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Forum: Games
Topic: Guitar Hero
started by: TPRJones

Posted by TPRJones on Jan. 15 2007,19:07

A couple of weeks ago I was over at a friend's house and they introduced me to the joy that is Guitar Hero. I immediately got my own copy of the original game and a cordless control to go with it. (At the same time, I used my Blockbuster coupon on Lego Star Wars which sucked me in for a week, but with that digression out of the way, I'm back on track)

Of course, I immediately had to sticker-up the controller:

On the back is a sticker from the Wii instruction guide with the image instructing users not to smack their friends in the face.

Anyway, I powered through the Easy mode like it was nothing, but I didn't really feel ready to perform at my best in higher levels. So, I did some focused exercises. Sunday I spent the day playing I Love Rock n Roll over and over and over. First the easy level once through with each finger of my left hand individually (yes, even my pinky) running the fret keys. Then medium for each combination of two fingers (index & middle, index & ring, etc) and again with each finger all alone. Then the same for hard and expert. The only one I couldn't do without getting boo'd off stage was pinky-only on the expert stage. But the skills learned are excellent: I'm getting good at moving around on the fret keys without getting lost, and I'm getting pretty good at using one finger for two buttons reliably. I still don't use my pinky much in regular play, but now I don't really need to.

Today I did the same progressions for I Wanna Be Sedated (although I couldn't complete any one-finger versions of expert, sadly, nor pinky-solo for hard). And now my fingers hurt. A lot. So here I am typing about it. I'm not that bright.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying it. Guitar Hero is awesome.

Posted by WSGrundy on Jan. 15 2007,19:13

Is your cordless guitar a third party controller? Can you use it on different systems on just the PS2?

With GHII coming out for the 360 with 10 more songs it would be cool if you could get a third party guitar to play on more then one system.

Posted by GORDON on Jan. 15 2007,19:14

I've heard on Guitar Hero 2 there is the song Thunderhorse........... by DETHKLOK.

Posted by TPRJones on Jan. 15 2007,19:19

(WSGrundy @ Jan. 15 2007,19:13)

QUOTE

Is your cordless guitar a third party controller? Can you use it on different systems on just the PS2?

Yes to the first, no to the second. I'm sure they'll make third-party controllers for the Xbox, too. Maybe they'll work otu a way to make them dual-system, but they aren't yet that I've seen.

Posted by WSGrundy on Jan. 15 2007,19:20

(TPRJones @ Jan. 15 2007,19:19)

QUOTE

(WSGrundy @ Jan. 15 2007,19:13)

QUOTE

Is your cordless guitar a third party controller? Can you use it on different systems on just the PS2?

Yes to the first, no to the second. I'm sure they'll make third-party controllers for the Xbox, too. Maybe they'll work otu a way to make them dual-system, but they aren't yet that I've seen.

I see.

I have regular controllers that would work on any system so maybe they will come out with a guitar since it is going multi-platform.

Posted by TPRJones on Jan. 15 2007,19:21

(GORDON @ Jan. 15 2007,19:14)

QUOTE

I've heard on Guitar Hero 2 there is the song Thunderhorse........... by DETHKLOK.

Don't know that one, but I did get to play the GHII bonus song Trogdor by Strong Bad. It was Teh Awesomeness!

Posted by GORDON on Jan. 15 2007,19:28

(TPRJones @ Jan. 15 2007,22:21)

QUOTE

(GORDON @ Jan. 15 2007,19:14)

QUOTE

I've heard on Guitar Hero 2 there is the song Thunderhorse........... by DETHKLOK.

Don't know that one, but I did get to play the GHII bonus song Trogdor by Strong Bad. It was Teh Awesomeness!

Dethklok is the band's name in < Metalocalypse. >

Posted by Leisher on Jan. 16 2007,10:41

I've been curious about this game forever. Does it play like an actual guitar?

Posted by WSGrundy on Jan. 16 2007,10:58

(Leisher @ Jan. 16 2007,10:41)

QUOTE

I've been curious about this game forever. Does it play like an actual guitar?

From what little experience I have had with real guitars I will say kind of. As much as hitting and holding a red and yellow button and hitting the strum button to play Ace of Spades can be.

You get the feeling because your hands are moving on the neck and strumming and if your timing is off then the song doesn't play and the music will suck. It is a pretty good illusion but after I get done playing I'm not expecting a call from the Rolling Stones.

I actually think it is a better drum game because if you can keep a beat which I can't then you will do well.

