Beatles rocking all-new game in Q4 2009

[UPDATE] MTV Games and Harmonix developing original non-Rock Band title exploring Fab Four's entire career and "visual imagery"; EA to distribute.

Following a teaser announcement, MTV Games and Apple Corps. announced this morning that they are exclusively collaborating on a rhythm game based on the Beatles. The game will be developed by MTV-owned Harmonix, the original developer of Guitar Hero and the current developer of Rock Band, and will hit store shelves worldwide during the 2009 holiday season. No platforms were announced.

Expect some psychedelic visuals come next Christmas.

However, contrary to a Wall Street Journal report, the game will not be a Rock Band title. "Let me make this clear. This game is not just a Rock Band expansion pack," said Harmonix cofounder Alex Rigopoulos, obliquely referring to the recently announced AC/DC Rock Band game. "It's a full, new music game built from the ground up." Rigopoulos confirmed that the game would work with Rock Band instruments and "instruments from other games" when he was asked about Guitar Hero peripheral interoperability. No specific instruments were mentioned.

"We're not in the business of making stand-alone games for every band out there, but when a band like the Beatles comes along, it's the perfect confluence," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks' Music/Films/Logo group in an early morning conference call. Toffler declined to comment on whether the agreement will also apply to downloadable content for Rock Band or downloadable music in general. Currently, the Beatles do not offer their music for sale digitally via any venue, including iTunes.

Published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts, the Beatles title "will be an interactive music-making game," according to Jones. He also said it will cover the Liverpool quartet's entire catalog, from their first album, Please Please Me (1963), to their last album, Let It Be (1970). The game will also incorporate elements of their career, but neither MTV nor Apple Corps. would comment on whether or not Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, or John Lennon would be playable.

Starr and McCartney, the two surviving Beatles, talked up the game in a press release. "The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of the Beatles and their music. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out," said McCartney. "The Beatles continue to evolve with the passing of time and how wonderful that the Beatles' legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerized world we live in," said the fan-averse Ringo Starr.

Intriguingly, the Beatles game will incorporate visual elements from the group's psychedelic album art and their films. "A visual exploration of the Beatles' imagery is a big part of this project," said Rigopoulos, raising the prospect of Yellow Submarine-influenced undersea gameplay. Giles Martin, Grammy-award-winning musical director of the opulent Beatles-based Cirque du Soleil musical Love, will collaborate on the project.

163 Comments

  • kroxrg

    Posted Dec 24, 2008 12:11 pm PT

    this is going to be so cool yay i was waiting for this moment



    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • ffpianojoe

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 10:13 pm PT

    All I can say is wow... I have never had an interest in any of those rock bank/guitar hero games. Personally I just prefer to learn as much as I can using a real guitar. But let me tell you, I'm keeping my eyes on this one, and if they manage to pull this off without disgracing the Beatles, I will be the first to buy this game. They beetter not screw it up...

  • WouldYou-Kindly

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 12:09 pm PT

    I'll buy it in half a second.

  • misterbutt

    Posted Nov 28, 2008 10:25 am PT

    omg cant w8 ive been wonderin y they havnt made a beatles rock band or guitar hero-like game and now finally there makin one.

  • Sourskull

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 2:15 pm PT

    haha hopefullly the acid comes with it

  • Treifla

    Posted Nov 12, 2008 5:32 pm PT

    does it come with the drugs? or do i need to get them seperatly

  • jjdomo

    Posted Nov 12, 2008 9:44 am PT

    Hopefully I can import the songs into my RB2 catalogue . . .

  • Wikipedian

    Posted Nov 11, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    We need some of the Beatle's art in this game. That would make it wonderful.

  • JedimasterRocky

    Posted Nov 9, 2008 6:23 am PT

    If they truly make this game ground up and not go like activision and just put crappy animated models of the band in the game , then this is truly something to get excited about

  • lab223

    Posted Nov 8, 2008 6:40 am PT

    YEAH! i cant wait for this.beatles rule harmonix rules and gh is doomed unless they get an exclusive led zeppelin game.

  • the_Hippest_Cat

    Posted Nov 7, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    Finally when I meet people my age and tell them I love the Beatles, they might know a song or two, instead of 50cent and Chingy crapping up the airwaves.

  • WiiLover243

    Posted Nov 6, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    YES!

  • Fareru

    Posted Nov 3, 2008 3:21 pm PT

    Finally!

  • senorbusyman

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 5:54 pm PT

    SWEET! The Beatles Rule!

  • tudyniuz

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 10:16 am PT

    I still want a Queen game

  • shoeman12

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 10:13 am PT

    "will be an interactive music-making game"
    all i want to do is play beatles songs, not make music.

  • ReggieNametaker

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 9:20 am PT

    Harmonix, If you nail this then there's no stopping you!!!

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 6:51 am PT

    As long as this doesn't stray away from Harmonix making Rock Band 3 the best game ever, I won't mind. Better yet, if they let you put the songs into Rock Band 2/3(?) like the AC/DC spinoff disc, I wouldn't mind buying this at all.

  • langrisser2005

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 10:22 am PT

    Love the Beatles YES!

  • tudyniuz

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 2:06 am PT

    I want a Queen game.Rock Band Queen or Guitar Hero Queen.I don't care which one,but I just wish for one

  • shabulia

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 10:45 pm PT

    This will be the best music game since Rock Band 2! I can't wait for this one. Anyone out there that doesn't already know, this is your chance to really learn to appreciate the Beatles!

