Still plugged: Guitar Hero II 360 guitar wired, only Microsoft does wireless

Although we mentioned long before that the guitar with the 360 Guitar Hero II is wired – and dang it, the press pics kinda gave the game away, didn’t it? – it seems that people were still holding out hope that either in the end, post-gold, the guitar will be unplugged, or a future Xbox 360 accessory from RedOctane will be wireless.

IGN reports of RedOctane’s announcement that (a) Guitar Hero II is gold, and (b) the guitar is still wired. Oh, and (c), make this a definite (c), the implication that, to quote IGN, “Unfortunately, Microsoft has proven itself highly territorial about licensing wireless accessories for the 360, and will currently allow only its own accessories to rock the 2.4Ghz.”

After all, a wireless guitar for the wireless 360 really did make sense, did it? IGN points out that this will make other third-party accessory manufacturers “unlikely” to produce any wireless options without official Microsoft support (and only God knows what that will take) and risk launching their products unlicensed – and Microsoft Support will wash their hands off of said products (remember the Nyko Intercooler?).

For console rockers out there, the only thing this means is they better pray RedOctane’s adding an extra ten feet or so of cable, or that tether is really going to cramp people’s style.

Although we mentioned long before that the guitar with the 360 Guitar Hero II is wired – and dang it, the press pics kinda gave the game away, didn’t it? – it seems that people were still holding out hope that either in the end, post-gold, the guitar will be unplugged, or a future Xbox 360 accessory from RedOctane will be wireless.

IGN reports of RedOctane’s announcement that (a) Guitar Hero II is gold, and (b) the guitar is still wired. Oh, and (c), make this a definite (c), the implication that, to quote IGN, “Unfortunately, Microsoft has proven itself highly territorial about licensing wireless accessories for the 360, and will currently allow only its own accessories to rock the 2.4Ghz.”

After all, a wireless guitar for the wireless 360 really did make sense, did it? IGN points out that this will make other third-party accessory manufacturers “unlikely” to produce any wireless options without official Microsoft support (and only God knows what that will take) and risk launching their products unlicensed – and Microsoft Support will wash their hands off of said products (remember the Nyko Intercooler?).

For console rockers out there, the only thing this means is they better pray RedOctane’s adding an extra ten feet or so of cable, or that tether is really going to cramp people’s style.