News:  October 23-29, 2000

Sunday, October 29, 2000

Do it your self COAX/Optical outputs for the Live - Mark @ 23:30 EST

If you are looking for handy do it your self instructions for building either a COAX or optical output for the Sound Blaster Live then you should check out Digital ConneXXion.
News Source: Live Center

4x4 Evolution Final Demo - Mark @ 23:24 EST

Terminal Reality has released the final demo of 4x4 Evolution, a new and dynamic simulation racer featuring rugged, customizable 4X4 vehicles. Compete in a series of off-road races to make some serious cash, then use your winnings to upgrade and customize vehicles, selecting from a bevy of enhancements, including heavy-duty off-road suspension, brush guards, performance exhaust, and special off-road racing tires. We know that the full game supports 3D sound but not sure about the demo. You can download the 33.9 MB demo from 3Dfiles.

Dolby vs. Dolby: Digital Sound Cards Head to Head - Mark @ 12:41 EST

That's the title of a short PC World review that looks at the Live 5.1 and the new Philips Acoustic Edge sound card, both of which offer 6 channel analog output. A couple of comments - one is unless they used the Live 5.1 with a DTT3500's DIN connection I am not sure how they managed to test the six channel output since they incorrectly report that it only has front and rear analog outs. The truth is the jack that serves as a digital output can also do dual duty as the center/subwoofer analog output. The second thing worth noting is the review fails to mention that in order to watch DVD movies you need to use the cards with a software MPEG decoder like WinDVD or PowerDVD. The Live Platinum 5.1 does not come with a DVD player and the Philips card will come bundled with PowerDVD 3.0. You can get more on the Live 5.1 in our early impressions with early impressions of the Philips Acoustic Edge expected in a week or so.
News Source: 3DAI

What developers really think about 3D sound - Mark @ 00:22 EST

PC Gameworld has posted an article called "What developers really think". In page 2 they answer the following question:

Within the last two years there was a mini boom in 3D sound technology. Now, most people don't really talk much about it anymore. Do you feel that gamers don't really care, or has it just hit a basic standard and interest will rise again when new technology arises?

Saturday, October 28, 2000

SiN Patch 1.11 (Updated & Reposted) - Mark @ 23:48 EST

Just a quick note to say that if you grabbed the SiN patch from 3Dfiles yesterday you may want to download it again as it's been updated to correct some installation problems.

Midtown Madness Review - Mark @ 23:12 EST

ESCmag has posted a review of Midtown Madness. They conclude that if you are a fan of arcade racers then it's a must buy. Here's a snip on what they though of the sound:

The sound effects and rumble of the engine are actually done quite nicely and the sounds of the city and screaming pedestrians provide a symphony more appropriate than any repetitive background music, though the option to play your own CDs through a nifty car CD player (at a major hit to performance) is there.

What's up with the pop-up ads? - Mark @ 16:06 EST

Sorry about the ad pop-ups that are currently running on site. They are out of our control (short of us removing the large banner which is a violation of our contract). The best way to cut down on the irritation is leave it open in the background and it won't keep coming back. I know it's a pain so please accept our apologies.

X-Tension 1.6 patch - Mikael @ 10:32 EST

Egosoft has released a new (v1.6Beta) patch for the English version of the expansion for the DS3D supporting space combat X:Beyond the Frontier.

Rune reviews - Mikael @ 10:28 EST

A couple new Rune reviews have been posted. First up 3DRage which just like the two first reviews thinks it's a great game overall giving it a score of 94 out of 100 but a bit less impressed with the aural aspects of the game:

Nothing is particularly impressive reagarding the sound or musical score of Rune, but that's not to say that it doesn't get the job done. The sound effects are certainly the most impressive aspect in the sound department. Everything from the avalanches, cinematic cutscenes, and clanging of steel contribute to the sound quality of the game. The voice acting is surprisingly good for a third person action game, with Odin's resounding voice expressing a sense of power, while the evil god Loki's voice is shrill and fairly high pitched, characteristic of a stereotype evil antagonist.

