Namco Bandai's new iTunes sounds will eat up your money
by JC Fletcher 
{ Sep 3rd 2009 at 12:00AM } 
The inaugural offerings include a Soul Calibur sampler, called SoulCalibur Suite: The Resonance of Souls and Swords, and sound effect collections from Pac-Man and Xevious. A $3 charge for each "album" isn't terrible -- it's equal to the cost of buying each of the Calibur tracks individually, and it's a fairly small price to pay for the full set of in-game sounds for the other games.
Due to the nature of iTunes, however, individual tracks from the sound collections are spectacular ripoffs. Each sound effect, purchased separately, is 99 cents. We don't need "Special Flag: Get" or the incredibly irritating Xevious theme that badly. Do we?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
[ArchiGamer] @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:03AM
$0.99 for a song that last a funking second?!
Jawmuncher @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:05AM
Don't you see the value in that?!
Listen to it 99 times and bam it pays for it's self.
:/
Seriously songs that short should be free.
[ArchiGamer] @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:05AM
*fucking
I really don't know how I misspelled that one...
Jawmuncher @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:08AM
Hey there's nothing wrong to Funking with a 1 second song. Not at all.
Nerdy Desi @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:08AM
LOL, I actually think funking fits better considering we're talking about tunes here. : D
[ArchiGamer] @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:10AM
Freudian Slip then?
Blank-Mage @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:25AM
I don't think that applies when you're typing, unless your typing really fast stay/night oh GOD DAMMIT.
Stevetrop @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:18AM
Namco makes me Lol
Brodo @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:51PM
Wow not even Nintendo would try to pull a stunt like this! This is the biggest rip-off I have EVER seen.
(01) @ Sep 3rd 2009 7:13PM
I do 't think this can really be called a "son" Maybe a sound effect? I totally agree though, there should be a "pick 5 for a dollar" structure here.
(01) @ Sep 3rd 2009 7:16PM
*don't think these can really be called "songs"
Jesus christ Joystiq, when are you going to let me edit my comments? When I can write a coherent sentence probably.
Nerdy Desi @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:07AM
And I thought unlocking Vader and Yoda for Soul Calibur 4 was a rip-off.
Cicadymn @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:08AM
Can you even call something that lasts 1 second a "song"? Isn't that more like a note?
*Beeeeeeeee* That'll be .99 cents.
Ryoga Vee @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:29AM
I LOLed
Heh @ Sep 3rd 2009 2:13AM
Actually, Napalm Death (Grindcore band) holds the world record for shortest song, clocking in at 1 second.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFXVkHIsucw
The more you know. :P
fred @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:11AM
OH, WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CH3BURASHKA @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:13AM
I appreciate the ability to legally obtain video game sounds. I DON'T appreciate paying a buck for stupid crap like the sound of Pac-man eating a cherry. This whole 'album' should've been a dollar, and it will, when Namco sees this NOT selling.
@Everyone that wants any of these: do NOT fucking buy any. Wait it out. We must all be strong.
Blank-Mage @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:14AM
I'm sure we're lining out the door.
HippoHero @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:21AM
I'm putting my video game workout mix on hold for this.
[ArchiGamer] @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:28AM
I think I'll do fine without the credit sound...
whylekat @ Sep 3rd 2009 9:00AM
@CH3BURASHKA
that's exactly what I said about avatar clothing/props, and look how well that went over. =P
Blank-Mage @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:14AM
Because it's not like you can get these from Galbadia Hotel or bit torrents. I mean, if things like that existed, this would seem pretty pointless, ya know?
c0bra95 @ Sep 3rd 2009 10:32AM
Galbadia Hotel. Thank you. I feel more educated today than yesterday. Lots of music there, and I didn't know about it until just now.
Obie @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:21AM
One dollar for one second of sound.....whoa!
Nerdy Desi @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:33AM
Fuck, I thought those 1 and 10 second songs were just samples you could listen to before buying the whole thing. But the 1 second "song" IS the whole thing!
Is Kotick consulting with Namco Bandai?
amc @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:36AM
aren't the song previews 30 seconds? Just saying. I just checked and the previews are there. 3 dollars for all 15 tracks isn't too bad, just don't buy them 1 at a time.
that 80's "hit" pack man fever is only 99 cents...
Maxwell Ash @ Sep 3rd 2009 8:13AM
So, if you want one sound effect, use an audio cable from your headphone port to your microphone port, click record, and play the sample.
Neuromancer @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:37AM
Aw hell naw!
IDUNNOLOL @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:44AM
Buying these songs is probably what it feels like when you buy a PS3
Nerdy Desi @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:47AM
I dunno, lol.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:26AM
Have you ever even played a PS3?
