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The Week in
Review: March 18-24, 2002
Last week's features at
3DsoundSurge
Last week's sound news
Drivers and bugs
New games, demos, patches and bugs
- Dungeon Siege has Gone Gold
Gas Powered Games has announced that its action/RPG Dungeon Siege has gone gold and is
expected in stores April 5. The game is on Creative's EAX list (not part of the EAX
Advanced HD list though). You can find more info on the official site.
- Might and Magic IX Goes Gold
GoneGold reports that 3DO's
Might and Magic IX has gone gold. The previous game in this series featured 3D sound but
not sure if this edition will. The official site offers no information
yet about this game.
- Silent Storm will feature 3D sound with DD 5.1
support
A preview of
Silent Storm on The Daily Telefrag includes the following interesting sound bitAudio
will be recorded in Dolby 5.1 format, which in theory gives player post-mortem ability to
guess where he was shot from and figure out the distance to sniper The official
site for this turn-based strategy game in World War II setting developed by Nival
Interactive makes it clear it will feature 3D sound but also repeat the Dolby Digital 5.1
support saying 3D sound with Dolby Surround 5.1 support: tell shooting enemy location
by ear. Find it very unlikely they intend to actually in real-time encode to DD 5.1,
quite possible they simply mean 5.1 sound for users using DS3D. It's of course also
possible the music will be in Dolby Digital 5.1 or simply that when you use a nForce
chipset it will be in Dolby Digital 5.1 (or rather 4.0 with current drivers).
- Freedom Force Demo
Irrational Game's has released a demo of Freedom Force which recently went gold. The demo
feature 3D sound and reverb using A3D 2.0 or DS3D with EAX 2.0 as well as several software
3D sound options. The readme suggest you don't enable 3D sound if you own a Vortex 1 based
soundcard. The demo is available both with and without music
for those with limited bandwidth. You can grab it from FilePlanet (large version or small version), 3D
Gamers, Bonus Web and EA's
FTP (large or small).
- Mobile Forces Demo
Rage Software has released the demo for Mobile
Forces. It's vehicular first-person shooter using the Unreal Engine and the demo
recommends the use of a soundcard supporting 3D sound.
- Destroyer Command patch
Ubisoft has released
patch (v1.1) for Destroyer Command. One of the fixes is Fixed a crash that
occurred when many simultaneous sound effects were played on certain Win98/ME systems with
Soundblaster Live! or Audigy soundcards.
- Warrior Kings Patches
Microids has released a new (V1.2) patch for Warrior Kings. It's available for the UK, French and Italian
edition of the game
Reviews of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3
players.
- Sound Blaster Extigy
TweakTown has done a review of Creative
Labs Sound Blaster Extigy. They found it to be an amazing soundcard and only
complaints was the lack of the FireWire port (a feature of Creative Labs Audigy) and no
Linux support. Worth noting that Creative Labs recommends user to buy the Audigy rather
than the Extigy if they are so called hard-core gamers since the Audigy offers better
performance (CPU usage) and EAX Advanced HD support for games. The Extigy feature 3D sound
and EAX 2.0 though and most seems to be happy with the CPU usage as well.
- Klipsch ProMedia 4.1
The Australian site Hardware Avenue has posted a
review of Klipsch ProMedia 4.1. Through out the review they compare it to Altec
Lansing's ADA885 and VideoLogic's Sirocco Crossfire. The review includes some complaints
but in the end find it to be an excellent system, especially when you consider the price
(can be found for clearly less than the Sirocco Crossfire in Australia).
- Creative Inspire 5700 5.1 Digital Speaker
DeviantPC has completed a review of Creative Labs
$300 Dolby Digital /DTS speaker system, the Inspire 5700. They found it to be an
excellent speaker system compared to other PC speakers but if it's mostly games you want
to play they suggest you buy the less expensive Inspire 5300 instead. I definitely agree
that the Inspire 5700 is only worth the price if you really need a Dolby Digital/DTS
decoder and I would add find find the wireless remote control to an important feature. If
it's mostly or only with the PC you intend to use it and you own one of the many 5.1
soundcards (e.g Audigy) the MegaWorks 510D will offer much better quality for only $50.
You will then have to depend on your soundcard or software DVD player for the decoding. One bit in this review I think is inaccurate is the claim the Inspire 5700
features Dolby ProLogic II. From what I can tell it only features Dolby ProLogic, Dolby
Digital, DTS and Creative Labs CMSS modes. It's sort of accurate it can decode Dolby
ProLogic II but the result will be mono and frequency limited surround channels. That is
it won't take advantage of the full frequency stereo surround channels Dolby ProLogic II
offers.
