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Fill your cuteness quota with this Taiko Drum Master 2 DS trailer
If this trailer doesn't melt your cold, embittered hearts, then you might as well resign yourself to a life alone, never loving anyone because you're just a tin man. Okay, maybe we took that too far, but come on! Smiling drums, happy music, ninja cats ... it's all one giant bundle of cuteness.We told you yesterday about the various instruments in Taiko Drum Master: 7 Islands' Adventure, and this video shows them in action for a few seconds. We also love the customizable elephant Taiko drum, and -- can we reiterate -- ninja cats!Rhythm games and quirky Japanese titles are right up our alley, so we enjoy this series because it incorporates the two. Is anyone else getting pumped for the next Taiko Drum Master?
Taiko Drum Master sequel needs more cowbell
Further securing its place on our list of games that need to be imported, Taiko Drum Master: 7 Islands' Adventure will feature more than just a drum. Siliconera reports that the game will include six other percussive instruments, like a tambourine, a bell, and, well -- some other types of drums. There may even be more instruments at hand, but we're going to guess that it stops at seven, since there's a "seven" in the game's title (eat your heart out, Sherlock Holmes). It may be a rather simple addition, but it's a nice enough change to add a little bit of freshness to the Taiko Drum Master series. If your looking to import this game, you won't have to wait long; it's set to release in Japan on April 24th.
Robotic drum "teacher" trains the next Bonham
An MIT researcher has developed a tool for students learning to play the drums which can speed up the time it takes for newcomers to pick up the instrument. The device, a robotic arm designer Graham Grindlay calls the "Haptic Guidance System" (or HAGUS), uses a drumstick fastened to a set of motors which a user holds while being led on beat. A brace holds the arm in place while the machine plays back a pre-recorded pattern -- in studies, Grindlay found that students with no drumming experience were able to hit the drum 18 percent more effectively after using the HAGUS. A spokesman from the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics at Stanford says the work does a "wonderful job" demonstrating the ability of haptic devices to train beginning musicians. So... can a Rock Band implementation of this be far behind?[Via Digg]
Hacker makes mini-sized Rock Band drums
Want to quiet down the extremely loud clackety-clack of the Rock Band drum kit? You could simply use a few circles of foam rubber, or, if you're like hacker David Yoon, you can create your own extremely cute miniaturized drum kit for quiet, pencil-stick, desktop drumming.The hack, which includes a foot pedal made from two sandwiched CDs, has the added bonus of being playable in an extremely enclosed space and/or by an extremely agile mouse. So if you have either of those things (and a bit of technical know-how), give it a go. If you have neither, well ... just enjoy the picture.[Via Engadget]
Complicated fix for overworked Rock Band drums
It's no secret that Rock Band hardware has experienced its fair share of failures, and while the kick pedal has caused the lion's share of grief on the drums, we're pretty sure at least some of you out there have thoroughly ruined those heads. If so, the similarly bummed folks over at Official Xbox Magazine have a possible solution. We'll be honest -- the "fix" described in the read link below isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're too impatient to take your problems up with Harmonix, find the smallest screwdriver you can and have at it.[Via MAKE]
Rock Band standalone drum kit now shipping in US and Canada
If you've been hankering after some Rock Band but hesitant to buy the full bundle because you've already got a couple Guitar Hero controllers lying around, or you've just beaten your existing drum kit to pieces, you're in luck -- Harmonix is now shipping the Rock Band Drum Kit to stores in the US and Canada, just a little bit later then we'd heard. The kit will retail for $80, which isn't all that bad -- especially considering the myriad alternate uses for the triggers once you get bored of playing "Maps" over and over again. Expect it to pop up soon in US stores, with a 2-8 week delay before it hits Canadian shelves.[Via Joystiq]
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith may include drumming and 'singing' [update]
What's this? A possible redeeming factor for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith? No, not the Run DMC version of "Walk This Way," but even better almost as good. According to Best Buy's product description, the game allows you to "drum like Joey Kramer, wield an axe like Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, bring up the bottom like bassman Tom Hamilton and belt out vocals like the legendary Steven Tyler." And how does Steven Tyler sing? In shrill nonsense syllables! But also into a microphone! If this listing is accurate, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith will support drum and microphone peripherals. Given that Activision and Harmonix are fighting about interoperability between their instruments, this points to new peripherals. That means that pretty soon the Wii, too, will be flooded with competing drum controllers![Update: the RedOctane press release for the game says that you'll play "alongside frontman Tyler and drummer Kramer." So maybe not ...][Via Joystiq]
Rumor: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith to use drum and mic peripherals
While you might think a game titled Guitar Hero: Aerosmith would have you playing, you know, guitars, a Best Buy advertisement for the latest mistake chapter in the rhythm game franchise claims you'll be able to play as all of the "famous rock legends" in "America's greatest rock and roll band" -- including the drummer, Joey Kramer, and band's own lady-lookin'-dude, Steven Tyler, using a drum peripheral and microphone peripheral (complete with flamboyantly colored scarf, we assume).If true, we wonder if Activision would release their own controllers for the game, or count on backwards compatibility with the Rock Band peripherals (fat chance, considering the near feud between Harmonix and Activision over Rock Band's guitar compatibility issues). Not that it matters to us -- the only devices we'd use to interact with a rhythm game featuring songs by Aerosmith are a clay pigeon launcher and our trusty pump-action shotgun.[Thanks, Waffle Slayer.]
