The Beatles(TM): Rock Band(TM) Debuts as the #1 Selling Music Video Game in the U.S. for September(1)

The Beatles(TM): Rock Band(TM) Debuts as the #1 Selling Music Video Game in the U.S. for September(1)

Over 100K Exclusive Xbox LIVE Song Downloads of "All You Need Is Love" Sold in September with Charity Proceeds Benefiting Doctors Without Borders

NEW YORK, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple Corps, Ltd., MTV Games and Harmonix, the world's leading developer of music-based games and a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , today announced The Beatles(TM): Rock Band(TM) debuted as the top selling music video game in the U.S. for September. Released simultaneously with the digitally re-mastered Beatles CD catalogue on September 9, 2009, the critically acclaimed game was also the #2 selling title across all genres by revenue in the U.S. for the month of September. In addition, over 100K downloads of "All You Need Is Love" were sold in September. The charity single was released exclusively through Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network for a limited time with All Apple Corps Ltd, MTV Games, Harmonix and Microsoft proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

"We've heard countless stories about how The Beatles: Rock Band has inspired and brought friends, families and even complete strangers together," stated Scott Guthrie, EVP and President, MTV Games. "The overwhelmingly positive reaction by music fans, hardcore gamers, critics, retailers, young and old alike, has been extremely gratifying. The game was a labor of love for the teams at Apple Corps, MTV Games and Harmonix and seeing it resonate across generations the world over is truly priceless."

   Critics Praise The Beatles: Rock Band:   --  "The Beatles: Rock Band is nothing less than a cultural watershed ...       It may be the most important video game yet made" - NY Times   --  4 stars (out of 4) - "A superb, vibrant presentation" - USA Today   --  Grade: A  "I had a blast losing myself in the game's glorious saga of       sound" - Entertainment Weekly    --  9 out of 10 - "Stunning and imaginative This is a labor of love." -       IGN   

The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Bundle is available for a limited time. MTV Games and Harmonix have now completed production of these bundles and no more will be manufactured.

Available now for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii(TM) console from Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories, The Beatles: Rock Band allows fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles' extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career. Additionally, for the first time in a music videogame, The Beatles: Rock Band introduces three-part vocal harmonies to gameplay, allowing gamers to revel in the unparalleled vocal stylings of The Beatles.

The Beatles: Rock Band features 45 songs on-disc representing a cross-section of hits and favorites that span The Beatles' storied career. Additional music from The Beatles' epic catalogue will be made available for purchase and download through The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store. Abbey Road will be released on October 20, 2009, followed by the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in November and Rubber Soul in December.

The game is compatible with all Rock Band(TM) instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other authorized third party music video game peripherals and microphones.

The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Harrisongs Ltd and Startling Music Ltd has presented The Beatles music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band is published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world's premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band. Electronic Arts Inc. is serving as distribution partner for the game. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project, provided his expertise and served as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.

The Beatles: Rock Band is rated "T" for Teen with the descriptors "Mild Lyrics" and "Tobacco Reference" by the ESRB.

For more information on The Beatles: Rock Band, as well as art and video assets, please visit http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/press.

About Apple Corps. Ltd.

Apple Corps Ltd. was founded by The Beatles in 1968 to look after the group's own affairs. The London-based company has administered the catalogue of The Beatles releases of the 1960s that have sold to date more than 600 million records, tapes and CDs. Since the 1990s, Apple has piloted new Beatles projects that have become benchmarks for pioneering accomplishment and which have included The Beatles Anthology projects, the 28-million selling album The Beatles 1 and The Beatles LOVE show and CD. Further information on The Beatles' projects can be found at www.thebeatles.com.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE: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, Addicting Games, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Aton, 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 ground-breaking 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 Inc.

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/.

About Doctors Without Borders/Medecins San Frontieres (MSF)

Doctors Without Borders delivers emergency aid in more than 60 countries to victims of armed conflict, medical catastrophe, natural disasters, malnutrition, and neglected disease. The organization brings quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation, and operates independently of any political, military, or religious agendas. Doctors Without Borders was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. More information at www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

© 2009 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., an MTV Networks company. Rock Band, Rock Band 2, and The Beatles: Rock Band are 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. Guitar Hero is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. "PlayStation," "PLAYSTATION" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

The photo of The Beatles from "A Hard Day's Night" is part of the private collection of, and appears courtesy of, Mr. Bruce A. Karsh.

(1) According to NPD Group

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: MTV Games

CONTACT: Jeff Castaneda, +1-212-846-6774, jeff.castaneda@mtvstaff.com,
or Mariana Agathoklis, +1-212-846-5755, mariana.agathoklis@mtvstaff.com, both
For MTV Games / Harmonix

Web Site: http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment