Vicarious Visions' Karthik Bala has once again confirmed paid downloadable content in the Wii version of Guitar Hero World Tour, though current Wii guitar games have left us doubtful of any feature. Furthermore, you'll be able to save your songs to a "Rock Archive" on an SD card, and even play songs from the card without copying them over first. But ... but isn't that completely impossible?Bala also confirmed that despite the new guitar's wacky gimmickry, your old Guitar Hero III (or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith) guitar will work just fine, and that "any USB microphone should work." With all these features, Vicarious Visions is going to have to be really creative if they want to disappoint us.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-21-2008 @ 12:18PM
Roto13 said...
If the SD card thing is true, you can be sure Guitar Hero will be getting a lot more respect than Rock Band this time around, at least from Wii owners.
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6-21-2008 @ 12:31PM
therpham said...
Actually, there's a way they could easily disappoint us: A shitty track list. It looks like they're well on their way to just that from the rumoured songs I've seen.
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6-21-2008 @ 4:47PM
Ghen said...
Comparing GH3 to Rock band I found the guitar hero songs to be more fun to play overall.
6-21-2008 @ 12:31PM
Beryan said...
Dear Activision:
Thank you for not screwing me over this time.
You promised me DLC on Guitar Hero III a year ago, but I can forgive you now.
Your Friend, Beryan
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6-21-2008 @ 12:49PM
Shadow31 said...
Guess what? I still don't forgive you, Activision. You promised me DLC in the Wii's Guitar Hero III. Thanks for wasting my money. By the way, the two player mode in GH3 sucked. Pay for drums and another guitar, along with the game? No. I bucked up and got a 360 with Rock Band. Guess what... better than Guitar Hero ever could be. No, I don't justify buying this, and you already killed my faith in you.
Oh, and kudos, you're successfully stealing Rock Band's idea. I'll laugh if you get sued.
Okay, done with my frustrated rant. :)
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6-21-2008 @ 1:19PM
TendoMan said...
Should have known beforehand that DLC wasn't available for the Wii version before you bought it then. That's your fault.
Secondly,the inclusion of other peripherals isnt "stealing" rock bands idea, its merely the natural progression of the music-rythim genre.
I wonder if the creators of MazeWar got any money from every single FPS ever created because their idea was "stolen".
6-21-2008 @ 2:45PM
aka_ak said...
"Oh, and kudos, you're successfully stealing Rock Band's idea. I'll laugh if you get sued."
Never mind Rock Band being Guitar Hero with extra instruments...
6-21-2008 @ 6:09PM
Hamster said...
"Oh, and kudos, you're successfully stealing Rock Band's idea. I'll laugh if you get sued."
"Guitar Hero World Tour" spawned off of the success of "Rock Band."
"Rock Band" spawned off of "Guitar Hero" and "DrumMania."
"Guitar Hero" spawned off of "Guitar Freaks."
Yes, developers (in every field, not just video games) take other people's ideas and improve upon them. That is the way things work. If that didn't happen, then technology and the arts would never improve.
You would be hard pressed to find any game these days that didn't take from a game that came before it.
6-23-2008 @ 5:56PM
Shadow31 said...
Oh yes, TendoMan, because I am clairvoyant. My point is Activision said the Wii version was going to have DLC, just not immediately. It never did. Not like I had another platform to buy it for.
As for what I said about them stealing Rock Band's idea... my point is that it is still Guitar Hero. It should focus on, I dunno, GUITARS?! If they changed the name to Band Hero, that'd be one thing. My point isn't that there can't be other Rock Band clones. It's that Activision expect us to buy a whole seperate set of instruments for their games. If you haven't realized, none of the first party instruments are compatible with other games. Not to mention, they're making Rock Band basically. What features are they bringing to the series? Making your own music, which seems very cheesy. 99% of the user content will be crap, and I highly doubt the feature will be very developed. Notes/chords/etc will probably be limited, and they already cut out vocals. They barely added anything. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I feel offended that Activision expects to make up for their crappy Wii version of Guitar Hero. All I'm saying is they lost my faith in them, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
7-08-2008 @ 3:22AM
Seanross said...
Nevermind that drums were in the works for Guitar Hero before Rock Band came out [although yea I know that was when Harmonix was making GH ;)]
But if you wanna keep going backwards... Konami started with Guitar Freaks and Drummania.
Stop complaining, competition is good.
