Tag Archives: mtv

According to a quarterly filing dug up by Edge, MTV is to hand over a further $150 million to Harmonix thanks to high performance from the developer.

From the report:

The Company expects to have a final payment with respect to Harmonix 2008 performance due in 2009. The payment amount is based on financial results in excess of specific contractual targets against a defined gross profit metric.

In light of the success of the Rock Band videogame series, the final payment is expected to exceed this year’s payment.

Nice work if you can get it. More through the link. Thanks, Gaming Today.

The Beatles game eventually went to MTV because, from the sound of it, Sony Music wasn’t going to get what it wanted. And what it wanted, probably, was money.

“It was presented as if they were doing the music business a favor,” Sony/ATV CEO Martin Bandier told Reuters.

“It’s true you can choose other types of music, and somewhere along the line someone’s going to do it for free for the exposure … When it comes to the Beatles, the leverage changes. We’re very happy with the terms of our arrangement with MTV.”

MTV’s understanding of what Sony was after ultimately led to a “very rich” deal.

Game’s out at the end of next year.

Thanks, Kotaku.

According to this Variety piece, only 45 Beatles tracks are to be included in the newly announced Harmonix game.

From the piece:

Game developers will be able to select 45 songs from the Beatles catalog recorded during their 1962-69 tenure within EMI for inclusion in the game.

“The game is in development,” said Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones. “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.”

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono Lennon have been part of the conversations regarding the design, layout and rollout of the game. Discussions, both creative and financial, between Apple Corps and MTV began 17 months ago, and the first contracts were signed about four weeks ago. The game will not be part of the “Rock Band” franchise, which will release an AC/DC edition on Tuesday.

The game’s out at the end of next year. Thanks, EvilAvatar.

Speaking to Gamespot, Rock Band lead designer Dan Teasdale given some hints at just how much work’s been involved in getting Apple Corp to an announcement stage of the newly confirmed Beatles game. Sounds as though it hasn’t been easy.

“We started the process about 17 months ago, so it’s great to finally talk about it,” he said.

Harmonix PR chap John Drake added: “We’ve been in talks with them for a very, very, long time.

“[Apple Corps CEO] Jeff Jones was saying that they respected and appreciated what Harmonix does creatively for rhythm games… being pioneers in the field, bringing the full band experience, and we, of course, are colossal fans of the Beatles so there’s not too much to think about why it’s a great deal.”

Time isn’t an issue when you’re aiming this high, said Teasdale, who appeared to be “quite pleased” at the signing.

“The Beatles are amazing,” he said. “To make it clear, this isn’t a Rock Band game, this is a new experience for the Beatles. It’s a way to experience the Beatles’ music, it’s a way to bring this to a whole new audience as well as people who are huge fans of the Beatles.

“From our end it’s amazing… The Beatles are the biggest band in the world. They’re music legends, and to be able to bring that experience to everyone is a great honour.”

The game’s out next year. More through the link.

How much does it cost to make a Beatles game? A lot. We don’t know how much MTV had to pay to be able to work on an exclusive game based on the band’s music, but it wasn’t cheap, Sony Music boss Martin Bandier, told Variety.

“There have been mutterings from artists and songwriters that they are not being offered their fair share in videogames, but the gamemakers have the leverage,” he said. “In the world of rock, there are thousands of tracks that will work, but when you get into the world of unique artists, that leverage shifts, tremendously, to the artists and songwriters.

“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.”

MTV and Apple Corp announced yesterday that a rhythm action game based on the Beatles’ music will release at the end of next year.

Plenty more on Variety, there.

MTV, Apple Corps and Harmonix have just confirmed that they’re working on a brand new game involving The Beatles’ music.

Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos said the game was a “dream project”.

There’s no name on the title as yet, but the game will take players on a journey of the band’s music and has the blessing of group’s surviving members.

The firms said to “stay tuned” for updates in the coming months.

The Beatles project is an entirely new concern to Rock Band, and will be built from the ground up.

There will be a focus on strong visual imagery in the title, although there were no details on this.

