Rough editorial about "Guitar Politics"

[AdamBomb629]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3163966

I thought this was a good write-up and while there are discussions going on about the guitar compatibilities, I thought this article merited its own thread. I suppose we should keep discussion related to the article.

[mxmarks]

Very interesting. Not suprising, but interesting.

I do think however, that gives me - and others like me - who play with a "pick style" (or an actual pick!) and can't play GH3 a lot of hope that Rock Band will work for us, as it sounds like the guitar portion of Rock Band is only graphically different, if all guitars that THEY had a hand in creating still work fine.

As to not threadjack - there's a post somewhere on here about the strum sensitivity being geared to the Les Paul on GH3, that leaves people like me who play with a certian style always getting double strums - even when GH1, GH2 and 80's never register double strums with the same exact guitar, and style. I made a thread asking Harmonix if I would have to worry about that with Rock Band, and although they didn't respond, this article makes me think I wont have to worry.

Sorry about that - Back on topic! :cool:

[foolosophy]

So wait was IGN lying? I doubt they would report it in their podcast if it was a lie...

[Xzyliac]

I play with my hand cuffed and strum with my thumb mainly because I find it easier to grab the strum bar and strum up and down when needed but I have played with a pick. I find it inconvient mainly because I can't grip the pick when strumming as the bar is so smooth. When I play guitar my hand is fisted but for GH I can't do it.

[Keebler]

This author of the 1UP article has no idea what he's talking about. He's simply guessing the GH3 Les Paul doesn't work with Rock Band, but he has no proof. He even admits they don't have any of the Les Pauls on hand to verify. IGN, on the other hand, said for a fact they had the Les Paul in their offices and tested it with Rock Band, and it worked.

[Magnet]

Yeah, a podcast confirmed that for at least one version of RB (I'm assuming the 360 version), the Les Paul works fine with it. This cements my theory that the full band experience that HMX may have been banking on was people buying GHIII + Les Paul and then the RB bundle later on. It allows them to reduce the cost of the bundle by quite a bit by only including one guitar, but it also ensures that it's still possible for all instruments to be covered at the same time locally if the GHIII bundle was purchased previously. It's definitely piggybacking on Guitar Hero III, and it's a very wise decision to do that. It is very much in HMX's interest to allow third-party controllers. They want people to buy the game, even if they're playing it with different controllers. Especially with individual instruments available for purchase in the next few months, people who buy RB game only and play with the Les Paul for more guitar action will likely be interested in getting the drums or the Strat for another guitar for the game. So their hardware will still be getting sold eventually, but the important thing is to get the game into households so people want to get drums, a mic, etc. for it eventually.

However, on the flip side, Activision bought a game publisher that is primarily a hardware manufacturer, RedOctane, for $100 million not too long ago. It is in Activision's best interest to discourage third-party controllers by prohibiting them from working in Guitar Hero III. That is the sad truth. They ensure strong hardware sales by making the Strat incompatible with GHIII. People can't just buy the RB bundle and GHIII game only. Unfortunately, they really want you to buy another Les Paul after you get the GHIII bundle. This is extremely evident with how they're approaching co-op in GHIII. Some songs are only unlockable through the co-op campaign. This is designed to deter people from ever getting the Fender Strat for Rock Band - especially if the Les Pauls work for it. And if people buy into the whole idea of 2 LP's and no Strats like Activision wants, they'll be successfully protecting their hardware business. If the Les Paul works in both GHIII and RB, it must be the "better" peripheral for consumers. If the Strat doesn't work in GHIII, it loses a good bit of its value. Activision is doing all that it can to make the Strat appear like an inferior peripheral even though the compatibility issue is entirely the fault (and intent) of Activision to begin with.

Also,
On the flip side, if you purchase Guitar Hero III's bundle, there's a very good chance you cannot use that controller in Rock Band. is misleading, considering that it's wrong.

[foolosophy]

This author of the 1UP article has no idea what he's talking about. He's simply guessing the GH3 Les Paul doesn't work with Rock Band, but he has no proof. He even admits they don't have any of the Les Pauls on hand to verify. IGN, on the other hand, said for a fact they had the Les Paul in their offices and tested it with Rock Band, and it worked.

That's what I'm saying. How did this get the OK to get published. They're talking out of their asses without any evidence. This is why I go to 1UP last for gaming news.

