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Harmonix: Blame Activision for PS3 Rock Band guitar issues

feeds.joystiq.com — Harmonix has issued a detailed statement saying they created a patch for Guitar Hero controllers to be compatible with Rock Band on PS3, but that Activision blocked Sony from releasing the patch. We must digg this to get attention on this huge customer screw-over.

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  • truspector, on 12/13/2007, -58/+21That is a load of crap. Luckily 360 owners don't have to deal with this issue.
    • Kragnerac, on 12/13/2007, -35/+28Instead, they'll have to deal with the infamous RROD.
      • HotBaconSauce, on 12/13/2007, -2/+20Here we go! My console has a bigger penis than yours!
      • vawksel, on 12/13/2007, -6/+3Never had a RROD here.. Sorry to burst your bubble.
      • cowboy86, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2It's not like Microsoft didn't extend the warranties and replace all RROD Units that were sent in. Instead of failing to repair their units due to dust.
    • Zamfir, on 12/13/2007, -14/+29Truspector is a load of crap, unfortunately Digg has to deal with Microsoft's bum buddy.
    • unusualbob, on 12/13/2007, -20/+5ya, because ms royalties are so high you dont get wireless controllers
      • JoJoDilio, on 12/14/2007, -1/+1To be fair, wireless controllers ARE coming to the 360 version, and its not a delay due to royalties, but rather MS testing any new wireless peripheral technology before allowing a 3rd party to sell it... well, that AND MS wants to be able to sell their own peripheral first.
        Regardless, this issue does NOT effect 360 owners. Their controllers work.
    • DarkSamus, on 12/13/2007, -5/+18this ***** only has the ps3 section checked in his settings
    • BearinG, on 12/13/2007, -7/+3Yet..
      • Entheoddity, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3This cross compatibility of GH guitars is already on the 360...what makes you think they would take that away.
    • Qumahlin, on 12/14/2007, -0/+4I don't understand why everyone is digging trueinspector down. His comment is correct. This issue does not effect 360 owners....
    • millerftw, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2Master-chiefs law, at some point in any conversation on the internet the RROD will be mentioned.
  • Natetendo83, on 12/13/2007, -8/+93Activision can suck my balls
    • skidme, on 12/13/2007, -4/+39Activision isn't as fun as tounging another man's balls.....as it used to be.....I'M NOT GAY!!
      • MDKAOD, on 12/13/2007, -3/+13Yahtzee, is that you...oh.....nevermind, no you're not..
      • stonr2, on 12/13/2007, -1/+3not gay unless balls touch
    • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -2/+15ARGH I AM TORN. Activision, evil! Blizzard, good! Why must the forces of good and evil unite?!

      At any rate, Harmonix is the *****. Their open philosophy is exactly what the music game genre needs to take it's next revolutionary step. Activision isn't interested in growing the genre, expanding and turning it into something amazing, they're interested in a locked down, closed Guitar Hero franchise where once you own the guitars, you can't use them anywhere else and are stuck buying Guitar Hero games or buying totally new peripherals for another brand's games.

      Fortunately for Harmonix, they won't let the genre stagnate. Rock Band is only the beginning, IMO. Tycho from Penny-Arcade has it down, if you ask me. Something bigger will grow out of this.
      • samfishercell, on 12/13/2007, -2/+6Activision - takes 2-3 of the same IPs and drives them in to the ground.
        Blizzard - takes 2-3 of the same IPs and drives them in to the ground...except the games are pretty good....except they take about 15 years a piece to make.

        Blizzard isn't exactly the shining angel eveyone makes them out to be. I'd love to see them be original AND put out more than one game a decade.
    • signal15, on 12/13/2007, -0/+7They are also retarded. Once this patch was released, I was going to buy GHIII so I could use the guitar for a secondary Rock Band guitar. Now, I'm just going to wait for rock band guitars to come out. All this is doing is hurting their sales.
    • Rocketbird, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3You know, the only company (division in this case) I really hated was EA Sports because of the NFL exclusivity license. However, Activision is REALLY starting to get on my nerves with how crappy Guitar Hero 3 has been and how CoD4's online didn't work on college campuses with security software for the longest time.
  • theNazz, on 12/13/2007, -21/+14My guess is that somebody is sabotaging the PS3 release on purpose. Maybe Activision has a deal to put the PS3 in a bad light during the holiday shopping season to slow down the rapid growth of PS3 sales?
    • HolyChimp, on 12/13/2007, -4/+12You forgot /sarcasm
    • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -3/+9Nah, my guess is that Activision doesn't want to help a competitor. More people will be willing to look at Harmonix's games, current and future if they don't have to buy new accessories. Activision doesn't want to see the cost of entry lowered for their competitors, so they're blocking Harmonix from supporting the Guitar Hero accessories.

      It's just like DRM or anything else, artificially locking down consumers for the sake of profits.
      • Deranged, on 12/13/2007, -1/+8But if someone buys their guitar for use on another game... who the hell cares, they made money! They would be helping themselves...
  • skidme, on 12/13/2007, -3/+55This is one of the reasons why I canceled my order for Guitar Hero 3 and bought Rock Band instead.
    • theiss, on 12/13/2007, -15/+3This is the reason I won't be buying either of them.
    • Switchnig, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1if only i was that smart. i wasted $100 on a piece of *****
  • itzmattu, on 12/13/2007, -22/+5Activison not wanting to help the success of a competitors product by enabling the use of their peripherals is a bad thing? It's called business people, you can't run around playing nice games with one another and expect to come out on top. It's like Nintendo letting Sony or Microsoft put out a patch to let you use the WiiMote on their consoles. Honestly...
    • Deranged, on 12/13/2007, -3/+12No. It's not. Honestly...

      We aren't talking about using 360's guitar hero guitars on ps3... we're talking about using an expensive PS3 controller... on the PS3. I'm no PS3 owner for a lot of reasons, money being the biggest. I don't think its fair if you have guitar hero 3 and rockband and can't let your friend come over and play bass using the PS3 guitar (even if it is branded red octane) if he so chooses.
    • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -4/+9Riiight.

      So I suppose DRM is a good thing too, right? it's just business. We can't use our iTunes music on Zunes because I mean, it's just business right?

      Artifically limiting consumers because you want to drive a higher profit for yourself is wrong. Activision is doing nothing but imposing a "HRM" a hardware rights management scheme setup to support their own system, just like Apple does with the iPod. It's wrong when anyone does it.
    • sirbeta, on 12/13/2007, -4/+4It really is bad. It's not like releasing a patch to usee the WiiMote on the 360 or PS3, it's like Deranged said, using an already existing PS3 controller...on the PS3. The article states my views quite nicely on how current hardware should be working openly.
    • bluebirdgm, on 12/13/2007, -1/+8Had the patch been allowed to go through, that would've boosted sales of the PS3 GH3 from Rock Band owners who needed the extra guitar, which isn't available any other way. Without the patch, those RB owners are now left waiting for Harmonix's standalone guitar. How is this a good business decision for Activision?

      Harmonix's next move ought to be to release the standalone guitar now and make people happy.
      • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -2/+2Eh, the GH3 controller > RB controller. This is the consensus we've reached in my household. The new one is shiny and fancy, but the clicking mechanism isn't as crisp and the sound feedback was removed (the click noise) and the shape of the "pick" was redesigned in a way that those who are talented as fast sections on the old guitar are useless at the new ones.
  • NikoK, on 12/13/2007, -1/+6This is what happen when big companies take over small company projects....big companies tend not to care about the community as much as the small ones imo....

    Comparison in this case... RoXoR Games vs Konami (In the Groove VS DDR)
    • DefaultGen, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1Oh the pain :-( RIP In The Groove.
  • weezerjoker2, on 12/13/2007, -51/+6Am I the only one who feels for Activision here? I own both games, and let's face it, while Rock Band is superior, much of it is a complete copy of Guitar Hero's genius. If I were Activision, I'd be stubborn on this issue as well.
    • nosnhojm, on 12/13/2007, -2/+43You do know that Harmonix (maker of Rock Band) made Guitar Hero 1 & 2? It was just Guitar Hero 3 that Activision made.
      • EvilWalksWithMe, on 12/13/2007, -5/+4I realise that, but seeing as Activision is now making the GH games, doesn't anything involved with it now belong to them? I don't understand how Activision got the GH franchise, but didn't get control over the technology with it. someone care to explain?
        • LocalH, on 12/13/2007, -0/+10Activision got everything except the actual game code itself. Rock Band is the direct descendant of GH80s code-wise from what I understand.

          Also, Activision didn't "make" GH3, Neversoft did. Activision has owned RedOctane since before GH2 came out.
        • JoJoDilio, on 12/14/2007, -0/+2That is correct LocalH. Activision got the franchise, not the code. They got the right to make/sell/distribute/etc., new GH games.

