Rock Band users discovering hardware issues?

While we're still quite early in the game (literally), reports have started trickling in that there may be some substantial issues with some of the hardware included in Harmonix's latest and greatest, Rock Band. According to forum posts from disgruntled users, folks who've just gotten the game are having a litany of problems, from drums with no sensitivity, an always-on whammy, and sticky buttons -- but most of the stress seems to be related to the downstrum. Current descriptions paint the problem as an overly- or ineffectual strum, resulting in a pretty annoying game experience. Of course, it's early on right now, and it's too soon to know if this is a widespread problem or if it's relegated to a small production batch. We pose this question to our readers: are you having Rock Band issues?

[Thanks, J]

[Dan @ Nov 28th 2007 1:12AM]

Well, we've only played a couple nights since we purchased the game last week. However, just this evening, as we were playing, the raised part of the pedal broke completely in half. Basically, the stresses of the spring seemed to create a weak point right infront of it, where there's no plastic or spring support. So the top half of the pedal, the part that actually hits the sensor, broke off under normal playing conditions. Since it was just purchased, we are going to try to exchange it, or go through the 60 day manufacturer limited hardware warranty. However, I really hope this is just a one time thing and doesn't become an issue for Rock Band as a whole. Because drums should be able to take a beating, not crumble under normal use.

[rack88 @ Dec 1st 2007 6:13PM]

Me and my buddies are having a problem that seems to be becoming more widespread. We have had rock band playing for multiple hours a day for the last week in our dorm and last night the bass drum pedal snapped in half. It has happened to enough people so far that one guy is selling metal reinforcement plates on e-bay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Rock-Band-Bass-Pedal-Reinforcing-Plate_W0QQitemZ280178036565QQihZ018QQcategoryZ122517QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).

I hope they fix the problems with the next version of hardware.

[Andrea` @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:45PM]

I got Rockband two weeks ago.....plaid it pretty much every day adn a few days ago my Green drum pad stopped working....it only picks up once every few hits and you have to hit it in a specific spot and you have to hit it REALLY hard. They're replacing it for me though free of charge. It just sux to have to wait for new ones. I hope these last longer.

[Rob @ Dec 9th 2007 3:00PM]

Bought RockBLAND just 3 days ago for my 360. The guitar's downstrum AND green button stopped working within 6 hours of play. Needless to say it is being returned & I will prob get Guitar Hero 3 instead. One thing I have found, just like the real world, no one wants to play the drums or sing, its all about the guitar. So when you have friends over who want to play RockBLAND, guess who's always going to be on the drums ...

[Dan @ Dec 10th 2007 5:45PM]

I got the game the day it came out and to this point I have had:

A faulty strum bar - Downstrum
A cracked bass pedal - I play with no shoes and put my foot towards the back near the pivot point to reduce pressure on the pedal.
Desensitized drums - This is very apparent in the red drum; I can whack the crap out of it and it sometimes won't respond.

I am extremely pissed that I laid down money via a preorder (thus guaranteeing a sale), not to mention the $170 price tag, and get crap hardware.

[Bill @ Dec 10th 2007 11:54PM]

Below are the exchanges with EA Games since I purchased the game on the date of release Nov. 20th


Discussion Thread
Customer
11/30/2007 12:16 PM
Reference #: 071120-008099
Subject: Trouble shooting incident
Platform & Game: Microsoft Xbox™ 360
Category: Warranty & Returns
Date Created: 11/20/2007 08:24 PM
Last Updated: 11/28/2007 09:44 AM

Trouble shooting incident
Customer (xxx) 11/28/2007 09:44 AM
How long will it take to get a replacement? The status of this has not been updated since the 20th?
Very frustrating to pay this much for a new product and it can't be used!!


Greetings,
Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts Customer Support. The issue you are reporting has been received and will be addressed within 24 hours. In order to view updates on this issue, please follow the link provided below to access the ‘My Stuff’ section of our support site. Once you are logged in to the ‘My Stuff’ section, you can update your issue with additional information, check the status of your incident or close incidents that have already been resolved.
Greetings,
Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts Customer Support. The question that you submitted has been updated in the 'My Stuff' section of our support site. To access the 'My Stuff' section of our support site, please follow the link below and provide your EA Account login credentials.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days.
To view or update your question from our support site, click here.

Subject
Reference #: 071120-008099 Subject: Trouble shooting incident Platform & Game...
Discussion Thread
Response (EA Tech Jeffrey)
11/30/2007 12:24 PM
Hello ,

Thank you for contacting us here at Electronic Arts. I'm sorry that you’re having difficulties with Rock Band.

From checking your RMA number, I was able to get the tracking number for the shipment to you. It is 1ZW1A1828796512604. There is also a tracking number available for you to use to track the package you send back to us. That tracking number is 1ZW1A1829098628597.

It does appear there has been a slight delay in shipping due in part to the holidays. We are making every effort to get replacement items shipped out quickly, and yours should be on its way soon. Please continue to check the UPS web site (www.ups.com) for updates to the shipping status.

Again, I apologize for the inconvenience. Please let us know if we can be of service in the future.

Thanks!

Jeff
Electronic Arts Customer Support
Customer
12/07/2007 09:09 AM
Reference #: 071120-008099 Subject: Trouble shooting incident
UPS Says this has not been picked up??
We have had this since the 20th and still can't use it. When will you be shipping it??

Reference #: 071120-008099 Subject: Trouble shooting incident UPS Says this h...
Discussion Thread
Response (Neil S.)
12/07/2007 09:30 AM
Hello,

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts Rock Band Warranty support.

I sincerely apologize for the situation. But to inform you the 28 day window allotted for the full replacement of your equipment is meant to cover the time it takes process your request, ship your replacement to you, and receive the original equipment in return. We do not anticipate that the process will extend beyond that window. In the unlikely event that a package is delayed severely enough to compromise your ability to return the equipment within the 28 day window, we will be happy to work with you on a solution.

Please let us know if we can be of service in the future.

Thank you,

Chester
EA Technical Support
Customer ()
12/09/2007 08:18 AM

I am glad to hear that you will work with us because I am not sure if it is the base drum foot pedal or the drum set. Per your trouble shooting when I answer the questions it points to the pedal.

We do get the base drum sound when the jack is plugged into the drum set (i.e if you plug it in and unplug it, the base drum sound will repeat each time) No sound is produced by using the base pedal. Hopefully this will help you to send the correct component the first time.

Subject
Reference #: 071120-008099 Subject: Trouble shooting incident UPS Says this h...
Discussion Thread
Response (Brian S.)
12/09/2007 04:47 PM
Hello ,

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts Customer Support.

I do apologize for the difficulties you are experiencing with your drum kit and drum pedal for Rock Band. I'm very sorry to hear that your replacement drum kit has not even shipped as of yet. According to our database, your incident was not properly submitted and as a result your RMA was not completed. I would like to process your new replacement drum kit and drum pedal as soon as I can, so please provide following information (please make sure info is accurate):

1. First and Last Name
2. Home Address
3. Phone Number
4. Credit Card and Expiration Date (used to process express shipping)
Warning: We will be putting a $125 pre-authorization hold on your card just in case we do not receive your old drum kit and pedal. If the broken drum kit and pedal are not sent back to our Distribution Center in 28 days your card will be charged $125 for each peripheral.

Once I have this information, I will process your new replacement drum kit and pedal as soon as possible. Thanks again for your patience and understanding. If you have anymore questions please feel free to respond back to this email or please visit our website and review our extensive Self Help Knowledgebase (http://support.ea.com). Have a great day!!!

Thank you for contacting EA Customer Support!

Brian S.
EA Customer Support

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A STALL AND A RIP OFF TO ME!!!
I AM TIRED OF PLAYING GAMES AND ESPECIALLY THIS ONE!!
I HOPE OTHERS HAVE BETTER LUCK THAN ME.
Sincerely,
PO Customer

[Happy Now! @ Dec 11th 2007 3:01AM]

This item worked well for me. At least for the broken pedal. Everything else is good. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280182773822&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018

[Katrina @ Dec 17th 2007 9:37PM]

I think the better question is; who HASN'T experienced problems with their Rock band equipment?

Our guitar was double strumming after less than a weeks' worth of use, the drum pads alternate between being hyper-sensitive and completely insensitive, and the kick pedal broke after about 3 weeks. Oh, and the tip sensor on the guitar barely worked from the beginning. You'd give yourself whiplash trying to get the damn thing to kick in your juice.

My husband bought a used GH guitar for $30 bucks at Gamestop the same day he picked up the Rock Band bundle....it's the only piece of hardware besides the Rock Band microphone that hasn't given us trouble.

[danielayers @ Dec 19th 2007 9:27PM]

Awesome Bass pedal replacement kits! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESSOX:IT&item=280185563681&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m239.lVI

[Bob @ Dec 26th 2007 11:23AM]

Since people are still responding to this thread...

Purchased Rock Band on Dec 11th. By Dec 13th, the guitar strum stopped working. Used EA's website, which seemed easy. It offers the option of having them send a replacement right away if you provide CC#, which I did, and promised the guitar would arrive within 2 days - instead, they sent me an empty box, with return shipping UPS ground. Repeated calls to their 800# for support all hung up after 3 rings. Sinking feeling sets in. As of today, still waiting for a replacement. Last night, the drum pedal also snapped in half, as it apparently has for a large # of others. It took 2 hours to submit a support request, because EA's website kept crashing. At this point, it probably doesn't matter what they do - EA's implementation has obviously been very poor. I would return the thing if I could.

