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Home Guitar Hero updates

The Guitar Hero franchise has made over one billion dollars

2:46 PM on 01.21.2008, Hamza CTZ Aziz 63 comments

     Guitar Hero

Looks like Activision wasn't going to sit around and let Rock Band take in all the glory of selling a ton of music. Activision just sent over a Press Release announcing that the entire Guitar Hero franchise has made over one billion dollars in North America within 26 months. They also wanted to remind everyone that Guitar Hero III was one of the best selling titles of 2007. Further more, five million songs have been downloaded within ten weeks of the games release too.

Mighty impressive numbers for sure. So Dtoiders, which one do you prefer? Rock Band, or Guitar Hero? Hit the jump for the Press Release and to commence your flame wars. 

[Editor's note: This fire horns image will be pretty much used for all my rock music related posts. You know it's awesome.

Guitar Hero(R) Franchise Surpasses $1 Billion in North America in
Record 26 Months, According to the NPD Group

Calendar Year North American Retail Sales for Guitar Hero(R) III:
        Legends of Rock(TM) Set New Industry Record


SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) --  Activision,
Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) today announced that the Guitar Hero(R) franchise
has set an industry record, surpassing $1 billion in North American
retail sales in just 26 months, according to The NPD Group.
Additionally, Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock(TM) was the #1 title
in units and dollars for calendar year 2007, making it the #1
best-selling video game of all time in a single calendar year.
Since its initial release in fall 2005, the Guitar Hero franchise has
sold in excess of 14 million units in North America alone, according
to The NPD Group. In 10 weeks since the game's launch, consumers have
already downloaded more than five million songs.
"Guitar Hero is one of the biggest brands and one of the most powerful
distribution platforms in all of entertainment today," said Michael
Griffith, President  and Chief Executive Officer, Activision
Publishing, Inc.  "Guitar Hero's popularity with broad audiences is a
confirmation that video games have become a true mass medium."
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a
leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive
entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted
net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the
Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about
Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide
Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

Next page: More Activision stories




MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 01/21/2008 14:45
Rock Band, is there any other choice?
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 01/21/2008 14:46
Neither. Real Guitar Gods rock it out on a Strat.
Video Cognito's Avatar
Video Cognito at 01/21/2008 14:46
Rock Band, Robot Jones!
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 01/21/2008 14:46
Rock Band is clearly superior, though I can understand liking Guitar Hero III, you know, if you're a clone or a pussy.
Guagloves's Avatar
Guagloves at 01/21/2008 14:48
HOLY SHIT. Thats alot of money.
If someone made a nuke/bomb that exploded like that I think I would crap myself.
topgeargorilla's Avatar
topgeargorilla at 01/21/2008 14:50
for guitars: Guitar Hero

Everything else: Rock Band

oh, and I absolutaly detest the gems and the timing for the hammer ons and pull offs for rock band. and the guitar? absolutaly unplayable. Use the Guitar Hero guitars.
VWGTI's Avatar
VWGTI at 01/21/2008 14:53
Rock Band is the better of the two. Wish the controller was better though.
Ichigo Style's Avatar
Ichigo Style at 01/21/2008 14:56
@Topgeargorilla - for fake guitars: Guitar Hero
Fix'd
Look at Reptilia on GH3, they even messed up a simple part where you have play the chords before the guitar exposure (Guitar hero has Chord-Chord-Single-Chord-Chord just to be XCORE)

Guitar Hero just takes it a bit too over the top for me, I say this being a guitar player.
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 01/21/2008 14:56
Guitar Hero 3 has much better hardware and a better soundtrack (read: no Fall Out Boy). Rock Band is unplayable right now for me (read: broken guitar).

