No wireless Guitar Hero controller for Xbox 360?

By Tom Bramwell Published 3 November, 2006

None at all for the UK?

That wireless Guitar Hero controller sounds nice then, eh? Doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's starting to look like an Xbox 360 version of it is unlikely.

That's according to RedOctane's Bryan Lam, who told website eToychest that Microsoft's proprietary wireless controller technology is not available to third party manufacturers "at the moment".

In other words... Well, in fact, in Lam's words: "until they allow us to [use it], we aren't able to [do a wireless 360 controller]". Well, some of them were his words.

That means, obviously, that if what you want's a wireless Guitar Hero controller, you're going to need to buy one of the PlayStation 2 ones when it comes out in the US this month (at a cost of US$ 59.99).

As for whether we're getting them over here at all, the situation remains unclear, with a RedOctane spokesperson offering "no comment" when we asked about it.

Fortunately, Guitar Hero II itself is due out in the US on 7th November and over here on 24th November, so you can at least look forward to that - with our review coming in the near future.

Picture of Tom.

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 (46) Latest comment 7 months ago

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

  • djchump #1 5 years ago

    OUTRAGE!!

  • ecureuil #2 5 years ago

    Why does anyone want a wireless guitar? Real guitars have wires, so I prefer having them for that authentic rock star feeling.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 14:23

  • Der_tolle_Emil #3 5 years ago

    Wireless would be nice, but I don't care at all actually. I am just happy that it gets a 360 release.

    On a completely different note: Could you PLEASE get rid of the Wii flash ads? I love Nintendo and I love the Wii, but the ad makes the mouse cursor flicker like crazy (once the "move me mode" starts) and that annoys the hell out of me, even if you don't hover over it.

  • RoyalBiscuit #4 5 years ago

    @ecureuil

    Thats a damn good point... but I guess with a wireless one you could go crazy with bouncing up and down the room etc... if you wanted to.

  • AcidSnake #5 5 years ago

    @der_tolle_emil:
    I'va had that the whole week as well...but what browser are you using?

  • Machetazo #6 5 years ago

    Not bothered about whether the controller is wired or not, I just want to play Guitar Hero 360... Are they looking to make a GH1 pack available from Xbox Live? Do they intend to use that service in any way?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #7 5 years ago

    AcidSnake: It happens at work with IE and at home with Opera. It definetly has to do with flash (and/or the plugin) but nevertheless it is annoying.

    @Machetazo: I never played GH1 and it would be just too cool if the tracks of #1 would be included in GH2 too. And I really hope that they make good use of the marketplace, it is just perfect for a game like this. I just hope they don't choose the same bullshit path they took with lumines.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 13:45

  • mingster #8 5 years ago

    I'm using Ubuntu & Firefox 2.0
    The Wii Ad doesn't affect the mouse at all in these.

  • McBradders #9 5 years ago

    ;_;

    I just died on the inside.

  • haowan #10 5 years ago

    ecureuil: Electric guitars don't have to have wires. Who told you that?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #11 5 years ago

    The Windows Plugin of Flash suffers this problem. Firefox 2.0 on Windows has the mouse flicker too.

  • TheGrandChappo #12 5 years ago

    "ecureuil: Electric guitars don't have to have wires. Who told you that?"

    Quite true, a nice wee radio pack sorts that out

    /thinks Spinal Tap :o))

  • AcidSnake #13 5 years ago

    I'm using firefox 1.5.something-or-other...What could it be then?
    Time to assemble a crack squad of mercenaries wrongfully imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit...

    Anyway, back to the topic...
    Seeing as I already have the first guitar hero, I'll be buying the second one on the PS2 as well...

  • flaming.elk #14 5 years ago

    Yes, real guitars mostly have wires, but you can get cables that are 20, 30ft long. The cable on the GH controller was a bit comically short, so a wireless controller would be nice so I can stand a bit further away from the TV!

  • djchump #15 5 years ago

    Also - why the fuck is anyone comparing a plastic guitar with 5 buttons to a real guitar?
    Who gives a shit if a real guitar has wires - a real guitar has strings as well but I don't want those on my controller, in the same way I don't want a great wire sticking out of it tripping me up and dragging my PS2 around the floor when I rock out!

  • Darren #16 5 years ago

    I hate guitars... loud, horrid things. I'm patiently waiting for Keyboard Hero to come out! ;)

  • rinoaMW #17 5 years ago

    lol - this is quite funny actually.

    I think i'm gonna stick with wired controllers regardless anyway. Can you imagine the amount of juice these controllers would use up, and i've not heard anything about re-chargable battery packs or anything.

