Guitar Hero Wii replacement program launches

Activision lets customers "pre-register" to be notified when surround sound-capable versions of RedOctane's rhythm game become available.

Last year, purchasers of Guitar Hero III for the Nintendo Wii might have noticed that the game would produce sound only in mono, even though it was advertised as using Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound. Activision responded to complaints about the issue by announcing that it would fix the sound for future pressings of the game, and it would start a replacement program to get corrected discs in the hands of the game's early adopters.

Now Activision has detailed the first steps affected gamers should take in order to get a replacement Guitar Hero for the Wii. North American gamers can now "pre-register" for a free replacement disc by calling (866) 780-8286 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time. Activision will then let them know when the new discs are available and how they can obtain one.

Replacement discs are expected to ship out early this year. Further questions can be sent to Activision customer support.

69 Comments

  • thetrogdor94

    Posted May 24, 2008 5:54 pm PT

    I've heard that if you send the game back you will receive a free faceplate and more songs. Is this true?

  • chris_mulvena

    Posted May 20, 2008 7:47 pm PT

    Got it finally today, almost 4 months, they said they had to remaster the disc, however it looks like a completely new disc

  • chris_mulvena

    Posted May 6, 2008 5:44 pm PT

    Has anyone gone through the whole process yet and received their disc? I send in my disc on January 30th and according to the site, which I could finally login to around the 20th of April, said that they shipped me my disc on the 28th of April and to wait at least 15 days for shipping. Anyone else been given the run around like this? I also could not get a hold of customer service although I sent them "numerous" emails.

    Update - Was sent a faceplate saying sorry for the length of time but hopefully I was enjoying the new disc which I should have already received, today however their website was updated stating that rather than it being mailed out on the 28th of April, it was mailed on the 9th of May.

  • xcollector

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:15 pm PT

    If you already registered you can check the status of your replacement disc online at http://activision.rebatestatus.com/search.aspx

  • The_Dude1212

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 6:06 pm PT

    "We wanted to provide you with an update regarding the status of the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wii replacement discs. The game has been approved by Nintendo and is currently in manufacturing. We expect to have the replacement discs available in February. Once we have the discs, we will contact you and then send you a prepaid return envelop with a game exchange claim form. You should return the completed form with your current copy of the game. Once we receive a completed claim form and game, we will send you the replacement disc."

    Source: Activision Customer Support - Guitar Hero III NIntendo Wii - Answer ID 19320

  • Toysoldier34

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:19 pm PT

    I tried calling and just got a bunch of crap from them about bussiness hours. So I guess I will try the website that they don't seem to advertise. Thanks xcollector

  • littlewiz77

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 3:01 pm PT

    Is it just me, or is their phoneline really quiet? I could barely hear her...

  • xcollector

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 5:27 pm PT

    You can now register online at http://www.activisiongameexchange.com/

  • osxgp

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 11:39 pm PT

    I don't see why a downloadable option isn't availible unless the size of the patch is too big.

  • FoUDarthBob

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 2:21 pm PT

    I never noticed this but hell yeah i want a free disc

  • trumpetplyr29

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 11:27 am PT

    I heard downloadable songs were going to be available sometime for the Wii system ? Anyone hear differently ? Good for Activison for taking a step to correct their problems, its annoying to play GH3 and when you whammy the sound gets all funky.

  • muffinmanjedi

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 7:16 pm PT

    wonder how long shipping will take

  • dieworm

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 6:13 pm PT

    "No graphics are not important in a rhythem game. Thats a valid point. Graphics arent important to you period if you own a wii."

    That's not true. Quit being a troll. There are Wii games that have really freaking good graphics (Galaxy, Metroid, Zack and Wiki), and they are important for those games.

    Why bother, I'm talking to a mindless Xbot.

  • Crombian

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 5:43 pm PT

    @ MetroidBounty: Even if there was a HDD (or third party HDD support), users would still be required to download complete multi-layer composite tracks. It seems as if you're suggesting that all it would take is a quick patch to somehow split exiting mono tracks into stereo masters.

  • MetroidBounty

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 12:20 pm PT

    this could have easliy been fixed if Wii had a harddrive and Activision could of just made an update

  • Pottsy

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 11:45 pm PT

    LOL. Maybe I sound get some mates together and sue Activision. Nintendo why I'm at it and what the hell, microsoft have it coming ;-)

  • clayfrd

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 10:14 pm PT

    meh, I couldn't care less about this minor issue. Seems like too much hassle to just get surround.

  • blakkfire

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 6:49 pm PT

    It's great that Activision is trying to take care of the surround sound issue, but I don't understand why they are sending us disks that fix the sound issue when the real issue is that it's impossible to download new songs for the Wii version of Guitar Hero III. I feel that the Wii is perfectly capable of downloading content, so why not????

  • Serraph105

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 4:10 pm PT

    it does work on my surround sound i know thats not the exact issue but still its pretty unnoticable if you ask me and i knew about the sound issue before i got it

  • education posted Jan 5, 2008 3:05 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    education

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 3:05 pm PT (hide)

    No graphics are not important in a rhythem game. Thats a valid point. Graphics arent important to you period if you own a wii.

  • dieworm

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    Hmmm, I really had no idea graphics were that important in a rhythm game.

    "Plus I bet 90% of the people who own the wii version didnt even notice the problem."

    Isn't that going against your argument? I mean, if you can't tell, why does it matter? Whenever I [rarely] play GHIII, I set it to mono. I mean, is it really that big of a deal to hear a bass solo coming from the left speaker or something? Stereo/surround is important in an FPS, you rely on positioned sounds to stay alert of you enemies, but it's useless in a music game.

  • education posted Jan 5, 2008 1:26 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    education

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 1:26 pm PT (hide)

    I think if you own a wii you are selling yourself short on graphics so why not go cheap on sound too. Plus I bet 90% of the people who own the wii version didnt even notice the problem.

  • ratboys

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 10:43 am PT

    Is surround sound the only issue with the game?

  • Agreb91

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 9:51 am PT

    I think it is good Activision is replacing these games.

  • padouke

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 8:44 am PT

    i own GH3 for the wii, and i honestly cant complain about the sound. maybe im not listening close enough, but i am perfectly satisfied with this "mono" sound that is standard with the game. maybe i need an HDTV to notice it? but hey, its a free CD, so why not register...

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 3:21 am PT

    Now if only they had not assumed that we were all idiots and wouldn't have noticed the lack of surround sound, they wouldn't be having to go through this whole fiasco.

  • heroofwinds1

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 2:09 am PT

    i think that it has harmed the sales of this game.i am from europe and i simply could not wait to get guitar hero 3:legends on wii but after i learned about this problem i will wait until the new discs arrive here.

  • FLASH026

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 1:26 am PT

    All fine and dandy, but r they going 2 get around to all the millions of people who dont live in America any time soon??

  • Toysoldier34

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 12:06 am PT

    I think it's not online so less people will ask for them. I'm a bit discouraged to have to do everything over the phone since it's more of a hassle than to just do it online.

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 10:14 pm PT

    Woot, at least they arent denying the problem for 2 years (*cough MS red ring?)

  • tobenator

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 9:23 pm PT

    This is good. I have surround sound, and believe it or not, it did sound really odd. I already knew about the problem, but one day I just thought it sounded really weird, so I'm glad they've addressed this. Thanks Activision.

  • link631

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 8:35 pm PT

    good

  • adventureseeker

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 6:48 pm PT

    Good thing i dont have surrond sound

  • Superion74

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 5:35 pm PT

    I'll have to do this next week since I've been at work all week long. Has Activision announce when they will start selling individual guitars for Wii's GH3? I really want to unlock the songs in the group campaign and I need an extra controller for that.

  • mariomusicmaker

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 5:11 pm PT

    they closed 3 minutes early

  • jogunther

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 4:42 pm PT

    Disclaimer: I have a Wii and think it was a big mistake
    I thought that it was a small problem at first and posted so. But when I have my surround sound on with the PS3 version I really do appreciate it.

  • judge__judy

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 4:24 pm PT

    How many people are actually going to do that, most people probably don't even care

  • umd1998

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 3:57 pm PT

    thanks for the heads-up... i called and they took my info so i'll hear about how to get the replacement disc as soon as it's available

  • Social_D

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 3:20 pm PT

    And they can't have us register online for what reason?

    You can, kinda of. You can go to the link and sign up to get updates via your e-mail.

  • ThickFreak

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 3:09 pm PT

    And they can't have us register online for what reason?

  • Brambler

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 3:04 pm PT

    Great Activision. Now let Harmonix release that patch to allow the GH3 guitars to work on Rock Band, and I will consider buying more of your games in the future. Until then you can suck it!

  • DonutTrooper

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:50 pm PT

    Wow theKSMM...

    Seriously, **** "The Score," I've only see your face poke around here once or twice, but I swear to god if I have to read:

    "Read my opinions on gaming in my blog THE SCORE"

    I'm going to round up every hacker on this side of the series of tubes and blast that **** to pieces. Quit using Gamespot to advertise for you gaming blog. We don't want your self-importance.

  • Np_Pro

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:49 pm PT

    The wii is not a joke! Its just different. The sound problem is annoying, but i got used to it. I will probably get a replacement disc though.

  • angelGP32

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:11 pm PT

    club-sandwich

    it's flash memory, not a hard drive.

  • eagidni

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:07 pm PT

    anyone saying that there's no need for a fix is clearly not listening. stereo sound has been the standard for music since the mid-1960s, so a lot of us are used to music having some depth... especially in video games! i look forward to getting my replacement copy, and am thankful that activision is making it happen (whether or not they're only trying to avoid a class action suit, heh).

  • club-sandwich

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:07 pm PT

    phobos8u

    the Wii has a hardrive... what do you think you save VC games to?
    -------------------------------------------------

    512 mb hard drive ftw?

  • hardyz

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:06 pm PT

    If I'm not mistaken, the Wii has 512MB of internal flash memory, not a harddrive.

  • phobos8u

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:02 pm PT

    the Wii has a hardrive... what do you think you save VC games to?

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