
The+near+final+drum+kit.+ The big news with the pads, though, is that they're now sensitive to the speed you hit them. That won't really aid you in your posturing, but it will keep your room less cluttered. Each drum head is eight inches in diameter, slightly larger than Rock Band's kit, so you'll be less likely to miss when things get heated.

The first thing you'll notice when you see the kit in action is that it's quieter than the Rock Band drums, which is great news for neighbors everywhere. To activate star power with the kit you simply hit both cymbals at the same time. The two cymbals are raised above the three primary pads and, on the prototype set we got a look at, had hinges and swivels on them so that you could position them how you wanted. That equates to the basic setup of a snare, two toms, two cymbals and a bass drum. The Drums Three pads, two raised cymbals, and one bass pedal make up the action elements of this new drum peripheral. Tapping it or making a making a quick similar sound at any time does the trick. To activate star power in the game, you won't have to wait for a special section like you do in Rock Band. For menus and the like you'll need to use a controller. The Mic The microphone peripheral is fairly standard. In short, it's the best guitar controller we've seen yet. It's wireless and sleek, has an accelerometer for activating star power (and more) and will make use of new custom faceplates. All of the previous great features are still there on this guitar, too. The d-pad has been given a bit of style as well by reshaping it to look more like a knob. The entire body is bigger, as well, approaching something closer to a real guitar.

It's easier to hit for activating star power and gives a more realistic look to the body. The back/select button has been made to look like the bridge of the guitar. Other changes have been made to the design as well. The real power of the touch pad comes in the music creator. It can also be used for tapping to play notes, particularly awesome if you want to mimic a slap bass. While playing a song, this touch sensitive strip allows you to alter notes during sustains by sliding up and down the strip (giving more freedom and options than what you had before with just a whammy bar). YES NO The biggest addition to the new guitar is the touch pad located on the neck.
