After the dust settles on a war waged between two musical heavyweights, it seems Activision has come out on top...

After a surge in popularity in recent years, the rhythm genre really has two powerhouses in control of the market (Wii Music fans calm yourselves). Activision's Guitar Hero franchise and EA's competition-to-the-thrown Rock Band have fought closely over the Christmas period to try and dominate sales. But in the end, who won?

According to official figures from NPD, there is a clear victor. Since its release last year, Guitar Hero: World Tour has clocked up 3.4 million units sold in America alone. Compare it to the the seemingly humble 1.7 million compared to Rock Band 2 since its release, and we can see Activison's cash cow outsell the competition by a clear 2:1 margin.

The success story for World Tour doesn't end there, though. A UK official for Red Octane boasted an even bigger majority over Rock Band 2 in dear old Blighty:

"From a UK perspective, we think the growth in music gaming in 2008 is a great thing, as it brings new and different music to consumers and allows them to experience the feeling of being a rock star. The emergence of new titles such as Rock Band is great if it grows the overall market. However, based on our UK market figures, that ratio of sales is conservative - its more like 4:1."

Which rhythm franchise do you plump for out of the two, and if both, do you have a preference? Get it off your chest below.