The Beatles Inspire MTV Video Games-Rel. 09-09-09

[yerblues1968]

COST OF BEATLES DEAL WAS "VERY RICH"


MCV - The Market for Computer and Videos


mcvuk.com
Ben Parfitt


Oct 31 2008, 11:30am



Music publisher suggests that MTV’s deal to licence Beatles tracks was a games industry record breaker


Though the exact numbers remain unknown, the chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Martin Bandier has told Variety that the deal struck between MTV and Apple Corp for the recently announced Beatles game involved figures previously unheard of in the games industry.

Bandier stated: “There have been mutterings from artists and songwriters that they are not being offered their fair share in video games, but the game makers have the leverage. In the world of rock, there are thousands of tracks that will work, but when you get into the world of unique artists, that leverage shifts, tremendously, to the artists and songwriters.

“We signed a deal that would be considered very rich by the videogame company but fair for the artists. It will have online implications that will be enormous.”

The claims are at odds with Activision CEO Bobby Kotick’s previous assertions that his firm’s recent Guitar Hero tie-in with U.S. rockers Aerosmith “generated more money for the band than any of their albums”.




The Beatles - New MTV Video Game coming during Holidays 2009. (3:31 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-nuAoVwvnM




Game Scoop! News Break: Gears 2 and Beatles Music Game. (1:42 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUwpKqp-tA



www.mcvuk.com/news/32184/Cost-of-Beatles-deal-was-very-rich

Also read, "The Beatles Inspire New Video Game; Apple Corps Ltd., MTV
and Harmonix Come Together for Unprecedented Deal," Oct. 30, 2008.
www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-30-2008/0004915112&EDATE=

For More information, see related links:
www.harmonixmusic.com
www.mtv.com
www.mtvpress.com
www.thebeatles.com


Also read, "Beatles Come Together with Rock Band," October 29, 2008.
www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2d327480-a60d-11dd-9d26-000077b07658.html

[yerblues1968]

BEATLES GAME WILL HAVE 45 TRACKS



talkxbox.com
by Joe Robinson


Added 10/31/2008


In addition to a barrage of reports yesterday confirming a Harmonix-made Beatles rhythm-action game, entertainment outlet Variety is now claiming that this so-far untitled project will contain 45 songs.

The game is not due out until the later half of 2009, and the songs are all to be chosen from the 1962 to 1969 EMI catalogue.

Not much is known about the game so far, but Harmonix have confirmed that it is not a Rockband spin-off similar to Activision's Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.


www.talkxbox.com/article2796.html

[yerblues1968]

MTV CUES UP BEATLES VIDEO GAME
RELEASE SET FOR 2009 HOLIDAY SEASON


variety.com
By Phil Gallo


October 30, 2008


The Beatles are entering the digital age in a way few would have predicted: through a video game.

The single-most important catalog in music, one that has never been licensed for any digital sales, is being opened up for MTV Games to create a video game for release in time for the 2009 holiday season.

The partnership marks the first time Apple Corps, EMI Music, Harrisongs and Sony/ATV Music Publishing have agreed to present the Beatles' music in a video game presentation. Executives from Apple, MTV and game developer Harmonix announced the game Thursday in London, giving few details beyond the game's existence.

Game developers will be able to select 45 songs from the Beatles catalog recorded during their 1962-69 tenure within EMI for inclusion in the game.

"The game is in development," said Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones. "We don't want to talk about how it will turn out a year from now. We're in the process of creating the game."

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono Lennon have been part of the conversations regarding the design, layout and rollout of the game. Discussions, both creative and financial, between Apple Corps and MTV began 17 months ago, and the first contracts were signed about four weeks ago. The game will not be part of the Rock Band franchise, which will release an AC/DC edition on Tuesday.

Landing the Beatles is a major coup for MTV, though perhaps not the knockout blow that getting the band into its Rock Band video game franchise would have been. Both MTV and Guitar Hero publisher Activision have hotly pursued rights to Beatles songs for their respective games.

However, popular a Beatles video game turns out to be, MTV won't be able to easily turn players onto its existing franchise as they would if it were a spin off or special edition. As a result, the ongoing battle between Rock Band and Guitar Hero will likely be unaffected by this deal.

Giles Martin, who produced the Beatles Love album with his father George, the Beatles' original producer, will oversee the music on the release. He emphasized, "We are trying to present the songs as they were played, adhering to the (original) mix."

Neither Jones nor Martin would talk about whether the Beatles music, which has not been touched up or remastered in 20-plus years, would be remastered for the game. Beatles songs are still not available on iTunes or any other digital retailer, about which Jones noted, "All I can say is we're still working out the details."

It's "the biggest puzzle and so illogical that the Beatles music is not available for use on MP3 players," Martin Bandier, chairman-CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, told Daily Variety. "Maybe the fact that this deal is done will offer an impetus to Apple and EMI" to finalize a deal, he added.

