Guitar Controllers compatibility? (Rock Band & GH III)

[Escobar4LifeX]

I will buy Guitar Hero III this week and I'm still not sure for what console (PS3 or 360).

I was wondering if I could use Guitar Hero III's guitar controller (Gibson right?) for Rock Band? I will still buy the Rock Band bundle (mic, guitar and drum set).

And will Rock Band's guitar work for Guitar Hero III? If not, why? The reason why I ask is because I don't want to buy guitars for each game. That is going to be too expensive. I already have the Xplorer from GH II. I need two guitars to play offline multiplayer. And I think GH guitars won't work on Rock Band, thats why I will probably have to buy the bundle.

So yeah. Thanks! And sorry if old. I'm having a tough time deciding.

Btw, how is the Guitar portion of Rock Band going to be? If it's as long and difficult as GH II & III I'll be freakin' happy!

[Escobar4LifeX]

Nevermind. I found an article.

[Xzyliac]

Les Paul (GHIII) works with Rock Band.

Strat (Rock Band) does NOT work with GH.

X-Plorer works for both.

[Electric_Zen]

The GH3 Les Paul guitars will work with Rock Band.

The Xplorer will work with Rock Band, and with GH3.

The Rock Band Strats will not work with GH3, because Activision has locked them out of their game. They believe this will allow them to sell more hardware over the long term.

[sporkBrigade]

The Rock Band Strats will not work with GH3, because Activision has locked them out of their game. They believe this will allow them to sell more hardware over the long term.

Way to tell it how it is, though I've always been curious if it's more Activision or more Red Octane. I hate them both for it, either way. Once I get GH3 out of my system, my boycott will be in full effect. They'll feel my consumer wrath. You know, unless they make millions and get distracted counting it. :\

[crivit]

Way to tell it how it is, though I've always been curious if it's more Activision or more Red Octane. :\

I think it's more red octane. They locked out the 3rd party guitars when GH2 came out for PS2, and I don't believe activision was involved at that point. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember seeing anything about activision in the GH games until GH2 came out for the 360.

[Xzyliac]

Way to tell it how it is, though I've always been curious if it's more Activision or more Red Octane. I hate them both for it, either way. Once I get GH3 out of my system, my boycott will be in full effect. They'll feel my consumer wrath. You know, unless they make millions and get distracted counting it. :\

I actually lol'd a bit.

A cheap $10 adapter should be no problem. Like GHII. Third parties own!

[wes_jett2008]

Wait...I use a TAC flying V on guitar hero 2 and it works fine??


Edit: I just relised that was my first post after about 4/5 months of lurking,Sadness.

[blueruckus]

Go with the Xplorer. I used the RB Strat today on my lunch break at Best Buy and it's soooo much better than the GH guitars.

I love GH, don't get me wrong, but the RB guitar has such a nicer feel, it looks more authentic, and it's just overall superior. I think what I like most is that it doesn't make a click when you strum.

[Xzyliac]

Wait...I use a TAC flying V on guitar hero 2 and it works fine??

It depends on just when you got yours.

My Flying V required an adapter because I got it before they cracked the lock (after GH but a little before GHII came out). Chances are yours was built some time after GHII released.

[crivit]

Wait...I use a TAC flying V on guitar hero 2 and it works fine??




The 3rd parties adapted to the lockout. The ones that were released before GH2 came out wouldn't work with it. Once the 3rd parties figured out the lockout mechanism they made guitars that worked, and adapters for the older guitars so they could get around the lock out too.

[wes_jett2008]

Ahhh ok cool,I was'nt sure...I thought I had some godlike V or somthing.

[Keebler]

So... does that mean Harmonix will eventually figure out the lockout mechanism and then re-release the Stratocasters?

[Jimmik]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Jimmik/Untitled-9.jpg

[Lord_Rammy]

everyone is saying all these diff. guitar names...i just need to know whether or not my wireless guitar that CAME with the ps3 gh3 will be compatible with rockband

[Keebler]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Jimmik/Untitled-9.jpg



Uhhh, that table is wrong. They confirmed the Les Paul works with GH2, GH3, and Rock Band.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/830/830759p1.html

[crivit]

everyone is saying all these diff. guitar names...i just need to know whether or not my wireless guitar that CAME with the ps3 gh3 will be compatible with rockband

It should be. The xbox 360 gh3 guitar has ben confirmed compatable with rock band, so I would imagine the ps3 versions would play nice with each other too.

[wes_jett2008]

I think its completly rediculous that even some combos dont work anyway,Why cant everyone play nice and keep the consumer happy.I have all the guitar heroes and 3 guitars...when rockband comes out im going to end up having more plastic ones then real ones.

Gahhh

[thrdeye]

I wonder if the rock band guitar will work with GH 1 and 2?

If so, I would get GH3, which would give me a bass for rock band and GH1 and 2.

I have a PS3, btw.

