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[JonathanEx]

You never know, would Microsoft want to lose Activision as a developer? Especially after Cod4 and GH3's (well I don't know about now) Success?

I think of it the other way: would Activision want to limit future successes like that? Microsoft can sell hardware without their games. Maybe less, but it does less harm to them than it does Activision.

And, Microsoft have lots of lawyer money. Lots.

 

[Super_Chicken]

They are blocking a patch they made is why. There is a reaon EA/HMX is patching the game for added guitar support. If I am EA brass I am pissed off at sony for caving with out a fight. If they had a court order fine then EA could battle activision in court but no sony just wimped out.

Yeah Sony is a neutral party who does have to act nice to both sides. They have to say no to one developer instead of pissing off the other.



Also, feel free to express your opinions to

Red Octane:
http://www.redoctanegames.com/0_contact.asp

and Activision:
http://www.activision.com/index.html#

 

[quest]

You never know, would Microsoft want to lose Activision as a developer? Especially after Cod4 and GH3's (well I don't know about now) Success?

Lets see calling a bluff which it would be since the 360 is the software seller. Or give up control of periferals. Real tough choice for MS no chance in hell they give up the iron fisted control with out a court battle. They cave here they could open the door to 3rd parties to sue them to get in since they would of set a president against the iron clad standard.

 

[Vyse The Legend]

EA isn't doing me any favors by not offering me any choice but the bundle for PS3. No one is a good guy here.

RB is available as a stand-alone game on PS3, so yeah...

 

[El-Suave]

I honestly don't think Activision has the power to boss around MICROSOFT of all companies to remove something from another companies game which is already in there.

The 360 compatibility is hurting Activision MUCH more than the PS3 compatibility would. The 360 version of Rock Band sold many more copies and at least PS3 owners would have needed to buy GH 3 or the standalone guitar, while 360 owners can just use their old GH2 controller without buying GH3.

 

[Bebpo]

of course it will. this nerfs the standalone Rock Band which no doubt costs them lots of christmas sales. they stand to lose much more than Activision does financially i'd argue.

Errr...it makes them more money. Now everyone will buy a 2nd standalone EA guitar in Jan. EA would lose most of those sales if the patch worked.

 

[Deleted member 284]

Good strategic decision for Activision. Why let RB gain traction of the efforts of your own product? Especially with all those twin 600 lbs gorrillas (EA and MTV) viewing RB as a long term product.

 

[Eel O'Brian]

:lol

 

[Hexadecimalt]

They already are. While WOW is/was a pretty great MMO, right now the dev team is making decisions that make Hellgate look brilliant. Their class balancing is complete and utter trash with any given class being overpowered as hell one month and completely gimped the next. And for as much money pouring into the game, they reinvest so little of it back into the game that its disgusting. They are even too cheap to buy some more servers to host arena matches, so queues to actually play the game are staggeringly long because they had to hardcap the amount of matches because of infrastructure concerns (something they admit they have no intention of truly fixing). I'm literally ashamed to be playing the damn game anymore, but they've essentially crushed the competition and as a pvp focused mmo player, playing on dead servers of better games doesnt really work.

You're only talking about WoW. Some Blizzard Entertainment fans have no interest in MMORPGs at all. I'm looking forward to Starcraft 2. You don't agree with some development/design decisions in WoW, blame WoW dev team, don't black list Blizzard as evidence for why they should be blamed for this as well.

EA and Sony needto offer some sort of compensation service for the new guitars. Otherwise it's a total rip off purchase.

 

[mckmas8808]

They are blocking a patch they made is why. There is a reaon EA/HMX is patching the game for added guitar support. If I am EA brass I am pissed off at sony for caving with out a fight. If they had a court order fine then EA could battle activision in court but no sony just wimped out.

So Sony should just say FU to all companies that doesn't want something released that, that same company partially owns?

 

[Kafel]

About the stand alone game on PS3 ...


Can you play it with the pad ?

 

[pilonv1]

This is so short sighted. You lose sales form people who want to buy both, and you prevent someone who's bought Rock Band ever trying GH3 or it's future installments.

Grow the fuck up Activision.

 

[Wired All Wrong]

About the stand alone game on PS3 ...


Can you play it with the pad ?

I don't think so. The pad is only used for the singer to navigate menus.

