First look at Guitar Hero IV drum set

by Dustin Burg { May 14th 2008 at 11:45AM }

Thanks to the Game Informer article that broke all the Guitar Hero IV news recently, comes the first photograph of the game's drum set. And after a quick look over, the biggest difference between it and the Rock Band drum set is the addition of the yellow and orange pie wedged "symbols" and use of three other drum pads. Interesting, different and ... well, interesting. We're also informed that the set's durability is top notch as they point out that "this thing is not going to crack". We'll see how durable their drum creation really is after it feels the abusive drumming madness that SuperDunners brings everytime he takes stage. As plastic peripherals shake in fear, we warn you GHIV drums ... be afraid.

Tags: activision, ghiv, guitar-hero-4, guitar-hero-iv, neversoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

tan @ May 14th 2008 11:52AM

i think it'll be really good, gonna have to get 2 sets of drums this year:)

Dan_C @ May 14th 2008 11:52AM

So is guitar hero turning into Rock Band?

How original...

xenocidic @ May 14th 2008 11:54AM

rock band...?!

THIS... IS... INNOVATION !

Chaunches @ May 14th 2008 11:56AM

this should not be called guitar hero 4 anymore it should be called Not Rock band 09

Neuromancer @ May 14th 2008 11:59AM

Wow... That's really lame.

D Boy Flex @ May 14th 2008 12:00PM

I think I'll pass. I don't need 2 drum sets lying around at home. I already have 3 guitars and certainly don't need another one. I would bet GH4 would sell better if the RB peripherals were compatible. From the looks of the pic, the drums will not be. Of course, you never know.

Royale @ May 14th 2008 12:02PM

I think you meant "cymbals" unless you were talking about "symbols" of "cymbals"

EAsucks @ May 14th 2008 12:10PM

With Rec Octane making this it's gonna be durable as hell. Since you know, they make instruments that work :)

Tony @ May 14th 2008 12:10PM

This is just where shit starts to get annoying. There's no standard set now. Rock Band was smart enough to follow the Guitar Hero setup and allow us to use any guitar controllers we had laying around.

Given how Activision has been with the PS3 versions of GH3 and RB, I'd be surprised if they do much to allow people to use their RB drums properly.

What do I do in this case? Buy another drum set entirely? I don't know about anyone else here, but I have a limit to how many peripherals I can easily store away anywhere near my 360 without them being forgotten lol.

Fuck that.

Josh @ May 14th 2008 12:10PM

Looks decent I guess...it better have double bass pedals though.

Peff @ May 14th 2008 5:26PM

amen brother

Jazza @ May 14th 2008 12:16PM

If I can use the Rockband drums on it, excellent, if not, then I might avoid GH4 :( I hope that EA and Activision will play nice, unlike the Rockband Guitars not working with GH3.

And just over a week before Rockband is released in the UK!!! :)

Big Filth @ May 14th 2008 12:17PM

"Crock Band"

Zoot Suit Jedi @ May 14th 2008 3:11PM

Zing! +1

dunnypop @ May 14th 2008 12:21PM

I dont' think I'm going to get this unless the song creation really works well and if you can create your own characters, better customization, and a better tour mode - storyline.

MattDark @ May 14th 2008 12:27PM

If they do make it compatible, they'd have an upper-hand on rock-band thanks to their extra pad. Though it could be their downfall, as alot of people may not want to buy a second drum-kit if they already have rock-band.

Joe @ May 14th 2008 12:29PM

I think Rock Bands drums looks nicer. But I wonder if the game will change from Guitar Hero to Rock Hero or some thing like that.

Also I already have trouble with room with the RB drums so if GH4 does not allow drums from RB I will be pissed because I don't need another set of drums.

aeamek @ May 14th 2008 12:31PM

So...no kick pedals? WTF? Are they going to add new colors if they do put them in?

aeamek @ May 14th 2008 12:33PM

Never mind. I see it in the bigger picture now. But I still wonder about how it will be displayed on the screen.

psyborg @ May 14th 2008 12:33PM

I'm not buying another plastic drum kit. The would have possibly gotten my game-only purchase if the drums would have been compatible.

They're copy cats, their note charts are shitty, and they refuse to make these peripherals compatible with other music games.

hActivision - 1

Ryan @ May 14th 2008 12:52PM

I'm with you. I already have one plastic drum set taking up space... I don't have room for another. Forcing us to get all new peripherals is just stupid.

psyborg @ May 14th 2008 12:34PM

MockBand

linuxinfector @ May 14th 2008 1:24PM

These drums look awesome, i think people are just jealous cause they spent 150 on crap drums that break after a weeks use, and now they cant get these

Andrew @ May 14th 2008 3:09PM

I think you're just jealous that GH took a whole year to get on the drum bandwagon.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ May 14th 2008 3:13PM

I think you hit your drums too hard.

ccc @ May 14th 2008 12:55PM

This is gonna be the better game easly.

