Questions for PS3 owners

[theBishop]

Hi,

I'm trying to decide which version of Rockband to buy. I've got a 360 and a PS3, but I don't currently pay for Xbox Live (and I don't want to).

How are the networking features for the PS3 version? Can you invite friends from your XMB list? Is there any voice chat? Matchmaking? etc. If anyone is inclined, I'd really appreciate a rundown of the overall experience.

I see the downloadable tracks are available from the PSN store. Is there any way to buy them directly from in the game? Once you buy them, how do they show up?

Also, what are you doing about a second guitar? I have two GH1/2 guitars for PS2. If would be great if I could use them via a USB adapter. Has anyone tried this?

How are you liking the wireless guitar? Was it a selling point for you over the 360 version?

Is there anything else I should be considering? I have a 60GB PS3, so the hub thing isn't really an issue.

[SoulScreme]

Hi,

I'm trying to decide which version of Rockband to buy. I've got a 360 and a PS3, but I don't currently pay for Xbox Live (and I don't want to).

How are the networking features for the PS3 version? Can you invite friends from your XMB list? Is there any voice chat? Matchmaking? etc. If anyone is inclined, I'd really appreciate a rundown of the overall experience.

I see the downloadable tracks are available from the PSN store. Is there any way to buy them directly from in the game? Once you buy them, how do they show up?

Also, what are you doing about a second guitar? I have two GH1/2 guitars for PS2. If would be great if I could use them via a USB adapter. Has anyone tried this?

How are you liking the wireless guitar? Was it a selling point for you over the 360 version?

Is there anything else I should be considering? I have a 60GB PS3, so the hub thing isn't really an issue.

Ok, I'll address everything.

Online play is great. You go online, you can invite friends from the XMB or do "Find Players" which works like matchmaking. It's smooth, much better than GH3. I'm not sure about voice chat.

Songs are only available from PS Store or XBLM, not in game. Once you buy the tracks they are added with the rest of the songs in quick play which can be sorted by difficulty, genrea, era, and alphabetically. Also, in solo career mode there are two extra venues, one for bonus tracks and the other for DLC. In Band World Tour, the DLC is automatically integrated into your set lists.

I don't like the Strat. I don't like the wired or the wireless version. However, my design issues with it aside, the wireless works flawlessly.

The only thing to consider if that the GH3 Les Paul controller works with Rock Band on 360, but not on PS3. There is no word yet of a time frame or even possibility of a patch from either company.

[theBishop]

Thanks man, that sounds good overall. I was never going to buy GH3 anyway, so compatibility isn't a factor. Shame there's no bass option at the moment, but that's really only a factor in a party setting (who wants to play bass solo?). Most of the time it'll be me on vocals/guitar and my girlfriend on drums.

[ManOwaR]

The online plays very well on PS3, I was very surprised/pleased. I have 4 guys that I rotate playing with.

Allegedly they will set it up so you can do the world tour mode online.. I'll believe it when I see it.

Lastly, About the chat... I haven't tried, but I will... don't know why I didn't think to see if that was on option.