After Harmonix shook up the rock rhythm game scene with Rock Band last year there was really little doubt that Activision's Guitar Hero franchise would have no choice but to adapt. They have done just that as Guitar Hero IV starts looking more and more like it should be called Band Hero with the addition of drums and vocals to the next installment in the series.

The drums you see off to the right look to be very similar to what was offered with Rock Band aside from the removal of one drum pad and the addition of two hi-hat resembling pads for a grand total of 5 objects for you to beat with sticks. Not to be forgotten is the bass pedal which will also be included.

We can only hope that the drum sets and microphones from Rock Band and Guitar Hero IV will be 100% compatible with each other, but if Activision's refusal to open up Guitar Hero III to Rock Band instruments is any indication, I wouldn't bet on it.

Written by: Marko K.

This post was last modified: 05-14-2008 03:15 PM by Kindrik.

Boo. Why is Guitar Hero popping out so many games so fast? I dont have all this money to keep up.

Wow, that looks nice. My complaint with Rock Band was the drums felt plasticky and cheap. Hopefully these drums have foam tops or something, but just by the looks of it I think they're focusing a little more on quality.

Rock Band's main appeal was the fact that they had multiple instruments... how are they gonna pull in fans now?

Ugh I hated how the Rock Band drums made a horrible noise when you hit them. It took away from the song.

AGHH! Im offended!

I like the addition of the symbols, but I hated it when you were playing Rock Band and it made that horrible sound, hopefully these won't be as cheap.

Sorry, the source had it spelled that way too and I was sort of in a hurry.

It shouldn't. The picture says they were designed to make less noise and it's made with quality in mind.

This post was last modified: 05-14-2008 03:34 PM by Ricky.

I'm liking the Guitar Hero drum set much more than the Rock Band one right now, and provided the price is right (please let it be less than Rock Band) this may just be my first Guitar Hero game.

This is ridiculous. I would expect this from low-end developers, but it is just shameful for a high profile company like Activision to stoop to flat out copying Harmonix. It's called GUITAR hero for a reason anyway.

This post was last modified: 05-14-2008 04:52 PM by Pancakes.

Whats ridiculous is you expecting them not to change. They would lose SO MUCH money if they didnt change. Who would buy GUITAR hero when you can have a whole BAND. Imitation is the best form of flattery.

tell that to the harmonix lawyers

They didn't exactly copy Harmonix considering they had a drumming game planned back before Guitar Hero III (remember the patent on Drum Hero I think it was?) and then when Harmonix left they decided they'd put the two together instead. So all they really copied from Harmonix is the microphone.

And if you're a Guitar Hero purist you can just get the game alone and use your existing guitars, or just buy the game and a guitar separately.

since there isnt a rock band coming to the wii, screw em

viva la GH IV

Drew...Rock Band IS coming to Wii.

Anyways, the high hats look kinda flimsy. If the price is right though then I'll have this to accompany Rock Band. : D

And now that you know Rock Band is coming to Wii, drew, you can continue to ignore it like it was never coming in the first place and just wait for Guitar Hero IV because Rock Band on Wii is coming really, really gimped.

I doubt the drums will be very flimsy considering they worked with John Devecka, the guy who made those arcade drumming games which are not only a lot of fun but durable too.

To hell with Activision.

I'd much rather get Rock Band on the basis that it is awesome. Not like GH4 which looks like its realised it missed the party with GH3 and is now trying to catch on.

GH5 featuring vocals? lolol.

Activision suck.

Well, I'm thinking if the drums are better than Rock Band, then people are gonna want GH more, and the only other instruments Rock Bands features is Bass and vocals, and you can easily turn a regular guitar into a bass guitar, and I don't know many people that like singing.

stop it, mom and dad- you guys are tearing me apart

seriously, now i really have a tough decision to make

I like to sing. :[

I always get 100% on wonderwall. :] its my favorite