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E3 2008: 360 GH World Tour, Rock Band instruments 'totally compatible'

Neversoft's Brian Bright says Harmonix's instruments can be used with Microsoft's version of the upcoming rhythm game, which will adjust for play with rival's drum set; World Tour instruments also work with first Rock Band.

During Activision Blizzard's press conference outside E3 2008, Neversoft director Brian Bright surprised many by announcing that non-RedOctane instruments could be used with Guitar Hero World Tour. Speaking today with GameSpot, he clarified some of his statements, offering a deeper explanation--and more than a few surprises.

The Rock Band drum kit.

The Rock Band drum kit.

First off, Bright said the input at the back of the drum kit would allow its control to be mapped to any instrument with a MIDI digital output. "I was just doing it last night with a MIDI-10 drum machine," he said, grinning.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, he said that not only will Guitar Hero World Tour support instruments from rival Rock Band, but Neversoft had programmed the game to recognize and adjust for them.

"We use a five-channel input, and we've engineered the game to sense when you plug in a Rock Band drum set and switch to a four-channel input," he said, referring to the descending note scheme used in the game. "The orange cymbal input in Guitar Hero [World Tour] automatically becomes the green fill or the blue pad on the Rock Band drum set, depending on what works best with the song. You don't even have to think about it."

Such a move might seem surprising to those who observed previous compatibility battles between the Rock Band and Guitar Hero camps. Bright has no hard feelings, though. "Look, it's ridiculous to expect people to have two, three drum sets," he pronounced emphatically.

The Guitar Hero World Tour drum kit.

The Guitar Hero World Tour drum kit.

Bright also seemed confident that such sentiments were reciprocal. "As far as I know, all our instruments work with the first Rock Band," he said. "Whether they work with Rock Band 2, I can't say."

The developer also said that his comments applied only to the Xbox 360 version of the game...for now. "I can't talk about the PlayStation 3 version yet. You'll have to wait for an announcement from Sony," said Bright. He did say, however, that rumors that Microsoft insisted on such compatibility were untrue: "I mean, why not? We want as many people to play the game as possible."

For more on Guitar Hero World Tour, check out GameSpot's brand-new preview from E3 2008.

281 Comments

  • blacksparrow15

    Posted Nov 27, 2008 5:15 am GMT

    I use to hate GHWT but now I think I might just get this for Christmas along with Rock Band 2. It is compatible with the PS2 right?

  • gslimjim08

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 8:58 pm GMT

    nevermind cause its only for ps2.

  • gslimjim08

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 8:56 pm GMT

    just wondering but is rock band guitars compatible with guitar hero encore and aerosmith?

  • fool760401

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 12:04 am GMT

    I have all 3 next gen systems, and I have RB1. I am torn between RB2 and GHWT. I hope the PS3 version of GHWT is compatible with RB1 equipment. Otherwise, I am going with RB2.

    On a different note. In the past, I have been making efforts to support Sony by purchasing PS3 version of multi-system games. This news about GHWT is only compatible with Xbox 360 RB1 equipment will likely change my mind about supporting Sony. If they hope to win the console war, they need to pay more attention to these kind of things.

  • acerx7

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 1:28 pm GMT

    Oh yeah! Backwards compatible instruments I'm now sold on Guitar Hero World Tour. I was skeptical about getting it because I wasn't sure they would be, but now its clear I'm grabbing this game.

  • acerx7

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 1:28 pm GMT

    Oh yeah! Backwards compatible instruments I'm now sold on Guitar Hero World Tour. I was skeptical about getting it because I wasn't sure they would be, but now its clear I'm grabbing this game.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Sep 16, 2008 3:36 am GMT

    The Drums are way too low in Rock Band. Just get it over in Australia first you EA bastards.

  • benybob

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 1:36 pm GMT

    lol, all the new intruments are amazingly better for both rythm games lol, and now that there compatible(i hope for the wii also) then u just need to get on band kit bundle and get the other disk. genious, i personnally like guitar hero world tours intruments better.

  • Mush_Mouth

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 8:13 pm GMT

    Someone's getting kicked in the face if RB's new guitar isn't any better than the last one...