Insider Trader: The rhyme and reason of crafting
Insider Trader is your inside line on making, selling, buying and using player-made products.With news of new recipes and crafting tweaks in patch 2.4 flooding in, it's hard not to get excited about what Wrath of the Lich King might hold for our favorite professions. The trades in WoW aren't currently necessarily aging very gracefully, yet fresh directions seem perfectly attainable with a little design effort. In the meantime, plenty of new players (and new characters) set off on the trade road every day. Many of them naively believe that a trade that complements their chosen class will provide them the gear and cash they need for the road to 70 and beyond. But with today's accelerated leveling curve slingshotting players past Old World content into gear that's positively steroidal compared to crafted options, crafters often don't see any significant return on their investment until the end game.So why pick up a trade? We've got three good reasons, immediately ahead.
Drumming to Super Mario 2
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Drumming_to_Super_Mario_2'; Super Mario 2 has a great soundtrack. In this awesome rendition, though, Andrea Vadrucci proves that everything sounds better with percussion. We're also impressed by his drum set itself --- that thing is at least fifteen pieces.The Italian drummer just plays his beats on top of the 8-bit Mario songs, but we love it. Vadrucci is clearly very talented. If there's anything we've learned from games like Rock Band, it's that drumming isn't as easy as it looks.
Harmonix's top tips for fledgling Rock Band drummers
Have you found it difficult to transition to the higher difficulty drum tours on Rock Band? Nursing blistered palms after your fifteenth attempt of "Won't Get Fooled Again"? Do your calves throb after putting them through the bass pedal gauntlet known as "Maps"? Don't fret -- Harmonix recently descended from their throne of rock to help guide your feeble attempts to be the next Keith Moon (though none of their helpful tips include "destroy every drum set you ever play on, then overdose at the age of 31.")In a recent article for Wired, the Rock Band developers shared some valuable advice for the percussionist-in-training, including how to properly use the bass pedal, and, of course, a detailed explanation of the mighty paradiddle. We've been paradiddling all night, and we must say, our hands are getting awfully tired. Perhaps the creamy embrace of Rock Jam will expedite our fevered training.[via Evil Avatar]
Use real drums as Rock Band drum controller (how meta)
The Rock Band drum kit really feels more like the real thing than the toy guitars rocking gaming's world of late. So how deliciously meta is it that one enterprising chap decided to convert what appears to be a nice looking real drum kit into a Rock Band drum controller, so he can play a video game pretending to play drums using real drums. If you're not content with just upgrading your pedal to the real deal, and you'd rather not wait for the full replacement kit, consider turning the storage-lockered evidence of your failed college band into something you can be really proud of. Who knows, maybe one day you'll want to revert it back and put the band back together again.[Via Joystiq]
Turn real drums into a Rock Band drum controller
Just as it's impossible to look cool playing a big plastic guitar, it's pretty hard to be taken seriously as a "drummer" when tapping away on an electronic drum machine straight out of an '80s video. Luckily for those who care about looking cool, Otronicon has posted a set of pictorial instructions for turning a real, full size drum kit into a Rock Band-compatible drum controller.You might think that the real drum would be even worse than that clacky drum controller at drowning out the in-game drum line. Not to worry... just fill your drums with foam to quiet that natural drumming sound. So, to summarize, these instructions let you replace your fake drums with real drums that are working very hard to be fake drums. Just so we're clear.
Japan: Two Taiko no Tatsujin DS games, U.S.: still none
It's obviously New Famitsu Day, as all kinds of news is revealed via magazine scans. The latest new game announcement found in the magazine's pages is Taiko no Tatsujin: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (Taiko Drum Master: 7 Islands' Adventure). It looks to follow the same formula as the other Taiko DS game: drumming on the bottom screen with two special styli, earning outfits for your adorable little drums, and engaging in 4-player local wireless play.Our reactions also follow the same formula as last time. With the single Taiko release in the U.S. having bombed, we're probably not going to get this one either, and thus we have no choice but to cry. We do our best to sob in rhythm.
