Okay why cant HMX just pay.

[thewhitestripesfan]

Activison wants money just give it to them and get allll this over with.

[StAlphonso462]

Activison wants money just give it to them and get allll this over with.

you really think it's that easy? It's not like activision wants just one check and all of the problems will go away. they will want a lot of money over time, and a contract needs to be worked out, activision might want harmonix to pay more money if sales of future guitar hero games slows down. there is a lot that goes into these types of things, trust me it's not an easy thing.

and in my opinion, F activision. i sold my copy of gh3 on the internet, and will only buy rock band or harmonix music games from now on

[whittibo]

I guess it depends on how MUCH money they want. Maybe it's way out of line??

[DesiredFX]

Activision's trying to hold Harmonix over a barrel, hoping they have enough PS3 customers like you who are willing to push Harmonix to pay to release their own software.

I'll repeat that in case you didn't catch it: Activision wants money from Harmonix before they will allow Harmonix to release their own software.

There's nothing proprietary in the software--no patents are being infringed. It's just a simple software patch that allows Rock Band to recognize the Les Paul as a guitar controller.

If Harmonix created a patch to allow Bluetooth headset support, do you think Bluetooth manfacturers like Motorola would try to block them from releasing it? Of course not! Any software that's compatible with Motorola's Bluetooth headsets broadens the support for them and thus has the potential to create sales.

Now take that last paragraph and substitute Activision for Motorola and Les Paul for Bluetooth headset and you're describing exactly what's going on.

At the very least, paying Activision would set a precedent that other hardware manufacturers would try to turn to their advantage.

PS3 owners should be willing to forego instant gratification because of the principles at stake.


I guess it depends on how MUCH money they want. Maybe it's way out of line??

Any amount of money is "way out of line." The minute you create a contract that has a software developer paying to use a piece of hardware that was created for the same platform--a piece of hardware, mind you, that's not SUPPOSED to be proprietary in the first place--you put software developers in a very bad position.

[3Z3VH]

I am willing to bet a deal like that is totalling in the millions of dollars, which HMX has no legal reason that they would need to pay. So... Mr. WhiteStripesFan... unless you plan to be able to pay Activision yourself, don't make offers with other people's money.

[ShadowOfEden]

But why would they have to pay Activision so that Activision makes more money and that they make less (because they will sell less solo guitars when they are out)?

While I would love to use my LP instead of paying 60$, my opinion is that Activision should swallow their pride and do what's just for customers : allowing both guitars to work with both games.

[Project_Mercy]

It's "all over with," february 4th when the stand alone Rockband peripherals come out.

And speaking of which, if HMX pays money so someone else's contoller can work with their game, then people are less likely to buy their controller, which they're trying to sell for money.

The whole situation is dumb. HMX has actually done a lot of things promoting the consumer at the expense of their own bottom line. The same can't be said about Activision. So, if you want some place to channel your righteous indignation, I suggest that would be the better choice.

[Parodygm]

Funnily enough, I popped GH3 in the other day to see if I liked it any better. The answer is I don't. It felt cheesy (the clunking note misses really started to irritate me suddenly and the note chart vibration), unecessarily difficult and with some convoluted charts.

It reinforced my opinion that the PS3 Les Paul controller is pretty awful compared to a fully working Strat. I'd much rather hang out for extra single Strat controllers now.

[Renegade1007]

Its Principle...I can play with either an X-Plorer or Les Paul....You guys should be able to play with your Les Paul without HMX paying a dime to release a patch that shouldn't have even had to be released because the controller should be STANDARD

EDIT: Thats why I refuse to buy GH3 or a brand new guitar controller....I will not give RedOctane/Activision my money for refusing my PS3 Brothers the enjoyment they deserve

[thewhitestripesfan]

but its lik the strat doesnt work rigth, its like it doesnt go fast enough so i can hit the notes

[Dvlos]

Activison wants money just give it to them and get allll this over with.

Sorry but Activision is the a-hole in this affair, don't blame HMX on that one.

[phulcrum]

Look at it this way too. Why would HMX pay Activision money so PS3 users buy a Guitar Hero bundle for it's hardware when they can just put up with PS3 users *****ing for two or so months till they release stand alone Rock Band instruments?

Either they pay Activision and lose money on stand alone Rock Band instruments or they don't pay Activision and make money selling stand alone Rock Band instruments. If I was HMX I would go for the ladder...

[Renegade1007]

Look at it this way too. Why would HMX pay Activision money so PS3 users buy a Guitar Hero bundle for it's hardware when they can just put up with PS3 users *****ing for two or so months till they release stand alone Rock Band instruments?

