Harmonix is aiming for harmony in the music game world, but some sour notes are coming from Activision as of late.
Last week, one of our sources said that Activision could be behind the delayed release of the Rock Band controller compatibility patch, which would let gamers use their Guitar Hero III controllers with Rock Band on the PS3. And then, things started to come together when we witnessed Red Octane's snarlings a few days back. Now we get the full story from a statement from Harmonix, sent to us today.
Two weeks ago, Harmonix created a software patch for the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 version of Rock Band that allowed for guitar compatibility and support for third party peripherals, including enabling use of Activision's Guitar Hero III controller with Rock Band. The compatibility patch was submitted, approved and had been scheduled for release by Sony on Tuesday, December 4. Unfortunately, Activision objected to the release of the compatibility patch. The patch remains with Sony, but we have been told that it will unfortunately not be released due to Activision's continued objection.
Harmonix would like for Activision to reverse their decision, and would like to see Rock Band controllers work with Guitar Hero III. They go on to say that they welcome third-parties to join in, and will "and will provide any required support in order for them to do so."
Red Octane has stated their reasons for not allowing Rock Band controllers to work with their game, but why block GHIII controllers from working with Rock Band? That just seems mean. C'mon, you used to be buddies!
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
4:25 PM on 12.12.2007
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The problem is that we all just haven't learned to love each other yet.
Well, if I have to invest money in another guitar so I can have a full band for Rock Band, that's just one step further from me ever putting GH3 (or any other GH game) into the ole PS3 again.
So far, the song selection for Rock Band is way more up my alley than GH3.
/facepalm
Pricks.
This is about letting people use the GH3 Les Paul guitar INSTEAD of the Rock Band guitars. So people would obviously want to use the better guitar.
Also, their original excuse of not wanting Rock Band guitars to work on GH3 is an obvious cop out now that they are trying to block this patch as well.
I can understand, from a legal standpoint (aka Jealous Prick Standpoint), on not allowing the use of a controller specific to GH3 for use with the game, but what if their refusal of this prevents other controllers from being used since updating their use with Rock Band might thereby enable the use of the GH3 controller since the code would be the same?
Is there any risk of Activision making Harmonix block the Les Paul on the 360 version?
Is it just me, or are these childish hysterics endemic to the videogame industry?
@loki_d20: I would take this to mean yeah, 3rd party controllers are hooped for the time being until Activision grows up.
@logstain: Damn skippy! What business is it of Activision's if Harmonix wants to patch their OWN GAME?
Gah. Angry.
Hello personal activision boycott.
Was it because they promised that you would be able to and now they are backing out?
From some of the comments it sounds like a rep from the company literally came to your door and pissed on your foot. OMG they aren't going to be compatible, if you pre-ordered these 2 titles expecting that, without any kind of guarantee in writing, you have no one to blame but yourself. Why? Because no company, ever, has promised something only to back out at a later date right?
Do I think it would be nice if they would be interchangeable, you bet, but come on /endbitching before someone here buys you a tampon.
Contact Activision
I'm pissed that gh3 sucked, and now they're basically being dicks.
Sorry, didn't know people here had a problem with other's opinions.
The contents of this e-mail are between me and Activision. It has a lot to do with cuss words and bitching.
I have no issues with people having an opinion about something, the only thing I would take issue with is complaining about something that was not guaranteed from the start. From what I remember this compatibility was never promised before the 2 were released, I could be wrong though.
I guess I'm more of a realist when it comes to companies saying they would do something and then not doing it. If you've been in the work force a while you get used to it real quick. But if you haven't experienced that yet then you have a whole new world that is going to open up. That and I guess I'm amused at the things people take issue with. Argueing over a plastic guitar compatibility issue seems really useless.
If people want to use their superior guitars with Rock Band, that means that more people are going to be buying GH3 to use with Rock Band, people who went with Rock Band instead of GH3 will no be buying both.
I'm talking about expert personally.
Solo's are 100x easier on the Fender. Proven fact. (Provided you can get the positioning correct.)
Plus you look SO much cooler with it.
The 360 X-Plorer controller doesn't work on the PS3 version of Rock Band either, found that out the hard way.
Sure this whole thing won't mean much in the long run, and activision is still a rather faceless company that's making a business decision.
however...
The problem here, is not that activision isn't following up on something they promised. The problem is that activision is going out of their way to screw a lot of people over. And it just so happens that the majority of the people they are screwing over are investors in one of their most popular products. its kind of like shitting where you eat. It's really just a poor business decision on their part.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Activision. Wants. Your. Fucking. Money. They know that if they block you from using the Strat, you're going to be forced into going and buying their Guitar Controller. Effectively gouging you for an additional $100 (cause you can't buy individually right now.) Don't pin all of this on Activision though. Even though they're raking in the money from this as well, think of their hardware supplier, Red Octane. I'm sure they're not making their bread and butter from selling their Ignition Pad's anymore, Guitar Hero controllers are selling like hot cakes, and they sure as hell don't want anyone else cashing in on this. Harmonix, well they're not as greedy, and are willing to support this "open platform".
Point in case: Activision, Red Octane, you're being douche fags. STFU.
Me, for one. The Les Paul is a piece of shit toy compared to the Strat.
Fuck Red Octane and Activision. I don't even own the PS3 Rock Band, but I refuse to put any money towards the Guitar Hero series again. Chances are I'll soon be boycotting Call Of Duty, as I'm sure IW will no longer be developing the series.
Activision isn't blocking the Strat from working with their game, they are preventing the Les Paul (their guitar) from working with Rock Band (the other guys' game). So it's not a matter of selling more of their guitars.
Also, I like the Strat a lot, lot better than any of the Guitar Hero controllers. It feels much more realistic to a real guitar in terms of the fret buttons not having a giant rift between them and being raised off the surface of the fret board. I also love the non-clickity-clack strum bar too.
You're funny. Go boot up Guitar Hero III, and tell me what that warning screen says.
"ONLY OFFICIAL GUITAR HERO GUITARS WILL BE SUPPORTED". By "supported" they mean "work, leik at all. Gimme all your money". This isn't anything new. Do a tad bit of research on a company called "The Ant Commandos", they were one of the first companies to release a 3rd party controller for Guitar Hero, and Activision had fucking conniptions over it, because how dare someone else make an accessory for their game, and in standard panty twisting manner, sued. When Guitar Hero II was released *gasp* you needed to get an adaptor to get your old 3rd party controller to work. This happens with every release, they adapt the "current" copy protection method, and they are un-usable by the next release. I understand quite well that this current issue is that they refuse to allow their (shitty) Les Paul (which sound like shit compared to a fender, I always thought) to work with Rock Band. Why? To be pricks. Why won't they let it happen the other way? Because they're pricks.
The cock block of this patch is nothing new, because Activision and Red Octane have been up to this faggy behaviour for quite some time.
And they're right to be scared.
Next thing we'll see is that the new Tony Hawk Game will brick your 360 if it sees a skate. save. Because Activision is like that.
If it wasn't for MS strict requirements on there controllers I bet the 360 people would be feeling this too. I do like Sony's openness to peripheral makers but it lets them do crap like this.
I do understand why Red Octane is upset a little they payed to have a game made now the developer has made a clone of the game for someone else and one up-ed them by adding mic and drums.But dont forget Red Octane that even your game is a bit of a clone of another game.