Game Informer unveils Guitar Hero IV drums (News)

Blake Snow, GamePro (online)

15/05/2008 08:50:00

The six-piece drum kit is quieter than Rock Band's five piece, is wireless, and supports both a natural bounce and intensity detection for drum rolls and harder hits.

"One of the things we really wanted to do was to make it quieter than our competitor's kid," project director Brian Bright told Game Informer in the June 2008 issue. "The [Rock Band] drums are loud as hell and it's distracting. Everyone else in the room is like 'Shut up!'"

In addition to quieter drums, the pads themselves track "velocity data" for hit intensity, much like professional electronic kits, so harder (or softer) hits will sound accordingly — something Rock Band drums don't support. Natural bounce for better rolls is also supported, something Game Informer favorably confirmed in their play test.

To top it off, Activision said gamers can expect better durability of Guitar Hero drums, this amid isolated reports of failing Rock Band kits. "The team we're working with has been making hardware for years," said Bright in the same interview. "These guys know it inside and out. This thing is not going to crack."

Guitar Hero IV will launch in late 2008 for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PS2. The game will support drums, vocals, bass, guitar, online multiplayer, and create a song mode, as previously revealed.