View Full Version : Wii Guitar Hero 3 only outputs in mono sound. (Link with replacement form added)
diskoboy
11-11-2007, 09:51 PM
EDIT BY GAC: Get your replacement disc here: http://www.activisiongameexchange.com/
Wow. That's just plain sad....
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/11/wii-guitar-hero-iii-outputs-only-mono-sound/
joshnickerson
11-11-2007, 10:01 PM
Makes me kind of glad I can't afford it this year... hopefully they'll have the kinks worked out by the time I actually buy it.
Chuplayer
11-11-2007, 10:13 PM
This is just bullshit. It's one thing that they made the game look like a PS1 game. At least the graphics aren't important in this sort of game. Making the game output in mono only has got to make this the biggest load of crap on the Wii. This edges out Far Cry in terms of carelessness.
The Wii is not getting any fucking respect from developers. They treat it like a joke, but it's probably the biggest avenue for profits for them. The Wii is selling like hotcakes, and all they do is half-ass their games for their biggest userbase. Even the Gamecube got more respect! This is a slap in the face of gamers everywhere.
RadiantSvgun
11-11-2007, 10:59 PM
I really can't tell a difference.
Chuplayer
11-11-2007, 11:07 PM
I really can't tell a difference.
You haven't lived. I played games in mono for years and years, and then I got that GXTV thing. Its sound system is kinda average, but the sound it provided blew me away at the time. All of a sudden playing Star Wars Rogue Squadron was a feast for the ears. I didn't even notice the supposed tinniness of the sound in the game. I sometimes just left the sound test running and listened to the music!
When I got a Saturn a couple months later, I underwent a religious experience. I thought cart audio was good. CD quality music and sound was the best! Again, I would just sit there and listen. I listened to the Sonic R soundtrack dozens of times, and it was good.
I'm not even an audiophile. The GXTV is still the best sound system I've got, but I can tell the difference.
The Wii is not getting any fucking respect from developers. They treat it like a joke, but it's probably the biggest avenue for profits for them. The Wii is selling like hotcakes, and all they do is half-ass their games for their biggest userbase. Even the Gamecube got more respect! This is a slap in the face of gamers everywhere.
Why does this surprise you? The majority of Wii owners are casual gamers who buy 1 or 2 games a year. Why would developers put the bulk of their development resources into a console whose user base doesn't even notice that a game like Guitar Hero III only has mono sound? Casual gamers aren't going to really care. As long as the Wii's user base is made up of these types of gamers, don't expect the majority of 3rd party games to be anything other than cash runs.
The Wii version of GH3 really should only be the option of those without another console. No online play, leaderboards, or DLC make it the weakest version by far, and if it doesn't even have stereo sound...
Chuplayer
11-12-2007, 12:46 AM
Why does this surprise you? The majority of Wii owners are casual gamers who buy 1 or 2 games a year. Why would developers put the bulk of their development resources into a console whose user base doesn't even notice that a game like Guitar Hero III only has mono sound? Casual gamers aren't going to really care. As long as the Wii's user base is made up of these types of gamers, don't expect the majority of 3rd party games to be anything other than cash runs.
The Wii version of GH3 really should only be the option of those without another console. No online play, leaderboards, or DLC make it the weakest version by far, and if it doesn't even have stereo sound...
Well, somebody did notice that the Wii version has mono sound. Otherwise we wouldn't be talking about it right now. And they should put some resources into the game because they're asking people to spend money on it! I'm not saying it has to be a masterpiece. I don't even care that the graphics look horrible! I have a problem when a developer craps out a half-assed port on a system that is more than capable of doing at least stereo sound. It's bullshit! It's as embarrassing as Superman 64.
boatofcar
11-12-2007, 01:38 AM
Well, somebody did notice that the Wii version has mono sound. Otherwise we wouldn't be talking about it right now. And they should put some resources into the game because they're asking people to spend money on it! I'm not saying it has to be a masterpiece. I don't even care that the graphics look horrible! I have a problem when a developer craps out a half-assed port on a system that is more than capable of doing at least stereo sound. It's bullshit! It's as embarrassing as Superman 64.
Seriously. When was the last time you heard of a console game that had mono sound after the 8 bit generation?
