Activison: Actually, Harmonix to blame for PS3 guitar issues

by Justin McElroy { Dec 14th 2007 at 9:25AM }

Let us explain. ... No, there is too much. Let us sum up. Guitar Hero III controllers don't work with Rock Band on the PS3. Harmonix made a patch to fix the problem, which never appeared. Harmonix released a statement saying that Activision "objected to the release of the compatibility patch," effectively halting it's release from Sony. That brings us up to yesterday when Activision released their own statement that they were (shockingly) blameless, saying "In fact, Harmonix and its parent company MTV Games/Viacom recently declined Activision's offer to reach an agreement that would allow the use of Guitar Hero guitar controllers with Rock Band." So, now it's apparently Harmonix's fault. Great. That's much clearer.

Tell you what. While you multi-billion dollar organizations are arguing like toddlers over a couple of toy guitars, we'll be over here being disgusted. Just tell us when you're done. Seriously, drop the he said/she said crap, do like Tim Gunn and make it work already, please.

Tags: activision, guitar-hero-iii, guitarheroiii, guitars, Harmonix, MTV, rock-band, rockband

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

justin @ Jan 25th 2008 3:48PM

man i wish i had stumbled upon this before i asked my gf for guitar hero III for ps3.

not only is rockBand actually releasing downloadable content and good songs - not crap like linkin park - they are all for compatibility.

I should have known to stick with harmonix, i mean activision hasn't done anything for this game except slap their logo on it. Red Octane is just as much to blame - they are probably sour over Harmonix leaving and making better instruments.

Balla360 @ Dec 14th 2007 9:28AM

It sounds like Activision wanted Harmonix to pay up to allow release of the patch. It's still Activision's fault.

copa @ Dec 14th 2007 9:59AM

That is exactly right. Harmonix has been trying get interoperability working every step of the way, and Activision has been trying to block it.

Once Harmonix did all the work and got a patch going (that incidentally would have sold more Les Paul controllers), Activision stepped in and demanded cash payment for the 'rights' to distribute the patch.

How much cash? However much it takes to keep Harmonix from distributing it.

Jeffff @ Dec 14th 2007 10:07AM

Activison: Hey guys this is crazy, we should make these guitars work in every game.

Harmonix:Your right we will get right on a patch for Rock Band and you guys can make one for GH3.

Activision: Ok and then you'll give us 2.7 million dollars and we will allow the patch to go through.

Harmonix: What! No way!

Activision: Well you guys clearly just hate the consumer, we are sorry you guys refused our agreement which would have allowed for guitar compatability.

FidliousWong @ Dec 14th 2007 10:31AM

This should be posted here because I expect the PS3 bash war to consume much of the first and second pages.

I think now is a good time to mention that only GHIII has a specific mention in their End-User license agreement that using ANY third party guitar controllers violates the agreement you entered upon buying Guitar Hero III.

Yeah, Activision.... Harmonix was the one being unreasonable.

Consumer: Dr. Evil, do you really expect them to pay?
Activision: No... I expect them to cry. Even if they give me the money, their controllers still won't work with Guitar Hero.

DCBlack @ Dec 14th 2007 11:51AM

I agree with Fidlious Wong. As a newb to the whole thing, I got a GH3 guitar and a RB guitar. It's nice if a patch gets released that will let me use both with RB, but meanwhile I'd rather not pay another $50 for proper 2-player action on GH3 when I assume a patch could be released to let me use my RB guitar with GH3. It just wouldn't be worth the money to me. I've spent enough for the holidays.

brad77 @ Dec 14th 2007 12:24PM

You're right, @FidliousWong. Here's the fine print from the opening screen of the demo:

"Activision authorizes use of this Guitar Hero™ game only in combination with a Guitar Hero™ controller provided by Activision or a standard game controller provided with a game console. Any other use is expressly prohibited. No other license, express or implied, is granted."

Given this, I would say that the burden of proof falls on Activision.

BraveJhawk @ Dec 14th 2007 8:40PM

Princess Bride! Love it!

nickbonanno @ Dec 14th 2007 9:33AM

They should all play nice and make every guitar work on every game. But in the world we all occupy i don't think we will see it happen any time soon.

Hell Harmonix should released a GH2 patch so the rock band guitars work in that game too!

Obie @ Dec 14th 2007 9:41AM

Love the clip, actually those two babies are more mature since their argument only lasted a minute.
It's amazing how petty,vindictive and childish big companies can be.

gonk @ Dec 14th 2007 11:14AM

those babies are so cute!

also, great first line :) still excitied for that princess bride game?

