So yesterday we wrote up an article called Guitar Hero’s Dodgy DLC Tactics in which we discussed some of the nasty habits Activision has been forming on the marketplace of late. Go and check it out right now if you haven’t already, as we have a bit of an update for you today that will really cook your noodle.
Metallica's upcoming ninth studio album Death Magnetic hits Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock in its entirety this Friday, the same day the album goes on sale.
And to wrap up the good news, Activision says the album will be fully forward compatible with Guitar Hero World Tour, which is quite a trick considering the additional instruments in the new game.
IMO, the rank should be : Wii > PS2 > X360 > PS3. Reason : Wii version showed up quite often in Jan - Jul period, meaning better legs than other platform. PS2 version showed up ONCE in Feb Top 10, and it has montrous 2007 sales.
I think Wii is underpriced (3.31 M), while X360 is overpriced (3.44M). PS2 are priced slightly low (3.63 M).
Having said that, I think the overall margin is not attractive enough for me. (only 10% - 20% margin)
@lstormy10, I think 360 is overvalued and PS2 is undervalued. Based on my previous recording of sales in months JAN-JUL of this year. I am unable to visit VGC anymore though due to their viruses.
I believe we have a problem with our Guitar Hero III forecasts. Currently, all 4 version of the title (360, PS3, Wii, and PS2) are forecasted together to hit around 12 million in sales.
However, in a recent U.K. interview with RedOctane founders, it was mentioned that Guitar Hero III had "sold more than 8 million copies" (so basically around 8 million copies - otherwise they would have given a more impressive sounding, round number). The article that has the 8 million number is available here. The article also mentions 20 million in DLC sales, which seems to agree with what Activision said at their press conference during E3 (where they stated 18 million songs through DLC) - lending credence to the 8 million number as being direct from Activision/RedOctane. This number is almost definitely worldwide as the U.S. market is the largest market for Guitar Hero games (this can be seen in the fact that even though Guitar Hero III was launched in the U.S., Europe, and Australia during holiday 2007, the overwhelming majority of the 5 million copies it sold during that period came from the U.S. - based on NPD numbers).
Somehow, I cannot imagine Guitar Hero III being able to shift another 4 million copies in its lifetime from the time the article was published in the middle of July - maybe another million or two, but not four. The upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour, the Aerosmith edition of Guitar Hero, and increasing competition from Rock Band and Rock Band 2 all will and have put pressure on the sales of Guitar Hero III.
I believe that the PS2 and Xbox 360 versions are the two versions that are the most overpriced - they are both shown as doing better than the Wii version, which is the only version we have been seeing reappearing in the NPD charts (which cover Guitar Hero's largest market, the U.S.).
Following the Motörhead set earlier this month, more Guitar Hero III downloadable content lands on the PS3 and Xbox 360 today, with the three-song Isle of Wight Track Pack now available.
The pack features "Problems [live at Brixton] by The Sex Pistols, "Shoot the Runner" by Kasabian, and "I Predict a Riot" by Kaiser Chiefs. The set costs 500 Microsoft Points, or $6.25 USD on PS3. For a taste, check out the above video for Kasabian's "Shoot the Runner." It's kinda rockin'.
Last month, British rock legends Def Leppard appeared on Rockline Radio to promote their 10th studio album Songs From the Sparkle Lounge, slated for release under Universal Music Group's Mercury Records label on April 29. During the Q&A portion of the show, guitarist Phil Collen said that the band's hit singles "Photograph," "Animal," and "Rock of Ages" will appear in Activision's upcoming Guitar Hero IV.
While Activision's Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock can't match MTV Games' Rock Band for sheer quantity of downloadable songs, it has the competition soundly beat in the freebies department.
Activision has officially announced plans to release Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the next title in their music game series and the first to center around one single band. The game will be released this June for the PS3, PS2, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles. To promote the new game, Activision will release a free song from Aerosmith for Guitar Hero III, "Dream On". The song will be released and be made available for free on Saturday-Monday for both the Xbox 360 and PS3. Here is a snip:
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