Use of the Beatles master recordings has been highly limited over the 38 years since the band called it quits. McCartney, Starr and the widows of George Harrison and John Lennon approved the remixing and reconstructing of the Beatles records for the Cirque du Soleil show Love and opened the vaults for the Anthology film, but that's about it.

Use of their songs has become a bit more common, most prominently on two American Idol shows last season and in the films Across the Universe and I Am Sam. Sony/ATV handles the music publishing of the vast majority of songs written by Lennon and McCartney.

The music publisher was the last to sign the deal, and while no financial figures were released, Bandier said Sony/ATV asked for as much as possible.

"There have been mutterings from artists and songwriters that they are not being offered their fair share in video games, but the game makers have the leverage," he said. "In the world of rock, there are thousands of tracks that will work, but when you get into the world of unique artists, that leverage shifts, tremendously, to the artists and songwriters.

"We signed a deal that would be considered very rich by the video game company but fair for the artists. It will have online implications that will be enormous."

With the Beatles inking a deal for a video game, it leaves one key holdout from the classic rock era, Led Zeppelin. The British hard rock quartet, rumored to be reforming without lead singer Robert Plant, was one of the first acts approached when Guitar Hero was in prototype form. Then, and now, they have rejected uses of their songs in games.

The Rolling Stones moved their post-1970 catalog to Universal Music Group earlier this year, and the music conglom said digital was a priority, suggesting a dedicated game is likely.


(Ben Fritz contributed to this report.)


www.variety.com/VR1117994943.html


Also read: "Getting Better All The Time for Beatle Fans," Oct. 31, 2008.
www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9740f166-a77b-11dd-865e-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1

[yerblues1968]

NO BEATLES DOWNLOAD FOR ROCK BAND



shacknews.com
by Chris Faylor


Nov 03, 2008



Songs by The Beatles will only appear in the as-yet-untitled Harmonix-developed Beatles game and will not be available as downloadable content for Rock Band, Harmonix's other music game franchise, according to Reuters.

"None of the Fab Four's songs will be available for download on the existing Rock Band franchise," claims the news outlet.

Taken at face value, that statement dismisses the possibilities of both downloadable content and the option of downloading songs from the disc, a technique Harmonix used to bring Rock Band and AC/DC Live tracks into other Rock Band games.

As for why rival Activision was unable to secure The Beatles for Guitar Hero, Sony/ATV CEO Martin Bandie noted that Activision "presented [the option] as if they were doing the music business a favor," adding that "when it comes to The Beatles, the leverage changes." Harmonix owner MTV reportedly paid a "very rich" sum for the license.

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has recently spoken out, suggesting that perhaps the music industry should pay for inclusion in Guitar Hero games and more mainstream exposure, instead of Activision being forced to pay licensing fees.

No platforms have been announced for Harmonix's Beatles game, though it is slated to arrive by holiday 2009 and will be compatible with existing Rock Band peripherals.


www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55702

Activision Had Their Chance At Exclusive Beatles Game
www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3171084

[yerblues1968]

BEATLES VIDEO GAME: YOKO ONO SPEAKS, INSIDERS MULL BAND'S DIGITAL FUTURE



Hollywood Insider
by Shirley Halperin


Nov 5, 2008, 02:38 PM


After 17 months of negotiations and signoffs with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison’s widow, Olivia, it was announced last week that the Beatles will star in a video game that has been authorized for a Christmas 2009 release. It’s the result of a partnership between MTV and Harmonix (the companies behind Rock Band) and the Beatles' business enterprise, Apple Corps Ltd. And, like anything involving the Fab Four, securing the deal was no small feat. But Ono tells EW exclusively that it makes perfect sense. “All of us are actually pretty hip, so we said yes,” she says. “I’m personally very excited. [The game] lets you participate in a way where you’re really [immersed in] the music. With so many young kids into the Beatles, it’s a start to a beautiful new page in [the band’s] history. Maybe they’ll start to make music and not just listen to it, and really understand what it’s about.”

The players involved are keeping mum on specifics, but rumors are starting to spread about what the game might look like, how many tracks it could include, and whether it will introduce new peripherals. On a conference call to announce the deal, Apple and MTV would only detail that the game will span the band's entire career, with visuals accompanying each musical turn, as EW previously reported. Since then, there has been talk of 45 songs (that won't be available for download, according to Billboard), and possibly a keyboard component, neither of which MTV would confirm. But one longtime Beatles associate says you can count on it being revolutionary. "When it comes out, it's going to be like Sergeant Pepper's," predicts former Apple Records exec Kan Mansfield, who recently authored The White Book, about his time as the Beatles' U.S. liaison. "It'll be something different and totally innovative -- what a Beatle product should be."

