Beatlemania revived with ‘Rock Band,’ albums

­­­MUSIC. A wave of “Beatlemania” struck Britain’s streets Wednesday as the Fab Four released a specially remastered edition of their albums, complete with an interactive video game for a new generation of fans.

The Beatles collection, launched worldwide on 09/09/09 and priced at 180 pounds ($300), is expected to dominate the charts in the United States and Britain, bringing a windfall to the group’s label EMI Music and the Beatles’ company, Apple Corps.

While the remastered catalog, its first overhaul since 1987, is seen appealing mainly to Beatles’ fans who would appreciate subtle variations and improvements, most excitement surrounds MTV’s video game, “The Beatles: Rock Band.”

Developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by Viacom Inc.’s MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts Inc., analysts say the game could sell 2 million units in the first month.

The re-engineered music collection is expected to boost sales of CDs in an era when more and more songs are downloaded online and fans can pick and choose their favorite tracks.

However, the Beatles appear set to move into the digital age — with some of their music likely to be made available as downloadable content for the video game.