Activision and MTV Games in talks for Beatles catalog
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jun 23rd 2008 at 1:09PM }
FT.com revisits the pursuit and reports that, perhaps unsurprisingly, Beatles "representatives have held discussions with both Activision and MTV Games" in pursuit of a "final deal [that] would be worth several million dollars" and "could be reached in a matter of weeks." Well, we'll be here in a matter of weeks ... say, E3 would be a really nice time to announce something. We're just sayin' ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FSK405K @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:14PM
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! This NEEDS to be Rock Band, not Guitar Queero.
Jakka @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:23PM
I was struck by the pure fanboism and idiocy of your comment to the point where I can't even come up with a witty comeback.
Oh well, let's wait for Nato or Fenix.
FSK405K @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:36PM
Jakka, are you really trying to say that you ONLY want to play guitar parts on Beatles songs? Name me one Beatles song where playing only guitar would be far more entertaining than being able to sing the vocals, and I'll name you ten where the guitar part is not very interesting.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:42PM
Didn't you know? Jakka automatically likes every game the masses hate like halo, guitar hero and Treyarch developed COD games. Ignore him.
T @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:44PM
The argument itself is valid, though I don't agree with the reasoning.
The Beatles have never been known for their furious guitar work. While Guitar Hero: World Tour (aka "Guitar Hero: In Name Only (Brand Recognition Edition") could get a promotional coup by including Beatles music, Rock Band has the established user base and the sales figures that support the a la carte line of distribution.
GH:WT works in theory, as it's expanding an already established successful product. However, this isn't just a disc....Activision would need to convince the powers that be that they can push World Tour and it's all new, likely to be incompatible, peripherals onto a userbase that's likely already deeply invested in Rock Band.
Though I don't know where to get the numbers to support it...I have a hunch a large majority of the rhythm game fan base bought Rock Band at launch or shortly thereafter.
But if it's all about money in the long run, the surest bet is to just do what many bands have done and provide music to BOTH. Why hitch your wagon to a single horse when you know for a FACT that both companies are likely chomping at the bit to include your music if you let them.
Jakka @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:31PM
@ Tmac
That's because the amount of hate these games are getting is just retarded.The fact that people are willing to use such a dumb comeback like Guitar Queero only proves my point.Same with Treyarch's CoD hate because if I remeber correctly, Big Red One was pretty fucking awesome.
Speaking of hate bandwagons, how's your relationship with Nintendo?
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:38PM
It's going uhh...good?
IMO they don't get enough hate and not nearly as much as they deserve this gen, but it's fine cause it's not like I'm one of the ones getting raped by them.
aReEeNeN @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:18PM
May I suggest they play "We Can Work It Out" while negotiating for the rights?
loof @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:18PM
I must say the Beatles don't interest me at all in RB or GH. They're a good band but a single band won't sway me either way. It's the overall package I care about.
Rob Accomando @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:29PM
been waiting for GH: Beatles. (or RB) Too many great songs + dlc forever. (although they would probably come out with GH: Beatles 2 before any significant amount of DLC)
Nick Ritch @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:32PM
I would buy a all beatles rock band!!!!!!!
Also wishing for Rockband Led Zepplin and Rockband Pink Floyd!!!!!!
These are the only three bands I think could carry an entire game, imo.
Brian @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:34PM
This would be a big win for the music game genre.
Brian @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:34PM
This would be a big win for the music game genre.
Nick Ritch @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:35PM
The Beatles catalog is so vast and well known they could do a new series based just around the beatles catalog. Dont forget to include the wireless sitar.
Farseer (GDI) @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:40PM
The Beatles' music catalog is a much more band-friendly catalog than it is a guitar-friendly catalog. Even if it does go to GH4, IMO Activision and Neversoft would royally screw-up a Beatles license.
Rob Accomando @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:44PM
and wireless tamborine!
Kizzle @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:47PM
Quick! Release Beatles material so I can not buy it!
Brett from Atlanta @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:29PM
Please go educate yourself on music before making stupid, childish comments.
jsn @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:00PM
I really hope Harmonix/MTV does whatever it takes to get this license. A Beatles centric game would sell like hot cakes.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:19PM
I'm failing to see how Beatles would be great for GUITAR hero. I'ts not like they elevated one particular member for what they did. People remember the Fab 4, not Paul McCartney when they think Beatles.
FemaleOrca @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:49PM
...played bass
jsn @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:46PM
I would assume this would be for GHWT.
tc @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:27PM
after hearing about the possibilty i really hope they can Come Together on this project. I guess we'll have to Wait as Tomorrow Never Knows.
But if they offer No Reply its pretty likely that I'll Cry Instead.
...and then eat some Glass Onions!
tc @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:29PM
fair point (despite the fact Paul played bass) but in the end, it would be seriously satisfying to be playing lead as George Harrison alongside a friend handling Macca bass duties.
Rocketboy @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:46PM
The Beatles not being on iTunes has a lot less to do with being protective, and a Hell of a lot to do with Apple Computer going back on their agreement with Apple Corps.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps_v._Apple_Computer
And again, Apple Computer gets a pass on this one.
kavendano14 @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:50PM
The Beatles (P McCarney)already settled forlike 400 million, they're releasing the catalog thi year I think. This waspretty big news
Rocketboy @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:49PM
Click the link...
"On 8 May 2006 the court ruled in favor of Apple Computer,[8] with Justice Mann holding that “no breach of the trademark agreement [had] been demonstrated."
So Apple Corps lost, as Apple Computer was arguing that they were selling digital not physical content.
Dale @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:47PM
I hope they provide a new USB hub with enough ports for the spinning mop tops and animatronic blue meanies.
giantenemycrab @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:16PM
Holy crap, The Beatles DLC would be so awesome. I would buy them all.
busydoingnothing @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:23PM
Who's to say that Rock Band can't release a Beatles bundle that you could buy? Think about it...if the Beatles are going to sign some multi-million dollar deal with either one of these groups, it's not going to be for a couple of minuscule downloads, it's going to be for a whole bunch of songs.
I agree with previous posters, though. Playing the songs with just guitar would be nothing compared to getting all of the instruments involved. 'Yer Blues,' please.
Eric @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:01PM
I have one major issue with this...
Fender licensed the Stratocaster for Rock Band.
Gibson is currently fighting against guitar games.
So how am I supposed to play my Casino?
Brett from Atlanta @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:26PM
I hope that its rock band solely for the reason that it seems that your content will be compatible with rockband 2. I dont want it to end up on some new guitar hero sku or be download able content that wont work with the next game. Its the beatles, and I would like accessible to me always.
Purple Haze @ Jun 24th 2008 1:49AM
I would much rather it be on Rock Band as I have no doubt that Harmonix can do a better a better job of it than anyone else can. Not to mention that an entire game for one band is just dumb, even if they are the best band in the world ever.