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.
Wow - very promising but I'm wondering about the quality of the instruments. Metal? Plastic? Both?
Also, I shudder to think at how much they'll want for the kit.
You're singing out of key.
I'm standing up and walking out on you.
Do you get extra flame bonus for dressing up as a world class poof.
Does it come complete with blisters on me fingers?
Wouldn't I have 'totally lost it' last year when this was announced?
beatles are one of the best bands in the world!!!
Its not part of the "Rock band universe" until I can import the tracks. Last I heard this wasnt going to happen. Has this changed? The article is ambiguous.
No news yet on this. God, they'd better allow importing the track to RB/2. I most likely won't bother with the game if I can't (I'm not that huge on the Beatles).
They let you do this with the AC/DC game. have they said they won't with this game?
Time to break out the Sitar Hero?
The Beatles.........yawn! Sorry, i'm not 80 years old. Not interested.
Ozzy is literally only 10 years younger than most of the Beatles...so I guess you're implying that you're 70?
Does this mean we will finally, FINALLY see left-handed instruments made to emulate everything Paul McCartney ever played??
Probably not... since many of Paul's most famous instruments are simply flipped over.
I believe engadget's competitor cnet.com has a better world view of what is going on with the Beatles and Rock Band
Turn me on dead man. Turn me on dead man. Turn me on dead man.
they should release rock band for the dreamcast on this day with a beatles dreamcast....for the super low price of $599! id buy it....
Diggin' the cool Vox Amps. That Super Beetle gives the ultimate FUZZ BUZZ.
I know half a dozen people that will freak over this!
OMG FINALLY ,.... Beatles Forever!
what happens when you play the game backwards?
i can't wait until they release the tracklist for this game, I hope the entire game is THE BEATLES and not like the guitar hero series, where they add songs that aren't even covers or related to Aerosmith/Metallica
Imagine what Ringo could have done with Autotune.
in the spirit of authenticity the guitar straps will also not be adjustable.
i hope they dont start doing what gh does, and start releasing 4 games a year.
Number 8 *buuuuuurp*
Number 8 *buuuuuurp*
Number 8 *buuuuuurp*
"That's my son up there!"
"You mean the balding fat one?"
"No, the Indian guy."
mccartney's hofner violin bass is the first thing that came to mind when i read the new hardware would be modeled after their instruments. somehow playing a controller that looks like a bass that looks like a violin completes a circle of dorkiness that is hard express in words.
Just pissed myself. My favorite band and my favorite game together at last. Now I must go clean myself off now.
My life will finally be complete the day I get to shout I AM THE WALRUS goo goo g'joob
hmmm...
I always thought it went
I AM THE WALRUS
COO COO COO SHOOOO!
btw
this song brings a smile to my face since for some unknown reason it was picked up by my 2 yr old daughter and seems to be her favorite song, as that is all she sings to the top of her lungs. The only song.
:-)
It does sound like Coo coo cachoo, but it's goo goo gajoob, you can tell if you listen closely, plus it's that way in the lyrics.
That's going to be a hard-ass song to sing, if it's in there.
I remember when I was really little, I got like that with Strawberry Fields Forever and Magical Mystery Tour...and then I got obsessed with Kiss Off by the Violent Femmes.
Ha ha...when Paul McCartney was on Howard Stern, he said that he had a deal with Guitar Hero...he probably doesn't even know the difference.
It's an important distinction, Rock Band is great while Guitar Hero has been reduced to a shadow of its former self since Harmonix went on to bigger and better games.
I definitely will be plugging in my Sega Sports Dreamcast and playing some Shenmue all day.
What was this article about again?
They messed up! It should come on the one after 09.09.09. That's when my baby said she's coming.
Can you play as Yoko?
Only at the very end. That's when the game ends.
Brace ourselves for an update to five month old news?
Though, now I have to wonder if the game is importable into Rock Band but I still highly doubt it as we're not just talking tracks here.
"* The game takes players through an "unprecendented experiential progression" of the musical career of the band."
Sweet. you just have to get to the stage where the beatles meet bob dylan and suddenly the music gets a whole lot better.
"....cleanse your pallet...": Not likely.
A pallet gets moved around by a forklift.
A palette holds a painter's colors.
A palate is at the roof of the mouth, and is the appropriate target of this misused metaphor.
I know these things because I want to be a paperback writer.
hmm rb is okay but The Beatles that makes me wanna buy the special edition $250 is worth it
but then guitar hero greatest hits might be even beter than the beatles game