Rock Band 2 standalone instruments set to ship next week

Previously, the ship dates for Rock Band 2 instruments ranged from "sometime within the next few months" to "sometime." Now, however, we're hearing that the standalone wireless drums ($90) and guitar ($70) will begin to ship out next week (at least for the Xbox 360). Additionally, Mad Catz's Fender P-Bass wireless guitar controller ($70) and the wired ION Drum Rocker set ($300) should clutter up floor space around the same time. RB2 party to celebrate the Q3 close? Sign us up.

[Anthony @ Sep 11th 2008 7:38AM]

Would this be PS3 and 360 or only the 360 instruments??

[Phil @ Sep 11th 2008 8:20AM]

You can buy REAL instruments for that kind of money!!!

[WarMouse @ Sep 11th 2008 11:00AM]

I play drums. I have a real kit. Wanna guess what happens when I play it in my apartment (even when I have the silencers on)?

Rock Band is a ton of fun, and helps build coordination more than any other game I've seen out there. Watching someone progress from beginning guitar/drums to expert is similar to watching someone learn a new instrument, except it's faster, which means it can be done very casually, for fun, maybe only for a couple of hours a week, or, perhaps, just when visiting a friend, or having a party. You know, FUN.

It's a great way for real musicians to play with friends who aren't as musically inclined. It's a great tool for drummers to work on playing exact beats and not just jamming, and can be better than the monotony of practicing to a metronome. And, well, it's quiet. Even the $300 kit can be worth it, if you're an actual drummer, because, well, it's basically a good practice kit for dorm rooms/etc (though I still think it's a bit overpriced, considering it doesn't actually have a drum brain).

Really though. Go have some fun. I play card games without actually gambling, I play FPS's without hunting or joining the army, and I'm sure some people out there look at pr0n without having sex. Just let people have fun.

[Ben @ Sep 11th 2008 8:47AM]

Anyone know if there is a program to use the drums as an electronic kit on PC? That would be incredibly kick ass because I don't have enough money for a proper kit!

[Saq @ Sep 11th 2008 8:57PM]

working on one, not sure if i want to fork over the 90.00 for a drum kit though :(

[Don Corleone @ Sep 11th 2008 9:16AM]

Get a real instrument and learn to play in the real world.

[Bobjim @ Sep 11th 2008 9:30AM]

Yeah! How DARE people have fun with a video game!

[Leon @ Sep 11th 2008 10:54PM]

Yeah, because no one that plays a real instrument would ever play rock band or guitar hero.

[polar @ Sep 11th 2008 10:59AM]

The ION kit is a MIDI kit, it will work with both RockBand and your PC Kit.

[LT73 @ Sep 11th 2008 11:27AM]

Excellent.

More plastic junk for our landfills.

[swestcott @ Sep 11th 2008 12:39PM]

The Ion is shipping now just got an e-mail that it has shipped out

[KVN @ Sep 11th 2008 2:19PM]

Lucky you my local gamestop aren't getting the instruments until the end of the month.

[elc @ Sep 13th 2008 2:52PM]

My pre-ordered Drum Rocker kit arrived yesterday. I was a bit afraid that I was spending money quite foolishly, but I have no regrets. It just feels fantastic to play on it, and both the pads and pedal feel more precise. Oh, just by way of disclosure I'm not a real drummer and skill-wise I'm on the last set in Hard mode, or the 2nd set in Expert.

[cool dude @ Sep 14th 2008 10:11PM]

can you play rock band2 on a rockband 1 set

[pennieish @ Sep 16th 2008 11:03AM]

a question to you guys/gals who are actual drummers: I bought a beautiful "real" drumset for my husband's 50th birthday two years ago (he has no music experience, but he's always wanted to learn). but he's so busy and it's so loud - though we don't mind - and it's also very hard for him. He still wants to learn, still loves the set, but he has very little time. So I am wondering: for his 52d birthday do I get him rock band and will it be a bit easier/faster for him to learn something on that and then move towards the real set when he has something down?

thanks for any ideas (other than drum lessons which would be the best, I know, but he doesn't have the time and its also kind of expensive in the long term)