 

[JonathanEx]

So Sony should just say FU to all companies that doesn't want something released that, that same company partially owns?

Something there doesn't make sense. Technically, the patch would (and should) contain nothing owned by Activision. It'd just be code that interprets signals from a controller connected to a PS3. Unless there's as legal problem with the code itself, this is bollocks.

 

[BeEatNU]

Nice 1 competing company baning on another companies quitar to work with there shyt, and people getting mad. har har!

 

[darkressurection]

Good strategic decision for Activision. Why let RB gain traction of the efforts of your own product? Especially with all those twin 600 lbs gorrillas (EA and MTV) viewing RB as a long term product.

I like how people view Guitar Hero as "their own product" it is not like Harmonix created the series or any thing...

 

[Dark Fact]

i think ultimately Activision is just good old fashion stupid.

Sure they are going to be competitors to GH, but that can't be avoided so why not take advantage of your ridiculously overpriced purchase of RedOctane, and make your peripherals work as well so people will keep buying them from you, and not converting over to the RB periphs!!

They stand to make a lot of money if they do that, not to mention, you can advertise on boxes of the periphs, if not the periphs as well (if you really have to)...not to mention, they could pack in a small demo of the latest GH game with each periph sale to further compel the customer to buy your game too.

On a futher stupefying Activision move, I am certainly LTTP on this one, but is it just me, or does the PS3 GH3 controller not work with the PS2 GH games when played on the PS3?

 

[Livin_Lovin]

Just for that, I'm buying two copies of Rock Band.

 

[Agent X]

Doesn't Activision relise that this allowing this patch to go through would actually make them money?

This is true. People who don't want to shell out for the entire Rock Band Special Edition set for $169.99 could instead buy the standalone Rock Band game, and then buy Guitar Hero III. They'd have a guitar manufactured by Activision, along with two games to use it with.

This scenario should be a winning situation for all parties involved.

Activision sells a guitar controller plus a game to people who otherwise would not have bought it.

EA has an opportunity to sell standalone Rock Band games that are currently gathering dust on shelves.

Sony could rest easier, knowing that people interested in music games aren't going to snub the PS3 in favor of some other system that has (whether by good fortune or careful planning, you make the call) the ability to use guitar controllers with both games.

Instead, we have the current mess that people have been rambling on for more than four pages here.

Sony should just go ahead and release the patch anyway. What's Activision going to do, threaten to cease PS3 development over this issue--an issue that can only help them by attracting new sales? There's no logical reason why Activision would want to deliberately limit their options. If Activision yanked PS3 support, they'd almost certainly be losing their customers to EA, as people who would've bought Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, and Tony Hawk (Activision's three biggest franchises) would instead migrate to Rock Band, Medal of Honor, and Skate. That's why any such threat from Activision would be hollow, and can safely be disregarded.

 

[markom58]

oh no. u I think Activision might have stopped the their 360 GH III packaged because it works with Rock Band? I havent been able to find one for weeks. Or am I just paranoid? :lol

This hurts Activision. Need bass RB guitar? Buy GH III bundle...profit for both. I dont see the reason. All it will do is stop the RB players from picking up GH III for a bass guitar and wait for a stand alone RB guitar.

 

[Madman]

Something there doesn't make sense. Technically, the patch would (and should) contain nothing owned by Activision. It'd just be code that interprets signals from a controller connected to a PS3. Unless there's as legal problem with the code itself, this is bollocks.

Legally, I don't think Activision can do anything. Games wise, they have a lot of power. Sony could release it, but Activision wouldn't take it sitting down.

 

[mckmas8808]

Something there doesn't make sense. Technically, the patch would (and should) contain nothing owned by Activision. It'd just be code that interprets signals from a controller connected to a PS3. Unless there's as legal problem with the code itself, this is bollocks.

Does Activision own the GHIII guitars at all?

 

[Woo-Fu]

If you can't win by making a better product there is always the "let us just be dicks instead" route.

Oh, and for the record, I'm not jumping on the Activision hater bandwagon---as somebody who was around for the first videogame market crash I'm the one driving it. :lol

 

[Vyse The Legend]

Nice 1 competing company baning on another companies quitar to work with there shyt, and people getting mad. har har!

Well, the consumers are the ones suffering the most from this mess. Don't you understand that?