Blair Witch Volume II: Coffin Rock review - Mikael @ 10:16 EST

Riva3D has posted a review of Blair Witch Volume II: Coffin Rock. They spend some time comparing it to Rustin Parr chapter and overall it seems like Coffin Rock is perhaps not quite as good. Here's the sound bit:

The sound is again excellent on all counts, using EAX and high quality samples to give your ears a treat. Voice acting is solid, which is crucial these days. There's nothing like a bad accent or wooden speaking to break the spell of a game, especially when it's a horror game.

Crime Cities demo review - Mikael @ 10:11 EST

Iamhappyblue has posted a short review of Techland's a fast paced action shooter/flight sim, Crime Cities. Gameplay and especially graphics is pretty good if we should believe this review while the aural aspect of the game are nothing special:

The sound on this game is mediocre. Sure, I have a crappy soundcard (any soundcard manufacturers want to send me a test card? =]) but this game could have had a funky techno track or something. While flying along, the whirr of the cars becomes boring after awhile. However, the sound really starts to get annoying when you near flying billboards which spew the same lines over and over like so many Teddy Ruxpin dolls.

Michelin Rally Masters Review - Mikael @ 10:05 EST

FiringSquad has posted a review of Michelin Rally Masters which they think offers excellent graphics and sound but falls short in the crucial game play departement. Here's just a snip of their quite detailed review of the sound:

Another interesting feature of the sound is that of a Doppler effect. We experience the Doppler effect in our daily lives all the time. When traffic rushes at you, the sound compresses and as it gets further away, the pitch of the tone changes. The Doppler effect has been attempted by numerous games in the past, mostly by superficial means of volume effects. The pitch of the Rally Masters sound engine actually does effect the environment in a realistic way. You'll encounter it in numerous places, from racing at an opponent to even your perspective and its sound.

4x4 Evolution review - Mikael @ 09:57 EST

MPGOG has posted a quite interesting review of Terminal Reality's 3D sound supporting arcade-style off-road racer, 4x4 Evolution. Here's a taste:

Now for the remaining six of the seven deadly simulation sins. The second sin is sound. The sound in EVO is mediocre at best. This is a truck driving game for goodness sakes! With my four-speaker surround sound setup, including subwoofer and a Creative Labs X-Gamer with EAX extensions, the sound of truck engines ought to shake the walls in my house. My neighbors should be complaining. The cat should be screaming, the dog yelping, and the termites fleeing. Instead the sound is very subdued. The engines of other trucks are barely discernable and, perhaps worst of all, Toyota RAV4s sound exactly like Chevy Suburbans which sound exactly like any Lexus RX300. No matter which vehicle you select, the engine sound will not change.

Combat Flight Simulator 2 Review - Mikael @ 09:51 EST

TechExtreme has done a detailed review of Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater. They give think it's a great buy for those that are into hardcore flight simulation. Here's the sound bit:

I’m glad to report that CFS2 does not feature any kind of music to speak of. I’m sure most fans out there will appreciate this, and I for one won’t miss hearing tunes while navigating the menus or while flying. With that said, the special effects were, once again, faithfully recreated from the real deal. .50 caliber machine guns and cannons sound like they should, and you can even see the actual bullet casing being ejected from the wings. Actually, it’s quite exhilarating to go on a bombing run against a carrier group, with flak shells going off all around you and anti-aircraft tracers whizzing past your windshield. You hear constant radio chatter from your wingmen and related flights as they accomplish mission goals or as they take damage. Once again, Microsoft covered all the bases in the special effects department.

Metal Gear Solid review - Mikael @ 09:42 EST

Another positive review of Metal Gear Solid can be read on ZugaBuga with the following bit on the sound:

Sound is one area that developers sometimes slack off in. With the advent of 3D Sound Cards a few years back, sound has come a long way. To put it simply, MGS's sound is simply top notch. While it is a port of the Playstation, I turned up the volume and it sounded like I was watching a movie! Yes it sure did, in fact the gunfire, walking across metal stairs, or grunting when shot at all sounded super

PlayCenter2 (ver 2.1) released for Nomad II users - Mikael @ 04:00 EST

Creative Labs has released PlayCenter 2.1 for Nomad II users. I don't think there is anything that will stop Live users from downloading it too. Thanks to Peter for the pointer.