Also if it is only going to be you then you may want to borrow it from someone but if you are going to be sitting around with others these games can stay fun.

Posted by TPRJones on Jan. 16 2007,11:14

The hand coordination is similar to the requirements of the real thing, but it's not the same. Although I keep consistently seeing references from real musicians claiming that playing Bark at the Moon on guitar is easier than Guitar Hero on expert, which is nearly impossibly difficult.

Posted by GORDON on Jan. 16 2007,11:38

I've seen lots of snobbery from musicians about the game... but they don't realize that GH is about fun, not playing music.

Whatev.

Posted by TPRJones on Feb. 21 2007,11:05

I got GHII and it's totally broken. The game sputters and freezes every ten seconds or so on every song. It's a disaster. My system has no problems with other games, just that one.

So of course I'll be picking up a replacement PS2 on the way home today, just so I can play GHII.

Posted by Cakedaddy on Feb. 21 2007,15:26

Our GHII worked just as well as the first. No issues at all. Played various songs on various difficulty levels. FYI.

Posted by TPRJones on Feb. 21 2007,16:22

Well, my console was old and couldn't keep up with the task. So I went and picked up a used one from Gamestop on the way home. It's marginally better, but not nearly enough to get all the way through a song.

Tomorrow I'll trade up to a refurbished unit and try again.

Posted by Cakedaddy on Feb. 21 2007,20:32

Maybe it's the disk?

Posted by TPRJones on Feb. 22 2007,07:36

Maybe, but unlikely based on internet research. Seems there are a LOT of people with these problems with GHII out there, and the common thread seems to be that systems in near-perfect condition play it fine while systems that are less than cherry have issues with it. Red Octane claims that the widespread problems are all the fault of many "abused" PS2s being unable to keep up with the demands of their powerful game, and that the game is not at fault.

All I can say from personal experience so far is that the disk I have is spotless, and was 90% crappy on an old well-used system, was about 50% crappy on a less old less-used system ... and today I'll know how it goes on a refurb. If that fails, then I'll send back my disk and get another copy instead, and go through the whole progression of systems again with that one.

Posted by TPRJones on Feb. 22 2007,17:04

So, it turns out I had an iffy system AND an iffy copy of GHII. I now have an excellent used system and another copy of GHII, and can rock the house without problems.

Red Octane still made a bit of a mess of things. The guy at EB Games was very familiar with the problem, and they've had lots of warranty returns of bad copies of GHII.

Posted by GORDON on Feb. 22 2007,19:00

(TPRJones @ Feb. 22 2007,20:04)

QUOTE

So, it turns out I had an iffy system AND an iffy copy of GHII. I now have an excellent used system and another copy of GHII, and can rock the house without problems.

I'm picturing that scene in The 40 Year Old Virgin when he's all alone and entertaining himself, including when he was singing karaoke by himself.

Posted by TPRJones on Feb. 22 2007,19:39

Yeah, that about covers it. But add 150 pounds, scraggly face hair, overflowing ashtrays, and two cats.

I'm pathetic. But I can rock the house.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 25 2007,18:12

< Guitar Hero 3 > entered my house today, as a gift from my wife.

I spent a while going back and forth as to whether I ever wanted to play this game. Decided I didn't want it, and so didn't buy it. My wife bought it for me anyway, since friends of hers had been talking it up.

It's a lot of fun. I'm only OK at it (I've yet to get more than 4 stars/96% accuracy on easy), but I've played it til my fingers can't play no more. The song selection is really good, and I like how you get aural feedback on the notes you hit and miss.

Posted by Malcolm on Dec. 25 2007,21:53

GH3 is alright. It don't seem massively different than GH2. Over at my buddies. I can do damn near any song on medium w\o too much trouble (simply cos it's only four buttons). Hard brings in the fifth, which is where shit doth get interesting.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 26 2007,05:42

(Malcolm @ Dec. 26 2007,00:53)

QUOTE

I've never played GH or GH2, so this is the first GH I've ever played. So while it's more of the same to you, it's something I'd never played before.

Posted by Selby on Dec. 26 2007,07:15

(Malcolm @ Dec. 25 2007,21:53)

QUOTE

GH3 is alright. It don't seem massively different than GH2.

Wait until you get to expert. For some reason they decided to make the game even harder and more impossible than GH2 at that difficulty level as the songs go up in level.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 26 2007,07:30

I heard that, too. Which will be said, cuz I'll never make expert.

So... I can buy things at the store, but it looks like they are just for decoration? They don't actually improve my character's performance?