Rock Band mod uses real drum pedal
Real skin pounders will appreciate that the Rock Band drum pedal controller lacks a certain finesse you find in a real foot pedal. After a friend trashed his pedal in a frenzied late night jam, Justin Kistner let necessity mother the invention of a mod allowing use of a real kick pedal on your next Band World Tour. Details of how to replicate the setup are after the jump, helping you prevent those unsightly double kick flubs on Expert. [Via digg]
Mad Catz to make Rock Band instruments
With the absolute flood of third-party guitars for the Guitar Hero series, it's not that surprising that accessory-makers are jumping on the Rock Band-wagon, too. Well, at least one is. Mad Catz today announced a "multi-year licensing agreement" with MTV Games to produce "both wired and wireless bass guitars, a drum percussion set bundled with professional quality wooden drum sticks, and a wired microphone."While having extra options for drum kits and microphones is nice, the addition of officially licensed, wireless, third-party guitars will be welcome news to PS3 owners tired of not being able to use their Guitar Hero III guitars with Rock Band and Xbox 360 owners tired of tripping over wires -- not to mention general Rock Band owners tired of replacing their broken bundled guitars. The instruments will be available in the "first half of 2008," according to the release.While the release specifically addresses Rock Band instruments, it also leaves the door open for other applicable "game accessories." We personally can't wait for the inevitable pyrotechnics launcher that goes off every time you nail a tough solo. Just, er, be careful with it, OK?
Fix (or prevent) a broken Rock Band drum pedal
After shredding open that giant box in the corner, unearthing an entire rock band of peripherals, and gathering a motley crüe crew to rock alongside, you had your first experience with Harmonix's Rock Band. Somewhere, in the middle of "Wanted Dead or Alive" no doubt, that flunky you call a drummer put his heel straight through your totally authentic bass pedal with all the force of a thousand Tico Torreses. Not to fear, as the evidently limitless eBay marketplace has the perfect solution! You can order the $15 Pedal Metal, designed to fix your broken pedal with an intoxicating blend of diamond-plated aluminum and self-tapping screws. Bass pedal still fully operable but you're not the sort to leave that to chance? Consider the carbon fiber variant (pictured), double the price at $30 but guaranteed* to handle the rhythmic stylings of your good pal, Lenny Leadfoot. *not guaranteed[Thanks, Moshe]
Rock Band and turkey: A Thanksgiving family test, part 2
Add the Sterns to the great family bands of popular culture. Put us on a flashing marquee like the Osmonds, Jacksons, and von Trapps that came before. With a rotating lineup of three generations, a band dog who curls up next to the drummer, and enough hijinks for a Monkees plot, we've toured across the country from San Francisco to Boston. It doesn't matter to us if our fame is virtual and our fans digital; Rock Band was a hit at our annual Thanksgiving gathering.Before I left the West Coast, I loaded up a dedicated carry-on with an Xbox 360, Wii, and the full complement of power supplies, video cables, and controllers. I made it through airport security without any problems. (And on the flight home, I wondered how many Rock Band kits the TSA had been screening.)Like last year, the Wii was still popular. But we mostly stuck with Wii Sports. Even casual gamers have a glut of titles to wade through; we never opened Zack and Wiki and only briefly tried EA Playground and Rayman Rabbids 2.Instead, Rock Band filled most of our game time. While I thought it'd be fun to try with my family, I never expected it to be "this year's Wii" as my sister said. Disguised as a rhythm game, Rock Band is a sleeper family hit. Every day, we joked about "getting the band back together" before assembling that evening's players.
Cheap mod quiets Rock Band drums
We don't know why there's been such a fervent quest to dampen the clickety-clack noise of the Rock Band drum kit:, as we've already solved the problem. Here, try our free mod: First, turn the TV up. Second ... there is no second! You're done. And as a side benefit, you're playing louder! Like a real rock star.But, if neighbors or local noise ordinances make our plan impossible, forum members at the Quarter to Three Forums have been working to curtail the problem. The biggest success so far seems to be these circular mouse pads, trimmed and glued to become efficient, silent conduits of rock. Keith Moon would be ... well, he'd be disgusted. But your wife will be happy. [Thanks, Jeff]
Rock Band drums on your PC. Why?
An intrepid blogger at dxprog.com has discovered how to use the Rock Band drum kit with a Windows PC. The whole process seems pretty simple, and has been made even simpler thanks to an installer program (use at your own risk) created by the blogger in question. Essentially, the process just tricks the PC into thinking the drum kit is an Xbox controller.Unfortunately, there's nothing to be done with this fabulous bit of hacking yet. We suppose you could try using it to play a PC game, though we imagine such attempts would be less than successful (though possibly hilarious). We're sure someone will create a program just for the drums though (perhaps the successor to Frets on Fire?). For now, you'll have to entertain yourself by watching the numbers light up on the config screen.[Via Joystiq]
