Friday, September 11, 2009

Beatles fans line up for CDs, video game

       Fans of the Beatles queued yesterday to buy the band's collected works on a new set of discs and get their hands on an animated video game featuring some of the Fab Four's greatest hits .
       The Beatles collection, launched worldwide on 09/09/09, is expected to dominate the charts in markets like the United States and Britain, bringing a windfall to the group's label EMI Music and the Beatles' own Apple Corps Ltd.
       While the re-mastered catalogue, its first overhaul since 1987, is seen appealing mainly to Beatles' fans who would appreciate subtle variations and improvements that technology has brought, most excitement surrounded MTV's video game,"The Beatles: Rock Band".
       "I'm buying the game, I'm not really a big Beatles fan, I prefer much stronger music like Metallica, I just want to try the game and see how it is going to work," said Stefan Krupicki, 32, who queued for an hour at the launch at the HMV store in central London.
       Developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by Viacom Inc's MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts Inc, the game could sell two million units in the first month alone, according to analysts' estimates.
       ware had allowed his team to improve the quality and sound of the Beatles'catalogue, including through removing bad edits, electrical clicks and sibilance.
       The game offers 45 songs from the band's catalogue, each member is animated in detail and real crowd noise from Beatles' performances is used.
       With video game sales falling sharply in the United States, the makers of The Beatles: Rock Band are aiming to appeal to older consumers who have not yet experimented with the format but may be attracted by their love of the music.
       However, Jeff Howells, a 36-year-old civil servant, said he was at the launch to get the discs.
       "I'm not interested in the game, quite a few people are not I suspect. I think most people will be interested in the music. The game is just a nice little fad,I don't think it will last."

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