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Activision ROCKBLOCKED Rock Band!
Gahazakul
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regular
On the PS3, as some may know, the GH3 controllers do not work with Rock Band and the fine folks behind RB had said a patch was on the way. This morning I found this.....
<quote> Hi Everyone,
As we have said in the past, Harmonix and MTV Games believe in an open standard philosophy of hardware and game compatibility. We think that there should be interoperability between music instrument controllers across all music games. This is clearly in the best interest of consumers, game developers and console manufacturers and will only help to grow the music game genre as well as inspire innovation and creativity.
Two weeks ago, Harmonix created a software patch for the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 version of Rock Band that allowed for guitar compatibility and support for third party peripherals, including enabling use of Activision's Guitar Hero III controller with Rock Band. The compatibility patch was submitted, approved and had been scheduled for release by Sony on Tuesday, December 4. Unfortunately, Activision objected to the compatibility patch's release. The patch remains with Sony, but we have been told that it will unfortunately not be released due to Activision's continued objection.
As is the case with the Microsoft Xbox360, we believe that Sony PLAYSTATION 3 users should be able to use the peripheral of their choice with Rock Band. We sincerely hope that Activision will reverse its decision and allow release of the compatibility patch and further, that Activision will allow Guitar Hero III to support Rock Band guitar controllers as well. We welcome all third party developers who wish to support our controllers and will provide any required support in order for them to do so.
We believe that when consumers have choice, everyone wins. Harmonix and MTV Games hope that Activision and others will also adopt this philosophy.
Sincerely,
The Harmonix Team <endquote>
That was a letter that popped up on the forums for Rock Band in response to people wondering why the patch was taking so long. Anyone else find this a petty move on activisions part? Over on those forums they are mobilizing and sending upset e-mails to customer support at activision's website. I just wanted to throw it out on here and make sure everyone possible is informed about Activision's Duechebaggery.
<quote> Hi Everyone,
As we have said in the past, Harmonix and MTV Games believe in an open standard philosophy of hardware and game compatibility. We think that there should be interoperability between music instrument controllers across all music games. This is clearly in the best interest of consumers, game developers and console manufacturers and will only help to grow the music game genre as well as inspire innovation and creativity.
Two weeks ago, Harmonix created a software patch for the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 version of Rock Band that allowed for guitar compatibility and support for third party peripherals, including enabling use of Activision's Guitar Hero III controller with Rock Band. The compatibility patch was submitted, approved and had been scheduled for release by Sony on Tuesday, December 4. Unfortunately, Activision objected to the compatibility patch's release. The patch remains with Sony, but we have been told that it will unfortunately not be released due to Activision's continued objection.
As is the case with the Microsoft Xbox360, we believe that Sony PLAYSTATION 3 users should be able to use the peripheral of their choice with Rock Band. We sincerely hope that Activision will reverse its decision and allow release of the compatibility patch and further, that Activision will allow Guitar Hero III to support Rock Band guitar controllers as well. We welcome all third party developers who wish to support our controllers and will provide any required support in order for them to do so.
We believe that when consumers have choice, everyone wins. Harmonix and MTV Games hope that Activision and others will also adopt this philosophy.
Sincerely,
The Harmonix Team <endquote>
That was a letter that popped up on the forums for Rock Band in response to people wondering why the patch was taking so long. Anyone else find this a petty move on activisions part? Over on those forums they are mobilizing and sending upset e-mails to customer support at activision's website. I just wanted to throw it out on here and make sure everyone possible is informed about Activision's Duechebaggery.
Gahazakul on
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Seems like an easy way for them to block Rock Band from taking any customers away from the GH franchise.
I never asked for this!
Apparently it has to do with MS's ridged standards for accessories that they have to work universally or something whereas Sony has a hands-off approach.
From what the internets tells me at least.
360 peripherals are required to use a standard set of protocols put forward by MS.
And this is some fucking bullshit right here. Do they actually expect to generate a bigger customer base with this? Had this patch been released, I would have picked up GH3, but now... almost certainly not going to.
The 360 version was just lucky, the PS3 contoller used a small variance because of its diff wireless pick up. And theeere has been a small rumor that they are working on a patch they will try and legally force RB to use that would retard the games pick up, stopping its use on the 360.
If I could put my tin-foil hat on for a moment, it's possible that this whole this is a way for Activision to stymie Rock Band's success. However, the idea that they're doing this out of spite or economic reasons seems a bit pessimistic, even for me.
I was actually thinking about buying a GHIII controller when I get Rock Band. Guess they showed me....
If you look at the EULA from GH, it says that the Gutair controller can be used for nothing other than Gutair Hero games. So they are saying that to make it usable on other titles would be breaking the EULA they put with the merchandise. See, the RB fellows aren't making a game patch, they are making a game patch to make the GH controller work with their game, so Activision does have a little ground to stand on legally, but to do this is incredibley rude to the consumer, not against their music game competitor.
And this includes Starcraft 2. If I can't use the Rock Band controller in Starcraft 2.... wait... what was I saying again?
Next news: Activision says "fuck you" to controller compatibility. Man what?
darleysam, your mentioning of that is the first I've heard of it. Thankfully it is a rumor. If it ever did come true, it would be a pretty dick move.
Edit - Uh, aren't you getting a little too absurd with the "I'm not buying Activision games!" kind of shit? :?
http://www.activision.com/index.html
at the bottom right of the screen there is a little "contact us" button, leave it on Corporate Communication and write your response. We are trying to keep them non "flaming" and more respectable, but every response they recieve is important.
Nope. I'm not buying.... wait, what games do activision make again? I can't remember the last one I bought.