Rune reviews - Mikael @ 03:52 EST

The two first reviews that I've seen of the recently gone gold and now shipping Unreal engine powered action/adventure game from Human Head, Rune, have appeared on the net. First up GameRevolution's short but very positive review where they had the following bit on sound:

Often sound can make or break a game. There's nothing worse than listening to footsteps that sound like someone beating Pinocchio over the head with a soupspoon. Well, I'm happy to say that the audio in Rune is superb. Metal clashing against metal, wood or concrete all sounds appropriate . The deep villainous voices of Ragnar's Viking enemies are a great addition for realism.

Sacrifice has gone gold - Mikael @ 03:41 EST

The official Sacrifice site reports that the game has gone gold. It's expected to hit stores 9th of next month. Here's a bit on the sound from a recent preview:

What I noticed first about Sacrifice's sound was the voices! Each voice used really fits the god or character. I really think Shiny put a lot of effort into this and it was well worth it! It really adds to the game experience when you hear a briefing for the mission while the map is loading. How about the sound effects? They are just as nice. Every sound is appropriate for what you see on the screen and the game audio supports various 3D Sound APIs, such as Creative Labs' EAX 2 and Aureal's A3D. I didn't notice a big difference between the standard sound system and EAX using my SB Live but I really have to say that with the speakers I have (low-quality ones), it's probably more my fault. What really immerses you in the Sacrifice universe is the music. It suits the atmosphere of the game very well. You can get some samples of it on the Sacrifice web site

Midtown Madness 2 reviews - Mikael @ 03:33 EST

Two new Midtown Madness 2 reviews have far more positive impression of the sound effects than I'm used to see. First up MGON which thinks it's overall a good game but have some complaints including the physics engine. Here's the positive sound snip:

The sound area of the game is very good, whether playing with the in game music option or using the ambient city sounds there is very little to fault here. The music used suits the game pretty perfectly, maybe a little more would have made it a more widely used option. In most cases I would expect people to use the “City Sounds” option rather than music. The city sounds help make you feel like you are in a authentic city landscape, car alarms, tram bells, screaming pedestrians abusive comments about your driving are all in the game and help you feel like you are right at home. The engine sounds are excellent and the crash and tyre screeching sounds are pretty much spot on. Oh and don’t forget that once you have loaded up the game you can place your own favourite music in the cd player and race along to it.

Blade of Darkness Spanish demo released - Mikael @ 03:22 EST

Rebel Act has released a Spanish demo of its game Blade of Darkness. The official site doesn't really work well now but at least earlier it mentioned "3D sound and environment music" as one of the features.

Friday, October 27, 2000

Hercules is expanding to the audio market - Mark @ 22:11 EST

Hercules has announced that it will add a brand new line of audio products to its graphics, image and video range. Claude Guillemot, President of Hercules Technologies had the follow to offer:

Today the Hercules name is associated with innovative and top-quality 3D products. Our Hercules and Guillemot R&D teams have joined forces to design and build a new revolutionary line of audio products. Our ambition is to raise the bar ever higher and beat the expectations of the most exacting gaming community. This strategic expansion is perfect for Hercules, which designs products with all the luxuries that our customers, in particular gamers, have come to expect from us.

Postmortem: Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo II - Mark @ 22:03 EST

Gamasutra has posted a new postmortem, a series of articles that looks from the inside at what went right and what went wrong in developing a game. This edition looks at Diablo II, a game that offers DS3D with EAX 2.0 support. In the final word they mention that sound is one of the things that went very well. In the what went wrong section they mention the following:

The greatest deficiency of our tools was that they did not operate within our game engine. We could not preview how monsters would look in the environments they would inhabit. We couldn't even watch them move around until a programmer took the time to implement an AI. Even after that, an artist would have to hassle someone to get a current working build of the game to see his creation in action. Our sound effects engineers ended up painstakingly creating .AVI movie versions of animations in order to synch sounds with actions. Our lack of tools created long turnaround times, where artists would end up having to re-animate monsters or make missing background tiles months after the initial work was completed.