  • neuroniky #18 5 years ago

    This is sad news, mostly because I hoped for the bundled version to include the wireless guitar. That would've been a good reason to get the game for the 360 while already having it (and its predecessor) on the PS2.

    This could also mean I'll be getting another controller for the PS2 soon... maybe a wireless one. I'm one of those jumping-from-the-sofa-sliding-on-the-floor-while-playing-the -guitar-on-the-back-of-my-head types.

  • #19 5 years ago

    " Can you imagine the amount of juice these controllers would use up"

    hahahahahahahaha - almost none perhaps!?

    No rumble, less buttons/sticks and a tilt sensor. - Yeah battery munchers!!

    Just 'cos something's big, doesn't mean it'll consume a lot of power.

    "These cows are small, but those ones are far away."

  • ecureuil #20 5 years ago

    ecureuil: Electric guitars don't have to have wires. Who told you that?

    They don't have to, but they do. When I see my favourite rock stars in concert, their electric guitars are all wired. It's all part of the fun, I much prefer my GH guitar to be wired, so I can kick it out from my feet before I rock out.

  • djchump #21 5 years ago

    Ad - because it's supposed to be a guitar, to be used in a guitar game. But it's not an exact replica of a guitar. So it doesn't need to have everything that a guitar has - i.e. wires sticking out of it, strings etc.

    Saying "You shouldn't want a wireless guitar because real guitars have wires" is an invalid argument, as it's not a real guitar.

  • ram #22 5 years ago

    Are the groupies wireless?

  • ram #23 5 years ago

    And is this playable for lefties? Or does rightism rear its ugly head once again?

  • JonFE #24 5 years ago

    How does the wireless guitar work on the PS2? Doesn't it need some kind of plug to be attached to the console (like the guitar talks to the plug wireless and the plug transmits to the console)? If so, why wouldn't the same approach work with the x360? Why do they need Microsoft's proprietary technology?

  • coojam #25 5 years ago

    The last one worked for lefties...there was an option in the menu to flip the controller around.

  • kangarootoo #26 5 years ago

    Are people seriously suggesting that kicking the cable out from under your feet before rocking out is an important part of generating atmosphere when playing GH?

    The whole "dragging everything off the coffee table because I forgot the shift the cable" aspect isn't more of a nagtive for anyone?

    I personally find the GH controller cable annoying, just like I find it annoying on a real guitar I might add. I don't find it annoying when I'm playing as I don't move about and its presence is entirely moot, but when I pass the controller to a friend its a pain in the butt just like a normal PS2 controller compared to a 360 wireless one.


    Aaanyway, its a pity but not a deal decider for me either way. In my particular case I am torn between versions for other reasons. PS2 version so I don't have to buy another controller pack, or XB360 version so I can download extra tracks from XBLive (I assume).

  • Steroyd #27 5 years ago

    Why do they need Microsoft's proprietary technology?

    Microsoft have effectively shut out third party stuff because they require a specific chip for it to work on the Xbox 360 it's a controlled way to get profit from third party peripherals.

    I think in this case it came back to haunt them what next? Dance Dance Revolution?

  • djchump #28 5 years ago

    ManicMinerUK
    "I don't think anyone said "you shouldn't want a wireless guitar" did they?"

    Yup - you did here:
    http://www.eurogamer.net/article_discussion.php? article_id=69202

  • rinoaMW #29 5 years ago

    @jamesphilp

    pfft "almost none" indeed. I guess we'll have to wait and see then, won't we?

    The reason i think that they will go through batteries quickly is not down peripherial size, but amount of button presses and whammying and all the other signal sending things. While I don't think this will be overly different from a standard wireless pad, All i know is i'm lucky if i get 15hours worth of gaming out of my wireless pads (although i reckon a 4 mins on expert "Bark at the Moon" is the equivilent of a 20 minute Tomb Raider level in terms of button presses :p) and i know how annoyed i get when one of them dies during a gaming sesh. In fact i think that my 360 pad is plugged in more often than its not.

    So while im busy having a great rocking-out session on GH2, while you are scrambling for your third set of AAs or what ever the hell it uses, i'll be the one saying "HAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHA".


    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 15:53

  • djchump #30 5 years ago

    Ad - you didn't say "why do you want something?", it's patently clear why people would want a wireless guitar peripheral.

    You said: "Still have NO idea why people want wireless guitars... REAL guitars have wires dangling out of them!"
    Which implies that people shouldn't want wireless guitars as REAL guitars have wires.

    You can try to argue semantics with me if you like, but I have a philosophy degree :-P

  • Les #31 5 years ago

    "Saying "You shouldn't want a wireless guitar because real guitars have wires" is an invalid argument, as it's not a real guitar."