[Xzyliac]

This author of the 1UP article has no idea what he's talking about. He's simply guessing the GH3 Les Paul doesn't work with Rock Band, but he has no proof. He even admits they don't have any of the Les Pauls on hand to verify. IGN, on the other hand, said for a fact they had the Les Paul in their offices and tested it with Rock Band, and it worked.

:eek: IGN did something right.

[AdamBomb629]

Yeah, a podcast confirmed that for at least one version of RB (I'm assuming the 360 version), the Les Paul works fine with it. This cements my theory that the full band experience that HMX may have been banking on was people buying GHIII + Les Paul and then the RB bundle later on. It allows them to reduce the cost of the bundle by quite a bit by only including one guitar, but it also ensures that it's still possible for all instruments to be covered at the same time locally if the GHIII bundle was purchased previously. It's definitely piggybacking on Guitar Hero III, and it's a very wise decision to do that. It is very much in HMX's interest to allow third-party controllers. They want people to buy the game, even if they're playing it with different controllers. Especially with individual instruments available for purchase in the next few months, people who buy RB game only and play with the Les Paul for more guitar action will likely be interested in getting the drums or the Strat for another guitar for the game. So their hardware will still be getting sold eventually, but the important thing is to get the game into households so people want to get drums, a mic, etc. for it eventually.

However, on the flip side, Activision bought a game publisher that is primarily a hardware manufacturer, RedOctane, for $100 million not too long ago. It is in Activision's best interest to discourage third-party controllers by prohibiting them from working in Guitar Hero III. That is the sad truth. They ensure strong hardware sales by making the Strat incompatible with GHIII. People can't just buy the RB bundle and GHIII game only. Unfortunately, they really want you to buy another Les Paul after you get the GHIII bundle. This is extremely evident with how they're approaching co-op in GHIII. Some songs are only unlockable through the co-op campaign. This is designed to deter people from ever getting the Fender Strat for Rock Band - especially if the Les Pauls work for it. And if people buy into the whole idea of 2 LP's and no Strats like Activision wants, they'll be successfully protecting their hardware business. If the Les Paul works in both GHIII and RB, it must be the "better" peripheral for consumers. If the Strat doesn't work in GHIII, it loses a good bit of its value. Activision is doing all that it can to make the Strat appear like an inferior peripheral even though the compatibility issue is entirely the fault (and intent) of Activision to begin with.

Also, is misleading, considering that it's wrong.

Your points about GH III are what concerns me. I just gave Activision $90 for the guitar/game for GH II, I won't do it again for another guitar only a few months later. I agree with you that is Activision's attempt to discredit the Strat. RIDICULOUS.

[Keebler]

If RedOctane/Neversoft were really good, they would have built a guitar soooo good, the quality of it speaks for itself and would convince everyone to buy it above the Stratocaster. Seems to me, though, they are very worried about how the Strat will cut into their own hardware sales.

[The_Vampire_Lestat]

If RedOctane/Neversoft were really good, they would have built a guitar soooo good, the quality of it speaks for itself and would convince everyone to buy it above the Stratocaster. Seems to me, though, they are very worried about how the Strat will cut into their own hardware sales.

Maybe so... but the LP is wireless on date of release for the 360...whereas the Strat is not.

[Xzyliac]

Wireless blows. Feels like a toy.

[nicko68]

Wow, Magnet, that was an excellent post. I had thought about RO being a hardware company and therefore not wanting other controllers to be compatible with GHIII, but I never thought about how the coop career mode forces the purchase of a second controller, or how RB would piggyback off the GHIII guitar. I have to say I'm a bit annoyed at Activision's/Red Octane's tactics. Having a hardware company involved in the mix on GH's side really screws us consumers.

If I just stuck with the PS2 for GHIII, I'd avoid the entire peripheral mess (including RB when it comes out in December). I really don't need 5 or 6 guitar controllers (my existing PS2 ones, 2 for Wii GHIII, 2 for Wii RB if it were to come out).

[AdamBomb629]

I have to 2nd Magnet's thoughts here... I don't think these incompatibilities have anything to do with the "quality" of the guitar... they have to do with Activision's aggressive defense of their "IP"...

[toefer]

Wireless blows. Feels like a toy.

Wired blows. Feels like an NES.

It goes both ways. Whatever floats your boat floats your own boat, but not necessarily the boats of others.

Some kids and their toys:

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mE8MCqkeADQ&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mE8MCqkeADQ&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

I don't smoke, but after watching that video, I almost feel like I should pick up the habit, so I can look that cool. Go to 1:06 into the song, to see what I mean.