 

[JonathanEx]

Does Activision own the GHIII guitars at all?

Yes, they do. But in terms of the legality of the patch, that's irrelevent. The patch doesn't contain the GHIII guitars, it contains code that interprets signals in to the game, signals which match those outputted by said controller.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

The idea that Activision can do anything to hinder sales of RB to anyone that's actually played RB is laughable.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

The idea that Activision can do anything to hinder sales of RB to anyone that's actually played RB is laughable.

Well, they just made the stand alone PS3 version unsellable until February 2008. So there's that.

 

[Link316]

Legally, I don't think Activision can do anything. Games wise, they have a lot of power. Sony could release it, but Activision wouldn't take it sitting down.

there's always lawyers involved when shit like this happens

 

[Struct09]

I don't own a PS3 yet, and I own Rock Band for 360, but this sickens me. What does Activision have to lose here? If they let people use their guitar with other games, that means more people are likely to buy their guitar. Fucking lame.

 

[neorej]

Thanks Activision! I was still on the fence about buying GH3 for a bass, but now you made that decision a lot easier!
March 8th, it'll be either a Strat or nothing for bass. I refuse to support this type of bullshit.

 

[Link316]

The idea that Activision can do anything to hinder sales of RB to anyone that's actually played RB is laughable.

think they're just trying to hinder sales of the standalone RB to GH3 owners, RB guitars come out next month so Activision's just the delaying the inevitable

 

[FlyinJ]

Well, they just made the stand alone PS3 version unsellable until February 2008. So there's that.

You can still sing!

 

[Deleted member 284]

I like how people view Guitar Hero as "their own product" it is not like Harmonix created the series or any thing...

Im sorry, but what exactly does that have to do with Activision shutting out a competing product from taking advantage of GHIII's high sales?

 

[neverknowsbest]

This is unprecedented bullshit. I only bought GH3 for PS3 because the guitar was going to work with Rock Band. Otherwise I could have just waited for Rock Band. Fucking idiots.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

Well, they just made the stand alone PS3 version unsellable until February 2008. So there's that.

You actually think the number of people who would, upon hearing this news, decide to not buy RB instead of upgrading to the pack is very high?

 

[KLoNe]

Whether it's a couple of years, a decade, or longer, it's only a matter of time.

Unfortunately, I believe you will be 100% correct AniHawk.

 

[Woo-Fu]

think they're just trying to hinder sales of the standalone RB to GH3 owners, RB guitars come out next month so Activision's just the delaying the inevitable

That is just it. They want to make the cost of trying the competition as high as possible.

...and obviously they want to make Rock Band as expensive a proposition as possible since they can't make a Guitar Hero good enough that it will make people ignore Rock Band.

 

[darkressurection]

Im sorry, but what exactly does that have to do with Activision shutting out a competing product from taking advantage of GHIII's high sales?

Taking advantage? If you could use the GH 3 guitar MORE PEOPLE WOULD BUY THE GAME just for the guitar and also buy Rock Band. You act like Harmonix and EA are try to ride on the coattails of GHs success.

 

[M3wThr33]

That is just it. They want to make the cost of trying the competition as high as possible.

...and obviously they want to make Rock Band as expensive a proposition as possible since they can't make a Guitar Hero good enough that it will make people ignore Rock Band.

Well, it DOES mean that they feel threatened by Rock Band.

 

[BelligerentOC]

So here I am standing in Fry's this past weekend. I had Rock Band for the PS3 on my shoulder and I was looking at GHIII... I was going to pick it up so that I could have a full band and play with my brother... Something in the back of my mind told me to wait...


Ultimately, this only hurts the consumers who had grandiose plans of purchasing GHIII just for the guitar. The thing they couldnt predict is this though: throughout the thread has anyone stated anything positive about GHIII? As someone stated earlier, the only reason that franchise did well was word of mouth... Now it looks as though that same word of mouth is going to shit all over it... karmas a bitch


Guess they will have to start making good games because, I hate to say it, EA does a better job at everything save COD4

 

[JonathanEx]

They stand to make a lot of money if they do that, not to mention, you can advertise on boxes of the periphs, if not the periphs as well (if you really have to)...not to mention, they could pack in a small demo of the latest GH game with each periph sale to further compel the customer to buy your game too.

