Dream on! Guitar Hero: Aerosmith won't accept Rock Band guitars

by Christopher Grant { Jun 30th 2008 at 7:58PM }

The Activision peripheral tantrum continues, with the mega-publisher still refusing to allow Rock Band guitar peripherals to operate on its Guitar Hero games, including this week's Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. Despite reports to the contrary on a couple forums, when our friendly tipster attempted to use a Rock Band guitar on the Xbox 360 version of GH: Aerosmith he was greeted with the following error: "An unsupported guitar peripheral has been detected. Connect either a Guitar Hero guitar or Xbox 360 controller and press START to continue."

Considering the Rock Band guitar never worked on any of the three new-gen consoles' releases of Guitar Hero 3 (check our guitar compatibility matrix), we're going to assume the same lack of functionality is present in not only the Xbox 360 release, but the PlayStation 3 and Wii releases of GH: Aerosmith as well. Let us know if you've tried it on either of those consoles.

[Big thanks, Dan A.]

Tags: Activision, Guitar-Hero-Aerosmith, Rock-Band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Christian Walters @ Jun 30th 2008 8:05PM

Is that the REAL image from ingame? Reason I ask is because if you look at the sides of it, it appears like its the same image just flipped over and pasted over the other....DUN DU DUN!!!

Dr. @ Jun 30th 2008 8:08PM

Yeah, those edges do look way off...

Jim Halpert DM @ Jun 30th 2008 8:39PM

I think it was altered to allow to see that it was in fact Guitar Hero Aerosmith.

Baldwin @ Jul 14th 2008 2:51PM

Dose the guitar that comes in aerosmith bundle for wii work on mulitie player on legands of rock???

aphoushole @ Jun 30th 2008 8:08PM

I have heard testimonies that contradict this article from the Rock Band forums.

aphoushole @ Jun 30th 2008 8:09PM

I apologize, I should have mentioned that I was talking about the Xbox 360 version.

Christopher Grant @ Jun 30th 2008 8:12PM

We read the same testimonies, but our trustworthy tipster captured this screen proving otherwise. The only thing I could reason out is that SOME Rock Band guitars aren't recognized properly and being allowed to play (?). However, our test didn't work and Activision's outstanding policy is to disable functionality of other guitars, so it seems like nothing's changed.

Sora267 @ Jun 30th 2008 10:22PM

Maybe some people are using the wired Strats that came packaged with the game, and others are using the wireless ones. Could that have something to do with functionality? Or maybe the people on the RB forums are Activision employees in disguise trying to bait people away from RB?

Lars @ Jul 1st 2008 2:26PM

It doesn't really surprise me in the least, since Activision hates Harmonix, and wants to bleed consumers dry. If they thought they could get away with it, the GH guitars wouldn't even be compatible with each version of GH, just to force you to buy new guitars for each GH that comes out.

DarkTetsuya @ Jun 30th 2008 8:23PM

Well when RB2 outsells GHIV, they'll know why. :P

tmmoore_nc @ Jun 30th 2008 9:56PM

Rock Band 2 is going to be timed exclusive for 360, basically killing all sales hope for other platforms. Meanwhile, GH4 will be released on 360, PS3, Wii and PS2 on Day 1. Basically making it impossible for RB2 to outsell it. Also, Rock Band's already gimped on Wii, so I doubt a sequel will fix those problems.

Ordeith @ Jul 1st 2008 12:50PM

PS3 owners throwing tantrums over RB2 won't really slow sales that much.

Sorry.

Lars @ Jul 1st 2008 2:33PM

That is one thing I do hate about EA/Harmonix... they're all too willing to take MS's bribes for timed exclusivity. But RB2 exclusivity is only supposed to last for what, a month? They said September for 360 and later this year for the rest. I'd probably have trouble refusing a wad of cash shoved in my face too, in all honesty... Morals begone!

I'm interested to see what RB2 brings to the table. I don't see how they could really add much to the experience. And I'm not buying another drum kit controller unless it has a hi-hat pedal.

Natural Cauzes @ Jun 30th 2008 8:22PM

This seriously needs to stop. I'm continuing with rock band 2 instead of GH4 probably. This peripheral war is absolutely childish.

Ethan @ Jul 1st 2008 7:48AM

It's where most of the money is.

Lars @ Jul 1st 2008 2:27PM

I agree, plus the fact that Activision said they plan to release 30 versions of GH in the next year.

Jhongerkong @ Jun 30th 2008 8:22PM

In other news, the sun rose from the east today. It is later planned to set in the west.

Ghen @ Jul 1st 2008 7:40AM

that's just crazy talk.

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ Jul 1st 2008 12:47PM

BS!

Hafk @ Jun 30th 2008 8:24PM

Activision wants to eat your babies too.