  • IceDefenseGod

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 7:11 pm GMT

    Finally, now I can actually play GH.

  • lannyboy334

    Posted Aug 8, 2008 9:29 pm GMT

    Yay for Activision, I really think that Harmonix is the bitter one in all of this, they have to sit back and watch Activision make a better game. My friend is getting Rock Band 2 for the Wii, and I am going to buy the whole set-up for the Xbox 360 for Guitar Hero World Tour.

  • fireboltjjl

    Posted Aug 8, 2008 8:42 am GMT

    im geussing wii wont work cause you need wii motes

  • machew100

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 10:03 pm GMT

    thank god, i preordered the $300 ion rock band compatible drum set and now i can use that beast on this game too, they just made my setlist that much larger... thank you activision

  • tk-42121

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 6:16 pm GMT

    O thank god I don't need to buy another plastic drum kit just so I can play a few Van Halen song

  • WR83

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 12:41 pm GMT

    PS2 equipment better work! SONY, please pay attention to us!

  • Princess_Gamer

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 5:31 pm GMT

    Well this sounds good to me. I'm anticipating this game a lot now.

  • Duke06BlueDevil

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 11:12 am GMT

    Lol. Any chance of the PS2 equipment being compatible with Rockband?

  • hellblackscorpi

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 5:30 pm GMT

    yea so will i be able to buy GHWT and use its drums for Rockband ???? some one tell me im confused lol but i love GUitar hero i been down with GH since the beginning

  • txarod

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 10:36 am GMT

    For some people who have ps3s like me heres why this is happening. On the xbox 360 like in 2007 they made guitar hero 2 if you remember and harmonix still was with red octane before they were bought out by MTV and EA and made rock band and then activision took over guitar hero. So when activision was making gh3 they made the game compadible with that old guitar and on the ps3 it was the first time they ever made it for the ps3 so the guitar components were different on each system and harmonix had originally designed it with red octane. So for the gh4 instruments to work on rock band and vice-versa they would have had to made guitar hero 2 for ps3 and now since they didnt people will have to spend $400 and go broke!

  • Thorpe89

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 8:01 am GMT

    That will save some money then.

  • LuiKang_is_dead

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 1:59 am GMT

    Will this possible mean a PS3 Rock Band 2 kit will work with GHWT????

  • plague32390

    Posted Jul 23, 2008 11:44 am GMT

    Well, this is good news. That way people dont have to drop another $170 for a band kit. I for one might pick up Rock Band after I have played GH:WT enough. I like the GH:WT drum setup more then I do RB's.

  • GaussGoat

    Posted Jul 23, 2008 8:48 am GMT

    A bit of sanity prevails; thanks Neversoft!!!

  • stewie342

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 9:32 pm GMT

    so if i buy the GHWT bundle can i buy JUST the rock band game disk?

  • shoeman12

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 4:28 pm GMT

    i'll probably get the full set anyways, i already have the rockband drum but this one looks much better.

  • scorch-62

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 3:59 pm GMT

    I'll be sure to remember that I lost faith in the Guitar Hero name.

  • xaviwavi

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 5:54 am GMT

    looks good!

  • -HCMF-

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 3:56 am GMT

    and?

  • germanchango

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 3:55 am GMT

    Great, good news to the people who plays more guitar than drums, no need to spend more money in drumsets RB, RB2 and GH:WT with my same drum set(of rb), but ill be buying the WT guitar, looks awesome!

  • trigun0006

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 8:03 pm GMT

    thats bs, i seem to remember last year when activision particularly blocked a ps3 patch that allowed the gh3 guitar to be used with rockband, now their contridicting themselves. basterds

  • Setsuka13

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:44 pm GMT

    The developer also said that his comments applied only to the Xbox 360 version of the game...for now. "I can't talk about the PlayStation 3 version yet. You'll have to wait for an announcement from Sony," said Bright.


    Wow. Sony gets hit again. Although their press conference this year did get my attention. Hmmmm....