But while the Beatles were long hailed for being ahead of their time, the band has been surprisingly reluctant to enter the digital age -- none of their tracks are available for legal download anywhere on the Internet, and if you were to buy The White Album on CD today, it would essentially be the same product released in 1987. So does their foray into the world of gaming, of all places, mean we could finally see their catalog hit iTunes -- or another digital platform, maybe their own? -- sometime before the next century?

Ono, who knows a thing or two about reaching younger generations -- she's currently riding a No. 1 dance hit with Give Peace A Chance (The Remixes) -- prefers not to comment on rumors of progress on that front. But some speculate there’s reason for optimism. “The Love show continues to sell to full capacity in Las Vegas, 30 million people watched American Idol’s Beatles night, and now there’s this game,” says Martin Bandier, head of Sony/ATV Music Pub­lishing, which controls more than 250 Beatles copyrights. “I think there’s a changing wind -- and that this will naturally lead to other opportunities no one even thought about.”

[yerblues1968]

COME TOGETHER: WHAT THE BEATLES' ROCK BAND GAME MEANS FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY


gotgame.com
Matthew Miller


November 5, 2008



As I’m sure you’ve heard, The Beatles are coming to Rock Band. The Fab Four announced Thursday they will be making their digital debut via a partnership with MTV and Harmonix, which looks to see the band featured in its own exclusive Rock Band title, slated for a holiday 2009 release. Of course, this is a major announcement for a plethora of reasons. The most important reason is hidden underneath the surface of this monstrous musical development.

The Beatles are potentially the most influential and important band in rock ‘n’ roll history. Yes, I know about Elvis and Chuck Berry, but though they made rock ‘n’ roll popular, The Beatles pushed its mania into the stratosphere. Never before had one band caused such pandemonium over a simple one-song performance. Their popularity and influence is unrivaled, and for this reason they have quite the reputation for their exclusive agreements. In fact, 1987 was the last “jump” the band made, seeing their twelve studio albums remastered and released as CDs. Since then, feuds and lawsuits steaming from trademark issues with their record label, Apple, and computer giant, Apple, have resulted in The Beatles refusing to allow their music to be distributed via iTunes.

So what does all this mean, and why the hell should we care? Well, to be blunt, The Beatles’ agreement to include/distribute their music via Rock Band is not only a major announcement for video game companies such as Harmonix and track-hungry gamers such as myself; but it is also an important moment in music culture as a whole…let me explain.

When The Beatles released their last album in 1970, the standard form of music distribution was of course the vinyl LP. Since then, their music has been released on the each of the popular mediums for their time period, two of which were the cassette and CD. But, The Beatles have yet to indulge themselves in the newest form of musical distribution, that of the digital variety. For this reason, a young generation of music listeners has gone years without having the opportunity to listen to one of the greatest bands of all time. Granted, their CDs can be purchased, and their music is everywhere, but the fact still remains that there is a definitive demographic which has not yet listened to The Beatles, simply because their music is not available in digital format.



Abbey Road: A Musical Crossroads


With the Rock Band partnership, an even younger generation of music fans will now have the opportunity to listen to Liverpool’s finest, which is perhaps the most interesting aspect of this unprecedented agreement. The younger generation, those who have practically grown up with their plastic instruments in hand, will hear the band that influenced the youth of generations past to pick up real instruments and play in a real rock band. Sure, Rock Band is only a game, but it’s an extremely popular game, one that undoubtedly inhabits the living space of many families, and it’s this reason that makes The Beatles’ decision to partner with Harmonix monumental. They will be distributing their music on a new, and very popular, platform, to generations of youngsters who may have never heard them.

I’ve spoken previously about my belief in rhythm games becoming a new and popular medium for musical distribution, and this agreement helps to further demonstrate my theory that these games are just as important to the music industry as they are to the gaming industry. Maybe you don’t think this deal is that important, but just think for a moment about the music you hear on the radio today; in my opinion, it’s less than admirable (unless you have satellite radio). These are young musicians moving further and further away from the likes and greatness of bands such as The Beatles. Maybe a little more exposure to high quality music, such as The Beatles, will have a positive musical impact on the future musicians of the world. It’s a lofty assumption, but anything is possible with John, Paul, George and Ringo.


news.gotgame.com/come-together-the-beatles-and-rock-band-bridge-generation-gap-2/18419/

[yerblues1968]

WINGS TRACK PACK TAKES FLIGHT FOR GUITAR HERO


gamersdailynews.com


Thursday, February 19, 2009


Activision dropped a line to let GDN know that the Wings Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour is available today for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. The Wings Track Pack features three of the greatest songs from Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles career, which includes Junior’s Farm, Hi Hi Hi, and Jet.

