News:  October 30 - November 5, 2000

Sunday, November 05, 2000

Interview with Voyetra Turtle Beach’s Seth Dotterer - Mikael @ 10:41 EST

GameWeek has posted an interview with Voyetra Turtle Beach’s Director of Marketing, Seth Dotterer. The interview was posted 10/16/00 but seems it's much older than that, maybe spring/early summer. In the interview they discuss AudioTron, Teach Me Piano/Guitar, the line of line of eJay products, Montego I/II, Santa Cruz, VideoLogic and the future of the computer audio hardware business. Here's the answer to the last question:

W: Looking forward, where do you see the greatest growth occurring within the computer audio hardware business?
SD: Our thinking is that PC-based audio will be redefined from internal hardware peripherals to external devices such as the AudioTron, with the PC used as a media server. Instead of an end-user focused box located within the “computer room,” the home PC will be a powerful information storage and distribution tool for everyday devices. We believe this trend will take on such magnitude that we’ve recently created a PC2CE group to study it and create a new generation of consumer-oriented audio products. Expect to see some truly dynamic products out of Voyetra Turtle Beach in the not-too-distant future. GW

Blair Witch Volume 1 review - Mikael @ 10:23 EST

Adventure Gamer has posted a very mixed review of Blair Witch Volume 1. The major complaints includes the control that several other reviews have complained about. The review also had several other complaints all summing up to frustrating experience despite the good job on creating a chilling atmosphere. Most reviews have had an overall positive impression of the game. Here's the usual sound snip:

Rustin Parr also does an excellent job with the sound track. Going with a minimalist approach, the music was light and unobtrusive. Just the sound of leaves being crushed under my feet, doors opening, and a low melody. This approach, in my opinion, always helps heighten the immersion a player feels without being overbearing. I was having a dandy time and forgot the installation problems and long wait times. I was envisioning more interesting game play until it happened; I I hit the maze.

Blair Witch 2: Coffin Rock Review - Mikael @ 10:18 EST

Blair Witch 2: Coffin Rock has got a bit more mixed reviews than Blair Witch 1 which mostly got positive reviews but so far most have considered the sound effects excellent while the voice acting got very mixed reviews. 3DGameForce had a vastly different opinion about the sound effects and considered it to be crap, just like the rest of the game:

Another bad mark goes to the sound effects. Most of them sound like the badly recorded public domain ones you hear in direct-to-TV movies. How can I be scared of a ghost that moans like a dying cow? I’ve never actually heard a cow die, but the ghosts sound how I would imagine it sounding, and it’s not very scary. The voice acting is as good, if not better, than the first, but because of the often-scratchy, horrible sound effects (the pistol would have been more accurate if someone had yelled ‘bang’ for the recording,) I just took my headphones off. The sound was one of the best things about the first; yet it’s ironically one of the worst about the second.

Deep Fighter review - Mikael @ 04:03 EST

GameOver has posted the first review of Criterion Studios' aquatic action/adventure game, Deep Fighter that I've read. GameOver descripe it as "combat flight sim with a twist" and if that's what you have been looking for it's a great game including the aural aspects of it:

Sounds are sort of distant and echo-y, but that's probably what sounds outside a sub sound like to someone inside of it. That's a layman's guess - I've never been in a sub. As a whole, the graphics and sounds combine nicely to make me feel like a man in a can. In one mission I went too deep for my sub, and my windows started cracking under the pressure. I swear, I felt my ears pop. That's a gaming experience!

Rune demo review - Mikael @ 03:56 EST

ActionTrip has posted a review of the Rune demo trying to help answer the question if it's worth the download. The answer to the question is yes for all the reasons check out the review, here's the sound portion of it:

The sound is Excellent. Wonderful. Everything sounds really sharp and crisp. The swoosh of the sword, the crunch of a mace as it slams into a goblin, the wonderful sound of a Dark Viking uttering a final gasp as you hear his body thud to the ground. The sound in Rune is the key to really immersing yourself in the game.

X-Tension review - Mikael @ 03:52 EST

MPOG has posted a review of Egosoft expansion for the DS3D supporting space combat X:Beyond the Frontier, X-Tension. The only other review of this expansion pack I've read was quite negative when it comes to sound effects, this one was a lot more positive:

Sounds are done equally as well, from the high pitched whine of the smaller fighter craft, to the large deep bass like rumbling of the giant Battleships. The mood music is OK, but it does sound like it’s playing from an old style album, in other words I experienced a lot of skipping between tracks

Blair Witch Volume 1: Rustin Parr review - Mikael @ 03:46 EST

Gameraiders has posted a rather detailed and very positive review of Blair Witch Volume 1: Rustin Parr. The only complaint they had was the controls, something most other reviews complained about as well. As others they found the sound design to be great:

The sound is ominous and frightening and really helps to add to the theme of the game. The decent surround processing is a major part of the 3D- ominous mood. In fact, even without a surround sound system, the sounds in the games sometimes seemed to originate behind me. There did appear to be a slight synchronization delay between voices and the movement of the characters’ lips, but this was barely noticeable and really took away very little from the game.

Saturday, November 04, 2000

Hardwar Patch - Mikael @ 07:50 EST

Blue's News reports that The Software Refinery has released a new patch for Hardwar. It was released on September 14 but somehow never properly announced. The last patch that was supposed to add support for DS3D with EAX entered beta testing in February, not sure what happened since then.
News Source: Blue's News

Rune reviews - Mikael @ 07:41 EST

Several Rune reviews posted the last few days includes complaints about the aural aspects. First up GameBasement that says the sound is amazing but that the EAX support was spotty without going into any details. Other than that the review is very positive saying the game just keeps getting better and manage to keep the interest high right to the end. Another site complaing about the sound is 3dforce which says "On the technical side, I found that using the Surround Sound or 3D Hardware Sound options with my Soundblaster Live! caused some weird effects so I decided to disable them" again no more details on what type of weird effects. 3DForce had an overall positive impression but the review includes some other complaints as well.

A bit more details about the sound issue is offered in GE Monthly's short review:

The the only aspect of the game in which I have a significant complaint was the sound. The sounds are indeed quite realistic. There are many ambient sounds and the music is dynamic, molding itself to the situation and adding to the excitement. The problem I found is that some areas seem to have too many conflicting sounds, causing odd mixtures of sound or loss of a particular sound. For example, a part of the game has a hissing steam pipe. From the immediate vicinity, it sounds fine, but from a dozen paces away it is distorted or non existent. This does not happen very often, and it may be a hardware issue that I am unaware of, but it does detract from the game...though not enough to diminish ones enjoyment of this fine title. If there is a must have out there, Rune would be it.

Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 review - Mikael @ 05:01 EST

Hardware Avenue has posted a short review of Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1. In the announcement they claimed 'World Exclusive' but that's not correct. It may be the first that reviews the Live Platinum being launched in Australia. The only difference between the regions is the software bundle. The review is extremely positive talking about amazing sound quality and giving the impression it's much better than the previous Live cards. I don't have the card but I haven't seen any indication it offers better sound quality than the current Live ones.

Philips eXpanium EXP 103 review - Mikael @ 04:50 EST

Cnet has done a short review of Philips $200 MP3 CD player, eXpanium EXP 103. Cnet thinks it's the best MP3 CD player they tried with pros being reliable performance and the 100s skip free protection but complain about no track information and lacking in features (bass boost and standard control fucntions).

Iomega HipZip review - Mikael @ 04:43 EST

CNet has posted a short review of Iomega's new $300 MP3 player, HipZip. Features includes support for MP3 and Windows Media Format, support for additional formats in the future, USB connectivity, equalizer, Backlit display, built-in rechargeable battery and uses PocketZip for storage. As the Gamersdepot review Cnet thinks it works great but notes it's bigger than MP3 players using flash memory. When it comes to skipping they say the player features flash memory buffer caches the audio that makes the HipZip as skip-resistant as solid-state flash memory players.

Ricoh MP9120A CDRW/DVD review - Mikael @ 04:30 EST

StorageReview has posted a very detailed review of Ricoh MP9120A CDRW/DVD drive. Here's a taste:

Just what are the specs? Let's first start off with a burner like Plextor's 12/10/32A,including Ricoh's own version of buffer underrun prevention technology, JustLink. Next, add an 8X DVD-ROM drive (not the fastest, but still very respectable) and top it all off with speedy 100ms access times (unheard of in any previous CD-RW drive) and 32X max digital audio extraction (akin to Plextor's legendary 40X Max CD-ROM). Impressed yet?

Pro Rally 2001 demo released - Mikael @ 04:20 EST

Ubisoft has released a demo of its racing game Pro Rally 2001. According to a recent interview (the site has been down for about a month) the game will support 3D sound. For a short description of the game and download links head over to 3dfiles

Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force review - Mikael @ 04:16 EST

Gamestats has posted a fairly detailed review of Vampire. Overall it was quite positive where sound effects and graphics were considered the two best aspects of the game while AI was the worst. Here's the sound&music part:

Another way of drawing a player into the game is by intelligent use of sound. Redemption also excels in this area, covering all aspects of sound equally well. The ambient sounds are almost too perfectly rendered; for instance in Prague's daylight hours I expected to see throngs of people walking the streets, vendors hawking their wares and children playing - all that just from the ambient noise. In addition, the orchestral soundtrack for the first half of the game is flawless: powerful, majestic and awe-inspiring yet never overpowering. It is in fact its subtlety that lends extra tone and ambiance to the locations. In the second half of the game, the pulsing beats so reminiscent of a subdued heartbeat create the illusion of a seedy neighbourhood and a dark, badly soundproofed bar just around the corner. The illusion is carried by altering the mood of every composition based on the location being visited - all quite successfully.

Midtown Madness 2 review - Mikael @ 04:02 EST

GameZilla has posted a short but positive review of MS Midtown Madness 2 including the sound effects:

The audio has also seen improvements from the improved engine sounds to the squealing of tires as you round a corner. The graphics and audio aren’t a revolutionary upgrade, but they are very well done.

Kiss: Psycho Circus review - Mikael @ 03:59 EST

GameStats has posted a review of Kiss: Psycho Circus which left them impressed. As others they note it's similar to Doom and that the music is lacking:

One would think with the KISS license, the game would feature excellent music. Unfortunately this is not true. While the sound effects are perfectly fine, the music is the standard techno metal mix that is in every single first person game. KISS music is only heard through in game gimmicks like jukeboxes, playing from church organs, and at the very end of the game. It is a disappointing omission of one of the titles biggest draws and leaves you scratching your head at times. The voice acting, solely heard through the voice of the gypsy that fills in the entire story for you is somewhat sub par, with the gypsy lady sounding far too much like an evil old witch to make her entirely believable as your guide through the game.

4x4 Evolution reviews - Mikael @ 03:55 EST

GamesDomain has posted a negative review of 4x4 Evolution. They think it tries to be both an arcade and simulation racer with poor results. They didn't like the sound either:

Pretty much every engine sounds the same and I absolutely hated the "rad" music.

Blair Witch Volume 2 review - Mikael @ 03:44 EST

Gamespot has posted a short and mixed review of Blair Witch Volume 2 where they complain about voice acting, no replay value and uninteresting puzzles but they found the story interesting and really liked the sound effects:

Blair Witch Volume 2's sound is quite good. That is to say, though the game's voice acting is generally mediocre, its sound effects are great. As you progress through the game, the ambient sounds around your character tend to become increasingly spooky; at first, you'll simply hear the whispering of the wind as Lazarus explores a country road on the outskirts of town. Later on in the game, as you explore the mysterious woods, you'll hear disembodied, sibilant gibberish; faint tappings of stone on stone; and the genuinely creepy alternating laughter and horrified weeping of a small child.

Baldur's Gate 2 review - Mikael @ 03:37 EST

MGON has done a review of Baldur's Gate II which they think is an excellent game with only some minor complaints about multiplayer mode. Here's a snip about the sound:

Sound is incredibly important to game immersion, and sound in Baldur's Gate II is almost perfect. Many details were added, such as the clang of sword against sword, sword against armor and footsteps. The music works very well too, taverns have uplifting music fitting for a tavern, romantic scenes have that light romantic music you'd expect to hear, and the music during battles are invigorating but NOT annoying.

Friday, November 03, 2000

Harman Multimedia Brings JBL Speaker Technology to Desktops - Mark @ 13:48 EST

Harman Multimedia has introduced a new three-piece speaker system for PCs, Macs, and portable MP3 and DVD players. The JBL Sonnet is a 28-watt three-piece system that they say incorporates the "latest in industrial design and Odyssey transducer technology". Included are two fist-sized satellite speakers with twin aluminum-dome drivers and a compact magnetically shielded subwoofer which they indicate reproduces bass down to 45Hz. The PR also notes that the Sonnet system provides sharp imaging and a wide frequency response up to 20kHz. The system is priced at $79.99. For some additional details and quotes you can check out the full press release.

