Did anyone predict the music/rhythm genre would blow up like this back when they were playing PaRappa the Rapper ? Seriously? About a year ago, Activision announced that their famed and acclaimed Guitar Hero franchise had passed the $1 billion mark in North American revenue. That was pretty damn impressive, but here's yet another milestone.
As GameDaily reports, Activision now says that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock has become the first single game ever to generate over $1 billion sales. Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith revealed this fact during his keynote address at last week's CES, and he also mentioned how the game industry "has a profound effect on other entertainment sectors." Obviously, a series like GH has been very important for the music industry; for instance, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith sold three times as many copies as the band's last album. In regards to the new installment – Guitar Hero: World Tour – Griffith praised the game's user-generated options, as 25,000 songs were created in the first 10 days and over 141,000 have been created thus far. The numbers are almost overwhelming: the GH community now sits at more than 600,000 members and there have been an astonishing 21 million song downloads. And lastly, Griffith echoed something we at PSXE have been saying for quite a while: the gaming industry is going up while the other entertainment venues are…well, not. Said Griffith:
"Movies, recorded music and TV – these are all stagnating or contracting entertainment sectors. Video games are poised to eclipse all other forms of entertainment in the decade ahead."
Couldn't possibly agree more.
Related Game(s): Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
This is the saddest news ever. Guitar Hero 3 was by far the worst of the Guitar Heroes. Harmonix made the brand name, and Activision is just cashing in on that name now, even though GH1 and GH2 and Rock Band are by far 10x better.
Sad day…. 🙁
Do you really think that? I liked Guitar Hero III, although it didn't have the same variety of songs as two, it was still a fun game, I bought it for Wii when it came out and I've been hooked on the Guitar Hero Series since, I've gotten III, Aerosmith and World Tour in the game + guitar kits when they came out. Reasons I like Guitar Hero more: It's focused more on the guitar aspect than Rock Band is and Guitar Hero band theme games are designed by the bands, as opposed to track packs.
I thought it was the best to date.
I have both Rock Bands and GH:WT and there is NO comparison. Even RB1 is better than GH:WT in almost every way. Don't even get me started on the note-charting.
When I play RB, I feel like I'm playing an instrument; when I play GH:WT, I feel like I'm pressing buttons.
Guitar Hero: Power Metal would sell 1 trillion dollars!!
I don't understand how they sell a single copy of this stuff…
ya learn real guitar
Same reason that Dance Dance Revolution sold so well…It fun to watch people look stupid. And almost any simpleton can do it.
Or maybe….just maybe they know they can't dance or play guitar, so they want to live a fantasy that their lamness can never fulfil in real life.
@ PS3_Wizard
I always find it hilarious when gamers make this argument.
Isn't that the point of all games?
Duh.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 1/16/2009 4:30:13 PM
@WEWM, i sort of do, party instruments of today.
have you seen the prices, i'm not suprised.
EDIT: Ok I get what you mean by prices now xD.
But I swear my electric guitar and amp (together) costs just as much than the instrument bundles that GH has.
What does that say about.. well the game instruments? lolz
😛
Last edited by Banky A on 1/13/2009 1:46:48 AM
It's not hard to believe with the cost of the game, songs, and accesories combined…it's murder.
Last edited by ec0li on 1/12/2009 1:38:00 PM
Yeah, I can't believe it 🙁
Sad face
not suprised after all they charge for it, Rock Band is even worse
You know what this game needs?
More Killzone!
Wow, that would actually be an awesome Killzone 2 commercial. Have different commercials of Christopher Walken playing video games, and he always hands down the same verdict.
"I GOTTA have more Killzone, baby!"
"I got a FEVER…and the only prescription is more KILLZONE!"
That would be awesome!
I think you are on to something
I think so too. I'm going to try to put together a mock up when I get home. Now, if I could just find some HQ trailers of Killzone 2 to download…
Man, if I could get an HQ copy of the trailer with all the slow motion kills, and set to music to Don't Fear the Reaper behind that…
Troy, I'm with ya homie…This is the first game I actually ever dream about. I beat the first killzone for the 3rd time last week and I'm even more hyped. I'll see ya online day 1.
PSN ID: Tron_04
Im assuming downloads come into this figure in sales? But I am not suprised at all. So much for one game…
🙁
GHIII makes me sad as a gamer
If this is the future of game we're f*****.
Last edited by Scarecrow on 1/12/2009 3:03:30 PM
The wii would be a 50 times worse future
I think they both measure up to a equally bleak future.
Activision is riding the wave Harmonix carved out for them. They're putting out a decent title that sells like mad because of the name. There's no way they can roll like this for long, something's gotta give.
just like the dot com businesses and our once booming economy, the bubble has got to burst eventually. I just don't want to be an employee of Neversoft when it does…
It's amazing that these companies can fight homebrewers and hackers so hard when they make these kind of profits! Lightn up on that community and in the long run you'll thrive even more.
http://www.pspfree.org
I hate gamedaily. bunch of fanboy douche bags. sorry. I just read a report on what they want for 09 so Im a little pissed at them for talking crap about the PS3.
Thats good to know [wtf is this world coming to?!]
If GH generated more sales than actual guitars per year, i would actually cry.
you better start crying i guess
GH2 PWNS GH3 because of one song: Hangar 18.
Rock band kills 'em all with the entire Peace Sells album! Megadeth FTW!
Peaces sell is horrible I have to wait on a freaking sequel to play Peace Sells
*Originally at Scarecrow*
Guitar Hero also makes me sad as a musician and guitarist.
🙁
In the end it can be well fun with friends being random, but in the end, it's pretty much just playing somebody else's' style and gaining no real skill from it.
Yeah it's a game and isn't trying to be guitar or making somebody take on music in life.. but considering the price for everything………………. seriously?!
xD
Last edited by Banky A on 1/13/2009 1:53:14 AM
i've got gh2 and 3 on my ps2, but when my ps2 passed out i got myself a real guitar, and after some months of getting the hang of it, i realised its much more fun playing a real guitar:D
the reason i dont really appreciate this game anymore is that if you play the game(s) you dont LISTEN to the music anymore, you're just focusing on ur timing and you dont FEEL it, cuz when i play my guitar, the whole body vibrates with the strings,
with the plastic thing its just like ur playing a game with the sixaxis, ur very concentrated, but you just aren't one with the game (thats why i bought the dualshock 3 controller)
and in the end i was cheaper off with (one of) the gh games (which cost 90 euros each) then with my real guitar, which costed me 75 euros (20 yo secondhand, free old amplifier + 45 euro distortion pedal)
To the people asking why they play that instead of a real one.
Why not apply that to any game. Join a real war, play real pro football..You guys getting my drift? A game is meant to be fun. Dont take it so serious.
Yeah it is meant to be fun.
But I don't specifically like people having too much fun for a long time with something that costs you so much that you can buy the real thing 🙁 and then some
And real instruments are more fun. They can help with life. Play to yourself when you're feeling down. Buy a stairway to heaven.. or somethin' xD
😛
Last edited by Banky A on 1/14/2009 4:03:42 AM
@Bank
to someone with musical skill, playing a real instrument can be more fun than GH or RB. That said, the game isn't meant as a replacement for an actual instrument, it's a video game, and by nature very fake.
Those who aren't musicians can have fun with a game based on playing guitar, just like those who aren't pro ball players can have fun playing a game based on football, etc. etc.
Yep
😛
@ Bank
You don't like other people having too much fun?
WTF?
Oh, and both my guitar and my bass guitar cost me more at the pawn shop than any of the three full instrument sets I've bought for Rock Band.