Problems with a Guitar Hero III Controller

Wireless Support

• While the Les Paul Guitar is wireless, only gamers who own a Wii or a Xbox 360 are able to use the guitar without any additional hardware. Gamers who own a Playstation 2 or Playstation 3 require an additional accessory that attaches to their console in order to register the guitar. While this accessory is included with the guitar, it means that owners of these consoles needed to have open USB slots on their system. PC owners are not given a wireless guitar, but instead have to use an updated wired guitar from Guitar Hero II.

Lag

• Guitar Hero III was the first game in the series to feature wireless guitars. The problem with wireless accessories is that there can be a split second of lag time, that while not detrimental in most games, can cause problems in a game where notes must be played within an exact time frame. Gamers can go in game to fix this lag, but any time the game was being played on a different television, these settings will need to be readjusted.

Detachable Neck

• The Les Paul Guitar for Guitar Hero III features a detachable neck, a feature that is included to make transporting the guitar less of a hassle. However, upon release, this detachable neck led to a widely reported issue where the game would not register notes being played. CNet reported that ht problem "has to do with the contact points on the wireless guitars' detachable neck. The result? That some measurable percentage of the time, the buttons don't respond as they should." The only solution to this problem is to return the guitar to the store where it was purchased.

Strum Bar

• Gamers who are using the Les Paul Guitar for Guitar Hero III strum out notes by flicking the guitar's strum bar either upwards or downwards. As gamers play the game more and more, the flicking of the bar will eventually begin to experience trouble registering the notes being played. When this occurs, gamers can either attempt to strum in the opposite direction, but even that will lead to the guitar wearing down, requiring a replacement.

Button Registering

• Each of the four buttons on the guitar work independently of one another. These four buttons are all susceptible to dirt and grime, causing each one to have issues registering notes, becoming difficult to push or stuck in one position. While each button can be removed and cleaned, when the buttons stop registering in game, gamers will not be able to play Guitar Hero III.