SiN Patch 1.11 - Mark @ 21:43 EST

Yes, that's right a patch for Sin! Good to see that Ritual has not forgotten about this one. The patch is of interest from an aural perspective as it apparently fixes some sound compatibility problems. It also adds GameSpy internal server browser support and includes additional user CTF levels, ctf_barge, ctf_defense and SINnlos_ctf. You can grab the 5.5 MB patch for this A3D 2.0 and DS3D with EAX supporting game from 3Dfiles.

Winamp 2.666 Released - Mark @ 21:33 EST

A new version of Winamp as been released. You can get more details as well as download it from the official site.

MidiLand S4-7100 Speaker System and ADS-2000 Decoder Reviewed - Mark @ 21:29 EST

Chick's Hardware has posted a combined review of MidiLand's S4-7100 5.1 ready speaker system and ADA-2000 Dolby Digital decoder. Overall they were impressed with both units and consider them a good buy, a conclusion that I agree with. A couple things worth noting - one is the S4-7100 is a very good match with Creative's new Live 5.1 sound cards, as well as the Fortemedia FM801 based cards on the market. With these system you don't need the ADS-2000 for Dolby Digital decoding if you go with a software DVD player that supports 6 channel output on the sound card. Philips new 5.1 card may also be a good match but we have not tested it yet and because of the way the Santa Cruz and S4-7100 work, they are currently not a good 6 channel match. The other bit I will mention it the S4-8200 that they mention in the review officially only offers stereo analog inputs from the sound card. I think it will be possible to rig it for use with the new 6 channel sound cards but it will take a switch box or manual wire switching between modes. For more on systems reviewed by Chick's Hardware you can also check out our review of the S4-7100 and our review of the ADS-2000.

Voyetra Turtle Beach Santa Cruz Review - Mikael @ 06:23 EST

The Voyetra Turtle Beach Santa Cruz is a new sound card that aims to shake things up. The Santa Cruz uses a new DSP from Cirrus Logic / Crystal Semiconductors called the CS4630. The CS4630 chip is really the first chip that offers something beyond what we have already seen in the second-generation PCI soundcards. The chip offers great flexibility via the DSP which can, for example, be changed from accelerating 32 3D sound streams with full EAX 2.0 support, to decoding MP3s in hardware. The Santa Cruz also offers what is being called a VersaJack and in English that translates to a 1/8'' mini jack that can be configured either as a digital output, a secondary line input, a stereo headphone output or a center/subwoofer output. While the Santa Cruz / Sonic Fury is not the first 6 channel sound card, it is the first 6 channel card to offer such a full range of advanced features. In this review we will take an in-depth look at the feature set of the Santa Cruz to see if what looks to be an innovative feature set on paper translates to real world benefits. For full details check out the review

The almost identical Sonic Fury review will be posted Sunday/Monday. Only difference is the software bundle and unlike Turtle Beach they are shipping Win9x drivers that work with EAX 2.0 games.

Blair Witch Volume 1 : Rustin Parr review - Mikael @ 06:19 EST

MPOG has done a review of Blair Witch Volume 1 : Rustin Parr As most if not all others they think it's a good game overall that really manage to create the perfect atmosphere for a horror game but complain about the game controls and camera angles. Here's the usual sound snip:

But what really enhances the frightening aspects of this game are the incredible sound effects. Thunder in the distance, creaking doors, screams in the night, the sounds of children playing in the forest, cries of anguish, the moaning of the undead, etc... they all make for a remarkably chilling and believable experience that make this game even more terrifying at times than the actual movie.

Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force review - Mikael @ 06:15 EST

VideoGamerGuy has posted a review of Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force. As other reviews this one thinks graphics, audio and voice acting is excellent while it complains about the AI and the game being too short. This review also complains about long load times. Here's the sound bit:

All cast members have done voice-overs for this game as well (with the exception of Seven of Nine). Without the real voices I think the game would've lost a lot of the effect. When you are on the bridge and you hear line after line of dialogue coming from the crew regarding the ship status you'll swear you're onboard. From Tom Paris' wise-cracks to Tuvok's "logical" remarks, everything is as true to the series as anyone could've expected or asked for. Sound effects are perfect. Phasers, transporters, comm badges, and even the "swish" sound the doors make are all there and sound just like they should.

SWAT 3 review - Mikael @ 06:10 EST

GameZone has posted a short and very positive review of SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle Elite Edition with following sound bit:

Nothing like a quiet burst of gunfire to have you wanting to find cover. The audio is explosive and sudden, and really adds to the feel of the game.

Thursday, October 26, 2000

Creative Labs / CSW PlayWorks PS2000 Digital Review - Mark @ 23:15 EST

3D Hardware Net has posted a review of the radical looking Creative Labs/Cambridge SoundWorks PlayWorks PS2000 Digital speaker system. This 2.1 Virtual Dolby Digital speaker system is primarily targeted at PlayStation2 owners and not PC owners, but you can use them with a PC. In fact, the review notes that the system has front and rear analog inputs. Overall they think it's a pretty interesting system but not one that can really compete against the PC targetted units. For all the details check out the review.

PlayStation 2 Officially Available Across North America - Mark @ 23:02 EST

Relatively off topic but it does have a DVD player built in. Sony is calling it the most significant consumer electronics product to hit store shelves and it's officially available throughout North America for a suggested retail price of $299 U.S. and $449 CDN. To supply the market with a continuous flow of the highly anticipated system product during the holiday season, the company shipped 500,000 units of the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system to North American retailers, and plans to ship approximately 100,000 additional units per week on average during the holiday season. In just two months following its launch, the company estimates that it will have shipped a total of 1.3 million units into the North America market, representing an historic milestone for the industry. Additionally, the company is on target in North America to ship three million units by the close of fiscal year 2001, ending March 31, 2001, which is part of the company's total 10-million-unit worldwide production estimate for the product within the same time period. You can find tons more detail on the features of the unit, and the list of titles that will be avaialble as of today, in the full press release. It's worth pointing out that to take full advantage of the PlayStation 2's audio capabilities you need a speaker system with a Dolby Digital Decoder and a Optical input.

Spatializer N-2-2 Virtual Surround Sound Technology In C-Cube's New ZiVA-5 DVD System Processor - Mark @ 22:53 EST

Spatializer Audio Laboratories Inc. has announced that C-Cube Microsystems Inc. will be offering Spatializer N-2-2 as the audio enhancement technology option in its new ZiVA-5 DVD system processor -- the industry's most highly integrated DVD-Audio solution. You can get lots more detail in the full press release.

No 3D Sound in Magic & Mayhem: The Art of Magic? - Mark @ 22:50 EST

We had reported based on a preview of the game at Gamespot that there would be support for 3D sound in Magic & Mayhem: The Art of Magic. However, in an interview with games Producer, Andy Smith, posted at GA-RPG. In response to the question "...will the game feature 3D reverb sound support" Smith gave the following response:

As for 3D reverb, it was felt that as Art of Magic, being a top down RTS game, it wasn’t appropriate to include this feature.

Diamond Audio Technology ProMedia Sale - Mark @ 22:11 EST

Got word from Diamond Audio Technology that they have put their ProMedia 2010 and 3025 on sale again and are a steal at those prices ($19.99 and $49.99 respectively). The are also rapidly running out of their HPM-4100 units with only some white units left so if you want to take advantage of that $200 clearance price you had better do it soon. You can get more details on all of the sales from their ProMedia entry page. You can also learn all about the ProMedia 3025 unit in our own review.

