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Sony To Set Compatibility Standards For PS3 Music Games

Posted by Soulskill on from the just-one-axe-to-grind dept.

Michael Shorrock, Sony's director of third-party relations, announced on the Playstation blog that he's been working with the major music game developers (i.e. Rock Band's Harmonix, Guitar Hero's Activision, and others) to ensure basic compatibility for peripherals between the games. Joystiq has a compatibility matrix that shows which devices work with which games. "...Rock Band 2's guitar and drum set will work with Guitar Hero: World Tour and with Rock Revolution. Conversely, Rock Revolution's drum set will work with both Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2. In addition, Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 will both support the SingStar microphones. We're still working hard to ensure compatibility between the Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles currently on the market, and we hope to have an announcement on that shortly." Update: 8/20 17:38 by SS: Reader TheWolfkin notes that Microsoft has now made an official announcement to do this as well.

23 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Sanity Prevails by bestinshow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Holy battlesnakes! That actually makes sense! Thanks Sony!

    1. Re:Sanity Prevails by SenseiLeNoir · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ironically only Sony's "Own" PS3 uses normal BlueTooth and USB for its connectivity (see my above post). The XBOX 360uses a proprietary Wireless Standard, and stuff. The Wii uses Bluetooth I believe, but it has some weird wired connectors.

      Actually I have a beef with Guitar Hero, why the HELL does it use a weird USB propritry wireless dongle on the PS3, when they could have just made a bluetooth guitar? Maybe scared that people will use it on other games, or with a PC?

      Just a waste of a USB socket, and a waste of the PS3's built in Bluetooth. Maybe this is why Sony is trying to standardize this?

      --
      Have a nice day!
  2. Glad someone is doing this ... by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Right now, it's a complete crap shoot.

    The guitar which came with Rock Band for the Wii is a piece of crap, but it can't use my Guitar Hero guitars. For reasons completely unknown to me, the USB guitars from RB for the XBox don't even work with the USB hub that comes with RB on the Wii.

    How is it even possible that a USB guitar isn't compatible across those two platforms unless RB only has support for the wireless guitar they issued for the Wii?

    The idea of having to buy a whole separate set of instruments for GH4 drives me nutty.

    It really would be good for someone to enforce some standardization so the consumer doesn't end up getting gouged.

    Cheers

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:Glad someone is doing this ... by PrescriptionWarning · · Score: 4, Informative

      today's word is Proprietary

    2. Re:Glad someone is doing this ... by Moryath · · Score: 5, Interesting

      For reasons completely unknown to me, the USB guitars from RB for the XBox don't even work with the USB hub that comes with RB on the Wii.

      You can blame Micro$oft for that one - their "not-quite-USB" controllers utilize a so-called "security" signing system that prevents so-called "unauthorized" peripherals from working, and M$ are being assholes about letting any but a few companies that have paid a butt-ton for near-monopoly access to the platform make anything.

      For another example: M$ completely refuses to allow X-Arcade sticks to work, despite numerous attempts by the makers to PAY for the privilege of making an adapter.

      And that pisses me off. I'd LOVE to play certain Live Arcade titles with a real arcade stick, for crying out loud.

    3. Re:Glad someone is doing this ... by ckthorp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually, Lexmark lost the case that has allowed toner cartridge manufacturers to produce aftermarket ID chips for toner refills. The same reverse engineering for compatibility precedent likely holds in this case too, though it will be expensive to convince M$ of that fact...

    4. Re:Glad someone is doing this ... by SenseiLeNoir · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Considering both the PS3, and the Wii use standard Bluetooth, why the HELL are they even using USB wireless dongles in the first place?

      --
      Have a nice day!
    5. Re:Glad someone is doing this ... by SenseiLeNoir · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why would Sony bankroll this? They themselves use standard USB controllers on the PS3 and probably dont give a shit about a few pissed off XBOX users, who may just go out and buy a PS3 instead

      --
      Have a nice day!
    6. Re:Glad someone is doing this ... by AbRASiON · · Score: 2, Informative

      I recently sold my X360 due to all the noise it makes, however there's several other reasons I'm glad I've stuck with my PS3. (although I'm sure I'll be labelled the PS3 fanboy, surprise surprise)

      Free wifi built in
      Non proprietary hard disk, substantially cheaper to change over.
      Free online service (slowly improving too)
      No stupid timed demo releases (Xbox Live Gold vs Silver)
      The standard 'official' MS headset had worse sound quality than a 4'rd party cheapo bluetooth headset on my PS3 (I was surprised too)
      The PS3 virtually silent, the 360 is noisy WITHOUT a disc spinning due to noisy fans, let alone once a disc spins.
      I can use a HDMI video cable and optical audio cable without needing to butcher cables or purchase some dopey dongle.
      (See: http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50 and http://www.google.com.au/search?q=xbox%20360%20switches%20off%20changing%20inputs%20hdmi&hl=en&meta= (second hit)
      RROD's!

