Activision on PS3 guitar patch: Show me the money!
Before it was implied that Activision wanted Harmonix to pay up before they cleared a Harmonix-developed patch allowing PS3 owners to utilize Guitar Hero controllers for Rock Band -- now Activision is just straight-up saying it. Today's Boston Globe has the money quote on this issue as Activision spokeswoman Maryanne Lataif says, "We believe we should be compensated for the use of our technology."
Consumers be damned! Game industry analyst Billy Pidgeon of IDC Corp says that Activision could be entitled to compensation from Harmonix, but this hard line approach might very well backfire. For its part, Harmonix states that it is working on stand-alone Rock Band controllers and does a mea culpa over not having enough guitar controllers for release, but the company says it wanted to get the game in stores for Christmas. Sorry PS3 Rock Band owners, looks like Harmonix has to pay, or Activision needs to stop being scared that Rock Band is going to chop away at their $100 million investment.
[Thanks Puck]