Eiger Technology announces MP3 player SAMSUNG YEPP deal - Mark @ 13:42 EST

Eiger Technology Inc. has announced that collaborative work with electronics giant Samsung Electronics has resulted in a new MP3 player. Eiger produced the world's first portable MP3 player. No detail on the player but on interesting bit is they estimated that the market for MP3 players will reach US$6.3 billion by 2002/2003. For some additional background information you can check out the full press release.

Monsoon MH-500 Flat Panel Speaker Review - Mark @ 13:28 EST

Neeoseeker has posted a review of the Monsoon MH-500 Flat Panel Speaker system. The MH-500 features a pair of hybrid satellites equipped with both flat panel planar focus technology and traditional cone drivers and comes in at a list price of $99.00. A couple minor comments, one is while I agree with the review in that my experience with the competing NXT flat panel technology has not been great, I don't think it's fair to make broad statement that Moonsoon's technology is better than NXT's. NXT is a very large company with many applications outside the multimedia market. My other comment pertains to the hybrid design. Like the reviewer, I had no complaints about the midrange quality of the MM1000s and I think that the real reason for going to a hybrid design in the MH-500s is to broaden the sound field. If you read our MM1000 review you will see that the planar focus technology is suited for just one listener. That out of the way I can note that they were very impressed with what the system delivered in its price range, enough so that it earned a 90/100. Thank's to Doug for the pointer.

HipZip MP3 Player review - Mikael @ 08:18 EST

Gamersdepot has done a review of Iomega's $300 HipZip MP3 player. As the name suggest it uses PocketZip for storage which is much cheapter than the various type of flash cards most other MP3 player uses and smaller but more expensive than CD-R/W discs. Other features includes support for MP3 and Windows Media Format, can support additional formats in the future, USB connectivity, equalizer, Backlit display and built-in rechargeable battery. Gamersdepot's only complaints were crappy headphones and No voice dictation. The review also note that the size is bigger than most other units on the market but no mention of any skipping issues so I assume the PocketZip works well even when running.
News Source: Anandtech

Sacrifice news and preview - Mikael @ 08:00 EST

GameSpy's Sacrifice: Developer Diary Volume 5 mentions that the demo of this recently gone gold RTS will be out in a couple of weeks and if you pre-order Sacrifice from EB, Babbages, or Interplay you will get the following goodies:

1) All the music from the game in CD Audio format.
2) A nifty mini-strategy guide.
3) 2 new multi-player maps.
4) An in-depth level creation tutorial video. This will give folks a head start with Scapex--our level creation tool.

4x4 Evolution reviews - Mikael @ 07:49 EST

Four new reviews of Terminal Reality's arcade-style off-road racer, 4x4 Evolution have popped up. First up 3D Gaming World that had several complaints but still ened up saying that Terminal Reality has "taken the Monster Truck racing world to a new height.". When it comes to music they were less impressed:

:The music is very tedious to say the least. Every track is simply a repeating progression or two that after 5 minutes of racing starts tearing at your nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard. Ok maybe that's a little harsh but in my opinion the tracks that were included over time lose all musical value and become torture. Thank goodness WinAmp runs beautifully in the background and I was able to jam to the likes of Fear Factory while getting my racing fix.

Tread Marks review - Mikael @ 07:04 EST

ReviewVortex has posted a short and mixed review of the Off-Road Battle Tank Racing and Combat game Tread Marks where low replay value was the major complaint. Sound was another aspect of the game that didn't impress:

Sound was not great, but was not bad by any means. The funky music tracks that were played entertained me as I drove my tank and shot my gun. However, in seems as if Tread Marks can't decide on what type of music to play. Classical, techno, you name it, its included with Tread Marks and is played during each race - multiple tracks are played, each categorized in different music types. I would have preferred it if they had stuck to techno, or something that made me feel like I was driving a metal beast, rather than at moments feeling like I was in an orchestra. I did not like the constant sound of the tank treads and the engine; they became annoying after half a race, but luckily there is an option to turn this off. Explosions and gun-fire sounds are decent but not great. Sound won't turn you away from this game, but should not be considered a high point.

Baldur's Gate 2 review - Mikael @ 06:58 EST

GameRaiders has posted a very long review of Baldur's Gate II which they think is an excellent game and gave it a perfect score of 100. The sound effects also got a perfect rating:

The sound environment in this game is very well done. The game supports both EAX (Environmental Audio Extensions) and A3D (Aureal 3D audio). With these extensions enabled, the sound environment is simply spectacular. And even without a sound card that supports these features, the game sounds great.

The environmental sounds in Baldur's Gate 2 do an excellent job of portraying a game world that is very much alive. Everything from weather sounds to footsteps and echoes in caves help draw you into the game. The sound effects used for magic are also very good, as well as the voices used. While most of the dialogue in the game is handled through printed text, there is enough spoken dialogue to prevent the game from feeling like a novel. You'll even hear background dialogue as you walk through a town or a tavern. The cities are full of the sounds of people and nature, helping to draw you into the experience.

I applaud BioWare for recognizing that all aspects of a game need to be well done in order to create an immersive experience. Most game developers look at sounds and music as a necessary evil. They add them because they need to be there, instead of choosing to add them in a way that will enhance the overall gaming experience. A well designed sound engine is just asre important as a well designed graphics engine. If the sounds are done right, they can really help draw you into the game (as is the case with Baldur's Gate 2).

Midtown Madness 2 Review - Mikael @ 06:53 EST

TechExtreme has posted one if not the most negative review I've read of Midtown Madness 2. They haven't really anything good to say about the game and that includes the sound:

Sounds don’t fare any better either. Asides from the ability to use any music CD you want while playing, the rest of the sonic features are not up to snuff. For example, you are able to turn on in-game commentary from several personalities native to the city you are driving in, but their dialogue is so damned campy you will be running to turn the feature off. For example, there is this dude that appears to be wasted all the time. Before you start a race, he goes, ‘Dude, what’s that smell?! Oh yeah, it’s me! I haven’t bathed in two days!’ Other phrases include; ‘School is in session and you are the teacher!’. I wouldn’t mind the constant nagging these people provide if what they said was actually funny, or if they provided useful information on the area of town I am driving in. Thankfully, you can turn it off, and I wouldn’t blame you if you took this course of action.