          Rock Band is made by the same people who made GH 1 and 2.
  • Libal, on 12/13/2007, -1/+60You do realize that Harmonix created Guitar Hero 1 & 2? Harmonix didn't copy Guitar Hero, they innovated on their original product.
  • mercuryfalling, on 12/13/2007, -14/+3They can be sue for this!
  • Ultrace, on 12/13/2007, -1/+25This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who played Guitar Hero III. The loading screen itself states that you're not authorized to play GH3 with anything other than the official Red Octane guitar or a standard controller. That tells you everything you need to know about their stance on this. The hypocrisy of it is that if I recall correctly, Red Octane started out as a company making third-party peripherals for games and here they are now in bed with a company who deems to stamp out any of the same behavior. And it's sad that Activision, whose games I played (Kaboom!, River Raid, Pitfall, hell even Barnstorming and Stampede) as a child and who even sent me patches for games because I wrote to them once, has become "that kind" of company.

    I'm fortunate enough to have the XB360 version of the Les Paul, but I feel for the PS3 users. Rock Band is such an incredible experience--far beyond anything GH3 could hope to provide--and for me, the LP has always been a great controller. To lose out on that fourth person really hurts when it's something that could be remedied so simply. Three people is great, but four is epic.
    • JoJoDilio, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1Activision is more or less just owned by "that kind of company". It's sad.
      It really is too bad. I know GH3 has thrown a few new things into the game, but it really does feel like the same game with an updated playlist to me.
  • Mullinsmcd, on 12/13/2007, -2/+16For me its extremely weird to be supporting EA and hating Activision. Either way, I own Rock Band for PS3 and I will not be buying Guitar Hero 3 or any future release until they show some signs of stopping their individualistic business tactics that screw over gamers. I wish we could get the mass media to cover this but I'm afraid that this is too small of a story for them to touch.
    • Cerebral, on 12/13/2007, -0/+5No it just needs the proper spin like: Activision is a group of Iranian terrorists.
      • Mullinsmcd, on 12/13/2007, -0/+4heh yeah with the obligatory question mark
        "Activision working with Iran on WMD?"
        • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3Don't say that, because they WILL run a story about "AMD working with Iran on WMD" due to the supercomputer story. And then we'll see AMD die and lose all competition in the processor market and go back to stagnant ***** like Intel and the P3/early P4 age.
  • Ablerank, on 12/13/2007, -1/+24I will never buy another Guitar Hero game. Activision just ***** themselves in the asses.
  • sotopheavy, on 12/13/2007, -1/+32Open letter to Harmonix: leak that ***** to the internet post haste!
    Open letter to Activision: FU!!
    • Cerebral, on 12/13/2007, -0/+6That's what I was thinking. Why do they have to "officially" release it through SONY? Can't the PS3 surf the internet? Can't the PS3 take a memory card or two? Just release the "unoffical" patch and vuala. Not only that but I'll bet that now that this news has hit the community will have their own "patch" soon enough.
      • nicktheawesome, on 12/13/2007, -2/+8Vuala? Voila? Are you a retarded person?
      • Scira, on 12/13/2007, -1/+3he tried, at least give him credit for that.
      • Bamborzled, on 12/14/2007, -0/+2Better than people who try to write it "viola".
  • Takfam, on 12/13/2007, -20/+2This is a non story. If I buy a digital camera that takes SD cards and I buy a flash memory card, can I sue the maker of the flash card for not making it compatible to what I own? Flash cards go in digital cameras, but not the particular one I own. GH guitars are used to play a guitar video game, but if you own Rock Band, the guitar won't play the particular game you own.

    Here's one that may hit a little closer to home for diggers: If I have an HD-DVD player and I buy a Blu-Ray DVD, can I sue Sony because the Blu-Ray won't play high end video on my HD player?
    • dmthomas, on 12/13/2007, -0/+9This example is entirely invalid. The correct example would be... If I had an HD-DVD player and the manufacturer MADE it compatible with Blu-Ray and then the Blu-Ray association blocked that functionality.
      • Takfam, on 12/13/2007, -5/+2It is valid. Blu-Ray is a proprietary format and thus, property of the one who owns it (Sony, not the "blu-ray association" as you so aptly put it). If you do not like the practices of the owner, don't use the format. You are not being forced to use the format, so how is it fair that you force the proprietor to be compliant with a format that you chose to use?
    • rhesuspieces00, on 12/13/2007, -0/+6thats not an accurate comparison. suppose you bought a sony camera that is bundled with an SD card. AFTER buying the camera, sony announces that you can only use sony-brand SD cards with the camera, and the sony SD card can't be used with anything but sony products. The sony SD card is functionally identical to any other SD card, except it costs 50% more than other SD cards, and compatibility with non-sony devices has been disabled.