GH3 FTW!
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 01/21/2008 14:59
TheStripe needs to STFUAJPG
DanZuke's Avatar
DanZuke at 01/21/2008 15:00
GH3 sucks, and you know it.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 01/21/2008 15:04
I can't stand most of the crappy bands in Guitar Hero 3. I mean, they have Muse which is great... oh and Heart... and some old rock... but I don't like crap like Metallica, Rob Zombie, Slipknot, and Godsmack/whatever the hell crap it is.

Rock Band has The Police, David Bowie, Oasis (tomorrow), Radiohead (best band in the world), Garbage, Bon Jovi, The Monkees and a sleigh of other great bands.

So I definitely think Rock band is better even though I really love the Guitar Hero franchise too.
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 01/21/2008 15:07
Guitar Hero 3 on the PC because you can get custom songs. But on console, Rock Band wins by a landslide.
akaryan18's Avatar
akaryan18 at 01/21/2008 15:10
I like both pretty much the same. being a drummer I don't get off rockband much. And I think you're all missing the fact that you can tap out solos in rockband, which is fun as hell. It just needs more hard rock/metal songs. i like the guitar a tad better too, its a little weird at first but the strat becomes more comfortable to sit down and hold over the les paul, mainly because its a tad bigger and the body style is easier to hold on your lap. I just wish it was made out of the same plastic
Evo's Avatar
Evo at 01/21/2008 15:10
I haven't played either, but that is a shitload of money in a short space of time!
Calla's Avatar
Calla at 01/21/2008 15:14
rock band, so much fun.
Aertyr's Avatar
Aertyr at 01/21/2008 15:15
@Holyetthe line

"Metallica, Rob Zombie, Slipknot, and Godsmack/whatever the hell crap it is."

Honestly , how can you NOT like Metallica? Like really, that's impossible.
binny101's Avatar
binny101 at 01/21/2008 15:15
Both are good at what they do, but overall, Rock Band is much more fun. Guitar Hero feels like a game, arcade style perhaps, while Rock Band seems like more of a simulation, be it, a game still. If all you want to do is play guitar by yourself, get Guitar Hero and have fun. If you know people who you want to play with, or if you favor variety in nor only the instruments, but a much wider array of music, go with Rock Band.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 01/21/2008 15:15
I bought Guitar Hero III at the end of October. I bought Rock Band in the middle of December and have not touched GH III since. Case closed.
crowebert's Avatar
crowebert at 01/21/2008 15:16
Rock Band has a better track list than GH3. (And it is GH3 that the comparison should be made with, as GH and GH2 were not made by Activision in the slightest.)

Rock Band has a better guitar controller that looks and feels more like the real deal (effects switch + solo buttons = fun). This point is moot however, if you decide you need a big clicky strum paddle and giant Fisher-Price buttons that your inept sausage fingers can manage.

Rock Band has drums. And singing.

Guitar Hero 3 has better guitar solos and mostly-instrumental tracks (ie. Cliffs of Dover and Black Magic Woman).

So basically RB takes it, unless all you care about is a more toy-like controller or masturbatory fretwork. Then I recommend GH3 for you.
Sheir's Avatar
Sheir at 01/21/2008 15:19
Rock Band, for one simple reason:

Cowbell.
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 01/21/2008 15:19
Guitar hero for solo play and better guitar, rock band for parties.

@holyetheline

Please tell me you didn't include The Monkees in your list of good music. Didn't they lipsync their songs and not play their instruments?
supremeFronk's Avatar
supremeFronk at 01/21/2008 15:20
anybody play a "real" guitar anymore?
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 01/21/2008 15:26
I've never played Rock Band. I think it would be better, but there is no way I'm paying that much money for something that I can't fit in my home and will most likely only touch when my friends or relatives are around.

I think, in my opinion, (I can have that, right?) Guitar Hero is the better one for me. It's not extremely expensive, and we do have fun as group when someone brings a spare guitar.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 01/21/2008 15:27
....My comment contradicts me...

