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[Zaptruder]

So... I tried to send an angry email to RedOctane... damn 1000 character limit.

"Hi, would just like to say that I just bought Guitar Hero 3 yesterday, with the intention of using it's guitar with Rockband eventually.

Lets get something clear; I bought Guitar Hero 3, because I have clear intentions to buy Rockband... not the other way around.

In otherwords, Activision and RedOctane benefitted from a percieved synergy with Rockband.

So much to my dismay, I've found out this morning that Activision lawyers have somehow stopped a patch from going through on the PS3 that would've allowed that sort of compatibility.

This is the first time and the last time I buy another redoctane product, regardless of what policy Activision wishes to institute in the future, be it this continued petty quashing of compatibility between the different guitar and guitar manufacturers.

It's just such a blatantly anti-consumer policy. And because Activision has this misperception that they're going to be able to slow down Rockband sales by actively opposing any effort to support it.

It's a terrible misperception; Rockband is after all the far superior game, born of the original Guitar Hero genes, taking the genre to the next level, where as Guitar Hero 3 is just a dialled home cash-in effort for the holidays, by a second rate pretender to the crown."

 

[McBradders]

Well, I will never buy another Guitar Hero game again, and will certainly think hard about forking over any money to Activision in the future.

This is nothing more than a dick move, showing Activisions fear of a vastly superior product. Neversoft have been consistently dropping the ball of late with the Tony Hawk series and signs are already prevalent of them doing the same with Guitar Hero so, for me, it's really no big loss.

Unfortunately the average Joe will be blissfully unaware of these issues and likely still be playing watered down versions of Guitar Hero for years to come.

 

[mysticstylez]

Some of you are saying that Activision is worse than EA now?


Have we forgotten what EA has done to it's competition by giving them the big fuck you? Buying up various football licenses so that Take Two/VC couldn't put out a footbal game, buying up the ESPN license and doing jack shit with it, just so VC couldn't work magic like they normally did with the ESPN license.

 

[McBradders]

Some of you are saying that Activision is worse than EA now?


Have we forgotten what EA has done to it's competition by giving them the big fuck you? Buying up various football licenses so that Take Two/VC couldn't put out a footbal game, buying up the ESPN license and doing jack shit with it, just so VC couldn't work magic like they normally did with the ESPN license.

You were beaten to this.

 

[mysticstylez]

You were beaten to this.

It needs to be realized though. Activision isn't cockblocking Harmonix, like EA cockblocked 2k/VC.

 

[keyrat]

Today I hope Activision burns down. I'm so upset with this issue. Now I have to Ebay my Guitar Hero to get another RB guitar.

 

[Ninja Kn1ght]

Harmonix should have their own peripherals on the market anyway. Releasing a music game without the peripherals is a joke and if they're relying on their competitors products to make their game work that's obviously not a smart move.

 

[bastionwords]

It needs to be realized though. Activision isn't cockblocking Harmonix, like EA cockblocked 2k/VC.

So are we just suppose to ignore Activision's dick move. I'm not defending EA (I'm still trying to figure out how I bought two of their games this year). I think we are just pointing out how much of a dick move this is.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Because most of the people in this thread are gamers. They don't care about the business side, who screwed who, or who fucked up. They just want to add a fourth member to their band, and right now Activision is standing in their way.

Activision allowed their guitars to remain functional with Rockband on the 360, why shouldn't they do the same for the PS3? Using your logic, Activision should disable 360 RB functionality because EA & Co fucked up, so the burden is on them to supply the peripheral and not Activision.

Is any of this fair to gamers, probably not. Is it a shrewd business tactic, absolutely. I tend to side with the gamers.

Why can you use them on the 360 but not the PS3?

 

[4ndii]

And III and IV.

"Hospital-Age: GAF, HALP!! Should I take out my **?"

:lol

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Why can you use them on the 360 but not the PS3?

I still think it's because Harmonix had the code from GHII and didn't have to get it from anyone else.

 

[bastionwords]

I still think it's because Harmonix had the code from GHII and didn't have to get it from anyone else.

I thought it was explained earlier in the thread. It's because of Microsoft's iron fist control of peripherals on the 360.

