Guitar Hero III's wireless PS3 guitar rocking a dongle

by Ross Miller { Oct 5th 2007 at 1:52PM }

The wireless Guitar Hero III guitars for PlayStation 3 will not work seemlessly with the console's Bluetooth technology, instead requiring a dongle that plugs into the USB ports. On the plus side, as noted by Wired's Chris Kohler, is that the dongles are modeled after guitar picks. Much more appealing than a boring, black brick.

Rock Band's wireless PS3 guitar also showed up recently in an FCC filing with a mysterious (albeit less attractive) dongle solution, which presumably will ship with the final product. Maybe by then, however, the ~~Harmonix~~ Red Octane gang will pretty their dongle up.

Tags: activision, gh3, guitar-hero, guitar-hero-3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 5th 2007 1:56PM

does the 360 one have dongs?

Si @ Oct 5th 2007 2:38PM

Xbox360's are OWNED by dongs.

dsub @ Oct 5th 2007 9:54PM

I would think not. The dongles are probably used to cut down on production costs by using only the 2.4Ghz wireless tech that is built into the 360 and NOT the PS3. This is probably the same reason why you have to insert the Wiimote into your guitar for the Wii version. By not having to license out the Bluetooth technology and use the tried and true 2.4Ghz they can save alot of money on the guitars.

Just a hunch.

jsn @ Oct 5th 2007 1:57PM

Dongles are so last gen....

conservativeinfidel @ Oct 5th 2007 1:58PM

The word "dongle" makes me uncomfortable.

Shagittarius @ Oct 5th 2007 2:18PM

Now look, I once stood exposed to the Dongle's Breath so that a man could lie one night with a woman...

brad77 @ Oct 5th 2007 5:45PM

What's the dangle of your dongle?

ThornedVenom @ Oct 6th 2007 2:35AM

DONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLEDONGLE

Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Oct 5th 2007 2:05PM

Why do you need a dongle (snicker) when you have standard bluetooth? Is bluetooth not responsive enough?

*Is Puzzled

FOXHOUND @ Oct 5th 2007 2:19PM

From a former technical support rep's point of view, I'm glad they went with the USB connection over bluetooth - less to configure & easier to troubleshoot. I mean, let's face it... I seriously doubt the majority of PS3 owners are aware the system actually has such features as bluetooth access(even with your phone's bluetooth headsets), LINUX-readiness, print capabilities, WiFi connectivity, DVD upscaling, PS3-to-PSP transfer, Folding@Home, and even something simple like USB charging of devices other than the SIXAXIS. :\

...As a PS3 owner myself, even I admit I wasn't aware the system came with so many configuration options. But for the high-ass price tag, it might as well.

Chris @ Oct 5th 2007 2:26PM

do u work for Sony or something?

jpn @ Oct 5th 2007 2:27PM

But...why would Bluetooth be less easier to configure than a USB dongle? It's not like you have to pair the PS3 controllers like you do, say, a BT device to a cell phone, with passkey, etc. Just because there's more configuration doesn't mean it has to be more complicated - it just means that they have to work more to get the configuration to be less complicated. Pairing a Sixaxis controller is pretty damn easy. I don't see why pairing a guitar would be harder.

FOXHOUND @ Oct 5th 2007 3:05PM

chris : No, I don't work for Sony. Did tech support/help desk work for a couple other software, circuit repair, and media companies though. Wasn't a fun job to have, that much is certain. "id10t" errors ran rampant... :\

jpn : You just answered your own inquiry to my reply. Though it doesn't seem *that* complicated to you doing those extra steps aformentioned(pressing the connectivity/activation button or sequence on the bluetooth device, entering the passkey, etc.); you'd be surprised how easily people can 'eff just that little bit up... in comparison to a mere plug-in of a USB dongle(I really don't feel comfortable with that word, LoL)attachment. At least if someone is having trouble with a USB device, it's physical connectivity more than anything else, since the drivers are already on either the device or the console(depending on the unit).
Though I agree --- I'd personally like the ROCKBAND/GHIII equipment to work on the same connectivity standard as the SIXAXIS controllers, since it is just a mere "PS" button push to activate and turn off. And probably cheaper to take that route too. :D

Todd H. @ Oct 5th 2007 2:08PM

conservativeinfidel's girl had my dongle's uncomfortably in her mouth last night ;)

d-pad @ Oct 5th 2007 2:16PM

Needs more effort.

ill trooper @ Oct 5th 2007 2:35PM

syllable-count too high to really snap, but good steps in the right direction.

Andy S. @ Oct 5th 2007 3:37PM

Change it to "mom" instead of "girl", drop the unnecessary apostrophe ("dongle's" is possessive, "dongles" is plural), get rid of the "uncomfortably" (isn't really crucial to the joke), and wrap the whole thing up with "if you know what I mean" at the end, and you'll be set.

d-pad @ Oct 5th 2007 3:47PM

Follow these simple steps, and you're on your way to becoming a successful troll.

