“The Making of The Beattles: Rock Band” @ VH1 Classic – Nov.27.2009

From/De: MTV Games

MTV Games and Harmonix Unveil New Holiday Campaign for The Beatles™: Rock Band™

“The Making of The Beatles: Rock Band” Special to Premiere November 27th on VH1 Classic at 7:30PM ET/PT

New York, NY – November 20, 2009 – Harmonix Music Systems Inc., the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, today unveiled a new marketing campaign for The Beatles™: Rock Band™ targeted to families this holiday season and complementary to the award-winning launch campaign. The new TV commercial can be viewed at www.thebeatlesrockband.com/press and will begin on-air rotations on Saturday, November 21st.

Celebrating the massive development effort behind The Beatles: Rock Band, VH1 has created a special look at how the game was created, including never-before-seen footage of Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at Abbey Road Studios being presented with work in progress by the Harmonix creative team. “The Making of The Beatles: Rock Band” is a 30-minute special that features interviews from Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project and Music Supervisor for The Beatles: Rock Band, and Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO or Harmonix Music Systems, as well as additional interviews with the development team. The special reveals the origins of the game and a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the music video game that the New York Times called “the most important video game yet made.” “The Making of The Beatles: Rock Band” will premiere Friday, November 27th on VH1 Classic at 7:30 PM ET/PT.

“The Beatles: Rock Band is the perfect family gift this holiday, and our new TV creative, featuring the song ‘Day Tripper,’ really demonstrates how the game crosses generations to bring the whole family together,” said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music for the MTV Networks Music Group. “We are also very excited that VH1 documented the making of The Beatles: Rock Band. Whether you are a Beatles fan, music game fan, or both, this VH1 special is a fascinating behind-the-scenes at look at this exciting project.”

The Beatles: Rock Band has been a hit with fans and critics alike, with USA Today calling the game “A superb, vibrant presentation,” and the New York Times proclaiming that “The Beatles: Rock Band is sheer pleasure.” Additionally, the game was recently awarded the honor of being one of the “Top Brands of the Year” by Ad Age.

The Beatles: Rock Band allows players to take an experiential journey through the storied career of the world’s biggest band. Now you can play along with the Fab Four on guitar, drums, bass, and on vocals using 3-part vocal harmonies for the first time ever. Play through story mode to experience the many stages of the band’s career, and collect rare and never-before-seen Beatles photos and videos.

Play along to 45 of The Beatles’ biggest hits, including classics such as “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Eight Days a Week,” “Day Tripper,” “Paperback Writer,” “Get Back,” “Come Together,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and much more.

Additionally, players can complete The Beatles albums via downloadable content.
Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the single track “All You Need is Love” are all available for download now! The complete album of Rubber Soul will be available in December.

The Beatles: Rock Band is available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ console from Nintendo.

SKUs available include:
The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Bundle – US MSRP $249.99, continental Europe MSRP €199.00, UK MSRP £179.00
The Beatles: Rock Band Software for Xbox 360/PS3: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP €69.99, UK MSRP £49.99
The Beatles: Rock Band Software for Wii: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP €49.99, UK MSRP £39.99

Additional peripherals available include:
Rickenbacker 325 Standalone Guitar Controller – US MSRP $99.99, continental Europe MSRP €99.99, UK MSRP £89.99
Gretsch Duo Jet Standalone Guitar Controller – US MSRP $99.99, continental Europe MSRP €99.99, UK MSRP £89.99

In addition to The Beatles: Rock Band, MTV Games and Harmonix are proud to bring you the 2009 holiday lineup for the best-selling Rock Band™ franchise that delivers a fun and exciting way to interact with your favorite music, whether you’re an old school Beatles fan, a hardcore metal-head, a pop music lover, or someone who loves it all!

ROCK BAND™2

For true music fans, Rock Band 2 is the ultimate holiday gift. Between on-disc tracks and downloadable content, over one thousand songs are currently available for the Rock Band platform. Spanning genres from classic rock to heavy metal, punk to country, and including tons of huge artists, such as Queen, The Who, Green Day, The White Stripes, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Guns ‘N Roses, Foo Fighters, and No Doubt, no other music game franchise can even come close to matching the sheer breadth and variety of music you’ll find in Rock Band.

And if you’ve ever thought about trying Rock Band before but worried about the price, have we got a deal for you! Now you can pick up the Rock Band 2 bundle at all major retailers for only $99 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system! Rock Band is also available for the Wii™ console from Nintendo.

Also available at retail for Xbox 360, PlayStation3, Wii, and PlayStation2 for $29.99:
Rock Band Country Track Pack
Rock Band Classic Rock Track Pack
Rock Band Metal Track Pack

ROCK BAND UNPLUGGED™ for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) System

Put Rock Band in the palm of your hand with Rock Band Unplugged for the PSP! Rock Band Unplugged combines the Rock Band look and feel with classic beatmatching gameplay. You are a one-man band as you juggle all four instruments throughout the song. No clumsy miniaturized instruments required! Just tap the corresponding buttons on the PSP. Take your band on tour through 24 different venues and over 40 songs, and add new songs via the online music store! Rock Band Unplugged is the perfect present for a rocker on-the-go!

Available exclusively for the PSP system for US MSRP $29.99, continental Europe MSRP €39.99, UK MSRP £29.99.

Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band Unplugged and The Beatles: Rock Band is developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by MTV Games. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) serves as distribution partner.

LEGO Rock Band was developed by TT Games in partnership with Harmonix, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and MTV Games.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.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.

About MTV Games

MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EATM, EA SPORTSTM, EA MobileTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

© 2009 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., a MTV Networks company. Rock Band developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. MTV: Music Television, MTV Games and all related titles and logos are trademarks of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc., EA, , EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PlayStation” and “PLAYSTATION” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii is a trademarksof Nintendo. Guitar Hero is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.