Video game gets iTunes

A startup video-game developer said it will integrate Apple's iTunes into an upcoming video game by the company. Game developer Left Behind Games will allow users to purchase tracks and play custom iTunes playlists from within its Eternal Forces real-time strategy video game, which is scheduled to ship in October. "After each game level you win, a reward screen pops up with the name of the song and artist," Jeff Frichner, Left Behind Games president and cofounder told Infoworld. "The link takes the person to the album track on the iTunes site."

Clicking the links pauses the game and launches the iTunes Music Store page so users can purchase the song. Following the download, the game resumes where it left off, according to the report. In addition, gamers can customize music lists and listen to songs they download while playing the video game. The game is being initially released for the PC, but be may be available fo the Mac.

"We believe consumers want choices and prefer interactive advertising, rather than interruptive ads," said Troy Lyndon, CEO, Left Behind Games. "We are delighted to provide these music links as an added value to our gamers."

One analyst, who likens Sony's PSP to the iPod because of its ability to store digital music, says that Sony has already begun looking to integrate music with video games.

"Sony has been running trials to converge music with games," said Colin Sebastian, senior research analyst with Lazard Capital Markets LLC. "Sony's PSP acts like an iPod, a place where you can store music you've download from its online music site."

by MacNN Staff