Guitar Hero outselling Rock Band 6 to 1

By Ellie Gibson Published 18 September, 2008

So says man who sells Guitar Hero.

Activision boss Bobby Kotick has declared Guitar Hero is winning the battle of the band-based games.

As reported by Kotaku, he was speaking at some big deal financial conference or other. He told the assembled bankers, "We're outselling [Rock Band] 6 to 1.

"When you think about the access we have to 30 per cent of the world's music at Universal, we have a unique advantage there," Kotick continued.

"I would also say when you look at resources, you know, our next-nearest competitor has a couple of hundred people working on these projects, we have close to 2000 people just dedicated to the Guitar Hero note tracking, introduction of new hardware, introduction of new software - and so we just have a lot more in the way of resources available to us to continue to dominate the category."

Gosh. What with beating Rock Band hands down and telling platform holders how to design their machines, Activision certainly considers itself to be quite a big deal these days.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • JonFE #1 3 years ago

    2000 people and they all got it wrong with the note tracking?

    /baits

  • Eraysor #2 3 years ago

    They have 30% of the world's music and yet their tracklist isn't as cool as RB2?

    Although I must admit, at least they don't put insane delays on European releases.
    Edited by 1 at 18/09/08 @ 09:37

  • Wickerman #3 3 years ago

    Damn it JonFE - that's EXACTLY what I was about to post!

  • Der_tolle_Emil #4 3 years ago

    Guitar Hero is a well established franchise with many more games out than the RB platform has. Looking at Europe the PS3 still is without it (I think) and the prices are much, much higher. I'm not surprised at all. For me the more important thing though is that RB is simply way more fun than GH, and that's not just because of the drums or the singing. Playing the guitar in RB is simply so much better than in GH3 because of the better song selection and the note layout.

  • Eighthours #5 3 years ago

    2000 people and they all got it wrong with the note tracking?

    Yep, I was thinking that!

  • andywilkie35 #6 3 years ago

    This GH bloke is talking shit

  • Derblington #7 3 years ago

    So a series that has 4 titles across 5 platforms over the last 3 years is selling more than a single game from a new franchise that's still not out on 3 platforms worldwide. Amazing...

  • kangarootoo #8 3 years ago

    Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much.

    Activision are nervous that RB is going to steal all their cheese, and I don't blame them.

  • skillian #9 3 years ago

    It always seemed to me that Rock Band is only better if you have a number of friends that don't mind singing along to a video game and play regularly. If you don't (and that surely must be quite a few people), Guitar Hero seems like a better choice.

  • kangarootoo #10 3 years ago

    I played RB a fair bit recently, and honestly I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. Some of the note charts were frankly rather boring compared to GH3.

    I also started playing on Hard and was shocked at how easy it was. I 5 starred 5 tracks in a row, hacing never played any of them before, and even got 100% of notes on one of them. Started again on expert, which is still hardly edge of your seat (can still 4 star most songs on the very first play through), but better.

    That said, I know I am in the minority on this one (at least among the vocal internet commentators). My take is that games like this are all about their music catalogue, and RB is expanding their catalogue at a rate that Activision seem unable to match.
    Edited by 1 at 18/09/08 @ 10:11

  • cyacomini #11 3 years ago

    Ask him who sells more online content (DLC) - Guitar Hero or Rock Band then watch him squirm..

  • MKorkia #12 3 years ago

    RB's gameplay outplays GH 6 to 1.

    GH should rename their modes as "too easy", "aggravating", "impossible", "more impossible". Doesn't feel like rocking at all when you try to hit at least some notes... :(

    RB feels the way it should be! Exactly like GH2 was. :)

    I'm still very disappointed that Metallica went to GH... :((

  • Zomoniac #13 3 years ago

    It always seemed to me that Rock Band is only better if you have a number of friends that don't mind singing along to a video game and play regularly. If you don't (and that surely must be quite a few people), Guitar Hero seems like a better choice.

    Nope. Rock Band is just better, in every conceivable way (except hardware).

  • sanctusmortis #14 3 years ago

    Wow, 4 games outsell 1. Amazing.

    What with their plans to basically rape it til it falls apart, I'll be avoiding the series. They lost me with GH III anyway, so it'll be nice to see how many people DON'T buy it this time, or get just the drums.