Good luck!

NekoMode @ Oct 5th 2007 2:08PM

ZOMG the PS3's proprietary wireless technology!!!ELEVEN!

... Yea right. Weren't we just ragging on the 360 for this exact same reason?

marcandrer @ Oct 5th 2007 2:09PM

finaly a use for the 4 usb ports I have in front :)..
as long as it's wireless who cares realy ?

kinshadow @ Oct 5th 2007 2:29PM

I'll care when my kid yanks the dongle out while I'm playing.

Dongles FTL !

Warlord @ Oct 5th 2007 2:16PM

Is this more evidence of console maker's stranglehold on their "feature", so that unless a high price is paid (and passed along to us), that feature is not available to third parties.

This is why rock band's guitar for 360 is wired for the same price as PS3's wireless (in the pack), and it's SURELY why the PS3 requires a dongle.

That, or what I heard about PS3 bluetooth controllers quirkiness is still rampant.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 5th 2007 2:17PM

probably quirkiness

the 360 gh3 comes with a wireless guitar, for same price as ps3

Warlord @ Oct 5th 2007 2:23PM

Does it? Doesn't the similarly priced pack for Rock Band have a wired guitar for the 360, but wireless for the PS3?

jsn @ Oct 5th 2007 2:56PM

that's the rumor, but it has yet to be confirmed I think. As mentioned above the Gh3 sets are identical in price.

Sean @ Oct 5th 2007 2:18PM

lol dong

MV @ Oct 5th 2007 2:19PM

Rock Band should have a dongle that looks like a lit cigarette placed on your guitar's head.

quickshade @ Oct 5th 2007 2:23PM

and now that the PS3 wireless system is no better than the 360's we are back to square one. see why it's pointless to argue until both products are out on the market???

vinny @ Oct 5th 2007 2:50PM

i dont know anyone who's had problems losing sync with their 360 controllers but i have read ALOT of people having that problem with ps3 controllers, so your post is invalid

FOXHOUND @ Oct 5th 2007 3:15PM

vinny --- Mind citing the source? Can't say I've had that problem with either the X360 or PS3, but if you've read it from a reputable source, I'll email the companies about getting a fix for it.

...of course, I'm pretty damned skeptical of you having any actual source, but here's your chance to prove the world wrong, eh?

x876543 @ Oct 5th 2007 3:26PM

Glad the Wii version will have no dongle and just works.

vinny @ Oct 5th 2007 4:02PM

@Foxhound, there ya go my friend,

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=1810914&view=by_date_ascending&page=1
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigg.com%2Fgaming_news%2FSixAxis_controller_is_Freezing_up_and_Freakin_out&ei=CJgGR_PvMqSoer7ymJkF&usg=AFQjCNEWwhpMiFaNjpdxMIMJPVWqnRCgCg&sig2=z85F1baWI53JbT54-0jTew

or just google "ps3 controllers losing sync"

its been real

Autopsy15 @ Oct 5th 2007 9:20PM

My controller has disconnected once or twice. I was playing Rainbow Six and my guy just started doing spins. Then someone spazzed me.

Evan @ Oct 5th 2007 2:46PM

I could live with a dongle, but not that dongle. It's huge! I have a WiFi network dongle that is smaller than that. I wouldn't want to leave the Guitar Hero dongle plugged in all the time.

As for why they didn't go BlueTouth, I can think of two possibilities:
1. Configuration
2. License Fees

WiNG @ Oct 5th 2007 2:55PM

I think I'll go for the Wii version.

1. No dongle.
2. Vibration feedback.
3. Sound feedback.

TRUTH @ Oct 5th 2007 2:55PM

HAHAHA Dongles....

So whats up with the PS3's Bluetooth? Kinda Blows that you have to have Your Dongles all out & stuff...

OrganicShadow @ Oct 5th 2007 3:06PM

Send me a pair of dirty panties or something. I called it.

Over and over again, internets.

StoneGold @ Oct 5th 2007 3:28PM

So wait a second, if PS3 is going with dongles, why are they going proprietary with 360? Why not just go with the dongle and save me a couple bucks? This is bizarre.

vinny @ Oct 5th 2007 4:08PM

heres a bigger thread on the ps3 board also
http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=1680120&page=10

vinny @ Oct 5th 2007 4:08PM

meant to reply :(

Terrence Newton @ Oct 5th 2007 4:43PM

dongle is super lame, end of discussion. i am completely disgusted by this new info, and glad that i never had any intention of getting ps3 version.. and at least mbe if the ps3 had some usb ports at the back (or at least one!) it wouldn't be so bad, but no, you have to hang that huge, ugly strap-on off the front.