[mamoulian]

Uhhh, that table is wrong. They confirmed the Les Paul works with GH2, GH3, and Rock Band.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/830/830759p1.html

That article is a bit vague, we don't know if they're talking about the PS3, 360 or both!

[Xzyliac]

I wonder if the rock band guitar will work with GH 1 and 2?

If so, I would get GH3, which would give me a bass for rock band and GH1 and 2.

I have a PS3, btw.

I would think not.

To answer the "Will Harmonix find the lockout and make the Strat work with GH," questinn I doubt it. The lockout is there and is supposed to be respected. When TAC made their adapter RedOctane was pissed and sued. Eventually though TAC just paid up for rights to continue to use the adapters.

[thrdeye]

I got this from the PS3 manual.

The Guitar Hero Les Paul controller is designed specifically for the Guitar Hero game. It does not
contain all of the functionality of the standard PLAYSTATION®3 Controller. If you find that you are
unable to navigate out of a screen, try inserting a standard controller to navigate to the game.
ACTIVISION AUTHORIZES USE OF THIS GUITAR HERO? CONTROLLER ONLY WITH A GUITAR HERO?
GAME PRODUCT OR OTHER ACTIVISION BRANDED PRODUCT. ACTIVISION EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS
THE USE OF THIS GUITAR HERO? CONTROLLER WITH ANY OTHER GAME. NO OTHER LICENSE,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS GRANTED.

[Xzyliac]

I see it this way:

As long as you buy GH they don't care what you do with the Les Paul. But try to use any other guitar and they feel all violated.

[thrdeye]

I took a look at the GH3 forum. It is confirmed that the GH3 guitar for PS3 DOES NOT work with 1, 2, 80's.

Sucks. Guess I won't be getting GH3 after all.

I just don't want to have to hang on to the PS2. I think my only hope at this point is if the GH1,2,80's songs are made availabe via DLC.

[stiper327b]

...I think my only hope at this point is if the GH1,2,80's songs are made availabe via DLC.

Well, from what I've heard, and I could be wrong, but I think HMX owns the rights to those songs, the note charts and the covers. If ever they do make it out for DLC, I would imagine they'd find their way to Rock Band before GH3, if they make it to GH3 at all.

[Xzyliac]

Well, from what I've heard, and I could be wrong, but I think HMX owns the rights to those songs, the note charts and the covers. If ever they do make it out for DLC, I would imagine they'd find their way to Rock Band before GH3, if they make it to GH3 at all.

Godzilla for Rock Band DLC! But please give us the far superior master tracks.

[thrdeye]

Well, from what I've heard, and I could be wrong, but I think HMX owns the rights to those songs, the note charts and the covers. If ever they do make it out for DLC, I would imagine they'd find their way to Rock Band before GH3, if they make it to GH3 at all.

Yeah, I just made a new thread. I don't care about GH3. I just want GH1/2/80's!!!!

[Eagoyle]

I took a look at the GH3 forum. It is confirmed that the GH3 guitar for PS3 DOES NOT work with 1, 2, 80's.

Sucks. Guess I won't be getting GH3 after all.

I just don't want to have to hang on to the PS2. I think my only hope at this point is if the GH1,2,80's songs are made availabe via DLC.

Not according to what I read. Guitar Controller FAQ (http://forum.guitarherogame.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=28298).

GH1 will be seamless, but for GH2 and 80s, you won't be able to do hammer-ons and pull-offs, and star power probably has to be activated by pressing select.

Eagoyle

[thrdeye]

Not according to what I read. Guitar Controller FAQ (http://forum.guitarherogame.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=28298).

GH1 will be seamless, but for GH2 and 80s, you won't be able to do hammer-ons and pull-offs, and star power probably has to be activated by pressing select.

Eagoyle

That's dated Sept 06, 2007.

The posts I saw were from folks that actually tested the PS3 GH3 controller with the other GH's when they bought GH3. Additionally, the IGN article backs up these posts.

[Quastor]

I'm just curious as to why everyone thinks that Activision/RO is locking the Strat out. I know we all love Harmonix around here, but isn't it more plausible that the decisions Harmonix has made about the guitar has locked it out of the GH games?

You take a look at all the GH guitars, and they're all the same - SG, X-Plorer, Les Paul, Kramer. They all have the same functionality, no new features have been added that affect gameplay at all. So from a programming prospective, they can all report as being the same controller to the game, it makes no difference if an X-Plorer or Les Paul is plugged into the 360.

With the Strat though, Harmonix is pushing introducing new features into the guitar - the solo buttons and the effects switch. So to them, they need to report to the game that it's a controller different that the X-Plorer. This is to make sure the game's able to accept the new signals that get sent when the solo buttons get used or the affects switch is flipped.

