...So wait a minute. All you need to do to keep the drum pedals in good condition is to follow the rules and do what you're told? How un-rock-'n'-roll is that?
Harmonix: Drum pedal suit 'opportunistic and baseless'
by Justin McElroy 
on Nov 25th 2008 10:00AM
62
...So wait a minute. All you need to do to keep the drum pedals in good condition is to follow the rules and do what you're told? How un-rock-'n'-roll is that?
Reader Comments (62)
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:04AM (Unverified) said
I told you guys to wear your fluffy socks when you rock out.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:16AM copa said
I play lightly, with socks, and even my pedal cracked after 8 months.
Which wouldn't be a big deal if they would simply offer a $5-$10 replacement pedal. The reason this gets to be a problem (now that their generous warranty replacement program has expired) is that Harmonix doesn't sell the pedal standalone.
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Which wouldn't be a big deal if they would simply offer a $5-$10 replacement pedal. The reason this gets to be a problem (now that their generous warranty replacement program has expired) is that Harmonix doesn't sell the pedal standalone.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 11:21AM Haggard said
I play lightly with socks and even mastered the ankle-bending tap rather than just stomping on it.. and mine broke after 1-2 months.
I'm just lucky that Pedal Metal ship to the UK, because according to Harmonix's own warranty website, the game isn't out here (which is odd considering it's in our shops and official charts, and IS OUT).
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I'm just lucky that Pedal Metal ship to the UK, because according to Harmonix's own warranty website, the game isn't out here (which is odd considering it's in our shops and official charts, and IS OUT).
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:07AM ExMcCloud said
Don't give me that "Do what your told crap" if you made the bass pedal like u gave a flying fuck we wouldn't be having this conversation
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:11AM (Unverified) said
I've used my original drum set for both RB1 and RB2 and haven't had any problems. I don't know how hard you have to kick the pedal to have it snap, but it seems fine for me...
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:43AM (Unverified) said
Are you playing on expert? Try beating RB 1 on expert and see if it'll last you. After my first pedal broke, I immediately got a metal plate. The drum pads are garbage as well. Between Rock Band 1 and 2 I have sent back 7 drum pads. Since the warranty is over, if these last drum pads break, then no more plastic drums for me, cause I'll be damned if I pay more money for plastic instruments.
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Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:52AM (Unverified) said
I can't beat RB1 on expert, but I'm on the last tier of songs. Fast pedal parts are what screw me up, so I guess that's what's breaking it for people.
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Posted: Nov 25th 2008 1:19PM (Unverified) said
Same here. I had to get a metal plate after the pedal broke twice while my roommate was playing it on expert.
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Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:12AM (Unverified) said
Mine has broken as well but has a nice thick lump of fibre-glass holding it together and now it works fine - doesn't look nice
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:12AM Negativecool said
How dare they expect a product that doesn't break! Don't these people know it costs MONEY to fix problems like this?
...
What would MS do?
...
What would MS do?
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:14AM (Unverified) said
So that's why everyone I know who has the game has a broken pedal. Everyone's just doing it wrong!
Hey RROD whiners, have you tried NOT having your console break? It's so obvious...
Hey RROD whiners, have you tried NOT having your console break? It's so obvious...
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 12:05PM Shagittarius said
T if your joking, excellent work, if your serious...OMG are you mistaken.
I had launch day pedal until 2 weeks ago when it broke, I treated that thing like gold and it still broke, the plastic is not durable enough to withstand prolonged play. It is a design problem and Harmonix should at least be forced to extend the warranty on pedals.
P.S. I've had 5 different drum kits as well, I know their toys but these companies charge enough to make sure their equipment is somewhat durable.
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I had launch day pedal until 2 weeks ago when it broke, I treated that thing like gold and it still broke, the plastic is not durable enough to withstand prolonged play. It is a design problem and Harmonix should at least be forced to extend the warranty on pedals.
P.S. I've had 5 different drum kits as well, I know their toys but these companies charge enough to make sure their equipment is somewhat durable.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:26AM Dr said
Can anyone name a lawsuit that wasn't 'opportunistic'?
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:27AM baby sea tuna said
"...So wait a minute. All you need to do to keep the drum pedals in good condition is to follow the rules and do what you're told? How un-rock-'n'-roll is that?"
Maybe they're trying to start a trend, sort of like how bands suing their fans could have been considered un-rock-'n'-roll until Metallica made it cool.
Maybe they're trying to start a trend, sort of like how bands suing their fans could have been considered un-rock-'n'-roll until Metallica made it cool.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:29AM (Unverified) said
Baseless? More like "bassless."
Do you see what I did there?
Do you see what I did there?
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:32AM Don Weaso said
Ted Striker says, "Surely you can't be serious..."
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:48AM TRTX said
I bought the bundle at launch, my drums stopped registering hits within the first few days. My guitar stopped activating overdrive (and recognizing strums) at about the same time.
Got replacement instruments within a few weeks, and haven't had issues since. (I've actually had two Les Pauls crap out in that same period)
As far as snapping the pedal, I have NO idea what it takes to break that song. I've played Painkiller, I've jammed Disturbed, I got bats**t during Maps and Call Me, and there were times I thought for sure I was going to snap that thing.
I've had friends (wearing shoes) come in and play the pedal by stomping the tip with their heel...and still it didn't break.
The only broken pedals I ever see are at demo kiosks, and in those situations I've seen how people use them...and that is NOT "normal use".
Got replacement instruments within a few weeks, and haven't had issues since. (I've actually had two Les Pauls crap out in that same period)
As far as snapping the pedal, I have NO idea what it takes to break that song. I've played Painkiller, I've jammed Disturbed, I got bats**t during Maps and Call Me, and there were times I thought for sure I was going to snap that thing.
