MTV Games, Harmonix and EA Games are behind the game Rock Band, available for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. The game is quite similar to the popular Guitar Hero series, although there are some quite visible differences.

For one, Rock Band allows a more diverse multiplayer mode than the original Guitar Hero, where up to four players can play lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and, of course, use the microphone to impersonate your favorite lead singer. The classic Guitar Hero series allowed players to only use the guitar-like instrument. However, the new Guitar Hero version, World Tour, also gives you a drum set and a microphone. Unfortunately, Red Octane and Activision have received a copious amount of complaints about malfunctioning drum sets.

The latest versions of Rock Band allow you to customize the character you are in the game. Mohawk, dreadlocks, long, straight, blonde hair – all are available in Rock Band. You can adjust all physiological traits, and also add tattoos, instruments, even control some of the on-stage movements.

To make it attractive, Rock Band had to feature an awesome soundtrack, and customers were not disappointed. Among the bands were Red Hot Chili Peppers (“Dani California”), Blue Oyster Cult (“The Reaper”), Metallica (“Enter Sandman”), OK Go (“Here It Goes Again”), Deep Purple (“Highway Star”), Foo Fighters (“Learn to Fly”), David Bowie (“Suffragette City”), Bon Jovi (“Wanted Dead or Alive”) and The Who (“Won’t Get Fooled Again”). Most of the music is supplied by EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group’s Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment.
The game won more cool-points when the executives decided to release downloadable albums. The seven albums are Judas Priest's “Screaming for Vengeance”, the eponymous first album from The Cars, the Pixies' “Doolittle”, “Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?” by Megadeth, Rush's “Moving Pictures”, “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and “Dr. Feelgood” by Mötley Crüe.

In order to gain popularity among players who like classic rock legends, Harmonix, MTV Games and Beatles’ Apple Corps. Ltd have announced that a new Rock Band game will be released soon, featuring only songs by The Beatles. iTunes, however, have not commented on whether the cult-band’s music will finally be available on the online music store.

Making a music video game exclusively with The Beatles’ music was in discussion for months prior to this statement. The only question was whether the first game to feature The Beatles was going to be Rock Band or Guitar Hero. Now that this question has been answered, it’s uncertain whether Rock Band will provide similar characters to the band’s members. However, the game
will offer players different periods of the band’s music, from the 60s to “Yellow Submarine” and “Rubber Soul.”

The fight over The Beatles’ music is not surprising. The Liverpool-based pop-rock band released over 40 albums, EPs and LPs that reached number one, a record in the music industry.