NPD: Guitar Hero World Tour outsells Rock Band 2 by 2:1 in 2008

by Ross Miller { Jan 26th 2009 at 5:30PM }

The NPD Group has tallied up all of the SKUs for Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour -- both multi-instrument packs and separate games -- and found that Activision / Neversoft's rocker came out on top with 3.4 million units sold last year, twice the number achieved by Rock Band 2 (1.7 million).

Though the staggered release dates (especially for Wii) didn't help matters, this hardly indicates a terrible loss for EA's side. The Guitar Hero branding is, after all, a powerful force to be reckoned with. We'd be interested to see how the original Rock Band fared last year, given that it's also competing for living room space alongside the other two. And hey, why not throw in some Rock Revolution sales data? We could use a laugh.

Tags: activision, ea, electronic-arts, guitar-hero, guitar-hero-world-tour, harmonix, mtv, mtv-games, neversoft, rock-band, rock-band-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 26th 2009 5:35PM

Being first as writing this comment, I really feel I should make a pre-emptive strike for there will be flames.

squirtforce @ Jan 26th 2009 5:40PM

Mediocrity wins again!!!

oolz @ Jan 26th 2009 5:45PM

oh c'mon, all the regulars know you're a guitar hero fanboy.

Everyone should also know that this is ONLY because of the fact that Wii owners are starved for quality games and though it may be inferior to RB2, it's still an good game, just not great.

What will be interesting to see is if RB2 has the same kind of legs that rb had. It was a real word of mouth game and sold well months after release. If the Wii really does represent all these casual gamers, then many are first timers and they will seek out other games in the genre. This gives RB2 a chance to maybe not catch GHWT in the long run, but at least close the gap significantly.

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 26th 2009 6:04PM

I'm not as much of a Guitar Hero fanboy(couldn't give two shits) as a hater of those smug Harmonix Defence Forces that'll randomly raid GH news to bash anything Neversoft/Activision related and wank on everything with Harmonix written on it.

Also, that was a a joke btw.

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 26th 2009 6:12PM

Also, it feels good...haven't been downvoted for a week until now...

Hafk @ Jan 26th 2009 6:19PM

Fucking agreed. Theres a fucking excuse for everything that Harmonix does, but as soon as Neversoft does anything wrong, BAM NO EXCUSES. NEVERSOFT = SATAN.

Besides, the rhythm game fad is going to die a few years from now anyway, and you are going to look back at this and be ashamed.

Foetoid @ Jan 26th 2009 6:21PM

Actually Oolz, us Wii owners aren't at all starved for games. I've got 13 games and about 25 downloaded and i don't even own Galaxy, Brawl or Mario Kart (i really should think about buying them). Then theres another 5-6 games already out right now i would buy i don't own, plus a stellar '09 lineup (buying 2 games just next month). I think HD fanboys are just too lazy to find the good Wii games to play and therefore miss out.

evenkots @ Jan 26th 2009 9:32PM

You own 13 copies of Wii sports?

WiredKnight @ Jan 26th 2009 10:50PM

@Hafk

I think a genre that's been around for several years and will be for at least (according to your inexplicably clairvoyant judgment) a few additional years qualifies as something more than a "fad."

kornation @ Jan 26th 2009 11:54PM

Truth be told I don't think it was helped by the fact that EA are the delivery peeps for Rockband, and with Gamestop/EB's vs EA 'blackballing' (in UK at least) being in force, My local store put Rockband games behind the counter as 'ask for only' by orders of head office and GH3 - until World Tour came out - games and controllers in 'prominent placements' due to EA's lower profit margins for Gamestop (the distribution price for EA games are higher than others, and EA wont cut a deal.).

I went to 3 HMV's, a Zavvi, Game, Gamestop, Gamestation, Argos and PCWorld today, Argos and 1 of 3 HMV's had it on shelf (Bullring HMV - being the only one with AC/DC Live aswell) and Gamestop staff on counter wern't sure they had it (found out from friend who does later shift they did when first released but they only ordered small amount and never restocked.) - its like EA did a 'soft release' with gamestation(!) thinking it wasn't even out yet.

Brendan @ Jan 26th 2009 5:36PM

Personally, I liked Rock Band 2 better in terms of music (although I wish RB2 had some Tool, or maybe even the whole Lateralus album for DLC).

gltovar @ Jan 26th 2009 7:43PM

Now, they should compare how much EA spend on advertising guitar hero world tour vs rock band 2. EA spent a TON of money getting the word out...

Peter Moore @ Jan 26th 2009 5:40PM

I confess myself... disappointed.

