Activision officially admits they want to be paid for PS3 Rock Band patch
The Boston Globe reports that Activision is refusing to allow Rock Band to be patched to allow the Guitar Hero III controllers to be used because of money. This was the suspected reason but now it's official.
Quote:
Activision spokeswoman Maryanne Lataif said her company was willing to work with Harmonix to make the various game controllers fully compatible with one another. "Unfortunately for Rock Band users, Harmonix has been unwilling to discuss an agreement that will allow us to provide that option in a manner that maintains the high standards people have come to expect from Activision," Lataif said.
She added that any agreement will involve someone at Harmonix writing a check. "We believe we should be compensated for the use of our technology," said Lataif.
Harmonix spokeswoman Spencer Saltonstall said her company is also committed to doing what's best for gamers. "We are really and truly not looking at this from the financial standpoint," Saltonstall said. "We are looking at this from the consumer standpoint."
Man, this really makes Activision look like a bunch of money grubbing bastards.
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1. No one I know is playing GH3 anymore. Everyone is playing Rock Band
2. Rock Band is crushing GH3 in the DLC department, both on content and price
3. My Gh2 controller (360) works fine with Rock Band and GH3, so there is not technical hurdle for the GH3 controller
4. Their demand to be PAID to do the right thing
I believe that Activision just lost the Battle of the Music Rhythm games.
BTW, while you can argue that it is their ball, they can do what they want, you have to understand that consumer perception is priceless, and hard to regain once lost.
Last edited by Donut11; 12-20-2007 at 10:00 AM..
Reason: In before "It's their guitar"
If they were looking at this from a consumer standpoint, they'd let the patch go through immediately instead of trying to squeeze a few extra bills out of their guitars.
If you think they would look at this entirely from the consumers point of view can I come join you in your Utopia where the world isnt a commercially driven money grabbing ... place?
Well, if I somehow get GH3/2 for some reason (As in, given as a gift or won in a contest, whatever), there's no way in hell I'm going to be paying for any DLC content. The only reason I'd want GH is for the guitar when I pick up Rock Band. And at this point it's looking likely by the time I do get Rock Band they'll have guitars available themselves.
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Wow, how asshole can you get? Congratulations Activision, you're on the blacklist.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RMan
I always love the phrasing developers use when talking about development costs rising, as if they are watching an astronomical event they have no influence over.
Man, this really makes Activision look like a bunch of money grubbing bastards.
I got this impression when they became the publisher to inflate their steam prices for Australians. CoD4 is $88.50 for us. Maybe it's about not undercutting the retailers (by 40 odd AUDs) but to me it's about me not buying their game. If I want to get price-raped, I'll go to EB.
I have no idea why Sony is putting up with this.
This is not good for their system.
Do they want to set a precedent so CoD5 can use that same proprietary wireless dongle and not allow other third party dualshocks unless they get paid?
Because that's on par with this silly bullshit.
It's possible that this is stemming from the Activision/Harmonix break. Perhaps some hard feelings on the Activision side, or simply making Rock Band the more expensive option but requiring hardware to be puechased.
Either way, I could care less. This genre is getting stale with GH and GB diluting the pool.
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Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't there nothing illeagal with Harmonix releasing a patch for their own game that makes it compatible with other controllers? The only reason the patch is not being released is because Activision is putting pressure on Sony. Now if Harmonix tried to put out a patch that made GHIII compatible with the Rock Band controller, I can see where Activision has the right to step in and protect their game but they should not be allowed to stop Harmonix from making their own game as open as possible. Hell, you can play Boom Boom Rocket with a Guitar Hero controller. I don't remember any calls for reimbursment there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Talanvor
Well, if I somehow get GH3/2 for some reason (As in, given as a gift or won in a contest, whatever), there's no way in hell I'm going to be paying for any DLC content. The only reason I'd want GH is for the guitar when I pick up Rock Band. And at this point it's looking likely by the time I do get Rock Band they'll have guitars available themselves.
Yeah, as soon as stand-alone guitars go on sale I'm going to switch to an all Rock Band set up. I have no desire to deal with anymore of Red Octane's (and lets face it, that's where the real animosity is) bullshit.
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