Guitar Hero: Beatles Edition a possibility
by Kyle Orland 
{ Mar 18th 2008 at 10:00AM }
Aerosmith is one thing, but a version of Guitar Hero packed with Beatles songs would be the holy grail for many classic rock fans. Unfortunately, that possibility has seemed as ephemeral as the holy grail itself, as Sony/ATV has been extremely protective of digital distribution of the Fab Four's back catalog (it's not even available on iTunes).There is some reason to hope though, with L.A. Times reporting that Sony/ATV CEO Marty Bandier has said putting Beatles songs into a Guitar Hero game is "something we have talked about and something I'd like to pursue." Whether that possibility is something Activision would also like to pursue is not yet clear, but if the companies can Come Together, they'd both have a Ticket To Ride right to the bank. Come on Activision, Please Please Us and make this thing happen!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
apotheos @ Mar 18th 2008 10:07AM
No. No. No. This needs to be Rock Band.
Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 18th 2008 12:24PM
I couldn't agree more. Putting this on GH instead of RB would be the biggest wasted opportunity of this decade. I would even settle for a half-dozen or so RB DL packs released over a year.
Trevor @ Mar 18th 2008 12:55PM
And lefty-flip better be the default on the bass.
Tiptup300 @ Mar 18th 2008 4:26PM
NO! Rock Band! PLEASE!
BananaBoat @ Mar 19th 2008 8:58AM
If you want to go with something that you can easily understand...they are the best band EVER because they made the most money of any band EVER or of any band that will ever exist.
Money can't buy you love though friend...that's why the fact that they've had more #1 albums, more #1 songs, more etc than anyone. They are loved by more people than any other band ever. You can list the crap they are the "Best of" till the cows come home.
Mostly they are the best because no other band will ever have Paul McCartney. Amirite? Oh right...wings....F*SK
Flit @ Mar 19th 2008 10:21AM
Wow, my b.s. meter is off the charts on this one. Beatles still don't have their music catalog online, anywhere, they refuse to join the 21st century, and someone actually thinks that they will license their music for a plastic guitar game with red bull and strippers everywhere? Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I for one don't want cartoonishly freaky caracatures of the beatles rockin out with star power and having Guitar Boss Battles against Keith Richards.
And yes, this should be in rock band, so we can all know why Ringo was so bored in the early years that they finally let him write a couple.
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Mar 18th 2008 10:11AM
Most overrated band of all time. Talented, but overrated.
jsn @ Mar 18th 2008 10:13AM
wrong.
Prof_Chaos @ Mar 18th 2008 10:14AM
Respectively, I beg to differ.
This would be fantastic. Just off the top of my head I can think of more than 30 Beatles songs that would be fantastic in Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
Eric @ Mar 18th 2008 10:23AM
Overrated my ass. There fucking timeless.
loof @ Mar 18th 2008 10:47AM
I never really understood the obsession with the beatles. They're good mind you but I've never heard anything by them I'd term amazing.
Chyld989 @ Mar 18th 2008 11:37AM
"Most overrated band of all time. Talented, but overrated."
100% agree. Sure, they're decent. But the best band ever? No. The stuff they did by themselves was TONS better than anything by the Beatles.
343 Guilty Fart @ Mar 18th 2008 12:25PM
I've never heard of these guys, are they one of those new 'The' bands?
Benjamin Breeg @ Mar 18th 2008 1:26PM
I agree complete.
They can write and play good music, but as far as being what they're hailed as, the greatest and most influential band ever, they fall pretty short.
There are many bands and musicians with much more musical ability and talent, and plenty of other bands who were more influential to music.
The only thing I can think of that they really made a significant impact on, its their commentary on society at the time, but that effect has pretty much worn off, seeing as how times are a lot different now.
Cesaria @ Mar 18th 2008 3:48PM
@loof
The White Album, Sgt. Peppers, Revolver, Rubber Soul, etc...masterpieces
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Mar 18th 2008 4:46PM
The Beatles were never ahead of the curve musically. The music that they were so heralded for was the same stuff that Pink Floyd, The Stones, and Jimi and the Experience were doing at the time. Their sucess is due largely to good marketing. They were more attractive than the aforementioned talent and wore matching outfits.
Easily comparable is how Nirvana came out as the most influential band of the grunge era, even though acts like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains were playing music that was equally as good, if not better, than what Nirvana did. But because of Kurt's tragedy we are all led to believe that thier music, somehow, defined the movement.
