"Grand Theft Auto" simplifies song purchasing

Phase I has proved a phenomenal success, with "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero III" selling millions of songs through their respective platforms. But it has been a limited victory.

Both are music-based rhythm games that use master recordings and cover songs to let gamers "play" along to the tunes using special controllers shaped like musical instruments. Purchased songs can be used only as elements of the game itself. They can't be transferred to an MP3 player or stored in users' digital music libraries.

But "Grand Theft Auto IV" includes a feature that lets players tag any song in the soundtrack in order to receive more information about the title and artist, as well as store tagged tracks in a custom playlist on the Amazon digital music store for later purchase.

Click here to read Antony Bruno's full report via Reuters/Billboard.