If you go to the official website for The Beatles: Rock Band, you’ll be treated with two new suprises. One is a entrance section to the preorder club, for those who preordered the game, and the other is a brand new site backdrop, with the sounds of a million screaming fans in the background. But what is that background? Why, it’s the set for the Ed Sullivan Show, of course!

Beatles fans out there surely know just how popular and frequent the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan’s show, so it only makes sense that this stage would appear in the game in some form. Though we don’t have a surefire confirmation, it’s pretty safe to say that the Ed Sullivan Show set will indeed be a stage/arena for you to play in in The Beatles: Rock Band. Click the image above to see the full image.

We previously reported that The Beatles would be coming to Rock Band 2 based on what the Wall Street Journal Online deemed information from “several people familiar with the matter”. Unfortunately, those individuals apparently weren’t familiar enough.

The reality of the situation is still pretty cool for gamers and hardcore fans of the group, as a deal for an undisclosed amount has been struck between MTV and Apple Corps. Ltd. to create a stand-alone Beatles game due to come out during next years holiday season.

While an exact amount was not revealed, Martin Bandier, CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing shared the following:

“We signed a deal that would be considered very rich by the videogame company but fair for the artists. It will have online implications that will be enormous.”

This marks the first official digital licensing of the groups catalog, so one can assume that it didn’t come cheap, and Variety reports that discussions between all parties involved began over 17 months ago.

No comment was made regarding the potential remastering of the tracks, which are said to have not been touched in over 20 years. What is known at this time, is that developers will be able to select 45 songs for inclusion into the Beatles game.

When asked for comment, Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones, did little outside of confirm that the game was already under development.

“The game is in development … We don’t want to talk about how it will turn out a year from now. We’re in the process of creating the game.”

This is great news. I’m thinking “Rock Band: The Beatles Edition”. Now if only someone could convince Zeplin to drink some video game Koolaid.

Source: Variety

Wow. The (remaining, R.I.P.), Beatles have just licensed a number of their songs to Rock Band. This would just be the most popular DLC to date. On top of that, it’s revolutionary (especially for Harmonix & EA) because The Beatles never license their songs to anyone. You can’t even buy their music on iTunes, and Apple’s been trying for years.

The following is a quote from the Wall Street Journal which broke the news:

The Beatles have licensed songs to MTV Networks’ Rock Band videogame series, according to several people familiar with the matter, a coup for the Viacom Inc. unit in its battle with rival Activision Inc. for supremacy in the world of rock and roll video games.

How Harmonix & MTV Music managed to swing this (rumor has it that all they needed was love.), I’ll never know, but somewhere, Steve Jobs is sitting in his eggshell white iFortress crying. I’m sure the Guitar Hero: World Tour development team will soon join him, cymbals in tow, for this is also a huge blow to GHWT, whose launch has produced relatively unfavorable results. I, on the other hand, spent the past 30 minutes trying to seep Beatles puns into this post, and failed miserably. Help! Hit the jump for the press release.

Apple Corps Ltd. and MTV to Announce Exclusive Agreement to Develop Unprecedented Global Music Project

WHAT: Apple Corps Ltd. and MTV to announce an exclusive agreement to develop a global music project.

WHO: Jeff Jones, CEO of Apple Corps, Ltd. Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks Van Toffler, President of MTV Networks Music/Logo Group

WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 2008 2:00 pm UK Time, 10:00 am ET, 7:00 AM PT

About Apple Corps. Ltd. Apple Corps Ltd. was founded by The Beatles in 1968 to look after the group’s own affairs. The London-based company has administered the catalogue of The Beatles releases of the 1960s that have sold to date more than 600 million records, tapes and CDs. Since the 1990s Apple has piloted new Beatles projects that have become benchmarks for pioneering accomplishment and which have included The Beatles Anthology projects, the 28 million-selling album The Beatles 1 and the The Beatles LOVE show and CD. Further information on The Beatles’ projects can be found at www.thebeatles.com.

About MTV Networks MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.

Source: Wall Street Journal (thanks, p0wer-glove!)

UPDATE: It seems that the Wall Street Journal’s report citing “several people familiar with the matter” were not familiar enough. Rather than appearing in Rock Band 2, The Beatles are going to be getting their own game. Read more…

Seven classic Nirvana songs are set to release as downloadable content for Rock Band and Rock Band 2. Costing the usual 160 Microsoft Points (or $1.99) per song, the DLC will be available starting October 21 for Xbox 360 and October 23 for PS3. Another option would be to pick up the Nirvana Track Pack for a modest discount, getting all seven songs for 880 Microsoft Points (or $10.99). So, what’s on the playlist? Why, these effing songs right here:

• Breed
• Lounge Act
• On a Plain
• Polly
• Something in the Way
• Stay Away
• Territorial Pissings

When the hell are we gonna get some Teen Spirit?

