Harmonix: Blame Activision for PS3 Rock Band guitar issues
Harmonix reiterates in the statement that it believes in an "open standard philosophy of hardware and game compatibility." The company says that such a policy is in the interest of consumers, game developers and console manufacturers and "will only help to grow the music game genre as well as inspire innovation and creativity." Harmonix says that on Tuesday, December 4 it was ready to release a patch approved by Sony so that Guitar Hero controllers would be compatible with Rock Band, but that Activision objected to the release and now Sony is holding onto the patch due to Activision's "continued objection." The full statement from Harmonix can be found after the break. The ball is now quite publicly in Activision's court.
The full statement to Joystiq:
"As we have said in the past, Harmonix and MTV Games believe in an open standard philosophy of hardware and game compatibility. We think that there should be interoperability between music instrument controllers across all music games. This is clearly in the best interest of consumers, game developers and console manufacturers and will only help to grow the music game genre as well as inspire innovation and creativity.
Two weeks ago, Harmonix created a software patch for the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 version of Rock Band that allowed for guitar compatibility and support for third party peripherals, including enabling use of Activision's Guitar Hero III controller with Rock Band. The compatibility patch was submitted, approved and had been scheduled for release by Sony on Tuesday, December 4. Unfortunately, Activision objected to the release of the compatibility patch. The patch remains with Sony, but we have been told that it will unfortunately not be released due to Activision's continued objection.
As is the case with the Microsoft Xbox360, we believe that Sony PLAYSTATION 3 users should be able to use the peripheral of their choice with Rock Band. We sincerely hope that Activision will reverse its decision and allow release of the compatibility patch and further, that Activision will allow Guitar Hero III to support Rock Band guitar controllers as well. We welcome all third party developers who wish to support our controllers and will provide any required support in order for them to do so.
We believe that when consumers have choice, everyone wins. Harmonix and MTV Games hope that Activision and others in the industry will also adopt this philosophy."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Eric @ Dec 12th 2007 4:54PM
WTF? So its ok on xbox but not ps3? Where is activisions head at with that bone head move?
Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Dec 12th 2007 5:07PM
Everything is "ok" on the xbox marketplace, just look at the horse armor :D
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 12th 2007 5:12PM
Activision is opposed to an open standard, but there's nothing legally they can do about it. The Xbox version just so happened to work out of the box, but there was an issue with the PS3 version.
Activision is BLOCKING the legal update because they don't want their guitars to play nice with the competing product. It has nothing to do with the platform, just the players involved.
Imadogg @ Dec 12th 2007 5:13PM
Yea I'm confused. They allowed it on the 360 and don't on the PS3? Huh???
And cmon Activision don't be dumb
Shape @ Dec 12th 2007 5:48PM
Microsoft FORCED both companies to create Xbox 360 standard controllers so that the guitars work for every game.
If Sony had done the same thing, it would have been better for everyone with a PS3. But they didn't, and now you are stuck with this situation.
Jason @ Dec 12th 2007 6:09PM
If Activision has no legal grounds to oppose this patch then it really just comes down to Sony and if they want to piss off the biggest 3rd party publisher in the world; which could prove to be a bad move in the long run.
RPGJock @ Dec 12th 2007 6:45PM
If you believe Shane B. on the 1up Yours podcast this past weekend, Activision is actually working on a patch to break the compatibility of thier guitar with Rock Band on the PS3. If this story is true, X360 and PS3 fanboyz many need to unite against this stupid anti-consumer debacle.
RPGJock @ Dec 12th 2007 6:48PM
sorry that was suppose to be "break the compatibility of their guitar with Rock Band on the Xbox 360"
finnith @ Dec 12th 2007 6:49PM
I bet it's part of Activision's master plan to further Microsoft's goal to beat Sony.
Jeff @ Dec 12th 2007 6:56PM
Shape-
If that's the case, why doesn't the RB guitar work with GH? It's clearly a software issue and, for whatever reason, the GH guitars didn't work as they were supposed to on the PS3 version. Maybe Harmonix was using an earlier prototype to test and then Activision changed the PS3 guitar a bit, or maybe just the fact that the GH2 guitar existed and had to work with GH3 meant that the standard couldn't change that much on the 360 from the GH2 guitar, so Harmonix was able to code it easier.
Whatever the case is, this is total BS.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 12th 2007 6:57PM
Shape, the PS3 guitars are also standard PS3 controllers. You can play any game that only needs a d-pad and buttons with them. For that matter, the drums work this way too.
The problem is Activision won't LET Harmonix work with these controllers in Rock Band.
I have no doubt there is something Sony could do about this, like telling Activision they won't license any more games for their platforms unless they drop their opposition. But in the end, I don't see how you can really blame Sony when it is Activision causing the problem.
