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Rock Band PS3 owners still stuck as a three-piece band, despite Harmonix efforts

For Microsoft Xbox 360 owners of the video game Rock Band, adding another guitar is a simple matter of tracking down a compatible Guitar Hero II Gibson Xplorer or Guitar Hero III Gibson Les Paul controller. For owners of the PlayStation 3 version of Rock Band, however, the solution to rounding out a four-piece band is far from simple.

The PS3 version of the Guitar Hero III Gibson Les Paul controller does not work correctly with Rock Band for PS3. Given that separate Rock Band Fender Stratocaster guitars are not available for purchase yet, Rock Band PS3 players are understandably frustrated at being unable to form a full band.

Rock Band developer Harmonix promised after the release of its game that it was working on a patch to introduce compatibility with Activision’s Gibson Les Paul peripheral, but now it seems that such a fix is stuck in purgatory.

According to a post by a member of the Harmonix team, the developer submitted a patch to Sony, which was approved for release on December 4, only later to be blocked from release by Activision.

“Unfortunately, Activision objected to the compatibility patch's release,” detailed the forum post. “The patch remains with Sony, but we have been told that it will unfortunately not be released due to Activision's continued objection.

“We sincerely hope that Activision will reverse its decision and allow release of the compatibility patch and further, that Activision will allow Guitar Hero III to support Rock Band guitar controllers as well. We welcome all third party developers who wish to support our controllers and will provide any required support in order for them to do so.”

Strangely, the Gibson Les Paul controller for the Xbox 360 works flawlessly with Rock Band, to which Activision has taken no action against.

Activision later addressed the media with more details on the situation between the two dueling music games. Activision confirmed that it was blocking the release of such a patch, but with a very specific reason – lack of an agreement.

“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,” read the Activision statement. “Unfortunately for Rock Band users, in this case Harmonix and MTV Games/Viacom are unwilling to discuss an agreement with Activision.”

Although Activision did not specify what sort of agreement it was seeking, it’s speculated that such an agreement would include some form of financial compensation or licensing fees for using its peripherals.

Like a distant parent, Sony is taking a hands-off approach to the tiff between the two parties. “This is a matter that needs to be resolved between Harmonix/MTV and Activision regarding Intellectual Property,” said an SCEA spokesperson to 1UP. “At SCEA, we of course want this resolved and to ensure the best possible gaming experience. We encourage MTV, Harmonix and Activision to discuss this among themselves so there can be an amicable resolution in the best interest of the consumer.”



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The end user suffers for no reason
By MykC on 12/16/2007 6:31:39 AM , Rating: 2
This is complete and utter BS, there is no reason that each guitar shouldn't work with each game. Functionality wise, they are the same controller.

The end user suffers because of this

With holding a patch that helps PS3 owners make their 4 person band or prevents some people from having to carry 2 plastic guitars over to their friends house is just petty.




RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By Wagnbat on 12/16/07, Rating: -1
RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By Goty on 12/16/2007 8:28:58 AM , Rating: 5
Talk about drinking the kool-aid...

This has absolutely nothing to do with Sony and everything to do with Activision and Harmonix.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By FITCamaro on 12/16/2007 12:15:18 PM , Rating: 3
As much as I dislike Sony sometimes for their business practices, no. This is Activision's fault. They know their game isn't as good, so they're trying to hurt the guy who's kicking their ass.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By Treckin on 12/16/2007 1:47:22 PM , Rating: 2
As if rock band is kicking guitar hero's ass...
That absurd, GH is FAR more popular and has stronger sales than rock band does or ever will.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By borismkv on 12/16/07, Rating: 0
RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By mikeyD95125 on 12/16/2007 3:50:44 PM , Rating: 4
That was good...until you made the personal insult.

Stick to your facts and don't lower your own intelligence by handing out insults when they aren't needed.

GH is a very social game. It has been the "party game" in my area for a while now.


By borismkv on 12/17/2007 1:45:25 AM , Rating: 1
Sorry. Mocking fanboys is one of my favorite pastimes.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By FITCamaro on 12/16/2007 4:07:52 PM , Rating: 2
Guitar Hero will likely sell more because its cheaper. But Rock Band is the better game.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By Lazarus Dark on 12/17/2007 10:42:46 AM , Rating: 2
Rock band doesn't interest me in the slightest.I don't care about drums or singing badly.
GH looks funner and the two player is more evenly competitive. plus the guitar controller looks and feels better.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By Murst on 12/17/2007 10:51:27 AM , Rating: 2
From a single player, guitar only perspective, GH3 is probably slightly better. However, that's probably the only thing that GH3 has going for it.

When we had thxgiving, no one cared about GH3 anymore, as everyone was busy playing rockband. Its just a much, much better party game than GH3.

Although I haven't even tried single player vocals, its pretty neat when you have the entire family in the room and everyone's doing something (multiple people can sing at the same time too).

I imagine this xmas will be similar, except there's another copy of Rockband bought, so we'll have the guitar/bass combo in as well... which is pretty good cause the only prob we had w/ rockband was that people started arguing over who's going to play the next song :)


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By SirLucius on 12/16/2007 12:39:17 PM , Rating: 1
How is it Sony's fault that two independent, multi-platform developers got into a quarrel over controller proprietary controller compatibility with their games? This is an issue of Harmonix missing the bug in the first place and Activision being stubborn asses about letting them fix it.


By BMFPitt on 12/17/2007 9:46:59 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
How is it Sony's fault that two independent, multi-platform developers got into a quarrel over controller proprietary controller compatibility with their games?
I don't know anything about their agreements with developers, but if I were a console maker I would demand some compatibility because it would be good for my users. I'm pretty sure Microsoft and Nintendo have this power.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By BansheeX on 12/16/2007 1:39:49 PM , Rating: 2
You've inspired me to create a satirical blog that attempts to rationalize Sony as the undeniable source of every problem on Earth. Thank you for being so unintentionally idiotic.


By tfreston on 12/17/2007 9:43:16 AM , Rating: 2
I look forward to reading your blog, sir.


By Chaser on 12/17/2007 12:58:48 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed. Second only to President Bush however.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By orochi on 12/16/07, Rating: 0
By orochi on 12/16/2007 7:59:23 PM , Rating: 2
And fuq Red Octane for being the sh1theads that they are. You started off as a company making 3rd party Dance pads and now you're banning other 3rd party companies from trying to make a living. You are SCUM and I'll never buy your products ever again.


RE: The end user suffers for no reason
By munim on 12/16/2007 8:58:21 AM , Rating: 4
Maybe Harmonix is helping people not look like idiots carrying plastic quitars?

I kid, sort of.


Frustrating
By CKDragon on 12/16/2007 12:27:15 PM , Rating: 2
The most frustrating part of this entire saga over the last few weeks is not any action taken by EA, Activision, Harmonix or MTV, but the completely lack of understanding by so many message board readers shouting off-the-cuff remarks about how it's Harmonix that has a responsibility to make all their guitars work with all games.

What the hell? Has reading comprehension become that poor? Harmonix spent their time to develop the patch and it's sitting at the ready. Activision managed to hold the patch up for ransom so that the Rock Band userbase, much of whom are also in the Guitar Hero userbase, are the ones to suffer. And people are mad at Harmonix? Activision is screwing over many of their own customers just to get a few dollars out of EA/MTV/Harmonix.

I hope they enjoy those few dollars, because I'll tell Activision where they can shove Guitar Hero 4.