Flit @ Jan 26th 2009 6:03PM

Know what else sold a lot? Wii Play and Wii Fit.

Know what didn't sell a lot? Shadow of the Colossus and Beyond Good and Evil.

I rest my case.

(p.s. remember when EA was the behemoth publisher that was cranking out shit games all the time and outselling everyone... those were the days.)

Wiinterfang @ Jan 26th 2009 6:22PM

To be fair those games where aimed a a very specific audience, you can't expect then to sell a lot.

john paul @ Jan 26th 2009 5:41PM

Brand Recognization ins again...

john paul @ Jan 26th 2009 5:42PM

wins*

john paul @ Jan 26th 2009 6:18PM

recognition*...wow

Wiinterfang @ Jan 26th 2009 6:24PM

Bad grammar didn't stop me from giving you 3 hearts sir, don't be ashamed of it.

john paul @ Jan 26th 2009 6:53PM

Technically it's spelling :)

aristokrat @ Jan 26th 2009 10:28PM

Leaving the comma out of that last sentence was a grammar mistake, though. =P

john paul @ Jan 26th 2009 10:48PM

crap...

PhilOnGames @ Jan 26th 2009 5:43PM

I'm curious to see profit margin results rather than unit sales. Is RB actually more profitable overall due to the superior download content offerings? What about when combined with total franchise profits (GH has way better branding than RB... T-shirts at Wal-Mart, etc...)

I agree that RB is the superior game overall, though both are good. Unfortunately, just because something is a better product doesn't always mean it has the most sales. Just ask Steve Jobs about his pain in losing marketshare to Windows way back in the day...

mynk @ Jan 26th 2009 7:44PM

funny, now that microsoft is making better products, apple is gaining marketshare. key to a successful business, put the worst product possible out there, but remember to brand it.

ill trooper @ Jan 26th 2009 11:14PM

...I'm guessing you're talking about the failure-prone 360 hardware being well-marketed, Mynk? That fits your formula.

Shagittarius @ Jan 26th 2009 5:43PM

So how many full band bundles were sold of each? I think thats the most important metric.

Comet @ Jan 26th 2009 5:47PM

You may think so but with all the money Activisions counting I doubt they do.

Shagittarius @ Jan 26th 2009 5:48PM

Edit: What is important is how many complete band bundles Rock Band 1 and 2 sold Vs. Guitar Hero IV.

Hafk @ Jan 26th 2009 5:51PM

Guitar Hero World Tour most likely has the most bundles sold.

All WT bundles were sold at launch. You couldn't buy a 360 RB2 bundle until RB2 for the PS3 came out. So, a great portion of 360 version sales were just the standalone game. Not only that, but if you already bought Rock Band 1 full bundle, you most likely didn't buy a second round of living-room clogging instruments.

Shagittarius @ Jan 26th 2009 5:53PM

Comet:

Harmonix raised the bar for Rhythm games by making it full band. In the future going forward I believe this will be what everyone wants. As such if we look at the number that own Rock band gear vs. the number that own Guitar Hero gear, we can surmise if perhaps there is a chance for Rock Band to overtake GH in the next few iterations as people upgrade.

There are other factors but I'm just looking for a rough comparison. I think only die hard would own full sets of both games, and I know personally neither game plays very well with the others gear.

Comet @ Jan 26th 2009 5:53PM

So if 1 newish title and 1 old title beat a newish title with a another name this equals.....what?

Shagittarius @ Jan 26th 2009 5:54PM

Hafk:

Thats why I corrected myself and Said Rock Band 1 and 2 bundles.

Shagittarius @ Jan 26th 2009 5:55PM

Fellas, this is all about install base, just like console wars, I want to know which product has the biggest (complete set) install base.

Hafk @ Jan 26th 2009 6:13PM

Shagittarius

You corrected yourself as I was typing my thing out, hence why I now look like fucking idiot.

*internet sucides*

Hafk @ Jan 26th 2009 5:45PM

I blame the lack of a Wii version for two-three months.

Seriously, it is the highest (or second highest) selling version of Guitar Hero World Tour. Harmonix should have focused on getting a Wii version out before Thanksgiving or atleast Christmas, since alot of Wii owners I know are currently playing World Tour, and NOT Rock Band 2.

You can go on and on about the Wii version in terms of being the lesser version compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360, but the sales don't lie. The Wii versions is a money maker, and Harmonix dropped the ball.

