Rockstar releasing San Andreas machinima prequel, eight-CD soundtrack

Now that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has hit the streets and gamers across the nation are deeply entrenched in roaming its titular state, Rockstar is giving players a treat in time for Thanksgiving in the form of a cinematic prequel to the game.

Dubbed The Introduction, the lengthy "machinima" movie, done using the game engine, will be a collection of vignettes revolving around events that took place in the days before GTA: San Andreas starts. Rather than focus exclusively on main character Carl "CJ" Johnson, the movie is told from several intertwined viewpoints that reveal the network of organized crime operating throughout the state of San Andreas.

The collection of scenes exposes the magnitude of the corruption within the LSPD, spearheaded by Officer Tenpenny (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson), and offers more information on the history of the Grove Street Family conflicts, the problems that Ryder, Smoke, and Sweet face, and the rift that comes between Sweet and CJ. You'll get a glimpse of CJ's life before returning to Los Santos, as he spends his time carjacking and mugging the residents of Liberty City.

The Introduction will also examine San Andreas' diverse organized crime factions. For example, in Las Venturas, Liberty City mob boss Salvatore Leone installs a newly drug-free Ken Rosenberg as his puppet front man at the Mafia-owned casino Caligula's Palace, setting the scene for inevitable confrontation. You'll see tension build throughout The Introduction, as threats are carried out, stakes are raised, and communication breaks down, ultimately igniting the series of events players will explore in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

In addition to the DVD containing The Introduction, the bundle will contain a two-CD set with selected music from the game, all for an MSRP of $21.98.

For those who like their soundtracks unabridged, on December 7 Rockstar will release a complete eight-disc San Andreas box set for a MSRP of $51.98. The set will feature a comprehensive collection of music tracks from the nine radio stations heard in San Andreas.

The complete track listing for the eight-CD box set is as follows:

CD1 - Bounce FM
1. "Bounce FM Intro"
2. Kool & The Gang - "Hollywood Swingin'"
3. Rick James - "Cold Blooded"
4. The Gap Band - "You Dropped a Bomb on Me"
5. Cameo - "Candy"
6. Ronnie Hudson - "West Coast Poplock"
7. "You're on Bounce FM"
8. Zapp - "I Can Make You Dance"
9. Dazz Band - "Let It Whip"
10. Roy Ayers - "Running Away"
11. Ohio Players - "Funky Worm"
12. Maze - "Twilight"
13. "That Was Bounce FM"
14. Commercial: "Glory Hole Theme Park - Fun With Strangers"
15. Commercial: "Eris Pump Up Shoes"

CD2 - Radio Los Santos / Playback FM
1. "Playback FM Intro"
2. Public Enemy - "Rebel Without a Pause"
3. Brand Nubian - "Brand Nubian"
4. Slick Rick - "Children's Story"
5. "You're on Playback FM"
6. Eric B. & Rakim - "I Know You Got Soul"
7. Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - "It Takes Two"
8. "That Was Playback FM"
9. Kid Frost - "La Raza"
10. The D.O.C. - "It's Funky Enough"
11. Da Lench Mob - "Guerillas in tha Mist"
12. Compton's Most Wanted - "Hood Took Me Under"
13. Cypress Hill - "How I Could Just Kill a Man"
14. 2-Pac - "I Don't Give A F***"
15. Commercial: "Ice Diamonds"
16. Commercial: "Commando Pest Eradication"

CD3 - Mastersounds 98.3
1. Mastersounds 98.3 Intro
2. James Brown - "The Payback"
3. The Chakachas - "Jungle Fever"
4. Lyn Collins - "Think About It"
5. Bobby Byrd - "I Know You Got Soul"
6. Charles Wright - "Express Yourself"
7. Maceo & the Macks - "Cross the Tracks (We Better Go Back)"
8. "You're on Mastersounds 98.3"
9. Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - "(I Got) So Much Trouble in My Mind"
10. The J.B.'s - "Grunt"
11. Harlem Underground Band - "Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba"
12. James Brown - "Funky President"
13. Booker T & The MG's - "Green Onions"
14. "That Was Mastersounds 98.3"
15. Commercial: "Cluckin' Bell"
16. Commercial: "Zebra Bar - Fun to Try"

