Wii Guitar Hero III outputs only mono sound
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Nov 11th 2007 at 8:05PM }
If it weren't bad enough that Activision shipped out Guitar Hero III with no offline co-op quickplay mode, a few careful listeners have noticed another thing they left out - a few channels of sound. Audiophilic owners of Guitar Hero III for the Wii have noticed that not only does the game not support Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound systems (despite that feature being advertised), but it doesn't even output sound in stereo. As we all know, it's nearly impossible to pass "Cult of Personality" on Expert unless the manic shredding of Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid washes over you from six different angles.
Apparently, Activision is looking into the problem, though they said in regards to a fix, "the time frame is still unknown." For the time being, we're afraid you're going to have to learn to rock out monaurally.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
samfish @ Nov 11th 2007 8:08PM
I thought that picture was of a Christmas elf for like 30 seconds.
JodyAnthony (Good Eats Defense Force) @ Nov 11th 2007 8:35PM
same
Kyle @ Nov 11th 2007 8:09PM
a company shoveled a crappy port to the wii?
nah couldn't be........
playwhutyalike (take my shoes off) @ Nov 11th 2007 8:13PM
I don't think this is so much a crappy port as it is a technical difficulty. The question is, did Activision know about this all along and was hoping nobody would notice till they fixed it?
I own a Wii but I don't play Guitar Hero, but if I owned it I would take that bitch back at the drop of a hat.
Kyle @ Nov 11th 2007 8:17PM
I'm sure it is just a glitch and they'll iron it out fairly quickly.
My point was merely that so many titles are being pushed out for christmas and the quality is certainly suffering.
playwhutyalike (take my shoes off) @ Nov 11th 2007 8:23PM
Titles not made by Nintendo that is. Come to think of it, if you tried to return the game they wouldn't let you due to it being open.
I do agree with you about the crappy porting though. That needs to be stopped.
Burnt Meatloaf @ Nov 12th 2007 12:55AM
@Kyle:
A glitch?! Are you serious? How can a game about MUSIC have mono sound and that would be considered a glitch?
We're talking about a major QA fuckup, here. Audio is the last thing that should've been screwed up in a game like this.
fawazr @ Nov 12th 2007 2:06AM
@playwhutyalike (take my shoes off)
Most stores allow for return of defective product regardless of whether the package is open. In fact that policy may be legally binding in certain states. If enough people make a stink, it'll be resolved in the consumers' favor.
Absolutely no reason why customers should get any less than what's advertised--that would amount to fraud.
toLkKi @ Nov 11th 2007 8:09PM
That has to be the most disturbing picture I've seen this hour.
Neebs @ Nov 11th 2007 9:33PM
Jesus christ Slaziman.
get off my internets
JerJerBinks @ Nov 11th 2007 10:17PM
I thought that Tubgirl was bad but, holy WTF is wrong with those 2 chicks? That has to be the most vomit-worthy piece film ever. I only saw like 30 seconds, enough to scar me for life.
dan stabbingworth @ Nov 11th 2007 10:35PM
wow...just, wow
YoRone22 @ Nov 11th 2007 10:47PM
Two girls 1 cup is Dora the Explorer compared to what I saw on Saturday. You don't even want to know.
Martin @ Nov 11th 2007 11:37PM
I hope you get banned immediately for posting that shit. I'm not even joking.
Rubang B (BRUSH WITH FAME) @ Nov 11th 2007 11:41PM
SLAZIMAN I LOVE YOU. WILL U MARRY ME plzmkthnx?
gonk @ Nov 12th 2007 12:30AM
have you seen the pain images? don't
DangerMouse @ Nov 12th 2007 12:30AM
He'll write out his proposal for you with poo stain textures in Halo 3.
Rubang B (BRUSH WITH FAME) @ Nov 12th 2007 12:38AM
If anybody wants their eyes back, go here.
http://kittenwar.com/
Slaziman @ Nov 12th 2007 6:25AM
It was fairly obvious that those links contained disturbing content, why the hell did you guys click it if you are pussies?
There is much worse on the internet, even within the scat porn genre (swap.avi ~cringe~).
JJ Rooster @ Nov 12th 2007 8:59AM
I reported you. I'm hoping they ban you and Rubang (just cause).
Rubang B (BRUSH WITH FAME) @ Nov 12th 2007 4:20PM
Ban me? Why? Because I proposed to the Slaz or because I linked you to the cutest site on the internet that might have saved your life?
kingofwale @ Nov 11th 2007 8:17PM
Blah, music game in stereo? What a concept?
Quix @ Nov 11th 2007 8:18PM
"Apparently, Activision is looking into the problem, though they said in regards to a fix, "the time frame is still unknown.""
Well, let me know when you find a fix, Activision, because I'm not buying this game until you do.
Seroth @ Nov 11th 2007 8:21PM
How are they going ot fix it for people who already bought it? Have an exchange for new discs? As far as I know, the Wii doesn't support patches for games...
Silver R. Wolfe @ Nov 11th 2007 8:26PM
I feel incredibly sorry for the people who bought it for the Wii now. Stereo sound has been around since the SNES and Activision should be ashamed that such a glaring mistake to go unnoticed.
idioteraser @ Nov 11th 2007 8:32PM
Ah you can do offline quickplay of the coop songs. You go multiplayer mode then select the songs. They appear if you either use the all songs revealed cheat or beat the offline coop story mode.