Mark @ Dec 14th 2007 9:41AM

Who cares? Does anyone actually OWN a PS3? If so, I have a freaking bridge to sell you.

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 14th 2007 9:44AM

Yes... people with buyer's remorse have a PS3.

Noshino @ Dec 14th 2007 9:45AM

1.52M Japan
2.91M America
2.76M Others....

your point?

baby sea tuna @ Dec 14th 2007 9:46AM

Technically, Fernando, the same could be said for any of the current-gen consoles.

Dale @ Dec 14th 2007 9:56AM

I have buyer's remorse over my Wii most days.

Mark @ Dec 14th 2007 9:56AM

To all those masochists who bought a PS3: you really need to judge current-gen consoles on their own, and not as some sort of evolution of the previous generation of consoles.

Yes, the PS2 was the best system ever. It is sadly clear the the PS3 will probably go down as one of the biggest flops ever. You can put it next to your Atari Lynx, Virtual Boy, and your CD-I.

FidliousWong @ Dec 14th 2007 10:01AM

Wow, what an accurate comparison. Lynx, Virtual Boy, and CD-i. I'd suprised you didn't whip out PS3DO on us. That would have been completely unpredictable...

idiot.

MariosInferno @ Dec 14th 2007 10:04AM

"You can put it next to your Atari Lynx, Virtual Boy, and your CD-I."

Forgot the Jaguar...nevermind..I actually enjoyed my Jaguar more than the PS3. Atari FTW.

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 14th 2007 10:06AM

At least the Jaguar, Virtual, CD-i, 3DO and other systmes did't had framerate problems.

=)

Noshino @ Dec 14th 2007 10:19AM

"To all those masochists who bought a PS3: you really need to judge current-gen consoles on their own, and not as some sort of evolution of the previous generation of consoles."

masochists? ok, you want to judge consoles on their own? then what do you call the reliability of the 360? because I would despise any product that has a failure rate of over 15%...

now what do you call the people one that let Microsoft get away with that? now THOSE I call masochists...

"Yes, the PS2 was the best system ever. It is sadly clear the the PS3 will probably go down as one of the biggest flops ever. You can put it next to your Atari Lynx, Virtual Boy, and your CD-I."

wow...comparing it to a handheld, a 3-d "Handheld" and a system that by the time they started showing better games (an aprox 4 year period), the PSone and N64 were right around the corner...

I mean, you have changed my life by comparing the PS3 with them, Thank You

FidliousWong @ Dec 14th 2007 10:22AM

"At least the Jaguar, Virtual, CD-i, 3DO and other systmes did't had framerate problems."

Ummm, yeah they did.

Jaguar had framerate issues on both sprite based and 3D based games. I think the only Jaguar game which didn't have performance issues was Tempest 2000. Hell, in Aliens vs. Predator, you'd be lucky to get 10fps. And Doom ran smoother on SNES than Jaguar.

Virtual Boy had framerate issues on several games including Telero Boxer, Red Alarm, and even Warioland. Hell, when your Mario Brothers game can't run smoothly, there's a problem. But then again, only two Marios which ran buttery smooth was Mario Galaxy and NSMB.

CD-i was plagued with framerate issues. Well, on the games that weren't FMV... just look to Zelda for evidence there.

3DO suffered on both FMV stuttering and sprite and 3D. Return Fire got hectic and would often slow down to a crawl. 3DO's version of Samurai Showdown was the first to do the scrolling in and out on a console other than Neo Geo yet despite this, zoom effects dropped frames like Britney drops crazy pills.

Boss Tempo @ Dec 14th 2007 10:32AM

Nice try Noshino...but um...I don't think your arguments are going to save your failing system.

B1gC72 @ Dec 14th 2007 1:50PM

how can you say all PS3 owners have buyer's remorse? nothing in the Xbox camp appeals to me and i am completely happy with my PS3. just because you like 360 doesnt mean everyone else has to. if there is anything i semi-regret buying, its my Wii that is sitting with my DS Lite collecting dust while i use my PS3 and PSP on a daily basis.

ever heard the saying 'different strokes for different folks'? i hope you all get the RRoD.

T H @ Dec 14th 2007 3:01PM

That's funny.. the PS3 a "failing system"..?

As in 33% failing..?

Failing to turn on?

A friend of mine was playing a holiday party where all of our friends would come, get drunk, eat, and play Rock Band... and for some reason I'm being asked to bring my PS3 and copy of Rock Band. Wanna guess why...?