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 26 2007,07:31

So when yall play, do your strum up and down like a real guitar? I just strum down with my thumb, was wondering if that would get me in trouble later in the game.

Posted by Cakedaddy on Dec. 26 2007,07:52

It will hurt in expert mode, but the lower levels are more forgiving. Also, there is a practice/tutorial thing that teaches you special moves like:

Strum and hold, then move your fingers between the colored buttons. Makes it easier to do a fast string of notes.

I don't do the advanced moves either cause I'm not that good. But my kid plays most songs on expert and I've seen him do the tutorials.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 26 2007,07:56

Tutorials... I should check that out.

Posted by Malcolm on Dec. 26 2007,12:51

Yeah, there's some that are (as my buddy referred to them) hammer-down notes. You can just hit more keys w\o actually strumming.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 27 2007,07:21

I decided to play left-handed, cuz my left-hand can't do the notes as well.

It took me a few songs to get used to it, but I'm consistently over 90% on the easy, and just hit an 89% on medium.

The guitar is not really made for ambidextrous use, but it works out OK.

Posted by GORDON on Dec. 27 2007,07:23

Too bad nobody can invent a game just as fun, but using a real guitar... hint hint.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 27 2007,09:39

I don't even know how to play a real guitar.

Posted by GORDON on Dec. 27 2007,10:14

Exactly my point. A game using a real guitar would teach peeps to use a real guitar instead of a game controller shaped like a guitar.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 27 2007,10:59

(GORDON @ Dec. 27 2007,13:14)

QUOTE

Exactly my point. A game using a real guitar would teach peeps to use a real guitar instead of a game controller shaped like a guitar.

Real guitars are hard.

Posted by GORDON on Dec. 27 2007,11:53

Which is why I felt it important to state "...just as fun" like a million posts ago because yes, real guitars are hard, which is why the fun factor has to be there or peeps would quit in frustration.

But then they'd be learning something real instead of... well, it's already been said.

Posted by Malcolm on Dec. 27 2007,12:30

(TheCatt @ Dec. 27 2007,12:59)

QUOTE

(GORDON @ Dec. 27 2007,13:14)

QUOTE

Exactly my point. A game using a real guitar would teach peeps to use a real guitar instead of a game controller shaped like a guitar.

Real guitars are hard.

There's songs that braindead mongoloids can play on guitar that seem nigh impossible in GH expert mode.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 27 2007,13:48

I played the 3rd difficulty level today... I got booed off the stage in 15 seconds, after hitting 6% of my notes.

Posted by Malcolm on Dec. 27 2007,14:30

(TheCatt @ Dec. 27 2007,15:48)

QUOTE

I played the 3rd difficulty level today... I got booed off the stage in 15 seconds, after hitting 6% of my notes.

The barometre we found was if you can't do "Knights of Cydonia" respectably on medium, then don't try hard.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 27 2007,14:45

Haven't gotten to that song yet... will check.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 28 2007,08:11

(Malcolm @ Dec. 27 2007,17:30)

QUOTE

(TheCatt @ Dec. 27 2007,15:48)

QUOTE

I played the 3rd difficulty level today... I got booed off the stage in 15 seconds, after hitting 6% of my notes.

The barometre we found was if you can't do "Knights of Cydonia" respectably on medium, then don't try hard.

Fuck me.

Got booed off at 62% of the song.

Posted by Malcolm on Dec. 28 2007,10:28

I choked the first time I did that one myself. But, seriously though, once you can reliably hit 85-90% on that one, you're as ready as you ever gonna be for the difficulty levels beyond. "Slow Ride" is a decent song to start out w\ trying to incorporate the fifth button.

Posted by TPRJones on Dec. 29 2007,00:00

My problem is that my pinky is a useless hunk of flesh. Fortunately I've gotten pretty good at moving up and down the neck and three-fingering my way through the game.

For finger exercise and to get used to moving around the neck I play GH1 through on medium with one finger at a time. Doing a chord with a gap in the middle is tough using only one finger, but it can be done.

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 30 2007,05:57

Beat Lou on medium.

That may be the end for me.

Anyone want used Guitar Hero 3 for Wii?

Posted by TheCatt on Dec. 30 2007,16:35

Wow. Was able to sell it for $90 + 20 s/h on eBay. Used.

Posted by TheCatt on Jan. 03 2008,17:29

(GORDON @ Dec. 27 2007,14:53)

QUOTE

< Here you go... >