The Wings Track Pack is available via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 440 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation Store for $5.49. The songs are also available as singles for 160 Microsoft Points, $1.99 from the PlayStation Store and 200 Wii Points.



marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/

www.playstation.com/pc/store/country-selector/

wii.com/


www.gamersdailynews.com/story-8816-Wings-Track-Pack-Takes-Flight-for-Guitar-Hero.html

[yerblues1968]

Image of John Lennon from Xbox 360 "Dead Heroes"


BEATLES EDITION OF 'ROCK BAND' VIDEO GAME PLANNED


The Associated Press

the olympian.com
Published March 05, 2009



NEW YORK – Rock Band is getting the perhaps greatest rock group of all time: The Beatles.


www.thebeatles.com


The Beatles' management said Thursday that a Beatles version of the Rock Band video game will debut Sept. 9. In addition, they'll sell accompanying instruments modeled after the ones used by the band.

This is the first time Rock Band has based a game on one group, according to MTV Games. It has not yet been determined what Beatles songs will be included in the edition, available for Xbox360, Playstation 3, and Wii video game consoles.

Representatives of the Beatles and Rock Band had been planning a collaboration for months, but initially, the final project was not supposed to be a Rock Band game, but another type of game compatible with the instruments used for the popular series.

But MTV Games said in a statement: "As we moved through the creative process, it just seemed to make sense to clearly highlight the association between The Beatles game and the critically acclaimed Rock Band franchise. The game is being developed by Harmonix and will utilize and build upon the core foundation of Rock Band to create a brand new and innovative Beatles experience."

Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin, is developing the product. The Beatles, who broke up nearly four decades ago, have been slow in embracing new technology: their music is still not available for sale on iTunes.

The band's management, Apple Corps Ltd., is partners in the project with MTV Games and Harmonix.


www.theolympian.com/entertainment/wire/story/777634.html

[yerblues1968]

REALISM WILL BE KEY TO 'BEATLES: ROCK BAND' EXPERIENCE


Kotaku.com (MCT)
by Brian Crecente


11 March 2009



When The Beatles come to Rock Band it may not be as different an experience as many had hoped, but what it lacks in new ways to play it will make up for in nuance.

When MTV Games, Harmonix and Apple Corps announced an exclusive partnership in October to create a new video game featuring the music of The Beatles, they stressed that it wouldn’t be a Rock Band title. Visual exploration of The Beatles would be a big part of the game.

Many took that to mean that this new title would be a reinvention of the music game genre, or at least a fanciful flight through a Beatles world more like Yellow Submarine than documentaries The Beatles at Shea Stadium or All Together Now.

But when the three companies rolled out the official price, date and name of their new music game, that idea seemed to go out the window. The Beatles: Rock Band hits in September for $250 with instruments.

Despite the name Rock Band attached to the upcoming game, an MTV Games spokesperson told me that the game would still be a “custom standalone dedicated game experience and completely brand new production that will be an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles.”

Instead of tinkering with the game mechanics that have proven so successful in Rock Band and Rock Band 2, The Beatles: Rock Band will instead focus on putting players in the shoes of the Fab Four, according to our sources.

We hear that the game play itself and the interface in The Beatles will be relatively unchanged from Rock Band, but that there will be more to the game than just playing Beatles songs. Players will progress through settings made famous by the group, like Shea Stadium, the Cavern Club and 1969’s rooftop concert. And those setting will be much more interactive than what gamers currently find in Rock Band.

The game will rely on realistic graphics to capture the mood and feel of the group, allowing players to see them mature both musically and physically as the game progresses.

The deal inked by MTV Games gives Harmonix access to more than 300 Beatles songs. We’ve heard that the selection on the disc will be quite varied, including folksy Here Comes the Sun, classic rocker I Feel Fine, proto-metal Helter Skelter and even Ringo Starr’s charming Octopus’ Garden.

But it would be surprising if the disc included more than 50 or so songs when it ships. I expect that, as with Rock Band and Rock Band 2, MTV Games is willing to take a loss on the game itself with hopes of later earning it back through individual song sales.

The Beatles: Rock Band will most certainly have the ability to download new songs, as its predecessors have, but I think that Harmonix might reexamine how that’s done as well. Instead of releasing individual songs purchasable online for download, I could see the developer releasing entire albums in stores. Imagine a boxed White Album for the game with the same cover art.

The Beatles: Rock Band should be both a financial and artistic success for Harmonix, opening the door to gaming for a much broader audience. Even more importantly, the success or failure of this standalone, single-band endeavor could pave the way for similar efforts.

If The Beatles: Rock Band sells, why wouldn’t Elvis: Rock Band?


www.popmatters.com/pm/article/71457-realism-will-be-key-to-beatles-rock-band-experience/

[yerblues1968]

THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND - MORE THAN JUST A ROCK BAND GAME SAY GAME STOP



PR News
Product Reviews


Posted on: March 17, 2009



Some fresh details on The Beatles: Rock Band have emerged from Bob McKenzie, who is the SVP of merchandising for retailer Gamestop. He has said that the added content seen in the game will make it stand out by itself and not just be seen as just another Rock Band game.



www.thebeatlesrockband.com/


When speaking in an interview with GamaSutra, he revealed that he has already seen a demo of the game and that he was really impressed with how the game is shaping up at the moment.

