First Mad Catz Rock Band instruments next week (probably)

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 19th 2008 at 1:45PM }

According to RockBandMods.net, the officially licensed Mad Catz Rock Band instruments -- announced ages ago -- will finally release next week. Apparently, the instruments were listed on Amazon at one point, but the listings have since been removed. The instruments listed are/were:

Wired bass guitar -- Officially licensed Fender Precision bass replica with 'split strum bar' that allows for simultaneous up and down strumming. (June 22 - $69.99)
Wired guitar -- Officially licensed Fender Telecaster guitar replica with programmable strum bar (programmable, as in 'cheating'?), 'quick response' fret buttons (release date not listed -- $79.99)
Wired microphone -- Integrated d-pad and face buttons (!), lock/unlock button, 'high profile' pop stopper (supposedly out now, though not in stores yet -- $59.99)
Portable drum kit -- Small, portable drum kit with quiet pads and foam tipped drumsticks. Custom drum pad covers available. It's not clear if this set is actually freestanding or it has to be set on top of something (July 15 - $49.99)
Premium wired drums -- Full drum set designed after real electric drum sets. Features high hat (with foot pedal), crash cymbal and 'fully adjustable' drum heads with 'two axis motion' and the ability to reposition each drum head (August 1 - $149.99)

We expect that most gamers will be most interested in the portable and premium drum kits. Unfortunately, there isn't an actual photograph of either product, so we're still in the dark about how exactly the portable drum set will work. Still, we can't help but be intrigued. It's also worth noting that all of the peripherals seem to be wired (although the portable drum kit doesn't specify wired or wireless). A wireless version of the bass is expected in September. Wireless versions of the other instruments remain in the dark (though we imagine there will eventually be a wireless version of the guitar).

Anyone ready to open their wallets for one of these?

[Thanks, eric e]

Tags: ea, electronic-arts, fender, harmonix, instruments, mad-catz, mtv-games, rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neuromancer @ Jun 19th 2008 1:49PM

MadCatz makes brutal products. No effing way.

HazyCloud @ Jun 19th 2008 2:01PM

Although I agree with you, I may end up dropping 150 on these drums. Extended warranty FTW! Especially if I can play some GH 4 without ever giving Activision money.

deejaymoogz @ Jun 19th 2008 1:52PM

With all of these instruments, I'm having a tough time figuring out which ones I want to use.

Gary Harwell @ Jun 19th 2008 1:55PM

Ok, just to clear things up, the "split strum bar" is so you can play the bass guitar authentically with two fingers upstrum. Each finger has an independently moving strum bar, hence split.

Jonman @ Jun 19th 2008 1:57PM

Given that my standard drum kit is on it's last legs, I might be interested in some new drums...

HazyCloud @ Jun 19th 2008 2:03PM

Pictures of mic, guitar and bass.

http://kotaku.com/photogallery/mcrock/1002189841

John @ Jun 19th 2008 2:16PM

heres the pic of the portable drums: http://kotaku.com/photogallery/mcrock/1002189829

but also these were on Amazon but they took them down and there was wireless versions of all the guitars not just the bass

Delirium @ Jun 19th 2008 2:35PM

I didn't want to pay for all instruments and the game, why would I want to pay for the drum set that pretty much equals the whole damn set?

Screw that.

CyberKnight @ Jun 19th 2008 3:10PM

Nice drums. Do want.

Need more space in the family room, though.

The extra contact points on the drum set do beg the question: GH4 compatible?..... Naaaahhhhhh, couldn't be...

blkhwk67t @ Jun 19th 2008 3:27PM

I'm so happy. Richard gave me props for finding this story. Good times good times.

Ian Murray @ Jun 19th 2008 4:14PM

I'm curious about how RB will be compatible with the über drum set.

As of right now, it only supports the five different "buttons": the four pads and the kick pedal. Adding the high hat pedal and the two extra cymbals means one of two things:

1) They are just for show, and you'll never actually use those add-ons (most likely)

2) Harmonix will release an update that will include support of controllers with extra modes of input (least likely)

CyberKnight @ Jun 19th 2008 4:33PM

My guess:

The cymbal transmits the same signal as the green pad, and the high hat and foot pedal (assuming they're separate and not connected to the same physical contact point) transmit the same signal as the blue pad (or yellow -- I forget which is sometimes the high hat). The controller would identify itself as a regular drum controller, and Rock Band would only "see" the same five "buttons" it always did. So you can use the "add-ons" if you wish; they just won't make any difference to what's happening on-screen.

Although, it is an "officially licensed" product. It's conceivable that the different contacts are identified as different "buttons", and that Rock Band will be getting an appropriate update to identify those "buttons". Which would make more sense, IF:

If the Rock Band 2 drum kit is supposed to have more hit points, and this controller happened to have the right number of them (conceivable, too, if they got a heads-up as part of their licensing deal), then we could be looking at the first Rock Band 2-compatible drum kit, too. Who knows?

I know it's probably less likely, but if I'm right, then... FIRST! :lol: