Hey Infendo readers and Nintendo lovers, it’s Harmonix here, guest writing for the Infendo editorial gang.

Guess what? We really do hate you. We didn’t think your little system was any good when it came out in November 2006, and we thought it was rubbish when we released Rock Band for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 last year, so we ignored you.

Then we sat on our hands for six months and raked in profit from our overpriced DLC. It was all good fun. Until we noticed that Guitar Hero 3 wiped the floor with us! Especially on the Wii! My my my, we fumbled that one.

So here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re going to release the PS2 version with a bunch of white spray painted drum sets and gimp online play. It’s all Nintendo’s fault, of course. Oh, and then we’re going to say you guys get five exclusive songs that are actually downloadable tracks Xbox and PS3 owners have had for a while.

Cheers, and thanks for your $160! $170! Suckers!

I’ve played quite a few online-enabled Wii games in all their varying degrees. Elebits with its basic WiiConnect24 features; Mario Strikers Charged, which is perhaps one of the most underrated Wii games, especially online; Medal of Honor Heroes 2 which lovingly bypasses friend codes like other EA games; Metroid Prime 3 (kidding); Guitar Hero 3; and most recently, Super Smash Bros. Brawl which suffers from some pesky lag and inability to currently “Play With Anyone,” but is still a giggle fest when playing friend matches.

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Prediction? Guitar Hero IV will be one of the biggest Wii games of 2008. Call me crazy, but I have a hunch.

Activision hasn’t specified a release date, and despite the occasional rumor, we haven’t heard any definitive word on possible song inclusions. But we’ve played through each track on Guitar Hero III about a thousand times, and since speculation always makes the wait more fun, what better time than now to discuss which songs we’d like to see in the next Guitar Hero?

Join us at the Infendo roundtable and listen in as we elders deliberate on the ten songs we’d like to see added to Guitar Hero IV, complete with links for YouTube samples of each song for your enjoyment.

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It seems Activision actually worked overtime on the Wii “mono-drama,” shipping replacement Guitar Hero 3 Wii disks a bit earlier than expected. Infendo reader John G. sends a tip from the bayou this evening:

“My new Guitar Hero 3 disk came in today, a little more than a week after I sent it in. Sounds great on my 5.1 system. Props to Activision for a fast turn around.”

He sent photographic evidence to support his claim. Thanks, John!

As first reported by Blake on Infendo in his Nov. 7 review of Guitar Hero 3, Activision shipped the Wii version of the popular rhythm game without stereo sound. Though the game played “like a headliner,” Blake pointed out it sounded “like an opening act.”

One month later, Activision addressed the issue in a statement released to IGN. Although the publisher announced it would offer free replacement disks to consumers beginning in “early 2008,” no explanation was given for its inexplicably “mono-riffic” error.

According to NPD data, the Wii version of Guitar Hero 3 was the third best-selling game in North America in January, behind Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (360) and Wii Play (Wii) respectively, moving an additional 240,000 copies. Activision has sold 1.8 million copies of Guitar Hero 3 for Wii worldwide since it released in Q4 2007.

I just wanted to let everyone know that Activision issued another update to the Guitar Hero 3 mono problem today.

Remember, if you want a new disc, you’re going to be without GH3 for a week or two.

The full email after the jump. (more…)

Activision says, “We wanted to provide you with an update regarding the status of the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wii replacement discs. The game has been approved by Nintendo and is currently in manufacturing. We expect to have the replacement discs available in February. Once we have the discs, we will contact you and then proactively send you a prepaid return envelop with a game exchange claim form. You should return the completed form with your current copy of the game. Once we receive a completed claim form and game, we will send you the replacement disc.”

Tipster Jeff says, “YAY finally, but I don’t like how you have to send them you’re disk first before they’ll send you the new one… Can I go without GH3 for a week…. I’m not sure.”

Blake says, “bitter sweet.”

For more than a decade, it has been common knowledge within the gaming populace that third-parties struggle to sell their games on Nintendo consoles. For one reason or another, the Nintendo audience generally doesn’t respond to mass sellers like Tony Hawk, Need For Speed or Call of Duty.

This tradition hasn’t changed much on Wii. Madden sales have bombed two years in a row, and even the impressive, Wii-focused Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 has been received with minimal fanfare.

But it has finally happened. A mainstream game published by a third party company has achieved massive success on Wii. RedOctane’s Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock has sold 1.1 million copies in America alone since launching on October 28.

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From the horse’s mouth:

We recently became aware that some consumers have not been able to enjoy the full audio output in the 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. 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… Customers based in North America wanting to pre-register for a free replacement disc can call (866) 780-8286 from 8:00am-8:00pm EST, Monday-Friday, and we will notify you once the replacement discs are available… If you wish to be notified by email as the information on this page is updated, please click the ‘Notify Me by Email if this Answer is Updated’ button.

Stereo, GET!

Even the mighty Rome fell, eventually. So too will EA, I think, although not in quite as catastophic a fashion as the great decendents of Romulus and Reemus.

But eventually, nonetheless.

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“Downloadable content for the Wii is something we are working very hard on getting in place for the new year,” a Red Octane official said in an email to Nintencast.

“There is no definite timetable in place but we are hoping it will be soon.”

How about a fix for mono-only sound while you’re at it?

Join me online if you can (review here).

My friend code: 326532644957

Activision got lucky this time. If it weren’t for the rocking gameplay of Guitar Hero III, the audiophile in me would advise against the $90 purchase on principle alone — don’t ship a music game with mono-only sound while in game mode. Inexplicably, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for Wii does precisely that. Fortunately, there’s an abundance of saving graces.

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Here’s the ordered setlist kindly compiled by Video Games Blogger. I’ll see you guys online next week to melt some freakin’ faces off, friend codes be damned.

UPDATE: Knights of Cydonia by Muse (one of the greatest songs ever recorded by man btw) looks insanely hard on expert mode. I. Can’t. Wait. For. This. Game.

Tier 1: Starting Out Small
1. Slow Ride (as made famous by Foghat)
2. Talk Dirty to Me (by Poison)
3. Hit Me with Your Best Shot (as made famous by Pat Benetar)
4. Story of My Life (as made famous by Social Distortion)
5. Encore: Rock and Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
6. Co-op Encore: Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)

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