Music game sales down 46%, still third best-selling genre
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Sep 12th 2009 at 6:00AM }
Of course, it's worth noting that -- apart from Guitar Hero: Metallica and Smash Hits -- the first half of 2009 was somewhat devoid of major music genre releases. With both Guitar Hero 5 and The Beatles: Rock Band both just released, the music genre is likely due for a significant boost. Still, it's hard to imagine sales climbing as high as they once were. With so many homes filled with plastic instruments as it is, we're sure it's getting harder to sell those full band kits -- and their higher prices.
Then again, we're sure everyone still has room for a turntable.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
whylekat @ Sep 12th 2009 6:07AM
What's the 1st & 2nd best selling genres?
Shadow_Modder @ Sep 12th 2009 6:14AM
I was thinking the same thing!
My guesses are: 1st= Action and 2nd= Sports games.
Bowser Rogozhin: England is finished @ Sep 12th 2009 6:27AM
Urgh, if it really is sports games...and what constitutes action? Both Qbert and Zool contain elements of action, I guess.
sonicspike41 @ Sep 12th 2009 6:31AM
“It's still the third bestselling genre for the year after general action and multiple/other sports (where Wii Fit resides)."
Filthy Assistant @ Sep 12th 2009 7:53AM
Probably shooters and RPGs.
Dr. Robotnik, Evil Genius Extraordinaire @ Sep 12th 2009 8:04AM
Whichever genre Wii Sports is in (maybe sports?),
LegendaryRedass @ Sep 12th 2009 8:38AM
There is no qbert, only zool.
JoeTheBlow @ Sep 12th 2009 9:15AM
"general action and multiple/other sports"
That could mean any fucking thing nearly. Jesus.
whylekat @ Sep 12th 2009 12:29PM
And my question goes unanswered....
JXCgunrunna @ Sep 12th 2009 1:51PM
I do not know the answer but if I were to take a guess, Sports, shooters, music
whylekat @ Sep 12th 2009 1:53PM
I'm sure someone on the Joystiq staff knows.. That's who the question was really directed to.
sonicspike41 @ Sep 12th 2009 6:44PM
Hey! what am I, invisible?
The source article says that music games are third, behind general action and then multiple/other sports. So first and second are "general action" and "multiple/other sports".
whylekat @ Sep 13th 2009 11:28AM
General Action is such a broad term. That could be anything from an FPS to a kids game.
Bowser Rogozhin: England is finished @ Sep 12th 2009 6:20AM
I've long said that this genre needed to be put out of it's misery and die already, and finally, it seems, people are being receptive to my pleas. Music games were an amusing distraction in the 90s with the likes of Parappa, cheeky and fun in the early noughties with Space Channel 5, but now it's an ugly monster, devoid of anything redeemable to the average gamer.
The fact people even consider buying GH: Mettalica saddens me. However, I've long gotten used to being saddened with most people, considering how disappointing most people are.
Bowser Rogozhin: England is finished @ Sep 12th 2009 6:30AM
PN04's response is a clear example of Lee Siegel's theory of blogofascism. Enjoy your blind, empty hatred, young person.
sonicspike41 @ Sep 12th 2009 6:38AM
I think what PN04 meant was...
Not everyone feels the same as you. Some people really enjoy games like Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band, and even Guitar Hero 5. I know I loved GH 2 and 3 when I first played them (controller issue prevents me from enjoying the newer ones),
For you to assert your opinion as fact is what makes you come off as rude. You say "Music games were" instead of "I think music games were". You say "it's... devoid of anything redeemable to the average gamer" instead of "in my opinion it's devoid of anything I find interesting".
People will buy anything, sure, but that doesn't mean it's any better or worse than another product in another genre. A lot of people like the new style of music games, I know I did (until they removed support for the regular controller). So obviously not every "average gamer" finds them devoid of anything redeemable.
The Baron @ Sep 12th 2009 7:54AM
I think you think you hate everyone Bowser, but you actually just hate that they're capable of having fun.
Dr. Robotnik, Evil Genius Extraordinaire @ Sep 12th 2009 7:58AM
FPS's were made back in the 90's. Therefore, it is an old genre that developers should stop making because we have at least 15 FPS's a year.
