Rumor: MadCatz Rock Band controllers arriving soon
by Ross Miller 
{ Jun 19th 2008 at 4:30PM }
- Wired bass guitar with a split strum bar (for two-finger playing) for $70. Xbox 360 version coming June 22, PlayStation 3 on July 15, Wii on August 1. A wireless version for Xbox 360 was listed for September 15. Modeled after Fender P-Bass.
- Wired microphone with built-in d-pad and face buttons for $60. Reportedly already out for Xbox 360, coming July 15 for PS3.
- Wired guitar modeled after Fender Telecaster for $80. From the picture, it looks like it also has the split strum bar. Listed only for Xbox 360, release date not shown.
- Portable drum kit with small quiet pads and foam tip drumsticks. Coming July 15 for Xbox 360 and August 15 for PS3 and Wii for $50.
- Premium drum kit based on "authentic electronic drum kit" with added hi-hat and foot pedal, a crash cymbal and fully adjustable toms. Due out August 1 for Xbox 360 and PS3, August 15 for Wii. $150.
[Via X3F]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DLow28 @ Jun 19th 2008 4:37PM
wow...
*drool*
DLow28 @ Jun 19th 2008 4:37PM
*droooooool*
NATO_Duke @ Jun 19th 2008 4:40PM
I think I saw that portable drum kit at a Best Buy in Chicago. If it wasn't by them, it was the same idea.
ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 19th 2008 4:48PM
$150 for a set of fake drums?!
jayeffaar @ Jun 19th 2008 5:43PM
You're right. That doesn't seem expensive enough to be good.
Seriously.
(Yeah, I know what you meant, but I'm one of the few people who wish Rock Band had been more expensive and shipped with better instruments instead of the crap-tastic controllers $170 can buy).
Lars @ Jun 19th 2008 8:09PM
Hey, someone who agrees with me! I was really excited when I first heard of Rock Band like a year ago, then I heard it was gonna be $170 for the full kit and was really disappointed... they couldn't possibly make good quality instruments for that cheap.
They're better than I expected actually. The thing I'm most disappointed with is the lack of hi-hat pedal. I had to mod the drums to keep them from falling to pieces too, but that was kinda fun actually, hehe. The Strat is OK... leaps and bounds ahead of anything else on the market (couldn't stand the stupid GH guitar), but still not quite there yet.
LordChimp @ Jun 19th 2008 4:50PM
Do we really need more plastic drum sets on the market?
Lars @ Jun 19th 2008 8:10PM
We just need one... one that works with all versions of all games on all systems. And doesn't break.
Fullmetal Salchemist @ Jun 19th 2008 4:53PM
It's too bad MadCatz is, without a doubt, the worst company to buy any sort of peripheral from.
copa @ Jun 19th 2008 5:14PM
That is correct. Every ill-informed purchase I have ever made from this company ends up in the 'MadCatz graveyard' a month later.
I am willing to purchase premium controllers, but not from MadCatz.
NoHitHair @ Jun 19th 2008 7:44PM
I was hoping someone would state the obvious - MadCatz makes incredibly awful products.
deaftly @ Jun 19th 2008 5:05PM
The drum set looks pretty damn sweet, wonder what the high hat is used for
Kyattsuai @ Jun 19th 2008 5:09PM
Perhaps they're also compatible with GH4. Either that or it's just something loud to do while the game loads.
Thief @ Jun 19th 2008 5:09PM
Dear MadCatz,
Your craptastic PS1 memory card wiped my complete FF7 save-file along with all other saves. I will never forgive you.
Yours unsincerely,
Thief
LordChimp @ Jun 19th 2008 5:13PM
lawl
deaftly @ Jun 19th 2008 5:25PM
Same EXACT thing happened to me with 120 hours in that damn game. I still have no bought anything from that damn company since.
Korova *of the highlands* @ Jun 19th 2008 5:11PM
I am debating whether to get Rockband or a Guitar Hero for my 360.
