Sony, Konami, Harmonix To Make Instruments Universal >

	2008/08/19 9:13:45: Posted by DM
	The expensive music peripherals that go and in hand with games like Rock Band have been drawing complaints from consumers who don't have over $100 USD to drop. Now, with the fact that some of these accessories do not even work on the other music games, gamers are angry. Well, Sony is working with Konami and Harmonix in order to make the microphone and other peripherals universal, at least on the PS3. Games like Konami's Rock Revolution and Sony's Singstar will hopefully work with Rock Band 2's microphone. Good news for us! >Link
	Labeled With  konami harmonix sony playstation 3 Comments [11]  | Rate this article: -- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  | Be the first to rate this article

Good. I like the idea of a universal mic, guitar, drums, step pad, etc..

I hope Microsoft and Nintendo do the same. The less money I spend on all these different accessories the more money I can spend on games...

one would think it should be industry standard for universal items between games like these. any mic accessorie on the PS2 worked with almost anything that supported it. my Karaoke Revolution Headset worked with most online games that supported it. and whats even crazier is that my Karaoke Revolution American Idol Edition Microphone for ps2 works on Rock Band for 360! only reason why i know is cuz my cat decided to chew up the cable for the rock band mic...

Hey pimpdaddy, they are already are universal on the 360. You were able to use your GH3 guitar with Rock Band if you wanted for example. The same couldn't be said for the ps3 version, which is what sony is addressing right now.

Kenny K: Sorry didn't know that. Last time I checked there were issues with EA and Activision. Good to know. I don't actually own GH or RB for the 360 but I wan't to get it this Christmas for myself and the kids.

Any recommendation guys?

My sister bought GH3 for her PS3 so my oldest son and I play that. But I wan't to buy just 1 bundle and have it universally work with the game. I was leaning towards Rock Band 2, but I saw the new GH: World Tour and it looks nice too.

Which one has the better quality instruments and mics???

Kenny K: BTW I didn't know if you would be interested. But I try to organize weekly Gamers Reports Gaming sessions on the weekend. If you not busy we would love to have you.

VaeVictus played last weekend. I think he got first place every time we played dogfight with the WarHawks just based on the amount of times he killed me :p Anyways it was a good time just thought I would send out the invite.

This wasn't a "Sony" issue so much as it was an issue between the two developers/publishers fighting over licensing for technology cost purposes (Activision was the b*tch in this case). Sony uses bluetooth, a free industry standard. M$ uses their own proprietary wireless technology that others must pay to use. That's why there were wired guitars early on for GH and RB users.

Pimp, my personal opinion is that the GH guitar is far better. The drums should all be about the same, though I like the look of GH's drumset the most. (I own Rock Band and GH3 fwiw) I think RB's music offering is far better than GH's however. They also support their games with weekly music downloads (at a cost of course). GH downloads have been few and far between and of far less quality.

Nice fanboy spin on the wireless techs used Victus =/

What fight can there be over tech cost purposes if bluetooth is a free industry standard. Doesn't make much sense to me.

Because the developers didn't use bluetooth but instead used a usb dongle to work with their guitars. I'm sure they had something similar to what M$ had in mind in utilizing the dongles in terms of charging technology fees for usage (which IS what Activision wanted from the RB dev's to use the software that would have patched the instruments). No fanboy spin here Kenny K, jus' scrate up factualizations.

hxxp: //www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/harmonix-blame-activision-for-ps3-rock-band-guitar-issues/

;)

I own both GH3 and RB on the PS3, so I am informed.

I'm well aware of the spat between Activision and EA and I never said you were ill-informed.

You just made it out that MS charges insane fees to use a wireless signal when they are no different than any other company that wishes to make 3rd party hardware. You're not paying just to use their wireless signal.

I don't know how I made it out to be that M$ charged "insane fees." Truth is, they do charge to use their wireless technology.

It could be said that your 1st comment made it out to be a "Sony issue" with the wording, though I get the gist of what you were 'trying' to say. ;)

The origin of the "differences between" Harmonix and Activision would not have existed if Sony did the same thing M$ did or if Activision weren't a b*tch about the issue. Harmonix was down with it.

^ do you have a link where it specifically states that MS charges to use their wireless tech? The tech it's new, or special, it's the same kind of tech every other wireless controller uses......outside of sony's. Maybe "insane" was the wrong word, but this line: "M$ uses their own proprietary wireless technology that others must pay to use." just wasn't needed at all. Like I said, you pay a licensing fee to make 3rd party hardware, just like any other console.

Also I never made it seem like it was a sony issue, I was actually trying to give sony credit for stepping in and working for a fix, seeing as how they didn't have to do anything. It's a good move IMO.