Why GH II's guitar gets no wireless magic

by Dustin Burg { Apr 5th 2007 at 12:00PM }

We all wished it would happen, we all prayed to the powers that be it would happen, but in the end we were sadly let down. We're of course talking about the long rumored Guitar Hero II wireless guitar that everyone wished they'd see, but ultimately ended up being one wired disappointment. And our friends over at Ctrl+Alt+Del have finally gotten to the bottom of all the politics and discovered the real reason why we aren't rocking out to "Possum Kingdom" on our wireless X-plorer guitar. It was those darn Microsoft product developers who hoarded all the wireless magic. Yes sir, they're holding onto their precious wireless and aren't sharing. If you're reading this Microsoft, please let us have your proprietary wireless magic. We'll totally trade you one brand new ring ... straight up.

[Thanks, Paul]

Tags: gh ii, ghii, guitar hero, guitar hero ii, GuitarHero, GuitarHeroIi, red octane, RedOctane

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Joshua @ Apr 5th 2007 12:12PM

Funny and all but I actually understand Microsoft's position on wireless.

Remember that they take a loss on each system sold. Now we may be getting to the point a year or more later where they see a profit. Until that day the only money maker that isn't software sided would be accessories. Those controllers offer up a little profit to balance out the loss up front.

But much like how I once gave up my woobie (security blanket), Microsoft needs to start licensing the use of the wireless format.

Andrew @ Apr 5th 2007 12:23PM

It doesnt bother me, my fender isnt wireless.

S @ Apr 5th 2007 12:25PM

I know that there is no official wireless guitar out yet, but as anyone tried making one yet?

I have thought about how to do it, but not sure if it's possible. You can open up a guitar and wireless controller, and just solder up all the switches to the wireless controller. But I'm not sure if that would work, because I believe they played with the button mappings. I haven't plugged the guitar into the computer to check this out yet.

KR @ Apr 5th 2007 12:25PM

I bet my 360 that we'll see a wireless guitar - this year. There's no reason to bring it out now since you can milk people for the wired one.

Really, is there a reason someone can't just release a wireless guitar with some USB dongle/device that gets around it? Is it not possible to do? It seems like it should be feasible.

KR @ Apr 5th 2007 12:49PM

S - good idea. I'm sure someone will give it a shot.

Ithilis @ Apr 5th 2007 12:56PM

I haven't bought the 360 version yet because I'm trying to sell my PS2 GH+GH2+2 Guitars first. Can someone tell me how securely the guitars plug into the USB port? My friends and I have been known to rock, and we've unplugged the PS2 ones numerous times. As long as it's as secure as the PS2 ones, or moreso, I'm fine with having with having wires. Longer would be nicer, though.

Cowdisease @ Apr 5th 2007 1:01PM

"Really, is there a reason someone can't just release a wireless guitar with some USB dongle/device that gets around it? Is it not possible to do? It seems like it should be feasible."

Not possible for the USB dongle/device because that device would still need a Microsoft license in order to be operable with the Xbox 360. Until Microsoft grants RedOctane a wireless 360 license, the only way you'll get a wireless guitar is if you replace the PCB of the X-Plorer with a first-party 360 wireless controller. Such hacks have been done before

http://xbox.joystiq.com/2007/04/03/best-diy-arcade-stick-evar-its-wireless/

but it certainly won't be easy. It get even more complicated because the button config for an X-Plorer differs from a regular 360 controller.

DeadPlasmaCell @ Apr 5th 2007 1:02PM

@ #4

For sure, that Rock Band game has Wireless controllers that it's supposed to use and it's coming out on the 360 later this year, so I'm guessing those would probably work with GH2.

@ #6

If you have USB keyboard you can try rocking out on that and see if will come out easy.. I haven't had any issues.. seems like a good fit, but it is just USB though.

Yuccadude @ Apr 5th 2007 1:02PM

Oh yeah, last night I was rocking out on my friend's guitar on my 360 to Possum Kingdom, so today I had to go buy it. For the first time playing, he said I was doing a lot better than most of the people. That being said, some of the songs in the third place are harder on easy than on normal. Maybe I shouldn't have been paying attention to the notes he had to play for that song on normal...

ill trooper @ Apr 5th 2007 1:08PM

I thought that wikipedia entry was going to link to a 'Red Ring of Death' entry. I traded mine with microsoft last year and everthing's been fine since. Knocking on wood-themed dashboard blade right now...

