John Lennon could talk some beautiful claptrap. From newspaper taxis to restless winds inside a letterbox; cellophane flowers to expert, texpert, choking smokers – ‘our John’ was the master of the meaningless yet wonkily profound lyric. By his side, naturally, swami of melody, Paul McCartney – the ideal foil for his partner in crime’s kaleidoscopic observations.
Of course, McCartney scrawled the occasional globe-uniting lyric, and, sure, Lennon knocked out the odd epoch-defining tune. But to compress The Beatles’ myriad elements of genius into the intro of a 500-word games preview would be as daunting a task as recording Sgt Pepper itself. So forgive us for slimming them down to just one.
Fact is, ‘The Beatles’ was the collectively restrictive banner for the three defining artists of the 20th Century. Plus Ringo.
And when something is as bloody inarguably wonderful as the Fab Four’s music, it equates that, one day, it will also be eye-poppingly expensive.
And so it is with The Beatles: Rock Band, which many industry experts estimate is the most costly game of all time – on licence fees alone. But, boy, is it going to be worth it.
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The audible gasp that greeted Messrs. McCartney and Starr at this year’s E3 said it all; for the audience’s amazement wasn’t in response to the presence of the pop demi-Gods themselves, but rather the splendour projected from the game’s demo videos.
The venues, the haircuts, the harmonies, the recording quality – not even the most ardent Fab Four optimist could have dreamt of the sheer authenticity that
Harmonix has stuffed into every element of the title.
The on-the-money replica instruments are the first thing that will turn the head of fans – or, for that matter, any right-thinking person with a pulse. And ears.
These include John’s Rickenbacker 325 guitar, Paul’s Höfner bass, George’s Gretsch Duo Jet guitar and Ringo’s copycat drums – complete with Ludwig-branded Beatles kick drum head.
And that’s not all: Aficionados won’t be able to resist the opportunity to ‘play’ as The Beatles across the clearly defined evolution of their career – from fresh faced, mescaline-munching moptops in The Cavern Club to the grizzled, grizzly, mistrusting bunch strumming away in Abbey Road Studios just a few years later.
These ‘must-try’ elements will be boosted by a fresh wave of Beatlemania come release day – when the game is thrust onto retail shelves alongside the band’s remastered CD collection.
Unlike your run-of-the-mill release, it’s not only the title’s publisher that stands to benefit from this huge public interest – but the rest of the industry, too.
With Rock Band’s gaming pedigree dove-tailing beautifully with the most universally-loved music in history, it’s no huge stretch to imagine The Beatles: Rock Band tempting new gamers to pick up a console this Christmas – single-handedly giving a shot in the arm to aspirations of further market expansion.
The Beatles taught us all that money can’t buy you happiness, nor true companionship. And they were absolutely right, obviously.
But if you’re a consumer, it can earn you the chance to truly interact with their music for the first time in the 50 years it’s been on this planet.
With love, from EA, to you.
