Apple Corps, Ltd., MTV Games and Harmonix, the world’s leading developer of music-based games and a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, today announced the launch of Abbey Road (1969) as the first Beatles album to be available for purchase and playable as downloadable content in The Beatles™: Rock Band™ Music Store.

With “Come Together,” “Something,” “Octopus’s Garden,” “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” “Here Comes The Sun” and “The End” already included on The Beatles: Rock Band game disc, players will now be able to play songs from and complete the entire Abbey Road album.

Available for Xbox 360 (Oct. 20) and PlayStation 3 System (Oct. 22):

Individual Abbey Road singles: “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” “Oh! Darling,” and “Because”
Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per each individual track

The “Complete The Album Pack” features:

• • Abbey Road singles: “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” “Oh! Darling,” and “Because”
• • The entire Abbey Road B-side 16 minute medley that includes: “You Never Give Me Your Money,” “Sun King,” “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Polythene Pam,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End”
• • Additionally, the following songs from Abbey Road can also be played as 1-to-3-song sets, based on how they were recorded / composed:
  • “You Never Give Me Your Money”
  • “Sun King”/ “Mean Mr. Mustard”
  • “Polythene Pam”/ “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window”
  • “Golden Slumbers”/ “Carry That Weight”/ “The End”*
  • “Her Majesty”

Price: $16.99 USD, £10.46 UK, €11.37 EU (1360 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Complete The Album Pack”

Available for Wii (Oct. 20):

Individual Abbey Road singles: “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, ” “Oh! Darling,” “Because,” and “You Never Give Me Your Money,” *“Her Majesty
Price: $2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per each individual track
*$1.00 USD (100 Wii Points) for “Her Majesty”

Multi-track sets:
• “Sun King”/ “Mean Mr. Mustard”
• “Polythene Pam”/ “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window”
• “Golden Slumbers”/ “Carry That Weight”/ “The End”*
Price: $3.50 USD (350 Wii Points) per 2-Pack /

* No additional cost for 3rd song “The End” as it is already included on game disc

Additional Beatles albums that have been announced as upcoming downloadable content include Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) in November and Rubber Soul (1965) in December. The Beatles: Rock Band downloadable content will be available for purchase on the Xbox®LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, PlayStation®Network and via the in-game The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store for Wii™ using Wii points purchased through the Wii Shop Channel.

The Beatles: Rock Band offers players an unprecedented, experiential progression through the music and artistry of The Beatles and is available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ console from Nintendo. The game is compatible with all The Beatles: Rock Band and Rock Band™ instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other authorized third-party music video game peripherals and microphones.

The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Harrisongs Ltd and Startling Music Ltd has presented The Beatles music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band is published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band. Electronic Arts Inc. serves as distribution partner for the game. In addition, Giles Martin, coproducer of The Beatles’ innovative LOVE album project, provided his expertise and served as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.

The Beatles: Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen with the descriptors “Mild Lyrics” and “Tobacco Reference” by the ESRB.

© Richard Allen for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Is everyone ready for The Beatles Rock Band to grace us on September 9th? As many of you know, I work for a major electronics retailer here on the West coast. We had our Microsoft rep pop in to update our Xbox kiosk (Sony does the same) and dropped off some Beatles: Rock Band displays. Standard procedure and all, but I happened to notice something odd regarding one of the Beatles top songs “All You Need Is Love,” which is considered Xbox 360 exclusive DLC…

So if you were bitter about MS was getting one of the Beatles’ classics, don’t worry. It’ll be on PS3 either right before Christmas, or in early 2010 for PS3 and Wii. I love how Microsoft NEVER said that they had a “timed exclusivity contract” on the DLC song, and instead chose to say that it was “Xbox 360 Exclusive”. But it wouldn’t be the first time.

© DevonTheDude for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us

As 09.09.09 approaches in a little over a month, I thought it would be a great idea to let people know about certain aspects regarding The Beatles Rock Band most may not know…

I work for a national electronics retailer who held video conferences last Friday in all stores, with a representative from EA hosting the event. As a writer for PSLS, I had a great opportunity to inform our readers and get some tidbits regarding The Beatles: Rock Band.

• Rock Band 1 or 2 DLC is not supported in the Beatles Rock Band (sorry they will not be singing Paramore).
• Rock Band Beatles DLC is incompatible with other Rock Band titles.
• Beatles DLC will not see a weekly release; most likely bi-weekly or monthly.
• RB Beatles will NOT be on PS2 either as a box set or standalone software.
• SingStar Mics are supported, including the wireless ones.
• Two box sets will be available. $250 for the Pearl Drums, Hofner Bass, Mic Stand, Mic, and game. $159 for Rock Band 2′s default instruments along with the game.
• No additional USB hub is needed if buying The Beatles: Rock Band instruments, as the dongles are attached to a USB hub (check out the pic).

© DevonTheDude for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us

MTV Games and Harmonix Unveil Next 15 Songs Featured In The Beatles: Rock Band

One of the Most Anticipated Music Video Game of 2009 to Include “Twist And Shout,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Revolution,” “Yellow Submarine” and More

MTV Games and Harmonix, the world’s leading developer of music-based games and a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, today revealed 15 more of the 45 on-disc tracks that will be featured in The Beatles™: Rock Band™. A gameplay trailer featuring eight of the 15 newly announced songs can be viewed by visiting www.thebeatlesrockband.com.

Following the world premiere of The Beatles: Rock Band at the Microsoft press briefing at the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit last month, the newly announced 15 songs represent a cross-section of hits and favorites that span The Beatles’ storied career from Can’t Buy Me Love and Paperback Writer to With A Little Help From My Friends and Yellow Submarine, bringing the total number of announced songs to 25.

