Report: Activision Seeking 'Compensation' For Rock Band Compatibility

In the latest volley between Harmonix and Activision regarding Guitar Hero III controller compatibility in the PS3 version of Rock Band, a new report quotes an Activision spokesperson as saying the company believes it should be "compensated for the use of our technology." While the Xbox 360 guitar peripheral operates normally on that console's version of Rock Band, PS3 owners have as yet been unable to use the controller, and, with no standalone Rock Band guitars yet in retail channels, have been unable to easily form full four-player groups. Earlier this month, Harmonix released a statement accusing Activision of blocking an already-complete patch that would fix the problem. Activision fired back that Harmonix 'declined offers' to allow the use of the controller. Now, in a new report on the matter from newspaper the Boston Globe, an Activision spokesperson has said that any agreement would have to include payment to the publisher, adding, "We believe we should be compensated for the use of our technology." The report also quotes a Harmonix spokesperson echoing its original statement that the developer sees the matter as seeking common ground beneficial to the end user, concluding, "We are really and truly not looking at this from the financial standpoint. We are looking at this from the consumer standpoint."