Oh. Glorious goddamn day. EA knocked off the hill by Activision.

[schild]

Activision has become the first publisher this decade to topple Electronic Arts as the top grossing third-party publisher following $397.8 million in software sales from January through to June 2007.

ImageThe latest sales data from the NPD Group shows that sales of Activision titles for the first half of the year grossed almost $400 million, a figure largely attributable to the success of its Guitar Hero franchise. In comparison, EA titles raked in $365.7 million during the same period, reports the LA Times.

Activision’s feat is illustrative of its success in winning licenses to develop titles based on blockbuster movies and the continued popularity of homegrown franchises such as Call of Duty and Tony Hawk, as well as its knack of acquiring promising development studios.

Activision last year acquired Guitar Hero publisher RedOctane for a reported $100 million. Sales gleaned from the franchise are expected to make up around a fifth of Activision’s total sales for the current financial year.

"For 17 years, I've focused on becoming the No1 video game company, and we're getting a lot closer to achieving that objective," said Activision chief executive Bobby Kotick.

Despite the fact that EA is readying to release a number of blockbuster titles in the second half of the year, including Medal of Honor: Airborne and Madden NFL 08, games that could see EA regain its crown as the top selling third-party publisher, Activision executives remain confident in their outlook.

"We've never been better positioned as a company to take advantage of the growth in the video game industry," noted Kotick, while Robin Sue Kaminsky, Activision’s executive vice president of publishing, claimed the company was “well situated to win".

Shamelessly stolen from NeoGAF.

Sure, Madden isn't out YET. Guitar Hero 3 does come out this year.

[Sky]

"We've never been better positioned as a company to take advantage of the growth in the video game industry," noted Kotick, while Robin Sue Kaminsky, Activision’s executive vice president of publishing, claimed the company was “well situated to win".

Capitalists. Gotta love 'em. Or sickly resigned to their reign. Or something. That quote definitely puts the gamer first, focusing on quality titles.

Or cashing in.

Maybe next console generation games can cost $80 each.

[Yegolev]

This is really rather meaningless when you can't consider Madden.

[schild]

This is really rather meaningless when you can't consider Madden.

Guitar Hero 3 will probably put them within range of surpassing them this year. Nay. it will put them within range.

[HAMMER FRENZY]

Wow, that is pretty interesting. I hope Guitar Hero III is pretty good. OH, Schild, start a Guitar Hero II Encore Thread... Nevermind, I will do it. See you there. 

[schild]

Encore kinda sucks, man.

[MrHat]

Madden '08 > GHIII.

There's no way I'm buying the same game again (GHIII).

[murdoc]

Madden '08 > GHIII.

There's no way I'm buying the same game again (GHIII).

Wha...? If you buy Madden '08 aren't you just buying the same game again?

[Stephen Zepp]

Madden '08 > GHIII.

There's no way I'm buying the same game again (GHIII).

Wha...? If you buy Madden '08 aren't you just buying the same game again?

that one did make me do a "Whhaa??"

[Rasix]

Maybe he doesn't have a Madden.    Anyhow, GH3 or Madden 08 is a tough call for me. I don't have a football game yet nor a GH for my 360.  I'm not particularly in love with either franchise (it's best I say far away from rhythm games), so umm..  yah, I may be out of the equation here.

[OcellotJenkins]

Is GHIII coming to Wii or are they going to fuck us like they are with Rock Band?

[rk47]

Madden '08 > GHIII.

There's no way I'm buying the same game again (GHIII).

Green text please.

[Rasix]

Is GHIII coming to Wii or are they going to fuck us like they are with Rock Band?

[Ookii]

Is GHIII coming to Wii or are they going to fuck us like they are with Rock Band?

The internet is for porn.

[schild]

Is GHIII coming to Wii or are they going to fuck us like they are with Rock Band?

Well, you don't deserve Guitar Hero if that's what you're asking.

[OcellotJenkins]

Is GHIII coming to Wii or are they going to fuck us like they are with Rock Band?

Well, you don't deserve Guitar Hero if that's what you're asking.

I'm not sure what you are getting at with that snarky comment but apparently the Wii is getting the superior version, good to know.  I should have researched it before asking.  I'm still pissed about Rock Band though.  Hopefully the delay won't be too long beyond the 360/PS3 release.

[NiX]

If you get cheaper instruments, you really shouldn't complain. Word on the street is the drum kit alone is going to be a pretty penny.

[Nonentity]

I'm predicting a $300 360 Rock Band bundle over a $200 ps3 bundle, just due to the MS proprietary wireless cost stuff.

Or maybe a $250 over $200.

[Sky]

Start a band, for crissakes.

