Beaterator isn't your typical Rockstar game.

For years now, the iconic developers have thrilled gamers with big-budget releases, and have cemented themselves as perhaps one of the most capable - if not controversial - developers in the industry. Which is why, at the outset, it's a little confusing to see why they've bothered to dedicate resource to what is essentially an Adobe Flash music mixing tool that first featured on their website in 2005.

The reason is, of course, that Rockstar loves music. All you have to do is spend some time playing the Grand Theft Auto series and you'll see just what a profoundly important mechanism music is for conveying tension, drama and suspense. Rockstar are so committed to the music in their games that it frequently occupies the majority of the game data files, and some games even have their own official soundtrack released as an album. That's dedication.

 

Rockstar have today announced the development of Chinatown Wars and Beaterator for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. Both titles are expected to be released this spring for the PlayStation Portable device as well, with Chinatown Wars currently available on the Nintendo DS.

Both titles are being developed by Rockstar's Leeds division, who previously worked on mobile titles such as Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, and recently picked up the 2009 Develop Award for Best Handheld Game Studio.

We'll be bringing you our findings on the PSP versions of both Chinatown Wars and Beaterator later in the week.

Rockstar Games has announced a September 29 release date in North America, and an October 2, 2009 release date in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for Beaterator, presented by Rockstar Games and Timbaland.

Developed by Rockstar Leeds, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Beaterator will be available for the PSP system and PlayStation Network.

“Beaterator is a very natural progression for us,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Music is incredibly important to us here at Rockstar, and we believe that there are many people out there who share that passion and will be excited about creating music of their own.”