Matt @ Jun 30th 2008 8:43PM

Umm...I've tried my Rock Band guitar on Aerosmith and it DOES work. And yes it's the 360 version. I don't know why yours wouldn't work.

Ghen @ Jul 1st 2008 7:41AM

wired or wireless?

Dr. @ Jun 30th 2008 8:32PM

Is this not going to bite them in the ass this time?

I bought GH3 and Rock Band. This means I have two guitars that work with RB (and presumably RB2) but only one that works with GH:A (and presumably GH:WT.) Oops, Activision?

Jechtshot78 @ Jun 30th 2008 8:33PM

What *** holes....

thump1967 @ Jun 30th 2008 9:00PM

Well I can say for sure we are using it now on CO OP meaning the RB guitar with no problems

EE @ Jun 30th 2008 9:09PM

So I guess if they can't sell me peripherals they're not interested in taking my money for the software and DLC? Fine with me, I guess I will stick with Rock Band exclusively.

Konchu @ Jun 30th 2008 9:13PM

I am curious if the new 360 guitar with Aerosmith works with Rock Band. I would suspect it possibly would but the crap about patching the GH controller to work on RB on PS3 make me think they might go the extra mile to make sure new guitars don't work.

Pitrsin @ Jun 30th 2008 9:32PM

The GH:A guitar is just a wireless Les Paul with a different faceplate on it. Doubt they changed anything with it.

DeadPlasmaCell @ Jun 30th 2008 9:14PM

I'm sorry, but what seems to be the issue? IIRC, They didn't work with GH3 either, so why the big deal about it??

Dr. @ Jun 30th 2008 9:22PM

GH3 was out before Rock Band, so the incompatibility is (somewhat) reasonable.

Quastor @ Jun 30th 2008 9:16PM

Perhaps people should specify... is the standard WIRED controller working with GH:A, or the wireless strat?

I could see the wireless version working...

jynxycat @ Jun 30th 2008 9:33PM

This started after all the weird GH2 controllers were released, and sucked.

Red Octane didn't want people to think their games represented in a poor way by using 3rd party controllers.

It's stated in either the game, the manual, or in the case of the GH3 demo, the legal screen.

Not surprising.

MattJack @ Jun 30th 2008 9:42PM

Just patch the game and it will work fine.. this story is bogus

monkeymonkeymonkey @ Jun 30th 2008 10:05PM

Can someone say PHOTOSHOPPED.

Trev @ Jun 30th 2008 10:40PM

Wow, I wish I could post completely inaccurate news stories and get away with it too! Can we at least get an update where you admit this is false?

Juan Montoya @ Jul 1st 2008 1:08AM

So do I my friend, so do I.

thump1967 @ Jun 30th 2008 11:28PM

Wired RB guitar working with Aero Smith here

easternattitude @ Aug 12th 2008 4:04PM

I bought rock band and GH aerosmith and the wireless Rock band guitar works just fine (PS2). I bought Rock Band as the set.

spicy @ Jul 1st 2008 12:48AM

my guitars from rockband work fine on guitar hero aerosmith only sometimes you cant get the star power to work all else works fine

BMErdin @ Jun 30th 2008 11:16PM

Dear Activision,
You Suck.
Love,
Everyone

xxzone @ Jun 30th 2008 11:24PM

I actually got the wired Rock band guitar to work with Aerosmith just today. I got home from renting it, my xplorer was still plugged in as well as the rock band guitar, and my son connected the other wireless GH guitar we have. I was shocked when he yelled that we could use the RB guitar.

I didn't believe it and though it would stop working, but got into a song in coop and it worked just fine. I'm not sure how to prove it. I have a camera to take digital picks, but not a camcorder.

xxzone @ Jun 30th 2008 11:24PM

I also just tried it with the Rock band guitar only plugged in, and it worked just fine. I'm plugged in via the usb hub. This is an xbox360.

I can plug in just one, or my RB and two GH hero guitars. They all show up and they are all playable. I don't know what type of pic I can take to prove it, but it does indeed work.

The rock band guitar is wired and brand new from an RMA I just did. I also just tried it with no usb hub, and it also works just fine.

Double J @ Jun 30th 2008 11:49PM

Yeah, I've been only playing GH:A with my Rock Band stock guitar (USB) it works more than okay. I'd post videos, but I'm not wearing pants.

Ghen @ Jul 1st 2008 7:43AM

modded up for lack of pants

xxzone @ Jun 30th 2008 11:52PM

Took a couple pictures you can see here:

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59546

Hopefully they are somewhat helpful. I really have not interest in trying to deceive people. Just thought it was cool, and maybe people who only have Rock Band and want to rent Aerosmith would find it useful.