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You may soon be able to become a Beatle 'Guitar Hero'

Update (7/8/08)
  • It was, in the end, hype. The Beatles won't be in the next Guitar Hero game, reports Billboard. com. Kai Huang of game developer Red Octane told Billboard, "Unfortunately, those are rumors right now and we don't have any comments yet." Brother Charles Huang added, "Well, I don't have to tell you how difficult it is. Everybody in the world has tried to get the Beatles to put their music on all kinds of different platforms, and it certainly would be exciting, but it's also a difficult challenge."

    Update (7/01/08)
  • It could be true hype or just hope. A vague quote in Tech Digest from Rock Band 2 video game designer Dan Teasdale about the forthcoming game: "We've also secured what I can easily say is the best set list I've ever seen in a music game." He didn't say who he was talking about. Could it be(atles)?

    Update (6/25/08)

  • NPR: Video game makers push to license Beatles songs
  • The New York Times actually wrote an editorial on this issue titled "Let It Be."

    Update (6/24/08)

  • This Wired blog has a list of the top 10 Beatle songs the author would like to play on Guitar Hero.
  • Billboard.com also reported on the video game negotiations, thought the report breaks no new ground.
  • However, the buzz on this story is tremendous. The number of links and blogs that have mentioned this is incredible. The market, it appears, would love this product -- or any Beatle-licensed entertainment product. Martin Bandier, chief executive of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which controls the Beatles' copyrights, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying the exposure earlier this year on "American Idol" had sparked several inquiries from companies, including mobile phone carriers. "To my view, it's only a matter of time before we see Beatles songs that are the original recordings in motion pictures, in television work, and yes, maybe even one day in a commercial," said Bandier.

    Update (6/23/08)

  • The Financial Times and Shack News reports Beatles representatives are in talks with Activision and MTV Games, the makers of Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games respectively, to create Beatles-themed video games. MTV Games told the Financial Times that it was talking to many rock bands about licensed versions of its Rock Band game.

    (3/18/2008) If you thought talent hopefuls singing Beatle tunes on "American Idol" was breaking new boundaries, how about this: A future version of Activision's popular "Guitar Hero" video game may be a Beatle editon. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Sony/ATV, which owns the music publishing for the Beatles, and Activision have discussed the possibility of such a game. "It's something we have talked about and something I'd like to pursue," Sony/ATV's top executive Martin N. "Marty" Bandier told the Times. Activision is already working on an Aerosmith edition of the game, which was announced last month.

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