Honestly, I don't get on here and enter comment posts to take shots at XBox360 fans. But for God's sake already, EASE UP!!! You guys should live and let live. Take your lips off the teat for a second and CHILL with all the PS3 bashing.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Dec 14th 2007 4:47PM

Fernando: you're not even a good troll. How about trying to contribute to the discussion?

Blue_Falcon @ Dec 14th 2007 9:44AM

So rather than just making all their controllers compatible with one another, they opt to blame each other instead of reaching an agreement with one another? That's just fantastic.

(Sidenote: I don't own any Guitar Hero's or Rock Band, but I intend on purchasing the latter at some point. I have no interest in picking up GHII/III until I can use the RB Guitar on those two games for the 360 version. They better get the ball rolling.)

Dale @ Dec 14th 2007 9:56AM

The guitars are compatible with each other on the 360 version. It's the PS3 version that's at issue.

FidliousWong @ Dec 14th 2007 9:57AM

I think now is a good time to mention that only GHIII has a specific mention in their End-User license agreement that using ANY third party guitar controllers violates the agreement you entered upon buying Guitar Hero III.

Yeah, Activision.... Harmonix was the one being unreasonable.

Consumer: Dr. Evil, do you really expect them to pay?
Activision: No... I expect them to cry. Even if they give me the money, their controllers still won't work with Guitar Hero.

matt @ Dec 14th 2007 10:43AM

Dale, you're not entirely correct.
On the 360, both the LP and X-Plorer GH controllers work on Rock Band, but the Rock Band Strat does NOT work on GH2 or GH3.

Snukadaman @ Dec 14th 2007 4:15PM

I dont understand why gh3 works fine with rockband on the 360...i mean..who paid who in that instance...did microsoft pony up the money...is sony too cheap..whats the problem too where it works just fine?

ScottG13 @ Dec 14th 2007 9:45AM

I've just about had my fill of Activision's jerkholeness. This is getting old. Stop being anti-consumer or you're gonna get burned. GH3 is probably the last GH I purchase. Hello Rock Band DLC.

baby sea tuna @ Dec 14th 2007 9:48AM

Here's hopin' they get The Gambler on there...

ScottG13 @ Dec 14th 2007 10:22AM

Man, that'd be sweet. My dad would be all over Rock Band.

Jeffff @ Dec 14th 2007 9:47AM

Activison: Hey guys this is crazy, we should make these guitars work in every game.

Harmonix:Your right we will get right on one for Rock Band and you guys can make one for GH3.

Activision: Ok and then you'll give us 2.7 million dollars and we will allow the patch to go through.

Harmonix: What! No way!

Activision: Well you guys clearly just hate the consumer, we are sorry you guys refused our agreement which would have allowed for guitar compatability.

ditchell @ Dec 14th 2007 9:49AM

I hope Harmonix's next step is to mention what Activision wanted in return for the patch.

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Dec 14th 2007 10:07AM

Activision probably wants 1000 boxes of Rock Band

ThornedVenom @ Dec 14th 2007 9:50AM

I'll have to team with Harmonix on this one. And crap, Activision is becoming a bigger ogre than EA.

Justin McElroy @ Dec 14th 2007 9:52AM

The thing that's so bizarre to me is that it seems like a win-win. Activision sells more hardware (you know, that stuff with the crazy profit margin) and EA gets a complete 4-player experience. Who is losing?

hoop @ Dec 14th 2007 9:58AM

The point is that each, like a bickering toddler, cannot allow the other to win. It's as if getting what one wants is dulled by watching the other person get what he or she wants.

Ridiculous.

I swear, sometimes I think these companies aren't happy until they've achieved a Pyrrhic victory.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 14th 2007 10:24AM

yeah, if by "agreement" they mean "pay licensing fees that shouldn't apply". Its not a matter of "allowing the other to win". Its a matter of "Give us money" or "we shouldn't have to".

Lanturn of Ash @ Dec 14th 2007 10:03AM

Activision has been a group of whiny dickholes ever since Rock Band was announced. I remember last year when they weren't allowing Rock Band discussion on the GH3 forums while Harmonix was allowing GH3 discussion on Rock Band's. I haven't seen a single 'nice' thing done by Activision with this whole deal, whereas Harmonix has been incredibly open and non hostile/whiny with the whole thing.

Activision better stop fuckin' around if they want me to buy another GH game, because after all the improvements Rock Band has made to the series I just don't see a point in going back.