- NHT ''Evolution'' Series First Look
Design Technica has posted a First Look on the NHT
''Evolution'' Series. It's not your average multimedia systems as the following snip
should make clear:
Each T5 tower system is comprised of two M5 monitors, a pair of
single 12" bass tower modules, A1 monaural 250 Watt amplifier (SRP: $400 each), and
X1 bass manager/electronic crossover (SRP: $350 each). The T6 tower features two M6
monitors, a pair of mirror-image dual 12" bass modules, two A1 250 Watt amplifiers,
and the X1 bass manager/electronic crossover. The T5 reaches an in-room bass response of
24Hz and peak acoustic output of 108dB SPL, while the T6 reaches an in-room bass response
of 24Hz and peak acoustic output of 114dB SPL. Both tower models include all necessary
mounting hardware, a wire harness, and stabilizers
- RipFlash Recordable MP3 Player in Video Review
3dGameMan has posted a video
review of RipFlash Recordable MP3 Player
Other sound news
- Dolby Introduces Pro Logic II For PlayStation 2
Dolby Laboratories will launch its Pro Logic® II technology for the PlayStation 2®
console and titles this week from the show floor at the Game Developers Conference (GDC)
in San Jose, Calif. It will allow PS2 game developers to encode in Dolby ProLogic II to
get 5 channel output for those users that own a Dolby ProLogic II capable decoder. For
users with Dolby ProLogic decoder it will appear just like any other Dolby ProLogic
supporting game. You can find more details in the press release. As you may know one GameCube game, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II,
already feature Dolby ProLogic II. In that case the encoding feature developed by Factor
5.
It's worth noting that unlike what this press release may indicate
there already exist PS2 games using 5 channel output, then using DTS. It's EA's
SurroundSoundScape technology (see press release)that offers
this feature. The only games so far using that I'm aware of are EA's NHL 2002, SSX Tricky
and Sledstorm.
- Brian Schmidt (XBox Audio) Interview
Music for Games has conducted an interview with Brian
Schmidt, Program Manager for Xbox audio and media at Microsoft. The interview of
course focus on the audio capabilities of the Xbox.
- SRS Labs Platform Strategy a Success
SRS Labs has announced that the successful execution of its platform strategy has led to
the broadest availability of solutions for its audio and voice technologies to date. Over
10 different SRS Labs audio and voice technologies are immediately available on more than
75 different analog and digital products from 13 leading semiconductor companies for the
consumer electronics and computer industries. This greater availability of its technology
portfolio has led to the shipment of over 250 million hardware and software products
worldwide featuring SRS technologies to date. You can find more details in the press release.
- ESS, LINN and Sony Cooperate to Support Super
Audio CD in DVD Players
ESS Technology has announced a cooperative effort with Linn Products Limited and Sony
Corporation to support Super Audio CD (SACD) format in DVD players incorporating ESS
Technology's Vibratto(TM) DVD single-chip solution family. You can find more details in the press release
- CeBIT 2002 Report Part 1 @ Anandtech
Anandtech has posted
part 1 of its Cebit 2002 report. Part 1 is about the audio and video sector (music and
video players, and a quick glance at PDA technology) while the second part will focus on
PC technology (chipsets, motherboards, graphics cards, and cooling). The audio related
bits in this report are harddrive based ATRAC3, MP3 and MiniDisc Players from Sony,
Terratec's MP3 recorder, a HDD/DVD/MP3 player from LG, VideoLogic's DAB Tuner and Archos'
MultiMedia Jukebox.