  • jimmypop_04

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 2:50 pm GMT

    I realize that I will probably be getting a new drum set with RB2 and GH:WT coming out. Not only are the RB drum sets pieces of crap, the new ones will be wireless. Now I just need to find out which drums work for what. If RB2 drums work with GH:WT I will just get those because of familiarity, but if they don't a lot of people are going to be up a creek because they do not want to have to spend over 150$ just to play both games, and that doesn't even factor in the cost of the games themselves. And speaking of the guitars, I don't even use the extra buttons for RB so I don't really care if the new ones are improved. Just give me one that works.

  • faseli

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 2:38 pm GMT

    How do these drums look any stronger than the Rock Band ones?
    They may look a little more realistic but thats about it.
    Besides they have only done this because they will probably make a better margin on selling Guitar Hero World Tour on its own rather than the whole kit.

  • musicaz70

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 2:07 pm GMT

    This man is awesome.

  • skylar561169

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:54 pm GMT

    i think we can all agree that the WT drums look 100 times stronger and more sustainable that Rock bands. I'm glad I waited and didn't buy Rock band 1...or it'd probably be broke right now...

  • boblighte

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:41 pm GMT

    "Look, it's ridiculous to expect people to have two, three drum sets,"

    ... but four guitars? That's FINE.

  • _SteveBIRK_

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:40 pm GMT

    i hope the GH drums will work with RB2. those drums look better

  • Sparktony

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:35 pm GMT

    yea they shouldnt focus on the 360 or ps3 too much theres still ppl who own ps2s

  • aceball69

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:33 pm GMT

    yeah, why not? i think the two games should work together and create a full on bad @$$ game with all kinds of music. whatever. guitar hero gtot smart in doing this "rock band drums for GH" thing. it will get more people to play.

  • rave_n2

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:29 pm GMT

    Hope the sames true for the ps2.

  • Sparktony

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:28 pm GMT

    you think they should test both drum sets to see which one has better support and durability????

  • tyzwain

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:24 pm GMT

    Lets hope its totally compatible. I'm sure some development issue or region issue will mean we have to fork out another hundred quid for more plastic instruments.

  • SirFatalChaos

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:22 pm GMT

    GH:WT drum set looks ugly and unstable o.O

  • Yoshiman411

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:18 pm GMT

    Cool i hope they'll do it to the wii version too

  • worthyofnote

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:08 pm GMT

    Well that sounds somewhat good. And Okassar, you could buy PVC pipes from your local hardware store. But I do understand, I too wish the drums came with better support and durability. I guess time will tell with these new sets.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:06 pm GMT

    I cant wait, this is going to be fun and exciting.

  • okassar

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:01 pm GMT

    I got Rock Band but here's my problem with both it and the upcoming model,which has the same design and almost the same functionality.My Rock Band drums are trash now,the side pads have no support from columns like the middle two so they are prone to just cracking and falling off from the whole thing,especially if you play expert like me,some people even cracked it on hard.This is ridiculous,they should come up with support on the side pads.For this reason,I am reluctant to buy either game or more drums until I can find a solution for this problem.Maybe I should buy those pvc pipes on ebay...but then again,those are 15 dollars plus shipping,FTW!!!!!They did that on purpose so I would have to buy new drums,I'm pissed.at least the kick pedal is metal padded now,still doesn't solve the problem of weak drums.Btw,did you notice Gamespot posted this story days ago or maybe even a week ago and just put it back on top?Another thing too is that I haven't seen an interesting new story since the beginning of E3,wtf.Get to work Gamespot.

  • siLVURcross

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:59 pm GMT

    Until they release a determine tracklist, I'm gonna go for Rock Band 2.

  • Simulator_Shock

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:55 pm GMT

    As long as both of the games controllers actually work with each other, instead of saying bs and claiming that they will.

  • Fandango_Letho posted Jul 21, 2008 12:43 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Fandango_Letho

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:43 pm GMT (hide)

    i'm starting to get sick of the GH tumor that wages on gaming. I hope it'll die in a couple of years, just like the DDR phenomenon. Playing GH is kind of dumb IMO, just get a real guitar because what you are doing on screen, is not the fruit of your real efforts. I can get why it's fun for some people, but overall, it's just a failure IMO.

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