I own Guitar Hero (PS2), Guitar Hero II (PS2), Guitar Hero II (360), Guitar Hero III (360), and Rock Band (360). I own FIVE plastic guitars, a mic, and a drum set from those games. It’s quite ridiculous. The path that led to my situation is quite frustrating and should’ve been much easier. I can point fingers at a lot of people along the way (and I have, don’t worry… I wouldn’t be true to myself if I hadn’t vented) but I read some news today that simultaneously made me feel better about someone finally “getting” the problem, but at the same time it pisses me off that they didn’t “get it” before I laid down my cash and started my journey in a direction that will be expensive to correct.
Curious what I’m talking about? Find out after the jump…
Michael Shorrock posted to the Playstation Blog today to reassure Playstation owners that he’s working hard as the director of 3rd Party Relations to make sure all the upcoming music games hardware all works with competing products. In other words, if he does what he says he’s doing, your Rock Band 2 drum kit will work with Guitar Hero World Tour and vice versa. That’s a great step forward for folks inclined to buy multiple products, especially when the two lead products Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour will be played with a microphone, two guitars and a drum kit. It means gamers with a budget can buy one bundle and the disc-only version of the other game.
With these bundles increasing in price year after year and the “full band” models edging up to the $200 line, any potential savings a consumer may see down the road is something to seriously consider. The reliability issues I’ve experienced first hand REALLY led me to favor the PS3 for my Guitar Hero III/Rock Band gaming but the infighting between Harmonix and Red Octane led to guitars from Guitar Hero III and Rock Band not being interchangeable on the PS3 (when the competing Xbox 360 versions were). This caused me to really decide if it meant enough for me to have to either go without a 2nd guitar, or spend an additional $70+ on a guitar. In the end, I opted to go with the 360 (and subsequently had my 360 die on me… then I got sent a broken replacement… it’s a sad, but not terribly unusual story.) Had the instruments been cross-title compatible I would’ve probably initially bought it for the PS3 (which on the whole has been incredible more reliable than the 360 platform.).
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Kiltman67 // Aug 18, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I’m hoping we’ll see similar support on the 360. Never bought Rock Band, so all going well my plan is to buy all the Guitar Hero World Tour kit and then pick up the standalone games for Rock Band.
2 RK1 FaMiCuS // Aug 18, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I believe this Rant should be modified and aimed at Activision since they were the one originally not wanting the instruments to be cross compatible. Also the Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360 controller works with Guitar Hero 3 (Xbox 360) and Rock Band (360) so having two extra controllers seems to be your fault on the matter. All in all, aim this one at Activision, Haramonix isn’t at fault here.
3 Rich // Aug 18, 2008 at 3:58 pm
and they should make a fold up one for me that deliberatly dosn’t look anything like a guitar cos I’d be far too embarassed to answer any questions about those if I brought someone home.
4 Sean "Rothbart" Workman // Aug 18, 2008 at 4:58 pm
@RK1 FaMiCuS: I can’t play GHI/II on my PS3, so it stays also aimed at Harmonix. They all get my scornful eye.
I didn’t mention it, but I also resent buying GHII for the 360 under the (false) impression that it’d be well supported by DLC. It wasn’t… it was overpriced and largely content I (as a GH fan) already owned from the first game.
5 RK1 FaMiCuS // Aug 18, 2008 at 5:50 pm
@Rothbart
How is Haramonix fault with Guitar Hero 1/2, Activision were the ones that published it, they should of been working with Sony on that. Also the PS3 wasn’t out yet so they really didn’t know how to develop for it. Plus it doesn’t help Sony has shown what the really think about Backwards Compatibility. So that is mainly Sony’s fault, Haramonix has shown how much they care about their community and try to help them all the time (and don’t even get into that bundle/non bundle crap).
6 Sean "Rothbart" Workman // Aug 19, 2008 at 12:02 am
@RK1 FaMiCuS: Activision wasn’t involved until Guitar Hero III, they had nothing to do with GH I and II, they were developed by Harmonix, and published by Red Octane.
The new guitars (for either Rock Band or Guitar Hero) should’ve come with SOME way to emulate the old guitars… if we can do it via an adapter now, they couldn’t done it back then too.
7 kim andre // Aug 19, 2008 at 2:11 pm
i dont care if the guitar can be used on both game becose here in norway rock band has not come out jet for the ps3 IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND WEE STILL DOUS NOT HAVE ROCK BAND >:(
8 RK1 FaMiCuS // Aug 19, 2008 at 2:32 pm
@Rothbart
So then get on Red Octane case, how is Haramonix suppose to fix something they can’t work on anymore? Yes, they should of came with something to emulate the older guitars, but Haramonix can’t touch the old GH guitars to make them work with the new game since it is not their product. Red Octane and Activision and Neversoft are the ones running the Guitar Hero show now, they are the only ones that can fix it, not Haramonix.
9 RK1 FaMiCuS // Aug 20, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Why is my comment is awaiting moderation?
10 RK1 FaMiCuS // Aug 22, 2008 at 11:13 am
So I guess I win.
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