The 15 new songs for The Beatles: Rock Band and the venues they are featured in are:

• Twist And Shout / Cavern Club
• Do You Want To Know A Secret / Cavern Club
• Can’t Buy Me Love / Ed Sullivan Theater
• I Wanna Be Your Man / Ed Sullivan Theater
• Eight Days A Week / Shea Stadium
• Paperback Writer / Budokan
• And Your Bird Can Sing / Budokan
• Yellow Submarine / Abbey Road Dreamscape
• Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band* / Abbey Road Dreamscape
• With a Little Help from My Friends* / Abbey Road Dreamscape
• Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows / Abbey Road Dreamscape
• Revolution / Abbey Road Dreamscape
• Birthday / Abbey Road Dreamscape
• Dig A Pony / Rooftop Concert
• I’ve Got A Feeling / Rooftop Concert

Additional on-disc songs will be announced at a later date.

The Beatles: Rock Band allows fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles’ extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career. From the early touring days in 1963 Liverpool to the immortal, final performance on the Apple Corps rooftop, fans can follow in The Fab Four’s footsteps as they traverse the globe during the height of Beatlemania.

Additionally, for the first time in a music videogame, The Beatles: Rock Band introduces three-part vocal harmonies to gameplay, allowing gamers to revel in the unparalleled vocal stylings of The Beatles.

As previously announced, the entire Abbey Road album will be available for future download purchase. In addition, “All You Need Is Love” will be released Sept.9, 2009, exclusively through Xbox LIVE for a limited time as a downloadable song for The Beatles: Rock Band, with all Apple Corps Ltd, MTV Games, Harmonix and Microsoft proceeds benefitting Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

In conjunction with the release of the entire, original, digitally re-mastered Beatles CD catalogue, The Beatles: Rock Band will be available Sept. 9, 2009, simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI), and the Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo. The game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other authorized third-party music video game peripherals and microphones.

North American and European fans who pre-order any version of the The Beatles: Rock Band at a participating retailer will be given an access code to officially join the Pre-Order Club. After entry of the code, consumers will gain access to breaking news and exclusive behind-the-scenes elements. For a list of participating retailers or to learn more about The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club, please visit www.thebeatlesrockband.com/preorderclub/.

The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Harrisongs Ltd, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has agreed to present The Beatles music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band will be published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band®. Electronic Arts will serve as distribution partner for the game. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project, is providing his expertise and serving as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.

© Richard Allen for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Here is the intro movie for [shal]EA[/shal] and [shal]Hamonix[/shal] upcoming game [shal]The Beatles Rock Band[/shal]. It is the same movie that was played at the Microsoft press conference.

It shows off a quick run through of the Beatles early years. The entire intro is done up in a interesting art style, and it’s disappointing that the entire game didn’t incorporate that art style. It’s not a mistake on the developer’s part, so much as a missed opportunity. That’s just how cool it is.

The Beatles Rock Band hits store shelves September 9th. You can check out the intro video below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

© Adam Wolfe for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

After the Beatles: Rock Band was shown yesterday, a new trailer hit the web. It shows off some game play which is pretty much what you would expect from a Rock Band game. As well as the game play, it shows off some of the venues and sheds some light on some of the songs that will be available.

The game hits store shelves 9-9-09.

Click here to view the embedded video.

© Adam Wolfe for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

The Beatles: Rock Band is scheduled for a 9/9/09 release, so stay tuned on PSLS for more updates on this title.

[Source]

© Draisey for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

MTV GAMES, HARMONIX AND EA UNVEIL REPLICA RICKENBACKER AND GRETSCH GUITAR INSTRUMENT CONTROLLERS FOR THE BEATLES™: ROCK BAND™

The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club Goes Live Today, May 5th

[shal]Harmonix[/shal] Music Systems, the leading developer of music-based games, and [shal]MTV Games[/shal], a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, along with distribution partner [shal]Electronic Arts[/shal] Inc., announced today that replica Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet™ guitars will be made available as standalone music peripheral controllers for [shal]The Beatles: Rock Band[/shal]. In addition, The Beatles: Rock Band [shal]Pre-Order[/shal] Club also goes live today in the U.S. and Canada[1] giving fans exclusive news and access to exclusive game elements from the eagerly awaited game set for release worldwide on 9/9/09.

The Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars are hailed as two of the signature, most celebrated instruments played by John Lennon and George Harrison throughout their careers, respectively. They will be made available for MSRP $99.99 in the U.S. and in continental Europe for MSRP €99.99 and for MSRP £89.99 in the UK. These wireless instrument controllers join the previously announced Höfner bass controller, a large-scale replica of the bass famously used by Sir Paul McCartney, and the Ringo Starr inspired and Ludwig-branded [shal]Rock Band 2[/shal] drums, with a classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head. All controllers will be available for the [shal]Xbox 360[/shal]® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, [shal]PLAYSTATION[/shal]® 3, [shal]Wii[/shal]™ and will be compatible with all Rock Band titles.

Also announced, The Beatles: [shal]Rock Band[/shal] Pre-Order Club officially goes live today. North American and European fans who pre-order any version of the The Beatles: Rock Band at a participating retailer will be given an access code to officially join the Pre-Order Club. After entry of the code, consumers will gain access to breaking news and exclusive behind the scenes elements[2]. For a list of participating retailers or to learn more about The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club, please visit www.thebeatlesrockband.com.

The Beatles: Rock Band will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles’ extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career. Available simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ system from Nintendo on Sept. 9, 2009, the game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers, as well as most [shal]Guitar Hero[/shal]® and other third party music video game [shal]peripherals[/shal] and microphones.

© Richard Allen for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us