Play for Japan album available on iTunes

The long-awaited charity album released under the Play for Japan banner arrived on iTunes over the weekend, offering 18 tracks from some of the industry's best with all proceeds going to benefit the people of Japan.

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The long-awaited charity album released under the Play for Japan banner arrived on iTunes over the weekend, offering 18 tracks from some of the industry's best with all proceeds going to benefit the people of Japan.

Organized by one of the album's featured artists, renowned composer Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill, Shadows of the Damned), Play for Japan: The Album also features music from Koji Kondo (Mario, Legend of Zelda), Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy), Bear McCreary (SOCOM 4, Battlestar), and more.

"I'm so proud to share this with videogame and music fans, thanks to the hard work of friends and fellow composers from around the world," Yamaoka said in a press release. "With so many diverse artists and styles featured, this truly is a global effort towards a worthwhile cause."

Play for Japan was formed following the numerous disasters that struct Japan earlier this year. The group helped organize a number of eBay auctions, with all proceeds being directed to organizations offering aid to Japan. As of May 15, Play for Japan has helped raise $122,727.

The album is currently only available on the iTunes stores for United States, U.K., and Canada. On July 15, the album will be made available worldwide on the iTunes store and on Amazon's marketplace. According to Play for Japan's website, Kondo's "Super Mario Medley On Two Pianos" track is exclusive to the iTunes store.

All proceeds from the sale of the entire album or individual track will go to the Japanese Red Cross.

Though it no longer grabs headlines, Japan is still in need of aid. If you would like to give directly, Play for Japan has a list of charity organizations that could use your help.

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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