Either they pay Activision and lose money on stand alone Rock Band instruments or they don't pay Activision and make money selling stand alone Rock Band instruments. If I was HMX I would go for the ladder...
QFT....

to the OP, your guitar is probably defective...I suggest you get it returned and play the drums....There the most fun anyway because they are the closest to the real thing....besides singing...

[Kingfish]

Main reason NOT to cave to Activision...it sets a HORRIBLE precedence. I honestly hope they don’t. I promise, if they give in to this blackmail, there will only be more to follow.

You can't negotiate with {them}...no point in trying.

[SenRaq]

I have played both,GH and Rockband, the verdict: Rockband has the better game and the better guitar/instruments. If you want to play RB on the PS3, trade in the junkie GH3 and pick up the superior Rockband.

[DesiredFX]

but its lik the strat doesnt work rigth, its like it doesnt go fast enough so i can hit the notes

The Strat definitely takes some getting used to, but once you do, I think you'll find it works just as well as any of the GH controllers. I can certainly play faster on it than I ever could with any of my other controllers.

Remember, too, that the window for hitting a note is narrower in RB. If you're playing a repetitive stretch of notes and you're even a tiny bit off in your rhythm, it will eventually catch up to you and make you miss.

[sporkBrigade]

Activision does not want money for the LP to be compatible with Rock Band. The reality is, they don't want the LP Compatible with Rock Band. Here's why.

They want product bundling. Product bundling always helps the leader in a market. Here's how it breaks down. Average uninformed Joe buys Guitar Hero 3 because it's the well known game. He loves it. He doesn't know whether GH2 was better or not, because he never played it. He just bought GH3 because he saw on the news it's the next big thing. Joe hears from Jim about this cool, but lesser known game Rock Band. Joe says, "Wow, I love these games. Does my controller work, or am I going to have to buy another one?" Jim says nope, you have to buy the same guitar again. In fact, the new one won't work with Guitar Hero either. Jim is just as misinformed as Joe, so the reality is Joe simply doesn't buy Rock Band, because from his standpoint, he's getting double dipped. And no one likes getting double dipped.

It's illegal to require bundling like this, because what I described above sucks for the customer. But Guitar Hero has a work around. You technically don't need a Guitar shaped controller to play, you can use the default controllers that come with the system. Therefore, no bundling, not illegal. The guitar controller is optional, and so Activision gets to restrict it and bundle it as much as they want.

It doesn't matter what Activision asks for, it's going to be ridiculous. They don't WANT it to work out. They don't want an agreement. If HMX says "Fine, how much?" They'll just say "Er... A Bajlllion dollars. And not a penny less." The offer itself is simply a PR move to get suckers like the OP to say "God, HMX. Just pay." If the controllers remain incompatible, average consumers just assume Rock Band is a rip-off trying to get them to buy another controller for yet another game. Or even if they know it's Activision doing it, it doesn't matter. Guitar Hero is the top dog right now, so they stand to benefit from this setup.

Now if Rock Band takes the lead in sales over the next couple of years, the tune may change. But until then, don't expect a change in policy from Activision. And certainly don't delude yourself into thinking that HMX just has to pay to make this problem go away. As long as Activision controls this market they will force you to play the bundling game, and that means you lose.

[Kingfish]

Activision does not want money for the LP to be compatible with Rock Band. The reality is, they don't want the LP Compatible with Rock Band. Here's why.

They want product bundling. Product bundling always helps the leader in a market. Here's how it breaks down. Average uninformed Joe buys Guitar Hero 3 because it's the well known game. He loves it. He doesn't know whether GH2 was better or not, because he never played it. He just bought GH3 because he saw on the news it's the next big thing. Joe hears from Jim about this cool, but lesser known game Rock Band. Joe says, "Wow, I love these games. Does my controller work, or am I going to have to buy another one?" Jim says nope, you have to buy the same guitar again. In fact, the new one won't work with Guitar Hero either. Jim is just as misinformed as Joe, so the reality is Joe simply doesn't buy Rock Band, because from his standpoint, he's getting double dipped. And no one likes getting double dipped.

It's illegal to require bundling like this, because what I described above sucks for the customer. But Guitar Hero has a work around. You technically don't need a Guitar shaped controller to play, you can use the default controllers that come with the system. Therefore, no bundling, not illegal. The guitar controller is optional, and so Activision gets to restrict it and bundle it as much as they want.

It doesn't matter what Activision asks for, it's going to be ridiculous. They don't WANT it to work out. They don't want an agreement. If HMX says "Fine, how much?" They'll just say "Er... A Bajlllion dollars. And not a penny less." The offer itself is simply a PR move to get suckers like the OP to say "God, HMX. Just pay." If the controllers remain incompatible, average consumers just assume Rock Band is a rip-off trying to get them to buy another controller for yet another game. Or even if they know it's Activision doing it, it doesn't matter. Guitar Hero is the top dog right now, so they stand to benefit from this setup.

