I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Beatles Rock Band for some time now, valiantly ignoring all other rhythm action games and going to the rare trouble to preorder it so I got it on release day 09.09.09. I went the whole hog and got the full band edition just to show I mean business. Hopefully it will be waiting for me when I get home (postal strike permitting), the neighbours aren’t going to get much sleep tonight…

The game looks beautiful, just take a look at the opening sequence…

The animation is by Passion Pictures and MK12. Passion Pictures in particular are well known for their work on Gorillaz, as well as ads for Sony Bravia and the Audi Unboxed ad I posted a while ago. MK12 have done some great movie title sequences such as Quantum of Solace.

There’s a lot of Beatles stuff around, the hype machine is in full swing as all of the original albums are also being released for the first time remastered in stereo on the same day. The box set will set you back a cool £170 though… Apple may finally even be releasing them on iTunes too which has been long rumoured.

Oh, and here’s the trailer for Guitar Hero’s response to the whole thing, launching on 10.10.10…

Please forgive me while I indulge my geek and nostalgia genes simultaneously – it is Friday after all.

Monkey Island has made it to the iPhone ::iTunes Link:: and not just any old Monkey Island, the new Special Edition which landed on PC and xBox360(shudder) last weekend. The game contains the original VGA-tastic version as well as a new improved graphic incarnation (HD on the other formats, slightly less impressive on the iPhone). The new version has a new voiceover track and you can flip between past and present with a swipe gesture at any time. Here’s to many more LucasArts titles on the App Store and to a graphic adventure renaissance!

If you haven’t ever played Monkey Island, it’s an offbeat adventure of piratey proportions. A genuine classic game from the early 90′s with excellent writing and atmospheric gameplay. They really don’t make them like this anymore and now it’s had a new lick of pixelly paint…

If you don’t have an iPhone, you can get the new Special Edition on your dirty PC via Steam or your filthy xBox through XBLA. If you don’t have an iPhone, PC or xBox, check out ScummVM, which lets you play all the old LucasArts adventures on almost any platform. And don’t forget Telltale Games’ new episodic Monkey Island series Tales of Monkey Island…

The iPhone is really starting to come into its own as a bona fide gaming platform, notable recent additions to the App Store with a retro flavour also include Peggle, Worms and Wolfenstein 3D. Doom can’t be far away.

All highly recommended to take the edge of travel on the London Underground network…

Welcome to Super Obama World everyone!