If you like The Beatles that's fine with me, but don't parade them around as the greatest of all time...because they are not.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 18th 2008 5:02PM
Jedi wins the thread.
ChooChooCharlie (Brawl: 1504-5357-9285) @ Mar 18th 2008 6:25PM
I agree, Zoot Suit Jedi.
Even if it wasn't The Beatles, there shouldn't be ANY RB or GH game dedicated to only one band. Know why? Because no single band is "the greatest". There is way too much music and talent that has accumulated into what is considered music to blindly label one group as the king. Besides everyone has different tastes - it's all subjective. Some of these people like The Beatles, I don't.
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 6:36PM
Well I like some of their songs and I think they are cool but C'mon bigger than Jesus?!
I mean unless the people who said that meant they are bigger than Jesus like Chuck Norris counted to the infinity twice that's pretty damn ridiculous.
Saria the Cat @ Mar 18th 2008 6:37PM
WTF, that's like saying "Tetris = most overrated puzzle game of all time." The Beatles have been extremely influential in more than one music genre and it is hard to imagine what a lot of modern music would sound like now without having had the Beatles, just like it'd be hard imagine how puzzle games would be without the introduction of Tetris. You can have your own musical preference, sure, but know that you probably love the same artists that the Beatles helped to influence.
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Mar 20th 2008 10:17AM
@Saria
Actually, it's nothing like that because there was nothing like it before or at the time. Tetris was a true original and as such deserves the praise that it gets. The Beatles simply do not.
D_Average @ Mar 21st 2008 1:57PM
I'll settle this now guys, lets not be rediculous.
Any level headed person knows the best "Rock" band of all time is Led Zepplin. They "rocked" with the same level of talent as the Beatles, yet their "Rock" was more "Rockin" than the Beatles, which at times, to be frank, was kind of dorky.
There, all settled now.
Adam Schaub @ Mar 18th 2008 10:15AM
this would be a system seller. hands down. Anyone rather see it on RockBand tho?
jsn @ Mar 18th 2008 10:19AM
Guitar Hero is the term given to this genre of music by people who don't specifically know the games in it. I have little doubt that MTV/Harmonix has already been in contact with them.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 18th 2008 11:36AM
You keep saying that jsn, but you have no proof that he's using "guitar hero" as a general term, only an unfounded hope.
"Guitar Hero" might be a the name the general populace gives to rhythm games, but a big wig like this is probably being more specific.
And Beatles exclusive to GH would suck giant donkey balls.
jsn @ Mar 18th 2008 1:19PM
Crono,
I say it because I feel it to be true and I think common sense helps support it. If he knows the rhythm game industry, then he knows that he has two million+ selling games, one of which also has 5+mil DLC sales and is almost universally considered the better and stronger of the two games. It's pretty obvious that no such game is currently in the works, so I don't think he would give a virtual slap in the face to the market leader for these types of a games (harmonix) and it's parent company (MTV) by knowingly leaving them out. Again, that is IF he knows that industry that well.
Also, the Beatles license has never been overused. It's quite obvious that they value it and take great care in how it is used and won't just sling it out there for a quick buck. The Beatles were never a band about individual instruments, they were about great songs. While hooking up with the Guitar Hero franchise might net them more bulk sales, it would also dilute the license by attaching it to a product where it simply doesn't fit. Considering the care with which it has been handled to this point, it seriously doubt they would go that route. You also have incidentals like MTV's already strong relationship with Sonyatv. All signs, IMO, point to him simply not being THAT informed on the industry and simply used the general term that was familiar to him. Also, he hasn't been in that position long. He may know much less about the industry than even I assume.
Intentless @ Mar 18th 2008 10:13AM
Second on the Rock Band...
jsn @ Mar 18th 2008 10:15AM
It's widely assumed that he's using "Guitar Hero" as a general term because it is the most common name given to these music rhythm games. The beatles would be completely wasted in Guitar Hero. Rock Band is where their catalog would be best served. I love The Beatles but I wouldn't buy a Guitar Hero game with their music because just playing guitar in it would be...boring.
StrangeBum @ Mar 18th 2008 12:58PM
Absolutely correct. The guitar riffs are, if anything, mildly amusing. I can't really think of any Beatles song that has one of those guitar 'moments'.
