Giant Bomb News

RSS

Beatles Game Confirmed

Harmonix is the Walrus. Coo-coo-ca-choo.

By Ryan Davis  |  Oct. 30, 2008

Like this, but with computers!
Like this, but with computers!
This morning, MTV and Apple Corps confirmed pretty much exactly what everyone guessed yesterday: they're making a game that will feature the music of The Beatles. While the product in question hasn't been named specifically, it sounds like it will be a full, standalone game, and that it will be available sometime in 2009.

The Beatles are indisputably one of the most popular and influential musical acts of the 20th century, and Apple Corps has been fiercely protective of the catalog, so this is a pretty significant win for MTV and Harmonix. As one of the first big "TV bands," there's no shortage of iconic footage of the Beatles performing that could be a ton of fun to see in a game. Also, I'll be severely disappointed if there isn't a recreation of The Yellow Submarine's art style somewhere in there. As an aside, here's the five Beatles songs I'd like to see in, well, whatever the hell they end up calling this game:

Norwegian Wood
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Birthday
Helter Skelter
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

OK, so that's six. Believe me, it was hard enough to whittle that list down that far. This game's going to need a deep track list.

UPDATE: We've modified this story to reflect the fact that the press release never explicitly states that this will be a Rock Band game, only that MTV, Harmonix, and Apple Corps are working together on a game featuring the music of the Beatles. In fact, Billboard specifically says that this game will not be part of the Rock Band franchise, though it will be based off the same basic framework.
Filed under: Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., MTV Games
57 Comments
Mourneon Oct. 30, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.
Yep. That's the game. Harmonix - 5, Everyone Else - Nil.
deauxon Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.
It'd be cool if you could choose avatars and stages like the Ed Sullivan Show, Sgt. Pepper's uniforms (of course), Rishikesh period stuff, etc.
Brad staff on Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.
I want to see the Tom Petty/Jeff Lynne/Dhani Harrison/Prince version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from George Harrison's posthumous Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame induction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7sT1HRV2qU

FUCKING EPIC.
wafflestomp moderator on Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.
Dig A Pony is a must!
snide staff on Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
"Get Back" would be my pick for Rock Band until they add some trumpets.
erinfizzon Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:28 a.m.
Oooooooh. Good call on Norwegian Wood.

I want Paperback Writer.
bretonon Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:34 a.m.
I thought they were making a completely new game.. Shacknews and Kotaku article. Shack explicitly stating that "The studio clarified that this will not be a Rock Band-branded game". Maybe you realize this, but when you say "Rock Band" and "Rock Band Beatles" five times throughout the article...
Kohe321on Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:40 a.m.
YES NOW I CAN SHRED SOME BEATLES SOLOS! WOOOHO!!!
Roger_Klotzon Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:44 a.m.
Some I would like to see
I am the walrus
revolution
Strawberry Fields
Get by with a little with my friends
Vigorousjammeron Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
OMFG! YES YES YES!! OMFG!
YES OMFG! OMFG YES!! YES YES YES!!!! WHOA, WHOA, OMG, OMG, OMG? omg? omg! OMG!!! OMFG!! YESSSSS!!!
(I just went through a slew of different emotions using three words...)
sirchodeon Oct. 30, 2008 at 9:53 a.m.
For what it's worth, I've read several times on other sites that this technically has nothing to do with Rock Band, it's a totally separate game that will not be branded as a Rock Band game.

They obviously won't talk about possible Beatles-based DLC for Rock Band, which I could see going both ways, but yeah this isn't specifically related to Rock Band just yet
logsonon Oct. 30, 2008 at 10:05 a.m.
KO.
diz is online on Oct. 30, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.

Its a shame about Ringo's uninspiring drumming though...


When John Lennon was asked  if Ringo was the best drummer in the world, John answered; "he' wasn't  even the best drummer in the Beatles".

I really want them to do a "funk band" with Parliament, Funkadelic, Prince,  AWB etc.

Kwelion Oct. 30, 2008 at 10:56 a.m.
@ DIZ

I had to sign up to this site just to reply to your post (although i like this site, so it was inevitable)

Lennon was always joking with the media.. that was just another joke of his...
Ringo was great, and they knew it... which was the reason they had to convince him to come back when he wanted to leave because they were no longer making great music...

Check ur facts
MrBrianon Oct. 30, 2008 at 11:01 a.m.
Run For Your Life!
migueliramoson Oct. 30, 2008 at 11:17 a.m.
This game is going to be the shit!!!!
graingeron Oct. 30, 2008 at 12:13 p.m.
i will buy this game if it includes here comes the sun!!!!
TabooTongueon Oct. 30, 2008 at 12:13 p.m.
The Article says it won't be a Rock Band game, however with the Beatles, it'd be the only guitar based game I would buy.
AnEternalEnigmaon Oct. 30, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.
I am not interested in standalone games dedicated to one band. I accept the AC/DC thing because you can just rip those songs and play them on Rock Band 2, but this doesn't do anything for me. I'll pass.
VibratingDonkeyon Oct. 30, 2008 at 12:39 p.m.
Hope it doesn't end up a huge ripoff like the AC/DC thing. Get the impression it won't be though.

Dig Deeper into Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.

Harmonix Music Systems are the creative developers behind many music / rhythm games. They were founded on March 1, 1995 in Cambridge Massachusetts by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy.

Edit/View the Wiki
Hit the Forums (15 Posts)
Add/View Images (63 Images)
Watch Some Videos
Popular News
Diablo III Sells 3.5 Million Copies In its First Day Alone

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is now the fastest-selling PC game of all time.
38 Studios Unveils its First Look at Project Copernicus

In the wake of the studio's recent financial drama, the studio finally opens the door on its long-awaited MMO.
Wii U’s Controller May Have Seen Some Changes

No more Circle Pad-style analog sticks, and some swapped button placement.
Johann Sebastian Joust Is Latest iOS Cloning Victim

Studio behind awfully similar game for iOS claims an agreement was in place.
And Now Aliens: Colonial Marines Won't Be Coming Out This Year, Either

Gearbox's Aliens side-story slips to February.
38 Studios Pays its $1.125 Million Debt, Will Receive No Additional Funds from State

Oh, and the governor of Rhode Island just tossed out a release date for "Copernicus."
Activision Lawsuit Has Details on Bungie’s Next Game

First game scheduled for Xbox 360, sequels on unannounced platforms.
Worth Reading: 05/18/2012

You have 20 seconds to click on this article and discover what games you might have missed and what stories passed you by.
Diablo III Sells 3.5 Million Copies In its First Day Alone

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is now the fastest-selling PC game of all time.
38 Studios Unveils its First Look at Project Copernicus

In the wake of the studio's recent financial drama, the studio finally opens the door on its long-awaited MMO.
Wii U’s Controller May Have Seen Some Changes

No more Circle Pad-style analog sticks, and some swapped button placement.
Johann Sebastian Joust Is Latest iOS Cloning Victim

Studio behind awfully similar game for iOS claims an agreement was in place.
38 Studios Pays its $1.125 Million Debt, Will Receive No Additional Funds from State

Oh, and the governor of Rhode Island just tossed out a release date for "Copernicus."
And Now Aliens: Colonial Marines Won't Be Coming Out This Year, Either

Gearbox's Aliens side-story slips to February.
Activision Lawsuit Has Details on Bungie’s Next Game

First game scheduled for Xbox 360, sequels on unannounced platforms.
Worth Reading: 05/18/2012

You have 20 seconds to click on this article and discover what games you might have missed and what stories passed you by.

Submissions can take several hours to be approved.

Save ChangesCancel