I know a lot of people say "It's just a different mapping of a standard controller," but the Strat has way more buttons that any of the controllers (10 alone for frets, wammy bay, effects switch with 5 positiions, strum bar, select, start). Any time you add new features like this to hardware you run the risk of losing backwards compatiblity.

It's unfortunate the guitar isn't compatible with the past GH games, but it's the price we pay for innovation. Personally, it's a price I'm willing to pay for the new features on the Strat.

[Electric_Zen]

I'm just curious as to why everyone thinks that Activision/RO is locking the Strat out. I know we all love Harmonix around here, but isn't it more plausible that the decisions Harmonix has made about the guitar has locked it out of the GH games?


Harmonix has stated that their guitars conform to all published specifications for such controllers, and they desire complete interoperability. Red Octane has not made any such statement.

Red Octane has a history of using legal and technical procedures to attempt to lock out third-party interoperability with their guitars and dance pads. Harmonix has a history of not lying.

I think all the evidence right now points to Red Octane being the source of the interoperability problems.

[crivit]

I'm just curious as to why everyone thinks that Activision/RO is locking the Strat out. I know we all love Harmonix around here, but isn't it more plausible that the decisions Harmonix has made about the guitar has locked it out of the GH games?



Well there is Red Octane's history of locking out other guitar controllers. Oh yeah, and that nifty little warning in the GH3 game that states it is only licensed for use with Activision supplied guitars.

[raregamer]

Well there is Red Octane's history of locking out other guitar controllers. Oh yeah, and that nifty little warning in the GH3 game that states it is only licensed for use with Activision supplied guitars.If this stuff was true the Guitar Hero controller would not work with Rock Band, but it does so who is using the wrong thing. I wonder?

[crivit]

If this stuff was true the Guitar Hero controller would not work with Rock Band, but it does so who is using the wrong thing. I wonder?

Not necessarily. HMX has not placed any controller lockouts in RB, which is why the GH3guitar will work for it. It is entirely possible, and quite likely that RO did place a lockout in GH3. It could be done in such a way as to make the game recognize when the Les Paul is plugged in, but not anything major enough to break the Les Paul's functionality with other games. Again, for proof look at GH history. All guitars worked fine for GH1, when GH2 first came out they changed something that locked out all the pre-existing 3rd party controllers, but still allowed the official GH1 guitars to work on GH2, and the new GH2 guitars worked fine on GH1. It can be done, it has been done, and it looks like it's being done again.

[AdamBomb629]

You have to remember that now, even though they RULE, Harmonix is on the outside. They are at the helm of an essentially $160 per game ship... Anything that will make Rock Band more attractive (than it already is) is a plus.

And even though we know that they CREATED Guitar Hero, Joe Blow on the street has no idea.

[Xzyliac]

You have to remember that now, even though they RULE, Harmonix is on the outside. They are at the helm of an essentially $160 per game ship... Anything that will make Rock Band more attractive (than it already is) is a plus.

And even though we know that they CREATED Guitar Hero, Joe Blow on the street has no idea.

That ***** owes me money.

[madmech19]

Guys,

I do know this. My kids hav ethe ps3 androckband and gh3. The gh3 do not work with Rockband. I tried for a day and it just won't work. Now I have a 360 and am waiting on my Rockband to come to me in Iraq. So if I am reading all these post right the Gh2 Xplorer will work with the Rock band game. So I can play it while I wait.

[dfjdejulio]

Uhhh, that table is wrong. They confirmed the Les Paul works with GH2, GH3, and Rock Band.

Correct. I personally use both an Xplorer (at the office) and Les Paul (at home) with Rock Band almost every day.

[dfjdejulio]

It should be. The xbox 360 gh3 guitar has ben confirmed compatable with rock band, so I would imagine the ps3 versions would play nice with each other too.

Alas, no. On the PS3 (but not PS2 or XBox), Activision wants to block their GH guitars from working with Rock Band, and Sony is permitting them to block this. So on the PS3, only the RB stratocaster works with RB.

On the PS2, I can confirm that GH1 and GH2 guitars work with RB. On the XB360, I can confirm that GH2 and GH3 guitars work with RB. On the PS3, no joy.

[dfjdejulio]

I'm just curious as to why everyone thinks that Activision/RO is locking the Strat out. I know we all love Harmonix around here, but isn't it more plausible that the decisions Harmonix has made about the guitar has locked it out of the GH games?

Nope.

1) Harmonix has publicly stated that they're interested in helping anyone who wants to include support for their guitars.

2) Ever try hooking a strat up to GH3 on the XB360? It doesn't even let you pretend it's a standard controller (like RB does with a les paul on the PS3). The game essentially says "slow down there sparky, that is a guitar, we can see that, but it's one we don't like, so we're going to refuse to let it work even as a standard controller -- go buy our hardware". Basically it looks like they're looking at the manufacturer/device identifier on the USB device and refusing to function if it's not on the list of hardware that they get buckets of money for selling.

Go ahead and try it!