Microsoft: Instruments Will Work Across Titles on 360 Too

[Dr.Finger]

Yesterday we learned (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61121) that Sony had brokered some sort of music game armistice, promising at least basic cross compatibility between the peripherals of the major titles. Well today Microsoft also announced (http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/08/19/560611.aspx) that the instruments will work with the various titles.

At the bottom a Gamasutra article about the blog post it stated:

Similar music game peripheral enforcement has yet to be enacted (or at least officially announced) on the Xbox 360 platform.

For the record, we also do that, so consider this an official announcement.

All the instruments from Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero: World Tour, and Rock Revolution will be cross-compatible.So there you have it. Peace in our time. Your Rock Band gear will work on Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Revolution, and vice versa. No word yet on whether or not these games will be playing as nicely on Nintendo's systems.

[Wackman3000]

Amazing that they praise themselves for things that should have that way from the start.

[Entropy Effect]

So if Rock Band instruments work in Rock Band 2, will they also work in Guitar Hero: World Tour? It seems it was more of a diplomatic issue than a technical one, so if the major players are on board they should be able to allow last gen instruments as well, although the phrasing does not make me optimistic.

[oldschooldimo]

awesome, now ill actually pick up the guitar hero.

[Sl1pstream]

Guitar Hero guitar suddenly sounds interesting. It'll depend on the release dates (I'm looking at you Rock Band 2), but the strip makes me consider that one. If they release RB2 at a decent time over here, I'm sure I'll spend more time on that one, which means that I won't need the extra hardware.

[Micasa]

Amazing that they praise themselves for things that should have that way from the start.

Didn't the 360 instruments work with other games already?

[Sl1pstream]

Didn't the 360 instruments work with other games already?

They did.

I think the problem with these three games is that they all use a drumkit with a different amount of pads. It'll be interesting to see how they solve this problem, but compatibility is a good thing.

[Zero]

Well GH:WT is supposedly gonna drop the extra note if it detects a RB drum kit

[Stupid Fat Hobbit]

Well, this is welcome outbreak of common sense.

[Ondo]

So if Rock Band instruments work in Rock Band 2, will they also work in Guitar Hero: World Tour?
The developers of Guitar Hero said back at E3 that World Tour would be compatible with Rock Band 1 instruments.

Didn't the 360 instruments work with other games already?
I'm pretty sure Rock Band guitars did not work with Guitar Hero III, but the other way around worked fine.

[MrSatan]

They did.

I think the problem with these three games is that they all use a drumkit with a different amount of pads. It'll be interesting to see how they solve this problem, but compatibility is a good thing.

Yeah they *kind of* already worked with them. It was a one way street.

[oldjadedgamer]

Every time I played Rock Band on 360 we had a guy playing Bass with a Guitar Hero guitar.

[Syl]

This also makes the upcoming Logitech "pro" instruments all the more tantalizing.

[Talon-]

Every time I played Rock Band on 360 we had a guy playing Bass with a Guitar Hero guitar.

Well, this is significant news because:

A) Rock Band guitars wouldn't work in Guitar Hero games.
B) Drum neutrality.

[divinechaos]

Activision said they hadn't reached an "agreement" with Harmonix to let them use the RB guitars in GH3.

[Talon-]

Activision said they hadn't reached an "agreement" with Harmonix to let them use the RB guitars in GH3.

I'm guessing this won't happen for either the PS3 or the 360.

[Talanvor]

Every time I played Rock Band on 360 we had a guy playing Bass with a Guitar Hero guitar.

I use the GHIII Les Paul, since I've tried to buy the RB guitar twice and so far both times they've been borked. Stupid tilt sensors.

[Loganrapp]

I'm guessing this won't happen for either the PS3 or the 360.

I imagine what Microsoft and Sony mean is that Activision's bullshit is going to end if they want to see their titles on those systems.

[CPaladino]

Didn't the 360 instruments work with other games already?
Many did, IIRC the RB1 axe didn't work in GH2 or 3.

[asimonk]

I'm pretty sure Rock Band guitars did not work with Guitar Hero III, but the other way around worked fine.

This affected no one as Rock Band, while the superior game, had a guitar which is easily the worst peripheral of this generation.

[Talon-]

This affected no one as Rock Band, while the superior game, had a guitar which is easily the worst peripheral of this generation.

Nobody can really argue with this point.

Actually, I feel like the perfect guitar would be the Stratocaster's neck, and the Les Paul's body.

[Pnikosis]

Hope this include Lips' microphone

[Roc Ingersol]

Nobody can really argue with this point.I'll go ahead and argue this point. I don't like the clicky-clack of the LP's strummer, the larger scale on the Strat is more comfortable for my midwestern-mitts (long live The Duke!), I find it easier to slide up and down frets on the strat's neck and the thicker body of the LP causes seriously uncomfortable pressure on my wrist along the top edge of the guitar body.

My only complaint with the RB Strat is build quality. Much like the 360 itself.

[Zero]

(long live The Duke!)

That thing made my left arm lose all feeling after playing DOA for several hours. Luckily that's a game that's playable one-handed.

[asimonk]

Thing I don't like about the RB guitar is the texture on the yellow fret is like, one microscopic plastic bump. At least on the GH2 (my personal pick) is the keys are smooth, unlike the GH3 one, yet the yellow fret has an easily identifiable feel to it.

[ONI5]

Call me when I can buy one guitar and play it on multiple systems. Then and only then will I be happy.

[Deadend]

This is really good news for Rock Revolution, as now SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE may buy it.

[JimmyDanger]

Hope this include Lips' microphone

Was my first thought too.

If I was to buy Lips - and already owning 2 guitars - in theory all I would need to do is buy GHWT's drumkit to be completely "kitted" out.

Less clutter is good. And mics with lights!