We purchased Rock Band 2 and the Drum Kit on the week of launch, having played on the drums for about a month we’ve already broke them. This time, however, it’s not the foot pedal, but the blue and yellow drum heads, now having smashed little holes in the center.
It’s not abuse when the object of the game is to hit the pads with sticks, right? Hopefully not, as we’re not the first to beat the pads to the breaking point using standard pressure and part-time play. In the full month we’ve had little time to really rock out with Rock Band 2 but we play when we can. It seems a bit early to already have blown out the pads.
The issue is simple: the blue and yellow pads have a dent/hole under the rubber surface, pressing down on the pad allows you to easily feel the plastic “button” which executes the hit. The middle of these two pads can be seen sunk in while the red pads center is popping up as if the rubber has let go from the surface and risen. Needless to say, the “bounce back” on the pads was gone.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo of the busted instruments before returning it to Best Buy. Being the smart gamer that I am, I was sure to purchase a two-year extended warranty right from Best Buy prior to walking out with the initial purchase. Although a nice red paper arrives in the box that says “do not return to retail outlet” if it breaks, my warranty allowed me to do so upon destroying the set.
Of course, Best Buy was out of stock in the “Wireless Drum Kit” version of Rock Band 2, only having the “Special Edition” (translation: comes with everything.) Best Buy refused to swap out the drums from the Special Edition kit and their computers “were down” so they couldn’t find any stock numbers or estimates on new kit arrivals.
Computers are down?
I asked Best Buy to call up local stores in the area to see if they had any on the store floor but Best Buy is completely and utterly useless if their computers are down. They have absolutely no method of calling any other nearby stores unless the computers are up; apparently, they do not keep a store phone record on paper anymore so they couldn’t help me.
Best Buy doesn’t know how to dial a phone directory to find local stores and I sure as hell wasn’t going to oblige them with a Circuit City next door. They returned my busted product for a cash refund (including my two-year warranty) and I walked over to Circuit City and got myself a new one with a warranty.
I commend Best Buy for giving me a full cash refund, especially since I purchased it on a credit card and used my Reward Points card. I commend Circuit City for having them in stock and pray they’re still in business for the life of my warranty.
I am saddened that Best Buy is retarded when it comes to technology and not having a secondary method to help customers when their computers are on the fritz. I am saddened to see Rock Band 2‘s drum kit to fail after a month of gaming.
The same company that brought us the NES Advantage has proven the Wii control scheme isn’t as bad as critics speculated. The beauty of adding the “waggle” technology is limiting your button count to a reasonable level without overwhelming gamers.
Sony took pieces of this concept in their PS3 controller and its ability to detect “tilt.” Xbox 360 stuck with the beefy controller with lots of buttons and analog sticks. Not just a D-Pad but two analog sticks and a ton of buttons to press, some pressure sensitive as well. What of our next-generation console? Maybe a few new buttons?
Before Sony fans unite to comment storm, remember, the PS2 had a lot of great games and continues to have games coming through for its console. People are still debating the life-span of the Wii product line, regardless to overall sales figures while the PS2 no doubt had a long live and still continues to have a long life, heck 30%+ of gamers still play the darn thing. Sony has been able to utilize the PS2 and its profitability to glide through the initial PS3 sales slump and get the momentum growing for their current generation console.
If you purchased the 2 yr plan just call the number and have them pay for the shipping back. Granted your gonna spend some time with out Rock band for a week or 2 , but they’ll send you a gift Card for the Amount of the purchase – the service plan.
LOL …how you think i got rock band 2….hehe
I just sent RB1 back last week….lol
If you purchased the 2 yr plan just call the number and have them pay for the shipping back. Granted your gonna spend some time with out Rock band for a week or 2 , but they’ll send you a gift Card for the Amount of the purchase – the service plan.
LOL …how you think i got rock band 2….hehe
I just sent RB1 back last week….lol
Yeah, the problem I had was I didn’t want to lose the time waiting. That’s the worst part; I do have the old RB1 kit, but I bought the new one, want to use the new one and I want to use it now 🙂
Yeah, the problem I had was I didn’t want to lose the time waiting. That’s the worst part; I do have the old RB1 kit, but I bought the new one, want to use the new one and I want to use it now 🙂
circuit city went under hope there not closing the one near you!!!!
circuit city went under hope there not closing the one near you!!!!