If you have been keeping up to date with our news on this game, you’ll know that the game is thought to include unreleased tracks from The Beatles which have never had a public release. Well McKenzie has also said the game has ”actually got some of the cutscenes and some of the added material from the band and from that era.”

The Beatles: Rock Band is scheduled for a September release onto the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.


Dhani Harrison Talks New Band, Beatles Video Game
www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/dhani-harrison-talks-new-band-beatles-video-1003950636.story

www.product-reviews.net/2009/03/17/the-beatles-rock-band-more-than-just-a-rock-band-game-say-gamestop/

[yerblues1968]

Packaging for the upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band videogame.


HARMONIX CONFIRMS BUNDLE CONTENTS FOR THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND
EUROPEAN PRICING ALSO REVEALED


by Jay Acevedo (AnodaJay)


Posted on April the 16th 2009


After being hinted by Kotaku a few days ago, Harmonix officially confirmed the contents of limited edition premium bundle planned for The Beatles: Rock Band.

The bundle (priced at $250 in North America) will include:

• The Beatles: Rock Band software

• Höfner Bass controller: Large scale replica of the Bass famously used by Sir Paul McCartney

• Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drums with classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head

• Microphone

• Microphone Stand

• Additional special content


In addition to the previously announced US price tag, The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle will retail in continental Europe for MSRP €199.00 and for MSRP £179.00 in the UK.

North American and European fans who pre-order any version of the game will be eligible to join the The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club and receive breaking news and access to exclusive game elements including art and behind-the-scenes footage directly from MTV Games and Harmonix. New material will be released regularly starting in May and leading up to the game’s launch on 9/9/09.

Available simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION®3 and Wii™ on 09/09/2009, the game will be compatible with all Rock Band® instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other third party music video game peripherals and microphones.


To learn more about pre-ordering The Beatles: Rock Band, please visit www.thebeatlesrockband.com.


www.gamefocus.ca/?nav=new&nid=4914

[yerblues1968]

Paul McCartney performing at Coachella, CA Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 17, 2009.


PAUL McCARTNEY SURPRISES COACHELLA WITH BEATLES ROCK BAND FOOTAGE


Kindbridge
oversources.com


By Chris Kohler


April 20, 2009 | 12:27:24 PM



The first footage of The Beatles: Rock Band came as a surprise over the weekend, playing on the giant screen behind Paul McCartney during his set at the Indio, California music festival Coachella on Friday.





As McCartney launched into a crowd-pleasing rendition of his Beatles hit Got to Get You Into My Life, the massive display behind him lit up with unmistakable computer-generated images: the Fab Four themselves, as rendered in [i[Rock Band's[/i] signature cartoonish style.

Fortunately for the rest of us, the performance (as well as probably the entire rest of Coachella) was captured in its entirety by several hundred camera phones. McCartney didn't show any gameplay, just footage of the animated characters.


Notes:

* What a clever idea -- revealing totally benign footage, nothing gameplay-related, as a surprise, knowing that it was going to spread virally all over YouTube and gaming forums over the weekend. Also illustrates just how seriously the band takes this game.

* Man oh man, does Paul McCartney still have it or what?




Paul McCartney Front and Center in Coachella. Part 1 of 2. (9:57 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O161a08uNF4




Paul McCartney Front and Center in Coachella. Part 2 of 2. (9:57 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDzRqiHpyXQ




Paul McCartney performing at Coachella presenting
The Beatles Rock Band video game footage. (2:49 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh99FuqQc2I




Paul McCartney performs "Got To Get You Into My Life" with
The Beatles Rock Band video game footage in background. (0:47 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnq9VFM9mmk



www.oversources.com/dig/view/0120c71f525b7f92.shtml

[yerblues1968]

The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964.


THE BEATLES ROCK BAND TO INCLUDE ED SULLIVAN STAGE


musicradar.com
Joe Bosso


Wed 20 May 2009, 2:12 pm BST


Screaming girls and a "really big shoe!"


It was 9 February 1964 when The Beatles stepped on the multi-arrowed stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater and knocked out America. Now, thanks to the upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band, you can do the same.

Below is a larger photo of the incredible recreation of that most iconic backdrop.

Drool if you must, we totally understand.



Can you picture yourself at the Ed Sullivan Theater?


What level in the game the Ed Sullivan stage appears, we still don't know. But as The Fab Four's guest shots on the show were an indelible part of Beatles lore, it only makes sense that players get a chance to make television history.

