Game Informer reveals 'Ion' premium Rock Band 2 drum kit

by Ross Miller { Jul 10th 2008 at 10:35PM }

The latest issue of Game Informer (via Score Hero) has a feature spread on Rock Band 2 and, while most of the information was released online yesterday, the magazine does have images of the new drum kit, both the upgraded basic and Ion Premium Set. The upgrades to the basic set include metal reinforcements on the foot pedal, velocity sensitive pads and expandable slots for cymbals.

The Ion set is a different beast altogether. As seen in the scan, the set gives you the option of playing the yellow, green and blue pads as cymbals. There is no indication on if you can use the cymbals for songs with long stretches of red notes used for the hi-hat beats (e.g. "Everlong"). The Ion set can purportedly be used as a real, 7-piece electronic set (albeit sans hi-hat pedal, unless we can upgrade), which then begs the question if we could find a way to make this compatible with Guitar Hero World Tour.

We're hoping to get a chance to try out the premium set next week at E3. The latest Game Informer is currently on newsstands.

Update: Made the image text red so no one got their hopes up too high by overlooking it. It should be noted that the above set is produced by ION, although the Rock Band 2 version is admittedly prettier.

Tags: drum-set, drums, ion-drum-kit, rock-band, rock-band-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

David @ Jul 10th 2008 10:40PM

Your picture made me nearly splurge.

Your text made me sad.

The Ion kit looks insane though.

kavendano14 @ Jul 10th 2008 10:42PM

One more cymbal= I win.

MarkHawk @ Jul 10th 2008 10:44PM

agreed could you make the Text in the picture Red? It blends to well with the drum kit. Though the ION drum kit for rockband looks very similar to this one. You can check my link in the comment below.

sam @ Jul 29th 2008 2:40PM

that isnt the real drum set because there arnt any colr pads the real 1 looks 500x better

MarkHawk @ Jul 10th 2008 10:43PM

Here is the ION Drum kit for RockBand

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m409/cb_Dew/Rock%20Band%202%20-%20GI/page7.jpg

It looks fantastic. The fact that I can also use it as a real drum kit to learn from makes this a must have. No word on pricing or when it will go on sale but I persoanlly assume that information will come during E3.

Game informer also speaks about real Guitars being modified with buttons that can be used for RockBand. Again more during E3 I assume.

ahsayuninew @ Jul 10th 2008 10:45PM

Why did you do this to me, Joystiq?!

Tegolin @ Jul 10th 2008 10:57PM

Why didn't you shows us the REAL ion drum kit.
Meanies.
Well I'm not buying any new peripherals for RB2.
The drum kit looks the same, already reinforced my pedal.
I do just fine with the guitar I have now.

kavendano14 @ Jul 10th 2008 11:04PM

It looks very similar, it's in the scan anyway

Ross Miller @ Jul 10th 2008 11:38PM

You can see the scan hosted at scorehero. We're not hosting it.

Nick8708 @ Jul 11th 2008 1:12AM

While the drum kit looks the same, they do mention in the scan that it has expansion slots for separately sold cymbals, plus the heads are now "soft and bouncy" out of the box to reduce noise and velocity sensitive, so there is a bit of functional difference. Whether the price makes it worth the extra investment is to be seen.

DonGeronimo @ Jul 10th 2008 10:59PM

I "BORROWED" THAT SET FROM SAMS CLUB FOR A MONTH TO TRY OUT A REAL SET AFTER USING ROCKBAND AND THAT ION SET IS AN ABSOLUTE UNUSABLE PIECE OF GARBAGE IT WAS NOT WORTH THE 3 HUNDRED MEASLEY BUCKS I RENTED IT WITH. BAD MOVE FOR ROCKBAND TO HAVE THE FOLKS WHO CREATED THAT JUNK MAKE THEIR SET...

MarkHawk @ Jul 10th 2008 11:20PM

Read the fine print: Not the drum kit in RockBand 2. Follow the link for the actual kit. The one for RockBand is a new line model. Never been released yet.

NATO_Duke @ Jul 11th 2008 10:43AM

Where did the duo of caps lock loving morons come from?

FYI-Nothing you have to say is that important.