  • Rodafowa #15 3 years ago

    @ kangarootoo

    On guitar, I think you have to play Rock Band one difficulty level higher than you'd play GH for the same challenge. Despite five-starring everything on Medium in GH2 and 3, I've never, ever been able to make the leap to Hard. With a couple of exceptions, I found the same thing as you - most songs in Rock Band were actually (whisper it) a little bit boring on my usual difficulty level. It was still fun because of the "Bunch Of You Together Playing Plastic Instruments" factor, but on the solo careers I only really started having a good time once I jumped to Hard.

    Obviously, that's more of an issue for someone who was playing GH on Hard or Expert already.

  • spammage #16 3 years ago

    If you give 2000 typewriters to 2000 monkeys, it is said that eventually they will write the complete works of William Shakespeare. You give 2000 people the job to create good quality note charts for GH3, they still fuck it up. GG.

  • DFawkes #17 3 years ago

    I liked the note charts for GH3.

  • skillian #18 3 years ago

    So did I, and I found the (guitar) note charts for Rock Band to be plodding and very easy.

    I guess the posts of a couple of people above may be right though and I should play on hard instead. Never really liked using that 5th button though...

  • oupe #19 3 years ago

    ^^^

    Me too, what was actually wrong with them? Looks the same as in GH2

  • kangarootoo #20 3 years ago

    @skillian

    The fifth button is initially a bit of a hurdle, but once you get the hang of switching positions it works well. Your brain just kind of does it automatically as needed. Stick with it for increased fun :)

  • Rodafowa #21 3 years ago

    @ skillian

    Rock Band makes it a lot easier to move between Medium and Hard than any of the GH games did - the learning-curve is much more reasonable. It's still tough because you're learning a whole new skill, but it's not hit-a-brick-wall, oh-bugger-this-no-sodding-way-no-fun-at-all impossible like GH2 or (especially) GH3 are. Despite 5-starring every song on Medium in both games, I've never gotten off the second difficulty tier on either in Hard, but with some struggle I've now finished every RB song on Hard except Flirtin' With Disaster, Run To The Hills and Green Grass And High Tides.

  • kinky_mong #22 3 years ago

    If you give 2000 typewriters to 2000 monkeys, it is said that eventually they will write the complete works of William Shakespeare. You give 2000 people the job to create good quality note charts for GH3, they still fuck it up. GG.

    Quote of the day! Rock Band note charts may seem plodding to some people who have played GH3 too much, but Rock Band is perfect for setting a good level for everyone without ridiculous jumps in difficulty like GH.

  • skillian #23 3 years ago

    If I hadn't destroyed my guitar in a house-parties-always-break-at-least-one-important-thing moment. I would have tried by now.

    I use a keyboard (shock, horror!) now, and actually find it easier than the old guitar, but there is a 2cm gap between the F4 and F5 keys and it seems to make that jump to the fifth button that much harder.

    The guitar alone seems to cost as much as the game+guitar, so I'll probably wait and see if they release another GH on PC and pick up a new one then.

  • kangarootoo #24 3 years ago

    "to some people who have played GH3 too much"

    Well thats news. I didn't realise it was just my fault for playing GH3 too much. Serves me right then I guess :)

  • wewillselfdestruct #25 3 years ago

    Yo Bobby!

    How much DLC do you sell compared to Rock Band? You release three or four GH games a year (all of them with vastly inferior note tracking to anything Harmonix produces) including on completely inappropriate platforms (I'm looking at you DS). So if you release more games a year, and on more platforms, wouldn't you be doing something incredibly wrong if you weren't outselling RB? Not to mention how much cheaper GH has been compared to RB (for obvious reasons) up until now. So yeah, let's hear about DLC attach rates.

    In other news, you're really starting to look like a total cock. I hope EA keys your car.

    Best regards,

    wewillselfdestruct

  • andywilkie35 #26 3 years ago

    basically I can play every song on expert on Rock Band, but on Guitar Hero 3 there were two songs I couldn't do on hard, let alone expert. Fine maybe I'm just shit, but the fact is that I enjoy Rock Band a lot more because I can finish a song on a tough difficulty, and have a good laugh whilst doing it, whilst guitar hero just has me thinking "why do bands like Metallica write terrible, terrible solos?" - which reminds me, anyone see Metallica on Jools Holland the other night? Why are they so popular? fucking grandad rock, they're a poor mans Pantera who are also one of the worst bands I've ever come across *shudder*

  • dsmx #27 3 years ago

    GH2 was enjoyably hard GH3 was just being obnoxious and no fun at all.

  • nickthegun #28 3 years ago

    Yeah. If the note charts are comparable, i'll still buy rock band.

    GH3 was just a retarded Simon Says simulator.