      The list could go on for ages, depending on how biased I am.
      PS3 is far from flawless (bluetooth only remote? jesus!) but ultimately, I think the days of giving the PS3 shit are long since over, I am seeing fewer and fewer vehement Microsoft defenders bashing the PS3 nowadays and the 360 sales are starting to wane. I have a feeling these 2 will actually end up even in the end, unlike how it is now.

    7. Re:Glad someone is doing this ... by SenseiLeNoir · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I have some more plus points about the PS3 in a post I wrote above (linux, standards, etc).

      I disagree with the PS3's bluetooth remote being a flaw. I understand that it makes it harder to integrate with a universal remote. But i very much believe that universal remotes have buttons for the PS buttons.

      but it has its advantages, like no need for line of sight, which i think outweigh any disadvantages.

      I am not surprised that the PS3 bashing have reduced. When it came out, it was a fantastically engineered deviced, that had lousy firmware, few games, late, and overpriced. The bashing it received was well deserved, especially in light of the engineering effort on the hardware.

      Recent Price drops, new much improved firmware (that added loads of extra features for free), better games, and the Success of Blu Ray over HDDVD (and the fact the PS3 is still one of the best BD Players).

      It is a solid system, which still has a lot of potential and lifetime.

      MS are on the other hand already muttering about a Xbox 720 :)

      --
      Have a nice day!
  3. and yet... by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 4, Funny

    And yet none of them will be compatible with my Samba Di Amigo maracas.... *sniff*

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    This guy's the limit!
  4. Re:Correct me if I'm wrong... by cblack · · Score: 2, Informative

    The compatibility they are talking about is just within PS3 games and peripherals. That is, Rock Band 2 instruments working with Guitar Hero: World Tour games and vice versa. It also appears that Rock Band 1 instruments will work with GH: WT as well as RB2.

  5. Re:How About Making it Cheaper? by powerlord · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can you please make it compatible with my wallet?

    Isn't that what they are doing?

    By trying to make the game makers "play nice" and getting instruments cross-game compatible, buying an instrument for one game means you only need to buy a game to play the second game, instead of needing to pay for a new instrument as well.

    --
    This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
  6. Just showing appreciation by goldcd · · Score: 2, Funny

    towards Sony is making me feel dirty.

    1. Re:Just showing appreciation by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's a pretty obvious gesture after you've seen the frustration it causes people. Still, it is pretty surprising for Sony. Perhaps this is the beginning of a brand new era of Sony not actively annoying their customers.

    2. Re:Just showing appreciation by SenseiLeNoir · · Score: 5, Informative

      You would be surprised, if you actually looked at the PS3, and even the PSP with recent firmware you would be suprised at how "open" these so called closed systems are.

      Take the PS3. It was hammered on launch, for being too little too late, and too costly. Now, with recent firmware updates, and its overall better hardware design (no Red Ring of Death), has now made it a decent games system, a phenomenal Blu Ray, and upscaling DVD/DivX/Xvid/media player. Anandtech has revised its original 6 out of 10 score to now 9 out of 10, with high praise.

      Connectivity? Standard WiFi, Ethernet, USB and Bluetooth are all there. Even the controllers use bluetooth, no proprietary wireless standard. You can even connect the PSP wirelessly via stanard WiFi or internet.

      Running out of ports/sockets? No worries, they are just standard USB 2.0 ports and you can use a normal USB hub to expand them. No need to any proprietry crap to extend the number of ports on the unit. The controllers charge from the USB ports using normal USB A to Mini USB cables. (you can use standard USB chargers too, like a Motorola V3i, or Blackberry charger)

      Need a Keyboard or Mouse? No problem, just either attach a USB one, or get a bog standard Bluetooth one.

