No Bluetooth for PS3 guitars
RedOctane, Harmonix improvise.
PS3 guitar peripherals for Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3 will not use Bluetooth technology at launch.
The news was unearthed by 1UP, who noticed a large and unwieldy wireless dongle drooping around a foot in length from the bottom of the Guitar Hero 3 axe.
When contacted about it, RedOctane spokesperson Bryan Lam said it had developed its own wireless solution so it could launch in time, because currently Bluetooth tools only cater for the Sixaxis controllers.
This was later confirmed by Rock Band developer Harmonix, which stated its first-generation of guitars would not feature Bluetooth. Let's hope a USB wireless dongle-hub is provided so all instruments can be played at the same time, then.
Some observers feel the hold-up is due to Sony not issuing adequate tools to allow third-parties to make use of the Bluetooth connectivity. Others suggest RedOctane and Harmonix looked to develop their own technology because of Sixaxis connection problems in the past.
Nintendo, however, doesn't have the same problems, as its peripherals will tap into the existing Bluetooth signals from the controllers. Microsoft will also not have to fart around with dongles, as it has a receiver built in to the Xbox 360.
Guitar Hero 3 is due out on PS3, PC, 360, Wii and PS2 on 23rd November. You can see how it is shaping up over in our Guitar Hero 3 gamepage, where you will also find the most up to date track list and our hands-on impressions.
Rock Band will be released in the first quarter of 2008. PS3 bundle packs will have wireless guitars while 360 boxes will feature wired peripherals and a USB hub to connect them all - wireless axes can be bought separately. Pop over to our Rock Band gamepage for more.
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Comments (47) Latest comment 4 years ago
Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!
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umm... seriosuly though who cares its still wireless!!!
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"If you act like a bitch, then you get slapped like a bitch".
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Isn't the 360 guitar wireless as well? It was just GH2's that wasn't.
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What I'm thinking is that they're simply being cheap. Bluetooth is just more expensive in terms of licencing, and they don't want to have the usb slot in there as well that's needed for pairing a controller. And above all, this way they don't have to have separate controllers from the 360, which is the lowest common denominator here, because it doesn't have BluTooth built in. A BlueTooth expansion for the 360 would have been much more expensive than the very cheap wireless 2.4mhz thingies.
Am I wrong?
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The wireless API for the 360 was developed by MS and you need to license the technology to use it in your own products. They said they were going to stick with wired kit so they wouldnt have to pass on the cost to the consumer.
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Tit.
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There's several varieties of Bluetooth; the PS3 is version 2.0 AFAIK, but even that is a bit of a grey area as not all 2.0 devices communicate at the same rate. In short, it's not surprising that some devices don't work or cause interference.
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Blu-Rayless to be expected.
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I wouldn't know about controllers, but the reference to headset is straight out nonsense. I have a Logitech headset working just fine with my PS3, and I'm certain the headset supplied with Warhawk isn't a Sony model either.
Bluetooth is an open standard so its either bluetooth or it isn't. If Harmonix are saying only proprietary kit works, what they are saying is that Sony's bluetooth implemenation is not compliant.
If that was the case, it would be "illegal" ("" because I'm not sure it would actually be against the law, though it sounds like the same ballpark as Sun being able to sue if you call something Java compliant and its not, as they did to MS) for them to write "Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)" all over their PS3 specs.
I smell something hamoniously fishy.
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Let's face it, how many 3rd party wireless controllers have you all seen for the PS3 so far?
edit: Sorry I just need to add "PS3lol" or this comments thread won't feel complete.
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No news here...
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Maybe as noted by someone else this is just a cost saving thing, though cant see that it would save any money as the bluetooth is built into the ps3 so there is no need for a dongle. surely having less parts will make it cheaper?
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This is wrong, EG. FIX IT
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Oh well. So long the game KICKS ASS. And those UDB dongles are not that bad...
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Errr, tts a quotation.
It may be factually incorrect, but thats not EG's fault.
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No doubt about it then, it's bullshit on the guy's part.
If they take issue with licensing costs, just admit it instead of lying about BT support.
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"When contacted about it, RedOctane spokesperson Bryan Lam said it had developed its own wireless solution so it could launch in time, because currently Bluetooth only works on Sixaxis controllers and Sony headsets - first-party hardware."
Utter bulll...
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I agree - that's far worse than a USB dongle... I want my GH-fix now!
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No doubt about it then, it's bullshit on the guy's part.
If they take issue with licensing costs, just admit it instead of lying about BT support.
Actually it was my error there; the spokesperson told 1UP that the Bluetooth tools only cater for the Sixaxis controller.
Sorry *blush*
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Sorry *blush*"
Spokespersonlol.
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It is still a TAD inaccurate, though, EG.
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I mean EG says so in the exact same article....
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What is that supposed to mean? You made shit up?
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Its cool, i've been doing it since the PS1.
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This sounds like:
A) Harmonix being cheap a$$es.
B) ... refer to A.
P.S. Machiavellian: Go put your head in a plastic fart-bag and keep it there for a year.
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QFE
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Yeah... but it's not a Bluetooth receiver though, is it?