CD4 - K-ROSE
1. "K-ROSE Intro"
2. Willie Nelson - "Crazy"
3. Hank Williams - "Hey Good Lookin'"
4. Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn - "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man"
5. Statler Brothers - "Bed of Roses"
6. "You're on K-ROSE"
7. Jerry Reed - "Amos Moses"
8. Eddie Rabbit - "I Love a Rainy Night"
9. Whitey Shafer - All My Exes Live in Texas
10. Ed Bruce - "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"
11.Merle Haggard - "Always Wanting You"
12. Patsy Cline - "Three Cigarettes in the Ashtray"
13. "That Was K-ROSE"
14. Commerical: "Logger"
15. Commerical: "Starfish Resort and Casino"

CD5 - CSR 103:9
1. "CSR 103:9 Intro"
2. Guy - "Groove Me
3. Today - "I Got the Feeling"
4. Bobby Brown - "Don't Be Cruel"
5. En Vogue - "My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It)"
6. Wrecks-N-Effect - "New Jack Swing"
7. Boyz II Men - "Motownphilly"
8. "You're on CSR 103:9"
9. Bell Biv DeVoe - "Poison"
10. Samuelle - "So You Like What You See"
11. SWV - "I'm So Into You"
12. Aaron Hall - "Don't Be Afraid"
13. Ralph Tresvant - "Sensitivity"
14. "That Was CSR 103:9"
15. Commerical: "Renegade Cologne"
16. Commerical: "The Epsilon Program - Covet"

CD6 - K-JAH West
1. "K-JAH Intro"
2. Max Romeo & The Upsetters - "Chase the Devil"
3. Barrington Levy - "Here I Come"
4. Black Uhuru - "Great Train Robbery"
5. Blood Sisters - "Ring My Bell"
6. Toots & the Maytals - "Funky Kingston"
7. Augustus Pablo - "King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown"
8. "You're on K-JAH"
9. Pliers - "Bam Bam"
10. Dillinger - "Cocaine in My Brain"
11. Black Harmony - "Don't Let It Go to Your Head"
12. Reggie Stepper - "Drum Pan Sound"
13. The Maytals - "Pressure Drop"
14. "That Was K-JAH"
15. Commerical: "Sooth Cough Medicine"
16. Commerical: "Wrestling on Weazel"

CD7 - K-DST
1. K-DST Intro
2. Heart - "Barracuda"
3. Kiss - "Strutter"
4. Boston - "Smokin'"
5. Grand Funk Railroad - "Some Kind of Wonderful"
6. Joe Cocker - "Woman to Woman"
7. Humble Pie - "Get Down to It"
8. "You're on K-DST"
9. America - "A Horse With No Name"
10. The Who - "Eminence Front"
11. Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Free Bird"
12. Eddie Money - "Two Tickets to Paradise"
13. Rod Stewart - "Young Turks"
14. "That Was K-DST"
15. Commerical: "Midlife Crisis Center"
16. Commerical: "San Andreas Telephone - New Father"

CD8 - Radio X
1. "Radio X Intro"
2. Soundgarden - "Rusty Cage"
3. Helmet - "Unsung"
4. Faith No More - "Midlife Crisis"
5. Stone Temple Pilots - "Plush"
6. Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"
7. "You're on Radio X"
8. Living Colour - "Cult of Personality"
9. Danzig - "Mother"
10. Depeche Mode - "Personal Jesus"
11. Jane's Addiction - "Been Caught Stealing"
12. L7 - "Pretend We're Dead"
13. "That Was Radio X"
14. Commerical: "My Five Uncles"
15. Commerical: "Exsorbeo Handheld Gaming System"