Maybe they were put there so that when we want to record a low note in the music studio we don't have to slide down a whole octave.

AndresV03

maybe the new buttons is so that we don't have to shift down a fret to add a low note

AndresV03

I also probably won't be buying this one because I don't really like that Ibanez design.

HotFootMcCook

Why do I feel that RockBand 2 is going to blow this away like RockBand did to GH3

mricyfire

No more hardware plsthx.

humperdinck

With all of the effort needed to play this new guitar, why no just go out and buy a real one?

To quote Shaun of the Dead, "It's quite simple, Dave!"

HotFootMcCook

@vitrium:

i am a guitar player and had a go at guitar hero.

it's OK but its just_so_lame.

nothing beats playing out on a stage except s3x or going down a mountain.

its like someone drinking Budweiser as their first ever beer and getting really really excited, and then telling everyone. Apart from that its OK.

flyboy

violin for 5 years, piano for 10 years, videogamer for life

I enjoy many kinds of music games from beatmania to rock band and it always irks me that some elitist real guitar players feel the need to tell you those who play guitar hero should pick up the real thing.

they probably feel threatened that their art has been reduced to a "simplistic" game and no one truely appreciates the skill and thought that goes into music. Do these naysayers have any ounce of fun in them? who gives a fuck. Do they expect me to invest years and years of my time so I can form a band and execute a cover of bark at the moon flawlessly? Get off your damn soapbox and join in on the co-op fun!

vitrium

They have the exact same colors, in the same order, as the main fret buttons. They're in the lower position, identical to the child/solo buttons on the Rock Band guitar. If it quacks like a duck...

ferroptic

I SENT THIS INNNNNN!!!!!!

Ferg1

"this could mean that they are going to increase the complexity of the guitars too, requiring even more dexterity than previous versions."

Looks like they're just copying the Rock Band guitar by adding the solo buttons on the bottom. The actual in-game screen shots just show the normal 5 buttons being used

PlasmaMachine

Easiest way to add complexity to all the guitar games: Strum with no buttons down.

There, I just added a sixth chord at a cost of $0 dollars that is 100% compatible with all existing equipment.

Pan_theFrog

@myotheralt: Ya thought wrong. Harmonix and Red Octane did the first two GH games, then passed those off to Activision and Neversoft, who will be making all GH games from now on, while the former two are handling Rock Band. They are two separate series.

Rhainor

oops... quoted the wrong person... @phoghat

kaneshadow

@TommySez: so true... it's getting obnoxious isn't it? That being said,
@shorty63136: I definitely disagree, I'd say most of the population will hit sort of a skill "plateau" after a while and stop getting better at the actual guitar, no matter how much they keep practicing. Whereas almost everyone can practice a video game every day and eventually beat it.

kaneshadow

@myotheralt: Nope, Rock Band and Guitar Hero are make by different companies.

thejbills

i think it's the rock band style buttons... or a faux controller.

deathscent

@ofalltrades: It does look cool. Until you look at the playlist. They need better music to get me interested.

Gann

how many does it weigh?

shizik76

I'm surprised nobody has commented on the drums pictured above. I like the twin cymbals above the drums - seems more representative of a real drum set than the Rock Band drums.

I'd really like to get dimensions on the drums so we can design our drum stand to accept these new drums too.

Don't know what I'm talking about?

www.dudethingcreations.com

kps9727

jak0b,
Check out an offering called Guitar Rising for exactly what I think you are looking for. If it works when it comes out, it will do an amazing job of using any real guitar to play a game, thus mixing learning and playing. Sounds very cool.

ofalltrades

Won't work with my existing controllers = I am much less likely to buy the new version.

Murph1908

@phoghat: True...unfortunately Activision doesn't sign my paycheck.

And unfortunately for adults, there's a little door in your brain that closes as you get older, making it harder and harder for you to ever learn to (mostly read music but also) play an instrument - same goes for learning foreign languages.

And I'd like to see anybody over the age of 22 try to develop an embouchure lol

shorty63136

Wouldn't this provide an evolutionary advantage to gamers with 6 fingers?

frigg

@phoghat: "I think if you put that same amount of effort into learning ANY instrument (even an accordian like Wierd Al) you can play that expertly..."

Unless you're Bob Dylan. Only man in the world who could play the accordion for 40 years and not get any better at it.

DaOtter

@Joseph: I'm not so sure about "training" - you're still only using hand-eye coordination to push buttons - there's no ear training, reading training, or anything like that.