      And yes, you can sue for that.
      • Takfam, on 12/13/2007, -3/+1Sony did do this. It's called the memory stick and no one bitches about it. All-in-one card readers even include it as a valid format.
        • dmthomas, on 12/13/2007, -0/+4Yea except everyone did complain.. and Sony licensed the MagicGate technology so that 3rd parties could make MemorySticks and now the prices are much more reasonable.

          Takfam, you have like 50% of the data you need to form a good argument on anything technology related. I suggest you read up.
        • Takfam, on 12/13/2007, -2/+1...said the one attacking my education instead of my talking points. "Ad hominem" look it up.
        • dmthomas, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3I'm attacking your lack of data in making a false talking point. The reason MemorySticks are in the All-in-one card readers is because the technology was finally licensed when everyone complained. Sooooo... that makes your point WRONG, because you had half the story. i.e. 50% of the data you need.

          Only 1/3 of your statement was correct. "Sony did do this." And then they corrected it when everyone complained.
        • ShinRaTDR, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1"Sony did do this."
          No, Its a different shape entirely, and while possibly the same technology, was distinctly a different format, they didn't lock out SD cards after purchase, so they did not do this.

          "and no one bitches about it."
          Lots of people bitch about it, espcecially with SD technology advancing and becoming faster & cheaper.

          "All-in-one card readers even include it as a valid format."
          What is your point? Some card readers have it, some don't. Just like some have XD Picture Card, Fujifilm's format.
    • Deranged, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1I must disagree. HD-DVD player is a player for HD-DVDs. A PS3 guitar is a controller with which you play a game on PS3.
      What we need to look at is that this is a controller you're buying. Just like *very* few people will own a HD-DVD player and a blu-ray player, very few people will purchase both games, this will most likely decrease Activision's profits, since nobody in the right mind would pick a game with a restriction on the instruments you can play (though i love both games, if i had to choose just one, i wouldn't wanna give up the option of using drums... I feel strongly that many others think the same way).
      • Takfam, on 12/13/2007, -3/+1You own the controller for use with a specific game with no guarantee or offer to use said controller on other games. To expect Activision to enable you to do so is ludicrous. That kind of compatibility would be unheard of 10 years ago and now people feel entitled to it? That says something about today's gamers.
        • dmthomas, on 12/13/2007, -0/+2We don't expect Activision to support it... Harmonix wrote a patch. Activision is blocking it's deployment.

          Let me put it to you this way...
          I write a driver for a usb whatever for Linux... the company says.. No you can't do that.. WTF?
        • Takfam, on 12/13/2007, -1/+1Then you would choose a different "usb whatever" and not support that company.
        • dmthomas, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Also, if anything that kind of compatibility was much more possible 10, let's try 25 years ago. Someone makes a special controller. Random game developer of 1 person in a garage hooks the controller up to an oscilliscope and figures out what they need to do to read its input.
        • Deranged, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1@Takfam
          But what if you already bought that expensive "usb whatever" for another purpose as well...

          What i'm getting at is, by christmas I'll own both games for 360. Why? Because both games have awesome songs that aren't available on the other.
  • Exstatica, on 12/13/2007, -16/+1Seriously? People are getting upset because a competitor won't support their product? Why doesn't rockband release a patch that can read guitar hero guitars? That would be the more Business thing to do. If i had a product I might refuse to support my competitor. If they can't make my guitar work with their software thats their fault not mine.
    • dmthomas, on 12/13/2007, -2/+7You obviously can't read more than a headline. Try reading the article. Harmonix made the patch Activision c0ckblocked it.
    • Bakkster, on 12/13/2007, -2/+4RTFA has never needed to be said more.
  • LocalH, on 12/13/2007, -14/+9http://digg.com/playstation/Activision_blocks_rele ...

