Rock Band ships 3 million 'bundled' units, 10 million songs downloaded

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 2nd 2008 at 7:00PM }

Harmonix's grand-parent company, Viacom, announced today as part of its Q1 earnings that Rock Band has shipped three million "bundled units." GameDaily reports that the company also stated that Harmonix has had over 10 million songs downloaded for the game.

The last report we had was that Harmonix hit the six million DLC song mark in mid-March, which means the new music store apparently did help accelerate sales. Viacom's CEO said that Rock Band is emerging as a valuable long-term franchise and he expects further success from the Wii and European launches.

Tags: harmonix, mtv-games, rock-band, rockband, viacom

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Dannyboi68 @ May 2nd 2008 7:14PM

Shipped...not sold. I'm kinda getting tired of that.

Splice2002 @ May 3rd 2008 2:10AM

Shipped = sold to publishers. They're sold to retailers , so they're profit / sold. Whether or not retailers sell it is irrelevant.

hvnlysoldr @ May 4th 2008 5:41PM

Shipped/Sold arguments only work when it's suspected that some company has over stuffed the retail channels sending many more units than can even be held on shelves and stores leaving them to languish in warehouses.

umm....hello??? @ May 2nd 2008 7:14PM

damn,....that's a lot of money spent on DLC...

TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 2nd 2008 7:29PM

Add me on MKWii?
(I added you from the uber-list)

umm....hello??? @ May 3rd 2008 3:01PM

yes, I'll add you to my friend's list for MK Wii....I'll have to add you tomorrow (Sunday) though...sorry about the delay!!!! been playing too much GTAIV. = )

TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 2nd 2008 7:31PM

Though Wii sales numbers won't help DLC sold. :(

Charles @ May 3rd 2008 3:42PM

Let alone sell copies of the game. I seriously hope this fails utterly on Wii just to prove a point that we are not to be taken lightly as Wii owners and that we need games that have had long hard hours of thought put into just like the other 2 consoles! What are Harmonix gonna say about DLC for the Wii now? Iwata stated they will find a solution for storage space on the Wii and it is obviously going to be either optional flash drives or a Nintendo HDD, either way, the only way I will EVER buy Rock Band for Wii is if DLC comes in. I don't really mind the exclusion of Create a Star, or whatever that shit is called, but no DLC means no dice from me. This game is expensive and I wouldn't wanna get tired of it almost instantaneously because of over playing the 50 songs, I want a game that lasts and the only way that can happen with a Rhythm game is by adding an infinite number of songs. Come E3 I am now almost certain an HDD will be unveiled and I wanna see what Harmonix will do then. Update the game or re-issue the discs, I don't care, but there has to be DLC on it before I put anything to do with it in my hands!

Jonathan-DBOSS @ May 2nd 2008 8:01PM

"Now that's a lot of nuts!"

Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ May 2nd 2008 9:01PM

"He just left...WITH NUTS!"

Joseph @ May 2nd 2008 8:07PM

Of those shipped, I can assume maybe 2,000,000 have sold, meaning each copy bought 5 songs. Sounds about right, that is about how many good songs there are available to download so far.

ill trooper @ May 2nd 2008 9:16PM

You forgot the 'no downloads' PS2 version is in there somewhere...

Matt B @ May 2nd 2008 8:10PM

I'd be surprised if it did well in Europe considering it retails for about the same as the console you would play it on.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ May 3rd 2008 9:14AM

You know, this is why gamers annoy me... not everyday gamers, but the internet hardcore. You guys will bitch and bitch and bitch and focus on the most negative aspect and news you can find to dredge up at any given point. BUT, you guys never pay attention when those companies do good things. Like slash nearly $100 off the price due to negative feedback and press. Nope, gets ignored.

TheDave @ May 2nd 2008 8:15PM

Success from the Wii version?

He should castrate himself like they are doing for the Wii version and see how successful it really is.

This will flop for the Wii. No online, No DLC, what a pathetic joke of a game they are trying to get away with making...

Phillip @ May 2nd 2008 8:31PM

You beat me to the punch. I was down for buying it until I found out how hard it was gonna suck. No I'm just gonna wait....

ComradeTrotskii @ May 2nd 2008 8:42PM

You would think, but isn't Guitar Hero 3 doing pretty well on the Wii?

I'm guessing this will sell fairly high on the Wii, its the sort of multiplayer focused (that is multiplayer with people in the same room) that Wii owners appear to love.

Odog4ever @ May 2nd 2008 9:14PM

"This will flop for the Wii. No online, No DLC, what a pathetic joke of a game they are trying to get away with making..."

How is the Wii's lack of a hard drive or decent online experience Harmonix's fault?

I agree with ComradeTrotskii, it will sell well because the local multiplayer kicks ass. Last time I checked Harmonix makes money off of the bundles too, not just the DLC.

Maybe you should castrate yourself for buying a Wii and then being upset and surprised that you get nurfed versions of games. Don't get mad at developers. Demand that Nintendo steps up to the plate hardware and infrastuctre wise.

Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ May 2nd 2008 9:04PM

Unfortunately it may sell decent on the Wii and PS2...

Also, extra Wii guitars for GH3 are $70... and it's $90 for the guitar and the game...

whosmav @ May 2nd 2008 11:35PM

I'm still getting it. I can live without DLC and online.

...and the Wii is alls I gots. :[

KrazyIan @ May 3rd 2008 3:23AM

Given that Guitar Hero 3 has sold 2.3 million units on the Wii already (according to vgchartz.com), I have a feeling Rock Band isnt going to do so bad, crippled online and all.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ May 3rd 2008 9:11AM

Really. GH3 did significant numbers without even stereo sound. As for the online complaint, I really have to say this. Some will disagree, others will know exactly where I'm coming from. I've played this game online maybe four times. Nothing wrong with it, but the fun comes in as people are swapping instruments, switching roles, and generally joking around in the same room. Which translates well on the Wii.

Local Rock Band > Online Rock Band.

Ghen @ May 3rd 2008 12:51PM

Look up the numbers for Carnival games.. People will buy ANYTHING on the Wii. Rock Band will do well.

Mr Khan @ May 3rd 2008 9:22PM

It's Harmonix's fault because they prove their weakness through not even trying to find a workaround. It's not, "we're trying to compensate for the Wii's inadequacies" its "ehh, fuck work. Here's some extra DLC songs on the disc"

I would also agree, steer clear of the Wii version. Show them their lack of effort doesn't merit financial success