Blade of Darkness English demo - Mikael @ 06:47 EST

The English demo of Blade of Darkness has now been released. You can download the 102MB demo from 3dfiles

Diablo II MP3 of the Week - Mikael @ 06:45 EST

Blizzard has released the Diablo II MP3 of the week.
News Source: Blue's news

Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2 review - Mikael @ 06:43 EST

GamersPulse has also checked out Microsoft's Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater and didn't like it as much as most others with a gameplay score of only 67, still not bad though. Here's the sound bit:

Sound, as in MS Flight Simulator, is good for ambient sounds, which is much more important in a combat situation. Engines off your 5 o'clock low could mean the enemy is drawing a bead. You can also hear how close that flak is getting...don't wait until it starts hitting you!
Music, except for the introduction (which had a nice score, by the way), is nonexistent, also as per MSFS. This is a simulation, and pilots just didn't have walkmans back then

Heavy Metal FAKK2 review - Mikael @ 06:33 EST

MGON has done a review of the third person action game Heavy Metal FAKK2 which they think is fun while it last but as others they don't think it offers good replay value and that it's too short. Here's the usual sound snip:

The game includes some good ambient and weather sounds effects, nice environments for the planet’s wildlife even the constantly bombarding of the GITH industries orbital attack on the planet's shield, all complete with a heavy rock anthem that immediately sets the mood of the game. Because if you like your music loud then you’ll not be disappointed, Heavy Metal FAKK2 has its own totally kick ass music tracks to thrash about too whilst trying to control the lovely Julie.

Metal Gear Solid review - Mikael @ 06:26 EST

3dretreat has finished its review of Metal Gear Solid which they think is a great game with good sound effects and excellent voice acting. They also think those that already played the Plastation version should pick up the PC copy. Here's teh sound effects bit:

The voice acting in MGS is some of the best ever for a translated video game. Also, playing MGS with my four-point surround sound computer speakers and sub-woofer sounded way better than on my TV. The music for the game is appropriate and adds to the atmosphere.

Deep Space Nine - The Fallen MP3s and a preview - Mikael @ 06:20 EST

Simon & Schuster has released an additional MP3 audio track from its upcoming Unreal engine powered action-adventure game, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Fallen. You can download the new and all previous released mp3s from the official site. The game is expected to ship to stores November 13th and hopefully will offer the same audio support as Unreal Tournament, the demo had only DS3D support.

For more about the game you can check out Gamerspulse preview where they had the following bit on sound:

Sound in The Fallen was somewhat quiet except for the almost authentic weapons’ fire and the stomping of your shoes as you run. The musical score in the game will be intense, and will add an extra dimension that will have gamers seeking an excellent rendition of a Star Trek game playing into the wee hours of the night.

Thursday, November 02, 2000

DTT3500 and BA7500 Head-to-Head - Mark @ 20:03 EST

PC World has posted a short head-to-head look at the Creative DTT3500 and Boston Acoustics BA7500 with positive words for both systems. One thing worth noting that comes across poorly in the review is the number of analog output channels offered by the sound card has nothing to do with a sound cards SPDIF output capabilities and even a card with only 2 analog channels can of course send a proper Dolby Digital stream via the SPDIF out with a supporting software DVD player. When describing the digital inputs on the DTT3500 I think they meant to say DIN as well as COAX and optical SPDIF inputs rather than what you will read (which does not make sence). I have to set the BA7500s up this weekend so can't comment on the comparison aspects of the review other than to say that we have found that in a typcial desktop speaker placement the real center channel is not a huge benefit. We find that it's only when you place the front left and right speakers further apart (>4-5 feet) that the real center channel becomes a significant benefit. For some more on the DTT3500 you can check out our early impressions.
News Source: 3DAI

Nike Personal Sport Audio Play 120 Review - Mark @ 19:47 EST

Neeoseeker has posted a review of the Nike Personal Sport Audio Play 120. As is typical of the Neoseeker portable digital audio player reviews, this one is well worth checking out with good test procedures and lots of comparative detail. In the end they think its a pretty good unit but pricy (~$300) for what you get.

SonicFury Driver Update - Mark @ 17:46 EST

We mentioned this in our SonicFury review but missed posting it in the new. VideoLogic has posted downloadable drivers for the SonicFury which also work just fine with the Santa Cruz. In terms of the VXD drivers they are an updated set that address the EAX 2.0 problem we mentioned in the Santa Cruz and Sonic Fury reviews. Other than that it's the same as the VXD drivers that are on their v1 CD so the other issues identified in the reviews will remain. For some reason Turtle Beach has not released the same updated set of VXD drivers so their web drivers don't address the EAX 2.0 issue. VideoLogic's driver download page also has links to the Win2K and NT4 drivers that are on their v2 CD now shipping. It's worth noting that Voyetra Turtle Beach dropped us a line today to say that some updated Win2K drivers just went gold and they just need to finish preparing the documentation, etc. before they post the driver set for download (could take a couple weeks). Unfortunately there is still no firm timeline for updated VXD drivers to fix the issues identified in our reviews.

Voyetra Turtle Beach Santa Cruz Review - Mark @ 13:23 EST

Digi-Life has posted a review of the Santa Cruz that focuses on the sound quality aspects of the card rather than gaming. I found some of the statements difficult to follow and/or odd (e.g DVD quality and the statement by the pro musician). Some of the numbers used to generate conclusions are not adequately explained or clearly expressed, something that I think is important in this kind of report. We are starting to use the Spectra soft test suite (the review at least in part used some Spectra product) and my analog loopback results (which is what all their testing is based on) are different than their. I am not confident enough in my own results to publish them yet. However, I will say that my preliminary results give the edge to the Santa Cruz over the Live in A-B loopback testing of S/N ratio and frequency response with the gap wider for 44.1 kHz (vs 48 kHz) tests but apparent in both cases. Again, we need to do quite a bit more familiarization with our test suite before I am ready to offer any hard numbers or insist that my numbers are correct. The other bit worth noting is when it comes to game audio quality,MP3 playback and DVD playback via the cards analog outs the important numbers are the Digital to Analog numbers but those can't be tested using loopback testing. We will also adding a reference audio card to our test suite in order to get at those results along ADC results. Getting back to the review, you may want to compare their Live results to results posted at PCAVTech, where they also have tests of many other cards to compare against.
News Source: 3DAI

Hercules Game Theater Update - Mark @ 13:02 EST

We posted new of this upcoming Crystal CS4630 based system a couple of days ago and I speculated that PowerDVD or WinDVD would be in the bundle. Well, thanks to a pointer from Tuukka to the offical Hercules Europe Game Theater Page we can confirm that the bundled DVD software is PowerDVD.