[Phildo]

Starting real bands excludes your friends without any real musical talent.  I'd feel bad if I was having all the fun rocking out and they could only watch.  Don't you want to include your friends?

[Chimpy]

Starting real bands excludes your friends without any real musical talent.  I'd feel bad if I was having all the fun rocking out and they could only watch.  Don't you want to include your friends?

Have you listened to some of the crap that has come out in the last 2 decades?

Having no real musical talent is no barrier to being in a band anymore :p

[Phildo]

I'm waiting for someone to create composition software for Guitar Hero or Rock Band.  Coupled with MySpace, it's the end of the recording industry as we know it.

[SnakeCharmer]

"We've never been better positioned as a company to take advantage of the growth in the video game industry," noted Kotick, while Robin Sue Kaminsky, Activision’s executive vice president of publishing, claimed the company was “well situated to win".

Capitalists. Gotta love 'em. Or sickly resigned to their reign. Or something. That quote definitely puts the gamer first, focusing on quality titles.

Or cashing in.

Maybe next console generation games can cost $80 each.

Without capitalism, you wouldn't have very many games to play, bro.  Much less too many quality ones.

[Sky]

Starting real bands excludes your friends without any real musical talent.  I'd feel bad if I was having all the fun rocking out and they could only watch.  Don't you want to include your friends?

Heh, good one.

[WindupAtheist]

Am I the only person in the world who doesn't care about rhythym games?  I played Parappa a million years ago, and after thirty seconds I realized the game was really just that bar at the top that told you when to push buttons.  All the graphics and everything else was just fluff that I was better off not taking the time to look at.  So I quit playing.  It doesn't look like much has really changed.

[Yegolev]

Am I the only person in the world who doesn't care about rhythym games?

No... there is another.

[Reg]

There can be only one.

[murdoc]

Am I the only person in the world who doesn't care about rhythym games?  I played Parappa a million years ago, and after thirty seconds I realized the game was really just that bar at the top that told you when to push buttons.  All the graphics and everything else was just fluff that I was better off not taking the time to look at.  So I quit playing.  It doesn't look like much has really changed.

Until I played Guitar Hero I hated all rhythm games.

[Sairon]

GH is more immersing than pretty much any MMO released the last couple of years.

[Stephen Zepp]

GH is more immersing than pretty much any MMO released the last couple of years.

I think that is much much more than stating the obvious...and I'm not sure why. I can say that as an avid "achiever", I personally don't care at all who "wins" a particular song in multiplayer, but I really do enjoy being able to play a song I know with someone else that's really good. GH II's co-op mode is pretty awesome in my book, and I'm not a rhythm game fan at all myself.

[cmlancas]

Madden '08 > GHIII.

There's no way I'm buying the same game again (GHIII).

I have Madden '95. It actually plays better than all the "new" bullshit. If I want to work on sacking people, I'll switch to D-Line. If I want to work on interceptions or shutting down the run, I'll choose a CB or a MLB. Why do I need to do the drills to get little badges. Fuck Madden. And fuck the uninformed public that thinks that each game is better than the next. I suppose it is all about the moneyasshattery though.

Shit, Ice Hockey for the original NES was amazing. I still play it from time to time while drunk with friends.

[schild]

GH is more immersing than pretty much any MMO released the last couple of years.

I think that is much much more than stating the obvious...and I'm not sure why. I can say that as an avid "achiever", I personally don't care at all who "wins" a particular song in multiplayer, but I really do enjoy being able to play a song I know with someone else that's really good. GH II's co-op mode is pretty awesome in my book, and I'm not a rhythm game fan at all myself.

Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that Capt Jigglypuff and HAMMER FRENZY and myself will make an entire night of thrashing Through the Fire and Flames on GH3.

God, shit, that's going to rock me so hard. I live for Guitar Hero endurance trials.

[cmlancas]

I'm glad it isn't just me who tries to beat rhythm games. I feel weird now that I am 21 getting up and playing ITG2. Thanks for making me feel semi-normal :)

[MrHat]

Madden '08 > GHIII.

There's no way I'm buying the same game again (GHIII).

I have Madden '95. It actually plays better than all the "new" bullshit. If I want to work on sacking people, I'll switch to D-Line. If I want to work on interceptions or shutting down the run, I'll choose a CB or a MLB. Why do I need to do the drills to get little badges. Fuck Madden. And fuck the uninformed public that thinks that each game is better than the next. I suppose it is all about the moneyasshattery though.

Shit, Ice Hockey for the original NES was amazing. I still play it from time to time while drunk with friends.

I refuse to use green tags.

[cmlancas]

That is totally an invisible chasm. There aren't even context posts for me!