You could've also waited to see if they were going to release DLC instead of going off of promises
6-21-2008 @ 1:02PM
bluezy said...
Well now i'm definitely considering getting this.
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6-21-2008 @ 1:14PM
Sonic_13 said...
Not surprising. We knew playing stuff from the SD card was possible right from launch thanks to Excite Truck.
I read IGN's interview yesterday. I really love the developer's snipe at Rock Band:
"I know there has been detractors who say the Wii can't do DLC for various technical reasons – and they are dead wrong. The system is quite capable."
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6-21-2008 @ 1:34PM
murray b said...
Sounds like this might be a prelude to Nintendo's big announcement at E3. The ability to play VC and WiiWare off an SD card...finally.
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6-21-2008 @ 3:10PM
Undead Priest said...
If they allowed it, all I can say is enjoy those crippling load times from the SD cards slower than molasses in Antarctica in winter read time. Ever wonder why it takes so long to copy something ONTO the SD card (like a channel or a VC title?) Now imagine trying to play something FROM the same card.
6-21-2008 @ 3:59PM
Mr Khan said...
Yes, but i believe that Nintendo made those times deliberate, because they heavily encrpyt, in real-time, as the app is copied over to the SD Card
The heavy encryption is what slows it down, i think. It would still be bad, but not as hideous as it is now
6-21-2008 @ 4:06PM
BigB said...
but wouldnt slow be better than nothing at all? it would be for me.
6-21-2008 @ 8:27PM
James Madley said...
Why is it then that I can play SNES games via the Homebrew Channel and not experience any slow down?
One thing I know is; everything is preloaded.
6-21-2008 @ 4:17PM
Rich said...
As only a Wii owner, Rock Band completely dropped the ball by just porting the PS2 version of the game. With GH: WT, they've brilliantly incorporated the Wiimote in all of their designs, which wins a purchase from me.
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6-21-2008 @ 6:44PM
Mr Khan said...
Yeah, i mean, even going beyond the whole "No DLC" thing that everyone got tied up with, beyond that
No Wireless Controls (on a bluetooth-able console, no less)
No World Tour
No Character Creation
Quickplay Only
Final Destination
6-21-2008 @ 9:27PM
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) said...
http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com
No Wii!
No Computer!
No Good Articles!
No Comments!
Final Destination.
6-21-2008 @ 4:36PM
CJLopez said...
Wonder why they didn't think about this the time they were working on GHIII and GH: Aerosmith??? same goes to rockband
I mean, Smash Brothers Breaw gave an example of how DLC can be managed on the Wii (yes, I consider downloading new stages created by users DLC) from the SD, wonder why they didn't go for the same. Just cause they don't support high capacity SD's????
I mean, 2gb sd's are roughly 15 bucks, 20 tops, we can have multiple sd's around there with all the DLC and just switch from sd to sd, i wouldn't mind with that kind of DLC. But then again, I do really want a HD for the wii, they can call me geek or otaku as much as they want, I still want it
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6-21-2008 @ 5:08PM
grp110nyr said...
Thank you Activision. I forgive you for past mistakes and I no longer have the urge to buy Rock Band. My money will be saved.
For those who choose to COMPLAIN I would say lighten up. At least Activision is answering ALL of our prayers with GH World Tour. No Gimped version and DLC. But wait I will give Rock Band credit for at least putting out companion discs with additional songs....but that argument is for another list of complainers.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK GH WORLD TOUR IS A RIP OFF OF ROCK BAD....TOO BAD. Unless the dynamics of a BAND actually change what else should they do. A band needs a microphone, drums, and guitars or would you prefer GH Electronica with snazzy synthesizer! No wait...how about replacing the GH World Tour drums with the old DK Bongos from the Cube. Lets take it a step further GH World Tour Metallica with full symphony orchestra and your favorite tunes from the Live S&M CD...for the low low price of $999. O-O-O I want the GH Bob Dylan set with guitar and harmonica. Give it a rest. If this is a rip off of Rock Band than 2K Sports ripped off EA by making a football game back in 2005...why b/c it was Football.
I thought competition was a good thing. GH vs. Rock Band. Don't complain unless of course you prefer one company to purchase every music license out there and stick it to us on an annual basis with mediocre upgrades ala EA's Madden Series...(this paragraph is a pun...do you get it). Just so you know I am not slinging arrows at EA b/c they have my money every year with Madden.