Flakundenga @ Jul 10th 2008 11:02PM

i was disappointed by the text though as those insanely awesome drums are sold more expensively n separately. yeah they r good n all but i dont hav enough money n da standard 1s r pretty much the same as RB1 but with some small improvements nothin new on the looks department however. it also mentioned it would have some special fender guitars that are also more expensive n sold seprarately. standard guitar is nice though. anyways i think imma stick w/what i had in mind 2 buy this year; GH World Tour

Slayer @ Jul 10th 2008 11:04PM

Needs moar cymbals.

thedonandmikeshow @ Jul 10th 2008 11:05PM

...YOUR STICKS HIT THE PLASTIC RAISED RIMS INSTEAD OF THE PADS (WHICH ARE NOT MADE OF RUBBER OR OTHER DECENT MATERIAL BUT MORE LIKE A PLASTIC COVERED FOAM)THE SOUNDS WERE HORRID, THE SECTIONS OF THE STAND MOVED AROUND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU SCREWED THE PIECES DOWN...

HighFiveJesus @ Jul 10th 2008 11:42PM

WHAT

thedonandmikeshow @ Jul 10th 2008 11:06PM

...YOUR STICKS HIT THE PLASTIC RAISED RIMS INSTEAD OF THE PADS (WHICH
ARE NOT MADE OF RUBBER OR OTHER DECENT MATERIAL BUT MORE LIKE A
PLASTIC COVERED FOAM)THE SOUNDS WERE HORRID, THE SECTIONS OF THE
STAND MOVED AROUND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU SCREWED THE PIECES DOWN...

josearoldan @ Jul 10th 2008 11:09PM

Capslock, cruise control for awesome...

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ Jul 10th 2008 11:46PM

But you still gotta steer.

the_kid @ Jul 10th 2008 11:07PM

where's the cowbell attachment?

CitizenSnips @ Jul 10th 2008 11:11PM

Seriously, can someone take an educated stab at what this will cost? I mean what do electronic drum sets usually go for?

MarkHawk @ Jul 10th 2008 11:24PM

over at the roockband forums people are guessing 200-400. Since it doesn't have a Drum Brian (Not sure on the details but this is how you can convert the ION drum kit to a actual drum kit) it shouldn't be impossible to afford. Though it will be pricey.

Cheaper, fully functional ones retails for 500, so they assume it will be slightly cheaper since it is missing key components.

CitizenSnips @ Jul 10th 2008 11:35PM

wow. Thanks. Thats insane. To rich for my blood. Even at 200, which i doubt it will be.

Brett from Atlanta @ Jul 11th 2008 12:14AM

If you have a mac, you can use garage band and the rock band drums you have now to have an electronic drum set. I've played around with it before, its pretty nifty, and also cheaper.

horngreen @ Jul 10th 2008 11:12PM

Uhhh it might be time to just buy a real drum kit losers

wes @ Jul 11th 2008 12:40AM

Might be time to get sacked my a REAL football player...Seriously this "real instrument" shit is getting stupid...and plus...this is a real e-kit...or can be.

Bakkster @ Jul 11th 2008 8:34AM

These basically ARE real drum kits. Add the fact that RB2 will have a drum trainer to teach you various beats and fills, and this argument goes right out the window.

Ian Murray @ Jul 10th 2008 11:16PM

If those things perform as good as they look...then I think I need to find more room for fake plastic instruments.

MarkHawk @ Jul 10th 2008 11:25PM

technically it's a real kit. If you want to use it like a real kit then you need to buy a drum brain attachment (again I do not know the details) and it'll work like Midi drum kit.

Charlie_Six @ Jul 10th 2008 11:25PM

That Ion kit is FREAKIN AWESOME. If it's around $200 or $300 I'll get it. Anything above that and I dunno.........

thedonandmikeshow @ Jul 10th 2008 11:27PM

MarkHawk if you follow the link to the scan of the drum kit, the pads and stand are identical to the kit I had...

MarkHawk @ Jul 11th 2008 12:22AM

Do you have a link to your kit? We are talking about the ION right now the HMX one?

Sorry just trying to clarify.