It was only a matter of time.

As the popularity of rhythm games continues to gain purchase in the pocketbooks of gamers worldwide, Warner Music is of the opinion that the publishers are getting away with robbery.

Executive Edgar Bronfman explained that Activision and MTV, developers of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, respectively, will eventually have to pay more for the licenses for the songs from their catalogue.

“The amount being paid to the music industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small.” Bronfman said to Yinka Adegoke of Reuters.

Bronfman’s opinion comes as little surprise considering the losses posted by the music industry as file sharing continues to eat into their profits despite vigorous prosecution of offenders by the RIAA.

Link: www.reuters.com

We reported yesterday that Konami had filed a suit against the makes of Rock Band, claiming that Harmonix, MTV, and parent company Viacom, violated patents filed by Konami dating back to 2002 and 2003.

Today, Harmoix swung back at Konami, as a company spokesperson stated:

“Konami’s actions are extremely surprising. Unfortunately, successful products such as Rock Band can often become targets for baseless litigation … We have substantial defenses to this claim and intend to vigorously defend it.”

I smell a corporate rock off in the making! An epic battle, to be fought with plastic guitars and scaucer shaped drum kits! Extra points go to the first executive from either side that grows their hair out and adopts a “nothing but full body spandex will do” clothing policy.

Source: Game|Life

The Wii Fit Girl video has been around for a while now and has brought in millions of viewers, thanks in no small part to MTV’s Total Request Live. Lauren Bernat, the Wii Fit Girl herself, and her marketing boyfriend, Giovanny Gutierrez, showed up on the show this week to discuss their now infamous video. Hit the jump to watch the clip and read Ripten’s thoughts.

Ripten’s thoughts can be summed up in one word: bullshit. Kotaku points out the fact that in an earlier interview, Gutierrez referred to the video as a “spec Viral video.” Even without that comment, the whole thing is way too suspicious to be taken seriously. The man is a marketing executive (online creative director no less) and his girlfriend works for the same company. Not to mention that all of Bernat’s comments in the TRL video seem incredibly scripted and poorly acted.

Some people seem to think that Nintendo is by all of this, but I disagree. It’s never been Nintendo’s style and I see no reason why they would start now. It’s not like they need to stir up hype to sell Wii Fit, anyway. It’s flying off shelves on its own.

If you’re one of the millions that are feeling the urge to get the game thanks to Lauren Bernat’s video, just check out the one we have for you below. Let it serve as a reminder that not “every guy” should buy his girlfriend a Wii Fit.

Source: Kotaku

In a recent interview with MTV’s gaming blog Multiplayer, Capcom’s Associate Producer, John Diamonon, confesses that while many things factor into their decision making process concerning which classic games to rehash via outlets such as XBA, one measuring stick the company openly admits to using are the frequency and closing bid prices for the original versions on Ebay.

While this may seem like an overly simplistic approach to some, it makes perfect business sense. If individuals are willing to dish out twenty, thirty, and sometimes even hundreds of dollars for a classic title on a venue such as Ebay, the likelihood that the game would be heavily downloaded via XBL or PSN for a few bucks would seem to be high.

Source: Multiplayer (Thanks Kev)

MTV has struck a deal with Mad Catz, a popular manufacturer of videogame accessories, to allow the company to start producing Rock Band peripherals.

Mad Catz expects to start releasing products in the first half of 2008. The products will include a wired microphone, a drum kit, and wired and wireless bass guitars.

Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson comments:

“This agreement with MTV Games represents a natural opportunity for Mad Catz to combine our core competencies of producing and distributing high-quality accessories with the entertaining experience of Rock Band’s interactive controllers. Mad Catz will produce premium instruments, allowing gamers and music fans to experience music in an entirely new light while taking on the personality of their favorite music idols.”

I’m excited to see what Mad Catz whips up, but for folks who have already purchased the bundle, I can’t see them buying anything other than an additional guitar. That being said, the original Rock Band equipment did have its fair share of problems, so it’ll be good to have a cheaper, third-party option if you find yourself needing to replace some hardware.

Via The Escapist