@EnigmaNemesis:

You are right. The stand alone guitars for sale on the 360 are wireless..

Pay_Me_Or_Pay_Me_No_Attention

@archibaldleech: Yeah... I'd rather have wired drums as well. There's really no reason, other than to not have wires along your floor, cos it's not like the guitar where you're moving around and shit.

'Course, I guess just picking up some rechargeable batteries isn't THAT annoying.

@Arsenicberyllium: Yeah... if you've got a good, working set there's really no need. I probably wouldn't if it weren't for the fact that my drum set has a lot of wear and tear on it now.

Between both my roommate and I playing a TON since launch... both beating every song on Expert (and the vast, vast majority of DLC)... the gray face of my red drum is completely soft from hitting it so much. Seriously, I can just pinch my thumb and finger together and I can grab it. Fortunately, it still registers all my hits... but I figure I might as well just pick up the new bundle for a new, quieter set... as well as a 2nd RB guitar. And I'll just use the extra mic as a PC mic or something.

'Course, I'll probably force my roommate to use my old set, just to prevent the additional wear and tear from another Expert player.

thezman

@Phroby: I know wireless is there, but in my experience I usually see bands using the wires.

Wires just don't seem like that big a deal to me. I guess it's fine since a lot of people seem to hate the wires.

At lest most wireless products don't lag like hell anymore.

jair

waits for the inevitable ass fuckery coming to Europe.....again!

shaunomacx

@jair: Yes, but if you are playing guitar at a party with a bunch of drunk people running around you can put the amp wherever it is convenient and doesn't involve having a nice trip wire going across your living room that is hooked up to your $500 game system which is subsequently hooked up to your $2000 TV and $500 sound system. The need for wireless for these games is much different than with real guitars. Also, being a game, people tend to have fun with them and act a little goofy. Goofy in ways that people tend not to do when they are seriously trying to play a guitar.

ceilingFANBOY

Wireless guitar, they are so ripping off GH.

(This makes as much sense as anything said about GH ripping off RB)

Chakal

Jair:

Not necessarily. I assume you've heard of wireless transmitters... Lots of bands opt for wireless because it...cuts down on the amount of cords on stage. Because it's a mess. And, while drunken rock stars falling on their face is funny, it's not conducive to a good show.

Phroby

I don't get the wireless guitars. REAL guitars have wires...

jair

@Maxyboy13: Because I'm A Drum Whore:P

Maxyboy13

@InsidiousTuna: You WILL!

Spoony Bard

@GusherKid: This EXACT reasoning is what led me to decide to buy the full bundle for RB2.

Maxyboy13

where's that kid you owe me, mcwhertor?

thejakeman: visit my site!

Wires on something that big isn't that big of an issue for me. Making it grip better to the floor would be a much less expensive way for them to resolve an actual problem.

Kyattsuai

It helps for the drums to be wireless when I'm running around and drumming.

Billkwando

@egyptomix: @egyptomix: a cymbal and a cowbell would be perfect :D

tralfaz23

I don't understand spending 90 on drums.

Wasn't Rock Band 170 dollars new? So if we're to assume those drums are worth 90 and the game 60, that means the guitar and microphone together were only 20.

GusherKid

@Cerbo: No joke. It's probably the last thing that needs to be wireless. Although, I will say that it'd be nice to be able to sit wherever you want in the room.

bangbangblah

@Saxboy: gauging us?

I think they already know how much we're willing to pay.
The gauging went on a while back.

Now they're just gouging us with all these high prices, but Harmonix and Activision.

Arsenicberyllium

Will... not... buy...

InsidiousTuna

That is one of my only frustrations with Rock Band's equipment, really. Every time I play the game I have a string of wires going across whatever room they are in, and it is especially limiting due to the short guitar and drum cables. If I play in a bigger room, it never reaches, and in a smaller room it just clutters up the floor.

I'm not sure if adding wireless is enough for me to upgrade to the new equipment, really, but it is good to know that the option is there now should I ever trip over a few hundred dollar bills.

@EnigmaNemesis: The extra guitars they sell in stores separately are wireless, as far as I know.

nick.soapdish

Will they be standard in Rockband 2, or is this just their way of gauging us even more?

Sorry, that's negative. I'm just still irked at the way Harmonix treated Wii owners.

Saxboy

About time they realased it, so RB2 will come bundled with them? Good for people who haven't gotten them yet, but doubt many people will want to shell out another $90 for them.

L1GHTN1N

I'm still hoping for some kind of cymbal add-on to the set already released.

Perfect way to compete with guitar hero. That and I don't want to buy any new sets.

egyptomix

I hate replacing batteries. I don't see the big deal about wired things.

nikolajz1

so it's 90 fer drums, 60 fer games, shoot.

MushroomBoy1022

So they run on batteries? Lame.

archibaldleech

That's pretty cool, but I don't think it's really a big deal. It's not like you're going to be moving them around much anyway.

Cerbo

I could have sworn they already had a separate wireless guitar for the 360.

EnigmaNemesis

I have spent somewhere in the area of two hundred and seventy five bajillion dollars on Rock Band, a second guitar, and DLC.

I don't think I'm going to upgrade to a better drum set just for some minor updates.

Arsenicberyllium

I'd get it if its pads have the same bounce as a real drum.

Otherwise I already have a metal reinforcement for the bass pedal, and even HMX knows that wireless for drums doesn't matter :\

Fire4444

@archibaldleech: No, actually, they're solar powered :P

HotFootMcCook

@EnigmaNemesis: If you use the GH guitars, they're wireless.

Only last week my brother and his ape like friends snapped my drum pedal in half. Sigh. Hopefully the replacement will be free or else this will be a must get.

NeVeRMoRe666

Personally, I think Im gonna try to sell my current set of instruments. I don't think they are the best the way it is. I basically don't use the RB guitar and use the GH one.

I also have a hard time finding any time ever to use the drum set due to it being so absolutely god awful loud. Yea yea.. its drums I know. But I just cant do it with people in the house or they get pissed.

With wireless on both, and from what Ive heard dampening for the drum pads. It will really be hard for me not to upgrade. But only if I can get a few bucks for the instruments I have now. I don't need two full sets sitting around. I have no room for the one now.

VonDante

Man, no pictures of the drums themselves yet? anybody got the back of the box picture?

Grumps

That's nice, I guess. If my drums break, I guess I'm getting that once I'm off warranty.

Let's not get into "gouging" here. Both series are equally awful at that.

thefais

If you are moving your drumset enough that the cord is problematic then you are playing the game wrong.

Len Bias Cocaine Surplus

Wireless? Ooooh shiny. Too bad I already have the wired version and I'm too cheap to get a new set.

Salen

@Chakal: Yeah, cos the standard that is Wireless and Wired is the same as straight up taking design from them, right?

thezman

I'm gonna stick with the instruments I already have. I don't care if they break all the time, I'm patient enough to wait through the send-in-and-get-new-back process.

Solertia

@VeNoMmx: Yes

Maxyboy13

@Fire4444: Have you tried these? [www.bryanmentock.com] They're the same kind of stuff as on practice pads and really give the RB drums a good bounce.

Maxyboy13

So, are the rock band instruments compatible with rock band 2??

VeNoMmx

More wireless means more batteries that I will have to replace, that also means more contamination once the rechargeable stop holding their charge, that leads to buying more expensive rechargeable. Ok wireless is a no no for me I'll stick to my pretty wire, besides I am not running around the room with my drumkit.

zerito87

@Spartan1308™:
It's true.

enewtabie

@EnigmaNemesis: You are correct. The Xbox 360 Stratocasters sold separately are wireless.

Struct09

There's a story going around that the 360 version will come out before the PS3 version and have a brief period on exclusivity. I haven't seen it here on Kotaku, and I'm wondering if it's rumor or confirmed.

Spartan1308™

I actually prefer a wired drumset as the batteries would need to be replaced constantly. It could just be because I don't mind the wires but I may jump in and buy this drum set only for the reason of it having cymbals.

kylo4

I'd actually prefer wired, I'm finding the wireless guitar to be hopelessly laggy, ever after doing calibration. My wired drums are dead on, my wireless guitar will randomly miss notes. I actually tested it, since I got the PS2 version of Rock Band (game only) before I got a PS3, and I consistently score significantly higher with wired guitar.

Illusion

that Fog and light kit better be compatable with Rockband 2, i preordered it and shit when i bought RB1 yesterday.

Dadud

I think the best response to this news is "Why?"

dsmx

There is already a wireless Rock Band guitar for 360. They just sell it separate. I have one and am surprised how long the batteries have lasted. Its $60 at Gamestop.

eggfou

@EnigmaNemesis:

They do, I own one, and it works great.

Strangelove

I think Im just gonna get the mad catz set, Hopefully its not wireless. I hate that I Have like 12 different battery packs, Yes I could of probably just got AA rechargeables but still one at a time you dont relize haha.

RazorandBlade

Could care less about wireless drums, care more about new Guns N' Roses song.
LEAK LEAK LEAK.

bennifer3000

@enewtabie: That's a bad move. PS3 owners are going to take that as a slap across the face and go for GH:WT.

Spartan1308™

Just so you PS3 owners know, Amazon also lists the release for the standalone game on 11/30 and the individual instruments on 10/19.

