"Rock Band" creators MTV Games and Harmonix jointly announced they've worked out a deal with Apple Corps, owner of The Beatles music rights, to develop a yet-untitled video game based on the group's decade-long history as a band.

As announced during a press conference on Thursday, the video game which has been in the talks for 17 months will feature songs belonging to the legendary rock group. Jeff Jones, CEO of Apple Corps, noted that the catalog would include songs from the entire run of The Beatles. It also appears the game will work with peripherals from "Rock Band" as well as "Guitar Hero."

Although details are being kept well under wraps, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos said that the game will be a standalone entity not a part of the "Rock Band" franchise. With no exact release date nor price established, the game is scheduled to make its debut in time for next year's holiday season.

"We want to take players on an experiential journey through the band's history," Rigopulos said. "A visual exploration of the Beatles' imagery is a big part of this project," he added.. "With apologies...there's very little that we're ready to say about the game itself."

The game will see a release everywhere and will be based on The Beatles UK track releases. However, no platform has yet to be mentioned for the game.

The two remaining members of the group, Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Star, have offered creative input, while Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison gave their blessing to the project.

Speaking about their decision to go digital, Paul McCartney said in a statement that the entire project "is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and their music. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out."

"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. Let the games commence," Ringo Starr added.

The financial terms of the tie-up were not immediately available. A deal would also require the approval of EMI Music, which owns the master recordings, and Sony/ATV which owns the copyright. Giles Martin, son of George Martin, the man who produced most of the Beatles' records, will serve as music producer of the project.

However, the deal doesn't mean that long-awaited digital downloads of the band's music would be available anytime soon. Since the band split 38 years ago, use of the Beatles master recordings have been highly limited. Beatles songs are still not available on iTunes or any other digital retailer.

"We're still working out the details," Jones explained. "We have no announcement to make."

Other bands including classic rock veterans Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and AC/DC have already licensed their music to "Guitar Hero" or "Rock Band."