    Dugg down for being a dupe. This one links to Joystiq, while the other, GOOD story links to Harmonix themselves.
  • dhVyse, on 12/13/2007, -3/+10Wow. Just wow. I mean, I have rockband on 360 so I don't have to worry, but that is some shady ***** right there. ***** you activition. Joining the ranks of crappy unfriendly-with-end-users companies like EA.
    • Malhavoc, on 12/13/2007, -0/+4You do realize EA is the ones distributing the game, right? From what I hear the experience with getting replacement instruments through them is very user-friendly
    • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -0/+4EA distributes Rock Band and support Harmonix's position (or at least doesn't interfere) for open guitar standards between all music games. Strange, no?
    • 33PercentGod, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Actually,EA is starting to turn themselves around if you ask me. Activision is now taking over the spot of the old EA.

      What surprising times.
  • HappyScrappy, on 12/13/2007, -9/+4dupity dupe.
  • dhVyse, on 12/13/2007, -17/+11Not enough people own a PS3 for this to be a relevent issue. Don't hate me because I'm right.
    • Jls900, on 12/14/2007, -0/+0What? Are you serious? You clearly have no PS3, while I have 3 PS3's.
  • RandaII, on 12/13/2007, -15/+2Guys you diggers are a bunch of assholes. Activision made the game they made the idea and they put tons and tons of research in to Guitar Hero. So Ea made a game called rock band that rips off Guitar Hero. Yeah rockband is cool but activision is the one who is protecting their rights. Go ***** you selves you selfish diggers. I support activison on this one even though the same people are working on rock band. activision paid for everything and they own the rights.
    • markusfarkus, on 12/13/2007, -2/+1I can certainly understand protecting intellectual property. But if they don't want you to use other guitars then they should have put 2 guitars in the box! They made a game that's supposed to be played by 4 people but only provide peripherals for 3.
      • phoofy, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1And that would be Harmonix or EA's fault, not Activision's.
    • SantaDuJuan, on 12/13/2007, -3/+6....Idiot.
    • knowitman, on 12/13/2007, -0/+7Actually Activision bought the rights to make Guitar Hero from the company that originally made Guitar Hero, the company who now makes Rock Band. Know your facts.
    • Cerebral, on 12/13/2007, -3/+1Yes they did do all the R&D into the game however why should I not be allowed to use my HARDWARE on any other games? If anything you would think that they would encourage this to sell more of the hardware (which they hold patents for etc.) which in turn could equal more sales as most would probably just pick up GHIII w/guitar instead of just a guitar. They didn't rip anything off here, they took an idea and expanded upon it. The first rule in business is that if you fail to evolve then you will go extinct. Releasing the same game 3 times with little additions each time (like a madden game) is NOT evolving.
      • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1They DID NOT DO THE R&D.

        Harmonix did ALL OF IT. And they're the ones putting out the patch. Activision bought up the game and shat out a new version, changing nothing and doing no research at all. Just cashing in.
    • bluebathysphere, on 12/13/2007, -0/+0Yeah, omg, don't hurt big business' feelings.
    • dmthomas, on 12/13/2007, -1/+5Alright, get your facts straight. Activision didn't make Guitar Hero 3. Neversoft did. EA didn't make Rock Band. Harmonix did. Publishers and Developers are two different things. OH and wait..

      Harmonix also made Guitar Hero 1 and 2... and then sold the rights. Activision didn't do all this work you claim. Neither did anyone expect Activision to make their guitar work with another game.

      We're angry because Activision is blocking the patch that Harmonix wants to release for THEIR game. You can't own the rights to another developer's patches. Sony needs to step up and let them release the patch for THEIR game.
    • Deranged, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1I won't call you an *****, but you are very badly misinformed. I suppose you must've just assumed that since activision has a part in guitar hero 3, they were the one doing the research on the guitars. Maybe you even think that because their name is on the third installment that they had something to do with 1 and 2. Unfortunately, no, this isn't true, in fact, it's the opposite of the truth... As for who did the "tons and tons" of research... that's still red octane.
      Red octane is the company that was formerly famous for third party hardware, including a metal DDR pad for PS2... Now they are famous for making Guitar Hero. I honestly doubt Activision had the first bit to do with the engineering and creation of the guitar... Activision is not and has never been a hardware maker...
  • kriminalintent, on 12/13/2007, -20/+18I feel bad for the PS3 owners..... wait, No i dont. Why did you buy a ps3 in the first place. see! this is what you get!
    • Typhoon2009, on 12/13/2007, -1/+5Don't worry, I heard MS is shipping your 360 back from Red Light Mercy Hospital tomorrow.
  • ConcernedCitizn, on 12/13/2007, -0/+6This is dumb on activisions part... You cant buy an extra guitar for rock band yet(2nd quarter of next year)... people want to buy an extra guitar to use for rockband. So why not fill the need. Activision could be selling tons of copies of GH3 by allowing rock band to use the GH3 guitar.. instead they are being dumb and disallowing it.... Not smart at all...