Hafk @ Jan 26th 2009 5:47PM

The Wii versions are money makers.*

Ordeith @ Jan 26th 2009 7:14PM

Well, there's no accounting for taste.

genpacker @ Jan 26th 2009 5:49PM

I assume they counted the guitar-game $99 GH:WT in their figures as well, so on top of that, the bundle, and the stand-alone game, I can see the sales. I'm sure a lot of that 3.4 mil was guitar-game bundles and purchased with the strong Guitar Hero name in mind. I own and play both games so flaming is not needed.

NvM @ Jan 26th 2009 5:49PM

I personally like Guitar Hero III, but World Tour just felt like a cheap version of Rock Band 1.

slycooper_rocker [psn:slycooper_rocker] @ Jan 26th 2009 5:49PM

i just bought both yesterday. guitar hero has kept me interested more just because of the tracklist. i haven't tried out rock band yet so i can't say anything but harmonix had a great idea with the free 20 downloadable tracks. a lot better than epic's idea.

gears of war 2 new: $60 with free $5 map pack
gears of war 2 used: $55 with $5 map pack

not the best idea.

rock band 2 new(game only) with 20 free tracks: $60
rock band 2 used(game only) with no extra tracks: $55
20 downloadable tracks: $40

much better.

gib @ Jan 27th 2009 10:44AM

how can you say it has kept you interested more when --

1. you haven't even played RB2
2. you bought them both yesterday.

Amazing. That was worthless...

slycooper_rocker [psn:slycooper_rocker] @ Jan 27th 2009 6:03PM

i mean i haven't been able to play rock band because i'm so interested in guitar hero.

Archon @ Jan 26th 2009 5:50PM

It's all Harmonix's fault.

First, they sell their soul to Microsoft for a month exclusivity. After that they release a slightly handicapped PS3 version. On top of that, the Wii version just came out a few weeks ago. Oh, also. You know when it releases in Europe? THIS WEEK. Also, I heard that RB1 was quite crap on the Wii so that might have affected RB2 sales. Also: overpriced accessories in Europe.

RB2 is clearly superior when it comes to gameplay and song selection, but that's what you get for being to stubborn and ignorant. I love the game to the point I even hooked up my real digital drums to my PS3 to enjoy the game ever more but I honestly hate how they waste the franchise. Bad advertising, delayed releases.

I wonder whose idea was that. Releasing a game for three different consoles on three different dates, stretching the dates for a total of three months KILLING all the possible hype and customer interest.

Also, PSN: Archonik, always happy to play a couple RB tracks!

slycooper_rocker [psn:slycooper_rocker] @ Jan 26th 2009 5:52PM

i think guitar hero has a better tracklist but i sure would want to play some rock band with anyone who wants to! rock band looks more fun than guitar hero (i haven't been able to play mine yet)

my psn is above, feel free to add me...

Haggard @ Jan 26th 2009 5:53PM

I'm not even sure RB2 hits this week on PS3 in Europe. I've got my pre-order in but there seems to be no confirmed release date at all. This close, you'd think they'd have one.

Archon @ Jan 26th 2009 6:03PM

I just said 'screw that' and imported RB1 (full band) over a year ago. It costed me less than Harmonix wanted us to pay for it in Europe anyway. Then I imported RB2 (disc only) a few months ago, got it a couple days after the US release. Of course I paid less importing it from the US than I would if I wanted to buy it in any local store in the UK.
Oh yeah. I forgot. It's still not even out in the UK. Amazing.

Oh, also. A small thank you to the Harmonix Sound Mixing team. The sound quality in Rock Band, compared to GH3 is just AMAZING. They improved a lot in GHWT but the sound clarity in RB and RB2 is just incomparable. The way the instruments and crowd are mixed on a good 5.1 system is just awesome.

RIP R.L. Causton - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Jan 26th 2009 6:21PM

I agree that Guitar Hero World Tour has a slightly better track set when you compare RB 2 vs GH:WT. However, add in the 20 free songs and all the original RB songs and it's not even close. Also, I have to say the entire feeling of Rock Band is more satisfying than GH:WT. I think RB has the better in game interface, difficulty, unlockables & art design. GH:WT looks like every other GH game that had come out and previous GH games have no interconnection.

It's hard for me to even play GH:WT after playing RB II. It just feels older and antiquated.

It's also worth mentioning that if you wanted to play GH:WT with all the instruments you had to buy the bundle (unless you already had RB). We bought the original RB bundle so we simply bought both game discs.

@Archon

You were spot on with your analysis of the situation with Harmonix. They pretty much destroyed their hype train and longevity for a little extra gravy on their MS potatoes. They are really hurting their brand image IMO and it makes not want to support their products.