Capcom music hits Japan's iTunes Music Store

  • By Dan Tochen, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 5, 2006 11:59 am PT

Publiser explores new revenue stream with Apple; Japanese gamers rocking out to the sweet sounds of Phoenix Wright.

Today in Japan, Capcom started selling music from some of its games as downloadable tracks via Japan's iTunes Music Store. This marks the company's first entry into the music-download market--until now, Capcom fans could only buy its game music on CDs.

Capcom's initial iTunes offerings represent only a few franchises, but the company is prepared to expand the selection--and even to offer podcasts and video files. "We see iTunes as a music marketplace with a lot of potential and a direct connection to the market-leading iPod," said a spokesman. "Capcom has a wealth of game content, and we're eager to engage with this effective music distribution system."

Capcom plans to release additional titles every month, including some that aren't available on CD, and prerelease music tracks from upcoming games on iTunes. Podcasts and video file downloads are also in the works, but Capcom did not comment on timelines or specific content.

The music tracks on offer today come from two Capcom franchises: the courtroom series Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, and Full House Kiss--a series of romantic adventure games for the PS2 that have not been released in the US. As with the rest of iTunes' offerings, the tracks can be purchased separately for 150 yen ($1.27), or as an album for 900 to 2,400 yen ($7.65 to $20.40), depending on the selection.

13 Comments

  • spira12

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 11:31 am PT

    I wish they did that in the U.S. with American games.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 10:11 am PT

    sweet. however, if i own the game, why should i have to pay for it?

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 6:08 am PT

    Capcom's musics are one of the bst

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:14 am PT

    I would want them to release music from the mega man series, Resident evil, street Fighter, Shenmue series.

  • akilshohen

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 3:51 pm PT

    the japanese iTUNEs music store sucks IMO. They are really outdated.

  • kappachan

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 2:31 pm PT

    And the US debut album from Utada and a limited selection from Puffy AmiYumi. Go to Browse, World music, and Japan/Japanese Pop. There's more stuff, but the groupings are sometimes rather ambiguous.

  • kappachan

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 2:27 pm PT

    The iTunes music store does have a limited selection of j-pop music, however, they're more indie labels that then popular names that everyone is into. Some of the more popular names are Takahiro Matsumoto (under Tak Matsumoto or TMG) and the Yoshida Brothers. I'm hoping Square-Enix would publish their other game musics such as Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, etc.

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 1:48 pm PT

    Yeah, I'd also love to get some J-POP via itunes over here in the USA. But it will probably be slow in coming, just as it's tough to find reasonably-priced recent J-POP CD's in the USA.

    I keep hearing a lot of good things about the music in Phoenix Wright. My copy for the DS is on the way, so I shoudn't be in the dark for too much longer...

  • spaceworlder

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    iTunes does offer game music, but the only example I've seen so far is Final Fantasy.

  • dwmorrow

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 12:38 pm PT

    I'd actually use iTunes (I have an iPod, but it's filled with music I own on CD) if they offered music from video games, anime & J-pop. It'd be cheaper than hunting down imports, which is what I have to do now. Most recently I bought the Killer 7 OST for $33, and that was actually the lowest price I could find. No chance of seeing this stuff in the U.S. anytime soon though.

  • Crono_07

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 12:31 pm PT

    I would have prefered Street Fighter or Megaman music. Hope they will be up soon.

  • Thunderbuckus

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 12:29 pm PT

    I want some Mega Man music!!

  • Neogin

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 12:12 pm PT

    Haha, Phoenix Wright? Awesome.

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