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The Beatles Have a Music Game

Kris Graft's picture

By Kris Graft

October 30, 2008

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MTV Games, Rock Band developer Harmonix and the catalog holders for The Beatles, Apple Corps, have announced the development of a standalone full-band music game based entirely on The Beatles' catalog.

It's an unprecedented move for The Beatles, who have never before licensed their music to a videogame.

Harmonix head Alex Rigopulos said during a press call, "This game is not just a Rock Band song expansion pack. It is much, much more than that. It'll be a full-blown, custom game title production built from the ground up."

Rigopulos, a musician himself, called the game a "dream project."

The unnamed game will feature music spanning the entire Beatles catalog, from Please Please Me to Abbey Road.

According to the companies involved, the videogame has "the blessing" of Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, the widow of George Harrison.

Giles Martin, who co-produced The Beatles LOVE project with his father George Martin, will serve as music producer on the game.

The title is slated for holiday of next year. For now, MTV Games doesn't plan on releasing the game under the Rock Band name, so don't expect Rock Band: Beatles or Beatles: Rock Band.

Execs behind the deal wouldn't say whether or not Beatles tunes would eventually be available to owners of Rock Band or Rock Band 2.

Rigopulos added, "This is a game that's entirely focused on The Beatles. It's not a Rock Band game. It's going to be a new creative exploration of their music and their legacy."

Rigopulos said the project has been "up and running for some time now." MTV Games began working on the deal 17 months ago, or months before the original Rock Band even released.

No details on possible new peripherals have been revealed, although the game will take advantage of the Rock Band platform in some way.

President of MTV Networks Music/Logo Group Van Toffler stated, "While we're not necessarily in the business of producing standalone games for every artist or band out there, when everything aligns itself so perfectly for a new venture like this with a monumental band like The Beatles, it's the perfect confluence."

Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones added that, "Harmonix was clearly the innovator" in the full-band game experience. "We loved Harmonix's passion."

N1njaSquirrel's picture
On October 30th N1njaSquirrel said:

i'm a tad worried now. i mean, harmonix always has done the best music games, but the quote "It's not a Rock Band game. It's going to be a new creative exploration of their music and their legacy." worries me, whether that'll just mean it's a different IP i dunno, but introducing clips like in aerosmith of the band/cohorts would ruin it.
Still, it'll be good though. i hope.

NickgamertagO1's picture
On October 30th NickgamertagO1 said:

Ninja,

I think that's just PR talk. They don't want it to sound like it’s just Rock Band with Beatles' music. It does seem strange they'd go that route. That reeks of Activision's whoring of the GH franchise which is a bit surprising coming from Harmonix. EA does own Harmonix though...

Peter_Pesic's picture
On October 30th Peter_Pesic said:

I think we can safely say that this game would be an anomaly in Harmonix's grand plan. I mean, if any band deserved a stand alone music game, it'd be the Beatles. They evolved so much only gaining more fans with each evolution. Not to mention a massive catalog of known and good tracks. Not to mention they have iconic moments like the Ed Sulivan Show appearance where they broke the ice in the US.

Peter_Pesic's picture
On October 30th Peter_Pesic said:

I personally hope songs become available as DLC for Rock Band/Rock Band 2, or in the least have the ability to export the songs to your console's HD in the same way the AC/DC disc will allow. I have faith with Harmonix's current track record and philosophy, that this will happen.

I'm not a huge Beatles fan, but there are songs by them I'd love to be able to play in Rock Band 2.

ShamanNY's picture
On October 30th ShamanNY said:

I'm pleasantly surprised... I would have bet on DLC only.