The Beatles come to 'Rock Band,' instruments and all (update)
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted March 5th 2009 10:13AM
posted March 5th 2009 10:13AM
Update: Here's some more information to cleanse your pallet. The game, known henceforth as The Beatles: Rock Band, will be sold software-only for $60 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii (note the extra Hamilton over the usual Nintendo pricing). The standalone guitars will be sold separately for $100, and if you're opting for the Limited Edition Premium Bundle, featuring the game and all instruments, it'll set you back $250. No word on pricing outside of US just yet. Despite the Rock Band branding, it's considered a standalone title and no one is talking right now about any connectivity, downloadable content or transferring of songs between Beatles and other RB games. According to Joystiq, you'll be able to rock out to 45 songs from the band's 1962 to 1969 EMI catalog. Full press release after the break.
APPLE CORPS LTD., MTV AND HARMONIX ANNOUNCE "THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND," WORLDWIDE RELEASE SET FOR 9/9/09
New York, NY – March 5, 2008 – Apple Corps, Ltd., Harmonix and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced the 9/9/09 worldwide release of The Beatles: Rock Band (http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com). The music-based video game, an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles, will be available simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo.
The Beatles: Rock Band will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career. In addition, The Beatles: Rock Band will offer a limited number of new hardware offerings modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr throughout their career.
The Beatles: Rock Band will be offered as standalone software and hardware as well as a limited edition bundle. The game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers and other current music-based video game peripherals.
Available on 9/9/09:
• The Beatles: Rock Band Software - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $59.99 MSRP
• The Beatles: Rock Band Standalone Guitars - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $99.99 MSRP
• The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle: Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $249.99 MSRP
Please note: Pricing outside of the US to be announced at a later date.
The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Harrisongs Ltd, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has agreed to present The Beatles music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band will be published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world's premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band®. Electronic Arts will serve as distribution partner for the game. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project, is providing his expertise and serving as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.
Exclusive content created by Apple Corps, MTV Games and Harmonix will be made available to fans over the next few months who participate in a pre-order campaign through major retailers. More details on The Beatles: Rock Band game and pre-order will be revealed in the coming months.
Please visit http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com.
number nine
To bad I don't like the Beatles.
...allowing you to lipsync and suck like never before!
hahahahaa number nine!
ok, no joke when i first heard that song (when i was a wee ladd) i was scared shitless...
then i listened to it again (during my huge beatles revival, which is....still going on..) and i realized how amazing of a song it was...
oh and Elenore rigby and within you, without you....
oh and for those who don't like the beatles....wtf man?
I'm having dreamcast flashbacks with all these 9's.
I was just about to say the same thing, that is the first thing that picture reminded me of. Wow that was TEN YEARS ago.
RB get The Beatles. GH gets Tool.
I'm happy with my GH purchase.
I own Guitar Hero but comparing Tool to the Beatles? that's just ridiculous, even for the internet.
"RB get The Beatles. GH gets Tool.
I'm happy with my GH purchase."
Even Tool hates you for that comment
This is going to be awesome. Can't wait to rock out to everything on Revolver.
my birthday!
Well, it's my birthday too, yeah.
"MTV Games and Harmonix have just announced a partnership with Apple Corps, Ltd. to bring the band's music..."
Once again... Nothing but Apple news on Engadget!
I'm so clever, I made myself giggle!
Wrong Apple buddy. Engadget is referring to the Apple record label founded by the Beatles in '68, not the computer company. Two completely seperate.
And yes, the record company sued Apple for naming rights when the iTunes store opened for this very reason. I believe Jobs' Apple settled out of court to make the situation go away.
Btw, I am stoked!!!! All you need is the Beatles + Rock Band. And love!!
Huh... yeah, I know that.
Kinda the joke there.
Sorry, I replied to the wrong poster.
@ Shenaningans You, sir, are a douche. That was the joke. But thanks for spouting off information most of us knew in an effort to appear both witty and all-knowing.
