360's Guitar Hero World Tour to be compatible with RB instruments
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jul 16th 2008 at 5:28AM }
We're happy to see Activision tear down this wailing wall, even though we'll have to tweak our peripheral compatibility matrix for the umpteenth time. We're not quite sure how many an "ump" is, but we're thinking it's somewhere in the region of 119.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil Masteller @ Jul 16th 2008 5:46AM
Ps3 left in the lurch... as usual.
JJ Rooster @ Jul 16th 2008 9:11AM
I hear Rock Band is awful on the PS3. No GH guitars work with it, and there's no voicechat for online so people are resorting to making codes out of scrolling and ready/not ready input, like friggin morse code.
On the plus side, I think they can still "share" DLC with friends due to PS3's multiple install policy.
Wait, that's probably why PS3 gets no love from HMX.
MarkHawk @ Jul 16th 2008 5:46AM
Glad to hear it, but pissed that its only 360... Doubt Activision had much to do with it if they aren't doing the same on the PS3.
Oh Well I good to know I can rent it and still get the full experience.
Kizzle @ Jul 16th 2008 8:54AM
Exactly - I bet this has just as much to do with MS having one standard for all their wireless controllers than it does the supposed goodness of Activision's heart.
drlilo.beastcake @ Jul 16th 2008 5:55AM
Hell yeah! Finally I can justify getting it. No way I'm paying for another plastic instrument this gen.
Demaar @ Jul 16th 2008 8:32AM
Indeed. This is incredibly smart news on Activision's part. Now if GHWT's controllers are compatible with RB2, I'mma have to decide which controllers I upgrade to...
Nick8708 @ Jul 16th 2008 5:59AM
Let me just say that, assuming RB2's controllers work with GHWT (probably a safe assumption, and I'm considering getting that premium drum kit...haha), this is a major boon for the genre and a great move on Activision's part. I was already on board with RB2, but instrument incompatibility was the only thing that would have made me not buy GHWT. Now that's a non-issue!
Charlie @ Jul 16th 2008 6:01AM
I am so glad I don't have a PS3. There doesn't seem to be any let up to the disappointments on that platform.
MarkHawk @ Jul 16th 2008 6:04AM
Wait so can GH instruments do the same on RB?
What I mean is this article only says RB will work in GH. Will GH work in RB?
Nick8708 @ Jul 16th 2008 6:09AM
That's likely since it did last generation. I can't see Harmonix locking out those instruments considering they didn't the first time, and considering all the negative feedback Activision got for doing it.
Sean Campbell @ Jul 16th 2008 11:18AM
It looks like that might not be the case. I just watched the video at http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/guitar-hero-world-tour-demo-video-blowout/ and all 5 notes on the drum chart are used in the song.
The mystery remains how a 4 button pad will accomodate a 5 note game.
I'm terrible at drums, so maybe you only need 4 pads for the easy and medium difficulty.
Sam Earl @ Jul 16th 2008 6:24AM
I've not seen much footage of GH:WT, so I am not entirely sure how it works, but the GH Drums have an extra "button" (in the form of a cymbal).
So does this mean that that cymbal isn't even necessary? I'm confused. Although I heard that you activate star power by hitting both cymbals at once, so maybe one of them just isn't used at all.
krasi @ Jul 16th 2008 10:09AM
I am wondering the same thing. Looking at GH:WT screens the drums have 5 notes plus the bass drum and the RB drums only have 4 pads and in RB you only has 4 notes and the bass drum. So where are we gonna play this extra note from? It just doesn't make sense.
JJ Rooster @ Jul 16th 2008 9:14AM
The GH drums are 3 big pads and 2 cymbals, so really one's just for show (and star power) and you hit the left or right one depending on your preference.
nightmare452 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:59AM
Thats just good news. Their might be hope for this franchises from me yet.
I just hope our friends with PS3 versions get the same treatment, Im sure they will but just in case :)
Elsnerma @ Jul 16th 2008 9:26PM
Thank you!
Console wars aside, one-sided treatment like this is ridiculous. Exlcusive games, (announced) exclusive features, exclusive DLC, an earlier release for one system, I can deal with all of that. But this generation, where mult-platform games can be patched and changed at will, I would expect the same patches to be released for games on both systems.
