The Beatles: Rock Band

Overview

The Beatles: Rock Band was released on September 9, 2009 (09/09/09) across the globe, in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The game features 45 songs that span The Beatles' career and a detailed storyline that highlights some of the band's biggest moments in history.

Gameplay

Along with the basic gameplay modes of the Rock Band series, The Beatles: Rock Band includes a story driven mode that takes players through the Fab Four's career, starting with their early Cavern Club Days and going all the way to their last live show, the famous concert atop the Apple Corps rooftop. All characters, venues, and songs are exclusively related to The Beatles, meaning no songs are cross compatible with other Rock Band titles and The Beatles: Rock Band.

The newest feature in The Beatles: Rock Band is the inclusion of three-part vocal harmonies, allowing up to six players to join in at the same time. Players are able to mimic The Beatles by playing and singing at the same time, or simply let two additional players sing the backup and harmonizing vocals. A special training mode will be included to help singers adjust to singing in harmony.

The game's career mode follows the band chronologically from 1963 to 1969. It starts with the band's landmark touring appearances, then transitions to their recording studio period at Abbey Roads Studio, and culminates in their famous rooftop performance in 1969. The venues include:

• 1963: Cavern Club, Liverpool, England
• 1964: Ed Sullivan Show, New York, USA
• 1965: Shea Stadium, New York, USA
• 1966: Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
• 1966-1968: Studio 2 at Abbey Road Studios, London, England
• 1969: Apple Corps Rooftop, London, England

During the Abbey Road Studios period, several dreamscape backgrounds accompany certain songs. These are artistic interpretations of the songs, akin to music videos. While some of these dreamscapes are set in the studio with color filters, lyrics, and other effects being seen some are set in an entirly new location based on the mood or lyrics of the track. For example, "Here Comes the Sun" features the band playing on top of a hill in front of a sunny background while, in contrast, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" shows the same landscape with a more moody atmosphere. Meanwhile, some Dreamscapes are based off of an original video or film that featured the track. "I Am the Walrus" and "Yellow Submarine," for example, are both set or feature references to the original music video and animated movie, respectively.

Throughout the career mode, players are rewarded with photos and studio chat between the band members and crew that have never before been seen or heard, giving them extra insight on the band and their music.

Track Listing

The game is comprised of 45 songs, taken from The Beatles' catalog of studio albums between Please Please Me (1963) and Abbey Road (1969). It has been confirmed that the United Kingdom-released versions will be used, and will not be released as downloadable content for main iterations of the Rock Band series. The game features unheard dialogue and footage from the band that, prior to release, has never been released in any form.

Downloadable Content

Unlike previous Rock Band titles, downloadable content will be released specifically for The Beatles: Rock Band and will not be compatible with other Rock Band games; nor will previous and future releases to the general Rock Band platform be available for play in The Beatles: Rock Band. The game will also not export any on-disc songs for play in other Rock Band games. Currently these are the only songs available for download. Harmonix have said the future of downloadable content for this game depends a lot on how well the sales go for the songs currently available.

The songs cost $2 each, either as 160 Microsoft Points or 200 Nintendo Points. The Abbey Road album can be downloaded as a medley for $16.98 or 1360 Microsoft Points. Abbey Road is not available as a medley on the Wii.

Peripherals

New instrument peripherals have been designed specific to The Beatles, and include Paul's Höfner bass guitar, George's Gretsch Duo, John's Rickenbacker 325, and a Ludwig branded drum kit sporting Ringo's classic pearl finish and Beatles "Drop T" logo bass drum head. The kit also includes a newly designed pedal with an intricate Beatles design embossed on the plate. The Höfner bass, Ludwig kit, and microphone (along with stand) are all included in the premium bundle, however the Rickenbacker and Gretsch are only available as separate purchases. The premium bundle only comes with a single stand, so people who plan on having more than one mutli-instrumentalist will be required to purchase more stands (most standard microphone stands will suffice). All peripherals are wireless, excluding the mic.

The game is compatible with Lips and Sing Star microphones for Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively, allowing players to use them as opposed to the wired Rock Band mics.