[Tom @ Dec 29th 2007 2:56PM]

Downstrum no longer works =/

[danielayers @ Jan 3rd 2008 6:57PM]

Here is a good way to fix bass pedal!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESSOX:IT&item=280188342416&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m239.lVI

[Kileek @ Jan 6th 2008 1:22PM]

Purchased Rockband in Canada (delayed release) Played for a good few hours with a buddy, whoever used the Rockband guitar did on average 10 - 15% worse on songs. Missfires on red and green were driving me nuts. Something was rattling inside the guitar right out of the box, and after about 30min we realized that the tilt feature to "rock out" or save someone does not work on the rockband guitar. Have filled out the request for a new guitar but I am less then optimistic with EA... have had issues with them before.

[Abi @ Jan 7th 2008 4:26PM]

My sisters and I bought this for my brother and what a disappointment. Everything would have been well if it wasn't for the drums. The Yellow section has almost no sensitivity. This is straight out of the package. My bro tried contacting SOMEONE from the manufacturer with no luck. Stupid automated call service directed us to a non-working website. Not worth what we've paid for this thing.

[patty1113 @ Jan 8th 2008 5:19PM]

DRUM PEDAL BROKE TWICE , I GOT THEM TO REPLACE IT...NOW DRUM PAD CRACKED AND THEY ARE NOT WORKING RIGHT....IT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING...THIS GAME SEEMS LIKE IT WAS PUT TOGETHER CHEAPLY...DIDNT THEY EXPECT THE GAME TO BE USED??? I SUGGEST ANYONE WITH A DRUM PEDA; THAT IS BROKE OR NOT TO GO ON EBAY AND GET THIS ALUMINUM PEDAL THAT THIS GUY ON EBAY MAKES JUST GO TO EBAY AND TYPE IN "Rock Band Bass Pedal Diamond Plate - Pedal Metal" I PUT IT ON MY PEDAL AND NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK COOL IT IS REALLY STRONG!!!!!!!!!

[patty1113 @ Jan 8th 2008 5:36PM]

GO TO EA.COM THEN CLICK ON "USA AND CANADA" THEN CLICK ON :CREATE AN EA ACCOUNT" AFTER YOU CREATE AN ACCOUNT YOU CAN THEN USE THE "CONTACT US" TO TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM. THEY HAVE A 90 WARRANTY WE SENT THE DRUM PEDAL BACK TWICE ALREADY AND WE GOT REPLACEMENTS ASAP. NOW WE HAVE TO SEND THE DRUMS BACK FOR REPLACEMENT....DO IT NOW BECAUSE IF ITS OVER THE 90 DAYS YOU HAVE TO PAY. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY WILL ASK IF YOU WANT IT RIGHT AWAY YOU NEED A CREDIT CARD BUT DONT DO IT THAT WAY JUST TELL THEM YOU WANT TO DO IT THE STANDARD WAY NOT THE EXPRESS WAY AND THYE WILL SEND YOU A BOX WITH A LABEL AND YOU PUT HTE BROKEN ITEM IN THE BOX AND YOU WILL RECIEVE THE NEW ONE IN ABOUT A WEEK...BRAND NEW, NOT REFURBISHED...DO IT BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY GREAT ABOUT IT...ITS NOT HARD JUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS I GAVE YOU.LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

[patty1113 @ Jan 8th 2008 5:39PM]

TO ANYONE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ROCK BAND.....GO TO EA.COM THEN CLICK ON "USA AND CANADA" THEN CLICK ON :CREATE AN
EA ACCOUNT" AFTER YOU CREATE AN ACCOUNT YOU CAN THEN USE THE "CONTACT
US" TO TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM. THEY HAVE A 90 WARRANTY WE SENT
THE DRUM PEDAL BACK TWICE ALREADY AND WE GOT REPLACEMENTS ASAP. NOW
WE HAVE TO SEND THE DRUMS BACK FOR REPLACEMENT....DO IT NOW BECAUSE
IF ITS OVER THE 90 DAYS YOU HAVE TO PAY. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY WILL
ASK IF YOU WANT IT RIGHT AWAY YOU NEED A CREDIT CARD BUT DONT DO IT
THAT WAY JUST TELL THEM YOU WANT TO DO IT THE STANDARD WAY NOT THE
EXPRESS WAY AND THYE WILL SEND YOU A BOX WITH A LABEL AND YOU PUT HTE
BROKEN ITEM IN THE BOX AND YOU WILL RECIEVE THE NEW ONE IN ABOUT A
WEEK...BRAND NEW, NOT REFURBISHED...DO IT BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY
GREAT ABOUT IT...ITS NOT HARD JUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS I GAVE
YOU.LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.