 

[neorej]

It needs to be realized though. Activision isn't cockblocking Harmonix, like EA cockblocked 2k/VC.

difference is that EA's move doesn't influence gameplay in any way. Activision dickhead decision does.

 

[mysticstylez]

difference is that EA's move doesn't influence gameplay in any way. Activision dickhead decision does.

Yeah it does because I can't enjoy the great gameplay of VC's NFL football games. Instead I have to settle for Hall of Fame players. I wanna play as Peyton Manning, not John Elway.

 

[vg260]

This just says to me that Activision can't compete without playing dirty. I bet they're going to try and pull some exclusivity shit with Universal Music Group now that they've merged with Vivendi.

Now this is what I'm incredibly afraid of!!!!

 

[neorej]

Yeah it does because I can't enjoy the great gameplay of VC's NFL football games. Instead I have to settle for Hall of Fame players. I wanna play as Peyton Manning, not John Elway.

The actual gameplay doesn't change, whether you play John Elway, John Manning or Samuel L. Jackson for that matter. It's just a name & face slapped on the screen. Back when Pro Evo Soccer didn't have the official licenses I still preferred it, because the gameplay was superior to FIFA's.
What you're talking about is not gameplay, but immersion. That's a different story, and totally subjective.

 

[FF_VIII]

Now this is what I'm incredibly afraid of!!!!

Exclusives are a good thing.

Now we won't have to see the same songs on both games.

 

[Kosma]

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[vg260]

Exclusives are a good thing.

Now we won't have to see the same songs on both games.

Wow. I strongly disagree with you here.

What if I want to play drums and sing to a song that's only available to GH? How is that a good thing?

 

[Fatghost]

I thought it was explained earlier in the thread. It's because of Microsoft's iron fist control of peripherals on the 360.

So basically Rock Band on 360 is safe?

 

[neorej]

So basically Rock Band on 360 is safe?

not entirely. There's rumors floating around that Activision is going to patch the guitar itself so it's compatibility with RB 360 will be crippled as well. How in hell's name they're gonna do that I don't know, but it's a rumour.

 

[pixel monkey]

not entirely. There's rumors floating around that Activision is going to patch the guitar itself so it's compatibility with RB 360 will be crippled as well. How in hell's name they're gonna do that I don't know, but it's a rumour.

If this happens, all that Activision has ensured is GameStop getting flooded with GHIII trade-ins.

Rock Band has already seen to it that my copy of GHIII is collecting dust. When I tried to go back and play the game after putting substantial time into Harmonix' masterpiece, I couldn't believe just how low rent, how crap it felt in comparison.

I now have ZERO interest in GHIV and my GHIII game disc would be out the door the day they try to alter my Les Paul's compatibility. I would however keep the axe as long as it remains Rock Band friendly.

EDIT: for capitalization.

 

[TheDuce22]

So are we just suppose to ignore Activision's dick move. I'm not defending EA (I'm still trying to figure out how I bought two of their games this year). I think we are just pointing out how much of a dick move this is.

The NFL is the reason EA has an exclusive contract. They were the ones shopping it around. Cant blame EA for that one.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

I sent a polite but strongly-worded letter to Activision about this and I'm taking my GH3 guitar and game to EB today and I'm going to put the credit towards another Rock Band. I have GH3 on the PS2 (got it free for winning a GH tournament) and that'll do me just fine. At least I can play co-op in that game!

I hesitated about trading the PS3 version in previously because the game is tied to my online account + the money I spent on the DLC but I don't care anymore about that.

 

[jetjevons]

That is some kind of bullshit right there.

 

[Mojovonio]

Shitting on your customers is AWESOME.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Karma Update

Just in case all this shenanigans made you forget about Activision jipping Wii owners with the mono-audio thing, IGN just reported they're GETTING SUED over Wii GH3

ha :lol

ha :lol

ha :lol

 

[PedroRVD]

Harmonix did not let Neversoft use ANY portion of the code from GH 1 & 2....so now Activision will not let them use its guitar for Rock Band.

It makes sense to me.

 

[kenta]

Harmonix did not let Neversoft use ANY portion of the code from GH 1 & 2....so now Activision will not let them use its guitar for Rock Band.

It makes sense to me.