I've had friends (wearing shoes) come in and play the pedal by stomping the tip with their heel...and still it didn't break.
The only broken pedals I ever see are at demo kiosks, and in those situations I've seen how people use them...and that is NOT "normal use".
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 11:00AM Dr said
I can't speak for everyone else, but my pedal break wasn't due to excessive force. It seemed to be more due to constant pressure at the bottom of the pedal where I was (probably incorrectly) resting my heel. It actually felt 'different' a few songs before it broke, like it had a little more give at the back. And then it simply gave out 3/4 of the way through Tom Sawyer.
I've had the replacement for 10 months now, and no issues. I *have* broken most of the pads clear in half, but they still work fine.
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I've had the replacement for 10 months now, and no issues. I *have* broken most of the pads clear in half, but they still work fine.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 11:53AM TRTX said
When you say "at the bottom", are you referring to below the crack in the picture? Or are you referring to the base below the hinge?
Because I know some people who play the pedal by resting their heel on the base and pushing their toes against the the lower portion of thte pedal...pretty sure that would lead to a snap as seen in the picture in no time.
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Because I know some people who play the pedal by resting their heel on the base and pushing their toes against the the lower portion of thte pedal...pretty sure that would lead to a snap as seen in the picture in no time.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 12:09PM Shagittarius said
T, this is a real problem, just beacuse someones foot accidentaly moves for a strike it shouldn't cause the pedal to snap, and like the lawsuit says, if there wasn't a problem how come the rock band 2 kick pedals come wit re-inforced metal plates?
I don't know why you bother defending those poorly designed pedals.
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I don't know why you bother defending those poorly designed pedals.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 1:09PM TRTX said
First off, there's a difference between accidentally sliding there and misusing the equipment. I've had my fair share of "slips" and my pedal remains intact a year later. The only broken pedals I've seen are in demos where some kid has been stomping it with his heel.
Second, the argument that the metal plate is an admission of "faulty" is totally baseless. It's a natural process for hardware to undergo changes based on feedback. People were complaining the pedals were snapping, so HMX responded by adding something to make them more durable.
But to say that it means HMX willingly released defective products (as the lawsuit suggests) is completely absurd.
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Second, the argument that the metal plate is an admission of "faulty" is totally baseless. It's a natural process for hardware to undergo changes based on feedback. People were complaining the pedals were snapping, so HMX responded by adding something to make them more durable.
But to say that it means HMX willingly released defective products (as the lawsuit suggests) is completely absurd.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 1:50PM Dr said
http://chevaps.com/images/pedal.jpg
That happened after about two months. I've had the replacement since with no issue.
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That happened after about two months. I've had the replacement since with no issue.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 10:49AM Dirty said
What happened to the duct-tape method?
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 1:09PM (Unverified) said
Amen,
Mine broke after a couple months, but a piece of extra hardwood flooring from the hallway and some ducktape and it's worked fine ever since.
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Mine broke after a couple months, but a piece of extra hardwood flooring from the hallway and some ducktape and it's worked fine ever since.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 11:37AM (Unverified) said
My pedal broke from what I would call normal wear and tear but Harmonix sent me a free replacement within a week so I really have no complaints.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 11:43AM Keithustus said
I'm just curious which breaking point is more common: mid-pedal or at the hinge? Mine broke at the hinge, and like Dr. said, I could feel it have more give a minute or two before it broke. But it seems just on the net that more people are breaking in the middle. This seems really unreasonable to me because I have no idea how you would apply force to the center of the pedal but not the base and tip. Aren't you people playing with shoes on?
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 12:12PM Shagittarius said
Your foot moves around while you play, the pedal can take some incorrect kicks but after a while the plastic weakens and eventually it breaks.
This is whats happening, through 'natural wear and tear' eventually your pedal will become weak and break.
If you haven't played it as much perhaps it will take a little longer.
I use to feel the same way you guys did, I watched lots of freinds break their pedals and I wondered how the hell they were doing it. Then mine broke after having it since release day and completing both RB1 and 2 on expert...So its not like i'm a spaz on the drums i've completed the games...
The plastic weakens, then it breaks, its really quite simple.
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This is whats happening, through 'natural wear and tear' eventually your pedal will become weak and break.
If you haven't played it as much perhaps it will take a little longer.
I use to feel the same way you guys did, I watched lots of freinds break their pedals and I wondered how the hell they were doing it. Then mine broke after having it since release day and completing both RB1 and 2 on expert...So its not like i'm a spaz on the drums i've completed the games...
The plastic weakens, then it breaks, its really quite simple.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 1:36PM Shagittarius said
Your pedal will break, its only a matter of time.
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Posted: Nov 25th 2008 11:50AM jocozo3 said
My pedal broke pretty quickly under the foot of a friend. But a few minutes and some duct tape later we had it working again and with better action!
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 11:56AM Kamizar said
My pedal broke, a week after working my way to expert...
It's clear that Harmonix doesn't understand physics, putting the spring in the middle creates a pressure point, and it's clear that Harmonix doesn't understand music like they wanna claim, most bands with heavy drumming have 2 bass drums, or a double pedaled bass...
It's clear that Harmonix doesn't understand physics, putting the spring in the middle creates a pressure point, and it's clear that Harmonix doesn't understand music like they wanna claim, most bands with heavy drumming have 2 bass drums, or a double pedaled bass...
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 12:04PM (Unverified) said
Fortunatly, I suck to much to break mine.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 12:29PM (Unverified) said
My friend's pedal is held together with two butter knives, some spare Magic cards, and a ton of electrical tape.
Posted: Nov 25th 2008 12:38PM (Unverified) said
I bet it's the difference between pressing the pedal with your whole foot, or tapping it with your toe. Both are legit kick techniques in drum playing, so RB should support them both.
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