@Shenanigans
WHOOOOSH!
@ Shenanigans: Epic FAIL, even in the followup, even in the ass covering department.
@Shenanigans
Ha, nice fail at the recovery.
You got owned twice.
9/9/99 > 09/09/09
I had the same thought when I saw that date.
Good times... good times.
A groundbreaking day in gaming history.
I miss you, Sega Sports DreamCast.
My birthday too!! WOoT!!!
I'm not usually in the Beatlesphere, but is that room art symbolic of something?
Will definitely get it (game only, at least) when it comes out.
It appears to be the interior of Apple studios where they performed their sessions.
I believe that room is in Abbey Road studios, where some of their major work was recorded.
Abbey Road is where they recorded over 95% of their records.
definitely the abbey road studio...
if you live in london (or visit), it's a sweet place to see
i swear if you listen carefully, you can hear them argue over the intricacies of let it be and sgt. peppers and if you look closely enough you can see their manager pour LSD into their afternoon teas... ;-)
you can still smell the mexican mushrooms that made so many songs possible.
Engadget...again with the Apple bias...
I see what you did there.
Ahh...I was beaten to it...
Aw man, I was planning on picking this up day 1, but now I won't be able to get it until Christmastime.
Because. I'll. Be. In. London.
Oh the irony of it all.
To all you players:
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/rock_band.png
Oh, and the cable seems to cross it self near the bottom of the picture.
I'm buying it, I'll even get rid of the instruments I have and buy The Beatles versions. It may sound stupid, but I want it that much.
Imagine that!
O man, i want to play w/ that bass pual mcartney used. This one: http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=91865&rendTypeId=4.jpg
that would be awesome!
So even though Harmonix is putting it out, you're going to have to rebuy all the instruments you just bought for rockband in order to play it? Score!
I am pretty positive GH and RB are now required to make fake instuments compatible with each other. I think they've always been backwards and forwards compatible.
Who wouldn't want Paul's bass though- it's so choice!
How exactly did you come to that conclusion? The only thing it says is that they're coming out with the game and Beatles-modeled instruments. Where does it say you can use the regular RB/RB2 controllers?
Er,. the game was announced a while ago. The instrument thing might be new, though.
I wish they'd just release it as normal DLC in addition to selling them as compilation games.
@Shenanigans: You missed the joke buddy.
Yeah, replied to wrong poster. Guy below doesn't sound like he/she is joking.
Smashing Pumpkins fan?
this is great for harmonix. hopefully they can use their power to secure the rights to zeppelin songs next, that would be the shiznittlebamsnipsnapslap
If Rock Band and Guitar Hero hadn't already totally jumped the shark this would have been awesome
Wake me when they finally end up on iTunes
That phrase you used, I don't think it means what you think it means.
No, no, and N/A.
My dad has an acoustic guitar which was supposedly once used by Lennon (or McCartney, can't remember). However there is no evidence whatsoever of this - and it's probably not true - so the guitar is worthless. Still, I will be amused if the special instruments look anything like it :)
Why would they make the peripherals look like acoustic guitars? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, given the thinness of the peripherals. I'm sure they'll look like Epiphone Casinos or Sheratons, or possibly Rickenbackers, but that's doubtful. The Hofner violin bass might make an appearance, too.
* We have a worldwide release date: 09/09/09.
* The game takes players through an "unprecendented experiential progression" of the musical career of the band.
* The game will be available as standalone software and hardware, as well as a limited edition bundle. The game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers and other current music-based video game peripherals.
* There will be limited edition hardware modelled on instruments used by John, Paul, George and Ringo.
* The numbers:
- The Beatles: Rock Band Software - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $59.99 MSRP
- The Beatles: Rock Band Standalone Guitars - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $99.99 MSRP
- The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle: Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $249.99 MSRP
- International pricing to be announced at a later date
* Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project, is providing his expertise and serving as Music Producer
* Fans who pre-order the game will get access to exclusive content created by Apple Corps, MTV Games and Harmonix over the next few months.