Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Guitar Hero 5 comfortably ahead of The Beatles: Rock Band photo

Get ready to be aggravated with consumers around the world because Activision is claiming that Guitar Hero 5 is comfortably outselling The Beatles: Rock Band. If you take a look at our reviews of each game one can clearly see that the better game is not the game that is selling the best. Plus, IT'S THE BEATLES! Now, GH5 did have the ever popular guitar/game package that The Beatles did not, and the series also has a larger install base (people still don't seem to understand that you can use GH controllers for Rock Band, and vica versa), but that doesn't excuse GH5 outselling The Beatles four to one in the U.S. and nine to one in other markets during launch week as Activision is saying it did. Hear that UK? We like the fab four more than you.

In some news that won't make you shake your fist at the sky and shout "You damn kids don't know what music is!", "All You Need Is Love" has broken the record for the fastest selling Rock Band song ever. It took the Beatles classic only two days. No numbers were released on how quickly the 360 exclusive DLC actually sold, but Microsoft says that it has raised "tens of thousands of dollars" for Doctors Without Borders with at least $17,600 of that coming from the one-of-a-kind Beatles 360. If you haven't yet helped the children of the world live fuller and healthier lives by downloading the song, don't worry, the song's proceeds will continue to be donated to Doctors Without Borders so you still have a chance to be a good person and entertain yourself at the same time.

So, to wrap these two stories together, here's the plan: Go buy The Beatles: Rock Band and support a great game over a not as good game. Then, once you've got it, support a great cause by downloading "All You Need Is Love."


Continue: More Sales stories





prev
next 50 comments

83 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:03
Magesx
Well, GH5 was actually a really well done game, so yeah. And not everyone likes the Beatles enough to spend $60 on a game with 45 songs.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:04
Jon B
I don't like the Beatles.
I thus have no interest in this game.

Guitar Hero 5 has bands I like.
Thus I am not interested in that because I already own those songs on Rock Band 2.
bluexy's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:04
bluexy
Guitar Hero 5 is a great game yo! Don't have a Cowzilla. urrrrrghghhh
madfigs's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:05
madfigs
I'm so far behind on both series that I'm just now considering picking up Rock Band 2... Ringo and zombie Cobain will both have to wait :/
fundando's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:06
fundando
Well that's a 3 to 1 here so far(gh5 brb). I am comfortably enjoying the Beatles Rock Band.
Gavin's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:07
Gavin
That link to Edge doesn't work.
Tarvu's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:08
Tarvu
Given the money I would buy The Beatles: Rock Band. Guitar Hero 5 has no Beatles songs strangely enough...
SovietMudkipz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:09
SovietMudkipz
That first paragraph is the most sophisticated, unbiased thing I've ever read. /sarcasm

TBRB is a 45 song game based on one band. It's a spinoff cash in whether you like it or not. You couldn't have possibly expected it to do better than GH5.

And on the "larger install base" note, Rock Band has existed for years now, and is a multi-million selling franchise with four (soon to be 5) games. That excuse doesn't cut it anymore.
Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:09
Usedtabe
Uh-oh. Gene Eric is gonna come trollan!
SovietMudkipz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:11
SovietMudkipz
Also, just because you like one franchise better doesn't mean the other should be condemned. That's obnoxious fanboyism.
Roek's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:17
Roek
I bought both Beatles: Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 and I love 'em both, except for the ability to use celebrity likenesses for all songs in GH5... but that isn't a game-killing feature for me.

Also, I bought All You Need Is Love, too, so I'm good to go!
vecha's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:18
vecha
I'm not at all surprised...did anyone really expect RBTB to outsell GH5?

It's a game with only one band...that may not appeal to everyone.
Matthew Razak's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:24
Matthew Razak
I'm actually a Beatles fanboy...
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:32
Magnalon
I'd get both, but Beatles:RB suffers from the fact that if you don't like The Beatles, you won't be getting it.

I hope it wins out in overall sales once the GH5 momentum dies down a bit.
Hoss's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:45
Hoss
yeah as silly as it is that when guitar hero puts songs from other artists when they do exclusive titles dedicated to whatever band, it does however keep it fresh. and though the beatles have transcended as the years progressed i just cant seem myself being challenged by the game
xaliqen's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:46
xaliqen
If any doctors in California need boarders, I am available so long as the rent is reasonable.
Always Ten Feet Tall's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 17:54
Always Ten Feet Tall
guitar hero 5 is an actually great game. though i do love the beatles so i'll be getting in the future.
Clarke's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:01
Clarke
Activision makes great games.
CitizenErased's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:02
CitizenErased
Awwww God dammit!
I really didn't think this was gonna happen...I wish I hadn't bought Guitar Hero 5 as well as Beatles Rock Band now.

Cockboxes.
Zanch's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:03
Zanch
As someone who couldn't care less about GH or RB, I still have to say that this is a horribly biased and unprofessional piece of "journalism". Stop being a fanboy twat or get another job.
Clarke's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:05
Clarke
@Zanch

I agree. They're the same damn game.
Hriki's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:13
Hriki
I do not care for the Beatles, so I didn't get the game. I do care for a lot of the songs on GH5, and they have actually done a magnificent job with the game this time around. Usually GH is very robotic and lacking feeling, but this one has that in droves.

Also, what is with the ludicrously large bias in this? That's not fucking journalism! Some blogger's are useless! This is why a lot of big companies don't take gaming 'blogs' seriously most of the time :(
ChillyBilly's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:14
ChillyBilly
I don't know, but I've always felt that The Beatles were one of the most overrated bands of all time. I'm not saying that they are bad i'm just saying that maybe they aren't as good as the 250.00 price tag says they should be.
timtheterrible's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:18
timtheterrible
OMG bad journalisms!
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:25
John B
I love the Beatles, even though all but their last original album are before my time, but I'm not about to spend $250 for 45 songs + gear, and I don't have any compatible equipment (since I doubt that Guitar Hero's Wii equipment will work with it).

And you people who are bitching about journalistic integrity really need to STFU. Dtoid has always been closer to a blog than anything else. And at least no one here is anywhere near as biased as that idiot Summa was/is. This is still a much better place without that prick.
Poopface Morty's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:27
Poopface Morty
"And at least no one here is anywhere near as biased as that idiot Summa was/is. "

Holy shitballs, truer words never have been said.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:28
EternalDeathSlayer
Could have seen that from a mile away.

Teenagers don't really like The Beatles that much.
matrixdude171's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:36
matrixdude171
Ugh, is this an advertisement article?
Loogibot's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:38
Loogibot
Well, GH5 is probably the best GH since GH2 (and hopefully the last) IMO. The Beatles RB is great, and any fan of the Fab Four should get it (I'd get it), but that doesn't make it an overall better game, also IMO.

@EternalDeathSlayer: Some teenagers don't really like The Beatles that much.
Zeta Crossfire's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:41
Zeta Crossfire
Who cares if its the beetles? I really don't think the beetles have wider spread OMG appeal
Zeta Crossfire's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:42
Zeta Crossfire
(didnt mean to post) anymore. I just graduated but i can almost guarantee 95% of my graduating class did not listen to them.
Infininja's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:54
Infininja
Visa versa?

And you stated yourself how quickly it accomplished being the fastest selling Rock Band song ever. Two days.
kingtobo's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 18:57
kingtobo
Could have seen this coming from a mile away. TB:RB could be the greatest music game ever but it doesn't matter when you limit sales to fans of a single band.
DeadPlasmaCell's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:00
DeadPlasmaCell
I like The Beatles, but not enough to spend $60 on the game so I just rented it from GameFly. Its pretty decent actually, but I still prefer GH5 over it so GH5 got my money.
xaliqen's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:03
xaliqen
I don't like the Beatles, but I HATE Bobby Kotick.

I guess nobody's getting my money...
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:04
EternalDeathSlayer
True, some teenagers, not all.

I apologize for the blanket statement.

But I would imagine there are more that do not like The Beatles than there are that do.
xaliqen's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:09
xaliqen
Bobby Kotick is laughing all the way to the bank right now, btw.
triumphofhearts's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:19
triumphofhearts
@Loogibot - "hopefully the last"? - Having a LOL there aren't you? They'll pump them out as long as people have fingers. Sales will decline, but they'll always be an audience.

-

I have RB:TB and generally prefer the feel of the Rock Band series. In saying that though, I own every GH to date and will buy GH5 within the next few weeks. As bad as it sounds, I AM THE AUDIENCE.

I bought All You Need Is Love the day before I got the game by the way.
Gene Eric's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:24
Gene Eric
Tsk. If gamers were a bit smarter, they avoid the horsecrap that is GH5 and Activision. Then again, if they were smart, a certain mediocre sci-fi FPS series wouldn't be as overly popular as it should. ^___^
Gene Eric's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:28
Gene Eric
@triumphofhearts
RB series feels better. HMX knows how to make you feel as if you are playing the instruments. Neversoft makes it into a note frenzy.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:49
EternalDeathSlayer
Gene Eric: Was that necessary? I mean seriously, was there any reason to bring what I am guess you mean is Halo into this conversation?

You just offended a ton of gamers just because you disagree with them about one game. What a nice guy.

Also, RB feeling better is your opinion, even though I agree with it. You shouldn't talk like it's the word of God.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:49
EternalDeathSlayer
** "What I am guessing" you mean is Halo

Excuse my typos.
Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:53
Usedtabe
@Gene Eric: My prophecy(earlaier)came true! The great troll Gene Eric has arrived!
Gene Eric's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 19:58
Gene Eric
@Usedtabe *Sigh* I'm not a troll. And learn to spell earlier. ^__^

@EternalDeathSlayer I didn't say it was Halo.I mean it could be, or not. ^__^
Gene Eric's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 20:02
Gene Eric
@EternalDeathSlayer
Ever since HMX no longer worked on GH, it declined in quality. Neversoft just can't recapture the magic. It all went to RB. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Just ask any gamer which is the better series, 70% will say Rock Band.
Why? Because Activision milked GH and it just isn't as good as RB with its constant DLCs. So how could i have offended gamers when i'm saying what they're saying?
igorponweed's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 20:22
igorponweed
Looks like Guitar Hero is Bigger than Jesus. :P
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 20:23
Xzyliac
GH5 was the first decent GH since Harmonix left. I dare say they deserve every sale they make this year.

However TB:RB was a completely different experience. I haven't touched GH5 yet since it came out and I don't plan to. For the record U am a Beatlesmaniac so that may factor in there too.

But really this news surprises no one. But unlike past years I'm not upset over it. GH5 was pretty fuckin' fun. The charting has improved by lightyears.
TheTaj's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 20:25
TheTaj
who cares? The Beatles Rock Band is waaay better than that other piece of trash that shits all over dead people.
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 20:33
Monodi
in other news Madden 10 is selling more than Braid, THE HORROR!
Gene Eric's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/19/2009 20:40
Gene Eric
@TheTaj

Agreed. GH5 disrespects dead people, even though RB:Beatles has dead people, they don't disrespect it like GH5
prev next 50 comments

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 

   Got news?   tips@destructoid.com   |   Dtoid Twitter

New Videos

more videos


Reviews & Previews
BioShock 2 review
Dante's Inferno review
Chime review
Hustle Kings review
iPhone Review Round-up: January review
more reviews
Dawn of War II Chaos Rising
Metro 2033
A trip to the racetracks Days of Thunder Arcade
Double the pleasure, double the fun with Darwinia+
Wizarding world in plastic Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4
more previews


- The Dtoid Army is 56742 strong -

Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

Call for entries: the Areas of my Expertise

New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide


 Originals
Jim Sterling: How Aliens are blatantly better than Predators





















More Destructoid Originals




We are Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief
Niero
Founder, Big Boss
Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Dale North
News Editor
Rey Gutierrez
Destructoid Video EIC
Anthony Burch
Features Editor
Brad Nicholson
Managing Editor
Tom Fronczak Colette Bennett
Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
Conrad
Zimmerman
Chad Concelmo
Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
Brad Rice Jordan Devore
Will Maddock Matthew Razak
Josh Tolentino
Joseph Leray
Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
     
  Adam Dork
Daniel Lingen
Hollie Bennett
Joe Burling
Mikey Turvey






 
 
  get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
contribute a news tip
suggest a feature
be a guest editor
support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meetup+play online
seriously

about Destructoid
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap
our network

Tomopop
Japanator
Despingation?




Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006