Sony nails down music peripheral compatibility with upcoming titles

With all the incompatibility out there among Guitar Hero / Rock Band instruments, it's a real treat to see something like this. The Director of Publisher Relations at SCEA has posted an update that promises compatibility between instruments and software for upcoming titles; for instance, Guitar Hero: World Tour's guitars and drums will work with Rock Band 2 and Konami's Rock Revolution software, and Rock Band 2's guitar and drum set will work with Guitar Hero: World Tour and with Rock Revolution. Furthermore, the team is still "working hard to ensure compatibility between the Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles currently on the market," though we are told that an announcement on that could surface "shortly." Rock 'n roll harmony, baby.

[Image courtesy of BeSportier]

[MobiusXP @ Aug 19th 2008 1:07AM]

This sounds really cool and it really opens the way for people to get more than just 1 rhythm game,so everyone gets a taste of every game and there's more variety. but I do hope that Microsoft goes the same path.

[Blackstar @ Aug 19th 2008 1:29AM]

In that picture you just know they were playing to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' version of "Love is All Around".

[Jarhead2012 @ Aug 19th 2008 2:37PM]

T_T. You're kidding, right? Microsoft is the REASON Sony's doing this. At E3 it was announced that all instruments for RB2 and GHWT would be compatible with each other on the 360. Nothing was said about the PS3. Since this has happened, Sony is working hard to match Microsoft's compatibility so that their console sales don't go down.

[HendoTKO @ Aug 19th 2008 1:11AM]

You is missin an eye

[hiko36 @ Aug 19th 2008 1:14AM]

This is the only reason I haven't bought a GH game for my PS3. I refuse to clutter my already small TV room with more peripherals...

[MastrCake @ Aug 19th 2008 1:16AM]

Extra guy in green and yellow=dancer?

Any other guesses?

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 19th 2008 1:22AM]

I think he's a groupie, actually.

[sorrento @ Aug 19th 2008 1:32AM]

more-cowbell-guy

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 19th 2008 1:20AM]

Now we just need to be able to upload our own music and have it download a Rockband/Guitar Hero version (if available) automatically, no need to repurchase.

That would be sick.

[Matt @ Aug 19th 2008 1:25AM]

And very unlikely. First, the tracks are separated by instrument so if one fails only that track stops playing. Second, they'd charge for the charts anyway since they still need to make them and likely buy the rights. Third, they wouldn't make as much money.

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 19th 2008 8:46AM]

I think it's the third one that's preventing it from happening mostly.

And I didn't necessarily mean *any* song ever, but if you own a song they offer to buy, you shouldn't have to buy it again to be able to play it.

[Dee @ Aug 19th 2008 1:31AM]

Look at all those bustling hip fellows and the guy who looks like he has big bosoms. Spectacular.

[xValentine @ Aug 19th 2008 1:55AM]

Gaming Music Department

Sony - 1
MS - 0
Nintendo - 0

[Andy Anonymous @ Aug 19th 2008 2:11AM]

No, not really. I'm pretty sure it's the same story on all platforms, or at least on PS3 and 360 both.

[Ayrkain @ Aug 19th 2008 3:30AM]

They're already compatible on the 360 for the most part. This is really cool though - I might go pick up GH: World Tour if it'll work with my existing set of instruments.

[Jarhead2012 @ Aug 19th 2008 2:38PM]

See my post above:

"Microsoft is the REASON Sony's doing this. At E3 it was announced that all instruments for RB2 and GHWT would be compatible with each other on the 360. Nothing was said about the PS3. Since this has happened, Sony is working hard to match Microsoft's compatibility so that their console sales don't go down."

[Andy Anonymous @ Aug 19th 2008 2:08AM]

Um, didn't Activision and Harmonix already announce cross-compatibility of their instruments anyway, with Konami promising full compatibility with both as well, on both PS3 and 360? It sounds like Sony is trying to take credit for something they aren't really responsible for.

[optV @ Aug 19th 2008 2:46AM]

"Compatbility?"

[Down @ Aug 19th 2008 4:30AM]

What could he have possibly been trying to spell?

[Nate DiDonato @ Aug 19th 2008 3:49AM]

C'mon, peripheral clutter is awesome! I think in my closet I have 4 or 5 DDR pads, 2 Pump It Up pads, a Guitar Freaks controller, Drummania drumset, a crap steering wheel for ps2, several arcade sticks, COUNTLESS light guns (even more when I had to get LCD compatible ones)... what's a few more guitars and drumsets in the mix gonna hurt?

Honestly, this is great, because the fact that there are GUITAR RACKS, FILLED WITH DIFFERENT PLASTIC GUITARS, at every local game store, kinda disturbs me. It's bad enough when I go to music stores I have to hear some 14 year old play every damn Guitar Hero song, now I have to watch the same type of kid "try out" guitars at Gamestop.

[Amz @ Aug 19th 2008 4:55AM]

Are those typical players of Rock Band (and Guitar Hero)? D:

[Ridgecity @ Aug 19th 2008 5:17AM]

Seems all these kids that gather to fight forgot that this is Sony's court.

Excellent news since it was a pretty stupid blockade they were putting each other at the cost of the gamer.

[LT73 @ Aug 19th 2008 7:45AM]

Just what we need.

More plastic 'disposable' junk.

[MasterCKO @ Aug 19th 2008 5:34PM]

I'm sorry, did you miss the part where this would REDUCE the plastic disposable junk??

[WindyCityEagle @ Aug 19th 2008 12:49PM]

This is great for someone like me who wasn't going to buy Rock Band 2 because their guitar sucks.