In all honestly the wii version has the least bugs the PS2 version is the utter crap and the PS3 online is garbage and the mono thing isn't true at all. If you set the wii to stereo you get simulated stereo not mono. 99% of people cannot tell the difference.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Nov 11th 2007 8:35PM
'Simulated Stereo' is still Mono, bub, unless there are two different sound channels each coming out of their own speaker, which is not the case here. The Wii (and just about every other post-NES game system) is certainly capable of Stereo.
mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Nov 11th 2007 8:30PM
Ah, the world of console patches. Welcome, Nintendo!
ATLUSgamer @ Nov 11th 2007 8:42PM
Wii will, Wii will ro...*krsch*s"tatic*...please standby while we fix your audio troubles." *cue elevator music*
NvM @ Nov 11th 2007 8:43PM
I have it for Wii and didn't really notice.
But its kinda odd I can enjoy Zelda in Surround Sound and not a music game....
Doug Kaplan @ Nov 11th 2007 8:49PM
Add this to the list of issues that make the Wii version of Guitar Hero III unplayable. Whichever idiot decided to make the neck and body of the Les Paul wireless guitar two seperate pieces should be fired.
NvM @ Nov 11th 2007 8:50PM
It's defiantly playable.
And it's like that for versions.
Doug Kaplan @ Nov 11th 2007 8:57PM
Unless I point the neck towards the ground and with me left hand push the neck and body together while also playing the fret buttons, the game is not playable and all versions of Guitar Hero III that have the removable neck suffer the same issue. A recall should be required and replaced with new guitars where the neck and body are combined, not seperate. Idiotic decision to seperate them and it didn't even make the retail box any smaller. Moving guitars to a friend house is not a problem when the neck and body are attached. So angry and I haven't been able to play this game.
Rubang B (BRUSH WITH FAME) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:04PM
Do you know that you can LOCK the neck on? I've never heard of this issue. I suspect you're leaving it unlocked.
I think the Wii version has the best guitar, since it's the only one that rumbles and has a speaker on it, which is great for offline co-op or battle modes.
But yeah, this shouldn't be mono. Activision is dumb.
Doug Kaplan @ Nov 11th 2007 9:13PM
You never heard anyone having these issues? Spend some time here and look at all of the complaints about either the whammy bar or the neck/body connection issue:
http://www.guitarhero.com/forum/14
There are a ton of issues with Guitar Hero III, not just the mono/stereo issue.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:30PM
Keep in mind that most of those complaints seem to be for the 360 and ps3 versions.
Doug Kaplan @ Nov 11th 2007 9:37PM
Vegeta,
The neck issues apply to all versions. I am a testament to that seeing as I own the Wii version and it's currently unplayable due to the neck issue.
Rubang B (BRUSH WITH FAME) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:55PM
But but but I have the Wii version and it works fine and I derive many utils of satisfaction from playing songs on it!
Doug Kaplan @ Nov 11th 2007 10:36PM
Rubang,
Consider yourself lucky. I have Guitar Hero for the PS2 with GH1 and GH2 and even the horrible GH 80's and never had an issue and basically 5 starred everything but now I can barely 5 star medium. I'm beyond irritatd by it and so far it's a waste of my money. I want them to offer a version with no removable neck so I can replace my guitar with it and then buy a second one with a non removable neck as well. I'm embarassed to play this game the way I have to in order for it to work.
AirIntake @ Nov 12th 2007 2:27AM
My wireless guitar for the 360 works great. It's too bad you've been having problems, Doug.
ares04 @ Nov 11th 2007 8:54PM
Any other game and this might be acceptable, but Guitar Hero?! this game is built around an interactive music experience. Mono is just wrong.but how could they fix the problem? the game has already shipped
Kamall @ Nov 11th 2007 9:04PM
Wow, I guess stereo sound is now a last generation feature. : )
kojo87 @ Nov 11th 2007 9:12PM
i am super pissed about this. i just bought this game for Wii and i was about to hook up a pair of Bose speakers to my TV simply for this game. if they don't let me replace the game with a stereo version or give me a free guitar out of this im going to flip shit. did they seriously not test this? its a friggin music game! it needs to be in stereo if not surround sound!!
be sure to keep us posted on how this plays out.
Matthew @ Nov 11th 2007 9:15PM
...i beat cult of personality on expert. . . on my wii. . . with mono sound
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:17PM
...
Why does this matter. I really doubt the average person will notice/care about this.
GB2 bed Wii haters.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:24PM
seriously it seems to me that the only people who are complaining are people who don't have the game, and the one person who does doesn't give a crap.
Sentry Gun (Jesus) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:28PM
but the people on joystiq aren't average
they're ABOVE AVERAGE
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:30PM
haha. No.
LGVoyagerFanBoy @ Nov 11th 2007 9:32PM
WORD
Its like this whole High Def addiction that people on Joystiq have right now...I spend like 45 mins yesterday at Best Buy trying my damn hardest to SEE the difference between HD and Standard Def...still not seeing it.
Maybe its just me. But all I know is that I'm not going to be rushed into HD until I'm damn well ready for it. Although now that I have a 360 I'm thinking I should just go ahead and get one.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 11th 2007 9:34PM
seriously I hear no difference between mono and stereo. Unless you're an audiophile, you're not going to care.