Dr. @ Jul 16th 2008 8:07AM
About effing time.
Jim Halpert DM @ Jul 16th 2008 8:12AM
How will you play the extra note in Guitar Hero: World Tour?
I'd rather the GH: WT drums work with RB 1 and 2.
zebwinz @ Jul 16th 2008 8:16AM
Now it makes even more sense that the Rock Band 2 drums have slots for cymbals, which are sold separately.
Levi @ Jul 16th 2008 8:32AM
Facts:
1. Ninjas are mammals.
2. Ninjas fight ALL the time.
3. The purpose of the ninja is to flip out and kill people.
k04sm02 @ Jul 16th 2008 8:40AM
Quite a conundrum for me.
My RB drums broke (even after I tried to replace the pad sensor) so I will be waiting and buying one of the new bundles of ONE of these games, and still buy the other game, if they're completely compatible. I'll just have to wait and see which bundle is better off.
Good news overall, though.
gööb @ Sep 4th 2008 2:13PM
rockband has said it will replace all broken peripherals until october of this year. so send your drums back in.
ScottG13 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:07AM
Fianlly, Actitard is getting on board with controllers that work for other games. This isn't exactly a revolution.
But it is good for the consumers. One of the better announcements to come out so far.
Jomolungma @ Jul 16th 2008 9:22AM
I'll wait for the actual reviews to confirm this, but if it's true this game went from never buy to insta-buy for me. My sole issue was I didn't want to buy more instruments and now I wouldn't need to. Thanks Activision, you are starting, slowly, to change my mind about you.
Matt @ Jul 16th 2008 9:43AM
It is becoming more and more difficult to be a PS3 owner. I know people may assume I'm an xbox fanboy posing as a PS3 owner, but seriously... I own a PS3 (60 gig) and I am seriously considering switching to an xbox 360 right now. Rock Band 2 coming out a month and a half earlier, now this, all the issues that have come up with various games. There seems to be a consensus that the PS3 is surging forward, but I don't know... I'm not seeing it. The PS3 has been steadily getting better through firmware updates and for various reasons, but I'm really leaning toward selling/trading in my PS3 soon.
Vcize @ Jul 16th 2008 10:41AM
Wait, you're supposed to be tempted by the dark side, not the light side.
yyr @ Jul 16th 2008 12:06PM
They said that it would work on 360... they didn't say that it wouldn't on PS3.
Why would they do this on one platform and not the other?
I'd be very surprised if it turned out not to be the same on PS3.
Anyway, I will likely now be buying this game...
Phillip @ Jul 16th 2008 12:11PM
What about the wii version?
Phil
Gun Barrier (Gamer Tag) @ Jul 16th 2008 12:17PM
Wow, i may actually get this now! I hope the drums work too.
FSK405K @ Jul 16th 2008 12:52PM
How about Guitar Hero 2 and 3?
VanillaMummy @ Jul 16th 2008 1:46PM
You guys are aware this is only possible because of Harmonix's open standard. Its funny that Activision is still preventing the patch to let there guitars work for Rock Band but they are more then happy to let people use other instruments on there game in a feeble attempt to get people to buy their game.
-10 rep Activision, -10 rep.
Purple Haze @ Jul 17th 2008 4:40AM
Can someone explain why the ps 3 get's screwed over in this? It doesn't make any sense to me, if they can make it work with 360, why not ps 3?
belgand @ Jul 17th 2008 5:43PM
As far as my understanding goes the 5 note drum tracks will be compressed down to 4 notes when using the Rock Band drums. I'm not certain how exactly this is going to be accomplished.
http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/07/xbox-rock-band.html
It's also been revealed that the Rock Band 2 cymbal pack will actually be for a little bit more than just show.
"While they're mapped to the same colors for the note charts, the Drum Trainer and fills in-game treat these surfaces are unique - hitting the yellow cymbal triggers a hi-hat, and hitting the yellow pad plays a tom. Same goes for all the inputs on the Ion kit and other third-party kits in development."
http://www.rockband.com/rockers_blog_entry/hmxspraynwipe/379911?redir=1
This means that, while almost certainly never to happen, it might be possible for the upgraded RB2 kit to work full in GH:WT.