Rock Band gets a patch, but problems persist

Following up on yesterday's news of Rock Band hardware concerns, developer Harmonix has issued a software patch meant to mend issues that players have been having with downstrumming. Unfortunately, the software fix doesn't seem to be taking for everyone -- some users are reporting fully functional axes, while others are still plagued by the strum problem. Worse yet, other gamers are reporting that the patch has caused their strums to double up -- thus making the game considerably more crappy. On the silver-lining flip side, EA is actively honoring warranties for the Rock Band gear, though they say guitar replacement will take nearly two weeks -- which will put you dangerously close to not being able to jam through X-mas.

[SpeedSter @ Nov 24th 2007 7:59PM]

There may be issues with the hardware, but I think the bigger problem is the person using the hardware. Just a thought :P

[Will @ Nov 24th 2007 8:23PM]

Oh, Speedster. You know not what you criticize.

This really is a problem, and it's not 'UE' as we used to say in development circles.
This is simple as pie to test, and many have. When you are using menus, the strum bar moves your selection up and down. When it stops allowing you to move up consistently, or down consistently, then that's a problem.

Or, to insert your alternative into the situation, maybe these people (dare I say *I*), just don't know how to strum through menus properly.

Oh, that and my GHII Gibson works fine in all cases. Oops.

My problem started about six hours in, and it's sporadic in an odd way. Each time I attempt to use the strat, it plays for a few songs, then starts to have problems. As I mentioned, when I go out to menus, I just can't move up (and sometimes, down), anymore. After a few hours, it works again, only to fail after a few songs. Strange.

Although I kind of understand where you're coming from, Speedster. I have never had a problem with either of my 360s, and I have had one of them for over a year. I often think that the people who are losing them to defects all the time are really abusing them in some fashion- probably a mindset that will go away if one of mine fails. Kanpai.

I ordered a replacement on the release date but have only gotten the robot-got-your-submission email. Still waiting for a confirmation.

[SpeedSter @ Nov 24th 2007 8:33PM]

I was only kidding. Hence the emoticons

[Leonard Nimrod @ Nov 24th 2007 8:41PM]

LOL @ Speedster

Maybe I'm too old to understand but why don't people just get real instruments instead of this faux-instruments?

[Guitar Queer-O @ Nov 24th 2007 11:11PM]

real guitars are for old people

[speedyrulz8 @ Nov 25th 2007 9:33AM]

Why don't people get real NASCAR race cars instead of playing a NASCAR game? Why don't people go play real golf instead of playing a golf game? Why don't people get a real gun and shoot people instead of playing a shooter game? Why don't people box for real instead of playing a boxing game? Etc...

[3v1lkr0w @ Nov 26th 2007 4:34AM]

I have a real bass. I dont have rock band yet...have GH2 (PS2 and 360), and GH3 (PS3). I love the games cause it has helped me alot with my bass playing. Not as in helping me learn to play, but helping me with my speed. When i first started bass i couldnt play fast songs, now i can play fast songs.

[Harry Katz @ Nov 24th 2007 8:06PM]

I played rockband for the first time today and it was fun until the fender started acting up. we tried to recalibrate it but it just wouldnt work,

[SpeedSter @ Nov 24th 2007 8:11PM]

Yeah and I am sure your finger did not need recalibration :P. O wait ya it is the game that is broken. My Bad :D

[brad @ Nov 24th 2007 8:21PM]

go here to read how to fix your guitar for rock band

http://www.bsams.net/front-page/2007/11/22/how-to-fix-your-rock-band-guitar.html

[Will @ Nov 24th 2007 8:26PM]

Oh yeah, and some of the strats are built a little differently; mine had some screws on the front, under the pick guard that had to be removed to separate the two halves of the body. Also, the strum switches are a simpler looking mechanism, and they are all plastic. No metal in there, switch-wise. I am hoping to get something different on replacement from the warranty. we shall see.

[hypereric @ Nov 24th 2007 8:45PM]

Hey, can anyone tell me if (xbox 360) guitar hero 3's wireless guitar will work with Rock Band? Ive heard only GH2 will... and I have heard both ways for GH3.

[MaXKiLLz @ Nov 25th 2007 6:45AM]

hypereric: The answer to your question is yes. I bought RockBand without the instruments and play the guitar section just fine with my wireless GHIII guitar. I'm waiting until February when the instruments are available in wireless versions, and hopefully fixed of all the failure problems.