Dr. Robotnik, Evil Genius Extraordinaire @ Sep 12th 2009 8:05AM
*note the sarcasm
Bowser Rogozhin: England is finished @ Sep 12th 2009 8:23AM
"you actually just hate that they're capable of having fun."
You're mistaken, Comrade Hag, for these people aren't actually having fun. They've deluded themselves into believing they having the time of their lives, but it isn't genuine. People who play Rock Band are the equivalent of the 20-something bobbing his head on his lonesome inside a packed out nightclub. This 20-something, of course, finds comfort beside the fire exit. Yes, he may be smiling, but the liquid inside his beverage of choice is no longer alcohol, it's been distilled by tears, his tears. Why tears? But of course, this 20-something knows that, despite the zeitgeist, they're clearly tourists and they're clearly in the wrong place forcing themselves to have fun. The Rock Band generation before us are a bunch of tourists.
But all is not lost, Comrade. We, the educated, must teach these tourists what it is, and how it is, you have fun with a video game. For every Rock Band there is a Little Kings Story, for every Guitar Hero there is a Space Invaders Extreme, Guitar Revolution for SSBB, and so on and so forth. We can better these gaming tourists. We can rescue them from their false idea of fun.
The Baron @ Sep 12th 2009 8:46AM
I was actually referring partly to your nightclub job (if I remember right) when I thought about it. Some people don't have fun in clubs, some genuinely do. Just because both types of people exist doesn't necessarily mean that one is right and the other is wrong. Since 'fun' is relative to the individual, there's no universal standard for what generates it.
So while you may not enjoy most games, when I play Rock Band I'm certain I'm having fun. And if it turns out that you're right, and I'm simply deluding myself into thinking that I enjoy it, then I'm having fun doing that instead.
Bowser Rogozhin: England is finished @ Sep 12th 2009 8:50AM
"when I play Rock Band I'm certain I'm having fun"
Hey now, let's keep this classy, huh.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Sep 12th 2009 8:54AM
You know, I've been a fan of the music gaming genre since I played Beatmania on Playstation. 5 Keys. I've managed to play most rhythm based games including Gitaroo Man. It still, to this day, remains one of my favorite genres. And yet you're calling me a tourists because "how dare I" actually enjoy the rock band games. Normally this is the point where I point and laugh at the ignorant little tart who, because he cannot enjoy a genre, must proceed to shit on it. But I have faith you'll change. Soon you'll start shaving, watch Nick and Noahs Endless Clusterfuck of a Movie, discover girls, and with any hope, we won't see you around for a Loooooooooong while. Unfortunately that's a good four years away, so perhaps I can distract you with some jangling keys.
GewurztraminerX @ Sep 12th 2009 10:06AM
My Rock Bands are side by side with various Final Fantasies, Metal Gears, Marios, Tiger Woods, Sonics, Smash Bros, Gran Turismos, Forzas, Streetfighters, Zeldas, Dragon Quests, etc.
And at the end of the day, you know what I want to play most? Rock Band.
Did I ever think that would be the case two years ago? No, I thought it was stupid too.
Do I honestly enjoy them now? I wouldn't be playing them if I didn't.
Now that I know you hate these games, will I take extra pleasure in playing them?
Spite is so much fun.
Now excuse me while I load up 'All You Need Is Love'.
alinos @ Sep 12th 2009 11:37AM
Bowser the AVerage Gamer thesedays that you refer to is the Rock band Gh hero party Gamer the games wont die people will still play them so long as they put out good music
As for buying GH mettalica why the hell not its Metallica :P
look the so called average gamer does nothing but complain when every shooter isnt the same as COD, and that because hes an average gamer which play for a restricted amount of time per week they dont have time to finish a game keep making the story sections of games get shorter and shorter while they charge more and more.
