MCV: EA releasing SingStar: The Beatles 'within days' of The Beatles: Rock Band

by JC Fletcher on Aug 18th 2009 9:45AM

MCV reports that a PlayStation 3-exclusive Beatles version of SingStar will be released this fall, published by The Beatles: Rock Band publisher MTV Games and distributed by EA. Why MTV Games and not regular SingStar publisher Sony? Well, "MCV understands that SingStar: The Beatles will effectively be an instrument-free port of The Beatles: Rock Band."

We'll now have a brief intermission for the collective "what?"

The title will supposedly be released "within days" of The Beatles: Rock Band and will include SingStar mics. While it remains to be seen if this (possibly nonexistent) spinoff game also has the potential to make people cry, its mere existence almost certainly will.

Source

Tags: music, singstar, singstar-the-beatles, the-beatles-rock-band

Reader Comments (77)

Let me be the first to say... whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

usually saying 'first' gets you downvoted...but I dunno here....lol

I think the reversal was because the intial post was not a "first" comment, but rather an acceptance of the article waiting "...for the collective "what?"

WTF? You can do the exact same thing in Beatles Rock Band. You don't need the instruments and you can sing a two player karaoke battle. Any USB mics will do. What's the point of this? Singstar disc songs aren't even exportable to the main game, so the 'building' Singstar library logic doesn't apply. It's two Beatles game, but one with 90% less content, and probably very similar price point.

Replying to this to get it at the top...

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2894460&postcount=42

It's a false rumor...

word

I hope MCV's sources are wrong, because this will effectively undercut the main component of the TBRB that is the easiest to pick up: singing. This game is a bad idea.

bad idea?? its Singstar....Beatles...if it comes out it might sway some people from getting the RB version sure but not many...the people that get this want to JUST sing...not play instruments...

As long as it's cheaper, yeah..

I gotta agree with Chris on this. It's not going to undercut anything. People who want the "full" experience will pick up Rock Band, those who just like the singing part will get Singstar. Those who are huge Beatles fans that own a PS3, will get both.
Shit, my dad doesn't even own any of the consoles and he's going to buy the full bundle with the two extra guitars as well, just so he can put them on display. He'll more then likely buy Singstar as well just to have it.

You'd be surprised how many Beatles fans are doing this, you just don't hear about them cause they're not gamers that frequent blogs like Joystiq.

Yeah but Beatles Rock Band comes out for PS3 anyway.. Why bother producing both?

whylekat...didnt you see what I said? some people dont want the instrument parts...they just want to sing....and see actual videos of the songs....not some game generated characters of the beatles....not to mention this might be $40 or less without the mics...

"some people dont want the instrument parts...they just want to sing"

All you need to do, then, is by the stand-alone TB:RB. Remember, Rock Band should work with any USB microphone. Plus, if you want a definitive karaoke, why not go with a game that features three-part vocal harmony? There is absolutely no reason for MTV Games to release a SingStar game, not to mention the actual impossibility of MTV Games publish a title in a series that is the exclusive property of SCEE.

linebeginstoblur, the majority of the world does not have a USB mic laying around, and the majority of the world doesn't have RB either. So it does make sense to release a game that is not dependent on already having such a mic already. I think we often fall into the trap around this site of thinking our preferences and gaming needs/purchases mean that's how it is for everyone. Its not.

Now, if the game (with its one or two mics) is less than it would be to get a mic and the full TB:RB without its instruments, then you have the justification for its release and for the many who will buy it. I think it blows to see multiple games with the Beatles coming out to possibly tarnish their work, but I can see how it can be justified.

It's not impossible for MTV to publish it. I'm sure they made a deal with Sony to use the logo. Hell, Sony probablly gets some cash without doing anything, and they get it only on PS3 (the SingStar version, I mean).

What it sounds like to me is that SingStar: The Beatles is just the PS3 version of The Beatles: Rock Band minus the other insturments and with a different logo.

But MTV Games could just release a bundle with microphones. Not only would it be too much of a hassle to release everything all over again for a SingStar game, but it would be impossible. Because it's SingStar.

First off, there's a big reason for using the SingStar branding: SingStar is HUGE in Europe. It's a very big brand.

Second: It is not impossible. If MTV Games makes a deal to use the SingStar name with Sony, then they can use it. Sony gets a cut from sales, so it's a win for them, and MTV potentially sells more copies, because they have the SingStar brand, it's a win for them.

Maybe they are going to have a microphone-only bundle of Beatles Rock Band? That way anyone who wants to only sing can do that, and the packaging alone will suggest that that is all you'd need.

Why not just sing... in rock band.

Don't have to play instruments if you don't want to.

huh??

Well, someone is being a bitchfest.

So who would buy Singstar, which lets you just SING Beatles' songs, when you can buy Rock Band which, easily, gives you the most complete Beatles experience there is to be had?

The people that just enjoy the singing and don't enjoy playing the instruments. I guarantee there are millions of them out there.

Also the people without the Rock Band instruments (and people who aren't planning on buying any in the near future).

Anyways, this is not for me. I'm going for Rock Band: The Beatles all the way. And I really hope the final song unveil is for Hey Jude.

I'm of those people. Can't stand to have all the instrument laying around, got enough junk as it is.

If it includes the 3-part harmony feature, I'm sold. I'd much rather just sing than deal with plastic imitation instruments.

How could it have a three part harmony when I'm pretty sure Singstar only supports 2 mics?

Even if they added 3-part harmony support to this version, what would they use for the background visuals?

I doubt that HMX would let them use their TBRB animations, and not all Beatles songs had a music video... Even the songs that had something, would Apple Corps. allow them to use some of the old live footage/cartoons/etc?

This will never happen... It would undercut some fence-sitters for TBRB, but not have enough support to avoid failing quickly, end up in the retail bargain bin, and the value of The Beatles name.

*lower* the value of The Beatles name.

Yeah right, a video game is going to lower the value of The Beatles name.. holy fuck dude, are you serious?

@Mystile Yes I am, genius.

I don't necessarily mean from the consumers point-of-view, but Apple Corps. They always have/always will want to keep complete control of all things Beatles. They fought EMI for control over catalog music distribution. They fought with Apple Inc. for over twenty years over the name. They (i.e. Yoko) exercised control over how Harmonix portrayed John Lennon's eye movement.

Do you really think they are going to let them slap together a SingStar project in a couple months, just to make a couple extra bucks?

I'm sorry but this cracks me up. "Hey guys, let's make a version of this game we have, take out half the content, change the title, and call it a new game! It's genius!"

I'm with you. I mean, how could they not think "we already have this game feature... in Rock Band. Yes, you use the mic."

How are they just announcing this now? I take this info with a grain and a half of salt.

Remember people, Singstar uses VIDEO. You know, actually Beatles video, not animated cartoony crap, which, you know, for the beatles is actually often one and the same, but still. The point is, that it actually will have a fundamental difference and does serve a purpose, other than being for people that just want to sing.

The Beatles Rock Band is being split up. Yoko's at it again

This is actually great news for anybody who wants the Beatles game but who doesn't have the money or the space for yet another set of plastic instruments.

1.) Buy Beatles Rock Band stand-alone version
2.) Buy/already own a USB microphone
3.) Profit!

ARGG.. this was supposed to be a reply to Chas Winterbottom.. I hate this comment system so much.

That's actually a good point, though if you're an average joe who has never owned a music game or who normally doesn't play video games in general I can see them gravitating towards the Sing Star version so they can pick up the game and the mic's in the same package.

(I admit that I don't know much about Sing Star so I'm only assuming that the mic's would come with the game).

Wow, I call bullshit. Seriously. Bullshit. I have never had to call bullshit more than I need to call bullshit right here, right now. This is, by far, the dumbest rumor I have heard recently. Just sayin'. Everything about this rumor is stupid.

SingStar is the exclusive property of SCEE and it wouldn't be worked on by EA.
Apple Corps is so protective of their songs, and they've worked so hard with Harmonix, that they wouldn't just casually license it to the SingStar series.

Whoever is the source of this rumor needs to be blacklisted from news sites.

We'll see an export of TB:RB songs to all Rock Band games before we see a SingStar: The Beatles. And you all know how unlikely THAT is to happen.

It's not a rumor, you idiot. Read the article before you start vomiting all over the comment box.

I don't get how it's so stupid. SingStar is a huge brand in Europe. Much bigger than Rock Band, for sure.

Call it whatever you want, a rumor or an article. It's fake. It's not real. It's bullshit. Just sayin'.

Are you this big of an arrogant douche in real life? It seems pretty conclusive that this is real.

I'm not an arrogant douche, really. I'm just a huge fan of both Harmonix and SCE. I'm a huge fan of Rock Band and SingStar. And I just can't see this crossover happen. If this is true, I see it as poor judgment.

Imagine if a Guitar Hero: The Beatles were to be released. It's a very similar situation. MTV Games wants people to buy their Rock Band property and not buy into a competitor's series.

It makes no sense to me at all that Harmonix would work so hard on developing a new vocal system, only to have the songs ported over to a different system.

Sorry for getting so worked up, but this is a subject I feel strongly about. And if I am incorrect, and SingStar: The Beatles is real, I will dress up in women's clothes and post them in a comment on Joystiq.

Dude, they are not taking the game and changing it for SingStar.

IT WILL BE THE SAME ENGINE, SAME ASSETS, SAME EVERYTHING EXCEPT THERE WILL BE NO OTHER INSTRUMENTS.

The reason this is happen is simple and makes perfect, logical sense: Rock Band isn't a very strong brand in Europe. I don't even think RB2 is out there yet. EA has done a horrible job at getting Rock Band out over there and effectively market it.

SingStar on the other hand is HUGE in Europe.

So, you take the game you already have made, take out the instruments, and slap the SingStar logo on it = A shit-ton more sales in Europe then you would've had other wise.

Okay, fine. We'll see then. I'll pick out a dress just in case then. :)

If Peter Moore says it's real IT'S FUCKIN' REAL.
His words are law! He is... PETER MMOAAAAAARRRRRRRR

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MCV: EA releasing SingStar: The Beatles 'within days' of The Beatles: Rock Band

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