Guitar Hero 4 Adds Drums, Create-a-Song

Guitar Hero gets overhauled with drums and create-a-song features.

An upcoming GameInformer exclusive cover story, according to NeoGAF poster SolidSnakex, on Guitar Hero 4 reveals how the next Guitar Hero game plans on directly competing with MTV and Harmonix's Rock Band.

The addition of drums and vocals are clearly an answer to Rock Band's multi-instrument setup. Character and instrument creation will add a new level of personalization to the GH experience.

A Create-A-Song mode allows users to upload songs, place notes for guitar, bass and drums (no vocals due to copyright reasons), and then share five samples of their work on GH Tunes, an online service where others can rate and download your custom tracks. For each song, you will be able to name and add album artwork. The online sharing will be made available for the Wii and Playstation 2 versions, but will likely be less feature-filled than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.

The drums feature three pads, two cymbals and a foot pedal. Special focus was given to the drum pads, which are pressure sensitive and more quiet than their Rock Band counterparts.

The GameInformer article also mentions "See-through" notes, which Neversoft identified as a new game mechanic that will "impact the way you play GH in the future."

All songs included with the next iteration will be master tracks; Van Halen, The Eagles, Linkin Park and Sublime are all confirmed for the soundtrack.

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That's pretty cheap considering RockBand was released late last year in some parts of the world and is about to be released in Europe (typical bloody wait), I didn't find Guitar Hero 3 to be as addictive or as fun as the previous games and i'm shifting towards Rock Band, fortunately I won't have to wait much longer for that.

I'm guessing the transparent notes are optional, and allow you to solo certain sections as you see fit.

OMG OMG OMG THE EAGLES!!!!! Sorry, been wanting Hotel California since, oh, the second one.

If the "Create-a-Song" feature works like audisurf's but better i will definately buy this game.

The create-a-song feature will be used by me allot. Slipknot is going on there sharpish.

well if you cant beat them steal their ideas always works I guess. Uploading songs sounds awsome though

The creation and sharing of songs should be awesome, although it renders any future GH games pointless, as any worthwhile songs will already have custom tracks available to the public.

The drums and vocals seems a bit silly for a game called Guitar Hero, but they were likely sick of Rock Band hogging that particular market.

This is amazing. I mean, I can't believe they're not going to have a copyright headache on their shoulders, but its great for the users. I've gone from a huge GH fan to a huger Rock Band fan, and was not even considering GH games anymore.. but this sounds really really good.

Why they feel like they need the drums, though, I don't know. It's 'Guitar' Hero.. better to focus on that.

The create a song element is definately something to be excited about,that is if it works properly.

As far as the drunms and mic? I'm dissapointed.No longer is it Guitar Hero.

If I wanted drums and a mic, I'd buy rock band.

I'm interested to see how much this will cost in Europe and when it will be available. I'm not buying Rock Band when it's released (haha, I still find the delay hard to believe :/) so this is good news where I'm sitting.

Aaaaaand not only does Activision beat a dead horse even more, they steal MORE game mechanics from the original creators.

Astonishing.

Yuck. HORRIBLE game series. If you want to play Guitar then get REAL Guitar lessons.

Digikid:
Yuck. HORRIBLE game series. If you want to play Guitar then get REAL Guitar lessons.

If you want to shoot a gun, go join the army.

Rabid Toilet:
The creation and sharing of songs should be awesome, although it renders any future GH games pointless, as any worthwhile songs will already have custom tracks available to the public.

The drums and vocals seems a bit silly for a game called Guitar Hero, but they were likely sick of Rock Band hogging that particular market.

I'm sure they said no vocals due to copyright reasons.

Meh...

I've always found the guitar hero games to be too expensive (especially Rock Band. I could get a Gamecube and several of its games for the price of rock band)

The only thing that looks interesting to me is the create a song option, but without lyrics...

I don't know.

conqueror Kenny:

Rabid Toilet:
The creation and sharing of songs should be awesome, although it renders any future GH games pointless, as any worthwhile songs will already have custom tracks available to the public.

