Rock Band creators get USD 300m bonus

MTV parent company Viacom plans to dish out enormous USD 300 million (GBP 193 million) in bonuses to Rock Band creators Harmonix for exceeding performance targets.

This was part of the 2006 acquisition deal, you see, which now sees Harmonix founders Alex Rigopulos, 38, and Eran Egozy, 37, become very rich men.

Half of the sum was awarded last quarter, with a further USD 150 million to be awarded at the end of 2009. And the combined total could buy the Motor Yacht Dubai, which is the most expensive boat of its kind in the world, apparently. Dubai, or not Dubai?

"We may not have anticipated the payment would be that high, but it's based on what they have achieved," Viacom spokeswoman Kelly McAndrew told Bloomberg.

"If they are making more money for us and we have to give a little back, that's OK," she added.

Rock Band 1 has departed from the UK All-Formats top 40, while musical rival Guitar Hero World Tour enters the chart at 17 - as a guitar-and-game and solus game release. Instrument bundles go on sale from 14th November.

Rock Band 2 will launch in Europe as a solus Xbox 360 game release on 21st November. The new instruments will arrive in December.