    Im also sorry to say that rock band is a much more fun product than GH3... I own both, and seriously prefer the rock band.. As do all the friends I have who come over regularly to play rock band... We do set up gh3 on a secondary tv to allow newbies to practice before they play rockband, but rockband is the game everyone wants to play.... So this second paragraph points out an even larger reason Activision needs to allow Rock Band to use GH3 guitar... Activision needs to get people hooked on their product, and if it fills a void, then people are going to be much more likely to buy their product, and possibly later versions of it as well...

    Now all they are doing is pissing people off so that they want to wait for 2nd quarter of next year to buy more stuff from harmonix(rock band). I sent an email to activision support.. maybe if enough people complain they will allow it, or at least come out with a good explanation of why they wont allow it...
    • Cdog923, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3The main thing that RB has going for it is the variety you get while playing it. Rock Band has a much bigger setlist, but the songs are overall better in GH3, as is the Guitar (the Rock Band Guitar is terrible). And allowing "newbies" to "practice" on GH3 before playing Rock Band? Please, GH3 is by far the harder of the two (not counting the retarded drum part). Don't get me wrong, they're both very fun games. However, the setlist, and guitar peripheral put GH3 above Rock Band, in my oh so humble opinion.
      • GamingTrend, on 12/13/2007, -0/+6Some of us are enjoying the 'retarded drum part'. Damned guitarists, always trying to keep us percussionists down....
      • doshindude, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3most say the "retarded drum part" that you speak of is the BEST FEATURE of rock band. I sure as hell think it is.
    • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -1/+1A lot of people already own GH3 and want to use the controller. Very few are going to buy GH3 just for Rock Band, so to them, this equates to hurting RB therefore boosting GH3.
      • ConcernedCitizn, on 12/13/2007, -0/+0Again, if I had rockband and wanted an extra guitar, then I either wait til harmonix sells guitars next year, or I pay $170.00+tax for the full kit and only need the extra guitar. Activision could fill a void and allow people to buy GH3 and get a second guitar for rockband and also get their product into peoples hands who might well prefer GH3 and subsequently buy another GH3 copy so they can play dual guitars on GH3....I'm not asking activision to allow rock band guitar on gh3(although that would be nice).
        I personally loved gh1 and gh2, but I dont own a ps2. So i was only allowed to play when someone brought their ps2 over. I bought a ps3 a while back and waited for gh3 so i could play on my PS3.... I didnt feel it was right that I had to buy another copy of GH3 in order to get a second guitar, so I held off for a while... At this point I dont want to buy an extra copy of GH3, for two reasons: 1) I prefer rock band, and 2) Activision is really irking me off with this not allowing others to play their game.
  • bigsteve, on 12/13/2007, -12/+1Am I the only one that thinks it makes more sense to spend the time with a real guitar? If some of my friends put the time they put into GH into learning a real instrument, they'd have a record contract by now.

    Just sayin'.
    • betterth, on 12/13/2007, -1/+2No they wouldn't. Guitar is very difficult to become proficient at. Musical instruments are very different from video games. I play Guitar Hero / Rock Band to relax, drink some beers and hang out with my friends. I practice on an instrument to better myself and as a hobby. I love playing an instrument but I would not substitute relaxing with actually learning and practicing.

      That, and you should read Tycho from Penny-Arcade's ideas on the future of simulated instruments. It's a very interesting idea.

      Oh and getting to hard/expert on Rock Band takes a couple of days of practice, but mastering an instrument takes year of dedicated work, lol.
      • bigsteve, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1I'm a very big fan of Tycho and Penny Arcade. I like his idea.
        I didn't imply that goals achieved in a video game are equal to goals achieved in learning an instrument. I didn't imply that you could achieve mastery in each in the same amount of time.
    • mcgrew, on 12/13/2007, -1/+2Amen. I always think the same thing when I watch people play. Instead of making me want to buy/play the game it makes me want to go home and play my guitar.
      • bigsteve, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1If you like playing, good for you. Glad you're enjoying yourselves. I just think some of the extremes to which people take it are silly, considering how they're obviously improving their hand/eye coordination, and are able to complete complex button (fret) combinations without error.