Guitar Hero 3 on the Wii. :D
RadiantSvgun
11-12-2007, 06:39 AM
You haven't lived. I played games in mono for years and years, and then I got that GXTV thing. Its sound system is kinda average, but the sound it provided blew me away at the time. All of a sudden playing Star Wars Rogue Squadron was a feast for the ears. I didn't even notice the supposed tinniness of the sound in the game. I sometimes just left the sound test running and listened to the music!
When I got a Saturn a couple months later, I underwent a religious experience. I thought cart audio was good. CD quality music and sound was the best! Again, I would just sit there and listen. I listened to the Sonic R soundtrack dozens of times, and it was good.
I'm not even an audiophile. The GXTV is still the best sound system I've got, but I can tell the difference.
I probably haven't noticed because I haven't been playing GHIII much... I actually have everything running through my surround sound stereo. And if you want a religious experience, it was when I played Super Castlevania IV through the stereo. But back to the topic at hand, more than likey we will get screwed. GHIII will get the bug fixes when the hard cover comes out and I'll probably be a sucker enough to pay for it. :(
Mr.FoodMonster
11-12-2007, 08:41 AM
The Wii version of GH3 really should only be the option of those without another console. No online play, leaderboards, or DLC make it the weakest version by far, and if it doesn't even have stereo sound...
The Wii version has online, and leaderboards. The way they have online set up is actually better than the PS3 version. I went for it because I already had 2 PS2 controllers and figured that at some point the PS2 would lose support due to it's age.
djbeatmongrel
11-12-2007, 10:16 AM
Melf, without going on a rant i'll just say that you are ignorant.
(Has a Wii as his only next gen console and wouldnt have it any other way)
I did notice a flatness to the Guitar Hero 3 audio but it didnt dawn on me to check out my audio settings (just wanted to play the game and figured its coming out of both speakers so its no biggie). I makes perfect sense that its been mono.
Activision really slipped up on some stuff in making the game, like no offline quickplay co-op and the exclusion of the best character ever, Eddie Knox. This detail doesn't surprise me.
Icarus Moonsight
11-12-2007, 12:24 PM
So what is happening is a single (same) channel of audio is sent over both the left and right? That's not as bad as I originally thought, if true. Though it is nice to have pan variants between the two stereo channels for a more realistic sound, having a sort of Hi-Fi mono won't kill the game. Most probably wouldn't even notice. If I had a surround system... then I'd be pissed. Especially since it claims to support it and only gives you 2-5 (redundant) channels of mono with decent bass. lol
Rob2600
11-12-2007, 12:26 PM
According to this thread on the Gameplanet forums (http://www.gpforums.co.nz/thread/290985/?s=30e1fdf6e3efdc6#post4593701), the sound effects in the Wii version are in stereo, but the guitar and the band are not. Activision claims to be looking into this technical blunder.
I played games in mono for years and years, and then I got that GXTV thing. ... All of a sudden playing Star Wars Rogue Squadron was a feast for the ears. I didn't even notice the supposed tinniness of the sound in the game.
That's weird...I've never read any reviews that stated the music in Star Wars: Rogue Squadron sounded tinny. If anything, critics have written about how great it was.
Seriously. When was the last time you heard of a console game that had mono sound after the 8 bit generation?
The TurboGrafx-16 and the first model Sega Genesis.
if you want a religious experience, it was when I played Super Castlevania IV through the stereo.
Yes, that was great. It still is!
Neil Koch
11-12-2007, 12:31 PM
IIRC, you could get stereo sound from the 1st model Genesis by running a cord between the headphone jack and your stereo system. And I think the Turbobooster allowed for stereo sound from the TG16.
Back to the main topic, this is just a bad bad move. Who the hell was play-testing this game? This is some more ammo for the "GH is becoming the new Tony Hawk" camp (ie, putting out sequels far too quickly).
Chuplayer
11-12-2007, 12:45 PM
That's weird...I've never read any reviews that stated the music in Star Wars: Rogue Squadron sounded tinny. If anything, critics have written about how great it was.
I read about it in Game Informer back in the day. Maybe they got a proto cart with bad sound, but they mentioned it again in their review for that Episode 1 game that was like Rogue Squadron 1.5.
The TurboGrafx-16 and the first model Sega Genesis.
