Harmonix: Blame Activision for PS3 Rock Band guitar issues

by Alexander Sliwinski on Dec 12th 2007 4:50PM

After Harmonix's valid attempt at easing tensions over PS3 guitar compatibility issues for Rock Band, the time for détente between MTV/Harmonix's Rock Band and Activision/Red Octane's Guitar Hero is over. Harmonix has issued a detailed statement saying the company created a patch for Guitar Hero controllers to be compatible with Rock Band on PS3, but that Activision blocked Sony from releasing the patch.

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."

Tags: activision, breakingnews, compatibility, guitar, guitar-hero, guitarhero, harmonix, mtv, PS3, rock-band, rockband

Reader Comments (113)

I suggest everyone go to Activison.com and "submit a question" for GH3 on ps3 telling activision that they need to get their sh!t together and allow rock band to release a patch.

not to mention come up with some download-able content. rock band makes GH3 look like a joke.

Everyone write activision a letter at www.activision.com and let them know that you aren't going to be purchasing GH3 for your PS3 (if this is true, if not just tell them how upset you are) until they allow full compatibility of peripherals!

This is the letter I wrote:
To Whom it May Concern:

I have been contemplating the purchase of both Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band for my Playstation 3. Tonight some friends of mine decided that they wanted to go out and purchase both. They did under my advice because I had played both games on xbox360 and noted that the GH controllers worked on rockband. To our dismay upon trying the GH3 controller was not compatible with rockband on the PS3. I then got online to research the issue and see if there were any solutions. I came across this article. http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/harmonix-blame-activision-for-ps3-rock-band-guitar-issues/ Upon reading it I was very upset, as if this is true, I completely side with Harmonix. I am also a PS3 owner and now have decided that I don't want to purchase gh3 until the guitars are compatible on BOTH games. Each game comes with a guitar and each game has use for 2. If they were compatible not only could users buy both games and have all the guitars they need, they could also choose which guitars they wish to purchase should they prefer a certain style (as I prefer the GH style over the rockband style). However, because your companies unwillingness to let the controllers be compatible with both games I will not purchase GH3 - and my friends are considering returning the package (as the game is unopened) because of the issues with compatibility. Please, please allow this patch to fix the compatibility issues so that music game lovers can enjoy both games - and not get screwed having to buy four guitars that are virtually the same, just so they can play with 2 on different games. If the consumer wins, you win as I believe many will choose your guitar over those provided by Harmonix for rockband, because of the superior raised button style, and because many guitar users are used to the classic Guitar Hero style. I'm sorry if I have addressed this concern to the wrong department, and if this is the case, please forward it to the appropriate personnel. Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,
Ricky Ardito
rickjamesa@gmail.com

This is so much bs that you cant use both controllers.. it was a bad idea who decided not to let both work. it makes X-box better than a ps3 because of how the games are set up.......... PS3 IS RETARDED FOR DOING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here it is:
I purchased a couple games and special controllers, and one of the games has a patch so that the controllers will work, but SONY has blocked me from getting that patch.

I am speaking of the Activision /
Harmonix guitar controllers. Activision has no right to determine how I use the controller which I purchased. The fact that SONY has blocked me from installation of the patch matters.

Why should this matter to SONY?

1-the number one selling game is Guitar Hero, but most players I know agree that Xbox + Rock Band is the best combo out there. I recommend this combo to all my friends, and even though a few months ago I would have said PS3 was the best platform out there, this is no longer true. Because SONY has blocked fair use of the Activision controller.

2-fair use law is no joke. I believe there will be a class action suit against Activision because they are working to block fair use of the controller which we (the users) own. SONY is unfortunately in collusion with Activision in this, so SONY will be named in this law suit. Ask your lawyers if I am wrong about this, but real damage has been done to your users at this point, so SONY is liable.

***
I sent the above notice to SONY
***

Fair use law:
once a product has been purchased, the seller no longer can maintain any interest in how that product is used, exceptions for copyright. (there is no copyright on physical devices)

Activision has no right to block the Harmonix patch, and SONY is setting themselves up for legal action by blocking the release of the Harmonix patch. In fact, it is probably already too late for SONY to avoid legal action.

WTF? So its ok on xbox but not ps3? Where is activisions head at with that bone head move?

Everything is "ok" on the xbox marketplace, just look at the horse armor :D

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.

Yea I'm confused. They allowed it on the 360 and don't on the PS3? Huh???

And cmon Activision don't be dumb

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.

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.

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.

sorry that was suppose to be "break the compatibility of their guitar with Rock Band on the Xbox 360"

I bet it's part of Activision's master plan to further Microsoft's goal to beat Sony.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

It only works because it's you can only use Microsoft technology for Wireless on the 360.

Burninated.

Activision needs to man up and let my patches go.

Catfight!

Blame Canada

bite my shiny metal ass ;) we dont even fuckin have rockband! :)

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?

Im with Activision on this. Why should they help out a competitor who is trying to move into their territory.

Because someone looking for a second guitar on Rock Band can either spend his $90 on a Harmonix guitar, or an Activision guitar.

It's called "not acting like a deuche".

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.

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?

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.

It's Activision/Neversoft that's moving in on Harmonix's territory, dumbass.

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.

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.

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.

Do rock band guitars work with gh3?

No, they do not. At least not on Xbox360. Again, this is RedOctane/Activision's fault, not Harmonix/EA.

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.

How did you buy a Les Paul for Rock Band when they aren't even sold wothout GHIII yet? :|

By buying GH3, obviously.

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.

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.

Because your a consumer that should not have to buy 2 different sets or guitars to play your games.

They're just jealous Rock Band won Best Rythm Game over GHIII.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

If you're referring to the third party guitars and copyright infringement thing with TAC, remember that RED OCTANE was responsible for that, not Harmonix.

Are you kidding me? If anything, this just goes to show that it was RedOctane/Activision, not Harmonix, behind the TAC issue to start with. In case you forgot, Activision (the ones making the bullshit move) bought RedOctane, the makers of the guitar. Harmonix, the developers of the game, got bought by MTV. The same people who caused the TAC mess are causing this mess; Harmonix very well could've been against the actions taken in regards to TAC to start with. Nobody is being a hypocrite.

Harmonix had nothing to do with TAC. RedOctane did.

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Harmonix: Blame Activision for PS3 Rock Band guitar issues

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