  • RobotRocker #29 3 years ago

    Took 30 posts for the anti-fun brigade to get here

    http://xkcd.com/359/

  • Brogan #30 3 years ago

    off topic but not that bad. got RB just for the guitar part but now want the drums should i pop out tomorrow and pick up the BR ones or wait til the GH ones come out?

  • shinki #31 3 years ago

    30% of the world's music to choose from, yet a huge number of the songs in Rock Band 2 are also in GH World Tour. Small world.

  • Rodafowa #32 3 years ago

    @ Brogan

    By all accounts, the GHWT drums are streets better than the RB set, so if you can wait you probably should. The RB ones do the job, but they're very loud and not incredibly well put together. I'm considering an upgrade once I get a look at the GH set.

  • wewillselfdestruct #33 3 years ago

    @Brogan

    Will the GH drums work with RB? They're a different set up with three "drums" and two "cymbals", compared to RB's four "drums", a design difference that was almost certainly cynically made by Actiblizzion to ensure you have to buy their drumkit rather than simply use the one a lot of people have already got (although those splashy cymbals do look sexah). This social gaming mullarkey is some expensive shiznit. But remember: you've got a spare kidney you could sell. Unless for whatever reason you only have one already. In which case I'd hold onto it if I were you.

  • Farstarbuck #34 3 years ago

    I find it amazing that people who mastered guitar hero find rock band too easy? Amazing!!!!!

    Considering their basically the same game are you really surprised?

    I once played call of duty and found I was just as good at that as I was with medal of honour.

    Go figure

  • smelly #35 3 years ago

    guitar hero outselling rock band 6:1

    but rock band is 6 times more expensive.

    Who's laughing now?

  • smelly #36 3 years ago

    I refuse to buy any activision made guitar hero out of sheer disgust at the way activision treated harmonix (The people that came up with the idea for the game in the first place)

  • Brogan #37 3 years ago

    @ wewillselfdestruct

    looks like they will work.

    http://ww w.rockband.com/forums/showthrea...

    now will just try not to be too weak pick some up anyway.

    (The people that came up with the idea for the game in the first place)

    Konami?

    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 00:37

  • Stratus #38 3 years ago

    All I know, is that every fuckin' time I come into a "music/guitar simulator" thread it's always, ALWAYS!!, how Rock Band is sooo much better than GH!! EVERY freakin' time!! The note charts are better! (easier.) The game is more fun (easier for freakin' talentless wankers who take the piss.) It feels more natural (yeah, cause you don't suck as hard cause the note charts hold your fucking hand the whole time...)

    Guitar Hero actually tries to incorporate the level of determination, dedication, and unbridled PASSION that it takes in real life to learn how to play actual guitar. What the fuck good is it if you feel that YOU (a freaking nerd on a couch or beanbag chair) can BEAT Tom Morello or Slash with a fucking plastic guitar the first or second try? Where is the challenge? Where is the development? Where is the NEW VIDEOGAME EXPERIENCE??? It's about training your pinky finger to "grow a pair", it's about the burning fucking sensation when you FINALLY beat "Pride And Joy" with only a three star rating on Hard and you wonder if you will EVER be able to write your name with a pencil again due to the effort involved...

    People say that Rock Band is about the "communal band experience,that the guitar parts are easier to play for a more realistic band experience. I say, bugger that, the guitar is the most difficult, necessary, vibrant part of ANY song, whether it's Shania Twain or Megadeth...and when you DUMB that experience down to please your CASUAL gaming masses you do a disservice to the REAL hardcore gamers out there. That's right you wankers,...I said CASUAL!!!

    If you don't like the note charts to GHIII or it's ilk, I'm sorry, but it's because you don't actually understand how the charts work (with the influence of the fuckin' artists that played the songs FOR REAL!!) You want easy, and that is exactly what Rock Band gives you. EASY!!

    Great with a few mates and a buzz,... huh?? (Aimed at the European participants...)

    Guitar Hero IS actually about trying to become a real (virtual) guitar God which anyone who is adept with Rock band will tell you
    isn't possible with RB due to it's simplicity. Everyone on your block with a 360 is a "Guitar God" after an evening with Rock Band (2). Guitar Hero III is extremely difficult once you get past Slash.

    But compared to the years of REAL blood, sweat, and training needed on his part to get to the level of development he's at...


    GHIII is a freakin' joke.

    Rock Band is for casual gamers (more intersted in the song than the gameplay.)