Want the full effect? Click on the official website www.thebeatles.com/core/home/ for The Beatles: Rock Band and view the backdrop with the sounds of screaming, adoring girls.

Are we pre-ordering this baby? Yeah, yeah, yeah!


www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-beatles-rock-band-to-include-ed-sullivan-stage-207447
www.thebeatles.com/core/home/

Partial Track List for The Beatles: Rock Band Coming, May 13, 2009
news.softpedia.com/news/Partial-Track-List-for-The-Beatles-Rock-Band-Coming-111510.shtml

[yerblues1968]

Harrison will demo The Beatles: Rock Band at E3 in two weeks


DHANI HARRISON TALKS THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND


musicradar.com
Joe Bosso


Fri 22 May 2009, 7:39 pm BST



Game launch planned for E3 Expo

Dhani Harrison has been working behind the scenes on The Beatles: Rock Band. But in two weeks, at the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, he'll take center stage and give people their first real look at the hotly anticipated video game.

"I look forward to launching it at E3," says Harrison, son of the late George Harrison. "There's going to be a big demo. I'd love to say more, but I'm contractually obliged not to at the moment." He laughs and says, "Soon enough, though."

Harrison, 30, who describes himself as a "gamer," has been involved in practically every aspect of The Beatles: Rock Band since the beginning.

"I became friends with the guys at Harmonix, especially [company CEO] Alex Rigopulos. When the idea [for the game] came up between us just in jest, we didn't think it would happen. But it was such a good idea."


Harrison Ensured Accuracy for The Beatles: Rock Band

"Every time we get stressed out, we just go and play the game. It's so much fun!" Dhani Harrison on working with the folks at Harmonix

Once the project got rolling, Harrison became obsessed with ensuring the game's accuracy. "There's still a couple of mistakes in it, but we'll get it right. There's always headaches involved with working on something of this magnitude, but every time we get stressed out, we just go and play the game. It's so much fun!"

Harrison has nothing but praise for the folks at Harmonix. "It's a great company. They're just the nicest, easiest group of people - they're crazy and creative. We're a good fit."

Once The Beatles: Rock Band is released on 9 September, Harrison hopes to start work on the next edition of Rock Band. "I love designing games and working with computers. Besides music, technology is my greatest passion."

Speaking of music, Harrison's band thenewno2 have just released their marvelous debut album You Are Here. Check back in with MusicRadar next week for an exclusive podcast interview with Dhani Harrison, in which he discusses the new record, the prospect of touring and The Beatles: Rock Band.


www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/dhani-harrison-talks-the-beatles-rock-band-207747

[yerblues1968]

The Beatles: Rock Band on Microsoft Stage E3 09


ENGADGET & JOYSTIQ LIVE FROM MICROSOFT'S E3 2009 KEYNOTE


engadget.com
by Christopher Grant


posted Jun 1st 2009 at 1:34PM



9:48AM PT: We're lined up outside USC's Galen Center, mingling with the rest of the riff-raff (read: media), being herded through a labyrinth of stanchions and fences. Hey, remember that "very special addition"? A PR person just walked into the crowd and called for anyone from "Apple, MTV, or EMI?" So, a Beatles appearance then?

10:12AM PT: We're in, we're seated, and we're impressed. Microsoft dropped some serious cash on this setup. Of course, everything is cast in an unnatural hue of green.

10:20PM PT: The announcer just let us know this party's getting started in just about 5 minutes. They better make good use of that extra five minutes they asked for – practically ruined our entire schedule. Okay, so maybe not "ruined" but we could've used that time for a second coffee stop.

And the standard disclaimer – no flash photography, no running onstage to hug Don Matrick. The usual. But we can hardly resist those boyish good looks. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to teh 2009 Xbox 360 Media Briefing

10:20PM PT: The announcer just let us know this party's getting started in just about 5 minutes. They better make good use of that extra five minutes they asked for – practically ruined our entire schedule. Okay, so maybe not "ruined" but we could've used that time for a second coffee stop.

And the standard disclaimer – no flash photography, no running onstage to hug Don Matrick. The usual. But we can hardly resist those boyish good looks. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2009 Xbox 360 Media Briefing.



E3 2009 Xbox Media Briefing - Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney of the Beatles show up
to promote The Beatles: Rock Band game.


10:28PM PT: We're seeing a great animated tour of their career, with a backdrop of Beatles classics.

And we've transitioned to the 60s, and so have the visuals. Want to know what a video for I Am the Walrus looks like? It's ... trippy. But, yeah – the visuals look incredible. This isn't your Dad's guitar simulator.

10:29PM PT: On stage: Alex Rigopolous and Van Toffler.

10:32PM PT: "In fact the video you just saw is the opening cinematic for the game."

"They launched the tech revolution" launching in black & white into psychedelic color. "They were always always innovating." Rigopoulos is on drums, he's really good, obviously.

