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rock band

Rock Band Sells 3 Million Games, 10 Million Songs

Rock Band's new in-game store was introduced for two reasons. One was to make things easier for you as a shopper. The other, more important (for MTV/Harmonix) reason was to make sure you just buy more damn songs. Which seems to have worked a treat, because Viacom have announced that ten million Rock Band songs have now been downloaded, up four million from March 20. Which was only a month-and-a-half ago! They also report that they've sold three million copies of the game itself, which when you consider the vast majority of those would have been bundle sales, is a number that must have the accounts types at Viacom, MTV and Harmonix tickled seven shades of pink.
Rock Band Ships 3 Million; 10 Million Songs Downloaded [GameDaily]

8:20 PM on Fri May 2 2008
By Luke Plunkett
1,544 views, 21 comments

Latest by psychobaka: I've bought a very good portion of the DLC released and I don't regret any of the purchases. It's more »

rock band

Rock Band Drives Viacom Profits Skyward

Rock Band has been very, very good to MTV parent company Viacom, who announced that first quarter profits rose 33% based mainly off the sales of the sales of the title, along with higher advertising revenue at MTV Networks. The media conglomerate also enjoyed a revenue increase of 15% for the period, surpassing analyst expectations at $3.1 billion. Between having one of the hottest games on the market and their Iron Man movie opening this weekend (saw it last night, and it was amazing!), it's not hard to imagine Viacom's executive chairman Sumner Redstone rocking out to Blue Oyster Cult in celebration, as the Reuters article suggests. What is hard is trying to wipe the mental picture from your head. Thanks a bunch, Reuters. More »

10:20 AM on Fri May 2 2008
By Mike Fahey
1,621 views, 27 comments

Latest by bobtheduck: @PurpleSfinx: Singstar will still beat Rock band in europe... Other way around in the US, by far... I wish there more »

harmonix

Harmonix Respond To Sue Happy Gibson

Gibson's first lawsuit against Activision was stupid enough, but subsequent filings against retailers and now Harmonix and MTV show they're clearly suffering from a particularly acute case of STUPID LAWSUIT FEVER. Harmonix are having none of it, and have issued a statement claiming Gibson's suit is "completely without merit".

It is unfortunate that Gibson unfairly desires to share in the tremendous success enjoyed by the developers of Rock Band and Guitar Hero. This lawsuit is completely without merit and we intend to defend it vigorously.

Gibson's patent, filed nearly 10 years ago, required a 3D display, a real musical instrument and a recording of a concert. Rock Band and Guitar Hero are completely different: among other things they are games, require no headset and use a controller only shaped like a real instrument.

[Pic]

8:20 PM on Fri Mar 21 2008
By Luke Plunkett
4,678 views, 53 comments

Latest by mjpm: @kotakumea: Guitar Hero 7? Since when? (yeah, I know you forgot to hold shift). more »

harmonix

Harmonix Gets Bonus For Big Results

Thanks to the immense success of Rock Band, Harmonix has received a $208.7 million bonus in "performance based earnouts" from MTV Games and parent company Viacom. According to Viacom's most recent financial statement, Harmonix was set to receive a bonus in the event of exceeding the expectations of MTV Games. The condition was a part of MTV Games' acquisition agreement with Harmonix back in 2006. Since MTV Games payed $175 million for Harmonix, I'm thinking that they've definitely made their money's worth on both sides of the deal.

Harmonix Earns $208.7 Million Bonus From Viacom [Gamasutra]

2:00 PM on Mon Mar 3 2008
By torif
2,525 views, 68 comments

Latest by TeaBean: You know what is missing from Rock Band? Those awesome Boss Battles form GH3! Just kidding, I would love to punch more »

business

Relax, Viacom (Probably) Aren't Buying Take-Two

That rumour yesterday about media giants Viacom swooping for troubled publishing house Take-Two? Most likely bogus. Both Reuters and Variety are pouring cold water on the suggestion, with Variety's Ben Fritz reiterating something we heard a lot of yesterday: if Viacom were going to go for a publisher, it wouldn't be one as costly and cumbersome as Take-Two. It'd be Midway, who are equally vulnerable, and who Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone happens to have a controlling stake in. That and his daughter, Shari Redstone, is chairman (chairlady?) of Midway.
Viacom's not making a bid for Take Two [Variety]

1:30 AM on Fri Feb 8 2008
By Luke Plunkett
428 views, 8 comments

Latest by ThugATRON: Why the hell are they in trouble with stuff like BioShock bringing in bucketloads of cash? more »

rumor

Viacom To Buy Take-Two?

Beleaguered publisher Take-Two haven't had the best few years. Indeed, things have got so bad for the company in these post-Hot Coffee days that the past year or so have seen a metric fuckton of rumours pop up suggesting the company will be swallowed up and bought out. As of today, none have come to pass, and they're still flying solo. But the latest - that Viacom are interested in the company - holds a lot of water. For one, Viacom are looking at getting into the gaming business. Secondly, Take-Two's big-selling properties are original IP, not licensed movie or sports stuff, so there'd be no problems with rival companies for rights. And finally, because Take-Two shareholders are becoming increasingly impatient as they wait for the company to reverse its fortunes.
Viacom looking at Take Two Interactive? [Notable Calls, via GI.biz]

9:30 PM on Wed Feb 6 2008
By Luke Plunkett
909 views, 24 comments

Latest by sharkbite: Viacom isn't "looking at getting into the gaming business" - they own Harmonix, a major stake in Midway, NeoPets, GameTrailers more »

xbox 360

Viacom, Microsoft Forge Alliance To Bring "Cribs" To Xbox 360s

An advertising and content sharing deal between Microsoft and Viacom, valued at some half-billion dollars, could bring even more Paramount, MTV and Comedy Central content to the Xbox Live Marketplace, including the MTV show Cribs, which could qualify as a rare win-win-win. Specifics on the "broad selection" of shows and movies that will be licensed as part of the deal weren't given but Live Marketplace already enjoys plenty of content from MTV, MTV2, VH1, Comedy Central, Spike and other Viacom brands. That content could increase to include the as-yet unavailable via Marketplace housing program Cribs. Yes, Cribs.

While major portions of the deal won't directly impact Xbox 360 owners, as it includes shared advertising revenues and content for MSN and blah blah blah, the prospect of increased Cribs access is too enticing to ignore. I can only hope this alliance will bring the criminally overlooked TV Funhouse to the list of available Comedy Central programs.

Microsoft, Viacom Ink $500 Mil Ad Deal [CNN/Money]

7:20 PM on Wed Dec 19 2007
By Michael McWhertor
1,005 views, 46 comments

Latest by MURDERFACE: @D00mM4r1n3: Yeah your right it is called Takeshi's Castle it says it in the first few end credits of more »

you can't do that on television

Nickelodeon Invests $100 Million in Casual Games

It's easy to forget that Nickelodeon has money when you're too old for Spongebob, but the Viacom-owned Nickelodeon is dropping $100 million into casual gaming development over the next two years. More »

1:40 PM on Wed Jul 18 2007
By Mark Wilson
2,234 views, 27 comments

viacom

Editorial: Why MTV Won't Buy 1Up

I'm just a simple country blogger, but despite recent rumors about Viacom buying out all or part of Ziff Davis Game Group, I just don't see it happening. More »

4:00 PM on Thu Jan 11 2007
By Brian Crecente
196 views, 16 comments