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Review - Mark @ 12:50 EST

Gamer's Depot has posted the first review that I have seen of the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. Given how highly they regard the ProMedia v2-400 it should come as no surprise that they conclude that ProMedia 2.1 is the "new de facto 2.1 standard by which other competing products will be judged". According to the review, the new system has an improved crossover in the satellites which has resulted in improved midrange performance (which was one of our knocks against the v2-400). The system also comes with a second line input and a headphone jack (the review or specs don't mention if it's powered). It looks to be a very well thought out system and based on the GD review it looks to be a high quality entry into the $200-$250 market (but certainly not the best 2.1 multimedia system that money can buy if price is no object). A couple other minor comments. One is the THX certification for these and other multimedia speakers is a new multimedia specific process - it is not the same as the certification process for home theater components. The other comment is on using two 2.1 systems to get better "rear bass" effects. Bass of a low enough frequecny is non-directional so in an ideal setup you should not need to position a subwoofer in the rear to get rear bass. The problem is that most multimedia speakers (including the ProMedia v2-400 and 2.1) use small (2.5"-3") drivers in the satellites so the subwoofer crossover tends to be much higher than it would be in a true home theater setup so you can localize some of the low frequecy effects. Getting back to the ProMedia 2.1, we heard from Klipsch a few days back and expect to getting a review unit shortly. Thanks to GTAudiophile for the pointer.

Mazda Debuts First-Ever Factory-Installed MP3 Player - Mark @ 07:47 EST

Mazda North American Operations yesterday treated guests and media to the world debut of the world's first factory- installed in-dash MP3-capable audio system at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. The system capitalizes on the rapid growth of MP3 music files for personal use and makes it possible for consumers to play up to 10 hours of MP3 recordings on a single disc. The system, a joint effort between Mazda and Kenwood, includes a powered sub-woofer, premium speakers and Kenwood's new eXcelon Z919 MP3/CD/AM/FM in- dash receiver/player. Kenwood becomes the first mobile electronics manufacturer to have an in-dash MP3 player installed as an original equipment audio system. The Kenwood Z919 plays conventional music CDs as well CD-R discs with MP3 music files. For some additional detail you can check out the full press release.

Warner Music Group Selects Microsoft Windows Media for Music Downloads in Multiyear Agreement - Mark @ 07:44 EST

Warner Music Group (WMG) and Microsoft Corp. have announced that WMG has chosen Microsoft Windows Media to deliver high-quality, secure music downloads over the Internet. In a multiyear agreement, WMG has selected Windows Media Format as a primary format for commercial music download initiatives in the United States and Canada, with security provided by Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM). The first WMG tracks for sale in Windows Media Format will be available beginning yesterday at leading online retailers. Music fans in the United States and Canada will be able to download current singles and exclusive Internet- only tracks by major WMG artists including Yolanda Adams, Barenaked Ladies, k.d. lang, matchbox twenty, Orgy, Pantera, Phish, Keith Sweat and others. For quite a few additional details you can check out the full press release and for additional analysis you can check out an article over at News.com.

Wednesday, November 01, 2000

Starship Troopers Review - Mark @ 22:29 EST

Video Games Guy has posted a review of Starship Troopers. The story (and game itself) is drawn from both the novel and 1997 movie of the same name. It's a war against Earth and a race of giant, extraterrestrial insects. Here's a snip on sound:

The game also takes a hit in the audio department. Sound effects are less than impressive, throughout the game you'll mostly hear the footsteps of your platoon running (and man you do a LOT of running in this game), gun fire, and aliens screeching when they die. When you come across a bug hole someone will shout out "bug hole sighted" but that's about it for the effects, nothing spectacular at all. The voice-overs you'll hear throughout the game are just ok, not the best I've heard but they get the job done. Music, on the other hand, is bad... The missions that do have music are comprised of boring musical scores that keep looping repeatedly.

Blair Witch Volume 1: Rustin Parr Review - Mark @ 22:23 EST

MGON has posted a review of Blair Witch Volume 1: Rustin Parr. Here's a taste of their thoughts on sound:

The voice acting I've yet to decide on, some parts match and are played very well but you'll find others are slightly strange or don't fit correctly. The voice of the lead character is slightly irritating. Aside from voice acting, the general sounds of the environments and games are excellent and contribute to the feel of the game perfectly.

Blair Witch Volume 2: The Legend of Coffin Rock Reviews - Mark @ 22:17 EST

A couple of reviews of Blair Witch Volume 2: The Legend of Coffin Rock. First up is one from PCGamePro. In comparing it to the first game they make the following comment:

Sound is once again the highlight of the game, with the eerie noises creating a spooky atmosphere, particularly in the woods, where crunching footsteps and strange rattling noises will make your skin crawl. The voice acting could be better, but it’s not so bad that it detracts from the fun.

Sacrifice Review - Mark @ 22:08 EST

Neeoseeker has posted a review of Sacrifice. Here's a snip on sound:

While the environments & the creatures’ appearances have been well designed, the sound is comparable. While not exceptional, it adds the ambience of the environment. Creatures will scream in pain on the battlefield as they are being massacred, wizards chant incantations as they cast spells. One thing that really impressed me was the whispering of the ghosts in some of the haunted areas. These sounds help to add a feeling of an encompassing presence that you cannot pinpoint. The casting of the voices for the various characters was done fairly well, however the lip synchronization of the deities is marginal at best. It sometimes reminds me of those Bruce Lee movies where the person would say only two or three words, yet his mouth would move for a good thirty seconds afterward. All in all, despite the lackluster voiceovers, I am happy with the level of immersion that the sound offers to the player.

VideoLogic SonicFury Review - Mark @ 08:03 EST

The VideoLogic Sonic Fury is a new sound card that, like the Santa Cruz from Turtle Beach, 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 Sonic Fury 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 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 SonicFury to see if what looks to be an innovative feature set on paper translates to real world benefits. For details check out the full review.

