Steam Soundtrack Support

Taedirk · 08-16-2011, 02:26 PM

With today's release of Bastion, Steam adds another soundtrack to their store. The only problem is that there is practically no support for these. They go to funky directories (...Steam\steamapps\common\Bastion\Soundtrack, ...Steam\steamapps\common\frozen synapse without any soundtrack directory) and have no support in the Steam Client. It's a great idea with no standard implementation. Personally I love the idea of being able to buy my game and my soundtrack at the same time through the same interface, but that interface right now is somewhere between horribly broken and poorly lacking.

Use a single directory for non-game media files.

...Steam\Media is straight forward and low level. Anything with extra media (soundtracks, collector's edition bonus files, etc.) drops here with a similar structure to what's already in steamapps folder.

Implement an interface inside the Steam client to access these files.

Any of the bonus material should show up here as another set of files I can optionally download. Games in the library would have a link to Bonus Material just like they have links to the store and forums. Click on the link and it brings up the media browser.

Let's look at Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood for an example.

The Original Codex (pdf)
Multiplayer Character Collectible Trading Cards (pdf)
Map of Rome (pdf)
Assassin's Creed Lineage (video)
Making of AC:B (video)
Game Soundtrack (soundtrack)

There's a ton of bonus material in the Deluxe Edition. Preferably it would be broken down by specific entities related to each game instead of having one (potentially) massive download for each game. If I look at the entry for Assassin's Creed in the browser, I should see it expand out. I can then pick and choose which of these I want to download instead of having to take everything just to get access to the soundtrack. That way everyone saves bandwidth and storage space and companies can look at these metrics to determine what interests gamers in their bonus material packs.

In-game support for soundtracks.

The final item would be offering support for these soundtracks through the Steam API. At the least, create a media player in the overlay to play songs I've purchased (and thus giving me another reason to buy via Steam) from inside other games. Other uses could be for other games to access music through the Steam API and use that to replace their own soundtracks, act as a set of music for an in-game radio to pump out, or give games like Audiosurf or Beat Hazard a base set of songs to pick from ("Play from Steam Library").

It feels like I'm just yelling into the wind here, but I really do see at least some of these like a unified media folder as very necessary changes if Steam is going to continue to sell soundtracks through their service.

Taedirk · 08-16-2011, 03:38 PM

Bonus points: Example mockup of AC:B media window.

kraze1994 · 08-16-2011, 05:37 PM

Would be a nice idea.

Firmar · 08-17-2011, 05:43 AM

Yes. Almost the same what I've posted twice about.

DGMurdock · 08-17-2011, 04:33 PM

nice idea

slicendice777 · 12-28-2011, 12:43 PM

At this point, any form of organization would be a good idea.

Roxor · 12-29-2011, 02:49 AM

I'd be happy with just being able to go to steamapps\media\<media_type>\<game_title> to find what I'm after.

For example, put the Portal 2 soundtrack in steamapps\media\audio\Portal 2, the Portal 2 trailers in steamapps\media\video\Portal 2, and so on.

Scorcher24 · 03-06-2012, 07:40 PM

I want this too.
It is not really convinient to collect the soundtrack from their folders.
Could just add the Steam Folder to Windows Media Player, but that would include normal Gamesounds too, if the devs use mp3 for their ingamesounds.
Please add more support for Soundtracks.
I discovered some soundtracks by accident when I bought games in a bundle

.

BeRazer · 03-07-2012, 08:22 AM

Steam selling music/OSTs would be great.
But never with itunes as a partner, appleware is something you should want far away. Quicktime is bad enough already.

Roxor · 03-08-2012, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeRazer

Steam selling music/OSTs would be great.
But never with itunes as a partner, appleware is something you should want far away. Quicktime is bad enough already.

Agreed. If Valve ever teams up with Apple, I'm going back to piracy. I hate Apple and don't want to see them getting a nanocent if it can be avoided.

sketchblo · 03-08-2012, 06:49 AM

agreed

BeRazer · 03-08-2012, 04:12 PM

I'am glad you agree! and rep to you roxor. Come on let's support this thread so Steam listen to us. There's already soundtracks, like TF2, Portal 2 etc that could be available in a proper tab in steam.

Scorcher24 · 05-01-2012, 10:50 AM

Come on Valve. More and more Soundtrack in my library... some devs don't even know that there is soundtrack on Steam

.
Make it more prominent in the Client and allow us to download it without installing the game.

Roxor · 05-08-2012, 07:17 AM

Yes, this is something which is long overdue. It really should have been implemented before the soundtracks became available, but given it wasn't, it should be done as soon as possible before the migration problem is made any worse by new soundtracks being added by developers.

Scorcher24 · 07-15-2012, 07:06 AM

Any chance this gets implemented soon?
I mean, c'mon.

Move the soundtracks from DLC to a full product in a new category soundtrack.
Make a new tab in Steam called Soundtracks.
Implement a mp3 player or allow launching a playlist with a player of choice, which should not be too hard for you awesome guys.
Done :-).