What I meant to say was I understand how someone might find it to be better.
Dhaos's Avatar
Dhaos at 01/21/2008 15:27
RB is Awsome for the Drums and Drums only... the Guitar sux on RB. GH is for hard core Guitar shredding and it kicks pure ass at what it does, theres not much better the dueling DF on expert and drink'in

Recap RB for Dums GH for guitar.
pierrerodriguez's Avatar
pierrerodriguez at 01/21/2008 15:34
gh2 is better than gh3. i haven't played rock band, but i'm a drummer, so i'd imagine it would be fun, but i own drums, so i don't need the game.
Ghaleon R's Avatar
Ghaleon R at 01/21/2008 15:35
Guitar Hero 3 has been placed in the 360 exactly once since Rock Band came out, and that was to be underwhelmed by a free, but uninspired Halo track.

As for the guitar, I'd have smashed it by now if not for the fact that it's just more pathetic to see it sitting there with rubber bands holding the neck contacts together.
Harknett's Avatar
Harknett at 01/21/2008 15:36
@Holyetheline

I dislike the bands you dislike but are seriously justifying it with Bon Jovi and The Monkees? That's fucking absurd.

Anyways, GH for guitar, RB for everything else including bass (using the GH controller)
falinter's Avatar
falinter at 01/21/2008 15:40
If I had to chose: Rockband.
But if I ever get the inkling to hammer-on for 5mins straight: GH#

They can coexist... for now.
F Whipple's Avatar
F Whipple at 01/21/2008 15:44
Guitar Hero III has Cliffs of Dover = win
SWE3tMadness's Avatar
SWE3tMadness at 01/21/2008 15:44
Heh. Activision is the new Dr. Evil.

The problem with RB is that while yes, it is more fun, and yes, it has better songs, it still costs 200$ to get the whole enchilada package. So many people just buy one bundle and then lots of different people use that single game.

So while the same amount of people may be playing both games, GH3 is making more money because each person has to buy a seperate copy for themselves.
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 01/21/2008 15:53
I have to go with GH3 for now. Rock Band is too expensive and it doesn't have the mighty inhuman challenge that GH has got, and I like to have something ridiculous that I can aspire to. But other than that, neither of them have enough/any metal songs, so it would be nice if there was some crazy shit that isn't quite as crazy so you can work towards the in-between area before Dragonforce....I still can only get a 67% at best.

But beyond that, apparently Rock Band is only good if you're after the drums.
vp360's Avatar
vp360 at 01/21/2008 15:54
good for them
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 01/21/2008 16:00
The thing is, you can't tout Guitar Hero III for the successes of the past games. I go where Harmonix goes, and it's pretty clear that they know what they're doing, while Neversoft doesn't quite have it down.

If it's not obvious, I prefer Rock Band.
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 01/21/2008 16:14
I don't like the music choices at all. They need to team up with the guys from Audiosurf so you can upload anything you want and it'll calculate the fret moves for you.

Also, I feel like I'm wasting my time when I have actual instruments to play. It's just not my thing I guess.
RoMeRtHeGaMe's Avatar
RoMeRtHeGaMe at 01/21/2008 16:25
I'm going to have to go with GH 3 wireless gutiar on Rockband, because the Rockband guitar makes me want to kick a box of kittens!
imbeta's Avatar
imbeta at 01/21/2008 16:27
Give ROCK BAND a couple dozen new songs, and they win.

Guitar hero is full of WIN... but ROCK BAND is SO MUCH f'in fun.

They ARE the same game really... except one has 4 players going. Therefore... the MORE THE MERRIER.
leshrac55's Avatar
leshrac55 at 01/21/2008 16:31
Rock Band, no question. Also, it should be noted that those 5 million songs downloaded probably includes a LOT of the free downloads, like the Halo theme, We Three Kings, and the boss battle songs. I'm not against free downloads, obviously, but Rock Band has yet to release anything free. Considering that it's sold about 1/3 or so the number that Guitar Hero 3 has, its 2.5 million songs sold is way more impressive than the 5 million "downloaded" for GH3.

