360's Guitar Hero II guitar works in Windows, Frets on Fire

by Christopher Grant { Apr 6th 2007 at 3:53PM }

The USB-equipped X-plorer guitar that ships with the just-released Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 has some interesting tricks up its nonexistant but metaphorically convenient sleeve. No, we're not talking about breaking or shape-shifting (sheesh) -- we're talking about things like effects pedals and oh, what's this, Windows support? Randy tipped us off that the guitar controller works in Windows Vista, but we had to check for ourself. The above image was captured in Windows XP. The five frets control the first five buttons, Back and Start control buttons 7 and 8, the d-pad and strummer control the Point of View Hat, the whammy bar controls the X Rotation, Star Power controls the Y Rotation, and the Z Axis sorta just wiggles when you move the guitar. The X Axis / Y Axis does nothing (gotta save something for that effects pedal, no?).

Of course, we quickly fired up freeware PC clone, Frets on Fire, to see if we could manage to get these two to play nicely together. Sure enough, after a minute of changing the control configuration, we were able to rock out! Unfortunately, while Mac OS X recognized the device immediately (pic after the break), it failed to be detected as an HID-compliant gamepad by either GamePad Companion or the open source Xbox 360 Controller driver. Additionally, this blogger couldn't convince the Mac OS port of Frets on Fire to load so we're unable to determine if the game would support the device directly. Any Mac using 'stiqers able to get the X-plorer to work?

The controller works great in Frets on Fire for Windows

The controller is immediately recognized by Mac OS X, but doesn't appear to be usable

Tags: GuitarHero, Windows, X-plorer

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

[.sm0ke.] @ Apr 6th 2007 3:59PM

The z-axis wiggles when you move the guitar because it's probably the motion sensor used for activating Star Power.

Fuzz @ Apr 6th 2007 4:07PM

Coming soon . .. Youtube video of someone playing flight simulator with a guitar.

ShaleX @ Apr 6th 2007 4:38PM

Was there ever any doubt?

Ever Xbox 360 USB controller works on Windows.

Chris @ Apr 6th 2007 4:10PM

It's an Xbox accessory. Why wouldn't it work?

Hikaru @ Apr 6th 2007 4:13PM

Does it works with PS2 Guitar Hero II on PS3???

Flit @ Apr 6th 2007 4:20PM

Wrong thread Jack.

Nice job modders.

JodyAnthony @ Apr 6th 2007 4:20PM

I love frets on fire. I need to find a cheap 360 guitar.

Ben @ Apr 6th 2007 4:28PM

1 Explorer guitar on Amazon: $70

1 VGA to RCA converter cable: $5

1 Frets on Fire: $0

1 GH2 bundle: $90

Savings: $15

I can't imagine the sales of GH2 going down at all... :-)

sheppy @ Apr 6th 2007 4:30PM

"I can't imagine the sales of GH2 going down at all... :-)"

Nope, but I can definately imagine a community springing up akin to Stepmania or Kick It Up....

Fronz @ Apr 6th 2007 5:22PM

Your mom works in Windows, Frets on Fire.

Ok . . maybe I lied . .

AirIntake @ Apr 6th 2007 5:45PM

The newest FoF crashes when I have the guitar connected, but works fine when it's disconnected......... hmmmmmmm

AirIntake @ Apr 6th 2007 5:56PM

The last version seems to work fine though...

Arcaynn @ Apr 6th 2007 6:30PM

Flit - It's a driver from Microsoft.

Thanks Microsoft.

Lynx @ Apr 6th 2007 6:30PM

For mac users, I'm sure it works with USBOverdrive. That works with everything. Worst case scenario, just have the buttons trnslate into the F1-5 keys which are the default fret keys for Frets on Fire.

MMurdock @ Apr 6th 2007 7:21PM

Does no one every read anything that comes with a game anymore? It says in that little flyer with the stickers that the motion for the star power (or Z axis) is controlled by the shoulder buttons.

butcher99 @ Apr 6th 2007 7:51PM

When running USB devices under Vista Microsoft has managed to build in some rather heavy problems with logitech devices on the USB chain. My controller would not work in vista and was a sometimes thing under XP. Plugging my USB mouse into the mouse port with a converter fixed the problem. MS was worse than useless. The only reply I got was to send me to XBOX help even though the problem is a VISTA computer problem.
Have not tried it with frets. Will have to give it a shot.

Johnny2678 @ Apr 7th 2007 9:12AM

Gotta give this thing a shot... Where do you get more songs for FOF?

Vampusuke @ Apr 6th 2007 11:46PM

So just for clarification, does it work on Windows XP also or just Vista?

Rafe @ Apr 7th 2007 9:23PM

The Z-axis is used to detect whether your X-plorer is laying flat/horizontally on the table or if you're holding it vertically while playing it. The guitar controller manual on page 3 says you can lay it down flat if you're having trouble with the motion sensing while you're trying to navigate through menus.