Madden '10, other EA games to include downloadable songs

by Kyle Orland { Jul 10th 2008 at 9:55AM }

We're already getting used to downloadable tracks being a necessary addition to rhythm and music games. But are we ready for the feature to infect the soundtracks for other genres? Ready or not, EA Chief Music Executive Steve Schnur told MTV Multiplayer that downloadable background tracks will indeed be available in next year's version of Madden, with similar support added to "broader-based" EA games shortly thereafter.

It might seem a bit silly for EA to offer a proprietary music download service when all current-gen consoles allow users to create their own custom soundtracks from their already-existing digital music collections. You have to realize, though, that EA needs to offer its own downloads so it can ~~market~~ ~~promote~~ ~~push~~ gently suggest the latest hot track from Kid Rock to their captive audience of millions of players.

It's not yet clear if you'll actually have to pay for these downloadable songs, but as this idea is coming from a company that's charging for extra weapons in first-person shooters, we wouldn't exactly be surprised.

Tags: DLC, downloadable, EA, madden, madden-10, song, sountrack

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

copa @ Jul 10th 2008 9:59AM

Gee, if only the XBox 360 provided the ability to stream my own custom soundtracks as background music, rendering such a pay service worthless.

baby sea tuna @ Jul 10th 2008 10:35AM

Thread won.

Jakka @ Jul 10th 2008 10:59AM

But...but what about PS3?

Nate @ Jul 10th 2008 11:05AM

To counter - this is probably just so they can fit the game on a DVD.

mylesmadness @ Jul 10th 2008 11:10AM

If only...

Tom Jones @ Jul 10th 2008 10:12AM

Can't wait to download all my favorite yellowcard songs >.

ApolloIV @ Jul 10th 2008 10:11AM

LOL. That is all.

thesimplicity @ Jul 10th 2008 10:30AM

How about this: charge for a patch that allows for in-game custom soundtracks in titles that don't already have it instead. That way you still turn a bit of a profit from DLC but don't seem like massively greedy douchbags in the process.

Really, I just want to listen to something other than melodic speed metal when I'm playing Eye of Judgment.

Double J @ Jul 10th 2008 10:40AM

Hooray! Another thing on XBL NOT to purchase!

murph @ Jul 10th 2008 10:42AM

because going to iTunes or Amazon and searching for "Kid Rock" is so hard?

UNC_Samurai @ Jul 10th 2008 10:42AM

Honestly, other than that year they added the NFL Films music, who ever listened to the crap they put on the soundtrack?

Jakka @ Jul 10th 2008 10:56AM

PS3 Owners are gonna get milked.

Nate @ Jul 10th 2008 11:06AM

Why PS3 owners specifically?

Jakka @ Jul 10th 2008 11:12AM

360 Version has a built-in custom soundtrack while on PS3, it's up to EA to decide if they should implement it.

And somehow, I don't see them implementing it because that would defeat the purpose of milking players through soundtrack dlc.

Mark @ Jul 10th 2008 11:48AM

Or....
Could they mean in a GTA fashion where you can purchase and download the background tracks from Amazon/iTunes?

juju187 @ Jul 10th 2008 11:58AM

madden owner must have money to burn, with buying 50 60 dollar games every year and get a 2 cent return on it

J.Goodwin @ Jul 10th 2008 11:58AM

This would kind of make sense if you were just able to use your Rockband DLC in other EA games, you'd get a nice amount of cross push, the songs sell for a fair piece of change, and you can buy full albums. It probably wouldn't be hard to put together a little applet to play back Rockband songs in other games...

Why establish a store for non-interactive songs though? You're not doing much to leverage your existing brands that way.