Congrats to Harmonix, you guys deserve it.

[vexvegaz]

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.

source: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=17694

itprintsmoney.gif

dont forget to post those rockband decaled ferrari's :)

[NoD]

Conrats from me also, can't wait to see where this thread goes

[Gatorguy91]

Go pay activision what they deserve

After that, You got 208.7 Million to spend :-D

[CyN1caL]

They certainly do, especially the audio and QA guys who are probably working 167 hour weeks.

But don't go spending it all in one place (like on Boston memorabilia or something).

[Wasch_24]

Awesome work. Congrats!

[Brainn]

Good work!

[Lady Siara]

Sounds like everything is going great, keep up the good work!

[Sgt Pepper]

I think the HMX employees here on the forums deserve a multi-million dollar bonus...

[maskofskin]

I was under the impression this was going to the shareholders, but either way I hope the guys at Harmonix gets some of this.

Maybe they can use the money to hire some more people to crank out DLC? :)

[eVan_Diesel]

Nice! Way to go guys (and gals). Now....put that money to some good use! :D

[LtDansNutz]

source: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=17694

itprintsmoney.gif

dont forget to post those rockband decaled ferrari's :)

Congrats on the downloads. Now if we could only get the equipment to stop breaking we'd be able to play it.

[hmxhenry]

I think the HMX employees here on the forums deserve a multi-million dollar bonus...

You are too kind.

And you're also my new favorite poster!

[Hendrixx]

For that amount of money, Harmonix could physically buy a band!
Obviously not an immensely popular band...

But they could totally have The New Pornographers in a cupboard under the stairs...

Indie bands are always in the sweet spot price range!

[billmcdougal]

Awesome! I agree, they sure deserve it. I'm surprised MTV was nice enough to realize that, though :P.

[deathstick]

Congrats to all you hard-working and hard-rocking ladies and gents up there! RB still has legs because you've listened to the gamers & fans and given them a voice to what THEY want in the games you create. And besides, we're almost four months into RB's release in the US and you're still banging out the DLC on a weekly basis AND doing it cheaper than Activision is with GH3.

I hope you're all getting an extra few weeks vacation this year cause it's definitely well-deserved!!!

[jrinck]

DLC makes this the game that can never get old. And something that never gets old can make money forever!

[Apples]

In the gaming industry, there's a sad trend where fan-favorites and critically-acclaimed titles don't always translate into financial blockbusters.


So this type of news is extremely satisfying for a number of reasons:

1. It shows that the current model is financially successful, and thus, sustainable.

2. Since it is sustainable, we all can look forward to enjoying it for a time to come.

3. Those of us who bought into the concept, even in the preliminary stages, are gratified that we jumped onto the right ship and saw the future... as an "ultra awesome super co-op game" and not "a lame guitar hero imitator."

[jrinck]

3. Those of us who bought into the concept, even in the preliminary stages, are gratified that we jumped onto the right ship and saw the future... as an "ultra awesome super co-op game" and not "a lame guitar hero imitator."

Guitar Hero 3 is a Guitar Hero imitator. ;)

Rock Band is a natural extension of the Guitar Hero concept to the point where Rock Band now sets the standard.

[Damaged]

Use part of the $$$ to pay off Activision and END this PS3 guitar issue.:cool:

[Chris_Gonzalez]

Congrats, guys!

I was explaining to my friend that Rock Band's got me paying at least $22 a month, and that WoW's "got nothing on Rock Band".

I still believe this is quite true.

Keep up the good work, guys! I'm very thankful for all the DLC you put out weekly, and I'm buying it all.

Now, see if you can use that money for liscensing costs and grab some Zeppelin or Beatles, will ya? :P

[erickOnasis412]

damn now my $100 bribe to slip the harmonix employees my DLC requests won't be hefty enough ;)

rock band seems to be the money maker everybody's been waiting for though, congrats harmonix! even locally we've had a couple Rock Band tournies at some bars, with a $200 prize for the winners.. imagine if some of us users start making a living off being a Rock Band band!

[jrinck]

Use part of the $$$ to pay off Activision and END this PS3 guitar issue.:cool:

I doubt money is the issue on that one.

It's corporate ego. Once Harmonix starts shipping standalone strats, Activision will release the patch. Guaranteed.

[Munky2008]

Yeah thanks for all the weekly DLC also. I mean without those guys/gals making the DLC, Harmonix would not be doing as well as they are. The people making the DLC should get the bonus money, they desreve it alot.

I do beleive once the standalone strats come out they will make that guitar patch. I think the GH3 controllers suck anyway.

[GeneralGandorf]

Congrats, guys!

Now, see if you can use that money for liscensing costs and grab some Zeppelin or Beatles, will ya? :P

I think we could see them both eventually. With Zeppelin having stuff on Itunes and American Idol got access to the entire Beatles catalog this season. Things look good to me.

[shadebug]

Use part of the $$$ to pay off Activision and END this PS3 guitar issue.:cool:

we were doing so well in this thread too

better suggestion, use the money to get the designs for the strum bar off this guy
http://www.bytearts.com/strummer/index.html
and use it in all the new strats. Then you'd have the perfect guitar and nobody would care about the LPs

[dady5000]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26269490

It's on Gamespot now.

It seems HMX doesn't have the actual money. It's been put aside for anticipation of future Good Work.

[lintball]

Congrats, Harmonix!! Great news!

Buy some jet skis and gold chains for your home boys...

[Teh_Nfsjunkie91]

According to wikipedia, Rock Band cost 200 million dollars to make. Jesus, this bonus alone is 8 million more than the supposed cost to make, and then you factor in the sales etc...

Wow.

[Sayburr]

Great news! Congrads HMX, to everyone who works there and made this game possible from the people who answer the calls to the people who make the charts to the people who playtest the songs for so long they get sick of playing the same tune over and over and over.

Thanks for the great game and I am very happy to support you guys.

[Sayburr]

Hmmmm, I thought more people would have virtually shaken the hands of the game makers, but I guess the new songs are keeping to many people gaming or watching vids.

[Julio_Strikes_Back]

Congrats on the bonus. Hopefully this can be used for better hardware and licensing some bigger names.

[lentini]

According to wikipedia, Rock Band cost 200 million dollars to make. Jesus, this bonus alone is 8 million more than the supposed cost to make, and then you factor in the sales etc...

Wow.

I find that VERY hard to believe

[whofan]

Congrats to everyone at Harmonix.

Not only has your baby come to life, but is immensely succesful. That must be one of the greatest feelings in the world. And hey, the money ain't too shabby either.

Congrats again

[GregOfTheDead]

Congrats to all within HMX!!

I honestly didnt buy much (if any) DLC on the marketplace prior to Rock Band, but I own virtually all RockBand-DLC and will continue to support this game. It has allowed me to get into all kinds of different bands I wouldnt typically listen to otherwise. Infact, because of Rock Band, I'm going to see Rush in July, all because of "Working Man", I freakin love that song!!

On an unrelated note, if an HMX employee reads this- I would totally buy DLC that expands Band World Tour to include more sets, especially ones that utilize DLC, im getting kinda sick of the songs (some, not all of course) in the game on the disc when I play BWT. Feel free to expand to 1250 achievements anytime now :D

[Electric_Zen]

Exciting, but not surprising.

When smart, creative, people do what they love, and treat their customers with respect, the money will come. Well deserved!

[shaggymojo]

Congrats guys! Hookers and blow for everyone!!!!!

[Zidd]

I find that VERY hard to believe
you think that licensing is cheap? especially with the music industry the way it is? your insane. congratulations to HMX on a job well done.