When Harmonix finally came out about word that Activision had been blocking attempts to allow the PS3 Guitar Hero III peripheral to work with Rock Band, we knew it wouldn’t be long before Activision were ready to comment. (They didn’t respond to our initial contact regarding the rumor.)
According to Activision, there are always two sides to a story, and this is theirs:
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
So who’s right? Who knows, but you can bet we’ll be reaching Harmonix for comment. In the meantime, pull up a seat and grab some popcorn — things look like they’re about to heat up.
