EA Game Soundtracks As DLC?

Downloadable music has made music-specific games, like Rock Band, essentially self-renewing, as new tracks to play are popping up all the time. But when MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo talked to EA music guru Steve Schnur (we talked to him, too), he asked him when we'll see the ability to change up the soundtracks of other games with DLC.

“You’re going to see it in 2009,” he said. He said that by “Madden ‘10” gamers can expect some of the “broader-based” EA games (not just any music titles) to be able to “continually recommend” new music that can be downloaded to enhance a soundtrack.

That makes connected video gaming sound kind of like iTunes, huh? But I'll ask you guys the same question Totilo asks: would you pay for that? What's it worth to you?

EA: Next Year’s Non-Music Games Will Feature DLC-Enabled Soundtracks [MTV Multiplayer]

EA has revealed the soundtrack listing for Madden NFL 09, the most important series in the history of video game soundtracks. Is that right? Did Madden usher in a new age of music in video games? EA's Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing Steve Schnur seems to think so.

“Madden NFL revolutionized the industry by making music of multiple genres – from both established acts and brand-new artists – an essential emotional component of the videogame experience and the NFL season itself... Not only have we changed the gaming culture forever, we continue to move the needle musically for millions of people around the world. Madden NFL will always be recognized as the game that made the music matter in videogames.”

So what's on this most important of soundtracks? Disturbed, Franz Ferdinand, The All-American Rejects, The Offspring, Busta Rhymes with Linkin Park..the usual suspects really. Expect EA to make a huge deal out of them though, with viral videos, a special issue of Billboard magazine, and beginning the week of August 4th they'll be a different Madden artist performing each night on a "popular late night show". Hit the jump for more details, along with the full 26-song track listing.

This site is full of win: Game Music Jukebox. You should really give this a look. More than 120 video game soundtracks. Double Dragon. Marathon. Mass Effect. Hitman: Blood Money. Lots of stuff from 8-bit synth to full symphony scores. And not just the title track, but the full score, broken out by tracks.

Maybe not everything, but definitely a lot and certainly something to tickle your nostalgia fancy. Looks like they update it, too, last one was April 29.

I'm listening to the Metroid Theme now, Brinstar to be exact. IMHO, best score for an 8-bit game ever. I want to make it into a ringtone, I just need to pick the right refrain.

Just saw this on Reddit so, the buffering might be a little slow on some of the larger tracks as people go to it.

Reliver Your Favorite Games Through Music [Game Music Jukebox]

Criterion really wants to prove that they understand the desires of the Burnout Paradise community with their forthcoming Cagney update. Not only are they adding three new multiplayer modes and changing the way standard definition is rendered in order to deliver crisper graphics to those of us not blessed with HD, they've even gone as far as implementing custom soundtracks for the PlayStation 3 crowd. PS3 owners will be able to access the XMB custom soundtracks menu from with the EasyDrive menu in the game, allowing them to shuffle or repeat their tracks to their heart's content. If you haven't already, I would highly suggest bookmarking the Criterion Games blog. They're constantly updating it with fresh new information about what is shaping up to be the ultimate Burnout experience.

Criterion Games announces custom soundtracks for Burnout Paradise on PlayStation 3 [The Criterion Games Blog]

'The Games That Launched the Band'

GameCareerGuide has an interesting interview up with Steve Schnur, worldwide executive of music and marketing for Electronic Arts, on the interplay between games and pop music. Schnur contends that being part of a game soundtrack isn't just one more stop on an upward career trajectory, but can (and has) launched careers:

Epic Records credits Madden 2003 as being instrumental in the breaking of Good Charlotte. Avril Lavigne was first introduced to European audiences through FIFA 2003. Fabolous was first introduced in America via NBA Live, and went on to sell over 2 million albums here. JET got their American iPod commercial based on exposure in Madden 2004. Avenged Sevenfold were an unsigned act when we featured them in Madden 2004. In the weeks following the game's release, their independent album sold tens of thousands of copies without radio airplay, and they were signed to a major label soon after ...

He goes on to list a ton of other examples. It would seem that it's less about being on a video game soundtrack and more about being on a Madden soundtrack, but be that as it may - Schnur has an interesting perspective on one part of putting together great (and not-so-great) games.

Games That Launched the Band [GameCareerGuide]

Assassin's Creed Score Is BAFTAstic

Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed is shipping in November for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3, we all know that. What gamers might not know about the medieval adventure is that it will ship with music. True story. There's going to be music and, from what I understand, it will be featured throughout the game, not just a clever title jingle. That music—or "score" as we say in the biz—will be handled by British Academy Award winner Jesper Kyd, pictured above in the boiler room in which he keeps his prey.

Kyd has a slew of gaming soundtracks under his belt, including various Splinter Cell and Hitman jams. His musical contribution to Assassin's Creed has been described as "fused with both traditional medieval instruments and modern synth sounds" by producer Jade Raymond. She, by the way, has great taste in sneakers. Kyd describes his own work as having been taken "to the max." I deem this description totally badical.

More info after the jump, with a score provided by me.

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Oblivion Soundtrack