Guitar Hero 3 News

Red Octane's new wireless guitars, but what's Xbox 360's extra cost?

Red Octane showed us their new wireless controllers coming to Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii with the release of Guitar Hero III this fall. The Wii version (seen above), allows you to put your Wiimote into it via a flap in the back. There is no word yet on why you would need to do this, if it's only to activate "star power" it just seems a little superfluous. The rest of the controllers look fine and the buttons are in the perfect place so you don't "pull a Peter Moore" in GH III like you would in Rock Band. In all fairness, Harmonix is already planning a software fix so gamers don't do the same thing as Moore.

The best part about the new guitars is that you can take the guitar's neck off of the body by toggling a switch in the back and pulling. They wouldn't let us take pictures of this and they had none available. The new separation feature makes storage and travel easier, it also opens up the option for different types of necks. Also, there were an assortment of quality plastic faceplates which snap onto the guitar and come off easily by pressing an eject button on the back. Because all the faceplates were "prototypes" we couldn't take pictures of those either. Anyway, the new Red Octane guitars look and feel really good. Oh, and they moved the Xbox's guide button and d-pad higher up the guitar's body to get it out of your wrist's way. They also put the select (back) button within pinky length of the fret to activate star power by easily moving a finger instead of jarring the guitar. The redesign really looks great.

The weird news was Red Octane's cagey attitude towards pricing between systems, the same thing we experienced with Harmonix about Rock Band. Following Rock Band's unconfirmed price difference between Xbox 360 and PS3 wireless guitars, it looks like Red Octane hasn't made a decision regarding their pricing of the Xbox 360 controller either. Will they charge more for the licensing fee attached to using Microsoft's proprietary wireless? And what is the extra cost? They will supposedly get back to us as soon an answer can be authorized. Yeah, this Microsoft wireless drama is just ridiculous, especially if it forces the peripheral manufacturers to punish the consumers for Microsoft's greed.


Via Joystiq

I think the reason they have you put the Wiimote into the Guitar is because that is the only way to read players. With the older version, you had to plug them in, but since it is the Wii, they probably thought why not use their wiimote to show what player they are. It seems silly I know, but then again, so did the name Wii when I first heard it.

Does Nintendo even know? (DVD Playback)

I wrote to Nintendo asking about the Wii and it being able to play DVD's. It appears that the Launch Wii WILL NOT be able to play DVDs after all. This kinda....irks me.

NOTE: E-mail addresses and My real name will be edited.

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ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
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Dear Nintendo of America,
My name is Wii Blogger and I am a proud fan of Nintendo, since I own all but 3 systems you have come out with. I was wondering if you could please just shed a little more light on the rumors of a DVD playing Wii. Is there anyway the people, like me that got it on launch day are going to be able to get this feature? I hope so or the Wii just might be the last Nintendo console I buy. This is not a threat, but merely a warning. A lot of Nintendo's fan boys will be upset if you hurt the ones who moved the early consoles out the doors and put you in second and soon to be first of the console wars. Are those of us who have the first generation of Wii be able to get the DVD playing feature at all?
Hoping for the best,
Wii Blogger

RESPONSE!

Message(#6851-000597-1276\5971276)

Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,

In answer to your question, I can confirm that Nintendo and Sonic Solutions have made an agreement to allow Nintendo the use of Sonic Solutions' DVD technology in a future version of the Wii console. However, launch details, like where (regions or countries) it will sell, release date, or price (although it will be more expensive than the original version) are currently unavailable and won't be revealed until sometime in the latter half of 2007. It will not be available as an add-on attachment.

For those who already own a DVD player at home, the launch version of Wii will be the best choice. This version of the console is more affordable and you'll be able to enjoy Wii games immediately.

One more thing, please check out our important safety information for playing Wii on the following web page:

| Nintendo - Customer Service | Wii

Sincerely,

Nintendo of America Inc.
David Glover

Nintendo's home page: The Official Nintendo Homepage, featuring Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, Wii Sponsors NASCAR Star Greg Biffle, Game Developers Conference 2007, Mario Party 8, Pokémon Battle Revolution
Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529
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Then I did a little searching and found this article.
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Nintendo Selects Sonic to Enable DVD Functionality in Future Version of Wii Console
Sonic CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator Helps Deliver Ultimate Movie Viewing to New-Generation Gaming Console

NOVATO, California (November 8, 2006) - Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced that Nintendo, the worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, has chosen Sonic® CinePlayer® CE DVD Navigator to bring high-quality DVD movie viewing to a future version of the company's WiiT gaming console. Nintendo plans to release this version of Wii in the latter half of 2007.

Based on the same technology trusted by Hollywood studios, CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator is a robust, software-based DVD playback engine that delivers broad playback compatibility on a variety of platforms. The proven technology offers exceptional picture quality and supports all standard video and audio formats offered in the DVD specification, as well as advanced functions such as anamorphic widescreen video, motion menus, and multiple video angles. "To be involved in Nintendo's ground-breaking gaming console is extremely gratifying and a testament to the efficiency, flexibility and dependability of Sonic's technology," said Jim Taylor, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic's Advanced Technology Group. "Game consoles represent a fresh market and platform where we can introduce a new audience of potentially millions to the quality of our brand and the power of our digital media applications."

According to a recent report by new media research firm Centris (Welcome to CENTRIS), DVD playback device penetration continues to grow. The total number of DVD playback-capable households grew to 91 million in April 2006, which represents an 8% increase over the previous year. Adding to this figure was an increase in DVD-enabled game units which grew 11% year over year to approximately 45 million.

Created by Sonic's Advanced Technology Group, CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator is part of the company's growing portfolio of technologies that are being licensed to enable CD and DVD playback, as well as DVD recording and authoring. Sonic's technologies are licensed by leading technology companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, and Scientific Atlanta and used to enable digital media experiences in a wide variety of markets including consumer electronics, PCs, kiosks, automotive entertainment systems, and music download services. In addition to standard-DVD, Sonic recently introduced comprehensive support for emerging high-definition formats, Blu-Ray Disc (BD) and HD DVD.

For more information on Sonic's technologies for application developers, visit: http://www.sonic.com/products/Develo...quicklook.aspx.
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Does this mean that there might be a DOWNLOADABLE version for the original Wii? I don't know, but that means that it is only a software upgrade and should be made available on Wii Ware if it comes out for maybe 1000 to 2000 points. I don't mind paying for it, all I ask is that I have a chance to get it with my launch Wii.

Welcome to the Wii Blogger

Greeting, I am the Wii blogger and I love my Wii. I shall stories that get my attention and stories that get a pretty big buzz. I shall post my opinion, not just the opinion of the masses. I hope to do everyone proud as I cover the Wii.