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Activision Earnings Rocket 90%

Video games 'Guitar Hero' and 'Call of Duty 4' drive company's growth

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Feb 8, 2008 11:18 AM CST

(Newser) – Gamers who love Activision for Call of Duty and Guitar Hero have some company on Wall Street today after the company reported a 90% earnings surge and an 80% bump in sales for the quarter ending Dec. 31, reports MarketWatch. The company reported net income of $272.2 million, up from $142.8 million a year ago, and revised its forecast for the current quarter upward.

Strong holiday sales helped the company claim the top spot in US video game sales from perennial No. 1 Electronic Arts, reports the LA Times. Activision claimed a 17.7% market share compared to EA’s 15.2% in 2007. A pending $18 billion merger with World of Warcraft developer Vivendi should be wrapped up in the first half of this year.

Activision Inc. provided this photo of a Guitar Hero III video game set.  New this time around are online guitar battles and original recordings instead of remakes. The likenesses of real guitar rockers such as Slash, who serve as the ultimate finger-flexing challenge, are another new addition to the series....
Activision Inc. provided this photo of a Guitar Hero III video game set. New this time around are online guitar battles and original recordings instead of remakes. The likenesses of real guitar rockers...   (Associated Press)
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates plays on an XBox 360 Guitar Hero III controller at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008.
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates plays on an XBox 360 Guitar Hero III controller at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008.   (Associated Press)
Country super star Garth Brooks, right, looks on as  Hall of Fame NFL football player Troy Aikman, left, plays the video game Guitar Hero.
Country super star Garth Brooks, right, looks on as Hall of Fame NFL football player Troy Aikman, left, plays the video game Guitar Hero.   (Associated Press)
Activision Inc. provided this screen shot from the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty 4
Activision Inc. provided this screen shot from the Xbox 360 version of "Call of Duty 4   (Associated Press)
This photo released by Activision shows a screen grab of coalition troops taking on terrorists around the world in Call of Duty 4
This photo released by Activision shows a screen grab of coalition troops taking on terrorists around the world in "Call of Duty 4   (Associated Press)
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