Guitar Hero 5 DLC not compatible with World Tour
by Xav de Matos 
{ Aug 23rd 2009 at 8:30PM } 
According to the Activision rep, Guitar Hero 5 DLC will be compatible with future titles in the franchise, but "advancements and innovations" made to the upcoming music title do not allow for tracks to be backwards compatible with World Tour. Don't light the torches and grab the pitchforks just yet though, the same reason has been given for The Beatles: Rock Band's inability to work with previous versions of the game.
Thankfully, Activision has already confirmed tracks from Guitar Hero: World Tour will be compatible with Guitar Hero 5 via an in-game importing process -- which adds new features such as band moments, expert+ drumming and the new vocal star power to older tracks.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alton Brown [Planeteer | Power of Dueling Banjos] @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:33PM
I cant hear you. I'm too busy playing Rock Band.
iPunch @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:40PM
As am I!
Along with Rock Band Unplugged when I'm not at home.
Rock Band Trolling FTW! Hehehe
VaultBoy @ Aug 24th 2009 1:29PM
The rock band guitars suck ballsack... that's all I'm saying.
Jack @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:42PM
Hi! My comment was deleted because I'm a total moron who tries to link to idiotic crap, which may or may not contain viruses!
I deserve to be down voted and banned!
Hydrophobicfish (PSN: HydrophobicFish) @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:43PM
Don't click, it's a virus.
Well, it's not really, but it's a referral, let's not reward him for spamming on our site.
iPunch @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:47PM
Pointless spaaaaaaaam.
At least throw in a "screw activision for this"... Or use a site that doesn't take 12 years to earn stuff on
ThatPCgameryouhate @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:48PM
At first I thought it said SwagFucks. I almost clicked.
ximena79 @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:49PM
sad just sad
brad77 @ Aug 23rd 2009 10:40PM
Best reason to use the "!" that I've seen in a while.
The Baron @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:44PM
I love RB, but I can also see why this is necessary so there's no reason to blindly attack it.
Hafkie @ Aug 24th 2009 1:04AM
No, fuck you, you don't understand. THIS IS ALL AN ATTEMPT FOR ACTIVISION TO RULE THE WORLD
FUCK YOU ACTIVISIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Oh wait, going back and deleting a bunch of things in the songs just for an old game doesn't really make sense? They announced GH5, Band Hero, and GH5 DLC to be forward compatible with future titles? If you are someone who is still playing World Tour, you're probably going to buy GH5 anyway? No way.
If you pass up GH5 and keep playing WT, it's your own fault I say. WT is worse than GH5 in every possible way. I'm watching GH5 videos from people who have gotten the game early, and I have to say, this game looks FANTASTIC. So many Joystiq readers are going to miss out because they didn't give this game a chance.
http://www.dailymotion.com/user/SchnackAttack/video/xa97tn_gh5-21st-century-schiziod-man-by-ki_videogames
Can't wait to play KING CRIMSON!
rogXue @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:50PM
I'll pass just like I did on World Tour. GH has gone downhill bad...
Isaac @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:40AM
you're really missing out on a fanstatic game. I have 300 songs on my GH5 library that clearly trump the 300 i have on RB2. Plus drumming is better on Guitar Hero.
Flo @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:50PM
Still playing RB2 for wii w/ cracked dlc and custom songs :D
Ferco @ Aug 24th 2009 3:03AM
Wish I could play Rock Band 2 for the wii. It still haven't been released here in Sweden even though the game has for the other consoles.
Stevetrop @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:52PM
For me Guitar Hero is dead. Ever since my friends got me to get Rock Band and jam with them I couldn't go back to guitar hero.
I'm sure this wouldn't hurt the fans of the game wanting the new rendition of it.
Jesse @ Aug 24th 2009 4:36AM
I bought GHWT first then RB2 a month or so after and I TOO had rectangle nightmares for a while, but now I'm firmly ensconced in a four sided rhomboid of comfort.
This was made even more apparent on the weekend when my friend, who has just bought GHWT (cheap), asked me over for a BBQ (Aussie style) and jam (rock style not condiment style - because that just opens up the whole jam/jello/jelly arguement). Anyway, I was like, circles! WTF? Oh yeah, that's right.
And back on topic - GH5 might have some nice features but this DLC thing is a freakin mess. I'll wait for RB3 thanks very much Activision. PS: You suck and your anti PS3 attitude has been duly noted in my 'Naughty Publishers' notebook.
Jesse @ Aug 24th 2009 4:38AM
I also blame Activision for the reply fail I just had that led me to reply to this post and not the one directly below.
Douchebags.
sony boy @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:53PM
is it just me or am i the only one that doesn't like RB notes. i prefer circle notes over square notes.
Flo @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:56PM
Your not alone :D
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:56PM
it's you. rock band's interface just looks slicker in general IMO.
Flo @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:57PM
I should add that I only prefer the shape of the notes. I like rock bands interface more also.
Vcize @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:00PM
The rectangle notes piss me off. I'm not sure why, I'm not racist against rectangles or anything, but god damn I hate those rectangle notes.
Shadowbender ( Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:07PM
Agreed. When I first played Rock Band, those darn rectangles almost murdered me.
The Baron @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:17PM
I much prefer the interface on RB now. The notes on GH seem tiny by comparison, little specks on a giant highway.
Shadowbender ( Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:49PM
@ The Baron
I think it's because of the multiplayer. They trying to cram each of the player's notes onto one screen, and it's just an epic fail.
Linkb8s (XBL: Tenku no Link) @ Aug 23rd 2009 10:21PM
It took a while to get used to it, but I honestly prefer the rectangle notes over the circle notes. I find that it's just easier to see the note separation in RB than in GH.
VaultICEE @ Aug 23rd 2009 10:49PM
I think it has to due with what game you play more.
Before I bought Rock Band, I swore I would always prefer circle notes, and then once Guitar Hero took its turn for the worse and I gave into Rock Band I haven't looked back at going circle again.
...This sounds like a bad car ad or somethin'.
John Perkins @ Aug 24th 2009 12:40AM
One of my biggest issues with GH is the circle notes. On the drums at least, I find Rock Band's rectangles and the orange bar much easier to read than GH's circles and purple bar. Though I do hate RB's color scheme when on overdrive or star power or whatever they call it.
Luke @ Aug 24th 2009 11:56AM
Re: Circle vs. Rectangle notes
To me, it's all about what instrument you're playing. I prefer GH-style notes for guitar, RB-style for drums. Maybe it's because I've played guitar more on GH and drums more on RB, I dunno, but because the circular notes are larger, it's a little more ambiguous sometimes when you're supposed to hit. Timing is more important on drums so you need to know exactly when. On guitar it doesn't matter as much, and I prefer the circular notes on guitar for the opposite reason--the timing is looser.
I also prefer the GH instruments, drums included. I'm curious to see how the GH5 drums turn out; I have no intention of buying another kit or probably not even this game, but to me, RedOctane has the best track record. WT drums had their issues, but I still prefer them slightly to the RB drums.
Drum charting on RB is much better though, not just the notes, but the charts. Much more accurate and fun to play.
So while I've vilified GH/Activision for many reasons, I'm not a fanboy...GH still has some merits, but shitty things like this just overshadow them.
Isaac @ Sep 23rd 2009 12:02PM
are you retarded? The drum charts on RB are GARBAGE! Most drummers will tell you they prefer drum charts on GH because, while they may be more "boring" it's because they're more accurate.
RB has you hitting a different pad for the same cymbal/tom. Like a hi-hat is Yellow AND/OR Blue on RB. Why? It's the same damn hi-hat. I'm only using 1 hi-hat. They have you do different pads if it's opened or closed. Whereas Guitar just says, Hit me harder for open hi-hats and you'll get extra points. Thanks for recognizing I'm open! If you want really accurate charts, go get the RR drum set and game. No one beats that so far, although the songs are all covers.
I'm waiting for Drum Hero, hopefully it'll come. It'll be songs that'll be really well known for drumming and hopefully a BAD ASS drum kit that is made in conjuction with Roland or something. Drummers have been on the back burner for a game. We need a game with a hi-hat pedal, and at least 7 pads with proper setup. I want my hi-hat over there and my ride over there. GH does a pretty good job of that, but still uses the same cymbal for crash/ride and yellow is now crash-splash/open-closed hi-hat and depending on how you hit it is the sound you rep. It's nice though.
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:56PM
tool with expert+ drumming? i'm game.