The drums and vocals seems a bit silly for a game called Guitar Hero, but they were likely sick of Rock Band hogging that particular market.

I'm sure they said no vocals due to copyright reasons.

There won't be vocals for the create-a-song, but there will be vocals in the songs on the game.

Indigo_Dingo:

Xwii360:
"Make your own song" Guitar hero wins all rhythm based games period. Can't wait to play Ramstein.

You do realise you could do that as far back as the original one, right? There are instructions for this are floating all over youtube, and the proof of it is on youtube too.

Well, yeah. But now I don't have to hack my X-Box to do it.

They call it Guitar Hero for a reason.. I don't like how Activision is trying to make money on Rock Band's success by copying it in every way.
Anyway, I like the whole song writing idea.

Indigo_Dingo:

thebobmaster:

Indigo_Dingo:

Xwii360:
"Make your own song" Guitar hero wins all rhythm based games period. Can't wait to play Ramstein.

You do realise you could do that as far back as the original one, right? There are instructions for this are floating all over youtube, and the proof of it is on youtube too.

Well, yeah. But now I don't have to hack my X-Box to do it.

So hacking you Xbox is harder than making the $110 this game will set you back? I want your job.

No, but I'm technologically uninclined, and hacking your 360 bans you from X-Box Live, which I do not want to happen.

i doubt I'll buy Rockband in the Britain , its way to expensive - £180 !!! if I was to buy id import from the USA for about £120. Being British can be Such a rip off at times. I hate to see the price of GH4 when it gets released over here, that "drum kit" will not be cheap....probably be cheaper buying a real set of drums judging by how much Europe gets fucked over price wise.

Still, it does sound very fun.

Just read the Game Informer article. There is also going to be a Create-A-Rocker thing, a free-form career mode, and the article strongly hinted at Dream Theater being in. Also, all the songs are going to be master tracks.

thebobmaster:
Just read the Game Informer article. There is also going to be a Create-A-Rocker thing, a free-form career mode, and the article strongly hinted at Dream Theater being in. Also, all the songs are going to be master tracks.

Master tracks = Win

What does "free-form" career mode mean? You choose what order to play venues?

To people complaining about ripping off Rock Band: If Guitar Hero 4 offers more and better functions then Rock Band 2 it will be the better game? No? The games industry is based around taking the best parts from other people's games and making it better.

thebobmaster:
There is also going to be a Create-A-Rocker thing, a free-form career mode, and the article strongly hinted at Dream Theater being in. .

Dream theater kicks my ass in like 40 different places at once. I'd happily shove out another $150-200 bucks to play anything by them.

cant wait to rick roll a song

sammyfreak:

thebobmaster:
Just read the Game Informer article. There is also going to be a Create-A-Rocker thing, a free-form career mode, and the article strongly hinted at Dream Theater being in. Also, all the songs are going to be master tracks.

Master tracks = Win

What does "free-form" career mode mean? You choose what order to play venues?

Basically, you have several choices of the next gig you go to, and after finishing that gig, more choices open up. Therefore, you will not have to play a song in the game if you do not like that particular song.

thebobmaster:

sammyfreak:

thebobmaster:
Just read the Game Informer article. There is also going to be a Create-A-Rocker thing, a free-form career mode, and the article strongly hinted at Dream Theater being in. Also, all the songs are going to be master tracks.

Master tracks = Win

What does "free-form" career mode mean? You choose what order to play venues?

Basically, you have several choices of the next gig you go to, and after finishing that gig, more choices open up. Therefore, you will not have to play a song in the game if you do not like that particular song.

Cool, they might be able to spice things up by adding diffirent types of music styles. Your choices of music stlye could change the way the avatars look like. Maybe they could add diffirent campaigns, Indie/Classic Rock/Metal/Blues/Latino. An optional band management thingey might even be cool.

I guess if they would add cool stuff like that then it would need to be optional, Guitar Hero still needs to be about rocking out afterall.