More Guitar Hero M&A Activity
Earlier this year Activistion paid ~$100mm for Red Octane, the distributor of Guitar Hero and other video games.
When I first got into Guitar Hero, my friend Brad Feld told me that a company called Harmonix in Boston, which Brad is a small angel investor in, actually makes the game. So I wondered if Red Octane is worth $100mm, what is Harmonix worth?
Well, we found out today. MTV paid $175mm in cash for Harmonix. Well done guys. Great game. Great payday.
The Guitar Hero franchise is worth $275mm, $100mm for distribution rights, and $175mm for the creators.
Cool. Get Guitar Hero and see what all the fuss is about.
Wow, I love it when the good guys win!
Posted by: steve | September 22, 2006 at 09:33 AM
I played this game for the first time the other day. It was pretty fun.
But not as much fun as playing a real guitar. ;-)
Posted by: Altay | September 22, 2006 at 11:16 AM
better than a real guitar (as in... more fun)
Posted by: spyder | September 22, 2006 at 04:29 PM
Harmonix Music has done more than just Guitar Hero. They've been doing music-related video games for about 10 years now. It's an underserved gaming niche, due to the prevelence of first-person-shoot-em-up games.
Good to see them have this kind of success in the tough gaming business.
Congrats indeed!
Posted by: Chris D | September 24, 2006 at 08:01 PM
Hi all,
for those looking for more guitar hero,
I recommend an Open Source PC and keyboard alternative with extanding play list capability :
http://louhi.kempele.fi/~skyostil/uv/fretsonfire/
Posted by: math | September 28, 2006 at 07:46 AM
I'm not familiar with this game. Does it actually provide some benefit in terms of enhancing or developing musical skills like some Line6's guitarport?
Posted by: everysandwich | October 13, 2006 at 04:49 PM