Most Profitable Year

Fast-forward a year, and Dance Central has sold more than 2.5 million copies at $60 each, making it the No. 2 bestselling game for the Kinect (the top game is Kinect Sports, which often comes bundled with the console). Thanks to Dance Central, 2011 will be the most profitable year Harmonix has ever recorded, says Hunziker, and he expects over $100 million net profit for the 200-employee company.

Downloads are part of the turnaround story. Harmonix built a music downloading service into its games when they launched, so that players could buy new songs. While hardware sales remain the bulk of the company’s business, Hunziker says Dance Central has spurred downloads of a wider variety of music than Rock Band and Guitar Hero, including dance and techno titles. Since 2006, Harmonix has sold more than 100 million music downloads, he says. “We’re going to continue to invest in the [downloadable content] business.”

Dance Central has sold more than 2.5 million copies at $60 each, making it the No. 2 bestselling game for the Kinect (the top game is Kinect Sports, which often comes bundled with the console).

Hey gang,

Country music fans have plenty to celebrate, as songs from the retail-only Rock Band Country Track Pack 2 come to the Rock Band Music Store on November 8th!

Broken up into four jam-packed collections, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a fan of modern country greats or legendary performers of the past. From the award-winning duo Sugarland’s Billboard hit “Settlin’” to Merle Haggard’s 1968 hit, “Mama Tried,” these are tunes country fans won’t want to miss. For those who want it all, the “Country Mega Pack” features all 21 country hits for one low price!

Additionally, a Pro Guitar and Pro Bass upgrade for Trace Adkin’s “Ride,” off of his 2006 album Dangerous Man, will also be available.

Available on Xbox 360®, Wii™ and PlayStation®3 system (November 8th, 2011):

• “Going Country Pack 05”
o Chely Wright – “Single White Female”
o Laura Bell Bundy – “Giddy On Up”
o Reba McEntire – “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia”
o Shania Twain – “Party for Two (with Billy Currington)”
o Sugarland – “Settlin’”

• “Going Country Pack 06”
o Billy Currington – “That’s How Country Boys Roll”
o Darryl Worley – “Awful, Beautiful Life”
o Gary Allan – “Man of Me”
o George Straight – “TWANG”
o Johnny Cash – “Ring of Fire”
o Justin Moore – “Backwoods”

• “Going Country Pack 07”
o Darius Rucker – “Alright”
o Dierks Bentley – “Sideways”
o Keith Urban – “Kiss a Girl”
o Lady Antebellum – “Perfect Day”
o Luke Bryan – “Rain Is a Good Thing”
o Merle Haggard – “Mama Tried”
o Trace Adkins – “Ride” X

• “Going Country Pack 08”
o Dwight Yoakam – “International Heartache”
o Jason Aldean – “Crazy Town”
o Rascal Flatts – “Summer Nights”

(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation®3 system November 9th)

The tracks will be available for purchase individually on Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii™. Tracks marked with “X” will include Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song.

Price:

$8.49 USD, £4.39 UK, €6.59 EU (680 Microsoft Points, 850 Wii Points™) for “Going Country Pack 05”
$9.99 USD, £4.99 UK, €7.99 EU (800 MS Points, 1000 Wii Points) for “Going Country Pack 06”
$10.99 USD, £5.99 UK, €8.99 EU (880 MS Points, 1100 Wii Points) for “Going Country Pack 07”
$5.49 USD, £2.49 UK, €3.99 EU (440 MS Points, 550 Wii Points) for “Going Country Pack 08”
$19.99 USD, £9.99 UK, €14.99 EU (1600 MS Points, 2000 Wii Points) for “Country Mega Pack”
$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points) per song
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per song
$0.99 USD (100 Wii Points™/80 Microsoft Points), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade