Why does GH3 support wireless guitars for PS3/360 at the same price, and not RB?

[MysteryMan]

Well, the subject pretty much says it all. We know that the PS3 Rock Band bundle includes a wireless guitar, and the 360 bundle is wired. According to the OXM podcast, the reason for this is because the licensing fees are higher on wireless technology for 360, as opposed to the PS3.

But...I don't buy this. Guitar Hero III offers wireless guitars for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, and they are exactly the same price. So what gives? Why is GH3 able to keep prices the same, but Rock Band isn't?

[Kang_Zircon]

There could be all kinds of reasons. Activision might have made a deal with Microsoft to offer some exclusive content in exchange for waiving licensing, or possibly they decided to take a loss on the xBox guitar because they wanted to compete with RB more and they'll get more sales from xBox than PS3...

[Maherj]

Here's my take on the wireless controllers, for what it's worth.

Red Octane signed a deal with Microsoft for their wireless technology awhile ago, which probably gave them rights (Or maybe even a cut of all GH3 purchases) to use the technology. The manufacturers of the Rock Band guitars (Unknown to me) haven't signed anything as far as we're aware, hence the 20$ difference.

Microsoft is all about making money, and this is how they can accomplish this. We may see a drop in price on the wireless fender down the road, but I doubt it. I'll be happy with my wired Fender and Wireless Les Paul on release day.

Depending on the compatibility and if I prefer the wireless, then I'll sell my wired X-Plorer and Fender and buy a wireless Fender instead, leaving me with 2 wireless guitars, but that will depend on what will work with what game. We won't know that until November.

[masterx1918]

I'm pretty sure there's still wireless Stratocaster's coming out on release, they're just not being sold with the bundle

[parastroke7]

I'm still not so sure why it's that big of a deal whether they have wires coming out of them or not.

but if you must have wireless, you'll probobly find yourself with it eventually.

[Finncognito]

There could be all kinds of reasons. Activision might have made a deal with Microsoft to offer some exclusive content in exchange for waiving licensing, or possibly they decided to take a loss on the xBox guitar because they wanted to compete with RB more and they'll get more sales from xBox than PS3...
Activision won't be taking a loss on the peripherals. Their obscene profit margin might be a little less obscene, though.

[ThePaska]

I'm still not so sure why it's that big of a deal whether they have wires coming out of them or not.

but if you must have wireless, you'll probobly find yourself with it eventually.

Neither do I, personally I like wired better for the most part, no need to charge the controller and it is cheaper!

[Xzyliac]

RedOctane can take those losses.

You have to remember Harmonix is doing their own peripherals this time.

I dunno. I'm really through with anyone still *****ing over wired guitars. Especially with a hub packed in.

Not saying you're *****ing I have just given up on even caring.

[Kang_Zircon]

Activision won't be taking a loss on the peripherals. Their obscene profit margin might be a little less obscene, though.

Yeah, I wasn't implying loss as in no profits, just a loss vs. what they make on PS3 peripherals.

[espher]

What's to say they didn't just crank up the price of the PS3 bundle instead of lowering that of the 360?

[Ghaleon]

Looks like they (Red Octane) just decided to take a loss on the 360 and make it up by charging full price for a plastic shell you stick a Wii-mote into..

[Electric_Zen]

It's not quite as simple as Harmonix just charging more than Red Octane...

Look at the GH2 (360) prices as a basis for comparison.

Standalone Wired Guitar: $60
Wired Guitar Bundle: $90

Gamestop now has the finalized price list for Rock Band. They show:

Rock Band Wired 360 Guitar: $60
Rock Band Wireless PS3 Guitar: $60
Rock Band Wired 360 Guitar: $80

Red Octane has not released standalone controller prices yet, but we can reasonably deduce them from the bundles.

GH3 Wireless 360 Guitar Bundle: $100
GH3 Wireless PS3 Guitar Bundle: $100

This implies a per-controller price of $70.

So, in short, Harmonix is 'over-charging' (relative to Red Octane) for the 360 controller by $10, while Red Octane is 'over-charging' for the PS3 controller by $10.

[Apples]

GH2 360 was 90$ for a bundle, and by all accounts the same bundle will be 100$ for GH3 360. So in short, you *are* paying for it with the $10 increase.

In comparision, a 4 port USB hub can be had at wal-mart for 5.99, cheaper if bought in bulk and/or wholesale.

[Electric_Zen]

GH2 360 was 90$ for a bundle, and by all accounts the same bundle will be 100$ for GH3 360.

Look again, it's not the same bundle.

The GH2 360 bundle ($90) was wired

The GH3 360 bundle ($100) is wireless

[TheWolf619]

I thought the GHII bundle was $80?
and now the GHIII bundle is $100.

[Electric_Zen]

I thought the GHII bundle was $80?
and now the GHIII bundle is $100.

Fortunately, you don't have to rely on your memory. You can check the prices.

GH2 Bundle is $90: http://redoctane.com/guitarhero2x-bundlegigbag.html
GH3 Bundle is $100: http://redoctane.com/guitarhero3xbox360bundle.html

[Riboflavin]

did we ever get confirmation about the GH Les Paul working with Rock Band?

[AVC808]

did we ever get confirmation about the GH Les Paul working with Rock Band?

yes

damn 10 characters

[Riboflavin]

How about confirmation of the RB Strat working with Guitar Hero 3?

[Supergeek]

How about confirmation of the RB Strat working with Guitar Hero 3?
No, just Alex Rigopulos saying in an interview that Harmonix will gladly work with Activision to make sure the guitars work on either game per platform.

Which means to me that they have not worked together yet (unfortunate) but may in the future. Which means, due to standardized SDK's for the systems, the controllers may work cross-game or may not.

[Apples]

Look again, it's not the same bundle.

The GH2 360 bundle ($90) was wired

The GH3 360 bundle ($100) is wireless


You made my point for me. It's reasonable to conclude a large part of that 10$ increase is to cover the cost of wireless, presumably the licensing fee and hardware cost.

If Rock Band's stated goal is to keep the bundle competitively priced, axeing a "fluff" hardware feature is a good move to meet said goal. I also think there's a certain demographic that would prefer the lower cost and can do without the "convenience" of wireless.

[sushi111]

You made my point for me. A 10$ increase to cover the cost of wireless, presumably the licensing fee and hardware cost.

If Rock Band's stated goal is to keep the bundle competitively priced, axeing a "fluff" hardware feature is a good move to meet said goal.

Exactly.

Plus... 5 more songs?

Now thats money well spent.

[Electric_Zen]

You made my point for me. It's reasonable to conclude a large part of that 10$ increase is to cover the cost of wireless, presumably the licensing fee and hardware cost.

Of course. That's why the GH3 bundle pricing makes sense. The question is, why is Rock Band charging an additional $10 on top of that?



Plus... 5 more songs?

Now thats money well spent.


The subject is peripheral pricing differences between PS3 and 360. I'm thrilled with more songs, but number of songs has nothing to do with it, and song content will be the same between the two platforms.