Don't forget about the user made conent this game is boasting.

OwningXylophone @ May 14th 2008 1:03PM

Damn, 3 drum pads + 2 cymbals = 5 buttons... So where are the pedals?? What kind of drum kit has no bass drum pedal?

GH4 Drums = Epic Fail!

EAsucks @ May 14th 2008 2:13PM

Click on the picture..

The pedal is there.

OwningXylophone @ May 14th 2008 2:28PM

Ah... How's that going to work then?
The 5 colours are all on the drums & cymbals?

monkeymonkeymonkey @ May 14th 2008 1:16PM

LOL @ symbols...

Lee @ May 14th 2008 1:29PM

One would have thought that the corporate juggernaut that is Harmonix/EA/MTV would have devised a legal scheme to prevent something like this from happening.

But they must actually be good people, because they didn't.

Competition is great, but the idea of having an entire room filled with peripherals for TWO games is ridiculous.

InvisiMan @ May 14th 2008 1:44PM

Great... let the pissing battle begin... with all these games costing $150+, how many guitars, drums and duplicate songs do they think us games are willing to put up with??

AlexMeth @ May 14th 2008 1:55PM

Are you serious? There is no way in hell I am purchasing another plastic drum set. My appartement is too small anyways. Tough luck Activision - as cool as GH4 sounds, you won't get my money.

InvisiMan @ May 14th 2008 1:48PM

I also wanted to add that NOT having a bar that stops the foot pedal from sliding around is going to be a huge pain in the ass.

And these guys "know" what they are doing with the design of the instruments? Have a drummer make your drum kit guys....

tan @ May 14th 2008 2:52PM

why all the negative comments:(

if u dont like it just dont read it! who cares if its a copy? doesn't mean rock band will magically get rubbish does it. just accept that activision/neversoft had to do something more or they wouldn't make money, and thats what companies like to do, make money. so just accept it, either like it or hate it or whatever then move onto your choice of music game. i do personally like guitar hero, but i havn't ever played rock band and wouldn't know but i since i like music games a lot i am buying it next week as soon as its out here (uk).
and i also will get ghaerosmith and this gh4 aswell as any other music game ever(that isn't dance or singing), even guitar hero on tour!
thanks guys, i do really like this:)

chubytuby @ May 14th 2008 5:58PM

No one has to like it to read it. They are merely posting opinions. Although, you don't like their opinions, then don't read them.

DaffyDuck @ May 14th 2008 3:50PM

Haha, I love how much RB fanboys are pissed. I guess if I wasted $170 on crappy instruments with crappy songs I would be pissed as well.

GH4 looks amazing for now, exactly what I was waiting for. And if you actually read that scan it says that they made the drum kit more quiet and wireless. Not to mention that it looks amazing comparing to RB kit with plastic plates, and we all know GH instrument quality.

So instead of crying here "lame GH" cry "I own lame RB". I feel your pain though.

CJJB @ May 14th 2008 7:02PM

These drum peripherals are becoming more and more like real v-drums.

If you don't know what they are,they're basically electric drums,you just put on headphones to hear the sound.The good ones cost well over 1500.

They are 10 times more fun than rock band IMO

Boff @ May 15th 2008 6:59AM

If they can price it cheaper than Rock Band in the UK then it's a must-buy for me.

Simple as that.

Boff @ May 15th 2008 7:10AM

Well I've just read the blurb in that picture, and I honestly can't understand all the hate from people.

Unless all the Rock Band fanboys have just glanced over at their shitty loud wired drumkit. ;o)

BostonMusic368 @ May 15th 2008 3:15PM

Okay, Rock band drum sets will NOT be compatible with GH IV because they have obviously changed orange to a cymbal, so they must have changed the kick pedal to something else. Just think to yourself how that would work.

The Guitar Hero drum set will also have more perks than a Rock Band drum set, because it is not only supposed to be a gaming drum set, but also a MIDI set for all you musicians out there.

Besides, even if you don't care for the drum set idea, or you don't want it, then just don't buy it. It is still Guitar Hero as we all love it. They will still have the guitar, and some great tracks that will have you playing the game for years just because of the fun it provides.

I commend Activision for coming up with this attachment to the Guitar Hero franchise and cannot wait until it comes out. This will be much more realistic, and hopefully more challenging than Rock Band. I embrace the change they are bringing into gaming, and so should everyone else that appreciates it.