Maxyboy13

I'm a firm believer that wireless is only good if there's an option to play it wired when said batteries aren't charged. Yeah, I love that my GH3 Les Paul doesn't have to be tethered, but it sucks if my batteries died and my spare rechargeable batteries aren't ready to go.

Carl Everett's Fossil Collection

Man, fuck wireless controllers and their battery eating shit. Remember those Wii channel numbers? GH3 hda like a billion more hours than every other game. Multiply that by a factor of eleventy and you have Rock Band's numbers. Now make it Rock Band 2 and your changing batteries on a daily goddamn basis.

KirbyMorph

Never really understood the point of wireless drums unless you are very far from the console, or throw up at the site of wires.

In any case, this doesn't necessarily mean the drums in the bundle are wireless, does it?

toefer

Well, my decision is made... I'll be splurging on the Bundle. I wanted a Wireless Guitar anyway (hate Wires), and if I can get a Wireless Drumset at the same time (again, I hate Wires)?! You've got yourself a deal!

yanya

"I HOPE THESE ONES DON'T SUCK TOO" I think to myself, in all caps.

Slust

wireless drums are stupid. it's not like they're going anywhere like the guitar (though I don't like wireless guitars either). and honestly i kinda hate wireless in general, if it was bluetooth it would be different (obviously for the 360 that wouldnt be used as it doesn't have bluetooth...does it? but for the ps3 there's honestly no fucking excuse other than they're cheap bastards) but with all the other wireless shit in my apartment having wireless (probably on 2.4 ghz no less) is just crap :/

demonknightinuyasha

@Maxyboy13: I haven't seen those before (I've got some foam rubber pads that are better than stock, but still not the best), and they look pretty amazing. Thanks for the link, I might end up getting them.

Fire4444

I hate wireless, changing batteries sucks.

also they better up the quality big time
I had to replace two guitars(ps3), my buddy one and three drum pedals(360)

Jeff

Real drums are wireless, by the way. Way to go Harmonix for upping the realism ante.

bainelaker

What's the bet 90% of those saying "Who cares? Wireless is stupid anyway" are those who've already forked out for a wired kit and are feeling a bit left behind now? Either that, or you never take these things to parties. Wireless guitars were a godsend. Can't tell you how many times in the early GH1 & 2 days that cables got yanked out by OTT rock antics... or worse, the entire PS2 would get yanked onto the floor when someone tripped over a wire. I'm still amazed it survived the amount of falls it did.

Bring on the wireless!

freakout

@freakout: I completely agree. Wired is a pain. I hate bringing out rock band, its a hassle to hook everything up and get it all going. Not to mention the mess and potential hazards all the wires create when they criss-cross and get everywhere. My younger brother has a GH guitar we use when I'm with the family and I love it. It's so easy. You just press the little Xbox button and its set, no need to hook up anything, no frills, no messes, its so easy!! (Wow..I sound like one of those late night infomercials... GET IT NOW FOR ONLY $99 - CALL IN THE NEXT TEN MINUTES AND GET WIRELESS GROUPIES DELIEVERED FREE TO YOUR DOOR!!!)

Anyways, I have a wired version of rock band, so I guess I'm stuck :(

NeVeRMoRe666

@toefer: Wireless drums would be sweet. After you're done playing you can just turn it off and move the drum set to the side. With wires, you would have to get down, unplug the whole shit, wrap the wires around the set and then move it to the side and vice versa (when you set it up). Not to mention the wires get absolutely everywhere and all tangled with the other instruments. I live in a condo when I'm not at home and believe me, the wires eat up space and look horrible.

I think wireless anything would be so much more convienent.

NeVeRMoRe666

While I enjoy my wired drum pads as is, if they up the quality of the pads so that they don't choke smack dab in the middle of an overdrive phase as they are wont to do, I'm game for the wireless and the battery-changing.

LoopyChew

@nikolajz1: There are people who are anal about wires.

Fireblast

@Spartan1308™: I agree..Guess money talks.

enewtabie

@Billkwando: Now you've done it.

Coming this December from Activision: Guitar Hero World Tour 2: Drumline.

Jazhuis

What I really want to know is whether or not the existing drum pedals will be compatible with the newer kits.

tk.

Boy, it'll be great to play World Tour with DLC on my Wii, instead of waiting for EA and Harmonix to decide if I deserve a gimped version of RB2 in 2008.

francisrizzo3

@Jazhuis: That is fucking comedy gold, good sir.

Billkwando

i prefer wires... Wireless always has your batteries dying out in the middle of something, and the money just to get batteries and a charger.

King Seafoam

Wireless will be cool. Making a more adjustable set would be better. Adding a somewhat comfortable drum stool would be better. Adding the left foot, would make it feel more like a drum set.

That is all.

Jeffrey Powers - Geekazine