Need another reason to cancel that Rock Band preorder? It has been confirmed by multiple sources, including IGN that this month’s Rock Band Wii will not be compatible with the Guitar Hero 3 guitars. This comes as a definite blow to gamers that were still holding out for Rock Band despite lack of downloadable content, and online play. The controllers are almost identical and both the Xbox 360, and PS2 version allow it…so why not? Wii owners aren’t stupid, Harmonix. We know when we’re getting the short end of the stick.
The facts have been laid out to the Wii consumer. The simple question lies in which music-rhythm game will you be picking up: Rock Band, or Guitar Hero: World Tour?
Don’t think too hard.
Could you maybe provide a link to the IGN article? (And from now on in general when citing other sources…?)
I’m thinking the reason behind this is that they’re using some proprietary wireless/wired connection for the controllers, which makes the GH controller incompatible. Just a guess. :\
^Whoops…completely forgot the link. Thanks for the reminder. (We always do our best to link to our sources.)
“The controllers are almost identical and both the Xbox 360, and PS2 version allow it…so why not?”
BUST.
GH:WT Baby.
Well on the Xbox 360 the opposite situation is true. The Rock Band guitar isn’t compatible with Guitar Hero 3. At the end of this rhythm game kick people are going to have quite a collection of guitars.
I didn’t think any guitar hero 3 controllers were compatible with Rock Band on any system. Just the GH2/GH1 guitars were. Maybe I’m wrong.
But from what I understand, the lack of compatibility is not Rock Band/Harmonix’s fault… it’s Activision blocking it from happening. I thought Harmonix was in favor of cross-compatible instruments.
But regardless of who’s to blame, considering GH3 is the only other rhythm game of this type on Wii, it’s another pretty big blow to the chances of Rock Band’s success on Wii. At least its chances to have GH3 level of success anyway.
The problem is that the GH3 controller uses a Wii Remote plugged into the guitar. If Harmonix was going to make those compatible, they would have had to require that you have an instrument plugged into all of your instruments, and that would have screwed over the people who don’t already have 4 wii remotes.
I don’t have Rockband or GH III yet, I was holding out until I know if Nyko’s controller is compatible with both.
I plan on buying the Rockband and GHIII game by itself, 2 nyko guitars and the drums separately, I already have a microphone. I really don’t want any duplication.
I did eventualy get my hands on a 360 and rockband because of all of the issues with the Wii rockband. I love it, and I’m kinda sorry to say it but for now i find my self saying “Nintendo Who”. But im sure ill be back whenever a first party title come out.
@Jonkind: I can’t speak for the others, but you can use any GH controller with rockband on the PS2; however you can’t use 2 GH controllers and the mic because all 3 need a controller port.
I just want to know if the GH3 guitar can work with GH4/World Tour. I’d be more tempted to get GH3 for Wii if the guitar will be future-compatible.
Can’t beleive people actually held their breath on this. Did no one even read the info on Rockband Wii? The controllers use USB PORTS!
No Wiimote inside, which right there kills any hope for compatibility! I pity the foo who actually had some hope!
I agree with David, what’s more interesting is GH3 with GH4 compatibility on the Wii. THAT could make or break a few deals.
In the recent coverage for GH: World Tour on Wii, shown in Nintendo Power, the GH3 guitar will not be compatible with GH: World Tour.
Maybe they will change it prior to its release. 🙁
The answer is obvious. The Wii version of Rockband is horrible. Everybody in their right minds will pick up World Tour for their rhythm game quench.
We need to start an anti-Rock Band campaign! : P
You guys have to remember that the GH3 guitar is just a piece of plastic. For crying out loud, EVERY BUTTON ON THERE IS JUST A CLASSIC CONTROLLER BUTTON! They should just implement classic controller functionality, kind of like ps2 controllers, except fit the gh3 mold, and there’s your compatibility. The GH3 guitar isn’t unique at all. That’s why people have been able to use them hooked up to their pc’s using bluetooth. It’s just the classic controller.
You know, I listened to the podcast a few days ago, and I read this article (obviously)
I really like Infendo. I do. However, I feel like there is a significant amount of unfair bias against Harmonix/EA by the Infendo writers at this point.
I know this is a Nintendo site, and I know everything Nintendo touches turns to gold, but seriously, the lack of downloadable content (as noted in the podcast) has zero to do with Harmonix/EA and everything to do with the lack of a storage solution from Nintendo. In fact, Harmonix has come out and said that was why they were not offering the Music Store to the Wii version of Rock Band.
If you still want to deliberately avoid the fact that Nintendo is the one hurting Harmonix/EA and not Harmonix/EA hurting themselves, consider this. Harmonix has already come out to say they will be releasing expansion discs for Rock Band with a number of tracks available to play in Rock Band.
What does this tell us? It tells me that Harmonix took the extra step to figure out how to get more content to the user. I don’t see Activision doing that.
In fact, what’s with the love affair with Activision? I also have a 360, and I can tell you from experience, Activision’s downloadable content support for the Guitar Hero franchise is abysmal. ABYSMAL. Rock Band, on the other hand, has great support. Why are you assuming Harmonix is telling Wii owners to stick it up their tail end?
I think it is a credit to Harmonix/EA that they were willing to eat their words and offer the platform on the Wii because it was so hotly demanded. Evidently Harmonix’s good deeds are rose-tinted, because your rose colored glasses seem to miss them all.
@Andrew: (Yes, at myself)
How much do you want to bet the facts presented in this article have everything to do with Activision being a bounch of jerks? We’ve already seen Harmonix try to work with Activision on the other platforms, to the point where THEY WROTE THE CODE that would allow the Rock Band guitars to work in Guitar Hero.
Apparently, though, that’s not good enough. Given the fact that Harmonix always actively tries to give the consumer what they want (if they can) I naturally chafe at the idea that Activision is blameless here and Harmonix is a bunch of stinkers.
The thing that gets me is this. I’m not even a Harmonix apologist. They just make good games.
I got a phone call yesterday from my casual gaming brother-in-law. He doesn’t follow gaming sites or anything, and he doesn’t get serious about gaming. But even he knew how gimped Rock Band Wii is going to be, and he was pretty furious about it.
He asked me if Guitar Hero 4 would be good. His money is already being reallocated. Good job, Rock Band. Good job.