    Well, to be honest, the fact that it's not a real guitar doesn't make that argument logically invalid. As soon as you start to talk about 'want', it's actually quite hard to bring in logic.

    "You can try to argue semantics with me if you like, but I have a philosophy degree :-P "

    So, I got a law degree... :-P

  • JonFE #32 5 years ago

    Steroyd, either you misunderstood me or I do, now.

    I understand that MS wireless technology is proprietary and needs some kind of license (in chip or any form). Does that extend to wired controllers too? If not, what I'm asking is this: if they can built it for the PS2 they already have a way to make it work wirelessly for a console that does not support wireless connection. Why can't they do the same for x360?

  • djchump #33 5 years ago

    @Les, okay, I'll try to clarify/formalise what I'm saying here, because it's past 5pm on a Friday and I'm bored ;-)

    MMUK's premises:

    Premise 1) You should want your guitar peripheral to be as close to resembling a real guitar as possible
    Premise 2) A real guitar has a wire

    Conclusion: You should want your guitar peripheral to have a wire.

    [Infered from: "Still have NO idea why people want wireless guitars... REAL guitars have wires dangling out of them!" ]

    I deny premise 1, as I don't believe people are really that bothered about how closely their peripheral to resembles the "real deal" - a 3/4 size plastic guitar with 5 coloured buttons, no strings and a "strum bar" is abstracted enough from a real guitar that a wire is neither here nor there, and becomes a matter of personal preference.

    Also, even if you think premise 1 still holds true, there is interpretation/leeway in the looseness of the terms "want" and "close to resembling", as these are subjective and will differ between different people.
    The essential difference being... I can accept other people's opinions as to how "realistic" they want their guitar peripheral, whereas everyone who shouts "real guitars have wires" are not being open-minded to other peoples' personal preferences. :-)

    /goes back to clock-watching

  • kangarootoo #34 5 years ago

    @djchump

    "You can try to argue semantics with me if you like, but I have a philosophy degree"

    Lol, are you suggesting that philosophy graduates should be feared for their linguistic prowess? Yeah, I guess you are right because the chemists and physisists I know can barely string a sentence together (sarcasm, obviously).

  • djchump #35 5 years ago

    @ kangarootoo:
    "Lol, are you suggesting that philosophy graduates should be feared for their linguistic prowess? Yeah, I guess you are right because the chemists and physisists I know can barely string a sentence together (sarcasm, obviously).

    At least I know how to spell "physicist" :-P

  • djchump #36 5 years ago

    @ kangarootoo - oh and BTW, I'd prefer it in future if, like, you quote me, you'd be so kind as to quote me in full and include any smilies so, like, people will know that I was, like, joking and that
    ;-)

  • Scurrminator #37 5 years ago

    pwned

  • kangarootoo #38 5 years ago

    @djchump

    Bollox! A cocking typo at just the worst possible moment :(

    As for the quoting thing, yeah I chopped off the smiley on purpose so that I could rant at you without looking like I was over reacting. I'm a bit sneaky like that :)

  • djchump #39 5 years ago

    heehee - oooh you bugger! :-P

  • captain-future #40 5 years ago

    Aaaaaah, let's see... How much is GHII without a controller (which I already own)?

  • Mr_Whacker #41 5 years ago

    I wish they'd just made the PS2 controller USB in the first place. Would all be so much easier.

  • chronom4n #42 5 years ago

    why not get the saitek wireless pad converter for the ps2?

  • GiantHaystax #43 5 years ago

    Thank god for the explanatory comments in brackets in that quote! I be blown if i could figure out what he was on about without them. ho ho

  • melw #44 5 years ago

    I was willing to wait for extra months for a X360 version just because of the wireless controller (and presumably better graphics - which doesn't really matter that much as this game is not about graphics). But if MS won't allow the developers to use wireless technology - feck them, I'll go for a PS2 version with wireless controller instead. One less customer for you Microsoft. There. Happy now?

  • kangarootoo #45 5 years ago

    "Don't really understand why Red Octane can't just make a wireless USB controller adaptor to do the job instead though; I mean, that's surely how it's going to work on the PS2?"

    The GH 1 controller is just a PS2 controller in a different shape. You can actually play GH with a normal controller. By taking this route Harmonix didn't need to write new controller code, they simply got a peripheral built.

    So, they could make a USB controller, but as the PS2 doesn't have a standard USB controller they would have to write a bunch of new code. I would expect that the wireless GH2 controller for PS2 will still use a controller port for the wireless dongle thing for the same reasons.

  • InstantTaxSolutions #46 7 months ago

    I think it's better if wireless guitar so that you can play wherever in your house. -Instant Tax Solutions