Duscrom @ Dec 12th 2007 8:11PM
Actually the excuse is this. Harmoix worked with Activison/Red Octane on GH2, so they had all the code to make the GH2 controllers work. So that is why they work in Rock Band. On the PS3, the first GH game for that console was after they broke off from Red Octane/Activision, so they did not have the code for it to put it in the shipping game...
why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 12th 2007 8:50PM
Fine. Let them release a patch that lets PS2 GH1 guitars work with a USB adapter on PS3.
I've tried mine already and it works exactly the same (which is that it doesn't, but the buttons and such map the same) as the GH3 guitar in Rock Band.
taylor @ Dec 13th 2007 5:13PM
Where Activision's head at is money. You can look at the situation in 2 ways. 1st way is Harmonix's is way. make all controllers compatible so that the customer wins, and although you aren't making money on your own controllers, you're still making money on software, eventhough your customers are still buying the competition's game.
2nd way to look at it from Activision's view is, make sure your controllers (which have a much larger install base than your compeition) is not compatible...so that your controllers are not helping the compeition's software sell more units. Plus, we want to make as much money as possible by forcing customers to buy our bundles.
RB sales are artificially capped by how much hardware they can produce...whereas RedOctane has had the experience and time to plan their launch in terms of their hardware.
In other words, Harmonix's philosophy is to create a win/win/win situation even if it means losing a little money on their hardware...vs Activision's win/lose/lose.
Which in their mind is the way to go because they are the one's that are winning by making their competition's sales stagnate. They really don't care how it affects us as the customer or even the sales they could potentially reap on hardware if it was a universal standard. They're priority is to pound the competition by any means necessary.
Elvenmonk @ Jan 7th 2008 8:38PM
It only works because it's you can only use Microsoft technology for Wireless on the 360.
Donald @ Dec 12th 2007 4:55PM
Burninated.
Activision needs to man up and let my patches go.
Fernando Rocker @ Dec 12th 2007 4:58PM
Catfight!
deaftly @ Dec 12th 2007 5:03PM
Blame Canada
arrrgh @ Dec 12th 2007 5:20PM
bite my shiny metal ass ;) we dont even fuckin have rockband! :)
T3H WICKERMAN (FDF) @ Dec 13th 2007 1:22PM
Blame all the meat bags! I really dont know where to start my flamming. Guitar Hero 3, activison, Ea, Ps3 whats a robot to do?
DiddlyKong @ Dec 12th 2007 5:04PM
Do rock band guitars work with gh3?
meledeo @ Dec 12th 2007 5:06PM
No, they do not. At least not on Xbox360. Again, this is RedOctane/Activision's fault, not Harmonix/EA.
arleigh.sandoc @ Dec 12th 2007 5:04PM
Im with Activision on this. Why should they help out a competitor who is trying to move into their territory.
greatslack @ Dec 12th 2007 5:09PM
Because someone looking for a second guitar on Rock Band can either spend his $90 on a Harmonix guitar, or an Activision guitar.
TheGuy @ Dec 12th 2007 5:09PM
It's called "not acting like a deuche".
Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Dec 12th 2007 5:14PM
Because by being a "good sport", you up the chances of having customers shift back and forth the games. It also helps ease the cost of entry, since you might not spend 80 bucks on GH3, after you spent 250 for Rock Band, but you might pay 30-40 bucks for GH3 if your RB guitar worked.
In the end, its all about pleasing consumers.
Larz @ Dec 12th 2007 5:15PM
It would be smart move for them.
I was ready to run out and buy the GH3 bundle. Now I'm definitely not going to. Logic 101: Tell me, who loses in that deal?
NumberZero @ Dec 12th 2007 5:20PM
Well see, there is no rock Band guitar sold seperately yet. So someone could buy the GHIII controller bundle to have a fourth controller. So it is not just helping competition, there is also potential sales.
Abscissa @ Dec 12th 2007 5:26PM
It's Activision/Neversoft that's moving in on Harmonix's territory, dumbass.
sheppy2.0 @ Dec 12th 2007 5:34PM
You... you actually support this? Let's put it this way.
Let's say someone buys Rock Band over Guitar Hero III. That's cool. But right now, neither game is shipping an extra controller on the PS3. You heard me correctly. GHIII, you have to buy two copies of the game to get it going. Rock Band? Well, let's just say it's not quite so "achievable" of a set.
So essentially to get a full game on GHIII, one needs to spend $200. To get one on Rockband, you need at least $295. (EA currently charges $125 for replacement guitars if the defect is not returned) Now, currently the only other choice for a strat on PS3 would be one of the LEAST Pauls.
But to get that, you HAVE to buy GHIII. So even if someone is buying the controller for another game, they are still buying your product. This is where the headscratching begins. Neither company is offering their own solution to two guitars right now.
Now, Activision can continue to be a dick with GHIII. The latest ripped the soul out of the game and left us with a diseased STD victim seizuring off their own fluids. So as far as I'm concerned, that series can fuck right off. But I would like to use the Les Paul until the controllers are made available in february for Rock Band.
