MTV admits higher sales of Beatles: Rock Band were expected in Europe

The Beatles: Rock Band may have been a critical success, but it never achieved the levels of commercial success MTV had hoped for in Europe. MTV general manager Scott Guthrie told MCV that a combination of the bad economy and competition contributed to the game's undesirable performance.

"We got caught in a few things that happened last year. It was a tough economy; there was a lot of competitive products out there, and I think Beatles probably had softer sales than it would have if some of those things weren't in play," he said. "Overall we were pleased with the sales. I think that we underestimated the competition and they took mind share away from us." This shouldn't be an issue for MTV's next game, Green Day: Rock Band, the company hopes.

The competition Guthrie talks about is Guitar Hero 5, which did gangbusters in Europe. But while Guitar Hero 5 was busy selfishly generating cash for Activision, The Beatles: Rock Band managed to generate a lot of cash for charity, so that has to help MTV get through those cold nights. Right?

Reader Comments (37)

MTV: Everything but music.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks that...

You two just might be on to something with your unique perspective of MTV.

I'm really waiting for the Real World video game.

I bought this game ; twice as it happens (360 and PS3)

Then again, I grew up in Liverpool, listening to The Beatles, having parents who had PLAYED with The Beatles - so no, I am not really biased about this product ;)

Is your father Pete Best?

You never give me your moneyyy...

You only give me your funnny paper

But when it comes to negotiations

I think sales would have been better all around if they let people rip the songs to Rock Band 2

Slow news day?

Just like the band itself, sales were overrated. Maybe rather than blaming the weak sales on "competition" or the "weak economy," perhaps people just don't like the Beatles THAT much. I believe that Greenday: Rockband sales will be quite revealing.

I wouldn't say The Beatles are overrated, but the generation these games are aimed at are more familiar with bands like Green Day than they are The Beatles.

Just because video game players didn't buy the game as much as expected, doesn't mean that people don't like The Beatles "that much".

Perhaps, though I would bet that Led Zeppelin: Rockband would sell much better. The Beatles were a POP band, better suited for a Singstar or Lips release.

I would agree a Zep RB would sell better. It really all comes down to opinion and what you like. Personally I think Green Day is overrated but that's just opinion. Sales come down to what the majority likes.

Voshempa

In the context of the article and my response, "people," would be defined as gamers; particularly those into rhythm gaming. I should have specified.

Hell, even I like the Beatles at sleepy time.

I think Activision is the real culprit here. They flooded the market with these types of games and drove demand to an all time low.

I see. Just checking.

The game is not that bad but then again I only paid $10 brand new at Target if I had paid the full $60 I would have been extremely disappointed.

$10 brand new at Target? Please share your shopping tactics :)

Target had it priced at $20 but when it scanned up for $10.

I'm a Beatles hater (so I upvoted you, Jedi) but I don't think they're overrated exactly. More like they're not eternally relevant like the Boomers think they are. Pop music changes too fast for any one act to remain important to everyone for decades.

ACCURSED JOYSTIQ! Comment fail. To Zoot Suit at 3:54.

I'm F@#$*&# SICK OF PEOPLE FAILING AT ENGLISH!! "Their" & "There".... L2GRAMMAR, stop abusing their use.

I don't know...I don't really want to play through a whole game of just ONE band. They put enough variety into their music where it might not get boring...but IDK. This goes for the upcoming green day game too btw.

The amount of idiocy in a lot of these comments makes my head hurt.

Launching Rock Band in Europe six months late and at twice the price is the reason Guitar Hero always out sells it. As for the Beatles well my 60 year old dad likes them and guess now many video games he plays.

Erm, 15? you said guess.

Haha, Hooch is crazy.

I bet they are surprised.....I said the same thing when we got the numbers from the UK on release....

I'm sure the Green Day one will be good, but I just don't see myself paying $60 for it. Or even $40.

Well to help Harmonix with world wide sales, I'm taking a non-existent position for the company as the VP of re-releases for one day, and will be re-launching The Beatles: Rock Band across all platforms on June 8, 2010. I'm doing so this so that the masses with have a Rock Band game to buy thats worthy of having it's own game. See you in the dreamscapes!!!

Haha Jenks ; no.
I'm just passionate about the music ; grew up listening to it.

No 5th Beatle here.

It could also have something to do with paying for the same songs for the 5th time after buying them on vinyl, tape, cd, etc etc etc...

Green Day may be a better fit with the 16-30 year old demographic. Anything younger probably doesn't have a preference between Green Day and the Beatles, and anything older most likely sides with the Beatles.

I know when you're a under 20, it's popular to hate what everyone likes, and like what everyone hates, but I would vote that the Beatles are in no way overrated. I'm still waiting for the rest of the DLC.

The only reason I can guess why sales were lower than expected is the reason I didn't run out and get it right away myself: I was a little disappointed with the song list. There were a lot of greats on there, but the problem with bands like the Beatles is that if you have taken the time to listen to them you probably like them, if you like them you probably have 20 songs you like by them because they have something like 34340 singles. No track list is going to make any one fan 100% content; i.e. there will always be a few tracks not on there. I know that there were more than a couple of songs I would have rather seen.

Furthermore, as cool as some of the video and photo stuff was, while playing it I couldn't help but think "Did I miss out on 5-10 more tracks for all of this?"

MTV admits higher sales of Beatles: Rock Band were expected in Europe

Reader Comments (37)

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:33PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:14PM religiousjedi said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:21PM Jenks said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:37PM Shagittarius said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:49PM MrXile said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:26PM Jenks said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:49PM whymog said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:55PM Mayor West said

Posted: May 22nd 2010 6:26PM TRONdll said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:51PM Mika101 said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:52PM Blkant said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:54PM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:56PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:58PM Voshempa said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:00PM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:03PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:03PM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:40PM Mayor West said

Posted: May 21st 2010 7:22PM Voshempa said

Posted: May 21st 2010 3:57PM shimrra74 said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:35PM sho220 said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:40PM shimrra74 said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:01PM justinslot said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:02PM justinslot said

Posted: May 21st 2010 5:22PM pmiddy said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:04PM Petebot330 said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:06PM TraceurRyuk Prepping for LBP2 said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:11PM DrunkSte said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:24PM Hooch said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:45PM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:30PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: May 21st 2010 4:52PM Trojan said

Posted: May 21st 2010 5:09PM Nate Addison said

Posted: May 21st 2010 5:09PM MrXile said

Posted: May 21st 2010 6:26PM DerekUGA said

Posted: May 21st 2010 6:49PM sigma8 said

Posted: May 22nd 2010 11:49AM Budz McGee said

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