Note: This review is very similar to the Santa Cruz review we announced last week. From a hardware perspective, the products are identical. What differs is the name, the bundle and the distribution. Turtle Beach and VideoLogic have agreed to a cross-distribution alliance, increasing the availability of the companies’ PC audio hardware products on a worldwide scope. Turtle Beach will now distribute five models of VideoLogic speakers in North America, while VideoLogic will distribute the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (under the SonicFury name) in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This review also has an update on CD-Digital audio performance which may be of some interest for people who have already read our Santa Cruz review (which has yet to be updated with this info).

Cakewalk Releases Club Tracks, the Remix Studio for Windows - Mark @ 07:44 EST

Cakewalk has released the Cakewalk Club Tracks(TM) multitrack remix studio ($49 estimated retail price). Club Tracks allows anyone with a PC to produce original loop-based music projects and remixes that can be saved as stereo WAV files, MP3s, or burned to audio CD. For full details check out the press release.

Bertelsmann and Napster Form Strategic Alliance - Mark @ 07:39 EST

Bertelsmann AG and Napster, Inc. have announced the formation of a strategic alliance to further develop the Napster person-to-person file sharing service.
Bertelsmann AG's newly formed eCommerce Group, BeCG, and Napster have developed a new business model for a secure membership-based service that will provide Napster community members with high quality file sharing that preserves the Napster experience while at the same time providing payments to rightsholders, including recording artists, songwriters, recording companies and music publishers. Napster and Bertelsmann will seek support from others in the music industry to establish Napster as a widely accepted membership based service and invite them to participate actively in this process. Under the terms of the agreement, once Napster successfully implements its new membership-based service, Bertelsmann's music division, BMG, will withdraw its lawsuit against Napster and make its music catalogue available. For additional detail you can check out the full press release as well as a statement from Kevin Conroy, Chief Marketing Officer and President, New Technology, BMG Entertainment that was issued regarding the Bertelsmann eCommerce Group and Napster Inc. strategic alliance. For additional coverage and analysis of this announcement you can check out the following two articles at C/Net:

Record label signs deal with Napster

Napster deal doesn't end threat of shutdown

PC Data Online: Napster Usage Decreases Music Buying Over Time - Mark @ 07:33 EST

In the past we have mentioned studies that indicate that Napster increases music sales and studies that indicate it descreases sales. This one falls into the latter category. According to the PC Data Onlie report, home web surfers who download music with Napster software initially purchase music online at the same rate as non- Napster consumers. However, after they become adept at downloading music, they purchase much less music through online vendors than non-Napster users, according to the PC Data Online buying meter, which tracks the purchasing behavior of 120,000 US home Internet users. New Napster users are just as likely to purchase music at cdnow.com after initially downloading Napster software. However, 90 days after downloading Napster software, consumers' online music purchases plummet, although they visit online music retailers much more frequently. On a follow-up survey of 332 Napster users, artists appealing to a young audience, such as Eminem, Three Doors Down and Limp Bizkit, are the hardest hit. For additional details you can check out the full announcement.

S3 sheds graphics and sound card business, picks up new name - Mark @ 07:27 EST

C/Net has posted an article that indicates that S3 with officially announce their name change to Sonicblue and with that change there will be no more graphics or sound card aspect to their business. The article reports that under a revised deal approved by the Taiwanese government, Via Technologies will get S3's graphics chip business in exchange for returning the 15 percent stake it had in S3 and assuming other liabilities in a deal valued at $323 million. The new deal, set to close by January, replaces a similarly valued cash and stock deal that deal was held up by Taiwanese regulators. With the sale, Sonicblue will have three main businesses: the Rio MP3 music player operation, the recently announced Frontpath Internet appliance business, and the Access line of home networking gear and modems. For lots more detail you can check out the full article at C/Net. As you may recall, Diamond/S3 indicated quite some time ago that there would be one last driver release for their discontinued MX400 sound card. Unfortunately we have yet to see anything. Given Diamonds terrible track record of driver support for sound cards, along with the essentially poor track record of ESS in supporting the Canyon3D chip that the MX400 and Terratec DMX uses, things don't look good for people looking to get the performance they expected out of their MX400.

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

Blade of Darkness demo patch - Mikael @ 16:27 EST

A patch for the Spanish Blade of Darkness demo has been released. It resolves the issue with putting the wooden box on fire after you have killed the 3+1 traitor knights. You can grab it from Avault.

Rune reviews - Mikael @ 16:25 EST

Plenty of new Rune reviews today. First up 3dgameforces that found it to be a pretty good game giving it a score of 8.5 out of 10 but still had several complaints including poor level design at times, too many jumping puzzles, clichéd story and several bugs. They had no complaints about the graphics and sound effects:

Rune also sports some great mood music. At first I passed it off as more clichéd dark fantasy music, but the more I listened to it, the more I realized just how well the music blends with the game. Most of the music is dark and fast-paced, heavy on the drums and oozing with evil. The sound effects in the game are also superbly executed. Nearly everything makes the sound it should, and sound cues such as footsteps were very helpful. The voices in the cut scenes are very well acted, especially that of Odin’s (the good guy’s) evil son, the Trickster.

Metal Gear Solid review - Mikael @ 16:00 EST

GamesHideout has posted a review of Metal Gear Solid. As most other reviews they think it offers great gameplay, story and sound effects while the graphics are less impressive, no surprise since it's just a port of a playstation game. Here's the sound bit:

Although the graphics could have been better, the sound is very good. The music is just perfect, in a fight, it changes to fast, exiting music, but in an emotional conversation or if somebody important dies, the music turns to sometimes very emotional music. The other sounds are very good to, like footsteps and wolves. The dialogues sounds good and they really get you in the game. The weapons sounds are very realistic. All the other sounds like wolves, vehicles, helicopters, etc. are very nice. This is a big point for the game.

Blair Witch Volume 1- Rustin Parr review - Mikael @ 15:55 EST

Gamerspulse has
posted a review of Blair Witch Volume 1- Rustin Parr which they think is a "Seriously flawed game with some bright spots" one of these bright spots is the sound:

Surprisingly the voice work is quite good. The actors all do an admirable job with a passable script. The ambient sounds are even better. I actually found myself turning up the volume to make sure I didn’t miss anything. The sound work is one of the few bright spots in this game. It’s not enough to save it, but at this point anything helps.