Giles Martin said in the conference that much of the game’s music will be original mixes and recordings.

A date of Christmas 2009′s been mooted.

“Simply said, they are the greatest band of all time,” said MTV boss Judy McGrath. Sums it up pretty well, really.

Update: Here’s some links to other reports from the conference. You’ll get some lengthy quotes from them.

• Eurogamer
• Shacknews
• PS3F

Update 2: Press release after the break.

More »

The Beatles-MTV conference is starting now. We haven’t been invited to listen to it, because we’re scum, clearly, but keep your eyes open for news over the next half an hour.

MTV is expected to announce the inclusion of Beatles in Rock Band in the conference, as part of an “unprecedented global music project” between itself and Apple Corp.

Keep watching.

Citing “several people familiar with the matter,” the Wall Street Journal’s claimed The Beatles have signed a deal with Viacom and MTV to have the band’s legendary music included in a Rock Band product.

MTV sent out an email last night saying an “unprecedented global music project” between itself and Apple Corp would be announced at 2.00pm UK time today.

As the WSJ puts it: “The Beatles represent the biggest prize to date in the category. Not only do they have the best-selling album catalog of any band, they haven’t yet licensed their music for sale by download services such as Apple Inc.’s iTunes Store.”

Quite. Watch for the announcement this afternoon.

This Kotaku story reports that MTV and Apple Corps are to make an announcement tomorrow about an “unprecedented global music project”.

Apparently one of the guys listed on the email is one of the PR chaps for Rock Band 2. And it’s MTV, so go figure.

The confirmation will come at 2.00pm GMT. Press release after the link.

More »

According to Eurogamer, a UK-based EA’s external PR outfit has said that Rock Band 2 will be released “this side of Christmas”.

“MTV, Harmonix and EA have not formally confirmed a UK release date for Rock Band 2,” a representative initially told them. However, a few minutes later, the authors of the original mail wrote to say: “The release date in Europe is still to be confirmed. We expect to be able to announce release shortly.”

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

MTV’s responded to Konami’s legal action towards Rock Band, saying it finds the move “extremely surprising”.

“Konami’s actions are extremely surprising,” an MTV spokesperson said of the suit. “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.”

Konami’s claiming that Rock Band infringes patents the publisher filed in 2002 and 2003, specifically related to simulated musical instruments, a music-game system and a “musical-rhythm matching game.”

According to this Bloomberg report, Konami has sued EA over patent violation related to Rock Band, claiming the game violate patents filed by the firm in 2002 and 2003.

The Konami patents, relate to simulated musical instruments, a music-game system and a “musical-rhythm matching game.”

What does Konami want? Muchos money, amigo. And the other small prize of being able to block EA selling products based on the technology Konami claimed it stole.

The suit also names Harmonix Music Systems, Viacom and MTV.

More through the link.

Watch Kotaku’s Brian Crecente, MTV’s Stephen Totilo and Newsweek’s N’Gai Croal talk for another week about what to expect from E3 after the link. There’s still nothing in there you didn’t know already, but still it’s fun nonetheless.

More »

Watch Kotaku’s Brian Crecente, MTV’s Stephen Totilo and Newsweek’s N’Gai Croal talk about what to expect from E3 after the link. There’s nothing in there you didn’t know already, but it’s fun nonetheless.

More »

Incredibly, pills marketed at FPS players looking to improve reaction times have been debunked as hokum, according to this. Despite the maker of FPSBrain claiming its products provides a “remarkable increase in perception and reaction capacities”, MTV called in a dietitian who begged to differ:

“In addition to caffeine, most…[energy] drinks contain a high sugar content,” said nutrition expert Danielle Marzano. “In combination these ingredients can cause a rush that will eventually come crashing down. Those sensitive to caffeine may even become dizzy and shaky. Taking this pill with an energy drink or taking more than the recommended dosage may cause these effects.”

Turns out FPSBrain is just like an “energy drink” in solid form. Without as much caffeine. Sounds wicked.