The Genesis definitely had stereo sound from its headphone jack.
Rob2600
11-12-2007, 01:32 PM
IIRC, you could get stereo sound from the 1st model Genesis by running a cord between the headphone jack and your stereo system. And I think the Turbobooster allowed for stereo sound from the TG16.
The Genesis definitely had stereo sound from its headphone jack.
Yes, of course. I meant without special accessories or workarounds. Straight out of the box, following the instruction manual, the TurboGrafx-16 and the first model Genesis output mono sound to a TV.
Anyway, back to the topic...part of me feels like as long as Guitar Hero III is fun, then who cares if the music is output in mono? On the other hand, part of me feels like Activision, RedOctane, Neversoft Entertainment, Vicarious Visions, and/or whoever else was involved should have caught this oversight.
UPDATE: According to page 2 (http://www.guitarhero.com/forums/8/forum_topics/1258?page=2), page 3 (http://www.guitarhero.com/forums/8/forum_topics/1258?page=3), and page 9 (http://www.guitarhero.com/forums/8/forum_topics/1258?page=9) of a thread on the Guitar Hero forums, the game's instruction booklet mentions sound options that aren't in the Wii version!
"Looking at the GH3 manual seems to suggest that we are missing the option for turning stereo on and off."
"I am only getting Mono Sound! There is no place to change the settings in the Sound options menu, or any other menu for that matter."
"'Did I miss anything?' 'How about a sound menu like it says in the instruction booklet?'"
This is strange. Maybe the sound options menu was accidentally left out of the Wii version. Who knows? Keep in mind, some of the sound effects are in stereo, but still, this is ridiculous.
rbudrick
11-12-2007, 02:38 PM
Wow, I hope they add that menu option to the next revision of the game! Maybe even through a downloadable patch...
-Rob
Icarus Moonsight
11-13-2007, 02:43 AM
With the small internal storage of the Wii I would rather swap the gimped disk for a fixed one. Plus, it should be there to begin with so I'd expect them to do right and eat it. Maybe they'll be more careful next time.
Lerxstnj
11-13-2007, 09:35 AM
The Wii is slowly becoming LAST GEN!
When is the Revolution coming out? :evil:
Rob2600
11-13-2007, 10:13 AM
I would rather swap the gimped disk for a fixed one. ... it should be there to begin with so I'd expect them to do right and eat it. Maybe they'll be more careful next time.
Yes, exactly. They need to learn not to rush a glitchy product out the door in time for the holiday season.
The Wii is slowly becoming LAST GEN!
When is the Revolution coming out? :evil:
Here we go with the FUD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear%2C_uncertainty_and_doubt).
TheDomesticInstitution
11-13-2007, 11:48 AM
Well... I'm gonna buy GHIII as a christmas gift, and it's either on this or on
PS2 (don't have 360 or PS3)... so it looks like maybe PS2. I need to check out a few reviews to see which is the lesser of the 2 evils first... anyone here play or own both? That mono thing is a killer though... hopefully it's fixed soon (if it can be).
djbeatmongrel
11-13-2007, 12:07 PM
Well... I'm gonna buy GHIII as a christmas gift, and it's either on this or on
PS2 (don't have 360 or PS3)... so it looks like maybe PS2. I need to check out a few reviews to see which is the lesser of the 2 evils first... anyone here play or own both? That mono thing is a killer though... hopefully it's fixed soon (if it can be).
dude, get the wii version still. good online play.
sonydefenseforce
11-13-2007, 12:45 PM
LOL GAMECUBE 1.5 DOA 11/07!!
Playstation brand will continue to widen the gap!!
TheDomesticInstitution
11-13-2007, 01:22 PM
LOL GAMECUBE 1.5 DOA 11/07!!
Playstation brand will continue to widen the gap!!
Uh-oh! What an awesome burn! If you weren't such a blatant troll account people might get offended!
Rob2600
11-13-2007, 01:50 PM
Playstation brand will continue to widen the gap!!
Actually, you're right. The PlayStation brand is continuing to widen the gap:
Xbox 360 - 13.4 million
Wii - 13.2 million
PlayStation 3 - 5.6 million
Thanks for pointing that out sonydefenseforce! :)
UniHamachi
11-13-2007, 03:04 PM
Where are those numbers from? AFAIK, the Wii overtook the XBox 360 globally back in Aug/Sep in install base and has been outselling it's competitors pretty much everywhere and all the time (except Halo 3 launch). So I'm not sure how the XBox is 200K ahead according to those numbers.
