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Sony, Microsoft Broker Instrument Peripheral Cross-Compatibility
by Chris Remo

4 comments

August 19, 2008

Sony, Microsoft Broker Instrument Peripheral Cross-Compatibility

Sony Computer Entertainment America has taken an active hand in ensuring PlayStation 3 instrument peripheral cross-compatibility between Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Singstar, and newcomer Rock Revolution, according to a new blog post by SCEA third-party relations director Michael Shorrock.

Irregular hardware and software compatibility between games from competing developers Harmonix Music Systems (Rock Band) and Activision-owned Neversoft (Guitar Hero) has put strain on both the patience and wallets of music game aficionados, many of whom are known to be less than thrilled at the prospect of owning multiple plastic drum sets.

Specifically, Shorrock notes that Rock Band 2- and Guitar Hero: World Tour-branded guitar and drum peripherals will function properly with all three band simulators, while Rock Revolution's drum peripheral (though it supports guitar gameplay, publisher Konami has not announced unique guitar hardware for its game) will also be compatible with all titles.

The microphone peripheral for Sony's own SingStar karaoke game will work with both Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour. Sony hopes to expand its compatibility doctrine to existing music games already on the market.

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

[UPDATE: Following up on this post, Microsoft's Chris Paladino has officially announced that the same interoperability will be true for the Xbox 360 versions of those third-party titles.

Talking on the company's official Gamerscore Blog, he referenced the final paragraph of this article, which noted that Microsoft has yet to announce similar compatibility, and explained:

"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... In other words, welcome to the party. ;)"]

Categories: [PC], [Console]

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Comments

Anonymous

19 Aug 2008 at 9:49 am PST

"Sony hopes to expand its compatibility doctrine" while
Xbox 360 has no "(s)imilar enforcement?" What?

Simon Carless

19 Aug 2008 at 9:56 am PST

I think Chris is saying that similar measures (guitars, peripherals working together) have not yet been announced for the Xbox 360 - so it will be interesting to see if the compatibility is the same between Xbox 360 music games.

Isaac Lanier

19 Aug 2008 at 5:14 pm PST

Like Microsoft got the lead because it early launch. Sony just like to drop the news 1st. Sony said Assassin's Creed was all theres. Now the real question is about the mic. Sony said singstar, will M$ say Lips.

Steve Watkins

23 Aug 2008 at 11:20 am PST

The Xbox Live Headset works with Rock Band. I don't see why it wouldn't with the newer games. But who knows what the developers will do. Save some money, use the headset. :) (It's not always easy to do the "tamborine" beats with the headset though).