@Nerdy: I am trying to resist the urge to say "I see what you did there" ...too late.
silverwolf761 @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:27AM
Exactly. Being charged for a 1 second song is EXACTLY what is must be like to buy a PS3. It's such a simple (and blatantly obvious) analogy, and I'm frankly stunned that it took so long for it to be recognized. You are a credit to bridge-dwellers everywhere. Here, have a cookie. I've been advised not to feed you, but you've earned it.
Freakwincy42 @ Sep 3rd 2009 8:48AM
aww, leave him alone, he has a really sad, pathetic life.
Blank-Mage @ Sep 3rd 2009 9:48AM
I approve of the Death Note name tag, though.
Jonathan @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:46AM
Hey geniuses, it's 3 bucks for the entire collection of Pac-Man sounds. It's because of how iTunes does pricing for individual tracks that it costs $.99 per sound effect. Read the article before you start whining.
[ArchiGamer] @ Sep 3rd 2009 12:49AM
What makes you think we didn't?
Top Cat @ Sep 3rd 2009 6:25AM
People are complaining about the content of the article.
An explanation isn't an excuse.
Tiago @ Sep 3rd 2009 8:57AM
I don't give a rats ass about the reason.
Only thing I care is that they want me to give them 99(ninety nine) cents for 1 second of sound.
Imagine iTunes minimum price was 10 dollars and individual tracks costed that much.
People would go:
A) "Oh, those songs aren't stupidily overpriced, it's just how iTunes charges things."
B) "WTF?! 10 dollars for one song????"
Jonathan @ Sep 3rd 2009 3:58PM
Ohhhh, I get it. You guys did actually read the article but just lack simple reading comprehension skills and common sense, which makes sense.
Here, I'll break it down for the mentally handicapped readers of Joystiq:
Namco does not want you to buy one second sound effects for one dollar. They want you to buy the album that has all the sound effects for three dollars. Because of iTunes pricing model, individual songs are almost always priced at 99 cents each. Therefore, Namco has no choice but to offer each sound effect for 99 cents each if they want to offer the album of all of the sound effects for 3 dollars. Then again, if you're stupid enough to purchase a sound effect for a dollar (which wouldn't be a surprise), I'm sure they won't complain.
The only way the Namco's iTunes sounds will eat up your money is if you only have 3 dollars to your name.
I can't wait to see this get downvoted because I know how much gamers (read: morons) fear logic and common sense.
kyle brewer @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:03AM
The Pac-Man sounds are clearly intended to be ringtones for the iPhone. In the screenshot you can see a little bell next to each file.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:23AM
Does that give them the right to charge a dollar for a second?
kyle brewer @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:25AM
It's their store, I suppose they can charge whatever the hell they want for ringtones.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:15AM
I got the inFamous soundtrack off iTunes. And it's very good. The Uncharted soundtrack is there too, but as good as it sounds in-game, I'm not sure I'd want to listen to it any other time.
I have the Metroid Prime, Fusion and Prime 2 soundtracks on disc too. the Prime soundtrack is amazing, the other two are okay.
Nuggstein @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:34AM
You know what's hilarious -- you might as well just listen to the preview every time because they are 30 seconds long.
Bradwart @ Sep 3rd 2009 1:49AM
iTunes does allow 69 cent pricing...or free. 69 cents is a little better than 99.
Sounds like a money grab to me.
Adarga @ Sep 3rd 2009 2:46AM
If this seems absurd (and if you're wondering, it should), blame Apple, not Namco, for iTunes rigid pricing structure.
pika2000 @ Sep 3rd 2009 5:11AM
How is it Apple's fault? Namco has the option of 69cents pricing, free, or make everything into Album only tracks.
pika2000 @ Sep 3rd 2009 5:12AM
Funny thing is, you can listen to some of the tracks in full thru the preview. Just record them, and voila.
Rocks @ Sep 3rd 2009 6:30AM
who's the target market for these?
Unless these sounds are royalty free (which i doubt), I don't see many people buying them...
unless there are people out there that actually fil up their ipods/mp3 players with sound effects for their morning jog.
Maxwell Ash @ Sep 3rd 2009 8:32AM
As I wake up I play Start Music.
I go downstairs to get breakfast, where I have 'PAC-MAN Eating Cookie' on repeat, followed by 'PAC-MAN Eating Fruit'.
I go for a run, where I alternate between 'Ghost Normal Move' and 'Ghost Spurt #1-4' depending on how fast I am running.
I go to work, there is no soundtrack for work.
As I leave work, however, I put 'Ghost Return To Home' on repeat.
I eat dinner, again playing 'PAC-MAN Eating Cookie'
I choke a little, and play 'Ghost Turn to Blue' before trying to cough up the food.