- Pioneer Introduces DMP-555 (MP3 Player)
Pioneer Electronics has announced the DMP-555, the world's first digital media player that
combines the storage capacity of MP3 with established CD technology and the emerging
Secure Digital (SD) standard. Pioneer Electronics claims the
compact and portable SD Card is quickly becoming the preferred global medium for
high-capacity digital music storage. It's compatible with CDDA, CD-R, CD-RW and SD Card,
the DMP-555 has a dual synchronous play function that enables play back from both CD and
SD card sources. This allows DJs to mix authorized MP3 loops and samples stored on their
SD card with the CD audio output, or to play any music files from CD. The DMP-555 will be
available at the end of June for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,499. You
can find more details in the
full press release
- Pioneer Introduces Next Generation DVD/CD
Recordable Drive
Pioneer Electronics has announced the DVR-A04, Pioneer's fourth generation combination
DVD/CD recordable/re-recordable drive. The DVR-A04, supports
multiple recording formats including DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R and CD-RW as well as CD buffer
underrun protection, support for high speed CD-RW media, vertical mounting capability,
smaller form factor and with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $499. You
can find more details in
the press release
- Analog Devices announce new Development Toolkit
Analog Devices has announced
a new version of its SoundMAX® Audio Rendering Technology Toolkit (SMartTools(tm))-which
now offers significantly improved cross-platform output capability and a more intuitive
graphical user interface (GUI) to game audio developers. It supports the PlayStation® 2,
Xbox and PC gaming platforms. Using a drag-and-drop GUI tool,
SMartTools enables developers to add uniquely rendered sound effects by employing
non-repetitive, interactive audio "behaviors" in place of the static sound
effects typically found in games. By modeling realistic sound effects based on real-world
or imagined events, developers can increase the immersive quality of the gaming
experience. Some of the world's leading game publishers, including Electronic Arts, Sony
Computer Entertainment America, Sony Online Entertainment, Moto 1, Infogrames and Victory
Entertainment, have used Analog Devices' audio rendering technology to bring their game
sound effects to a new level. You can find more info on the new site, Audio For Games
- Recipients Of Fifth Annual Interactive
Achievement Awards Announced
We mentioned in February
the finalists for the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. Now (or actually late
last month) the winners was announced. Computer Game of the Year honors went to Black
& White, developed by Lionhead Studios. Halo: Combat Evolved received the award for
Console Game of the Year as well as the Game of the Year. In
the audio related categories Tropico won the Outstanding Achievement in Musical
Composition while Metal Gear Solid 2 won Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design award.
You can find the full list of winners in the press release. You
can also check out
Music 4 Games report from the event
- Game Audio Network Guild Launched
The Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), the first organization focusing on the
advancement of interactive audio and the community surrounding it, is making its debut
during the 2002 Game Developers Conference in San Jose. Hosting a panel of top audio
professionals, G.A.N.G. was officially launched on Thursday, March 21st. Due to the
overwhelming initial industry response, G.A.N.G. will also hold an informal gathering on
Saturday, March 23rd at 3:30 p.m. in the Crystal Room at the Fairmont Hotel. You can find more details in the
press release
- Neverwinter Nights will feature music from Jeremy
Soule
BioWare and Infogrames have issued a press release
saying they are thrilled to announce they will be joining forces with award- winning
composer Jeremy Soule who will create the soundtrack for Neverwinter Nights. Here's an
interesting bit from the press release
Jeremy Soule's award-winning, orchestral soundtracks have
elevated the standard of music in the seven billion dollar video game industry to a level
previously limited to the motion picture genre. His dynamic compositions reveal a natural
ability to create powerful and engaging music using both live instruments and proprietary
synthesizers which he masterfully directs to emulate the sound of a 100-piece orchestra.
Soule's creativity and cutting- edge approach to composition is evident in his original
scores for titles like ``Total Annihilation,'' ``Icewind Dale'' and ``Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone,'' recently nominated for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
(AIAS) ``Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition'' award. His work has been
applauded time and time again by some of the world's most prominent music and
entertainment industry professionals.
Jeremy Soule and the BioWare sound development team will be
available for a soon-to-be-announced online chat event, where fans can ask questions of
Jeremy and the team about sound in Neverwinter Nights. Watch the BioWare website for this and other chat announcements,
plus other Neverwinter Nights news.
- Rock Manager Interview
Music 4 Games has conducted an interview with Filip
Carvell, the producer on Rock Manager. It's described as a music Management sim turned
formulated into an entertainment package.
For more news from last week check out our news archive.
Upcoming features at 3DsoundSurge
- Reviews that we are currently working on:
Updated Santa Cruz/Sonic Fury and GameTheaterXP reviews
Hercules Fortissimo II
Terratec DMX Xfire 1024
CMedia CM8738 Reference Review
Full Audigy Review
Full Philips MMS305 Review
- There are several other hardware reviews in the pipeline
including, but not limited to the following:
Guillemot Maxi Sound MUSE
Terratec m3po
DigMedia MusicStore
Philips Seismic Edge
Lots of other stuff on the go in including several guides and major site revisions that we
will soon be releasing more details on.
As always if you have any ideas for products we should review or
features we should do, please let us know.
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