Test Drive Le Mans Review - Mikael @ 15:50 EST

Boomgames has posted a review of Test Drive Le Mans which left them unimpressed. Complaints included monotonous gameplay, too simply and no multiplaying. They were not exactly impressed with the sound effects either:

Well, the sounds are pretty much "stock" for racing games. The exceptions are "backfires" from the cars because of their massive horsepower, I haven't seen that in a racing game yet. Also, environmental sounds are good.

The bad part is that I haven't heard any music in the game, even though the volume is all the way up and my volumes in windows are up too. I am attributing it to a small error, not necessarily one in the game, so it doesn't hurt the score much. Overall, sound and lack of music in this game didn't impress me.

Hercules Announces Game Theater XP - Mark @ 13:53 EST

Hercules has officially announced the Game Theater XP, a card that they are billing as the most powerful, convenient and easy-to-use audio solution ever offered to gamers and is also the first product in Hercules' new line of up-market audio solutions. The card uses the same Crystal CS4630 chip that is in Voyetra Turtle Beach's Santa Cruz and VideoLogic's Sonic Fury but adds a convenient external rack to the package. The rack includes a wide range of connectors including 6 channel output via RCA jacks, optical and COAX digital I/O, MIDI, gameport and a high-speed 4 port USB hub. The PR mentions Dolby Digital decoding and while it does not specifically say so I suspect that it will be either via the latest versions of WinDVD or PowerDVD which again based on the statements in the PR should be included. I have asked Guillemot / Hercules for clarification. Game Theater XP will be retailing across the United States for $149.99 (US) at the end of November. You can find a lot more details in the full press release and thanks to Dr. Worm we can also offer images of the card and the front and rear of the rack.

Sontage Interactive Launches Game Commander 2 - Mark @ 13:43 EST

Sontage Interactive, a division of Mindmaker, Inc. and makers of Game Commander voice recognition software for games and simulations, launched Game Commander 2 today at its web site www.gamecommander.com. According to the press release Game Commander 2 breaks new ground with lightning fast command response and even more control over your games with global commands, multi-channel auto fire, customizable audible feedback, a powerful command editor, support for Windows® 2000, and more. You can even run Game Commander 2 concurrently with popular voice chat programs such as TeamSound, Roger Wilco, and BattleCom. Take command of Windows 95, 98, Millennium, and 2000 applications too. Game Commander 2 is now available in downloadable, software-only format. The downloadable product is $29.95* directly from the Game Commander Online Store. Game Commander 2 will also be available soon on CD with a noise-canceling head microphone for $39.95*.

Emperor: Battle for Dune Interview - Mikael @ 04:25 EST

Gamersdepot has posted an interview Chris Longpre, Producer of Emperor: Battle for Dune which includes the following interesting bit:

GD: Are there any plans for 3D audio support?
Chris: Yes, we are supporting 3D audio libraries, and looking into several specific 3D audio features.

Rune patch - Mikael @ 04:20 EST

Human Head has released the first patch for Rune. You can find download links and list of fixes at Avault

Monday, October 30, 2000

AIWA Introduces Its First Portable MP3 Player - Mark @ 22:04 EST

AIWA AMERICA today introduced its first portable MP3 player, an SDMI-compliant model that features 32MB of internal memory and includes a 32MB memory card.
The new Windows-compatible AIWA MM-VX200 comes with RealJukebox software for converting music into MP3 files, and for easy setup and fast downloading it connects to a PC through a USB interface. To expand the player's memory, and so allow more music to be stored, the MM-VX200 has a SmartMedia card slot, and comes with a 32MB SmartMedia ID card. In addition, a built-in microphone allows voice recording of up to two hours, and these recordings can be stored in up to 99 different files. For operating convenience, the AIWA MM-VX200 includes a remote control that connects through the headphone jack. It will be available in November and carry a suggested retail price of $299.00. For quite a few more details you can check out the full press release.

Altec Lansing's New ATP5 Sound Solution Now Shipping - Mark @ 22:02 EST

Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. is now shipping the latest addition to its aesthetic line of slim audio peripherals, the ATP5, a new five-piece, slim profile audio system. This speaker system follows the success of the company's initial offering in this product line, the ATP3, a successful three piece computer speaker system that we will be reviewing this fall. The ATP5 delivers 80 watts of 4-channel gaming output. Using advanced technology microdrivers embedded in each satellite, the ATP5 is designed to be a saving solution for surround sound combining powerful audio performance with a small, slim footprint. The system also includes a powered 6 1/2 inch wooden subwoofer totaling 45 watts. For some additonal details and some quotes you can check out the full press release.

Labtec Surges Into Video Game Console Market With New Speakers-and-Subwoofer System - Mark @ 21:55 EST

Labtec today marked its entry into the console gaming arena with the introduction of the Surge-17, an audio system designed specifically for today's popular video game consoles. The suggested retail price of the Surge-17 is $49.99. The Surge includes a universal adaptor that connects the speaker system to nearly any video gaming console including Sony's recently-released PlayStation2 as well as the original PlayStation, Nintendo's N64 and SNES and the Sega Dreamcast. The Surge has a 15-watt subwoofer featuring a 5 1/4`` Max-X(TM) high-excursion driver to move more air and produce outstanding bass response, optimal dynamic range and improved bass. According to the press release, the subwoofer utilizes exclusive Real-Time Dynamic Bass Equalization that actively adjusts sound for optimum bass and minimal distortion, at every listening level. The 10-watt (5W + 5W) satellite speakers have a convenient volume control for convenient adjustment and nonstop gaming. For a few more details you can check out the full press release.

Rune review - Mikael @ 17:20 EST

3Dgaming Daily has posted a review of Rune. They have a very positive impression overall giving it a score of 4.5 out of 5 but have some complaints about the 3D sound:

Well, I had more problems with the sound in Rune than any other part of the game. The sounds themselves are great and are very realistic. However I found the spatial gradients were not very defined. By this I mean that as the orientation of a sound relative to Ragnar changed, the smoothness by which the sound seemed to change in space was very sudden. A burning torch in front of Ragnar sounded very close and spatially correct. However, as Ragnar turned so that the torch was behind him, the sound stayed loud and then suddenly went very quiet (almost non-existent). Other games with spatial sound effects have mastered the art of making sounds appear move correctly in 3D, but I am afraid Rune did seem to quite grasp this. I found this to be very annoying when there were many ambient sounds in the immediate area (imagine multiple sounds getting loud and quiet all at different times. Also, I did experience strange sound stuttering on occasion which was also annoying. By the way, I ran Rune with both a Creative Labs SB512 and SBLive, both of which are EAX and surround sound capable, so I believe the fault lies with the game engine and not my sound cards.

Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force review - Mikael @ 16:58 EST

GameRaiders has posted a very detailed and positive review of Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force. Here's the sound bit:

The sounds in the game have that authentic Star Trek feel to them. The weapons, teleporters, and computer terminals all sound just like they do in a Voyager episode. The best part of the sounds in the game, though, have to do with the fact that most of the television cast are providing the voice talent for the game. I was very pleased by this, as it dramatically enhances the overall Voyager atmosphere of the game. You don't have to pretend that the characters are who they say they are. They look and sound just like their characters on TV.

There's a lot of spoken dialogue in the game (something like 3 1/2 hours total), which is also very cool. I especially enjoyed hearing the characters carry on normal conversations as you walk by them. It really made the environment feel alive.

And the music, of course, was your typical Star Trek type of stuff.

Tagram Mambo-X Portable MP3 CD-R/W Player - Mikael @ 16:48 EST

3DHardware.net has posted a review of Tagram $300 Mambo-X Portable MP3 CD Player. As you may guess this a CD player that can decode MP3 files stored on a CD-R or CD-RW disc. Features includes Remote control,
small LCD display, 45-second buttons for adjusting bass and treble settings in addition to the standard play, pause, next track etc. The reviewer really liked the remote control but also had several complaints, most importantly MP3s above 128kbps didn't play well and the high price.

The Techzone has posted a review of another CD player that can play MP3s, Novasonic MP3/CD Player. This player is less expensive, $185. When posting this TechZone site is extremely slow, so slow that I was unable to read more than the first 2 pages of this 6 page long review.

The FrontX Multimedia Ports review - Mikael @ 15:46 EST

TargetPC has posted a review of The FrontX Multimedia Ports, a system to relocate your sound card inputs such as gameport, microphone and line-in to the front of the PC. As other reviews they found it to work well.
News Source: Anandtech

The Sounds of Counter-Strike - Mikael @ 15:38 EST

That's the title of an interview at Creative's new gamers site where they talk Gooseman, one of the creators of the Half-Life mod Counter-Strike. They of course discuss the sound in Counter-Strike, here's a taste

How much does the 4-speakers experience add to Counter-Strike and gaming in general?

It's an invaluable tool which allows me to play at a higher level. Being able to know where the gunfire is coming from is extremely important to surviving in Counter-Strike.

I noticed that some of the levels take advantage of EAX and use the different reverbs, what's your opinions about using EAX and adding those effects into games?

I think it's awesome and really adds to the atmosphere. Fighting in an "echo-ey" hallway with 6 or 7 of my teammates really immerses you into the world of CS.

Venom demo released - Mikael @ 15:32 EST

As the main character you are about to visit the hottest spots of the crisis, collect information about alien forms and stop the infestation. Your missions will take place at well-guarded and patrolled objects, where you will face numerous enemies of superior numbers, strength and abilities. The main character should be in command of a 2 soldiers squad, learn the advantages of various weaponry, and features and patrol routes of his enemies, in order to accomplish his mission. There are many situations when a straight running through the level won't allow you to accomplish the task successfully. When your enemies outnumber you and are much stronger, you are forced to take the way of careful planning and collective action. A set of simple commands allows controlling your computer teammate and performing simultaneous actions such as scouting, taking favorable positions, luring an enemy to an ambush, maneuvering, covering, and others.

The earlier released test offered support for DS3D with EAX and A3D 1.0 so I would guess the demo offers the same support. You can get it from Avault.

Unreal: Return to Na Pali patch - Mikael @ 15:29 EST

A patch for the Unreal mission pack, Return to Na Pali, has been released. It's said to bring the Na Pali code base up to Unreal 226 along with the UT Interface. This should mean DS3D with EAX and A3D 2.0 with wavetracing. You can download it from Avault.

3D sound article - Mikael @ 15:26 EST

Grasso's site has posted an article about 3D sound. It's more a look at when various APIs and technologies were introduced than how they work even though it briefly covers wavetracing.

Rune Demo - Mark @ 07:51 EST

In Rune, players assume the role of Ragnar the Viking, mightiest warrior of a bygone age. In an age when might makes right, it is Ragnar who doles out justice on the blade of his massive battle-axe. Rune is a third-person perspective game using the Unreal Tournament engine to deliver intense action and adventure steeped in a blend of Norse mythology and high fantasy. With use of the UT engine this title could have excellent 3D sound and may also make use of EAX and A3D 2.0's wavetracing. To check it out you can download the 86.4 MB demo from 3Dfiles.

Rune Review - Mark @ 07:46 EST

Firing Squad has posted a review of Rune, a game that uses the Unreal Tournament engine. The review fails to mention use of 3D sound, either by A3D 2.0 or DS3D with EAX but when Firing Squad posted first impressions earlier this month they indicated that it made great use of 3D sound. The review is not quite as impressed with the overall sound compared to what a different person said in the first impressions. Here's a taste from the review:

The sound effects aren't too great but they're good enough to keep up with the graphics and gameplay. At best, with on-cue creepy music or ambient sounds, they elevate the game to greatness. At worst, they're good enough to keep from taking away from the game. The music is good, and more importantly, fits the theme perfectly. It's exactly the kind of stuff that a Viking warrior should have accompanying him on a quest. It blends in absolutely and never overwhelms you, though it could easily still be good even if it drowned out other sounds.

Blair Witch 1: Rustin Parr Review - Mark @ 07:34 EST

3D Gameforce has posted a review of Blair Witch 1: Rustin Parr, a game that has consistently received rave reviews for its use of sound. This one is no different in that respect as illustrated by the following comment:

I’m not ashamed to admit that this game scared the hell out of me during certain sections. This is mostly directly attributed to the fact that the sound effects blend so well with the game, I sometimes thought I was imagining them in my head. The sounds of footsteps, small wisps of laughter, the cracking of sticks--it makes you forget that you’re playing a game. Had they removed the combat from this game altogether, it would nearly be a masterpiece in the horror genre. The person who was in charge of the sound effects should get a medal. I can’t stress enough how good these sounds are without saying it again: these sound effects are just damn good

News from October 23-29, 2000

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