Rob2600
11-13-2007, 03:15 PM
Where are those numbers from? AFAIK, the Wii overtook the XBox 360 globally back in Aug/Sep in install base and has been outselling it's competitors pretty much everywhere and all the time (except Halo 3 launch). So I'm not sure how the XBox is 200K ahead according to those numbers.
Wikipedia.org:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation_3
Who cares? My point was to show sonydefenseforce how stupid his comment was. I should've just ignored him because now you're all riled up over something off topic.
UniHamachi
11-13-2007, 07:49 PM
I'm not riled up, I'm just curious.
I assume the SonyDefenseForce poster is a satire of Sony fanboys like the site. I think the comment was meant to be specious.
slip81
11-13-2007, 10:20 PM
I'd say wow, but i'm not actually surprised. I love my Wii, and have tons of fun with it, but really, I don't think anyone can argue with me when I say most of the third party games for the system are total shit technology wise, meaning crappy graphics, sound, features.
Which is a shame, because the thing can produce some great visuals and audio, but it seems that no one other than Nintendo cares; then again, people don't usually buy a Nintendo console for it's third party software.
Rob2600
11-15-2007, 02:25 PM
I'm not riled up, I'm just curious.
I assume the SonyDefenseForce poster is a satire of Sony fanboys like the site. I think the comment was meant to be specious.
Great, now I'm all riled up! Just kidding. I didn't realize sonydefenseforce was satarizing PlayStation fanatics. Thanks for point that out. :)
ProgrammingAce
11-15-2007, 05:16 PM
IIRC, the sony defense force is run by the same guy who does wii fanboy
UniHamachi
11-15-2007, 08:04 PM
Great, now I'm all riled up! Just kidding. I didn't realize sonydefenseforce was satarizing PlayStation fanatics. Thanks for point that out. :)
Well, it's also possible that the poster is a fanboy. Some of the PS3 fanboys don't get that the site is a goof.
My favorite part is when the site combines PS2, PS3, and PSP sales and then crows about how the "Playstation family" outsold the other consoles by separating Wii and DS sales. That's funny enough, but the comments from readers are hilariously angry. They're not in on the joke either.
The Wii version has online, and leaderboards.
Well shucks, you're right. It uses the friends code (bleh), but at least it's there.
Melf, without going on a rant i'll just say that you are ignorant.
Maybe you should go on that rant instead of, you know, making a comment without backing it up. If not, I'll just have to find a way to live without your approval. ;)
Rob2600
11-15-2007, 10:14 PM
IGN.com just posted this article:
http://wii.ign.com/articles/835/835748p1.html
"When asked about the issue, Activision confirmed that it was a known issue and that the possibility of changing the Wii audio settings still exists via a downloadable update."
djbeatmongrel
11-16-2007, 09:53 AM
Maybe you should go on that rant instead of, you know, making a comment without backing it up.
:devilish:
Well since you asked. You act as if the wii is a casual gamer only system. I'll be damned to say that I am playing the shit out of the console and NO it isn't the first party titles (besides Metriod) and virtual console games. I could have easily saved and bought a 360 or PS3 and have it gain dust due to the lack of games that I feel are worth $60 price tags (Fuck Halo 3, Master chief can bite my ball bag).
No I am not being a fanboy of Nintendo, I see the good and bad in every system, just the Wii has fit my criteria of wants out of a console so far this gen. I know there are other people in the same boat.
Also the fact you didn't take a few seconds to research you statement on the Wii not having leaderboards or online play, something that would have taken less than a minute to save you from looking like an ass was a plain obvious attempt to cut down the Wii for a supposed lack of features. http://www.guitarhero.com/accounts/217998 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/kratedigga/mattdamonapples.jpg
Just because the Wii has a large casual market does mean everyone how really plays the loving shit out of their Wii (let's not think dirty here) is a casual gamer and not all casual gamers are oblivious to things like mono sound and not all "hardcore gamers" are intelligent enough to even know what the difference is either.
