Guitar Hero III coming to Mac and PC this fall

by Christopher Grant { Sep 11th 2007 at 10:07AM }

No longer content to be hooked up to your big screen HDTV and 7-channel surround sound system, Aspyr and Activision have announced that Guitar Hero III is rockin' on over to the more moderately sized screens of your Mac and/or PC this fall. We imagine legions of cubicle dwellers violating their company's IT policies, bringing their axe into work, and shredding the pain of office life away. More likely, we can imagine a portable rig on your laptop, just in case that whole Guitar Hero DS thing doesn't work out.

GameDaily spoke with Aspyr's Jay Gordon about the port, and got some burning questions answered: the game will ship simultaneously with its console counterparts; the guitar will be a USB model of the Gibson (sorry 486 gamers); and no word on how downloadable songs will be distributed but they'll share soon. And with this, the PSP remains alone, the only major gaming platform without Guitar Hero.

Tags: Activision, BreakingNews, Guitar-Hero, Guitar-Hero-III, GuitarHero, GuitarHeroIII

Related From Joystiq

Science makes Air Guitar Hero a reality
14 days ago
Activision couldn't help but sign on to help market 'Couples Retreat'
24 days ago
Activision: Guitar Hero 5 launch 'probably' franchise's best, DLC sales getting 'interesting'
27 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Player1 @ Sep 11th 2007 10:13AM

They are really trying to make any money they still can with Rock Band coming, aren't they?

sqwarlock @ Sep 11th 2007 10:13AM

Neversoft needs to stop with the whoring of this franchise.

Norm @ Sep 11th 2007 10:17AM

I, for one, love this franchise.

sqwarlock @ Sep 11th 2007 10:23AM

So do I, but not enough to buy it on more than one system. They'll sell a shitload of copies on PS2/360/PS3/Wii, they don't need to include DS and PC/Mac to that list.

RP @ Sep 11th 2007 10:53AM

And why on earth not? You might not realise this, but when game is ported to many different platforms, you're not really expected to buy multiple copies. It's in order to reach as big an audience as possible.

The DS game, sure, could be a stretch depending how they do it, but as long as it's a decent version of the game then there's no reason not to. I've no idea what you've got against the PC or MAC as they'll be able to provide the same experience as the console versions (maybe an even better experience when modders get a whiff of it).

waves @ Sep 11th 2007 12:53PM

Are you the same people who signed the Devil May Cry 4 petition?

Dale @ Sep 11th 2007 1:14PM

Wow, I will have a choice of FOUR different systems on which to own this game (Wii, Xbox 360, Mac and DS). A winner is me.

Abscissa @ Sep 11th 2007 3:55PM

Why? Franchise whoring is all Neversoft knows how to do.

Crono (NDF - Fire Ring) @ Sep 11th 2007 10:17AM

Frets on Fire says "hello and welcome" to GH3 on PC and Mac

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Sep 11th 2007 10:02PM

FoF is better because of free downloadable tracks, but who knows? Maybe GHIII will be hacked.

Neon Jebus @ Sep 11th 2007 10:23AM

"the guitar will be a USB model of the Gibson ..."

Am I the only one that thought of the 'they're hacking the Gibson' line from Hackers? I lol'd in my pants.

Sean @ Sep 11th 2007 3:54PM

I definitely thought of it. I want to start a band and name it Hacking the Gibson.

vinny @ Sep 11th 2007 10:27AM

guitar hero on the pc....no thanks

PsionicMonkey @ Sep 11th 2007 10:33AM

I, personally, cannot wait for Guitar Hero 3: Mobile Edition, and GH3: Commodore 64.

hvnlysoldr (NDF - Wind Ring) @ Sep 11th 2007 10:35AM

I'll hold out for the Amiga.

Seroth @ Sep 11th 2007 10:31AM

I hope this means I an use my PS2 guitar with a USB adapter, like I do with Frets on Fire!

WiseGuy @ Sep 11th 2007 10:36AM

Ummmm. Didn't shooters originate on the PC. The same arguement can be applied to a game like this. Guitar Hero BELONGS on a console. How does playing it (standing up with a guitar) on a computer monitor sound appealing? This is such a dumb idea. I agree with others... enough with the whoring of this franchise already!!!!

Einhanderkiller @ Sep 11th 2007 10:50AM

Have you ever played Frets on Fire? It's awesome. Just sit down on your chair and rock out with your keyboard.

RP @ Sep 11th 2007 10:55AM

Not everyone has massive TVs you know.

RuleofwaR @ Sep 11th 2007 5:27PM

Maybe you haven’t noticed but the pc is so much more versatile the anything out there. Most true gamers have their pc's tagged into their hi-def flat screens. My pc is faster than either the ps3 or the 360 and displays on my 52in 1080p LCD in my living room. I for one love the fact they plan to release it for the pc. Hell at very least it saves me $300+

WiNG @ Sep 11th 2007 10:46AM

Guys this is awesome news, how could anyone be cynical? The modding community is gonna have a field day with this. You can bet within 1 month of release someone will have an app to make a version of ANY song you want! You can friggin play guitar hero to spice girls if you want. This news is teh pwn.

Kevin Morrell @ Sep 11th 2007 3:34PM

Not to be critical or anything, but people have been playing custom songs on the PS2 since August of 2006, over a year ago.

psycho @ Sep 11th 2007 3:40PM

Custom GH songs on the PS2 sucks balls. Not only is the community really nasty (I mean scorehero.com forums) when you ask for help but the note charts aren't made that well anyway.

I await PC Guitar Hero modding.

Hafk @ Sep 12th 2007 1:50AM

Psycho, you should not NEED to ask for help.

All they ask you to do is READ THE STICKIES.

