The LA Times takes a look at the Beatles: Rock Band — developed by Cambridge-based Harmonix — and notes parent-company Viacom’s shift away from hardware:

Although MTV is offering a limited edition of the Beatles: Rock Band with instruments based on ones used by the band, it costs $250, $70 more than the equivalent version of Rock Band 2 last year. Dollar-conscious consumers who don’t already have instrument controllers will probably be attracted to a $160 “value bundle” that uses ones from the original Rock Band that Viacom has been unable to sell.

The marketing material for the Beatles: Rock Band urges consumers to use Guitar Hero controllers, enabling Viacom to piggyback on its more successful rival.