Activision enters Rock Band row

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 December, 2007

Blames Harmonix/MTV.

Activision has struck back at claims made by Rock Band developer Harmonix that it is holding up the release of a patch that would allow its Guitar Hero III peripheral to work with the PS3 version of the competing title, arguing that Harmonix and its owner MTV would not be in this position if they had accepted "Activision's offer to reach an agreement" about compatibility. Presumably by "reach an agreement", they mean "hand over the money all of it chop chop".

"We have been and remain open to discussions with Harmonix and MTV Games/Viacom about the use of our technology in Rock Band. Unfortunately for Rock Band users, in this case Harmonix and MTV Games/Viacom are unwilling to discuss an agreement with Activision," the publisher said in a statement reported by GameSpot, adding that its "top priority is to provide consumers with a seamless marriage of best-in-class hardware and software".

Sony, meanwhile, has told 1UP that while it wants a solution "to ensure the best possible gaming experience", it, er, isn't touching this one with a bargepole, instead encouraging both companies to have it out in private and reach an "amicable resolution in the best interest of the consumer".

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • BBIAJ #1 4 years ago

    Sort it out you two!

    Not that I care, seeing as I don't own the overpriced heap of junk, and will be happy with the 360 versions of both games.

  • Dizzy #2 4 years ago

    Strange that this is a problem on PS3 and not on 360? So obviously Activision had no issues with being compatible on 360. I don't get it? Why would they refuse this on PS3?

  • Skeptopotamus #3 4 years ago

    I assume it's because the game was released on the 360 with support already there, while on the PS3 it wasn't... possibly because that version uses it's own wireless solution while the Xbox controller uses the build-in wirelessness.

    If Harmonix had to release a patch for the 360 version as well I'm sure it'd be the same story.

  • philw #4 4 years ago

    I think someone else had mentioned that all 360 controllers have to be of a certain spec, so they end up compatible. PS3 devs can just do what they hell they want apparently.

  • lambtron #5 4 years ago

    Its probably a bug of some kind that stops it working on PS3. After all the controller is a licenced piece of tech for a closed system - that's why you can do crazy things like using the Sega fishing rod controller for playing other games besides Bass fishing. In theory you should be able to play any PS3 game with the GH controller.

    "So obviously Activision had no issues with being compatible on 360."

    No, there is a big difference in blocking a patch that enables compatibility compared to releasing a patch that disables it! I am pretty sure MS would not allow this in a month of sundays. Still as platform holder Sony should not allow Activision to block the patch. Presumably they are in too much of a weakened position at present to tell Activision to go jump.

  • keyboardmonkey #6 4 years ago

    "top priority is to provide consumers with a seamless marriage of best-in-class hardware and software".

    House! my bullshit lingo bingo card is full

  • thefinn #7 4 years ago

    So let me get this straight:

    Activision doesn't want to sell more GH3 controllers? That actually want people to use another company's product rather than their own?

    Clever.

  • Moz #8 4 years ago

    I'm sorry but Activison really are cocks,

    even though i ahve GH2 & 3 on 360 and plan to get Rock band on 360, so this doesn't effect be as such. But i'm not spending anymore money on the GH francis (that includes downloadable tracks, and will only by DLC for Rock Band.

    EDIT:/ Out of interest does the PS3 rock band guitar work with GH3? If so then all Activision are doing is trying to my Harmonix look bad yet making Harmonix more money as people have to buy to Harmonix guitars but only ever one GH3 one!!
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/07 @ 10:42

  • jaluuk #9 4 years ago

    Company One: It's not our fault, blame Company Two.
    Company Two: Nuh-uh, it's Company One who are at fault.

    Just swap in whichever bunch are arguing and you pretty much have a template for how everything goes.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/07 @ 12:45

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #10 4 years ago

    My mum has said that if these two don't sort it out soon, she's going to come out and throw a pan of water over them.

  • brooza #11 4 years ago

    @jaluuk: So we're agreed, it's Company Two that are at fault

  • BigE0n #12 4 years ago

    As my mom used to tell me and my brother ....

    I doesnt matter who started it sort it out otherwise ill bang both ya heads together!

  • jaluuk #13 4 years ago

    @brooza - if only all corporate disputes were that simple, eh? No, just like Wikipedia, I've edited the post to make the facts appeal to my version of the truth.

  • belziah #14 4 years ago

    Sounds to me like Activision wants a cut of some of that RockBand action. MTV should tell them to have sex and travel.

  • sanctusmortis #15 4 years ago

    @lambtron- the PS3 uses drivers to recognise proprietary controllers, such as these musical instruments, and these are on the game disc. So, Harmonix wrote a driver for another company's product to make it work on their product, and they naturally cried foul. If it used Bluetooth there'd be no issue.

    Meanwhile, the 360 has wireless protocols and drivers in the firmware, which MS license out. That way, ANY 360 peripheral that user the driver works on any game.

  • Dan_LXIX #16 4 years ago

    ^^

    In other words, despite everyone having a go at MS for not using open standards like bluetooth, they have shown that their system is better for the consumer because it stops this kind of thing happening.