a counter-balance.

Those triangular wedges have no counter-balance if they're hit too hard and can't wave back.

Eternityx @ May 14th 2008 10:25AM

I saw the whole picture and yes there is a foot pedal.

PojoMofo @ May 14th 2008 10:27AM

color me skeptical (does Crayola even have that color??)

I agree with Sir Fid that those cymbols look likely to break, I also agree with Saneless that no kick drum is not a good move. I just think Rock Band is too popular to be overtaken at this point

Eric @ May 14th 2008 10:37AM

THERE IS A PEDAL CLICK THE IMAGE YOU FOOLS!

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 14th 2008 10:51AM

I believe the color of skeptical is Burnt Sierra in the Crayola scale...

Knight Marquise @ May 14th 2008 10:51AM

Actually, I'm sure there are plenty of people, such as me, who find rock band to be a complete waste of money. Hell I got more enjoyment & play time out of Steel Battalion then my Rock Band set.

If Activision does something to quiet their drums so that they don't ruin the whole experience for every other person in a square city block, I'll toss my rock band set in a heart beat and pick up GHs.

MasterInsan0 @ May 14th 2008 12:17PM

The simple fact is that even though Harmonix deserves the glory for this idea (full band simulation), Guitar Hero is more popular overall and will sell better. It sucks, but it's just how it is. (Unless consumers finally figure out how hard they're being raped and how vigorously they're being lied to, but that's not likely to happen.)

comtar @ May 14th 2008 10:28AM

Probably no foot pedal because that seems to be the easiest thing to break with Rock Band... It's probably not cost effective to have a foot pedal that's sturdy enough and yet keep the game and materials at a reasonable price.

But I do agree that seems to me without the foot pedal, I just don't see how this thing will be as fun for drummers. Rock Band in my opinion broke the mold that Guitar Hero was trying to create, and now everyone is just playing catchup.

comtar @ May 14th 2008 10:37AM

Oh hey there is a foot pedal...

Well... Sure hope it's sturdier then Rock Bands. My friend has gone through 2 of them.

Fernando Rocker @ May 14th 2008 10:36AM

It has a pedal.

Eric @ May 14th 2008 10:38AM

To little to late. I will stick with rock band, because they care about gamers and the Music.

Night Elve @ May 14th 2008 11:17AM

@Eric.

I'm pretty sure they only care about your money ;)

Nate @ May 14th 2008 10:34AM

THERE IS A PEDAL. For god's sake people just click the damn picture. It's right there.

Orion_of_Chaos @ May 14th 2008 10:36AM

The picture does have a foot pedal, don't worry. The other thing I take from that picture is that the instruments from GH4 are going to continue to be incompatible with Rock Band, meaning there's no way I'm buying this crap. The 2 guitars, drum kit, and mic from Rock Band take up more than enough space, there's no way I'm getting another set.

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 14th 2008 10:40AM

No foot pedal?

*flees

Shagittarius @ May 14th 2008 10:49AM

aybe the wii version doesn't come with a foot pedal because of the tards that own that system but the rest definately do.

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 14th 2008 10:52AM

Your sarcasm detector is broken.

Justin @ May 14th 2008 10:40AM

Folks, there is a kick pedal. You just have to click on the picture link.

Eric H @ May 14th 2008 10:41AM

Great! The drums were FARRRRR to easy to use with rock band!

Silvershotzero @ May 14th 2008 10:43AM

THE PEDAL EXISTS!!! CLICK THE DAMN PICTURE PEOPLE!!!

breachless @ May 14th 2008 10:45AM

For the love of god: give us TWO KICK PEDALS. I want double bass and I want it NOW. One kick is lame and was my biggest complaint with Rock Band. Imagine doing some great metal songs with double kicks? The end of One by Metallica? Anything from Lamb of God, and just about every other metal band out there.

Make it happen.

JohnMazz @ May 14th 2008 10:52AM

Seems to me that theres a DIY solution to that, no idea how it'd happen, but it seems like if you bought a second kick pedal you could to some electronics ninjary and have either function as the kick pedal, functioning like a double bass without any changes to the game. Maybe a little cheap, but if you can get it working, you have that right.

Shagittarius @ May 14th 2008 10:47AM

I think the placement of those cymbals makes sense if your using them as a crash and ride but they are placed completely wrong if your going to use them as a hi-hat which the article indicates.

I guess you could get use to it, but it still fails like the rock band set because your not getting that drummer cross with the hi-hat/snare.

DiscoGhost @ May 14th 2008 10:48AM

hahaha...every other post.
No foot pedal?
THERE'S AN EFFIN FOOT PEDAL!!!

heh heh...oh sorry, i just find that funny, 21 posts of the same thing over and over.

So would that mean that the gh drum lines will have 6 colors? Man...i thought rock band drums were hard.

Nate @ May 14th 2008 11:05AM

Rock band drums aren't too bad (and this comes from someone with NO drum experience). Yes, some of the songs with random-ass smashing of the drums are pretty freakin' annoying, but overall, I think it's fairly easy to pick up and hella fun.

The article seemed to indicate that maybe you only use one of the cymbals, and that there were two so lefties would be able to play too. But it wasn't really written that clearly, so it's hard to tell for sure.