Now if Rock Band takes the lead in sales over the next couple of years, the tune may change. But until then, don't expect a change in policy from Activision. And certainly don't delude yourself into thinking that HMX just has to pay to make this problem go away. As long as Activision controls this market, they will force you to play the bundling game, and that means you lose.


WELL said...DAMN well said!!!

[Kylekillgannon]

sporkBrigade has won

[Frederf]

In the famous words of Patrick Henry:


Give me cross-compatibility or give me death!

[Kylekillgannon]

In the famous words of Patrick Henry:

That's a lie!!!!!!!!!!11!!!11!!!!!1

[Superfro]

but its lik the strat doesnt work rigth, its like it doesnt go fast enough so i can hit the notes

Hmmm...I've been playing since 11/20, with the Strat, and my wife and I's band has 53 million fans. Seems to be working just fine for me. :cool:

[Maggot_Brain]

Activison wants money just give it to them and get allll this over with.

You know, we should just give them Czechoslovakia and get peace in our time!

[Kingfish]

You know, we should just give them Czechoslovakia and get peace in our time!

Oh man...I love that comparison. Classic!

[rezin-injector]

What really chaps my ass in this whole deal is the fact that XBOX 360 can use all the GH controllers they want. As for us PS3 people, we are S.O.L.!!!!

I've had my PS3 Fender apart probably 4 or 5 times now trying to fix that damn strum bar and get it so it doesn't feel like mashed potatoes when I strum. I've done the tape mod, the rubber band mod, even thought about trying to convert a GH controller strum bar mechanism over to work in the Fender. I can't hit the fast notes, have to play on medium because I can't get through a song on hard mode because of the Fender controller!!!

So.......... while at work today, my brain started to ponder on the fact of that damn Fender controller!!! :confused: So, by the end of work, I was pissy enough to leave work and go to GS and buy a copy of Rock Band for XBOX 360 (game only). Now!!! I can use my LP controller and kick some butt!!! I guess I will have to use my PS3 Rock Band when I want to play drums or sing. Use my Xbox 360 Rock Band when I want to play guitar. The sad thing is, I will probably end up buying the mic and drums seperately for Xbox 360 in February!!! Then I would end up with 2 Rock Band bundles, what a shame!!!! ;)

Anyway.... Harmonix could delegate the cost to use the PS3 GH controller on Rock Band by manufacturing a "patch disc" that us, the consumer, would have to buy. Either in disc form, or pay to download on PSN. Leave the decision up to us, if we want to spend the extra $$$ to use our GH controllers with Rock Band. Harmonix wouldn't have to fork over anything.... I know, I would hate to have to buy a "patch disc", but it would be a piece of mind for some of us that cannot stand the mushy Fender controller.

That's my opinion, take it for what it's worth.....

[WraithOfVolsunga]

if you want to get technical, activision can't block the patch. RedOctane makes the controllers and owns the rights to the controller's use. so either RedOctane is the one really behind the patch block, or activision is going outside their legal boundary.

This patch must be released, the strat is a poor design and the les paul is far superior of a controller.

[PinkFloyd]

if you want to get technical, activision can't block the patch. RedOctane makes the controllers and owns the rights to the controller's use. so either RedOctane is the one really behind the patch block, or activision is going outside their legal boundary.

This patch must be released, the strat is a poor design and the les paul is far superior of a controller.

First of all, there is no legal ground on which they are blocking the patch AFAIK. HMX does not alter the Les Paul in any way. It's like Creative going to Sony to stop them from allowing Creative webcams as video-inputdevices on the PS3.
All HMX has done, is analyze the signal sent to the PS3, and converted that inside Rock Band so it canbe used. Again, I'm no lawyer (I'm not even in the US), but it seems to me that there is no legal reason why the patch should not come out.

Second, I played with the Les Paul, and I consider it the worst controller I ever held in my precious hands. The red-button didn't always register, and at one point, the two parts came apart, mid-song. Way to go RedOctane.

[Skullfire]

...and buy a copy of Rock Band for XBOX 360 (game only). Now!!! I can use my LP controller and kick some butt!!! I guess I will have to use my PS3 Rock Band when I want to play drums or sing. Use my Xbox 360 Rock Band when I want to play guitar. The sad thing is, I will probably end up buying the mic and drums seperately for Xbox 360 in February!!! Then I would end up with 2 Rock Band bundles, what a shame!!!! ;)

Slightly OT, but isn't the PS3 mic a USB mic? I thought that RB recognised any USB mic, so could you use the PS3 mic on the 360 (or any other USB mic for that matter, or even the 360 headset).

[DesiredFX]

This patch must be released, the strat is a poor design and the les paul is far superior of a controller.

Not in my experience.

But I'm repeating myself.