If you have a question that is not answered in the sticky, then you can ask it.

Hey Apples @ Sep 11th 2007 10:51AM

What shady reporting. PSP as a major gaming platform??? ;)

This might be attractive to a small niche crowd that doesn't own a console, but it really seems like a desperate move. As much good reputation as GH1 and 2 garnered, this sort of perceived "whoring out" will quickly lose it.

I think the only good thing that will come out of this is a healthy hacking/modding community. (Oh wait, it's not hacking, it's just "custom" *wink*wink*)

Tahiri @ Sep 11th 2007 6:06PM

PSP has a larger userbase than the Wii, 360, or PS3. If anything it is more major than either of them

bounchfx @ Sep 11th 2007 10:52AM

wow, talk about whoring out.

in other news...this basically means unlimited DLC for free, for those who wish it. (depending on whether or not they have any..)

even so, i'm sure people will figure out FAST how to make their own notecharts for GH3.

then, everyone who bought it for 360 will download it for pc and do that.

Smart thinkin!

Matt B @ Sep 11th 2007 10:58AM

I'm guessing any decent laptop can run this game. Expect to see a lot of GH3 guitars as a carry-on items in the airports.
This is great news for students who have a laptop but not a console.

Shawn @ Sep 11th 2007 11:12AM

that's what awsome. I'm on the road a lot, and playing this on my laptop is great news for me. I have frets on fire on my laptop now, but I'm looking forward to an official release. The great part is that there will be tons of songs that people will make for the PC that we won't have to spend 800 ms points for, to hell with that.

DA360 @ Sep 11th 2007 10:59AM

Actually, this makes sense due to the fact that monitors are getting bigger (and some people, like me, use these larger monitors on their consoles) and more and more people are now connecting their PCs to HDTVs, which would essentially be similar to playing it on a console. Also, why deny having a bigger audience? And you will be surprised how popular these rhythm game clones, such as StepMania and Frets on Fire can get on PC so its good to see one of them finally being official on PC since the ORGINAL DDR (which was the only one that officially came out on PC).

I just hope with as many platforms Gutar Hero 3 is going to be on, that it will be a great game like the orginal two.

Kizzle @ Sep 11th 2007 11:01AM

You 'tards all worried about the "whoring out" of the franchise - as if every successful game franchise doesn't do the same, from GH3 to Rock Band (MTV/EA partnership?) down to motherfucking Katamari - need to go play in traffic for a while.

I think this decided it for me, I'll DEFINITELY get the PC version. Once the "enthusiasts" get a hold of it, it'll be SO much less cumbersome than having to modify the PS2 version to get custom songs in there.

jsn @ Sep 11th 2007 11:13AM

hellz yah, can't wait to see all the custom songs for this.

Cal @ Sep 11th 2007 11:02AM

can we assume that usb xbox360 guitars will work with this?

bounchfx @ Sep 11th 2007 11:15AM

this is what I'm hoping as well, at least the GH3 wireless ones will with the MS Wireless Adapter.

I'm looking forward to this and will probably get it in addition to the 360 version..

but - fall? does this mean same time launch or after?

DA360 @ Sep 11th 2007 11:16AM

I would assume it would be compatible to the Xbox 360 guitar, especially since its fully compatible to the Xbox 360 Windows controller driver (and should be compatible to any 3rd party Linux or Mac OS drivers as well). So I am sure you could use it on the PC version of Gutar Hero 3. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the PC controller for Guitar Hero 3 was just the Xbox 360 guitar.

Tush @ Sep 11th 2007 11:03AM

Always shafting linux. Is Frets of Fire available for linux or run on Wine?

DA360 @ Sep 11th 2007 11:23AM

Well, Linux has unfortunately always been the red-headed stepchild of OSes to these cooperation's so Linux unfortunately tends to get the crap end of the stick when it comes to apps and games, as it rather never gets them (and you have to run them in Wine, rather successfully, with minor or major issues) or gets them last and very late.

I use Windows personally but I do mess with Linux now and then, and it would be nice to see more stuff be compatible to it, especially games.

Just_a_guy @ Sep 11th 2007 11:22AM

hmmmmmm... do I get the game for Wii or for Mac?

Lemmiwinks @ Sep 11th 2007 4:15PM

That depends on whether you want to play it in the living room or at a desk.

Steve @ Sep 11th 2007 11:47AM

But what about us with only a GBA?!?!?!?! WHERE'S OUR GUITAR HERO?!?!?!?!

Donald @ Sep 11th 2007 4:16PM

Trade it in and get $7 toward a DS!

SeriousKriss @ Sep 11th 2007 12:25PM

Good news! I hope there will be an even greater community than Frets on Fire's.

And I really hope that all the people crying about the so-called "whoring out" of the franchise aren't the same who are begging for a port of Crysis or Far Cry 2 on consoles.

Jeff @ Sep 11th 2007 2:40PM

Oh my god. This made my day.

I thought that I was FINALLY going to have to give in and buy a console for rock band and the guitar heros... but as long as I have one on PC, I can survive.

Abscissa @ Sep 11th 2007 3:58PM

Hey, I still have my old 486. Good times :)

FT @ Sep 11th 2007 5:41PM

They should do a "plug and play" guitar TV with the song included in the guitar like the pacman arcade game that use RCA connector.

Juicy @ Sep 11th 2007 6:34PM

I'm not sure why people would get upset over additional platform access. It's MORE. More is good. You don't have to buy it on a platform you don't like. If you feel snooty about having the "best" GH experience on a console, good on you, you can go do that. Others can use a PC if they don't want to buy a console. I get snooty about FPS being offered only on consoles (A Tragedy), but I'd never begrudge a console player the option as long as my PC needs were satisfied.