Beatles: Rock Band. Now With More Commercialism
Microsoft, in a hail of glory and girlfriends-who-ruined-the-band, released Beatles: Rock Band to us at E3. Gamers swooned, journalists fluttered and practically ate up the news off Paul McCartney’s feet. The game, which is exactly like the Rock Band 1 + 2 (just with added Beatles – OMFGBBQLOL!!!!!11) will be released this September. I’m thinking take a day off work, ‘Halo-esque’ style launch, incorporating all the cheap merchandise you can get you clammy little hands on.
But does nobody else see the crass, bandwagon jumping hysteria that surrounds this entire franchise? Yes, I understand that the Beatles are the best thing since sliced bread, but surely as a Beatles fan, it shames you to see their mighty, beautiful music being sashayed around. Just hanging from the necks of the Microsoft VPs. Ringo and McCartney, together again, what, Yoko and Mrs Harrison!? Wow, a new collaboration of one of the greatest bands in musical history! What beautiful, awe inspiring magic will they grace upon us this time?
John Lennon’s Rickenbacker 325 guitar! Oh wow! Ringo Starr’s drums, with classic black oyster pearl finish and Ludwig-branded Beatles kick drum head. All fashioned in shoddy plastic and lined with a nice £170 finish. Wait? Is this the way to remember the legacy of the of one of the greatest song writers of all time? Yeah, I know it’s just a game, but even from a gamers point of view, I’m asking why can’t this just be DLC? Why do I have to spend another 40 of my dear pounds to play this, why isn’t Rock Band just a platform? But it’s not just Harmonics cashing in, Activision recently launched Guitar Hero Metallica, another pathetic excuse for them to squeeze more money out of us.
Yes, I understand that this industry is about making money, and that it is naïve for me to think that if companies can gain financially from a franchise, they won’t because of, you know dignity. But surely some things are sacred? Surely there is a line when you are just riding the cash cow. £170 for some plastic instruments? You probably own the original ones anyway. So where does it stop? Hendrix? The Sex Pistols? Each with their own guitars and drums, and of course the £40 piece of software.
People will proclaim that it’s special because ‘it’s the Beatles!’ But don’t you see? They’ve taken your heroes, chucked them through the corporate machine, and sat them out on stage like cattle. Long live the Beatles they proclaim, long enough for Beatles: Rock Band 2, anyway.
Editorial, Rant Tags: Activision, beatles, Rant, rockband
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Normally I would agree but from what I’ve seen The Beatles: Rock Band is a lot more than just Rock Band + The Beatles, unlike Activision’s efforts with their various band specific Guitar Hero games. As for a sequel, The Beatles: Rock Band is getting it’s own DLC over time. Maybe I’m buying into the cash cow, but IMO The Beatles:Rock Band is deserving of my £40.
I do wish that licensing of Beatles music/related stuff was not such a ridiculously thorny area. They are my favourite band, they are unmatched as a phenomenon but they are -still just a band-. I don’t believe they deserve the special consideration they get.
However, those licensing issues DO exist and I do firmly believe from what I have seen that Harmonix have made the best and most loving Beatles Rock Band game they could make under those circumstances, so they will be getting my money. And it’s not quite true what you say about it being exactly the same as RB1/2. The addition of vocal harmonies has never been done before and for the Beatles is a pretty big deal. And the graphics they have done for all the song shows an attention to detail not previously seen in one of these games. There may be other additions which we haven’t yet heard about – there’s not enough information yet!
As for all of the other paraphenalia? Well, I suppose for a lot of big Beatles fans this might be the first time they’ve been interested in Rock Band, and maybe they’ll want the instruments. Everyone else has a choice. I have instruments, so I won’t be getting these.
In summary, I agree that it’s a shame how commercial it’s all got, but I still think they have a great looking product at the end of it which I’ll be getting on day one.
Actually this game isn’t exactly the game, they added harmonics and other stuff. Of course this game is released to make money, but every game is. It’s not like this industry makes things for everybody just because they like to do it.
Also the music industry is the most commercial industry ever. If you don’t like it, just don’t buy it.
This article was great, and very well written. Loved every minute of it and sums up expertly exactly how I fell about it.
Oh, except for the bits about loving the Beatles and being true to their lineage and stuff. Personally, I hate the freakin’ Beatles
@Sam great piece!
“£170 for some plastic instruments?” And instruments and content that are not able to be used with other RB editions. This entire Beatles RB sku may fall flat on someone’s face. And that someone got raped in court by a one-legged gold-digger.
@Philbat999 Wow, really? That means first time buyers who go for the Beatles edition can’t get in on some cheap tracks with Rock Band 1!
Ouch.
“I’m asking why can’t this just be DLC? Why do I have to spend another 40 of my dear pounds to play this, why isn’t Rock Band just a platform?”
Because despite Harmonix’s wishes, some bands insist on their own game. That is why Harmonix put out the AC/DC Live track pack – AC/DC dictated how the music had to be sold and would not bend to Harmonix’s wishes completely. The Beatles are an even harder band to license than AC/DC or Metallica because they are so protective of their music. I love the Rolling Stones as well, but it’s very easy to say that they overmerchandised their music, which Apple Corp. has avoided. This is one of the biggest Beatles licensing arrangements ever, and even then, Apple Corp. is retaining a heavy say on what can be done with it. And you know that if Harmonix hadn’t been willing to work with Apple Corp.’s demands, Apple Corp. might have simply gone to Activision, which would not be giving us such a carefully considered game.
As for the game itself, the core experience certainly is still Rock Band, and I’m disappointed that it will be only 45 songs + DLC that are separate from my (currently) almost 700 RB songs. However, note that every song has its own unique stage and animation, and triple harmonies will certainly enhance many parties. It’s certainly looking pretty well thought out. As for the large price tag you keep mentioning, the game is being sold by itself and will also work with old instruments according to Harmonix, so you’re not being forced to upgrade to the new instruments. They’re there for the collectors. Making plastic imitations is not dishonoring the Beatles, it’s attempting to enhance the experience where they can, but cost concerns are keeping them from making a $200 replica guitar that only five people will buy.
Anyway, I’m quite looking forward to this (and holding out hope that down the road, I’ll be able to reintegrate this with my previous Rock Band content). Every time a band gets on their high horse about “musical integrity” and how they won’t “sell out” by putting their music in Rock Band, I shake my head at the fact that they just don’t understand that people want to play and have fun with the music of their favorite bands. I’m happy to have the opportunity from a notoriously careful band.
@verygoodyear:
What I’ve read out of E3, and of course I can’t find the articles in my history, is that you will not be able to play RB tracks with your Beatles equipment, nor will you be able to play Beatles RB tracks with your RB 1 or RB2 instruments.
It really makes no sense, talk about splitting the community.
@Necros What!? The music industry causing trouble with rights issues?
Doesn’t sound like them.