But I think - and hope - that it will get more people, especially children, interested in learning music and learning to READ music. There are some DEFINITE mental/intellectual benefits to learning how to read music.

shorty63136

If you put in a tremendous amount of effort into GH you will play GH expertly. Having said that, I think if you put that same amount of effort into learning ANY instrument (even an accordian like Wierd Al) you can play that expertly and play any damn song you want. Having been in a few bands in my misbegotten youth, I can tell you that women would rather gravitate toward a real player (even a drummer) than a Guitar Hero. (Pardon any sexist thoughts).

phoghat

I was just talking about this with my colleague the other day. Guitar Hero is gonna train the next generation of musicians.

Joseph

@rle197803:

Totally agree. If those are buttons, why aren't they raised like the other ones - ie, the current buttons?

Not saying they can't do something, but does the guitar NEED changing? It would surely restrict sales too - I would buy the new game, but not if I needed a new guitar again - I have a wife...

beneditor

@DaOtter: And perhaps ironically, playing GH has helped me learn some new songs on my real guitar. ;)

DaOtter

@shorty63136: 100% +1
Piano for 18 years here, plus guitar for 11, bass and drums for 8, and while I love playing all those, dammit, Guitar Hero is just FUN. And GH3 is ruthlessly hard. Beating Slash on Hard was one of the most frustrating experiences in recent memory.

Real music != more fun than fake music

DaOtter

@Rajio: I 100% agree with you. I think adding more buttons to the guitar is not a wise decision at all.

I've played the cello for 14 years, play a little violin, drums, and a little guitar - and I'll tell ya, even I have problems keeping up with some GH3 stuff! I still play on Medium and can rock the hell out of a few songs, but I dare not jump up just get...and get boo'd off stage.

Then again, I don't play it like a maniac either. Y'know...that 'work' stuff and all...

shorty63136

maybe it's just me but those don't look like buttons, looks like a design on the guitar. they don't look like they are raised.

rle197803

@TommySez: Well I don't waste my time playing Super Mario Bros. when I know I can rescue real princesses in my real life.

SuperMarioFan

There will be no GH IV for me as I haven't finished GH III! I think the makers of Guitar Hero are marketing to those who have already mastered and, subsequently, gotten bored of Guitar Hero III. GH4's level of complexity I suspect will increase exponentially compared to GH3.

There is no GH4 in my near future! Still struggling trying to beat Lou on Medium!!

ksat

@TommySez

Are you playing Raimbow six vegas?... go get a real gun and kill real people.

lolec

I've never understood the need for people to question playing a guitar-based game versus actually learning to play guitar.

No one brings it up regarding driving games. Or, even better, first person shooters. Or, really, any other game that simulates a real-world activity. Just guitar-based games.

Is it a defensive measure by musicians? Or something else?

TommySez

I believe the extra fret buttons are maybe for kids to be able to enjoy the game. Those who cannot reach the top buttons. The colors of the new 5 are the same as the other 5. Check out thsi site. Xtreme already sells a Guitar for the Wii with extra 5 fret buttons.
[www.handhelditems.com]

mlb364

I love the game, I am also a beginner guitar player (the real thing) i have a fundamental problem practicing for a GAME when i could be investing the same amount of time on my real guitar... with more buttons more practice... damn addition.

mrxcel

I thought part of the appeal of this game to the general audience was the acessiblity of it (specifically that it wasn't overly complicated and had general appeal) ... complicating it seems like a losing battle. for every hardcore player you'll entice, you'll lose a livingroom full of 'casual players'

Rajio

Couldn't the game-makers create a game that used a real guitar and the microphones from SingStar? So we actually learned something from a game!

jak0b

Great, another controller that won't be compatible with other games!

rbf2000

Yup, those'll be the solo buttons.

Woo! Solos!

ihavenoimaginationwhenitcomestopickingausername

i thought rock band was part of the guitar hero line

myotheralt

I remember seeing a something about them adding a second set of buttons, that image does make it look like an extended set though. HUM...curious...!?

sdolan79

No, adding more buttons won't make it a real guitar but it could make the game more competitive with Rock Band. Of course, I wish I had a little more space, skill, and patience to say to hell with plastic guitars and just mod a RB controller out of a natty old Squier (just about the only thing it's good for)

OMG! Ponies!

Maybe they're doing it in a Rock Band solo way. If not, Jesus Diaz that's going to hard for gamers to learn.

kylo4