08-16-2011, 02:26 PM	#1
Taedirk Join Date: Apr 2010 Reputation: 25 Posts: 60	Steam Soundtrack Support With today's release of Bastion, Steam adds another soundtrack to their store. The only problem is that there is practically no support for these. They go to funky directories (...Steam\steamapps\common\Bastion\Soundtrack, ...Steam\steamapps\common\frozen synapse without any soundtrack directory) and have no support in the Steam Client. It's a great idea with no standard implementation. Personally I love the idea of being able to buy my game and my soundtrack at the same time through the same interface, but that interface right now is somewhere between horribly broken and poorly lacking. Use a single directory for non-game media files. ...Steam\Media is straight forward and low level. Anything with extra media (soundtracks, collector's edition bonus files, etc.) drops here with a similar structure to what's already in steamapps folder. Implement an interface inside the Steam client to access these files. Any of the bonus material should show up here as another set of files I can optionally download. Games in the library would have a link to Bonus Material just like they have links to the store and forums. Click on the link and it brings up the media browser. Let's look at Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood for an example. The Original Codex (pdf) Multiplayer Character Collectible Trading Cards (pdf) Map of Rome (pdf) Assassin's Creed Lineage (video) Making of AC:B (video) Game Soundtrack (soundtrack) There's a ton of bonus material in the Deluxe Edition. Preferably it would be broken down by specific entities related to each game instead of having one (potentially) massive download for each game. If I look at the entry for Assassin's Creed in the browser, I should see it expand out. I can then pick and choose which of these I want to download instead of having to take everything just to get access to the soundtrack. That way everyone saves bandwidth and storage space and companies can look at these metrics to determine what interests gamers in their bonus material packs. In-game support for soundtracks. The final item would be offering support for these soundtracks through the Steam API. At the least, create a media player in the overlay to play songs I've purchased (and thus giving me another reason to buy via Steam) from inside other games. Other uses could be for other games to access music through the Steam API and use that to replace their own soundtracks, act as a set of music for an in-game radio to pump out, or give games like Audiosurf or Beat Hazard a base set of songs to pick from ("Play from Steam Library"). It feels like I'm just yelling into the wind here, but I really do see at least some of these like a unified media folder as very necessary changes if Steam is going to continue to sell soundtracks through their service.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-16-2011, 03:38 PM	#2
Taedirk Join Date: Apr 2010 Reputation: 25 Posts: 60	Bonus points: Example mockup of AC:B media window.

08-16-2011, 05:37 PM	#3
kraze1994 Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 10 Posts: 350	Would be a nice idea.

08-17-2011, 05:43 AM	#4
Firmar Join Date: Aug 2010 Reputation: 8 Posts: 159	Yes. Almost the same what I've posted twice about.

08-17-2011, 04:33 PM	#5
DGMurdock Join Date: Jun 2006 Reputation: 4 Posts: 247	nice idea

12-28-2011, 12:43 PM	#6
slicendice777 Join Date: Jul 2010 Reputation: 28 Posts: 562	At this point, any form of organization would be a good idea.

12-29-2011, 02:49 AM	#7
Roxor Join Date: Sep 2006 Reputation: 38 Posts: 590	I'd be happy with just being able to go to steamapps\media\<media_type>\<game_title> to find what I'm after. For example, put the Portal 2 soundtrack in steamapps\media\audio\Portal 2, the Portal 2 trailers in steamapps\media\video\Portal 2, and so on.

03-06-2012, 07:40 PM	#8
Scorcher24 Join Date: Nov 2010 Reputation: 678 Posts: 3,951	I want this too. It is not really convinient to collect the soundtrack from their folders. Could just add the Steam Folder to Windows Media Player, but that would include normal Gamesounds too, if the devs use mp3 for their ingamesounds. Please add more support for Soundtracks. I discovered some soundtracks by accident when I bought games in a bundle .

03-07-2012, 08:22 AM	#9
BeRazer Join Date: Nov 2010 Reputation: 118 Posts: 320	Steam selling music/OSTs would be great. But never with itunes as a partner, appleware is something you should want far away. Quicktime is bad enough already.

03-08-2012, 06:49 AM	#11
sketchblo Join Date: Aug 2011 Reputation: 152 Posts: 218	agreed

03-08-2012, 04:12 PM	#12
BeRazer Join Date: Nov 2010 Reputation: 118 Posts: 320	I'am glad you agree! and rep to you roxor. Come on let's support this thread so Steam listen to us. There's already soundtracks, like TF2, Portal 2 etc that could be available in a proper tab in steam.

05-01-2012, 10:50 AM	#13
Scorcher24 Join Date: Nov 2010 Reputation: 678 Posts: 3,951	Come on Valve. More and more Soundtrack in my library... some devs don't even know that there is soundtrack on Steam . Make it more prominent in the Client and allow us to download it without installing the game.

05-08-2012, 07:17 AM	#14
Roxor Join Date: Sep 2006 Reputation: 38 Posts: 590	Yes, this is something which is long overdue. It really should have been implemented before the soundtracks became available, but given it wasn't, it should be done as soon as possible before the migration problem is made any worse by new soundtracks being added by developers.

07-15-2012, 07:06 AM	#15
Scorcher24 Join Date: Nov 2010 Reputation: 678 Posts: 3,951	Any chance this gets implemented soon? I mean, c'mon. Move the soundtracks from DLC to a full product in a new category soundtrack. Make a new tab in Steam called Soundtracks. Implement a mp3 player or allow launching a playlist with a player of choice, which should not be too hard for you awesome guys. Done :-).