Beatles: Rock Band gets cheaper bundles

Beatles fans have long understood that the Fab Four's music and merchandise often command a premium over those of merely mortal musicians. So it wasn't incredibly surprising when the Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition bundles were announced with look-alike instruments for $250.

However, with just two weeks to go until the game's September 9 launch, new product listings from retailers like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Amazon indicate that the Beatles game will also be available in another instrument-laden bundle. The "Special Value Edition" of the game carries a relatively thrifty suggested retail price of $160, although Best Buy and Amazon are charging $140 for the package.

According to the Amazon product description, the Special Value Edition includes a copy of The Beatles: Rock Band, a standard Rock Band guitar, drums, a microphone, a USB hub, and a guitar strap. The Limited Edition package is essentially the same, but it replaces the standard Rock Band instruments with a Beatles-branded drum kit and a Hoffner bass controller. The Limited Edition bundle also includes a mic stand and unspecified "additional special game content."

The Beatles: Rock Band is set for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.