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Beatles: Rock Band sales beating forecast - Viacom

MTV Games and Harmonix's Fab Four-only rhythm game sells 25% of inventory in first week; special edition package gone by November; song downloads hit 60 million.

As part of its second-quarter financial report in July, Viacom bemoaned the slumping sales of its MTV Games and Harmonix's Rock Band franchise, saying contribution from its Media Networks division was down some 40 percent. However, it looks like not even that sliding interest can dampen the popularity of The Beatles.

They want you, yeah, yeah, yeah.

They want you, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference this week, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said that MTV Games and Harmonix's The Beatles: Rock Band has been shifting units faster than even its own internal expectations.

"In the first week, we've sold about 25 percent of our inventory, and we've had tremendous excitement around this game," Dauman said to the congregated investors and analysts. "It's selling well across all platforms, Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii. And, in fact, the pricing change that was made on PlayStation has helped sales on that platform."

According to Dauman, the $249.99 special limited-edition hardware bundle, which includes an all-new drum set, guitar, and microphone modeled after the Beatles' own instruments, has also seen strong sales. Viacom expects to be sold out of the package by November.

Dauman went on to note that Viacom expects the game to continue its strong start, thanks to ample promotion across its own networks, as well as the release of remastered versions of The Beatles' previous albums. "There's going to be promotion for the next several months, and as we go into the holidays, it'll be great," he said. He also stated that there have been more than 60 million paid song downloads across the Rock Band platform to date.

For more on The Beatles: Rock Band, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

42 Comments

  • korko3

    Posted Sep 21, 2009 8:11 pm GMT

    I hate the Beatles... but the damn game is so well done that it makes up for it, this is everything a band specific rhythm game can and should be.

  • zaiwen

    Posted Sep 19, 2009 5:08 pm GMT

    i don't mind paying the $$$, the beatles are worth it

  • NoSoup4Me

    Posted Sep 18, 2009 11:06 am GMT

    Agreed Cutmaclass1 Hit the nail right on the head. You have to take the time to listen and maybe even do a little research online about the beatles. You can understand why they were so big ,not just with tween girls. there Is a reason they "take a chance with a beatles game " Its not a chance. There music is amazing they were one of a kind band. how many rock groups after have cover at least one of there songs. I was playing with my friend and he kept say "oh I like this song ....I didn't know the Beatles did this one" lol he said that about 5 times. If you watch Imagine The film you can see in the 1st 20 mins they were more than a boy band of today . They had riot like fights when there shows would finish ,Like a mosh pit b4 there were mosh pits ,lol except they'd rush the stage and destroy everything lol . All You Need Is Love !!!

  • Oni

    Posted Sep 18, 2009 3:49 am GMT

    Love the game and adore the Beatles. Thank you MTV Games (I still hate your channel though, sorry)

  • Kashmiro

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 6:56 pm GMT

    This game is awesome! One of the best rhythm games there is.

  • Jason_Dylan76

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 6:31 pm GMT

    I bought this day of release. I knew I wanted TB:RB even though I've never really been into music rhythm games, so I picked up the RB2 set for the 360 when they dropped it to $99 because I knew I wasn't going to pay $250 for this for the special edition. I STILL think that this was an overpriced game considering the amount of tracks and which tracks they are. What really gets me though is having to wait for 9/10ths of the songs I WANT to play and then paying more for them on top of that. I felt this would have been more aptly priced as a band centric track pack... maybe $40-45, considering the track amount and content. Then hit us with all the DLC. I know it's the Beatles, and I bought it, but still... just venting a bit.

  • halosniper52

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 5:44 pm GMT

    Da " railroberto2007" Sucks!

  • Fallen119

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 5:21 pm GMT

    They should make a dream theater rockband

  • im-a-roustabout

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:59 pm GMT

    Then why did you even bother to read and comment if you cared in the least popplayer22? Go Beatles! You rock.

  • CHAMPION6171994

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:35 pm GMT

    @popplayer22

    Why are you even reading about an article about the Beatles or Rock Band? People are losing their lives and so when they are bored they do this. Say things suck when they don't need to.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:25 pm GMT

    The downloadable albums are going to make them tons of money with the hardcore Beatles fans, when I eventually get the game I'll probably get several downloadable albums myself just because I wasn't too impressed with the game's track line up that came with it.

    As for GH5's success, I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the special offer where you get a free copy of GH: Van Halen for for buying this through the month of September.

  • gnbfd

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:15 pm GMT

    60 million songs??????
    Nice job Harmonix!
    And btw, TB:RB is an amazing game. Better than any Neversoft GH game I've played IMO

  • CapsFan001

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 3:38 pm GMT

    This is no topic to drop a "Da Beatles suck." I personally believe that the Beatles are the best rock/pop group ever.

  • ColonelX24

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 3:19 pm GMT

    I like looking at blocked comments and giving them even more thumbs down. Man, that was random, but evil.

  • popplayer22 posted Sep 17, 2009 3:08 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    popplayer22

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 3:08 pm GMT (hide)

    I don't like the Beatles at all. Or Rock Band. So this is about as appealing as poop flavored lollipop to me.

  • Paul_GameFury

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:56 pm GMT

    Ok, this is coming from a person not well versed in the Beatles. My girlfriend is a huge fan, so we got Beatles Rock Band. Their early music is good, but I can understand the complaints about it being for teenage girls. As I got further into the game, I learned how amazingly diverse they were, and as I understand it, much of their best stuff isn't even in the game. By the time I reached the end of the game, Beatles Rock Band made a fan out of me.