10:35PM PT: The infamous Giles Martin on stage (son of George Martin, Beatles producer). They've remastered all the tracks to "give gamers the best experience." The game has "never before" heard studio chat with the entire band.

1) I Saw Her Standing There
2) I Want to Hold Your Hand
3) I Feel Fine
4) Day Tripper
5) Taxman
6) I Am The Walrus
7) Back in the USSR
Octopus's Garden
9) Here Comes The Sun
10) Get Back

10:38PM PT: "Please acknowledge Danny Harrison" – a fan of Beatles, and Harmonix, and a key person in getting this game made. "We were incredibly lucky to have the support, enthusiasm" from these next two individuals. "Yoko Ono Lennon & Olivia Harrison" Oh snap!

10:39PM PT: All You Need is Love will be available exclusively through Xbox Live. All proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders.

10:40PM PT: "Their music will undoubtedly endure long after they're all here." "It's a privilege to introduce Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr"

Wow, the audience is out of their seats!



More Gameplay from The Beatles: Rock Band E3 09 from Microsoft Press Conference.


10:41PM PT: "What do you think of the game?" Ringo asks Paul. "I love it."

"The game is good. The graphics are very good! We look great." -- Ringo.

10:42PM PT: Paul: "Who'd have thought we wouldn't end up looking like androids."

They send the audience their best and they're off. So, no Beatles performance then? We'll live I think. SOMEHOW.




The Beatles Rock Band Presentation at Microsoft
Press Conference E3 2009. Part 1. (9:50 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPucIgRB3Ow




The Beatles: Rock Band Presentation at Microsoft
Press Conference E3 2009. Part 2. (8:06 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOI5wDZ3qR8




Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at The Beatles: Rock Band Presentation
at Microsoft Press Conference E3 2009. (1:36 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgpKgsumG5E


View more of The Beatles: Rock Band footage
www.thebeatles.com/core/home/

View more photos of the The Beatles: Rock Band Microsoft Press Conference promotion.
www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/engadget-and-joystiq-live-from-microsofts-e3-2009-keynote/#continued

[yerblues1968]

Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney at the Microsoft Press Conference E3 Presentation
on Monday, June 1, 2009.


HOW 'BEATLES: ROCK BAND' CAME TOGETHER


news.cnet.com
by Daniel Terdiman


June 4, 2009 4:00 AM PDT



LOS ANGELES--If you were among the thousands of people at Microsoft's E3 press briefing on Monday, it's a pretty sure bet that the appearance on-stage there of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Yoko Ono was one of the most unexpected things imaginable.

But if you think about it, the very existence of the game that led to their showing up during the Xbox press briefing, Harmonix and MTV Games' Beatles: Rock Band, is even more surprising. After all, the Beatles have, over the years, maintained a stranglehold over control of their music. For example the Beatles are still the holy grail that iTunes has not yet been able to corral.

The game will be released on September 9 (09.09.09) on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, and the Wii.





So how did the game come to pass?

Since the two remaining Beatles weren't able to come to the phone for this article, I decided to stop by the Harmonix booth at E3 and ask the game's lead designer, Chris Foster, for the skinny behind what has got to be one of the biggest coups in video gaming history.

Foster said the story begins a couple of years ago, when MTV President Van Toffler ran into Dhani Harrison, son of the late Beatles guitarist George Harrison, in some random social setting.

"It was just sort of through happenstance," Foster said. "Dhani was a big Rock Band fan, and there was this sort of, 'Wouldn't it be nice if...but it'll never happen.'"



Dhani Harrison was the one who
started the idea of a Beatles
version of Rock Band.


But being a Rock Band fan, Dhani Harrison took his idea to Harmonix CEO and co-founder Alex Rigopulos and began a conversation about what a Beatles version of Rock Band could be. Foster said that the idea seemed like a huge challenge, but, deciding to pursue it, Harrison began evangelizing the idea to Apple Corps, the Beatles' U.K. publisher, and its shareholders, particularly McCartney, Starr, and Ono.

"So then, from that point, it was just sort of getting them familiar with (Rock Band)," Foster said, "and getting them understanding what the game could be like."

By now, the discussions were far enough along that Harmonix put together a simple demo of the kind of music and conceptual art that could be used in the game, Foster said.

And, amazingly, inexplicably, it worked.


CREATIVE PARTNERS

"At that point," Foster recalled, things "moved to (the Beatles) being creative partners" in the project. One of the most vital things to happen at that point was the introduction of music producer Giles Martin to the Rock Band project. Martin, the son of the Beatles' original producer, George Martin, helped Cirque du Soleil put together its Beatles show, LOVE.

That was crucial, Foster said, because Martin was able to help solve one of the most important problems any Beatles Rock Band game would have, adding multitrack capabilities.

