Guitar Hero, Call of Duty franchises lead Activision's 'better-than-expected' Q3 2009
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Nov 5th 2009 at 5:32PM } 
In fact, the CEO called Guitar Hero the year's "#1 best-selling third-party franchise in North America and Europe" through September, claiming that U.S. sales of music games increased 72 percent year over year in September. Last year's big-band-box edition, World Tour, and Call of Duty: World at War combined for total, world domination, becoming this year's "#1 and #2 best-selling third-party titles" in North America and Europe through September, according to Activision. Additionally, World at War DLC map pack sales continued to climb last quarter and have now surpassed 7.5 million purchases.
Needless to say, the publisher is not backing off of its prior financial outlook. Activision anticipates annual net revenues of $4.5 billion (on a non-GAAP basis) at the close of the year. Did you remember to feign surprise?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shadowfax (PSN: u2fan4894) @ Nov 5th 2009 5:36PM
Let's fight right now Kotick!
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) Brigade] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 5th 2009 6:46PM
Uwe Boll?
brian @ Nov 5th 2009 5:38PM
When your number one theres only one thing you can do!
Whore it out!
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 5th 2009 5:39PM
While reading this I curse Kotick, and keep trying to forget that I'll be lining up at gamestop for the MW2 launch.
I tried a boycott, at least with new games but it doesn't work since the money from Blizzard games also go into this asshole's pocket...and infinity ward are just masters of their craft.
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 5th 2009 5:43PM
Yep, I hate Kodick with a passion, but it I feel much better playing MW2, and will feel even better when I finally can play Starcraft 2, and Diablo 3.
CheeziePotato @ Nov 5th 2009 6:27PM
They're making a Diablo 3?
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 5th 2009 6:38PM
Activision Blizzard???
Sly @ Nov 5th 2009 6:41PM
potato, where have you been for the past 6 months (at least... i don't remember when it was revealed)? its been REALLY hyped and covered everywhere.
CheeziePotato @ Nov 5th 2009 9:29PM
Really? I never knew about it.
sammuniz7 @ Nov 5th 2009 5:40PM
"While the blockbuster adaptation of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen might have played a part in this outpouring of our money........"
Yeah, right. We ALL bought the terrible licensed game of a terrible movie
False @ Nov 5th 2009 5:45PM
Not ALL of us bought it. ENOUGH of us bought it.
sammuniz7 @ Nov 5th 2009 6:13PM
Well, then I ask myself: Why did anyone buy it?
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Nov 5th 2009 5:41PM
http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/148705-kotick.jpg
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Nov 5th 2009 5:46PM
WaW was the 2nd best seller of Q3? THIS YEAR? Is that counting map packs or actual game units? Cause holy shit if it's game units
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Nov 5th 2009 5:48PM
Is world at war the one with the zombies? because most people I know have this one.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Nov 5th 2009 5:50PM
yes it is, and so do most of my friends, but they all bought it at or around launch, not this august!
That_Guy436 @ Nov 5th 2009 8:28PM
I know, and isn't it funny how before COD4 everyone was sick and tired of WWII games, then COD4 comes out and it was like a messiah or something, and then WAW comes out and ppl didn't care anymore that it was a WWII game anymore.
Or it could have just been the Zombies that everyone wanted to play.
RanHakubi @ Nov 5th 2009 5:57PM
"And we thought we were bad at milking franchises..."
- Nintendo on Activision
CynicalStrike @ Nov 5th 2009 6:04PM
Ever noticed you never see Activision and Unicron in the same place at once?
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Nov 5th 2009 6:10PM
come to think of it, ive never seen unicron at all!
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 5th 2009 6:44PM
No Unicron for you!
Darth Bob @ Nov 5th 2009 6:15PM
Odd...I would expect WaW's sales to be in decline.
CheeziePotato @ Nov 5th 2009 6:25PM
Activision announces new Call of Duty and Guitar Hero in 2010.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1042724p1.html
Of course this would be no surprise to anyone.
RKN @ Nov 5th 2009 6:26PM
Kotick can most certainly afford to be a douchebag with all these successful IPs under his belt.
Sly @ Nov 5th 2009 6:42PM
...
how did that player get 9 molotovs in zombies? the max is 4...
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Nov 5th 2009 6:45PM
none of the maps have buildings like that in the background either, so it's probably from an earlier/newer version
Wazzup4567 @ Nov 5th 2009 6:54PM
its a PC Mod
RKN @ Nov 5th 2009 6:53PM
Oh, you didn't hear? You have the option to download a $5 patch to unlock having more molotovs in the Zombie Mode, its hidden in the game code but you need to contribute towards Kotick's "New Private Jet" fund first.
Garlador @ Nov 5th 2009 6:53PM
Just remember, your money is nourishment to Kotick's dark and filthy soul.
RKN @ Nov 5th 2009 6:54PM
Yeah, the videogame masses will definitely remember that while playing Modern Warfare 2, Guitar Hero, DJ Hero and World of Warcraft.
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 5th 2009 7:16PM
Don't care. Unless he actually made the games, I could not care less who was the CEO for the parent company. I support developers that make awesome games, and if they screw up, Bobby Kotick won't be the one taking a pay-cut.
copa @ Nov 5th 2009 7:27PM
"the CEO called Guitar Hero the year's '#1 best-selling third-party franchise in North America and Europe' through September"
That's a very long-winded way to say "Beatles:Rock Band is outselling GH5".
ScottG13 @ Nov 6th 2009 9:07AM
Did GH5 move many units? We know that Rock Band Beatles did quite well.
MW2 doing well would surprise me, too. It was incredibly mediocre.
ScottG13 @ Nov 6th 2009 9:08AM
Crap. I mean MUA2, not MW2.