The Baron @ Aug 23rd 2009 10:46PM
^ THIS
Or if I had a GH:WT kit it would be, at least.
John Perkins @ Aug 24th 2009 12:45AM
This is why GH is nowhere near as good as RB. RB on expert is already a 1:1 representation of the song. Adding Expert+ just to make the game more difficult, even if it isn't true to the song, takes the fun away, it doesn't add to it.
And it just feels weird hitting the ride to make a crash sound. Give me RB with my ION drum kit over anything GH can throw at us any day. It's as close to the real thing as you can get in a video game.
WiiFTW @ Aug 24th 2009 12:59AM
Err expert+ just adds a second pedal. As in for songs which feature drummers using two pedals.
Hafkie @ Aug 24th 2009 1:25AM
John Perkins.
Go download Laid to Rest on Rock Band.
No, go on.
Download it.
Does it sound undercharted? Well, it is. That's a double bass part, and since charting it 1:1 on Expert would destroy all drummers who didn't buy a second pedal, they cut the number of bass notes in half to compensate for the fact that you can only use one foot.
Expert+ is an optional mode designed for those who wanted to buy a second bass pedal to play those heavy metal songs. The same expert drum chart, but with all of the bass drum hits.
Laid to Rest Smash Hits X+ : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIjHtcbBoog
Laid to Rest Rock Band 2 X: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvAeEpiqda4
The X+ chart is more accurate. However, if you didn't have a second bass pedal, you would be SCREWED. That is why they don't chart Expert that way. X+ is just for thrill seekers who want to play double bass.
The Baron @ Aug 24th 2009 11:36AM
John Perkins: not understanding blast beats since the beginning of time.
RB is charted as accurately as it can be, but they can't do the hi-hat pedal (so they make you hit the blue pad for open notes) or the second bass pedal.
The problem with the double bass is that they don't seem to have any one way of charting it. Sometimes they have it going in strange time signatures, sometimes they just give you one bass hit at the same time as each hat/ride note.
EckhartD @ Aug 23rd 2009 8:57PM
I picked Rock Band over Guitar Hero a LONG time ago...not once have I regretted my decision
Luke @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:00PM
Anyone else think they're gonna keep adding little features to future installments just so they have an excuse to force consumers to buy the new game if they want DLC?
Rock Band 1 has been out for almost two years, and it'll likely keep getting DLC for quite some time. Beatles Rock Band has always been referred to as a standalone experience, and it only makes sense that it's only Beatles music that can be played with the game, and that it won't be exportable, because Beatles music has always been overprotected like that.
But GHWT will have only been out 10 months when GH5 launches. The DLC was never anywhere near the caliber that RB has reached, and now, it never will be.
I bought GHWT in hopes that it would be a legitimate contender against RB2, particularly in terms of DLC. I was duped. I'll see you in hell, Activision...or the bargain bin, whichever comes first.
Shadowbender ( Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:05PM
You'll see them in the box you'll live in after spending so much money each year on their products. That is, if you haven't learned to not give them you're cash.
Shadowbender ( Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:01PM
Activision, you just made me spit blood out of my mouth in disgust at your company.
fred @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:07PM
ROCK BAND ALL THE WAY
SCREW YOU ACTIVISION
Shadowbender ( Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:47PM
Kotick is behind you.
isaac @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:11PM
rockband beats guitar hero so badly that they had to get a restraining order,
but honestly the drums for GTHWT suck bad..
KFelon @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:13PM
What the? I can't play Sabotage in Beatles Rock Band? j/k
VaultICEE @ Aug 23rd 2009 10:49PM
That would be RAD.
DudeGuyMan @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:15PM
Of course it's not compatible! You wouldn't have to buy a new version then, would you? Activision needs your money!
CrashSpyro123 @ Aug 24th 2009 12:47AM
They'd get it from DLC, if they would've been smart and kept it BC.
Spike @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:16PM
i can't wait for all the GH games to be cracked, so i can play all those songs as customs in RB2
Bearxor @ Aug 23rd 2009 9:34PM
"Don't light the torches and grab the pitchforks just yet though, the same reason has been given for The Beatles: Rock Band's inability to work with previous versions of the game."
Wait... I thought the limitation for DLC and backwards compatibility was for contractual reasons and not technical.
If Harmonix is telling me that I can't use my DLC in a future RB3, I'll stop buying DLC right now.