S @ Apr 5th 2007 1:23PM

#6

I haven't had any problems with disconnections yet. It has about a 8 foot cord. Also, the USB connection is not the breaking point, they have one of the breaks like the wired controllers.

(I had mine lock up though [end of song, buttons didn't work, Xbox ring on controller off, but the 360 thought it was still connected], I just reconnected it and it works fine)

Shaft @ Apr 5th 2007 1:24PM

A company could bypass the proprietary wireless scheme by using another one and having hardware that plugs into the USB port on both the guitar and XBox sides. It's not elegant, it would leave an 8' cord on the guitar (which could be coiled and hung from the strap) but could be marketed. Make it look like the wireless setups that musicians use and it'd sell.

Cowdisease @ Apr 5th 2007 1:50PM

"A company could bypass the proprietary wireless scheme by using another one and having hardware that plugs into the USB port on both the guitar and XBox sides. It's not elegant, it would leave an 8' cord on the guitar (which could be coiled and hung from the strap) but could be marketed. Make it look like the wireless setups that musicians use and it'd sell."

Your plan has a flaw. 360 wireless controllers don't connect to the Xbox 360 via USB. Even when connected via the Play 'n Charge kit, the wireless controllers still communicate with the 360 via a wireless connection.

I think what you are trying to propose is a project box, where it interprets the signals from the X-Plorer and converts them to inputs on a wireless controller. Someone was able to do like that for the Sega Saturn controller, so it's possible that a similar one could be built for the X-Plorer. It's a very expensive solution, so companies probably aren't going to try to develop a device.

Otis Whitaker @ Apr 5th 2007 1:57PM

I think actually what he was saying, was making it wireless over USB, in which the 360 thinks it's a wired controller.. only the USB connection is wireless, which is entirely possible.

morphy @ Apr 5th 2007 2:02PM

"I think actually what he was saying, was making it wireless over USB, in which the 360 thinks it's a wired controller.. only the USB connection is wireless, which is entirely possible."

Yeah, but how would you supply power to the guitar? If you think hacks are ugly, imagine hacking a rechargeable battery. :P

Nick Nelson @ Apr 5th 2007 2:04PM

No one is talking about a wireless controller that uses the 360 tech. Think about the wireless controllers, like the logitech, for the first xbox - or any wireless kerboard and mouse setups. They can easily be made to use their own wireless tech and interpret the signals back to the wired inputs at the dongle connected to the 360.

blamecanada @ Apr 5th 2007 3:08PM

I think MS planned on keeping wireless first party until Christmas of this year, so third party wireless controllers should be coming soon, not that I'll buy any.

Hoffer @ Apr 5th 2007 3:09PM

If MS doens't want to give up their wireless, why don't they build a guitar controller. Or at least co-own the thing with Red Octane.

Why is MS such an ass on the hardware side? Hard drives costing $180, no wireless guitar, $100 WiFi adapter, etc...

Cowdisease @ Apr 5th 2007 3:28PM

"No one is talking about a wireless controller that uses the 360 tech. Think about the wireless controllers, like the logitech, for the first xbox - or any wireless kerboard and mouse setups. They can easily be made to use their own wireless tech and interpret the signals back to the wired inputs at the dongle connected to the 360."

It won't work unless the USB dongle uses the PCB of a licensed 360 controller. Any physical USB device connected to the Xbox 360 will need a Microsoft license in the hardware itself in order to play Xbox 360 games. Otherwise, the 360 will ignore that input device.

alliekins @ Apr 5th 2007 7:36PM

Actually, it might be possible with a wireless USB connection... at least, when I was in the Phantasy Star beta I connected my wireless keyboard dongle to the 360 and had a wireless keyboard to type on.

Though my Ignition Dance Pad (USB'd) didn't work with the 360 since it didn't have that chip thing.

You might end up having to do something like the folks over at XCM with their USB adapter, tricking the 360 with a wired controller into thinking it's a valid peripheral.