        Judging by my original post score, I've struck a nerve with some.
    • cheddar, on 12/13/2007, -1/+3hey i got a great idea! why not go play for the NFL/NBA/NHL instead of playing those games on the console?
      • bigsteve, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Are you serious? Because that makes no sense. Competing in professional sports requires a completely different immense level of commitment. The training, and conditioning it takes to play a professional sport, the years that most pro athletes spend playing sports in highschool and college, the different choices I would have had to make to take that route in my life, not to mention that you'd have to be able to get into and stay in that physical shape. If you wanted to stay within the realms of reality (which you've clearly escaped,) you could compare it to purchasing a $7 NERF football, and getting some exercise playing touch football with friends in your yard.

        I'm comparing holding a plastic guitar, to holding a slightly larger guitar with strings instead of buttons. And instead of looking at a screen and reacting to moving colors, you look at maybe a youtube vid for some free lessons.

        I could play any first person shooter, but why do that when I could join the army?
        • cheddar, on 12/13/2007, -1/+1"requires a completely different immense level of commitment"

          That is exactly my point, playing an instrument requires much more dedication, practice, commitment, and money than a video game. Which would you're average joe-shmoe be more inclined to do? If you think picking up an instrument is easy, you're either musically inclined, or have never touched and instrument in your life. It's a lot of hard work, video games are not.
    • martelo, on 12/13/2007, -1/+3I hate the "why don't you just play the real guitar?" argument so, so very much.

      ^^right on, cheddar.
  • Cdog923, on 12/13/2007, -7/+1I don't see how this is a bad thing...Activision doesn't want a competitor to be able to use their product for their own benefit. It's like me wanting to sleep with your mom, and you running out to get the alcohol and condoms for me.
    • ConcernedCitizn, on 12/13/2007, -1/+0You analogy is flawed.... it's actually like me wanting to sleep with someone else, and I just want to steal your alcohol and condoms to use elsewhere. of course I dont think you would want the condom and alcohol back.... As someone else pointed out, both games are good, so why piss people off and give them a reason to choose to spend their money elsewhere.
      • threedaysatsea, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1I prefer to see it as a "Hey, I'm going to sleep with your mom's best friend Deborah, let me pay you a hundred bucks to buy those condoms and alcohol from you." "No." "But Xbox did it!!!"

        I feel it is a much more accurate representation.
    • Fargalas, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Read the damn comments, Cdog. Neversoft developed Guitar Hero 3, and ONLY 3. Harmonix, the developer behind Rock Band, created and developed the idea of Guitar Hero, which was published as Guitar Hero 1 and 2. They later sold the rights because they didn't want to keep making the same game, and created Rock Band, a far superior product.

      If you want a proper analogy, this is like your buddy sleeping with your mom, stealing your booze, beating your girlfriend, and pissing in your sink. Then your other buddies defend this fool, just like you're defending Activision.
    • hollismb, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Wow, I think you're way off too. It's actually that MTV bought Harmonix, so they couldn't make Guitar Hero anymore, even if they wanted to, since Activision owns the publishing rights to the franchise.
  • missingnoh4x, on 12/13/2007, -0/+14First they decided to put mono sound in the Wii version of a goddamn rhythm game, now this. What the hell is wrong with Activision?
  • doshindude, on 12/13/2007, -1/+7Choke on your greed, Activision, choke on it.
  • BIGJHUB, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Activision really should die. wtf have you done for us anyway?
    • Snakedal337, on 12/13/2007, -0/+2Did you miss a sarcasm tag or are you really that young?
  • kinggimped, on 12/13/2007, -4/+3Welcome to capitalism, people!
    • craigm01, on 12/13/2007, -2/+1Of course without capitalism, there would be no Harmonix, Activision, or PS3, Xbox or Wii to play them on.
  • blaket, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3I really don't get this. Rock Band will sell to whoever it is that wants the game, no matter what Activision does, so instead of getting nothing out of those music game interested folks they could sell them a guitar and make some money off of a lost user, but instead say no you can't buy and use one of our guitars? Stupid self-foot shooting reaction if you ask me.
  • Henron, on 12/13/2007, -1/+4
  • cyberjunky3, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Activision blows chunks...
  • infoman5, on 12/13/2007, -0/+2I guess Activision probably is oblivious to all this. I purchased Rock Band on PS3 for my kids for Christmas. Since we needed another guitar controller I purchased the Guitar Hero III bundle thinking that we would have the extra guitar we would need and get a new game as a bonus. Well, since the GH III controller won't work with RB I am returning the GH III bundle. Not sure who is running the ship there at Activision, but they are definitely hurting their bottom line. Hopefully, some of their smarter investors will contact them and help curtail this loss of sales before the Christmas Season is over.
  • Typhoon2009, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3I wish Logitech would make a sexy guitar (preferably based on the Les Paul, that's a sexy guitar) for the PS3 that was BLUETOOTH (not this USB dongle garbage) and worked on both games. I'd buy it in an instant.
  • DirtySnachez, on 12/13/2007, -2/+2yay.
  • sneakybeaver, on 12/13/2007, -1/+0Nice
  • Dan11023, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3Write to Activision!

