Guitar Hero director knocks Rock Band 2 cymbals

Spartacus, your comment screams bitterness. NObody is playing these games thinking it's going to make them a musician. Though anyone who doesn't think that both guitar and drums in these games (especially drums) does teach you some basic skills that are used in their real counterparts. The drums are an excellent introduction into playing real drums and someone who can play at expert level in the game would be about 20 lessons ahead of someone who had never done it.

I don't see any problems. On super expert hardcore mode, it could be a training simulation. On super easy mode, it would be simple fun. These music games can cover all bases.

And I've heard from a lot of people that Konami's Drummania game is in fact an excellent way to learn drums, and the skills from that game DO transfer to drums. Not the case for Rock Band, though.

While it is true that Rock Band cannot teach one to play drums as well as (most) professionals, It does give the basic concept and possible motivation for others to learn. The sales of guitars have improved since Guitar Hero came out. So much so that music stores such as Guitar Center have started selling the game to motivate potential customers. I really hate all this one sided snobby attitude some of you are having with this. Because these are merely games doesn't mean someone can take more from it.

Also, I got a much better understanding of racing and race car driving from playing games like Gran Turismo. I know I wouldn't be able to drive in one of those races, but I now have a greater appreciation.

ummmm...hmmm...your comment about rockband not teaching someone to play the drums. that is a very uninformed comment. i too play the drums and i too own rockband. do me a favor and please play rockband one day while sitting behind your real kit....it translates very well. now granted no one is going to become an AMAZING drummer with this as there only learning method....this does provide an AMAZING foundation. something that has never been available to those starting out on the drums before...a visual guide. so please do not try and sound superior to those who wish to use rockband as a learning tool for there drums...you probably suck at the real drums anyway.

Actually, as a real drummer myself, rockband 2 does help you learn some basics of drumming as far as drum rudiments (paradiddles..etc.) and stick control. On the other hand, for the most important part of being a drummer, timeing, it actually creates a very bad habit for anyone trying to learn from the game. As a real drummer you have to be spot on with your timing and on the game you can be off some and it will still work. Oh well..I play both! XX

Actually the cymbals do function differently on fills and "big rock endings." They sound like cymbals there, and all the pads sound like drums. So they give you more sounds to play with. I believe this also works in Drum Trainer mode, but I'm not certain. Rock Band 2 will recognize if you have cymbals plugged into your set and react accordingly with these extra goodies. Granted, it's not as full-featured as the GH:WT gameplay, but the cymbals do have a function.

I think this is a decent compromise between adding more to the drums for those who want to step up the challenge/simulation, while still keeping the basic drum set the same which ensures the backwards compatibility to RB1 DLC and disc songs. That compatibility feature alone is a huge plus for RB2 in my book, but would be near impossible if they completely reworked any of the instruments.