(This is the one Im referring to just for reference)
http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m409/cb_Dew/Rock%20Band%202%20-%20GI/page7.jpg

neko to kuruma @ Jul 10th 2008 11:29PM

If the Ion kit works with GHWT I can definitely see myself buying it.

Seroth @ Jul 10th 2008 11:40PM

I wish I were a real drummer in need of an electronic drumset, so I could have an excuse to buy those...

Nick8708 @ Jul 11th 2008 1:19AM

Try justifying it in reverse order. Perhaps you can make buying those drums your excuse to become a real drummer? That's how I intend to defend my purchase :)

bounchfx @ Jul 10th 2008 11:41PM

holy fuck amazing do want limited ion set.

however, un-compatibility with GH4 makes me sad as this is even MORE money out of my pocket.

fuck you guys
with love, of course.

NukeAssault @ Jul 10th 2008 11:48PM

Agree'D.

Phillip @ Jul 10th 2008 11:49PM

Activision and Harmonix need to kiss and make up so we can have ONE (1) set of drums and enjoy both games. I'm guessing they make most of their money on DLC and not the peripherals. Make it happen.

skinpounder @ Jul 11th 2008 12:06AM

Ion has never been known for quality. The nice thing is though that if this kit can function in the realm of real electronic drums, then hopefully modding a real e-drum kit (ala ddrum, Roland, Yamaha) to work with Rock Band just got a lot easier. If this kit is over $100 you are better off hitting ebay and finding some used pads. If your wanting to get into edrums look for the entry level kits by Yamaha and Roland. For around $700-800 your in the game. Considering you'll drop $5k+ on the flagship e-drum kits its not that bad. Unless your playing RB on expert it's not even close to the real drum experience. I was really pleased how spot on the Muse track was to real life. Nice job devs!

NukeAssault @ Jul 11th 2008 12:44AM

Ive seen people use electronic sets on Rock Band 1. This is just official.

Mr.ESC @ Jul 11th 2008 12:20AM

Wow that is a monster,that thing will take a lot of space.

harvsorrow @ Jul 11th 2008 1:34AM

I'm wondering why two things aren't being commented on:

1) The quote from the article states something like WE'RE TOLD that this can function as a real kit... we're told? Is there a possibility that this is false?

2) The bit regarding the limited edition REAL Stratocasters that are going to be gutted and transplanted with Rock Band guitar innards.

Is this really necessary? I mean how close can u be to being a real band without crossing the line? What's next? Hooking your guitar/bass/electric kits to boxes that resemble amps but really send the signal wirelessly to the console? But wait! Flip a switch and they function as a real amp! Rad!

In digression, the new pads do LOOK pretty sweet. How 'bout the hi hat placed more on the side tho?

harvsorrow @ Jul 11th 2008 1:50AM

I meant to say how 'bout a pedal for the hi hat, not the location. It must be past the bedtime.

wes @ Jul 11th 2008 2:35AM

the kit peices use 1/4 connectors to plug into the controller part I belive...All you would need to buy is a electric drum "brain" to use it as a real deal E-kit.

Nick8708 @ Jul 11th 2008 6:19AM

"Is this really necessary? I mean how close can u be to being a real band without crossing the line? What's next? Hooking your guitar/bass/electric kits to boxes that resemble amps but really send the signal wirelessly to the console? But wait! Flip a switch and they function as a real amp! Rad!"

Of course it's not 'necessary', but it's something I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will find it cool enough to purchase.

But anyways, I was talking to a gentleman the other day and he said that he has some device that, using a real guitar, translates the signal into something useable by a midi machine thus allowing him to use his guitar and make it sound like anything a keyboard or synthesizer could. He said it was outrageously expensive (understandably), but if it's creating a digital signal (don't know much about it or MIDI) it could be used as a game controller. Thing is, it's prohibitively expensive. It could be done in software (I've heard it has, wish I knew where) for a lower cost I'm sure, though a real guitar isn't exactly user friendly to the non-player.

Those Ion drums on the other hand look hella sweet. It'd be nice if the Gamestops, Best Buys, and Walmarts put both sets up for demonstration to help consumers decide. I'll get them if they feel better to play since I've been kicking around the idea of getting an actual E Drum kit since the first Rock Band and those may due the trick :)