If Rock Band would have all the features of GH World Tour guess what....I would buy it (and I was actually close to doing it)....but it doesn't so my money will be saved for GH World Tour...but after I buy GH Aerosmith.
Give credit for both companies to raising the bar and challenging each other to step up to the plate and deliver. It is only benefitting the consumer.
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6-21-2008 @ 5:46PM
Car Insurance said...
Brawl had the ability to play saved replays off of the SD card, so the functionality is there just terribly underutilized, and regretfully not functional for WiiWare and VC games....
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6-21-2008 @ 5:48PM
Car Insurance said...
Now Nintendo just needs to do a firmware update to support SDHC cards. If they did that, we really wouldn't need a HD.
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6-21-2008 @ 7:39PM
THRILLHO said...
im pretty sure supporting SDHC is a hardware thing, not software.
6-21-2008 @ 10:01PM
Pixel-One said...
It's the same format, though, just a different specification of it. What I get from the blurb about it on Wikipedia is that it just uses a different method of memory access, so that would make it a software issue. I could be way out in left field here, though, so just set me straight if I'm wrong.
6-21-2008 @ 5:49PM
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) said...
It's just like how SSBB's stage creator let you play stages directly from a SD Card.
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6-21-2008 @ 6:13PM
Mike said...
"Never mind Rock Band being Guitar Hero with extra instruments..."
Actually Harmonix Made the first 2 guitar heroes so they have a right to spawn off it to rockband becaus ethey are the makers of that also!
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6-21-2008 @ 7:01PM
Phil said...
This is good news...
Suffice to say, it's about time we finally got this and it will definitely keep me from purchasing Rock Band.
That being said, just do us a favor and don't gimp us on everything else... I have plans to potentially get other consoles in the future (Ps3 or 360, depends on whether or not the 360 gets its blu ray functionality down by winter), but don't piss all over the Wii because it's easier to port the PS2 version.
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6-21-2008 @ 8:25PM
Werekill said...
Meh, I'm still getting rock band. I may get this, considering the guitar and DLC, but no other reason really. I just really don't like the neversoft notecharts. And before you say, "Then learn to play, NOOB!!" I can beat every song on GH3 on expert except for TTFAF. :)
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6-21-2008 @ 8:51PM
nefarious098 said...
Every song on expert?... I think your work here is done... You can go back outside now... (ok, yes I'm jealous ;P)
This is great news, but if they release I blue-tooth version of the guitar for the PS3 (and not this usb dongle !@#$) I'll get it for it simply for the better sound / graphics. If not, I'll certainly buy the Wii version. Right now GH3 on Wii is 10x better than on PS3... Damn controller... No, not bitter...
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6-21-2008 @ 8:59PM
WalkingCarpet said...
I'm guessing they would be able to do the songs from the SD card thing pretty easily actually. The game data that automatically goes on the system when you put the game in the system could just put and extra block or two aside as temporary memory. They could just temporarily load whatever song it is that you want to play onto the Wii system memory in that extra space when you play it and then empty it out again either when you are done with the song or when you try to play a different song.
They could sorta do the same thing with the VC games, theoretically, except the big ones (N64 games basically) with a firmware update. have the system put aside a amount of the system memory to temporarily copy the game into to play it and then empty it out again when you try to play a different game off of the card. You would just have to deal with a load screen.
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6-21-2008 @ 9:04PM
WalkingCarpet said...
Oh, and those of you who are constantly complaining about Guitar Hero "ripping off" Rock Band, if you actually took a look at the completely crappy port of Rock Band that we as Wii owners are getting, and where actually sane and didn't just like to complain about nothing whatsoever, you would SHUT THE @#%$ UP!!! I mean really, GH: World Tour is giving us everything that Rock Band isn't and more. Quit whining for the sake of whining. The rest of us are tired of hearing it.
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6-21-2008 @ 9:48PM
Brandon N. Hatfield said...
I do believe that what we're seeing is evidence of Nintendo's solution to the memory debacle. If you remember, Harmonix said they'd be working with Nintendo to bring a viable option, and now there may one. I'm wondering if this announcement isn't the solution Laurent Fischer alluded to in his recent interview...
Will a firmware update will be that solution? And perhaps maybe Nintendo will add another channel to the Wii, an "SD channel" of sorts that allows to launch your downloaded Virtual Console games and WiiWare titles.
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6-22-2008 @ 12:46AM
Horrabin said...