"We needed multi-track," Foster said, "because in Rock Band, (players) need to get (individual) feedback about whether they're playing well or not. So with all those pieces in place, we were able to do a demo of what the music (in the game) would be like."

As things progressed, the developers knew that to make the game feel authentic, they'd have to offer players real Beatles venues to play in. So they worked to add famous Beatles locations like Liverpool's famous Cavern Club, the Ed Sullivan theater, Shea Stadium, the Budokan in Tokyo, and the rooftop at Apple Corps.

Then, Foster said, the development team came up with the idea for adding psychedelic dreamscape visions to the game. The game's trailer (see below) does a great job of demonstrating that element, as do some of the best pieces of Cirque du Soleil's LOVE




E3 Expo 2009: The Beatles: Rock Band.
Game Trailers Press Conference. (2:48 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeKJZmMG6BE




The Beatles: Rock Band Trailer shown at the Microsoft E3
Conference on June 1st, 2009 [HQ] (2:37 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=99nVIPfUUYU



WE RESPECTED THEM AND THEIR MUSIC

To Foster, the chief reason that the improbable game ever came together at all is that "they liked that we respected them and respected their music. I don't want to put words in their mouths, but what was important to us was that we respected them."

That's one reason that the development team made sure to include venues where the Beatles had actually played famous shows. "We weren't shoving them into live venues that didn't make sense," he said.

Another important factor was the developers' adding the ability to include vocal harmonies as part of game play.

"Their music is so much about harmonies," he said. Adding vocal harmonies was something that had never been done in Rock Band before, but it was considered vital to accurately representing the Beatles' music in the game.

And that also presented the developers with a hurdle they had to clear.

"The challenge (was) making it so vocal harmonies were fun and challenging, but really accessible, and finding a way to put that in the game, without overwhelming" players, Foster said. "(We didn't want to make them) feel like they failed to sing like the Beatles."

Foster acknowledged that contracting with the Beatles was a huge win for Harmonix, especially when it's been clear for some time that "lots of people were thinking about doing it."

The game is already being anxiously awaited by players, developers, and industry executives alike, and for both game play and business reasons.

"Clearly, (the Beatles) saw an opportunity of reintroducing their music to the current music-loving consumer and it makes perfect sense for them as they try and manage their brand," said Nintendo President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. "So I think it makes a lot of sense and, candidly, what the music industry is finding is that the games industry is a great way to drive music sales."

And for Microsoft, having McCartney, Starr, and Ono take the stage at the Xbox press briefing at the University of Southern California's Galen Center was a gigantic victory. A Microsoft spokesperson said that the appearance came about because the company is always talking to its publisher partners, including, in this case, MTV Games. And that as Beatles: Rock Band progressed, the Beatles decided that the Xbox press briefing would be a very appropriate place to announce the game.

Note to Sony and Nintendo: Work harder at finessing those publisher partner contacts, and next time, maybe the stars will pick your E3 briefing.

To Foster, a big part of what makes the game seem authentic was that the designers concentrated on "telling the Beatles' story" but still finding a way to do so in the context of a Rock Band game that fans of both the band and the game franchise would appreciate and recognize. And also because the game will appeal to even the youngest Beatles fans.

He explained that the Harmonix team liked the idea of bringing new, younger audiences to the Beatles for the first time. But reality soon disabused them of that notion.

"The (Beatles') music is like the air we breathe," Foster said, "and it catches every generation...It's sort of presumptuous to think you can introduce the Beatles to anyone."


View The Beatles: Rock Band Rocks E3 Gallery
news.cnet.com/2300-10797_3-10000993-1.html?tag=mncol;txt

news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10256730-235.html

[yerblues1968]

VH1 TO AIR BEATLES ROCK BAND DOC


tvfodder.com
Posted by Rachel Cericola


November 20, 2009 8:46 PM


The Making of The Beatles: Rock Band will premiere Friday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m. (EST) on VH1 Classic.





I need to get this Beatles: Rock Band. Apparently, it's so awesome, it has spawned its own Behind the Music-type special. Sure, there probably won't be any sex and drugs in this story, but there should be plenty of rock and roll -- at least the computer-generated kind.





Next Friday, while you are avoiding Black Friday sales and wallowing in turkey gravy, VH1 will premiere The Making of The Beatles: Rock Band. The 30-minute special will include never-before-seen footage of Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at Abbey Road Studios and other behind-the-scenes material.

In case you want to create a bit of your own musical history, The Beatles: Rock Band features 45 of the group's greatest hits. It's available now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles. Users can also download additional tracks.




The Beatles: Rock Band "A Day In A Life" recorded January 16, 1967. (5:30 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNoTA7mb900



The Beatles: Rock Band "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." (10:49 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=klv_fEyw9kg


www.tvfodder.com/archives/2009/11/vh1_to_air_beat.shtml