This is actually a really smart idea, it could help Activision well. They'd get money from the periph sale, and would encourage the customer to spend more money on Activision stuff.

 

[BelligerentOC]

Taking advantage? If you could use the GH 3 guitar MORE PEOPLE WOULD BUY THE GAME just for the guitar and also buy Rock Band. You act like Harmonix and EA are try to ride on the coattails of GHs success.

If anything Activision is riding the coattails of Harmonix success

 

[darkressurection]

If anything Activision is riding the coattails of Harmonix success

Exactly.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

You actually think the number of people who would, upon hearing this news, decide to not buy RB instead of upgrading to the pack is very high?

I mean they completely hamstrung RB's PS3 sales to however many bundles they can make as opposed to those who missed out on them being able to just enjoy the stand alone as a guitar game (as I'm sure at least a few people did with the 360).

 

[Firestreak]

Seems pretty dumb. As someone who bought Rock Band, I was planning on buying Guitar Hero 3 to compliment it when I could use the bundled guitar as a guitar. It seemed like the perfect setup, but now I'm just going to pass on Guitar Hero.

In theory this could encourage Guitar Hero owners to buy Rock Band, knowing they've got 1/4th of the instruments already setup, but Guitar Hero owners... ALREADY OWN GUITAR HERO, who cares if they buy Rock Band too? The shit's stupid. You could say they cost Rock Band more sales than they did Guitar Hero... but... with me at least, that means I'm not buying Guitar Hero 3... 4... 5... 6, ext. I'll just pick up a standalone Rock Band guitar and ignore Guitar Hero.

 

[Timedog]

Just for that, I'm buying two copies of Rock Band.

Send me one.

You could say they cost Rock Band more sales than they did Guitar Hero... but... with me at least, that means I'm not buying Guitar Hero 3... 4... 5... 6, ext. I'll just pick up a standalone Rock Band guitar and ignore Guitar Hero.

Activision is losing money on peripherals too, especially since the RB guitar supposedly isn't that great.

 

[Agent X]

I just thought of something else.

This case boils down to Activision throwing a hissy fit because they are marketing a piece of hardware (the Guitar Hero guitar controller) and a third-party wants to make a piece of software that works in conjunction with that hardware.

Isn't there something completely ironic about this...you know, being that this is Activision we're talking about here?

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, read up on the history of Activision, and what the company was doing at its inception.

 

[Deleted member 284]

Taking advantage? If you could use the GH 3 guitar MORE PEOPLE WOULD BUY THE GAME just for the guitar and also buy Rock Band. You act like Harmonix and EA are try to ride on the coattails of GHs success.

Two things:
1) Why would Activision (who are going to sell a fuck ton of GH3) want EA to profit off of the success of GH 3 and 2) isn't this the same EA that purchased exclusivity to the NFL? Now we should be upset because their products can't share in utilizing the superior and readily available accessories of a competitor?

Sure it sucks for the gamers, but my original post only looked at the business aspect of the decision. Activision made the right call by not allowing a strong competitor gain traction on their capital. (notice I am not discussing Harmonix at all, cause you know...business and what not)

 

[kottila]

Seems pretty dumb. As someone who bought Rock Band, I was planning on buying Guitar Hero 3 to compliment it when I could use the bundled guitar as a guitar. It seemed like the perfect setup, but now I'm just going to pass on Guitar Hero.

In theory this could encourage Guitar Hero owners to buy Rock Band, knowing they've got 1/4th of the instruments already setup, but Guitar Hero owners... ALREADY OWN GUITAR HERO, who cares if they buy Rock Band too? The shit's stupid. You could say they cost Rock Band more sales than they did Guitar Hero... but... with me at least, that means I'm not buying Guitar Hero 3... 4... 5... 6, ext. I'll just pick up a standalone Rock Band guitar and ignore Guitar Hero.

Rock Band and all it's DLC might put a damper on peoples interest in GH 4 and all other GH stuff coming out next year. They are the leading music game maker and do not want to give the newcomer an inch of their market.

 

[El-Suave]

Can't Harmonix just make a patch so that at least the GH1 controller works via a USB PS2 Pad Adapter? Or could Activision block that, too?
BTW while I wouldn't have bought GH 3 I had the GH3 controller perodered here in Germany to play with my imported Rock Band. Just about to cancel that preorder.