Okay, so I recently had the opportunity to get some real hands on time with both versions of Rock Band for the PS3 and Xbox 360 and here is how it breaks out. Both games are for all extensive purposes identical for either system, you can form a band or play solo tours or just rip up some quick play with friends. Each system needs an update to run the game before you even start, the PS3 version requires the latest system update as well in order to communicate with the Rock Band servers and upload your scores. Graphically the two versions are also identical, but lets face facts you aren’t getting Rock Band to look at the visuals, your playing for the music and both versions pack a punch.
As for the peripherals, this is where the two versions differ a bit. The drums and the mic are identical between the two systems, but the Fender Stratocasters are different. The Xbox 360 version has a wired Fender while the PS3 version has a wireless version, now a lot of you like me would probably give the edge off the bat to the wireless version, but I think I prefer the wired. The wireless version requires you to have a small dongle hanging from your PS3 and also requires 3 AA batteries in order to run, the biggest offense on the wireless is that in order to change out the batteries you need to have a screwdriver! What engineer thought this would be a good idea?
The other major difference is that the Xbox 360 version comes with a powered USB hub, which is pretty cool except you need to plug it in for the instruments to work, not quite sure why the 360 instruments can’t just draw power from the machine like the PS3 version? I am guessing that it would probably burn out the unit in some way.
Rock Band is tons of fun, especially with three friends in the same room playing and mocking each other. One of my biggest frustrations with the game on either system is the new guitar, the old Guitar Hero guitar is very different. If you are very accustomed to the old guitars, making the transition will be tough. The buttons on the Fender are lower and the strum bar is a bit harder to use, I have experienced a lot of problems trying to hit multiple notes in succession, this never happened with the old controller.
All in all the two version of Rock Band are great, the Xbox 360 version provides you achievement points while the PS3 version gives you a wireless guitar. Not sure why they wouldn’t make all of the peripherals wireless but hey, I guess they have to save something for Rock Band 2 right?
3 Comments
Write a Comment»I prefer the wireless guitar over the wired. Its not that hard to use a screwdriver for the battery door. When the 360 gets the wireless guitars next year, it will be the same way. The 360 version comes with a USB hub because it only has 2 USB ports on the front. You can’t power 3 to 4 things well from one port, which is why it needs to be plugged in
My wireless gives me too many problems, seems like the strum bar just doesnt register correctly. I had no problems playing with the old GH controller but when I try to use the Fender it just felt odd and when I used the wireless I can barely finish a song even after calibrating it a few times.
Sounds like you have a busted guitar. Mine works great. I’ve been 98% or better on every song on Hard so far on guitar solo career. There was a big problem with the first couple waves of guitars for both systems where the strum bar wasn’t recognizing down strums as well.