GH3 is good and I played it quite a bit... until Rock Band came out. Now the only thing I use GH3 for is its guitar, and I probably won't be revisiting the franchise any time soon (especially with Activision's ridiculous guitar compatibility BS).

I also have a feeling that in the next round of GH/Rock Band releases, Rock Band will close the gap significantly. Guitar Hero appeals to a big casual audience who don't necessarily keep up with all the upcoming releases, and so many of those who bought GH3 were already aware of the Guitar Hero franchise and were unaware of anything called "Rock Band" on the horizon. Now Rock Band has been steadily gaining momentum and pop culture relevance (shown on Conan O'Brian, eg), so by the time the next round comes out, Rock Band will be almost as much a known quantity as GH to the more "casual" crowd (and by this point will hopefully be smart enough to sell individual instrument packs to compete directly on price with the GH games).

As for the "hardcore" crowd, I think a lot of them probably bought GH3 so they'd have an extra guitar for Rock Band. They won't need to do that again, so my guess is that with this crowd, at least, RB and GH will be on even footing the next time around.

-Jeff
http://alinktothefuture.com
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 01/21/2008 17:13
Ooh ooh! They could have some crazy endurance songs! Like Dante's Inferno by Iced Earth, thats almost 17mins of awesome, or I guess Opeth has a 20min song but I've not heard it yet, The Odyssey by Symphony X, Blind Guardian, I know Ayreon and Therion have some 10+min songs too
But you get the idea, Endurance Mode! think about it.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 01/21/2008 17:21
(Playing Rock Band)
Robert's Avatar
Robert at 01/21/2008 17:27
rb. actually playing it right now as well
power-glove's Avatar
power-glove at 01/21/2008 18:02
Sweet, RB is should be $170
Now, I think you are from Canada, correct?
I remember hearing that certain stores were increasing the cost beyond the MSRP
Rock Band, GH3 just fails on many levels.
Stupid note charts which do not make sense musically, phantom notes, some of the worse in-game advertising since Fight Night R3, horrid character animations, hypocritical story mode, and no Clive Winston.
imbeta's Avatar
imbeta at 01/21/2008 18:09
I should also mention: ROCK BAND's guitar is THE WIN.

Kids, don't let the burned feed you lies... ROCK BAND's fender Stratocaster will not only feel good (it's a replica) it will also get you LAID.

Enough said. If you want a fisher price guitar... then stick to GH.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 01/21/2008 18:12
I'd like to see some other genres start to step into the RB DLC arena. I've been hurtin for some old skool funk, something rhythmically interesting that derives it's challenge from syncopation and time rather than pure speed and volume of notes. I was listening to some Larry Graham today and thought how the bouncy, slippery drum part on Hair would be almost as hard as the wide-ranged crooning vocals.

I guess since I got Rock Band, Guitar Hero feels shallow. That and the track listing for 3 is less than stellar. And those "boss" battles suck. They're just dumb.
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 01/21/2008 18:21
I'm not a musician, so I don't know about phantom notes or the music not making sense, but you're going to have to elaborate on the "hypocritical story mode" because I don't understand. If you can even call it "story", you start off playing in a cheap venue, and you end playing against the Devil. It may be lame and not very deep, but not hypocritical.

But the character animation was pretty bad, although an improvement over GH1 and 2. However, assuming you're the player, you don't even watch the characters.

Lastly I'm noticing that all the complaints about track lists are just that they don't have enough songs, that doesn't make the song choices "bad" just "small".

P.S. The boss battles do suck, you can have that.
Campbell's Avatar
Campbell at 01/21/2008 18:27
Guitar Hero III is better simply because Eric Johnson allows you to melt virtual faces with his slithery epic "Cliffs of Dover".
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 01/21/2008 18:32
And if anyone believes that playing any kind of video game is going to get you laid, you're an idiot.
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