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GTAIV's dial-a-song digital music feature partners with Amazon.com


Dale North \\ 03.29.2008	35 comments

Grand Theft Auto III made great use of popular music, but you had to buy CDs to get the soundtrack for yourself. This time around, Amazon and Rockstar Games have worked out a deal where gamers have easy access any song they hear in Grand Theft Auto IV.

This really nifty idea for digital music distribution uses the game's cell phone feature. Ars Technica says that players can dial a number on the in-game cell phone at any time they hear something they like from the game's soundtrack. They will then receive a text message giving the song's title and artist information. Those signed up for Rockstar's Games Social Club will receive an email with a link to an Amazon.com custom playlist with their song selections, and these can be purchase, DRM-free, for $0.89 or $0.99.

"Music has long played an integral part of the game playing experience," said Ronn Werre, EVP, EMI Music's Sales, Licensing and Synchronization unit. "We think giving players the ability to identify and buy their favorite tracks from Grand Theft Auto IV's popular radio stations is a great new music discovery tool for fans and an innovative new revenue stream for artists."

This feature to access the over 150 tracks of GTAIV, including "War is Necessary" by NAS, will be available to US gamers only.

Do you see yourself taking a break from gunfire to buy a song in-game?

- - - Dale North instinctively holds down the "b" button.

35 COMMENTS, LATEST BY DV2FOX
Can you do this in the european/spanish version,even if u can't buy the song,just for havin' the author's and song title? - view discussion

There are 35 comments about this post:

MrSadistic says:
03/29/2008 10:02

Seems a bit too much, in terms of the game's features. Still a spiffy idea though.

Chibi_Zero says:
03/29/2008 10:12

I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of it, but it seems like a pretty interesting idea.

Justice says:
03/29/2008 10:15

Damn, since I'm the only Nas fan here probably, and I'm British it seems I will miss out!

At least we'll be able to stream our own music anyway.

vandamguy says:
03/29/2008 10:18

that is a pretty good idea. I especially like the part about it being DRM free. I would debate that the will sell more tracks without DRM on it, than if it had DRM and stuck on your ps3 / 360

Revolt in Colour says:
03/29/2008 10:22

Posted about this yesterday.

I think it's a great idea.

Mxyzptlk says:
03/29/2008 10:24

But will I be able to /pizza in GTA4?

Cheeburga says:
03/29/2008 10:33

Great integreation for people who are willing.

But I second the /pizza.

Akiba says:
03/29/2008 10:40

I love all the nifty features they're throwing into this game. I hope the online mode really is as cool as it sounds. That's all i'm really worried about. April 29th can't come any faster.

While I'm here, do any of you know if the Metal Gear Solid 4 pre-order DVD is available? I keep seeing pictures, but no confirmation. I called my local EB Games a couple nights ago and they didn't know when They'd get 'em. Any info would be nice.

PSN: conorGENOCIDE

Clyde says:
03/29/2008 10:46

OR you just check out any compilation of those tracks via torrent...

Arttemis says:
03/29/2008 10:51

I'm more interested in seeing Rockstar let me use my own MP3s to make a radio station just like you could on the original Xbox and PC.

I believe they've said it's not available - but it damn well better be some DLC for PS3 and 360 very soon after release!

Mabec says:
03/29/2008 10:53

This is quite a cool progress in videogameland...

tazarthayoot says:
03/29/2008 11:03

Uh what?

GTA3 didn't have licensed music, from what I can remember. It was all either public domain or made specifically for the game. I don't think the GTA series had licensed music until GTA Vice City.

kwaselow says:
03/29/2008 11:06

Heretic says:
03/29/2008 11:28

Meh I don't buy music off the internet. i only buy a CD if Bloc Party has released a new album they are literally the only band I give money to.

smurfee mcgee says:
03/29/2008 11:50

GTA3 DID have licensed music. I clearly remember DJ Clue's station.
I think this is a pretty cool feature. I want to be able to download all the stuff on DJ Green Lantern's station (he confirmed he had a station) as it will probably be good stuff; as well as exclusive to GTAIV. @Justice: I'm a Nas fan.

tazarthayoot says:
03/29/2008 12:40

@Justice

NAS REPRESENT MOFUCKA!

brosef says:
03/29/2008 13:05

If the player finds a song they like all they have to do is open the cell phone in the game and dial 411. They then will receive a message back providing the information on the track. Players will then send an in-game fax to Amazon.com requesting purchase of the song. Amazon will then send an email to the individual (out-of-game) confirming the specific requested song. The individual will then fire a red flare into the air at 37 degrees from the horizon to the north-west to confirm their purchase. Amazon will then respond to said confirmation by mailing the individual a package to their place of residence. Within the box is Speedy Claxton, the world's foremost racing turtle. The individual when then follow Mr. Claxton to their local post-office where a memory stick containing the mp3 will be located. The individual will have 30 minutes to get home and load the song onto their computer before the memory stick self-destructs.

Also, remember to return Speedy to sender.

falinter says:
03/29/2008 13:09

This gave me a weird idea. What if you could call other businesses and places via XBL or PSN and order while your in game. Something like skype or the equivalent.

I probably wouldn't use it but im sure someone would get great use out of it.

brainderailment says:
03/29/2008 13:14

This'll work for a week, then the service will be discontinued due to lack of sales.

big filth says:
03/29/2008 14:42

Nas FTW!

Detry says:
03/29/2008 14:45

/pizza FTW

atastysammich says:
03/29/2008 14:54

Gunfire?... Or stupid motorcycle stunts?

MishoM says:
03/29/2008 15:32

TMBG is awesome. This post is awesome for referencing them.

DV2FOX says:
03/29/2008 15:55

it's a great feature incase ya love a song like DT did with Nico..."Hey wait..I love this song!" XDDDD,nice edit n great shot^^

Also u can get the DGraphy of the artist later ;P...or the game's OST,bitch!

Samit Sarkar says:
03/29/2008 16:26

If I like a song enough, I�ll just download (read: not-torrent or not-LimeWire) it...but don�t get me wrong, I still do buy CDs. Still, for those gamers who are upstanding citizens � the ones who�ve spent hundreds of dollars on iTunes � this�ll likely be a very useful feature.

niakori says:
03/29/2008 17:35

Fuck itunes. Also, I can't stop watching big_filth's av.

TrailerParkJesus says:
03/29/2008 18:12

Nice idea I guess, but isn't GTA all about killing hookers and stealing songs off the internet?

Kryptinite says:
03/29/2008 21:09

Nas FTW!!!

Also....what niakori said about big filths's avvy.

Dogen says:
03/29/2008 23:00

@kwaselow

My thoughts exactly.

Necros says:
03/30/2008 04:34

It's a pretty good idea, but I'll probably never use it.

Necros says:
03/30/2008 04:34

It's a pretty good idea, but I'll probably never use it.

Holyetheline says:
03/30/2008 08:40

I tend to listen to Neutral Milk Hotel, Wilco, Radiohead, Cloud Cult, Elliott Smith, Neva Dinova, Deathcab For Cutie, and other bands that would probably never make it into a GTA game for many reasons. So yeah... probably won't buy.

HarassmentPanda says:
04/02/2008 09:29

I wonder how much other email Amazon will send you. I ordered Viva Pi�ata off of Amazon and now I get emails about every new toy designed for an 8 year old that is ever released.

PetiePal says:
04/02/2008 13:35

Thank you in advance to the guy who buys all the DRM-free tracks and seeds a torrent.

DV2FOX says:
04/27/2008 06:03

Can you do this in the european/spanish version,even if u can't buy the song,just for havin' the author's and song title?

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