Impossible to play MP3s from the SD-card? Endless Ocean does it all the time.. you can select an MP3 on the SD-card which will then be played in the background during the game.
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6-22-2008 @ 7:03AM
Ghen said...
the way guitar hero works is it loads at least 2 .ogg files and plays them simultaneously. That way when you miss a note only the guitar cuts out. Plus it has to load and play a .midi file for the note chart. So its slightly more complex ;)
6-22-2008 @ 11:22AM
WIIBOY101UK2008NONGEEK said...
wasnt my post hidden under the wii fanboy white effect on the wii harddrive thread a few days ago i was treated like a re-tard wen what i said was 100% fact
the whole point of the slot at the front of wii was for WHAT
looks like my wisdom just got proven and the storage device freaks and harddrive weirdos are all proven GEEKS #
THAT STORAGE DEVICE THE GEEKS AND WII FANBOY ARE FETISHING OVER
ITS CVALLED A SD CARD AND GUESS WHAT WII SUPPORTS THEM OUT THE BOX
HARDDRIVE STORAGE DEVICE YOUR ALL FLAMING BONKERS ITS THERE IN THE FRO9NT OF YOUR WII A SD CARD SLOT YOU FUK HEAD MORONS
JUST LIKE I STATED IN THE FIRST DAM PLACE
ONLY ENCRIPTED GAMES FOR PIRASY PROTECTION ARE NON PLAYABLE FROM SD CARDS
ALL MEDIA AND DOWNLOADABLE ADD ON CONTENT CAN BE ACCESSED FROM SD CARDS AND INTERNAL FLASH AS NINTENDO STATED BEFORE WII EVEN LAUNCHED
HARDDRIVE YOU PEOPLE NEED ELECTRO THEROPY TREATMENT GET THESE WEIRDO 1950S TECHNOLAY FETESHES OUT YOUR SYSTEM
FLASH IS TOMORROW HARDRIVES ARE YESTERDAY
PS3 X360 SUPPORT OBSOLETE STORAGE
WII SUPPORTS THE FUTURE SOLID STATE STORAGE
GEEKS THE LOT OF YOU
LOOKS LIKE IV BEEN PROVEN CORRECT AS ALLWAYS
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6-22-2008 @ 12:53PM
Ghen said...
Question, does the Wii handle SDHC cards ok? Some older equipment doesn't work well with the high capacity versions.
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6-22-2008 @ 4:00PM
Pixel-One said...
I think it'd be fine with a firmware update. The only difference is the method of data access, which Nintendo would have to "teach" the Wii, if you will.
Some devices aren't compatible with SDHC cards, this much is true, but largely this is deliberate on the manufacturer's part (not seeing a demand or extra development cost/time) and it can almost always be updated with new firmware.
6-25-2008 @ 7:48AM
Ghen said...
But until we hear from nintendo, its a no :(
6-23-2008 @ 12:02PM
Nate said...
Older, un-patchable hardware (older cameras for example) can't be upgraded to support SDHC, but the wii certainly could. It's a matter of a system update to handle it.
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6-24-2008 @ 6:54PM
The Overlord said...
Damn, i'm definitely getting this now I have a USB Microphone and a GH3 Guitar plus tons of SD Cards this is gonna be one of the greatest games ever specially since you can make your own songs.
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6-24-2008 @ 6:55PM
The Overlord said...
Damn, i'm definitely getting this now I have a USB Microphone and a GH3 Guitar plus tons of SD Cards this is gonna be one of the greatest games ever specially since you can make your own songs.
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6-29-2008 @ 5:05PM
zeldafreak42 said...
See, I wish that an SD card acted like the GameCube's memory card. I used to be able to just bring that to a friends house or something and put that in their GameCube, but no, I would have to bring the WHOLE wii over.
It should be able to work putting songs and other stuff on an SD card and just play from there (who really cares how slow it is, at least your not going to use your internal 512MB which it probably almost filled up by now from all the channels the wii takes up)
And the whole thing for if you run out of room on that SD card... go buy another one! you could have an infinite amount of space provided you had the money for it (one is like $20 right?) In Smash Bros. you were able to store pictures and stages on it, I'm not sure if you can play directly from it though.
GH III, I think, only took up "1 block" on the wii memory, I don't want to have to put everything on the wii because the way GH4 is looking, it's gonna take up WAY more than that. It looks like a really good game too.
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