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Added by Ryan Davis on 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.


57 Comments

Mourne
on Oct. 30, 2008
Yep. That's the game. Harmonix - 5, Everyone Else - Nil.

deaux
on Oct. 30, 2008
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
on Oct. 30, 2008
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
on Oct. 30, 2008
Dig A Pony is a must!

snide
on Oct. 30, 2008
"Get Back" would be my pick for Rock Band until they add some trumpets.

erinfizz is online
on Oct. 30, 2008
Oooooooh. Good call on Norwegian Wood.

I want Paperback Writer.

breton
on Oct. 30, 2008
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...

Kohe321 is online
on Oct. 30, 2008
YES NOW I CAN SHRED SOME BEATLES SOLOS! WOOOHO!!!

Roger_Klotz
on Oct. 30, 2008
Some I would like to see
I am the walrus
revolution
Strawberry Fields
Get by with a little with my friends

Vigorousjammer
on Oct. 30, 2008
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...)

sirchode
on Oct. 30, 2008
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

logson
on Oct. 30, 2008
KO.

diz
on Oct. 30, 2008

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


W
hen 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.


Kweli
on Oct. 30, 2008
@ 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

MrBrian
on Oct. 30, 2008
Run For Your Life!

migueliramos
on Oct. 30, 2008
This game is going to be the shit!!!!

grainger
on Oct. 30, 2008
i will buy this game if it includes here comes the sun!!!!

TabooTongue
on Oct. 30, 2008
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.

AnEternalEnigma
on Oct. 30, 2008
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.

VibratingDonkey
on Oct. 30, 2008
Hope it doesn't end up a huge ripoff like the AC/DC thing. Get the impression it won't be though.


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