SAN FRANCISCO, US - Surviving members of The Beatles announced on Thursday that their songs will take on new lives in a videogame that lets people pretend to be the world-changing 1960s British rockers.

MTV Games is having the game developed by US studio Harmonix, the maker of the hot-selling "Rock Band" videogame in which players using mock instruments as controllers win by keeping in tune with music and on-screen note cues.

MTV Games didn't reveal details of the yet-to-be-completed Beatles game but says it will be "an unprecedented, experiential progression through" the band's music.

"The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and their music," Sir Paul McCartney said in a release. "I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out."

The game will mark the first time the iconic band's music is featured in a videogame.

"The Beatles continue to evolve with the passing of time and how wonderful that The Beatles' legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerized world we live in," said Ringo Starr.

"Let the games commence."

The concept for the videogame was honed with input from McCartney and Starr as well as from Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison.

"It's cool," said Yoko Ono. "I love it and hope it will keep inspiring and encouraging the young generation for many decades."

The videogame is the band's long-awaited debut in the Internet Age because the surviving Beatles and their multimedia company have long resisted selling their music online in digital formats out of piracy concerns.

"This game will be a celebration of the Beatles undeniable legacy," said Harmonix chief executive Alex Rigopulos.

"By presenting their music and artistry through the creative filter of a groundbreaking videogame, we are giving legions of fans and music lovers all over the world a profound, new way to experience The Beatles." --AFP