deep down inside you known you hate these game because A) you have no sense of rythm and suck at playing along and B) are the party pooper who must hate on sumthing
3rd highest genre is still high and as the article says with the releases weve just got its only going up not down
plus its 3rd to action(which is anything from mario to pong to SF4 tto prince of persia basically anything that requires timng to solve is an action game,so technically shooters are kinda in this as well although they have a specific genre) and sports
now just off the bat here id say there was wat 30 sports games released in the past year now my guess is 30 sports versus 4 music games for the past year well its just not a fair comparison
these games dont need to die what really needs to happen tho is we dont need a new incarnation of the same game every year that goes for all genres gimme sumthing original damnit(any maybe finished im looking at you THE conduit whos story and game progression seem to just fall off a cliff for the end of the game... Oh so thats who ive been talking to the whole time clear 2 rooms end of the game... W8 where was the end game boss .. cue ominous video clip for sequel prep which should have actually been the last half of this game
i have no problem with cliff hangers but there should be a story arc of badness completed at some point during the game
whymog @ Sep 12th 2009 11:57AM
Man, Bowser, you kinda suck.
deaftly @ Sep 12th 2009 12:01PM
He's just your typical over opinionated douche trying to sound smart. Cute when people do that.
bongoes the Black Lantern @ Sep 12th 2009 9:32PM
He's just mad that Mario rescued Peach again.
PN04 @ Sep 12th 2009 6:25AM
the only reason that sales are "down" is because activision saturated the market with substandard retreads every 3 months. Not everyone who buys these games are going to rush out and grab each and every one of them, especially when they can just enjoy what they have longer by way of DLC.
Follisimo @ Sep 12th 2009 7:08AM
Same damn game rehashed with a different band name now. There isn't much more they can do with the genre. I mean it's also no coincidence that when a new version comes out how majority of the games can't be transferred over. Majority of the people are suckers for a new image.
Spike @ Sep 12th 2009 7:48AM
and that is why rock band is the better series, they keep it down to 1 main game a year (aside from this year, since LRB isn't made by HMX, and track packs don't count), and when a new game does come out, everything is compatible
Dr. Robotnik, Evil Genius Extraordinaire @ Sep 12th 2009 8:01AM
I wonder what the difference would be if they included both SKU's and the 50million+ downloaded songs from Rock Band...
eddienoteddy @ Sep 12th 2009 9:10AM
it's all about DLC anyway. I pay Harmonix every single week for more songs.
Michael T [Planeteer | Power of Mr. T] @ Sep 12th 2009 9:32AM
Given that the market got flooded with plastic peripherals in the first couple years of this genre's current heyday, I'd say that a 46% drip still means they're moving a shit-ton of units somewhere. Honestly, the drop in overall revenue from the games probably is indicative of a more "normalized" level of sales for the genre in the first place.
And I'd like to see what DLC sales do to that percentage, too.
ALH @ Sep 12th 2009 9:44AM
It would help if there were some standards on these things. I would love to play the instrument games on my 360, but I havent a clue which instrument plays with what now, nevermind which is the best quality. Its put me off, and im sure im not the only one.
It was easier back on the ps2 when there was only a red or a black guitar to choose between, now they all have slidey things and extra buttons and are incompatible with each others games dagnabbit, and thats just the guitars! *waves walking stick*
GewurztraminerX @ Sep 12th 2009 10:22AM
If you've got a 360 then you're pretty good to go as far as compatibility. The basic rule is that the Rock Band guitars won't work on GH2 or GH3. The rest you can mix and match.
Joystiq has a decent compatibility chart here (but it's a little outdated):
http://www.joystiq.com/Instrument-Compatibility-Matrix/
Rock Band also has one here:
http://www.rockband.com/compatibility
Personally, I prefer the RB drums and the GH controllers (Les Paul specifically).
Alzheimers @ Sep 12th 2009 9:52AM
My prediction? If GH5/RB:Beetles were as backwards compatible as RB-RB2 then this would be a non-issue. Upgrade paths that add features while retaining previous content would be much more appealing to consumers than this current process of rehashing/reselling songs.
