Activision financials rock: Guitar Hero Wii-bound

Activision drops some hints that smash hit Guitar Hero will land on Nintendo's Wii console.

In a preliminary financial report, Activision, Inc. announced record financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. Despite only a negligible increase in net revenues from $816.2 million the previous year to this year's totals of $822.8 million, the company's net income shot up a whopping 84% from $67.9 million to $124.8 million.

Furthermore, Activision Chairman and CEO Robert Kotick commented that, "Net revenues for Activision's third quarter of fiscal 2007 are expected to be the highest in the company's history. For the month of November, Activision was the #1 U.S. console and handheld publisher and the #2 publisher for the fiscal third quarter."

Contributing to Activision's stellar success this quarter were four titles in particular: Call of Duty 3, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Tony Hawk's Project 8, and Guitar Hero II. All four of these titles were included amongst the 11 best-selling games in the US during that period, according to marketing data provided by The NPD Group.

In light of these positive financial results, Activision is increasing its net revenue outlook from $1.37 billion to $1.4 billion for the 2007 fiscal year. Additionally, its fourth quarter net revenue outlook has likewise been increased from $170 million to $200 million. The company also announces, however, that fourth quarter results will be significantly impacted by legal fees stemming from its internal review of historical stock option practices, as well as the delay of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars to fiscal 2008.

Now, on to the good stuff. In a conference call today to its investors, Activision president and CEO Mike Griffith had this to say:

"The key difference in our strategy versus the prior cycle is that, in addition to full support on Sony and Microsoft platforms, we will aggressively target the Nintendo platforms consistent with our multi-platform strategy and Nintendo's expected growth. In fiscal 2008, we will double our offerings on the DS and the Wii, including Spider-Man, Shrek, Transformers, and Guitar Hero."

Griffith did not clarify his statement, leading media analysts to run rampant with speculation. Did he actually mean to say that Guitar Hero would be available on the Wii, or was he referring to a version that would be released for the DS? Or was he referring to a completely different franchise altogether, suffering a careless slip of the tongue? We'll keep you posted as soon as we find out more.

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