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Guitar Hero 4 instruments, song creation detailed

By Brendan Sinclair, Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted May 15, 2008 1:26 pm PT

Latest Game Informer spills beans on cymbal-enabled drum kit, character and guitar creation, song-creation toolset, and music sharing.

Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that the the June issue of Game Informer would be jam-packed with details of Activision's Guitar Hero 4, due out this fall. That issue has since arrived in subscribers' mailboxes, confirming the accuracy of the original post and providing more details on developer Neversoft's second crack at the rhythm gaming franchise.

As initially revealed by Activision CEO Bobby Kotick in a recent interview, Guitar Hero 4 will add drums and vocals a la Rock Band. Game Informer's feature includes a shot of the referenced drum kit, which includes three pads, two elevated cymbals, and a pedal (as opposed to Rock Band's four pads and a pedal). For those keeping track, that means the Guitar Hero 4 kit has one extra input than the Rock Band equivalent, raising compatibility questions for the two series' instruments yet again. The developer is going wireless with Guitar Hero 4's drum pads, and will be making them pressure-sensitive so the game can tell if players are wailing on the drums or meekly tapping them.

The details in Game Informer also clear up the mystery surrounding the "innovation" which Activision promised was coming to the Guitar Hero series in a recent earnings report conference call. The article outlines the game's studio mode, which will give users a variety of ways to create their own songs. Players will be able to jam along with one of the game's existing tracks, record songs as they're played, or meticulously detail note charts.

As rumored, the game will also allow users to share the songs they create. Players will initially only be able to upload five songs for others to enjoy, but if those tracks are rated highly by other users, the creators might "get signed," raising the cap to 10 songs or more.

295 Comments

  • Jamez634

    Posted Jan 31, 2009 11:20 pm PT

    But what of DS?

  • RockEvo

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 4:21 pm PT

    i hope this game will be better than rock band. now that u can create your own songs, isnt that cool....

  • Vosty

    Posted Sep 3, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    Yes you can use the rock band drums it has been announced. You will have 1 less hit note because gh wt has 3 pads 2 symbols "5 hits Total not including bass pedal" and rock band has only 4 pads.

  • TheWarrior_94

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 5:17 pm PT

    Also will you even be able to play rock band drums on the GuitarHero game? If not this game is a difinate no no for me!

  • TheWarrior_94

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 5:14 pm PT

    WHICH 1 SHOULD I buy, Rock Band 2 or Guitarhero IV?! I've already got everything for rock band and also have guitarhero III! I like the set list for rock band 2 but I really like Metallica and they are releasing their new album exclusively on guitarhero IV! I think i'll probably wait intill the whole set list for Guitarhero IV comes out and then decide!

  • division_9

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 6:11 am PT

    Make youre own songs?. If it wasnt for rock band Guitar Hero 4 would suck.

  • nklslinde21

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 9:10 am PT

    gosh, please give the ps2 online playy!

  • -White_Knight-

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:58 am PT

    Can't wait to make my own songs, and remake some Zeppelin songs.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted May 31, 2008 3:26 pm PT

    will this be for PS2???

  • thadude85

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:18 pm PT

    this could be the final nail in the coffin of my life. i have always wanted to be able to make my own songs on rock band, always wanted quiter drums with actuall kick back and real cymbal placement. and guitar heros guitar play puts rock bands to shame. if this game pumps out dlc like rock band has been than rock band wont be able to compete.

  • -Beatz-

    Posted May 27, 2008 9:11 am PT

    Oh my god, do you even have ANY freakin' idea of game-developing business? Who likes Guitar Hero, only guitars, after the full band Rock Band kit? No one. The only things that are better are the songs, but also, Rock Band has so much of them , that even THAT makes RB better. How can they compete with RB? And what's the name about, does anyone whine that, "Wee, Silent Hill isn't silent, the zombies are howling." Who cares about the name anyway? Ofcourse, the GameSpot users. Seriously, go out, enjoy the summer. Go swim, get a girlfriend, and all that.

  • Neo_Geno

    Posted May 24, 2008 11:50 am PT

    If they just called this game "Band Hero" or something, people wouldn't buy it...

    "Guitar Hero" is the brand that is popular... "Band Hero" just sounds like some cheap knockoff... What they should do is subtly change the name...

    Like this game is called "Guitar Hero: World Tour" The next game should be called "World Tour 2" or something else that'll subtly take off the "Guitar Hero" name while establishing a new brand name...

    Kind of like how it happened with the "Rambo" movies...

    And I don't know why people think there is going to be a "Rock Band 2" When "Rock Band" itself is still getting new songs every week...

  • xXBu1l3tPrOofXx

    Posted May 23, 2008 2:46 pm PT

    I think this game will be worth the money. I think they should just stick with the guitars. I like how you can really customize the guitar(pickup, knobs, ect..) The drumming also looks cool. They DEFINITELY need to have an optional bass pedal for a double kick. Then they can put in some Disturbed, Mudvayne, and Slipknot and make the drumming for those songs challenging.

  • NoKuA

    Posted May 22, 2008 6:42 am PT

    Activision went nuts!!!!

    rock band is rock band a lame game that has to be played by at least three ppl at once... to full enjoyment.

    GUITAR HERO is GUITAR HERO!!!! it means just guitar that's the greatness in it...

    don't toss it all to the trash can!!!

    come on!!!

  • dilutedme

    Posted May 22, 2008 2:02 am PT

    I want to see a song list before I decide to drop $200 on this game/bundle...

  • iamBenG

    Posted May 21, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    All you people saying that they should keep just guitars have either not played Rock Band, or not heard of it. All these insturments makes it a more diverse, longer lasting, and better game. I do think that maybe they shouldn't still call it Guitar Hero, but adding this was definitely in their best interest, and my favorite part is them giving people a chance to be truly artistic, I was an advocate of Rock Band, but I am seriously considering buying this, the drums look just like existing MIDI drum kits and I there is supposedly some new thing the guitar can do that's patent is still pending.

  • ghistos

    Posted May 21, 2008 10:56 am PT

    Why not insert two guitars and one bass... before the micro and drum

  • cypher787

    Posted May 21, 2008 10:21 am PT

    gh3 had one that right there makes it grand gh2 was probly the best overall except the bull$hit of the hammer-ons not working half the time when it says you can do it gh3 had some bad songs in it but i love one and cult of personality is awesome too

  • RepublicofJosh

    Posted May 21, 2008 8:41 am PT

    No no no...No double bass people, if you going to add another pedal make it a high hat pedal...that you hold down or up...also I will not be buying this game. I'm all set with rock band and I don't want more fake plastic drums on my floor....speaking of which they should add that radiohead song...that's be awesome

  • Untouchable_Dra

    Posted May 21, 2008 7:32 am PT

    I agree with "I-Am-TheGamexx"...its true Guitar Hero should STAY guitar hero...Activision should leave out the drums and vocals otherwise GH4 will pretty much just be Rock Band 2...=S

    I agree with you to AussieReviewer to some extent...GH2 was the best out all of the 4 released so far (GH1, GH2, GH:RocksThe80's, GH3)..GH2 was the best but GH3 wasn't too bad...you have 2 remember that GH3 was developed by a different firm, RedOctane didn't develop the 3rd one, so obviously there would be differences, but i do believe that GH3 took a step backwards instead of forwards like it should have done

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