Don't get me wrong though, they really broke some ground as far as a few things that they had done, just nothing that melts faces.
If I want face-melting action they need like a Guitar Hero G3 edition. That would kick some major ass!
Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ Mar 18th 2008 7:00PM
Someone has never listened to While My Guitar Gently Weeps >_>
Kspraydad @ Mar 18th 2008 10:15AM
Sony should make it a timed PS3 exlusive.
Prof_Chaos @ Mar 18th 2008 10:17AM
That is very likely. Never would it be a true exclusive, but a timed one would make sense for them.
Lonecow @ Mar 18th 2008 11:23AM
I think all arms of Sony work independently from each other. Sony music has sony music best interest at hear, not Sony Electronic best interest. It would be in Sony Music best interest to make it available to as many people as possible because with "The Beatles" they will sell a lot more.
This is why you see Sony advertisers sometimes giving away free XBOX 360s. They don't communicate with their different branches.
LOLWHUT @ Mar 18th 2008 10:17AM
CRANBERRY SAUCE
Cephas @ Mar 18th 2008 10:18AM
Ironically, the only two Beatles that are still alive are the lead singer and the drummer, and you can't sing or play drums in Guitar Hero!
deaftly (Brawl - 1075-0467-4222) @ Mar 18th 2008 10:30AM
When the hell was someone gonna tell me that John Lennon is still alive?
Chris @ Mar 18th 2008 10:34AM
I don't know if I'd call Paul the lead singer. John sang more songs than Paul.
NATO_Duke @ Mar 18th 2008 11:12AM
deaftly- you didn't hear, that was a publicity stunt, taking the Walrus thing to a new level. Seems John and Elvis both live in a condo in Sarasota Florida and do jingles for car dealerships now so people won't catch on.
As far as people saying the Beatles are overrated, I think that’s crazy to say. Watch Across the Universe and see how well their songs got messages across when put in appropriate scenarios.
NATO_Duke @ Mar 18th 2008 11:16AM
Oh, and lets not forget 'Fried Chicken Dreams Forever', which was Lennon and McCartney's fried chicken enterprise. So he must be alive!
Garcian_Smith @ Mar 18th 2008 11:29AM
Though I agree that John was the lead singer, Paul did sing the best Beatles song, nay the best song ever written: Eleanor Rigby.
Anyway. Never really got into GH. The Beatlemaniac inside me may change that though.
Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 18th 2008 12:31PM
Both Paul and John wrote most of the songs, played guitar parts and sang vocals. I wouldn't ever hold one over the other as lead guitar or vocals.
Look at both of their solo careers - apart, they were decent, but together, they did their best work.
DAK @ Mar 18th 2008 10:21AM
Put the Beatles catalog on Rock Band instead. The Beatles music was much more about the 4 instruments and the vocals than it was just about guitar. I would love playing Ringo’s part in 8 Days a Week or singing Paul’s vocals on Penny Lane rather than just playing guitar on Hey Jude.
rage2 @ Mar 18th 2008 10:26AM
Beatles songs wouldn't make sense in GH. Most of their songs are not exactly the most technical guitar songs out there, making them way too easy. It would be like playing the whole game in medium/hard.
deaftly (Brawl - 1075-0467-4222) @ Mar 18th 2008 10:35AM
Yeah I agree 100%, there are SOOO many other bands that would just fit better for a game like GH. Like a Tool edition, which will never happen :(
baby sea tuna @ Mar 18th 2008 11:18AM
...which is probably good because that means that Activision did, in fact, get the memo stating that Tool is the worst band ever.
deaftly (Brawl - 1075-0467-4222) @ Mar 18th 2008 1:47PM
OH NO U DINTND
NATO_Duke @ Mar 18th 2008 1:50PM
..oh its on like Donkey Kong now baby!
Eric @ Mar 18th 2008 10:24AM
Norwegian Wood anyone?
Donald @ Mar 18th 2008 10:27AM
There was a rumor that the holdup on getting the Beatles into iTunes was due to Paul not wanting the proceeds to go to his now ex-wife.
Since the divorce is just about final, we should hopefully see the collection in iTunes along with a Yellow Submarine iPod.
baby sea tuna @ Mar 18th 2008 11:21AM
Man, you mean that bitch wasn't happy with the scant sum of $235 Million?! I mean, just think how many new legs she could have bought with that scratch!