About 45 years after the Beatles invaded America, they are returning to reach a new generation through the Beatles: Rock Band video game, which was released today.

Harmonix, MTV Games and Apple Corps, Ltd., worked together to create the newest Rock Band video game to be played on Xbox, Playstation and Wii game systems.

The game will allow users to play and sing along to more than 40 classic Beatles hits on model guitars, drums and microphones while watching videos of the band play in legendary locations.

Many people said they have seen the creation and release of this game as a chance for younger generations to appreciate the work of a rock band from the past.

Richard Mook, a professor at ASU’s School of Music, said he talks about the historical importance of the Beatles in many of his ASU courses and the game will be a new way for people to experience the Beatles’ music.

“Young people who are experiencing the Beatles for the first time are going to know them through that game rather than through the albums like their parents did,” he said.

Mook said younger people are more likely to encounter the Beatles’ music through advertising, video games, commercials and movies, unlike their parents, who were likely alive when the albums were first released.

“I think young people know the Beatles’ music, which is important,” he said.

ASU students learn about the Beatles and the stories behind their music through two courses: MUS 354: Music of the Beatles and MUS 354: Beatles After the Beatles.

Brett Harmon, 22, graduated from ASU in May with a degree in communications and took both classes while at ASU.

“What the class really brought me was a greater appreciation for the band themselves, the process through which they made this music and a greater overall appreciation for what they did and their impact on rock ‘n’ roll as a whole,” he said.

Harmon said he thinks many aspects of the game will bring younger generations to appreciate the music.

“Rock Band is going to make them feel like they’re playing along with the Beatles themselves,” he said. “It’ll bring them closer to the band.”

He said because it is the parents of today’s video gamers that experienced the Beatles in the height of their popularity, their influence on society may be underestimated.

“I’m not sure if our younger generations know and appreciate what the Beatles meant to society and know how great their music was,” Harmon said. “I think there’s a lot in the game that will bring them back into the mainstream so much that they’re going to be given a new appreciation.”

Harmon said he can’t decide between purchasing the game or the remastered catalog of albums, which is also being released today.

“I’m currently struggling,” he said.

Music professor Mike Shellans, who teaches the Beatles courses, said he thinks the game will be a tremendous educational tool because people playing the game will learn more about the Beatles’ impact on history.

“The Beatles music shows no signs of waning in popularity even almost 40 years after their demise, and Rock Band has made their music even more accessible to new and returning fans,” Shellans said.

Both Mook and Harmon said the game will be popular because Beatles songs are easily likeable, regardless of what genre of music a person listens to.

Mook said the band’s main songwriters John Lennon and Paul McCartney drew on some of the best songwriting techniques from a variety of different styles like blues, jazz, R&B and country.

“It’s hard to get bored with them,” Mook said.

Reach the reporter at vajones2@asu.edu.