Former Beatles, widows involved in The Beatles: Rock Band development
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jun 24th 2009 at 10:00PM } 
Foster calls the group "the shareholders," and states that they helped put together the song list, its venues and gave input as to whether the game's "dreamscapes" adequately supported the songs. "They looked over all the characters, the animations ... they really kept us honest on whether we were capturing the spirit of the band as they were performing, which was a huge challenge for us," says Foster, noting that it's necessary to capture the joy that The Beatles expressed when playing.
According to Foster, seeing the former Beatles and their widows at Microsoft's E3 briefing "is about as validating as everything." He adds, "They don't get together for almost anything ... it has to be something important, something they believe in."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cloaker @ Jun 24th 2009 10:06PM
Like making f***loads of $$$?
[tre] @ Jun 24th 2009 10:40PM
If they wanted to do that, they'd let their music onto iTunes!
Ridgecity @ Jun 24th 2009 10:53PM
They fought Apple in courts, those kind of wounds won't heal for less than $100 million.
And of course they were all over this, this more of a Beatles memorabilia product than a Rockband game.
The are not the same as Aerosmith.
Rocketboy @ Jun 25th 2009 6:46AM
Nope, they are not.
Aerosmith doesn't have more money then god, then sit around in hotel rooms that very few people can afford claming that the only thing we need to be is 'nice' to everyone, and stop focusing on material goods.
MystileArmor @ Jun 26th 2009 9:42AM
..said the guy that praised John Lennon's murderer.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 24th 2009 10:13PM
Yeah, it's about money. It brings families together too. Come into a large amount of money and suddenly you have relatives you've never met before.
Bluebreaker @ Jun 24th 2009 10:14PM
"They don't get together for almost anything ... it has to be something important, something they believe in."
Money. I'd get together with people I barely talk with if they gave me a truckload of cash.
MaxShrek @ Jun 24th 2009 10:14PM
Didn't Paulie say something like "thank you for inviting us to your game" or something? That pickled tart is obviously not a teetotaler who ain't worth a toss.
Bubbameister33 @ Jun 24th 2009 10:17PM
That comment went from english to English.
U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jun 24th 2009 10:19PM
LOL @ Bubba +1
Ryan LN @ Jun 24th 2009 10:19PM
This is actually a landmark move for those guys- they have NEVER had any of there songs available for legal download. Now I'm not 100% sure if they retain any income from back sales of their catalog, but when I think about all the money left on the table by failing to make their music available for download via avenues like iTunes it makes me physically ill. Hopefully this will just be the start of a more common sense approach to their music distribution and more Beatles songs on my iPhone.
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jun 24th 2009 10:26PM
"Former Beatles, widows involved....."
Please tell me George Harrison had more than one wife, because if Yoko is involved *Shakes Fist*
Monkeydog @ Jun 24th 2009 11:59PM
He did actually. His first wife, I think, left him and married Eric Clapton. It was a hate filled relationship transition though.
Bluebreaker @ Jun 25th 2009 2:57AM
@ Monkeydog
Didn't that whole thing with Eric Clapton start "Layla" somehow?
Monkeydog @ Jun 25th 2009 4:40AM
Yep.
Harrison's song Something was written about her too. Patti Boyd was a lucky lady.
Doomtrain @ Jun 24th 2009 10:33PM
So, is Yoko gonna try and break up The Beatles: Rock Band? Is that why she's involved. I'll bet she'll try and mack on VR John Lennon and cause VR Paul McCartney to get pissed, thus the Rock Band Beatles will break up and we'll eventually be left with; Guitar Hero: John Lennon; Rock Band: Ringo; Vegan Hero: Paul McCartney; and nothing from George Harrison since he's content with what he has.
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jun 24th 2009 10:36PM
someone clearly forgot about George Harrison's solo career
Leish @ Jun 24th 2009 11:06PM
Well, it's more complicated than that, but I'll give you some props for trying to be funny.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakup_of_the_Beatles
I'm a little surprised that Yoko was involved in this seeing how she was completely indifferent to the Beatles.
Shiaoran @ Jun 24th 2009 10:34PM
... Not news...
Dhani Harrison is also involved.
Ninbrendo @ Jun 24th 2009 11:04PM
Color me surprised.
Sinister Rouge @ Jun 24th 2009 11:05PM
Still, I'm excited for the game more now then ever. At least the psychedelic parts. Paul's brain is mostly fried, and Yoko has always been heavy in to the psychedelic art/music scene, so that should be good. As for the money question, I doubt Paul is hurting, but the others may be. One would think that all of the royalties from their/their spouses monumental music project (The Beatles) would keep them set for life.
legendnthamaking @ Jun 24th 2009 11:18PM
Hey Ringo, Paul, Yoko that's swell and awesome about Rock Band.
Now how about endorsing the Beatles tunes in Earthbound so we wont have any legal BS so we can get a Virtual Console/Wiiware release. Thanks.
ExMcCloud @ Jun 24th 2009 11:30PM
The Widows of the most influential group in the History of Music....Being involved with a game that will make THEM money off the names of men they didn't nothing but Cook, clean, and have sex with.....Who could have seen that coming?
Mr Reasonable @ Jun 24th 2009 11:58PM
To those saying "its just money reuniting them", thats a load of crap. All of them are filthy rich already. Making a little more money (relative to what they already have) is nothing to them.
Also, if money is really the reason for reuniting, any reunion (especially between Paul and Ringo) would be immensely lucrative for them...the sheer amount of fans and what they'd pay to see those two perform together again. The fact that they haven't cashed in on those opportunities only further tells you that its not about the money.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 25th 2009 3:17AM
Ringo seemed motivated by money when he was doing a voice over for a company I know. After doing the work he decided he needed more money for it or he would (and did) drop out.
Monkeydog @ Jun 25th 2009 12:01AM
How is this news?
When have The Beatles and their widows not been in the development of anything Beatles related?
VaultICEE @ Jun 25th 2009 12:37AM
I think it is because this is on a somewhat bigger scale than most "endorsements"
Railszach @ Jun 25th 2009 1:05AM
http://pspcustomfirmware.com/psp-news-update/psp-news-sony-ericsson-phone-will-support-psp-game.htm
I think you'd find this interesting...if this is legit this is seriously awesome
Access Granted @ Jun 25th 2009 2:20AM
Good Ol' Beatles... well I hope this game turns out to be something epic. On a totally unrelated note I just had a mcdonald's apple pie that expired 2 hours ago I think 'm gonna go lie down... Damn you pies! why must you expire 4 hours after purchase time!
Don @ Jun 25th 2009 4:54AM
Xbacast had this info as well and its audio! About 2 mins in Chris talks about how the project got started. http://www.xbapodcast.com/?p=2172
Wizzleteets @ Jun 25th 2009 7:43AM
I love the Beatles. LOVE THEM! But I thought Paul was a total douchebag at E3.
NitroMikeo @ Jun 25th 2009 12:27PM
I thought i was the only one. Ringo seemed like a down to earth kinda guy. Paul seemed waay to cocky.
Johnny Neat @ Jun 25th 2009 8:21AM
They mean they showed them cash, the liked it. Then the animation was shown as a courtesy. I doubt that they know much of anything about gaming, even if Harrison's son was involved it was probably to convince them that making a game would be received well and not hated on by fans and probably made the argument with Harmonix that The Beatles being involved in a game was a win win.
Anyhow iTunes is coming soon as are the already scheduled re-masterings of all their albums.
As happy as I am that Harmonix got the kings involved in making a game, I pray Harmonix and this game's sales will and could convince the "Rock Band" to make a game, yeah I'm begging you Led Zeppelin!
Chenchi @ Jun 25th 2009 8:39AM
"It makes me feel like I've done KISS too, and it feels pretty good." - Peter Griffin, Family Guy.
Core2 @ Jun 25th 2009 9:54AM
Maybe somewhere in the middle there are minigames where you play as Yoko and try to keep John away from the other Beatles, capture-the-flag style. Home base is a bed in a hotel room.
I'm still very excited for this game. Also, no mention of George's very talented son Dhani, who is also working on it in this same group? Shame, joystiq. haha.
kg @ Jun 25th 2009 10:28AM
..or maybe they're ROBOTS!!!!
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 4:01PM
*ahem*
Androids.
ChomskyKnows @ Jun 25th 2009 11:26AM
I was just saying to myself the other day, "you know what would make the Beatles Rock Band better? Input from Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison!" And why isn't Heather Mills involved!!!!