If you plan on becoming a politician you'll do fine at cutting out facts to "prove" an arguement.
Thanks for letting me rant :angel:
:devilish:
Well since you asked. You act as if the wii is a casual gamer only system. I'll be damned to say that I am playing the shit out of the console and NO it isn't the first party titles (besides Metriod) and virtual console games. I could have easily saved and bought a 360 or PS3 and have it gain dust due to the lack of games that I feel are worth $60 price tags (Fuck Halo 3, Master chief can bite my ball bag).
I'm glad your anecdotal evidence totally disproves an entire year of sales data. You're right, casual gamers aren't the majority of people buying Wiis, and it's all because you own one. And the Master Chief comment wasn't fanboyish at all...
Also the fact you didn't take a few seconds to research you statement on the Wii not having leaderboards or online play, something that would have taken less than a minute to save you from looking like an ass was a plain obvious attempt to cut down the Wii for a supposed lack of features.
Want to talk about researching? How about looking two posts up at what I wrote regarding this very topic? Reading is fundamental.
Just because the Wii has a large casual market does mean everyone how really plays the loving shit out of their Wii (let's not think dirty here) is a casual gamer and not all casual gamers are oblivious to things like mono sound and not all "hardcore gamers" are intelligent enough to even know what the difference is either.
Some punctuation would really help. ;)
Have you heard any Wii owners going nuts over the fact that GH3 has mono sound? I'm sure there are a few vocal people on the GH forums (there are ALWAYS vocal people on forums), but it hasn't been made into a major issue, at least not yet.
No one's talking hardware or software sales here. This thread is about GH3 on the Wii. If the developers patch the issue (something I distinctly remember people saying the Wii wouldn't do) then that's fine, case closed. That's all that's at issue here, so please take your "Wii vs. everyone else" argument to the appropriate thread. I'm glad you're enjoying your Wii, as I'm sure millions of people are around the world. It doesn't change the point being made in the initial post of this thread though.
If you plan on becoming a politician you'll do fine at cutting out facts to "prove" an arguement.
Um, I'll keep this in mind should I ever decide to run for office. The fact of the matter is that for all your ranting, you didn't disprove a single thing I said. Is it untrue that the majority (note I said "majority" and not "all" like you implied) of Wii owners are casual gamers? Are they not the "different market" Nintendo went after and successfully found? Is it untrue that casual gamers don't buy as many gamer per year as "hardcore" gamers? Are the majority of 3rd party Wii games not quick ports and cash runs?
If you plan on countering an opinion, you'll do better by actually refuting what's being said. ;)
djbeatmongrel
11-16-2007, 09:03 PM
You said rant, I ranted. Rants are different from valid thought out arguementive replies.
I will defend my Halo comment, I think the series is trash compared to other stuff on the original Xbox and what is out for the 360. It has solid gameplay but a weak story and no real character. Thats besides the point.
Most gamers in general are not going to notice the audio issue no matter what. Unless you are an audiophile or media technophile most will not notice that the audio is Mono out put. They will just notice that its coming from all their speakers. I hate to say it but most people on average don't know that stereo isnt just the fact it comes out of 2 speakers and have no idea on the concept of panning.
Working at Gamestop and having to help people and their tech problems taught me this all too clearly and it was far from the just Wii owners.
Are the majority of 3rd party Wii games not quick ports and cash runs?
I'll say yes and no to this. Compared to the other next-gen consoles out I would say when it comes to 3rd party stuff the wii shows much more variety than the other contenders. Again this an opinion. I like simpler games a lot of times so "cash runs" may be what you'd call them but i think theres a beauty in simpler concepts that are polished. Kororinpa is a prime example of this IMO.
I don't care anymore. I'm actually going to go play my Wii.
You said rant, I ranted. Rants are different from valid thought out arguementive replies.
Well, I just figured that since you called me out on researching and defending my argument, that you would do the same.
I'll say yes and no to this. Compared to the other next-gen consoles out I would say when it comes to 3rd party stuff the wii shows much more variety than the other contenders. Again this an opinion.
I differ on this immensely, but you're entitled to your opinion.
I like simpler games a lot of times so "cash runs" may be what you'd call them but i think theres a beauty in simpler concepts that are polished. Kororinpa is a prime example of this IMO.