I dont want buy the full kit, cause I might not play it enough, but I want to be able to expand it later it I do. Does that mean I have to get Rockband?
How is the song selection between the two? Does GH have a store?
Who has the best peripherals?
Damn, we need a forum or something.
Thief @ Jun 19th 2008 5:20PM
My two cents...
Guitar Hero - The game is definitely harder and I prefer more for its' challenge once you get to Expert and up. However i'm on my 3rd 360 guitar controller because they're pieces of awful crap. My first PS2 one from years ago is still rockin stronger than all the others... detachable neck is a huge mistake. Multiplayer is alright and very competitive. Not much for downloadable content though.
Rock Band - Definitely funner if you have the company to play multiplayer, and inspires more teamwork than competition between your friends. Sadly I can't stand the feel of the guitars, it doesn't feel like you're actually hitting any of the notes, but I can definitely say they're more durable. The drumset is alright but has its quirks. Tons and tons of downloadable content (too much infact)
So your choice: Solo difficult vs. Group cooperation.
NATO_Duke @ Jun 19th 2008 5:27PM
RB has a store and more songs I think. Guitar Hero has song packs that they release. Seems to me that the RB store is the best system right now, and they show a bit more love for the consumer.
I would read the reviews to see which you like more. I like the last GH wireless guitar the most, and then RB has everything else. Yet GH4 looks like it will have some nicer drums. Of course, then there will be a RB2 to talk about as well.
Take a leap of faith.
Brett from Atlanta @ Jun 19th 2008 6:14PM
Rock Band is getting The Pixies next week...Well that should just about make the decision a no-brainer.
JJ Rooster @ Jun 19th 2008 6:17PM
Buy Rock Band for sure. Get the drums later if you want, but at least you have the option to play every song 4 ways. The DLC is plentiful and cheaper than GH, plus you don't have to buy 3 packs! Since you have a 360, you can use GH guitars too, so perhaps buying GH3 plus the RB disc would be good?
tcc3 @ Jun 19th 2008 7:27PM
JJ, that wont work. Activision wont let Hrmonix release the patch to make the GH3 controller compatible.
He'd have to get GH2 - the explorer is cross compatible with both games. GH2 is a better (than GH3) game anyway.
brad77 @ Jun 19th 2008 9:51PM
@tcc3: That's not true. The GH3 guitars work fine on the 360. The Activision/Harmonix patch flap was on the PS3 only. If I remember right, it's because they forgot to include compatibility on the disc on the PS3 version, but did on the 360.
We (my band, that is) use the wireless Les Paul with Rock Band all the time.
For what it's worth Korova, I've got both. I played GH3 for about two weeks. I still play Rock Band, and I got it the week it was released. Keep in mind that it's _much_ better with friends...and if you do that you'll need an extra guitar.
Courtney @ Jun 19th 2008 5:23PM
Normally I'm not a fan of Madcatz, but that drum kit looks sweet. But, not at that price. Good lord, I almost paid that much for the entire set.
NoHitHair @ Jun 19th 2008 11:45PM
Be patient. A third party peripheral, especially one this expensive, will not be able to maintain such a high price even if it sells well. When I worked at an EB we consistently witnessed price drops on all kinds of third party accessories (until they were pennied out at which point they were either shipped back to our warehouse, tossed in the trash or whisked away to eBayville).
Farseer (GDI) @ Jun 19th 2008 5:44PM
It looks nice in the picture, but there is a creed to which I adhere:
"Friends don't let friends buy MadCatz."
beatboxtaun @ Jun 19th 2008 5:51PM
This looks super sweet. I would love to see exactly how the controls of each are incorperated into the game. This would be hellanice to get my hands on and try for myself!
niindre @ Jun 19th 2008 5:55PM
I'm betting that kit is compatible with both Rockband and the soon to be released Rock Band2. There is no way most of that stuff works on RB1 without a patch from Harmonix. I'm guessing this is a preview of what RB2 has to over, and since it's coming out a few months after this, it makes sense that Madhacks would shoot for both targets.