That being said, I bought GH5 for the free Van Halen game. GH's DLC sucks on a consistent basis (with the one huge exception of the Stones pack) and RB will probably be my music game of choice for the near future.
alinos @ Sep 12th 2009 11:40AM
yeah GH DLC is a let down but the problem is they seem to focus more on releasing the band games than they do on DLC which is in my view the only place there lacking
RB is too easy to me the only thing going for it is the better tunes
commen-cents @ Sep 12th 2009 9:58AM
too much choice... guitar hero world tour, rock band one and two, rock band beatles, guitar hero 5... I bought guitar hero 3 last year on a black friday deal and im debating on 5 because the song list seems more appealing to me and so do the changes to the game but hell why buy guitar hero 5 with a guitar for $99 when I can get the complete band kit for world tour now for $99... ill be waiting for dj hero instead methinks less clutter all around
Jesus (PSN: Luttdawg) @ Sep 12th 2009 10:33AM
Not hating on the genre, it seems a lot of stiq gamers whose opinions I respect love it, it just doesn't interest some people. I am one of those people and the more these games get pumped out, the quicker it will die out (I'm looking at you Activision, killer of Hawk). I've obviously played them with friends but I just couldn't give that kind of money when there are so many other awesome games these days.
alinos @ Sep 12th 2009 11:43AM
this isnt meant to be a go at you or anything
but it seems like everything worrth playing these days has been set up and kicked into next year
im still dubious of AC2 the combat better be more intriguing than counterkill
i finish Batman arkham last night
so at my count that leaves me with COD 6 and uncharted 2 for the rest of this year
i may be forgetting one or 2 but theres not alot of choice this XMAS
of course they all come out a week before i go back to UNI but this is life
Matthew Perry @ Sep 12th 2009 1:07PM
I own:
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero III
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero: Metallica
Guitar Hero 5 (Van Halen is on the way)
Guitar Hero On Tour
Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades
Rock Band
Rock Band 2
I plan on buying Rock Band 3, Guitar Hero 6, and any interesting expansions that come out.
In a few years when PS2s are worth ten dollars, I'm going to buy one and get Guitar Hero and Rock the 80s.
I'm doing my best to keep the genre going. It's the only thing I play any more.
Dowse @ Sep 14th 2009 9:25AM
For the price you've paid on all of those games you could've actually bought real instruments and learnt to play them haha ;)
But i see what you're getting at.
Matthew Perry @ Sep 14th 2009 12:38PM
I do play guitar. Rhythm games and real instruments have no conflict for me.
frzamonkey @ Sep 12th 2009 1:33PM
i love the fact that most of the rock band dlc is passable, even on expert. I enjoy the challenge of the finger burners, but i will never pass TTFAF. and i am ok with that.
the beatles game is simply a joy to play, and it makes my friends who dont particularily like these games want to sit down and sing the 3rd part of the harmony, which is so cool.
the trolling on these boards, like all trolling, is such a drag, mostly because they don't really give a crap about reasoned responses to their bitching.
i too, bought gh5 mostly for the free VH game (30 dollar 360 games are nice), but once the beatles makes it out of my disk drive, i'll play gh5 a lot, too. using the 360 avatar is a funny, cool touch.
B3astofthe3ast @ Sep 12th 2009 3:47PM
You haven't been paying attention to RB DLC then...
frzamonkey @ Sep 12th 2009 4:04PM
ugh. wish i could reply to the reply.
i have been paying attention. most of the dlc is passable.
frzamonkey @ Sep 12th 2009 1:34PM
also, i don't mind paying weekly for dlc. tenacious d is gonna rock my socks off.
CDN Crockett @ Sep 12th 2009 1:53PM
I find these game to hard to play, if I could play them I'd be all over Pink Floyd and The Beatles edition.
If Floyd gets done that is.
Raging Gamer @ Sep 12th 2009 1:57PM
"Music game sales down 46%"
Really? What a shock!! Maybe it's because publishers like Activision and EA milk these franchises to death. How many versions of a game do we need... within a year mind you?! Come on already!!! Why not come out with a new version every couple of years or so and feed the damn thing with DLC? How many bundles of plastic instruments do we have to see sitting on the shelves each year collecting dust till they finally sell them on clearance? I don't mind this genre at all. I think it's fun to get together with friends and play this genre.. but the over saturation of this market is ridiculous. Now we have DJ hero coming out?!? What's next... Classic Hero with violins and piano's?!? More is not always better. Sometimes consumers like simple and less variances.. but options to expand on a purchase. These companies are way too greedy these days!!