  • S2333

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 10:25 pm PT

    Can't Wait!
    It better work with Wii GH gear.

  • Urlacher54

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 3:02 pm PT

    oh man, i hope this doesn't mean that Harmonix won't be adding Beatles songs to Rock Band in the meantime, it would be nice to see the Sgt. Pepper album make it as DLC for Rock Band while we're waiting for this game to release

  • jatajata

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    beattle hero...awesome

  • skemaal

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 12:01 pm PT

    @nickfogal

    Did you even bother reading my whole comment. I said I wouldn't be buying it but its a great to have a third player releasing these products and it's great for people who love the Beatles. Aren't we feeling a bit defensive today....pfff

  • necronaux

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 11:41 am PT

    "A visual exploration of the Beatles' imagery" come'on... beatle avatars, yellow sub 60's hallucinogenic cgi, it's gotta be worth playing, even straight.

  • nickfogal

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 11:37 am PT

    Why do people who don't care about this title take the time to read about it and respond to it with some negative comment. Go read about Naruto or Bratz. (example:ilton45, discostranger, skemaal)

  • antcxxxvi

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 11:37 am PT

    This game would not be complete without players taking the same journey the real Beatles made on their way to the top. So MTV, Harmonix if you're listening... Here are the levels for the game:
    The Cavern Club, Ed Sullivan Show(in B/W), Shea Stadium, Royal Albert Hall dressed as Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club, India, in the studio at Abbey Road, and rooftop concert...

  • RADIUM-V

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 9:43 am PT

    @skemaal: Dude, they're the most successful and most influential musical group in history. And whether you like them or not, they will be around forever and ever and ever and ever...

    And remember, if it's not a Rock Band or Guitar Hero game, and it releases with "eXclusive controllers!1!!!1one" then everyone's going to want to get their hands on them because they're exclusive. And everyone loves it when they sell expensive stuff that basically says "I got this by waiting in line" (*cough* Halo 3 helmet *cough*)

  • ilton45

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 8:58 am PT

    I think all these games are a joke, The Beatles are great, and it's more fun ACTUALLy playing music, rather than plastic toys.

  • disco_strangler posted Oct 31, 2008 7:47 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    disco_strangler

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 7:47 am PT (hide)

    won't be buying this! yes!

  • skemaal

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 7:27 am PT

    Zzzzz. Honestly, I'm glad for people that like the Beatles, but I will not be getting this. IMO they are overplayed to the point I just got sick of them.

    I also think that right owners of the Beatles library are, at this point, trying to max out as much as they can as some of their songs will become public domain soon.

    Nevertheless, it's great to see someone a third player in that genre (Konami doesn't count imo lol). The fact that RB instruments will be compatible is great. However, they will need to make it GH compatible too. Again, people won't buy news sets (just look at what is happening with RB2 and GH4 at the moment).

  • wilson_js

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 7:03 am PT

    Could this be the entry of the keyboard into the peripheral mix?

  • bildevo

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 7:02 am PT

    Great spin off. Glad to not see another Guitar Hero exclusive band thing

  • havocmerc

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 4:11 am PT

    I always liked the beatles and I am subject to correction but I think this might be their first time as the subject of a video game. Should be interesting.

  • Assasinnation

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 1:41 am PT

    I Hope They Beat Guitar Hero Or Rockband...

  • firehawk998

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 1:22 am PT

    Finally a Beatles game cant wait for this one.

  • capedbear

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 12:39 am PT

    Amazing idea

  • devoresk8

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 10:55 pm PT

    omg zeppelin rock band, i just creamed my panties...if only...

  • bassmaniac20005

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 10:20 pm PT

    Now I want to hear Robert Plant say, "I want our music in Rock Band because it does so much in terms of aura."

    YES.

  • baystatethrashr

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 10:10 pm PT

    snarple_basic
    Posted Oct 31, 2008 3:15 am GMT Ground Up??? Was Rockband even built up from the ground up??? It just seemed like they grabbed the Guitar Hero code and added to it!!! These games are fun and all but lets face it every time they bring a new one out it plays exactly like the last one.

    ummmmmm Harmonix made GH 1,2 80's and Rock Band 1 and 2 so if anything GH 3 and WT were rip offs of rock band.

  • kerrman

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:52 pm PT

    Annnnd Rock Band wins by a long shot in this race.
    Can't effin wait.

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:39 pm PT

    Mmm Ringo...

  • Ckelly_Tor

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:19 pm PT

    This sounds great, I got tired of the whole GH and RB type games, but the Beatles? Hell Yes! They should really have like a British invasion thing including The Who and people like Clapton, but the Beatles are good enough
    (P.S. Nice Use of the Term "fan-averse" lmao... silly Ringo)

  • shanzor

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:18 pm PT

    While this may seem like Rock Band's version of GH: Aerosmith, at least Harmonix picked a good band to make one for. I might actually get this one

  • devoresk8

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:17 pm PT

    eagles_band:

    doesnt know sh*t about music, half of the sh*t he likes wouldnt exist if the beatles were never around, f*ck you

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:15 pm PT

    Ground Up??? Was Rockband even built up from the ground up??? It just seemed like they grabbed the Guitar Hero code and added to it!!! These games are fun and all but lets face it every time they bring a new one out it plays exactly like the last one.

  • Crazy_Kid314

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:14 pm PT

    This is the greatest thing to Harmonix, this licence.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 8:11 pm PT

    Yes, good to hear

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