McCartney, Starr come together to unveil trailer of Beatles game
"Whoever thought we'd end up as androids?" quipped Paul McCartney, who offered up some air-guitar and bantered with former bandmate Ringo Starr before a large screen.
McCartney called the game "a fun idea" that broadens the band's appeal. "I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out," he said.
"The game is good, the graphics are good, and we look great," Starr said.
Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, were also on hand at the preview event, organized by Microsoft as part of its Electronic Entertainment Expo presentations in Los Angeles.
The eagerly anticipated new offering from Harmonix and MTV Games will chart the rise of the musical legends, from their early days playing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool through landmark performances around the globe.
The game — which, unlike past editions of the Rock Band franchise, will feature multi-part vocal harmonies — will allow players to perform as the Fab Four and features 45 songs remastered by Giles Martin, including I Saw Her Standing There, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, I Am The Walrus, Get Back, Here Comes The Sun, Taxman, Octopus's Garden and Back in the USSR.
The Abbey Road album will also be available as downloadable content shortly after the game goes on sale.
On launch day, Microsoft will donate all sales proceeds from the Xbox Live exclusive digital track All You Need Is Love to the international aid agency Doctors Without Borders.
The Beatles: Rock Band hits stores Sept. 9, the same day Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI will release the entire digitally remastered Beatles catalogue.
With files from The Associated Press