2008: That Was the Beatle Year That Was: The Beatles announce new video game project

December 29, 3:45 PMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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The Beatles are shown performing "Revolution." The Beatles
video game, due in 2009, may be a revolution of sorts. (Photo
courtesy Apple Corps.)

(If you were a Beatle fan, you have to admit 2008 was a strange year in regard to news from the Beatles. There was great news and there was weird news. This is one of a series of items we're writing as a review of Beatle news from the past year.)

Maybe it shouldn't have surprised anyone that the Beatles would make a deal to become a video game.

After all, there's "Love," both the CD and the show, which is glitzy and incorporates new technology. And the Beatles have shown in the last couple of years that their marketing focus has been to appeal to both young and old.

But still, there's something uncomfortable about seeing the Beatles on the same shelf as a WWE Wrestling game.

(Beatles logo courtesy Apple Corps.)

There are a number of interesting things about this game agreement, though. For one, even though the agreement is with the makers of Rock Band, Harmonix, and MTV, the Beatles' game will not be another Rock Band. The Beatles' name will surely get top billing. (Could you expect anything less?) And Giles Martin, who co-produced the "Love" CD and helped put the Las Vegas show together with his father, Sir George Martin, will act as musical coordinator for the game. He'll pick which songs, reportedly 45 of them, that are going into the game.

All this agreement does, though, is put more fuel on the fire to the recent indications the Beatles are pushing their marketing in another direction, at least for the moment.

Paul McCartney said in the official announcement, "The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and their music. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out." (At least as far as a game controller can take you.)
                                                                                                                                                                          
“The Beatles continue to evolve with the passing of time and how wonderful that The Beatles’ legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerized world we live in. Let the games commence," said Ringo Starr.

“By presenting their music and artistry through the creative filter of a groundbreaking video game, we are giving legions of fans and music lovers all over the world a profound, new way to experience the Beatles,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and Co-Founder, Harmonix. “This game will be a celebration of the Beatles undeniable legacy.”

All those press release superlatives aside, admittedly, whether we like it or not, the Beatles are smart to do this. The Beatles are going where the action is and video games have big appeal and quite an audience.

But nothing will ever replace the music. Treating the music as a commodity in a video game may not be the vision those of us who watched "The Ed Sullivan Show" could have ever imagined. But, in the end, the music is what it's all about. We'll always have that.

Even if it's on those ancient CDs.