[cliff @ Nov 24th 2007 8:46PM]

i had the same problem after 14 hours of playing. i opened up the
guitar and shimmed the metal contact points. all is well now.

here are pictures of what i did:
http://www.arabefamily.com/galleries/blog/rockband/

[DD @ Nov 24th 2007 9:14PM]

That's not really true. EA will mail you a brand spanking new guitar 2 day air if yours is broken. It will takes two weeks if you aren't willing them to give them your credit card so you don't rip them off.

http://www.hojpodge.com/rock-band-guitars-still-acting-up-ea-honoring-warranties/

[Will @ Nov 24th 2007 9:16PM]

To: Leonard Nimrod

You might also ask, why don't people get real guns and play Halo.. or go play real football of golf...

My kids and I can pick up Rock Band for a nominal price and have some fun time in the garage with a lot less invested that learning and buying all of the 'real' instruments. After tinkering with guitar for a couple of years, I'm just not willing, at 38, to invest a lot of time into learning 50+ songs.

So I guess the answer is: Rock BAnd is more fun for me and my kids than learning real instruments. I played all kinds of band/orchestra instruments in school (clarinet, violin, trumpet, flute, piccolo and even drums for a bit), and it takes months to play anything competently.

[R Hamel @ Nov 24th 2007 10:29PM]

Exactly what he said.
Real instruments take time, and money. not everyone has that. Games are easier and cheaper. Plus I think some people just don't care to learn an instrument. I've been trying to learn the guitar for a month now and its slow going. I bought rock band and it took all of 10 minutes to get into it and have fun.

[Nick @ Nov 24th 2007 10:59PM]

It helped my issues a lot just to unplug my wireless router...I guess there was quite a bit of interference.

[DD @ Nov 25th 2007 12:15AM]

Just how much interference was your wireless router causing on your wired guitar?

[Sean D. @ Nov 25th 2007 12:44AM]

I just bought my first XBox 360 on early Tuesday morning to go with my Rock Band purchase. Luckily, all the Rock Band bits I got are still working great after five days of abuse and enjoyment- I'm really loving it.

Unfortunately (and I'm not kidding), I'm already on my 3rd XBox! First one made grinding and sputtering noises, second one had the three blinking red lights (and it was a Falcon too). The current one seems to be fine (non-Falcon), but I'll probably exchange it in the next couple of weeks for an Elite if one shows up with the 175W power supply (there were none in stock at any of my area Best Buys this week).

But, back on topic, no problems with Rock Band.

[Chris @ Nov 25th 2007 1:24AM]

Ive had my rock band since Tuesday when it came out and played for awhile almost everyday and I've yet to encounter any problem of any kind. I spend most of my time using the guitar too.

[cisco @ Nov 25th 2007 1:27AM]

i have had this problem, i moved the switch out of "wah wah" mode or move it around and it works fine. I don't know if it'll solve everyone else's problem but i definitely have a strumming problem sometimes and moving that switch fixes it.

[Kriegs @ Nov 25th 2007 11:06AM]

I used to think it was people not using the hardware right but last night my strum bar started to act up on me. Took off the back panel and noticed the pad behind the contact on the downstrum was thinner then the upstrum. just put in a small piece of paper behind it and now it works like a charm.

[BrokenFERN @ Nov 25th 2007 1:42PM]

Where's the GH3 guitar patch for RB? I'm having problems with my fender, but I can deal (for now) with it by struming up... BUT the GH3 mess on my PS3 is just really annoying!

[cliff @ Nov 26th 2007 10:55AM]

check out my post above. i had the exact same problem as you:

http://www.arabefamily.com/galleries/blog/rockband/

[Skillz08 @ Nov 26th 2007 3:18AM]

I returned my first set because of the guitar failing. I return the second set due to the guitar failing again. I will wait until they fix the problem.

[Flit @ Nov 26th 2007 11:14AM]

Who is the mastermind who thought of releasing a software patch to fix what sounds like a hardware problem? Good thing I couldn't find Rock Band anywhere yesterday, I think i'll wait until Harmonix gets the bugs hammered out, until then, Mass Effect will be how I do my rockin.