Diablo II MP3 of the Week - Mikael @ 18:21 EST

Blizzard has released the Diablo II MP3 of the week and as usual it comes with some liner notes.
News Source: Blue's News

Submarine Titans Map - Mikael @ 18:20 EST

A new map for the 3D sound supporting Submarine Titans has been released.
News Source: Blue's News

New Sound Card Site and an Update - Mark @ 07:49 EST

A new site called Sound Card Central has recently gone on line. Like any new site they are just starting to build up their base material but I am sure they would appreciate a visit. Note that when I checked the site out this morning it would not load in Netscape. While I am at it I will mention that the PC ABX Web Site has recently been updated with changes to make the process easier to use. PC ABX has "Listening Rooms" where you can hear musical sound samples processed by various audio products and forms of distortion. If you are serious about A vs B sound tests you should check it out.
News Source: Our Forum

Jazz Introduces new 5.1 system and 2 New DD 5.1/DTS Decoders - Mikael @ 06:20 EST

Jazz Hipster Corporation, one of the largest suppliers of multimedia speakers announced the release of their newest audio enhancement products, the DE-005 and DE-006 5.1 Digital Audio Decoders and the the DE-003 Dolby Pro Logic Decoder. Both space saving decoder boxes are designed to connect between an audio output device such as a DVD player and a 4.1 or 5.1 speaker system such as Jazz’s J-7907 or their J-9902 5.1 speaker systems. For more details read the press release

Jazz also announced the release of their newest 5.1 Digital Audio Speaker System, the ROCCO 5.1. The press release mentions it is compatible with game systems that feature 5.1 channels of output such as Sony’s new PlayStation 2 system. I assume the Sony bit just refers to that it offers an optical input. It also has an coaxial input. You can find the specs in the press release

SRS Labs, Reports Third Quarter Results - Mikael @ 06:12 EST

SRS Labs, a leading provider of innovative audio and voice technology solutions, has announced that its base business unit returned to profitability in the third quarter ended September 30, 2000. However, the Company reported a loss for the quarter for the separately funded SRSWOWcast.com because of the subsidiary's continued investment in launching its business.

The Company reported revenue of $8.0 million and a net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.10 loss per share, for this year's third quarter, which includes a loss of $1.1 million from its SRSWOWcast.com Internet technology subsidiary and acquisition-related costs of $332,796. Revenue for the comparable prior year quarter was $10.0 million with net income of $310,422 or $0.03 per share. When compared to the second quarter of this year, the loss was reduced by 70 percent, the gross margin increased to 42.4 percent, and the revenues increased by more than 21 percent. You can find more details in the press release

Creative NOMAD Jukebox Firmware update (Macintosh only) - Mikael @ 06:07 EST

Creative Labs has released a firmware update for its NOMAD Jukebox for those of you that are using a Macintosh.

Grand Prix 3 patch - Mikael @ 06:05 EST

Hasbro has released a new patch (v1.13) for the sort of 3D Sound supporting Grand Prix 3. I say sort of 3D sound supporting since several reports say it's completely useless. For the reasons why it's useless check out this post

Half-Life international patches - Mikael @ 06:02 EST

Sierra has now also released the international 1.1.0.4 patches for Half-Life. I haven't tried to patch the game but there is no mention of any audio fix so I assume the issue where you need to go into the configuration options every time you start a game and unselect and reselect you audio option in order for it to work correctly still remains. For more details on the problem and the fix you can check out this forum thread.
News Source: Blue's News

Balur's Gate II reviews - Mikael @ 05:59 EST

Time for two new Baldur's Gate II reviews that as everyone else thinks it's an excellent game. Here's the sound snips, Intelligamer:

Baldur's Gate made excellent use of ambient sound, and the sound is equally impressive in Baldur's Gate II... you'll hear the hocking of wares by vendors, street sounds, chirping of birds in the wilderness and more. Combat sounds are also impressive, as is pretty much all of voice work for cut scenes and dialog with your NPC characters. I especially liked the voice of Jan Jansson, whose obsession with turnips is one of the funniest parts of the game. It's become a running joke with my friends that I'll do anything, "for a turnip."

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