    Guitar Hero is for the hardcore gamers (interested in how the game works and want to get better through practice, determination, and resolve.

    Peace.





  • Charlie_Miso #39 3 years ago

    nah - both are shit

  • Stratus #40 3 years ago

    Thank you for your insight, Charlie_Miso.

    I would assume then that IF, (and this is a pretty big if) you were to try playing a "musical, timing, plasticy fake instrument simulator" it would be Rock Band based on my initial argument?

    Thought so...

    The challenge of graduating High School pales in comparison for you I'm certain.

  • kangarootoo #41 3 years ago

    "but the fact is that I enjoy Rock Band a lot more because I can finish a song on a tough difficulty"

    Well, its not a tough difficulty is it? By your own admission, it might have Expert written on it, but its easier than GH.


    So I played some more of Rock band the other night... and honestly I'm not impressed. These superior note charts that everyone is talking about were the most repetetive charts I'd ever seen. It seemed to be all about the strum bar, with my left hand getting cramp from holding down the same 2 or 3 buttons for ages.

    I mean, someone explain to me how this is supposed to be interesting gameplay.
    [link url=http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=fSytnRxl8Jk
    ]http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=fSytnRxl8Jk
    [/link]
    [link url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=luxVAAsRMYU&feature=relat ed
    ]http://uk .youtube.com/watch?v=luxVAAsRMY...[/link]

    whereas for the defense, I submit...
    [link url=http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=9QOKiBiteio
    ]http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=9QOKiBiteio
    [/link]
    [link url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=295fxG4S6DY&feature=relat ed
    ]http://uk .youtube.com/watch?v=295fxG4S6D...[/link]

    Even the chugging chord parts of Laydown are more imaginative.

    I really wanted to like RB, and maybe some of the DLC out there is better than the disc tracks I have encountered so far, but I was disappointed.

  • Zomoniac #42 3 years ago

    But chugging chord parts aren't supposed to be 'imaginative'.

    Good guitarists do not spend the duration of a song playing a solo, so why fault them for this? If the song is playing a straight series of driving chords, and RB replicates that, and GH makes up some random pattern that bears fuck all relation to the tune but is harder, why is that better? And the examples you've picked are just ludicrous. Two of the easiest songs on Rock Band, and two guitar-heavy songs from GH. The guitar part on Wonderwall on RB is easy. The drum part isn't. On other songs it's the other way round. It isn't a guitar game, so not every song has epic solos, that's kind of the point of it, the clue's in the name. When it is doing a guitar heavy song, it does them very well (and pretty hard at times). See

    Edit: Why the fuck aren't my tags working? I've checked them over and over and there's nothing wrong with them. You'll just have to C&P.

    [link url=http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=Rg1_sgvL0Cs
    ]http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=Rg1_sgvL0Cs
    [/link]
    [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=DD44k-PjHRg
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=DD44k-PjHRg
    [/link]
    [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=vyRuwFo6WL0
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=vyRuwFo6WL0
    [/link]
    Edited by 3 at 19/09/08 @ 13:34

  • shinki #43 3 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    I haven't played RB but looking at those videos you posted... the charts make sense. Sure in Wonderwall it's that same chord progression over and over but that's what it's like to play the real song, and guess what a lot of real guitarists have learnt Wonderwall and enjoy playing it. I assume you can set up the mic so you can do guitar and sing at the same time right?

  • Rodafowa #44 3 years ago

    @ Stratus

    If wanting a game have a learning curve without insane difficulty spikes and joyless boss-battles makes me a casual player, then casual player be I. Sorry that offends your sensibilities.

    re: Boring RB note charts

    To be honest, I think it's a little of column A, a little of column B. Rock Band IS easier than any Guitar Hero game, and it's only partly because not all of the songs are picked with how much fun they are to play on guitar in mind - although that is definitely the case. Look at More Than A Feeling - it's in the second difficulty tier in GH2, but its guitar part is in the 4th difficulty tier of RB. That indicates that there are a lot more easy guitar songs kicking about RB, which'll probably be fairly boring for experienced players. As I said, I jumped up a difficulty level which solved the issue for me, but I understand that's not an option for everyone (plus, I actually like "one good riff repeated over and over" songs - Take Me Out was one of my favourite songs in the original game, Kool Thing was my favourite in GHIII...).

    That criticism is partly allayed for me by the amount and variety of the DLC available, though. There's a ton of shreddy guitar-wankery available if that's your bag, though the game badly needs a way for you to "hide" certain songs so that they don't come up in the World Tour random shuffle.