It went both ways. Neversoft couldn't use any GH1/2 code in GH3 and Harmonix couldn't use any GH1/2 code in Rock Band, it was a clean start for all involved. Activision bought the franchise, not the code

 

[bastionwords]

Harmonix did not let Neversoft use ANY portion of the code from GH 1 & 2....so now Activision will not let them use its guitar for Rock Band.

It makes sense to me.

Are you sure that is the reason?

It went both ways. Neversoft couldn't use any GH1/2 code in GH3 and Harmonix couldn't use any GH1/2 code in Rock Band, it was a clean start for all involved. Activision bought the franchise, not the code

What is your source on this tidbit?

 

[mysticstylez]

The actual gameplay doesn't change, whether you play John Elway, John Manning or Samuel L. Jackson for that matter. It's just a name & face slapped on the screen. Back when Pro Evo Soccer didn't have the official licenses I still preferred it, because the gameplay was superior to FIFA's.
What you're talking about is not gameplay, but immersion. That's a different story, and totally subjective.

So because RB's guitar provides lackluster gameplay compared to GH's guitar, Activision should let their competitior take advantage of it?

 

[kenta]

What is your source on this tidbit?

I wish I could remember :/

 

[Sylar]

What is your source on this tidbit?

I can vouch for him. The source was Harmonix themselves.

 

[Link316]

Some of you are saying that Activision is worse than EA now?

Activision led the crusade for $60 games

 

[Mr. Banana Grabber]

So I'm guessing I can't use the 360 guitar on my Rock Band for PS3?

 

[M3wThr33]

Are you sure that is the reason?


What is your source on this tidbit?

This isn't surprising. Starting over from the codebase is VERY common with new devs. I guarantee there's no hard feelings over not sharing the code.

 

[Argyle]

This isn't surprising. Starting over from the codebase is VERY common with new devs. I guarantee there's no hard feelings over not sharing the code.

Plus this almost had to have been clearly stated in the contracts for Guitar Hero 1 and 2 - so none of the parties involved were blindsided by this.

 

[Okin]

No Guitar Hero III and beyond for me.

 

[bastionwords]

This isn't surprising. Starting over from the codebase is VERY common with new devs. I guarantee there's no hard feelings over not sharing the code.

Well, I know that is common, but saying that no one has access to the old code. Who has it? Where is it? Can I claim it? Also, I thought Harmonix had patents on their code from those two GH's.

 

[Struct09]

So because RB's guitar provides lackluster gameplay compared to GH's guitar, Activision should let their competitior take advantage of it?

Activision gets a guitar sale, and Harmonix doesn't. How does Activision lose here?

 

[radjago]

Activision gets a guitar sale, and Harmonix doesn't. How does Activision lose here?

The software prints more money than the hardware does.

 

[Raistlin]

So wait ... does this mean 3rd party GH3 guitars won't be patched either?


WTF?!!?

 

[Argyle]

The software prints more money than the hardware does.

But the Activision guitar comes with the software, too...

 

[Donkey Thong]

Right now there's a fortune to be made if a third party manufacturer is able to get a guitar to the market that works across all next gen titles.

 

[Patrick Klepek]

Sony's staying neutral. No surprise.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3165012

 

[Flynn]

Right now there's a fortune to be made if a third party manufacturer is able to get a guitar to the market that works across all next gen titles.

At one time that someone would have been Red Octane

 

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Right now there's a fortune to be made if a third party manufacturer is able to get a guitar to the market that works across all next gen titles.

Red Octane would sue them into oblivion.

 

[JonathanEx]

Sony's staying neutral. No surprise.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3165012

Blocking it is staying neutral my arse. They're involved by the fact they blocked the patch on Activision's "request".

 

[kiun]

At one time that someone would have been Red Octane

yea this is so ironic

 

[OldJadedGamer]

I thought it was explained earlier in the thread. It's because of Microsoft's iron fist control of peripherals on the 360.

You make this sound like a bad thing but since 360 Rock Band owners aren't affected by this, this sounds like a good thing.

Not that I'm saying this is right for Activision for doing this but doesn't some of the blame fall on Sony for not making any standards for their controllers so this stuff could happen in the first place?