  • MareInfinitus

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:56 pm GMT

    Btw, how could anyone compare the Beatles to Menudo? Really?

  • MareInfinitus

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:55 pm GMT

    @LeviHarris

    Win. Epic win.

  • dramadude186

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:53 pm GMT

    I can't say I'm surprised. I actually don't care for the whole Guitar Hero/Rock Band craze (I don't own a single version), but this game has piqued my interest. If I was going to drop $200 on a music game, it would probably be this one.

    @Yanquillero, railroberto2007 - While you're entitled to your opinion, I just don't see how you can discount 40 years of enduring popularity and constant critical praise. Saying the Beatles suck is about as close to having a wrong opinion as you can get. What music do you consider "good," then, if you don't like the Beatles?

  • LeviHarris

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:44 pm GMT

    @ railroberto2007

    The great thing about music is that it's all a matter of preference. I hope you feel better proclaiming that "Da beatles suck." However, dey do not suck. If you asked any one of the idiots in Metallica if "Da beatles suck," they would disagree with you because any musician knows how influential they are. I'm sure James Hetfield listened to The Beatles as a kid. Something you clearly could have benefited from. Enjoy working Sh***y jobs the rest of your life and amounting to nothing.

  • railroberto2007 posted Sep 17, 2009 2:33 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    railroberto2007

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:33 pm GMT (hide)

    Da beatles suck

  • cutmaclass1

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:32 pm GMT

    Yanquillero:

    While I acknowledge your opinion, I can't help but wonder how on earth you would think songs like "I Am The Walrus", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Happiness Is a Warm Gun", "Back in the USSR", "With You Without You", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Because", "Taxman", "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Revolution", or especially "A Day in the Life" could be "made" for tween girls, specifically given the political, socio-economic, and spiritual overtones that can be found in any one of those song in addition to many more.

    -cutmaclass

    P.S. Oh, wait, I just realized that it's because you've probably never even listened to them. Silly me for assuming that you actually know even the smallest iota of what you're talking about.

  • Amadpineapple

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:30 pm GMT

    "Sorry, but i think that the beatles is an overrated band. They're to the 60's what Menudo was to the 80's: a band made for hysterical tween girls. Sorry, but that's my humble opinion. Sorry if i crushed somebody feelings, but that's my point of view."

    While considering their early stuff, this statement is correct. You are ignoring the fact that the Beatles were a very diverse band. Personally, I think that White, and Revolver are two of the greatest pieces of art ever conceived. Neither of which were created for an intended tween girl market. And although I'm not necessarily a Sgt. Peppers fan, that album goes down in history as reasserting the boundaries of which artists could do.

    Merely ignoring the Beatles as nothing more than a bubblegum pop teeny bopper band from the 60's is probably the most ill conceived assumption I've come across.

  • tmacfan4321 posted Sep 17, 2009 2:13 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    tmacfan4321

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:13 pm GMT (hide)

    The Rolling Stones: Rock Band?

  • Yanquillero posted Sep 17, 2009 2:12 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Yanquillero

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:12 pm GMT (hide)

    Sorry, but i think that the beatles is an overrated band. They're to the 60's what Menudo was to the 80's: a band made for hysterical tween girls. Sorry, but that's my humble opinion. Sorry if i crushed somebody feelings, but that's my point of view.

  • freakalator

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 2:09 pm GMT

    Haha I REALLY wanted this to sell well, but didn't think it would..it's the ONLY music game I would consider getting

  • ItsEvolution

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:58 pm GMT

    "What's the "pricing change" for Playstation? Did I miss something?"

    $299 PS3 Slim, maybe?

  • ZookGuy

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:53 pm GMT

    I'm not surprised at all.

  • ACEGamer89

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:52 pm GMT

    What's the "pricing change" for Playstation? Did I miss something?

  • okassar

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:49 pm GMT

    60 Million payed song downloads?Sick!

    and I'm not surprised with the RBB sales,the Beatles are epic.

  • sagameister3

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:25 pm GMT

    Having the original members from the beatles, the 2 that are left at least, as well as their family supporting this game just lead to good chemistry, unlike what's going on with gth5 and Cobain.

  • puffadell

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:13 pm GMT

    the beatles were good the game is good

  • RedSoxfan67

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:53 pm GMT

    The Beatles+Rock Band=Win!!!!

  • houtx1836

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:44 pm GMT

    Can't say I'm surprised

  • Eastcoast93

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:44 pm GMT

    it derserves to be sold a trillion times!!

  • TXMostWanted

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:39 pm GMT

    Those "Beatles: Rock Band" ads have got to be some of the best ads ever aired! I'd watch 'em just for fun...and now I'm getting the game cuz of it lol

  • WiiNut6493

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:37 pm GMT

    BEATLES FTW! i want a paul hofner bass controler( clicks on ebay)

  • frogiggy323

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:14 pm GMT

    I always liked the beatles a little, but after playing this game I love them!!! The art, the details, thevenues, the trivia, and of course the music, its all so well put together and really shows that a band game can be something big by itself instead of just a cash in.

  • gameweasl

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:11 pm GMT

    It is a well made game, a must play for any Beatle fan...

  • AstroChimp83

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 11:52 am GMT

    The Beatles: Rock Band is a pretty awesome game, IF you like the Beatles. I'm just waiting for the DLC albums to come out. I needs me some Revolver and Rubber Soul.

  • Narutofan30

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 11:46 am GMT

    SELL SELL SELL!!!!

  • tremor33

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 11:43 am GMT

    Yoko Ono must be ecstatic

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