It was something they mentioned in 1UP Yours while discussing the whole situation (I think it was that), so it's likely not very credible. That said, it's kinda saddening that with the way this is all going, it's getting more believable.
Well they can't force you to download the patch
Wait, does GH3 have an online mode? I don't own it ;P
The real irony here is that if such a patch were introduced it would probably just create more business for Harmonix. I purchased GH3 with the intention of using that guitar for Rock Band and only buying the stand alone game for Rock Band. If they patched the 360 so that the GH3 controller didn't work with Rock Band I would then have to both never purchase another Activision game as well as go out and actually purchase the Harmonix hardware. I've already shelved GH3 for being a pile of shit, don't make me shelve the guitar as well Activision...
Willie Tanner Livestream
What? I don't think Activision can just patch someone else's game...
Anyway, I'm certainly not going to be buying any Activision products after this fiasco. They don't deserve a cent of my money when they show so much contempt for their consumers. I'm not trying to start an e-boycott or anything (those tend to not work), but me personally, I'm not giving them another dime. Why would I need to anyway? GH is the only franchise of theirs I would be interested in anyway and with Rock Band releasing 3 tracks a week GH is totally worthless now. By the time GH4 comes out it's full tracklist will probably be available as RB DLC anyway.
I hate to play the "lolsony" card, but c'mon... step up and tell activision to fuck off. It's only hurting your platform to allow this hardware divergence to exist.
Willie Tanner Livestream
"Okay, we'll just delay our releases for the PS3. Or we may just not have them at all."
Unless the PS3 market has suddenly grown a lot and I haven't noticed, Sony would definitely hurt from this more.
Not me!
It's precisely because of those reasons.
Precisely. But I think there's the possibility this could cause Activision to lose profits themselves.
"When you encounter honest competition, don't bother trying to make a better game, just use corporate muscle to get your way." is like the first rule in the EA handbook, and it seems Activision is learning it well.
I'll back you up on the outside. If he tries to get through the door, I'll slam it on his face.
Was that under Activision, though? If so, then they probably foot the bill for a good chunk of that R&D.
If not, well, then screw them.
Screw them anyway.
Like Mega Man Legends? Then check out my story, Legends of the Halcyon Era - An Adventure in the World of Mega Man Legends on TMMN and AO3!
Well, in that case, Sony screwed themselves for not having a clearly defined controller standard. The 360 version of Rock Band will always be able to work with the GH guitar because of MS's standards. Even if the EULA states you can't use the controller for anything other than playing Guitar Hero, the ability to do so will always be there and Activision can't legally force the modification of code on Harmonix's part to keep that from happening, especially since Harmonix will be relasing their own wireless guitar (sabotaging one will sabotage the other).
I own both systems and hope to have great games on both (okay, I hope to have great games on the PS3, you know more than just R & C, I already have great games on my 360). Sony has screwed themselves over big time by not having set-standards. Sure, UT3 will have user-made content but the online interface for so many other games just hasn't been there and ranking on Eye of Judgement is BULLSHIT.
Sure the 360 isn't completely free of bugs (Crackdown's multi-player saved data glitch?), but there are a whole lot less problems with the 360 software-wise than with the PS3.
Guitar Hero package comes with a guitar.
The whole idea is like this.
Harmonix is being cool about the whole thing by saying, "Hey you want two guitars? Go ahead and save yourself some money by picking yourself up GH3 Bundle and then you'll have two music games."
Activision is being the dick saying, "You want to play Guitar Hero with two guitars? Go buy another Activision guitar."
Edit: and to all praising microsoft for having controller standards, remember, microsoft has these standards so they can take a wee bit of profit from every kind of xbox360 controller sold. It may have worked out in this case, but this isn't really the way this should be working. It results in 3rd party controllers having to raise the price on their stuff.
Not quite, considering the fact you can't buy the Rock Band guitar separately as of yet. So what HX is really saying is "Hey, you want two guitars? Sorry, can't sell you my version. Go buy one from Red Octane"
And while Activision might not have much in hand with R D, Redoctane sure did, and they are in hands with Activision.
I'm not saying this isn't a stupid move by Activision, it's just annoying how we immediately have to jump to good guys/bad guys
I mean, they are trying to make a public scene in order to get their way, rather than looking to come to some kind of a business arangement.
Rock Band shipped with only one guitar, presumable because folks could just use a guitar hero guitar for the second one. That is all well and good on Harmonix/EA's part, but if you were Activision, wouldn't you rather people played YOUR games, rather than buying them solely so that they could use the peripheral for some one else's games? Sure, there is a sale involved there, but there is NO purchasing of DLC, or value to advertisers, etc.
I don't like the fact that Activision has made this decision, but it IS their perogative, and Harmonix is acting very poorly by trying to turn it into a public spectacle.
Yeah, but, um, this is good for Activision. They're blocking a scenario that would drive sales of their product. I'm legitimately puzzled by this. I understand why they block RB guitars in GH3 (even though I think it's short-sighted and will backfire on them in the long run), but I cannot see why it's in their best interest to prevent people from buying their hardware for any reason. If they sell their hardware, they make money. This isn't a console-style business model, and I seriously doubt their guitars are loss leaders.
Beyond whether it makes good short-term business sense, I think we can all agree it's customer-hostile, and I treat companies that are customer-hostile as bad guys.
Red Octane made the controlelr, NOT Harmonix.
Red Octane is still with the GH series, I believe, and have come out AGAINST allowing use of the Rock Band controllers on Guitar Hero (stated something along the lines of "we could impliment it if we wanted to, but with all of theproblems that RB controllers have been having why would we want to cause that kind of headache for ourselves?")