There's a solid difference between an original and polished concept like Kororinpa and Wii Sports and cheap cash runs like the numerous PS2 ports and Nickelodeon games. If more Wii titles made real use of the motion control, like say, RE4 does, then I'd have no issue with it.
thegardentool
11-17-2007, 03:09 AM
I will defend my Halo comment, I think the series is trash compared to other stuff on the original Xbox and what is out for the 360. It has solid gameplay but a weak story and no real character. Thats besides the point.
I must say that I have never played through the campaigns of Halo or Halo 2. I've played a couple levels of each but never did beat them. I did buy Halo 3 after playing multiplayer with a friend. I did find it to be a very good story with real characters.
I also would like to say that just because you work at Gamestop does not qualify you as a subject-matter expert. I've dealt with many morons who have claimed to know everything because they work there. They generally have no idea about computer games and very little about the more obscure console games. They also get very mad every time I tell them no I will never preorder a game. This one time an employee got very mad at me when I told her I didn't want the damn stupid code for a pet in World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade. She was very confused and started asking the other employee as soon as I was walking out the door why I didn't want it. But that's okay I remember how pissed off I was all the time when i was making the $6.50 an hour they make.
djbeatmongrel
11-17-2007, 09:05 AM
I also would like to say that just because you work at Gamestop does not qualify you as a subject-matter expert...But that's okay I remember how pissed off I was all the time when i was making the $6.50 an hour they make.
It doesn't make me an expert but working there for about 2 years working about 30 hours a week as a third key you at least get a good sampling of the general public. Also I wasn't pissed off, even for the shitty pay i loved my job there outside of the standard BS involved with the practices their. Nothing made me happier than being able to genuinely help someone then have them come back and tell me thanks for a game suggestion or advice on games overall.
Anyways back on topic. Fuck mono sound.
Rob2600
12-06-2007, 11:42 PM
Activision told IGN it is working on the Wii Guitar Hero III audio problem and it plans to have a fix available by early 2008.
"We recently became aware that some consumers have not been able to enjoy the full audio output in the Nintendo Wii version of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. We are currently working with Nintendo and are planning to issue an improved audio experience in future versions of the game," said Activision spokeswoman Rhy-Ming Poon. "We expect to have re-mastered discs available by early 2008 and we will be offering consumers replacement discs at no cost once they become available. We thank all of our customers for their support and patience."
http://wii.ign.com/articles/840/840066p1.html
I give Activision credit for admitting the problem and actually fixing it.
GrandAmChandler
01-15-2008, 09:31 AM
Replacement Discs now available via online form!
http://www.activisiongameexchange.com/
-GAC-
Rob2600
01-15-2008, 10:02 AM
Replacement Discs now available via online form!
http://www.activisiongameexchange.com/
-GAC-
Thanks for the link, but the replacement discs aren't actually available yet. This is the Guitar Hero III Wii Replacement Disc Pre-Registration Website.
"We will be offering Wii consumers who have Dolby capabilities free replacement discs in early 2008 once the discs become available. To pre-register for your free replacement disc, please fill out the following information. We will email you once the free replacement discs are available."
This must Activision's way of gauging how many replacement discs it'll need to create and how much it'll need to spend on postage.
rbudrick
01-15-2008, 10:34 AM
Sucks you have to give up your OMGRare mono-only disc to get the fixed stereo one, but I really didn't expect any different.
-Rob
Rob2600
01-23-2008, 12:08 PM
Activision's pre-registration web site is still up. According to IGN's Wii-k in Review podcast, the Guitar Hero III replacement discs will be ready some time in February.
Flack
02-21-2008, 07:49 AM
I pre-registered and got my envelope to return GHIII in the mail yesterday.
joshnickerson
03-21-2008, 10:30 PM
Apparently Activision is now shipping out a free guitar faceplate to those who have gotten replacement discs.
http://gonintendo.com/?p=38495
Dolphin, now that was a weird Activision music/sounds type-of- game.
smokehouse
03-22-2008, 09:54 AM
Very cool...I can't wait to get the fixed version...I know it's an obvious statement but this game is all about music...listening to it in mono really sucks.
What if you're a Sony or Nintendo defender and you're female, does that make you a fanGIRL?