    mlataif@activision.com (valid) Maryanne Lataif - VP - Corporate Communications
    ir@activision.com investor relations (valid)
    hr@activision.com human resourses (valid)
    support@activision.com(no longer works) cs7@activision.com(got back an automated response to use the support form on their website) customer support

    Robert Kotick bkotick@activision.com (valid)
    CEO

    Assistants to Robert Kotick
    Connie Fox cfox@activision.com (valid)
    Lauren Barry lbarry@activision.com(valid)
  • 33PercentGod, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1EA is actually starting to turn themselves around and now Activision has actually taken over the spot of the old EA.

    Activision needs a boot in their ass.
  • truzilla, on 12/14/2007, -1/+1i am currently invested in activision stock because they are definitely growing especially with their recent merging with vivendi (WOW) but this news definitely hurts their stance as a successful developer. I originally got into their company and stock because i loved the direction they were going with GH and such but I am definitely doing to be writing to them regarding this issue, hope you all do too! (I also have RB for PS3 and thats just another reason to write!)
  • xenonflash, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1One issue other than the GH3 guitar compatibility in the PS3 version of Rock Band that is not being addressed is in both versions. I really, really wish the Rock Band guitar was compatible with GH3. I'm going to be getting a 360 and Rock Band this X-mas and would like to be able to buy GH3 by itself and use my RB guitar, not spend $100 for the bundle.
  • gamerzworld, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1It isn't Activision anymore, it's Activision Blizzard!
  • ChaoticCheez, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1This isn't Activision's fault...It's Blizzavision's fault! ;)
  • TheCitan, on 12/14/2007, -0/+0Here's what Activision is saying:

    "To Music Gaming Fans:

    The recent announcement by MTV Games/Viacom’s Harmonix division that Activision is blocking Sony from releasing a patch and their plea to enable Rock Band software to work with Guitar Hero hardware paints a very misleading picture.

    In fact, Harmonix and its parent company MTV Games/Viacom recently declined Activision’s offer to reach an agreement that would allow the use of Guitar Hero guitar controllers with Rock Band. We have been and remain open to discussions with Harmonix and MTV Games/Viacom about the use of our technology in Rock Band. Unfortunately for Rock Band users, in this case Harmonix and MTV Games/Viacom are unwilling to discuss an agreement with Activision.

    Activision’s top priority is to provide consumers with a seamless marriage of best-in-class hardware and software. We are focusing our efforts on innovating hardware and software that are designed to work together, work flawlessly and provide an enjoyable gaming experience.

    Best regards,

    Activision
  • Camdog916, on 12/14/2007, -0/+0Us gamers don't care whos fault it is. While you multi-billion dollar organizations are arguing like toddlers over a couple of toy guitars, we'll be over here being disgusted. Just tell us when you're done. Seriously, drop the he said/she said crap, do like Tim Gunn and make it work already, please.
  • TheKappa, on 12/17/2007, -0/+2As I've already posted, I was going to get Guitar Hero III tonight. I'm spending the extra money on Rock Band instead. Activision can suck my taint.
  • infoman5, on 12/18/2007, -0/+1So, basically since Harmonix or MTV/Viacom won't "agree" to pay Activision butt loads of cash they can't install a patch to their own game. Hmmm... sounds like Activision wants us all to bend over.
  • annexprojekt, on 12/30/2007, -0/+0Just played RB for the first time for about 4 hours straight... it's terrific for more fun that GH... we need to get this second guitar controller!!! These companies need to get over the BS...
  • bunnytrigger, on 01/31/2008, -0/+1i tried emailing activision, but they denied my email since it contained profanity...
    i had to go back and say F.U.C.K you activision
  • fubar7, on 04/27/2008, -0/+0Here's a little comic about the whole f'd up situation....
    http://www.fubarwithacrowbar.com/teehee/index.php? ...
  •  

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