So Activision's CES keynote was apparently pretty uneventful, providing a quick peek at Guitar Hero: Metallica but mostly spending a weird amount of time talking about the company's games from 2008. One point of interest, though, was the revelation from Activision CEO Mike Griffith that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock had created $1 billion in revenue, which is a new sales record for any game in the history of ever. Sure, that's counting all of the different platform versions, and the bundled guitar controllers pads the per-unit prices pretty well, but still. A billion. $1,000,000,000. Looking at that number is like when people from the Midwest talk to me, someone who was born and raised in California, about the temperature hitting -20 during the winter. I simply do not have a point of reference to understand what that number actually means. So, to provide some perspective, here's a few things that you could buy with a cool bill.

253,164,556 Six-Dollar Burgers from Carl's Jr.

34,494,653 bottles of Goldschlager (750ML)

2,857,142 Swarovski Crystal-encrusted Nintendo DSes

50,000 Sony Bravia 70-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTVs

10,000Midways

125 Maybach Exeleros

50Crank 2: High Voltages

So Activision's CES keynote was apparently pretty uneventful, providing a quick peek at Guitar Hero: Metallica but mostly spending a weird amount of time talking about the company's games from 2008. One point of interest, though, was the revelation from Activision CEO Mike Griffith that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock had created $1 billion in revenue, which is a new sales record for any game in the history of ever. Sure, that's counting all of the different platform versions, and the bundled guitar controllers pads the per-unit prices pretty well, but still. A billion. $1,000,000,000. Looking at that number is like when people from the Midwest talk to me, someone who was born and raised in California, about the temperature hitting -20 during the winter. I simply do not have a point of reference to understand what that number actually means. So, to provide some perspective, here's a few things that you could buy with a cool bill.

253,164,556 Six-Dollar Burgers from Carl's Jr.

34,494,653 bottles of Goldschlager (750ML)

2,857,142 Swarovski Crystal-encrusted Nintendo DSes

50,000 Sony Bravia 70-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTVs

10,000Midways

125 Maybach Exeleros

50Crank 2: High Voltages

I thought that they had reached a billion a while ago.

i would like that burger, tv, and that sleek looking car please

Kickass post

Hardees > Carls Jr.

"10,000 Midways" made me laugh.

That's a lot of burgers.

Wow. I contributed to that 1 billion yesterday. Go me!

Guess they aren't hurting for money. Though I think they'd best be saving it up for the eventual Intrument-Gaming crash.

Nice post Ryan. That is one BIG number.

That's a lot of Midways.

Ahaha 10,000 midways, man your dollars don't go as far as they used to :D

They'd only be at $999,999,940 if it wasn't for me!

i totally laughed out loud at the 10,000 midways

Damn...

It's 1 Bil revenue, which is different from profit. Revenue simply measures cash flow and doesn't take into account expenses.

10,000 midways. That's funny... and sad.

Billion, with a b.

"Hardees > Carls Jr."

10,000 midways   heh heh

I can't even remember what a 50 dollar bill looks like.

Ka-ching!

That's a lot of Midway's. Really hope that many do not exist! :P

They probably sold a lot of Red Bull and 5 gum too.

it's -25 without windchill where i am today

Goldschlager is dangerous stuff!

@Geno: They're talking about the opportunity cost. It's not actually what Activision could buy (because they don't have 1 billion in profit), but what us people that bought Guitar Hero III could have bought if we had come together to plan an investment.

Sweet mother of god games are becoming huge!

Damn, that is a LOT of burgers.

*mouth waters*

Great now I'm hungry for a six dollar burger. THANKS RYAN!! lol
Love how you found a way to get Crank 2 into the story. hahahaha

I'd rather have the burgers then Midway, More filling and half the regret 

My house is worth more than Midway.  

Holy shit.

Wow...good for them...donate some of it to poor countries in Africa....or make more games...


Make more games

Eww dude. I wouldn't want a free bottle of Goldschlager .  Ryan don't tell me you like Fireball too, ewwww i can almost taste the hot cinnamon...

Scotch s where it's at, keep it Alpha bro.

What, NO women ? :O

lots of money

I'd like to see how many tickets to "Crank 2" that'd buy. Personally, I'm cool with one ticket to "Crank 2." Maybe two if I decide to take the girlfriend.

lol at midway