Customer Reviews

Xbox 360 Rock Band Stage Kit

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just picked this up after several weeks of considering it to be a very expensive novelty...$100 for an audio-sensing light show and fog machine? Heck...you can pick up a ton of stuff at a local Spencer's Gifts for that price, so why bother with this? It was only when I read that the kit actually SYNCS with the music in Rock Band 2 that I took a closer look.

This kit does NOT use cheap audio sensors to work, e.g. the lights aren't dependent on the beat to function like some cheap novelty light from Spencer's. Instead, each song in Rock Band 1/2 has a specific light show that has been specifically programmed to match, and the kit automatically senses and responds to the songs you've selected. The synchronization is UNCANNY. The strobe fires in JUST the right parts, and is used very sparingly so as not to diminish the effect. The timing of the fogger kicking on is also quite good. For example, it will automatically turn on a few seconds before a killer guitar solo so that you have a great cloud around you when it begins...NICE.

Pros:
1. Now that I have played RB with this kit, playing without it is NOT the same. I'm spoiled with this kit...it makes fake-rocking-out SO much more fun. The fun factor of Rock Band, which is great to begin with, goes right over the top with this kit.
2. Setup is fast and easy. Simply plug the LED unit into the fogger, then plug the fogger into the wall and power up the heating element. It takes perhaps 30 seconds or so to reach operating temperature. Plug the kit into one of the USB ports on the Xbox, and power it on. The unit will do the rest.
3. The fog that came with the unit seemed to dissipate pretty quickly, and was essentially odorless, however I have cathedral ceilings where the unit is used, so a smaller room would likely be much more concentrated in terms of the density of the fog. After about 45 minutes of playing, the entire lower level of my house had a nice haze, but it was completely dissipated after about 15 minutes or so.
4. Durability seems pretty good on the fogger. It seems to be solidly built and resembles the nicer foggers you see for sale around Halloween.
5. As stated above, integration with the game is EXCELLENT. Lots of different patterns with the LED kit, and once you've got some decent fog in the room, the lights really add an interesting dynamic to the game, almost resembling lasers when the lens is set to maximum focus.

Cons:
1. The container of fog solution that comes with the kit is perhaps a half-liter, and does not last long at all. I spent the entire bottle in under an hour, and some songs definitely use more fog than others. I'd recommend buying additional water-based fog solution (I have been unable to locate any official RB fluid locally) ASAP...you will go through the starter bottle very quickly. I ran out and now need to go to Guitar Center or a local party store to buy more.
2. The red and yellow LEDs in the unit are pretty underpowered, though the blue and green are quite bright. It would have been nicer had the red/yellow LEDs been brighter, but they still work quite well in a darkened room. (note - any significant ambient light in the room will heavily diminish the effect, so play in the dark!)
3. The fog machine is a bit noisy when it is firing, but that's nothing that turning up the volume won't fix. :-)
4. The cable that connects the fogger to the LED unit is ridiculously short, perhaps 3-4' max. This forces you to put the units rather close together...not a bad thing, but it limits some flexibility unless you get a longer cable.

Overall, this unit is a great addition to Rock Band 2 if you can afford the price. Were it not for the syncing of the music to the kit, I'd say it was overpriced, but now that I have the kit, I don't regret the purchase at all, and my kids absolutely LOVE it.

Full LED light and strobe show with a fog machine, all of it synchronized to the game. It works really well and gives the whole gameplay a much more full experience. With the nearly $100 price tag, it certainly isn't for everyone. In particular, it's not for people that would have a problem with their friends mocking them for having a synchronized light and smoke kit for a video game with plastic instruments.

The unit itself is pretty well built and professionally done. It works seemlessly with Rock Band and setup is pretty much as simple as pouring in the fog juice, plugging it into your 360 and loading the game. The only downside to using it is that if you have a singer, they have to use the light show's base unit as a control pad.

I was originally pretty hesitant about purchasing this. 100 bucks is not necessarily a lot of money, but this is definitely a frivolous purchase with the potential to be a complete waste of money. I was pleasantly surprised, as this thing turned out to be much more fun then I had anticipated. It really adds a new dynamic to the game, and it is an awesome addition to group jam sessions. I would not advise you sit in your living room alone and jam out with some fog and lights, as this would immediately make you a tool. However, with the addition of some pals and some booze, this thing quickly becomes the coolest gaming add-on ever. The one caveat is that the fogging unit is probably too generous with the fog. If you leave the machine on through an entire three song set, chances are you will not be able to see your hand in front of your face by the end, and you may pass out from affixation. This is a small price to pay for something so sweet, and if you had the guts to buy this despite the looks from everyone you know, then things like affixation probably don't bother you. I set the smoke alarms off in my building three times, and my neighbors hate me. I justify it but letting my neighbors know I enjoy rocking out, and frankly I don't like them anyway. If you have 100 bucks to burn, and you frequently have friends over for RockBand "gathering", buy this, you will not be disappointed.

Stage Kit is great and really fun for Rock Band and Rock Band 2 but it sadly does not work with Rock Band 3.
Hopefully Harmonix/EA will fix this glitch, otherwise the kit will be obsolete.

I only managed to have the stage kit for a few days laying RB2 before 3 came out. It was amazing, it completely changes the way the game feels. If you still play RB2 and love it then this is the thing to get. Unfortunately, Harmonix confirmed TODAY that the stage kit WILL NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH ROCKBAND 3! Do not buy this thinking it'll work. It doesn't work now and apparently never will... However, it works just great with RB2 and Original RB. I gave this product the highest score because we will still break it out at parties playing RB2 and it's always a big hit.

This thing is great. Seriously it is amazing and I can't believe it is less than $100. The multi-color LED lights are really good (mostly at night) and the show is impressive and programmed for every song. The fog machine has a strobe light built in that fires at the perfect time. The unit plugs into one of the USB ports and acts as the singers controller.

Just look up rock band stage kit on youtube and you will be sold. One thing I figured out after the first night I smoked out the entire house is that if you dilute the fog solution 50 percent or more with distilled water is seems to be less dense. But try it at full effect the first time just so you have something to talk about with your friends, if you can find them in the room.

This stage kit has been a great addition to our Rock Band parties! Unfortunately, now about 8 months later, we think we may have fried the fog machine by waiting one song too long to refill it. If anyone is interested in seeing this in action, check out our youtube video at [...]

This has seriously upped the rock band experience by 100% Sure its hokey and silly but thats part of what playing giant fake plastic instruments in your living room is about right? dont listen to the naysayers, fog and lights sound dumb on paper but put a few drinks back and fog and lights sound like an awesome idea. And they are!!

I was a bit hesitant to buy the stage kit, as it seemed like a goofy and slightly expensive idea for a peripheral. After purchasing it though and playing through quite a few songs, I cannot express how much fun this adds to Rock Band. The lights add a lot of atmosphere when playing the game (given that you're playing in a dark room). I look forward to bringing this neat device to all future Rock Band parties!

This thing doesn't just randomly blink at you. It's cued up to the lights that actually happen in the game. The full effect is only truly felt when the room is full of fog, though, so make sure to stock up on fog juice. Yes the fog juice smells funny when it turns into fog, but it won't hurt you.

What's even better is that Harmonix added support for the Stage Kit into Rock Band 3!! All 3000+ songs support it!!