Now, what Activision is essentially doing with this move (in conjunction with the RUMOR on EGM live podcast that they are attempting to release a patch on 360 to break functionality with Rock Band there, hey... this rumor turned out true), is effectively pissing off their consumer base and souring people more on their companies tactics.
Duscrom @ Dec 12th 2007 8:01PM
Um... Cause guess who put them in that territory. Guitar Hero is Harmonix's game. They created it and made it the cultural icon that it is. Just because the only way they could work on something new was to split off from Activision, doesn't mean that Harmonix isn't the creators of Guitar Hero.
Activision is the ultimate evil of the game industry. They will milk the GH series dry just like they are STILL doing to Tony Hawk.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 12th 2007 8:36PM
It's not "helping out". Harmonix wants to support the guitars, they're doing all the work to support it themselves.
This is actively screwing the customer.
In the end, it just makes GH3 guitars even less valuable. I can't see what Red Octane is thinking.
Lilinka @ Dec 12th 2007 5:07PM
Allright, anyone got a contact number for Activision so I can shove my Les Paul I bought for the sole purpose of playing with Rock Band down their throats? I want my money back now.
B3astofthe3ast @ Dec 12th 2007 5:11PM
How did you buy a Les Paul for Rock Band when they aren't even sold wothout GHIII yet? :|
LoopyChew @ Dec 13th 2007 11:07AM
By buying GH3, obviously.
Easo @ Dec 12th 2007 5:07PM
because Harmonix created the Guitar Hero franchise, coded a proper patch, and released it to sony with out any help from Activison. All Activison has to do is give the ok.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 12th 2007 5:14PM
Technically, Activision doesn't need to do anything. Its sony that needs to give the OK. Activision doesn't enter into the process at all except that they've butt into it to screw with you, the gamer.
Eric @ Dec 12th 2007 5:08PM
Because your a consumer that should not have to buy 2 different sets or guitars to play your games.
B3astofthe3ast @ Dec 12th 2007 5:09PM
They're just jealous Rock Band won Best Rythm Game over GHIII.
sheppy2.0 @ Dec 12th 2007 5:37PM
And to think, if Activision would have realized true selling out potential to Guitar Hero compared to Rock Band, we wouldn't be scratch our heads as to why Axe Bodyspray whores and GM themed levels ruined GHIII. Meanwhile, Rock Band sells out just as much, but where it makes sense.
Jeff @ Dec 12th 2007 5:10PM
Activision are quickly proving that they are bigger assholes than EA could ever be.
Man, I thought I'd be happy when I saw the #1 3rd-party publisher overcome... now I'm starting to think that another ruler would be even less kind.
copa @ Dec 12th 2007 5:14PM
Look for Charles Huang to issue a weasel non-denial statement that tries to change the subject and blame Harmonix for something or other.
It's gotten to the point where that dude lies every time he opens his mouth.
mccomber @ Dec 12th 2007 5:16PM
As far as I'm concerned, Activision is getting rid of the best reason to buy GH3 at this point with their nonsense. Rock Band beats GH on all counts at this point, and without a cheap way to buy a second Rock Band guitar, buying GH3 seemed like the best option to get a second controller after news of the patch. But now, you've given what is basically just a good reason to continue supporting Harmonix instead.
In summary: screw you Activision, I'll keep my money until next year when I can use it to buy another guitar for Rock Band.
Korova @ Dec 12th 2007 5:56PM
True, but all Harmonix has to do is sell their guitar separately, but apparently there isnt enough production capacity or something.
Anyway, it does not seem to be a very clever move by Actard
zelderman @ Dec 13th 2007 11:36AM
Why do you spell out Rock Band and not Guitar Hero? Wouldn't it be easier if you did RB and GH? Also it's weird how almost everyone thinks they work for the legal department and know what they are talking about. Balls in your mouth people, balls in your mouth.
mccomber @ Dec 13th 2007 11:41AM
Because Rock Band deserves to be typed out. Guitar Hero is lucky I don't just call it "that other game".
David @ Dec 12th 2007 5:18PM
Wow, this makes no sense! Who at Activision decided it was a good idea? I would have bought their game if the patch had come out. Now I'm just angry at the whole brand!
aristokrat @ Dec 12th 2007 5:19PM
I don't understand Activision at all. While these are competing products, I would also say they are complementary products (especially when they both only come with one guitar). Most people I know are interested in/have both, so why can't Activision accept that fact that more popularity for either game means more profit for both companies.
Abscissa @ Dec 12th 2007 5:19PM
"We believe that when consumers have choice, everyone wins. Harmonix and MTV Games hope that Activision and others in the industry will also adopt this philosophy."
Bullshit. Go tell that to TAC. Hypocrites.
jpw21683 @ Dec 12th 2007 5:32PM
That was Red Octane's fault. They filed a lawsuit against TAC. I'm sure they forced Harmonix to put the code in GH2 to block TAC's guitars.
pwned.