      Need a universal media player? You got that! BlueRay, DVD, VCD, DivX/Xvid (its actually DivX certified), AAC, MP3, and a growing list of media support. It also acts as a standard DNLA client, so can pick up media from other computers, and DNLA media servers via the network. I have got it to work with Nero Home server, Windows Media Player, TVarsity (FOSS), and even a Nokia N95.

      You want to run Linux on a PS3? no problem, it works, support is built to boot other operating systems (under a hypervisor). Sony officially supports Yellow Dog Linux for PS3, but there are versions of Ubuntu, Fedora, and others. There is work in porting Myth onto the PS3.

      You want additional Hard Drive Space? No problem, just replace the built in hard drive with a larger standard SATA 2.5inch drive. The manual event explains how to do it.

      Proprietary Memory Cards? No way! It uses standard USB Storage Devices. No need for proprietary Memory Cards. Backups can be done to normal USB Drives. Those lucky ones who got an earlier 60/80gb PS3, have built in Card Readers too (CF, SD, MemoryStick). The PS3s that don't have memory card readers, you can easily attach a USB version.

      Home Brew? Didnt i say it runs Linux? In fact there is a YouTube video of some masochists, booting Linux on their PS3, then running Windows XP in VM Ware, crazy, considering there is not a LOT of memory there!

      Its a very good system, and I bought it without any question, and am still pretty amazed at what it can do, certainly for its price.

      Oh, and I recently bought a Sony 40Inch Bravia 1080p LCD, for £650 with 5 year warranty from Costco. This is actually cheaper than a similar Samsung (and i feel better performing).

      Maybe they are only changing in some markets, but lets see.

      --
      Have a nice day!
    3. Re:Just showing appreciation by Raenex · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Home Brew? Didnt i say it runs Linux?

      You don't get full access to the hardware. I agree on your other points, it's a nice system.

    4. Re:Just showing appreciation by SenseiLeNoir · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes the two main things you dont have access to are the GPU (which i cannot fully understand), and parts of the Blu Ray handling, not surprising as they dont want Linux Access to help facilitate piracy do they? :)

      --
      Have a nice day!
    5. Re:Just showing appreciation by amorsen · · Score: 2, Interesting

      In fact there is a YouTube video of some masochists, booting Linux on their PS3, then running Windows XP in VM Ware, crazy, considering there is not a LOT of memory there!

      Those would be fakes then. PS3 is a PPC-based system. VMWare doesn't run on PPC. You could do it in Qemu, but it would be so slow that there would be no point.

      --
      Finally! A year of moderation! Ready for 2019?
    6. Re:Just showing appreciation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      AnandTech gave the PS3 a 9 out of 10!? What the heck? We have never reviewed the Playstation 3. Here's what we've written on the PS3:

      An article when Sony introduced the PS3
      An article discussing the internal technology of the PS3 (and 360)
      And an article covering it (and the Wii) at E3 2006

      We have never reviewed the PS3, in fact we don't even use point scores. I'm not sure if you have us confused with someone else or are trying to attach our name to the PS3, but in either case I'd like to make it clear that we have never reviewed the PS3 as you have described.

    7. Re:Just showing appreciation by The-Bus · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Their XviD/etc. video playback is still not entirely awesome, although I haven't checked since the last update. The PS3's wireless connection keeps dropping out, making streaming sometimes a chore; the Wii doesn't have this problem. Some files that the 360 could play, the PS3 couldn't.

      I finally used the memory card slot the other day. I took out the SDHC card in my HD camera and put it into the slot. The card came up on video and the AVCHD video from my Canon camera played back without a problem.

      The only thing the PS3 lacks as a great BD player is analog outs for audio. You're stuck with HDMI (great if your TV or receiver has it) or you have to use optical, which can downmix the audio depending on the format it is in.

      --

      Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.

  7. Re:How About Making it Cheaper? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Or you can buy both games without instruments, and since there's a standard on how the instruments work, you can buy third party instruments that are cheaper and work with both games.

  8. It's sad that this is actually news. by Mr_eX9 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    My understanding is that a console is supposed to be a standard in the first place...Sony, MS, and Nintendo all screwed by allowing the Rock Band/Guitar Hero compatibility problems to exist. MS at least screwed up the least by forcing Activision to use the 360's controller standards, resulting in the GH guitars working with Rock Band and no wireless dongles. The RB guitar doesn't work with GH2 or 3, though...I suspect it's a software issue.