The Week in Review: August 26 - September 1, 2002

Last week's features at 3DsoundSurge

Last week's sound news

Drivers and bugs

• New Audigy Windows XP/2000 Drivers
  Creative Labs has finally released new Audigy drivers for Windows XP/2000 for download. This is a more recent release than what's available on the CD you can order. It's also a slightly later version (253 vs 252) than what Compaq released last week). Here's what's new compared to the last drivers Creative Labs released for download:

  Added features:

  1. Provides Dolby Digital decoding from external SPDIF Input.
  2. Speaker settings in Creative Audio Mixer are synchronized with Windows Multimedia setting.
  3. New presets and effects added

  Fixes:

  1. Reduces excess reverb in MIDI while using software synthesizer
  2. Removes glitches when playing MIDI using SoundFonts®
  3. Removes distortion during AC-3 playback
  4. Performs recording without playback
  5. Improves multi channel wave file playback
  6. Hardware acceleration of Open AL.
  7. Fixed audio distortion and slow start up when resume from standby
  8. Fixed elevation bug causing muffled sound in some games

• NOMAD Jukebox 3 drivers for Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
  Creative Labs has released new Nomad Jukebox 3 drivers for Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

   

 

New games, demos, patches and bugs

• Mafia Gold
  A post on the German Take 2 Forum seems to indicate that Mafia, Illusion Softworks' upcoming organized crime game, has gone gold. This helps support a post on EBgames.com that indicates the game is now shipping. Here's a Bable Fish translation link. This game will utilize EAX Advanced HD. Further indication that it has indeed gone gold is Creative today posted the following on their news page:"Win Sound Blaster Audigy, speakers along with your ticket to the Mafia". You can get contest details here. It has been later confirmed that the game already shipped in North America and will ship September 6 in Europe.

• America's Army Gold
  The U.S. Army today announced that its America's Army: Operations computer game has gone gold. The game will be available on a free CD at the beginning of October at local Army Recruiting stations, ROTC Detachment and Army events to be listed at www.americasarmy.com. The game CD will feature many missions that can be downloaded from a number of mirrored sites listed at www.goarmy.com and www.americasarmy.com, as well as several exclusive levels including swamp raid and mountain ambush missions. For more details you can check out the press release over at Blue's News.

• Neuro will use 3D sound and EAX Advanced HD
  GameGuru has posted a Q&A about upcoming first-person shooter Neuro where the following bit on sound appeared:

  DirectSound3D, OpenAL support. There are EAX3.0 possibilities used for the effects of the scene environment and sound imitation of level geometry.

  The game is expected to be released late 2003.

• Beam Breakers Will Offer a Great Audio Experience
  In an interview about Beam Breakers (racing game) the Managing Director Alexander Christof reveals that they are working together with Creative to offer a great audio:

  InGaming : We know about the visual detail that will be provided, and how the engine was coded in-house, but what about the audio? I remember getting Grand Prix 3 and playing it, thinking the graphics were great but finding the audio aspect quite average. What is Similis doing to ensure a quality audio experience for Beam Breakers?

  Alexander Christof : We have worked closely with Creative Labs, the guys there were really helping us a great deal getting the audio better and better. Like you have noticed, the audio component of a game is underrated by both developers and publishers in most games, if even scheduled properly in the development process. The upcoming games of Similis will not only be designed around gameplay and visuals only, we will pay equivalent attention to audio as well as part of the entire game experience.

  I guess this means 3D sound is a given and most likely also using some of the features of EAX Advanced HD.

• Interview with Keith Arem of PCB Productions (Spiderman, Tony Hawk)
  Music4Games has posted an interview with Keith Arem of PCB Productions. He has over 100 game titles to his music and sound design credits including titles such as Spiderman 2 and Tony Hawk. Here's a snip from the interview:

  Q: Are you working with any new technologies?

  A: We've been doing quite a bit of mixing recently in Dolby Digital and ProLogic 2. Being able to mix in a 5.1 audio environment is extremely liberating, since every speaker has it's own independent soundtrack. Positional sound is a great technology to add to the experience of films and gameplay, and it really enhances the viewer's experience of the title. It'll take a little while before everyone has 5.1 systems in the home, but it's definitely going to be a great future for audio enthusiasts.

• Neverwinter Nights Patch
  Bioware has released a new (v1.23) patch for its Neverwinter Nights.

Reviews of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3 players.

• Hercules Gamesurround Muse 5.1 DVD Sound Card
  VR-Zone has done a review of Hercules Cmedia CMI8738 based Gamesurround Muse 5.1 DVD Sound Card. The short review complained about the lack of equalizer and bass/treble controls but was otherwise very positive, especially considering the low price and bundle of PowerDVD 4.0.

• Philips MMS305 Review
  Gamersclick has posted a review of MMS305 Multi-Channel Flat Panel PC Speaker System from Philips. It's $150 4.1 system which uses flat panels and features a wireless (IR) remote control, treble and bass controls. Gamersclick found the satellites to be the main strength while the subwoofer lacked the punch they were seeking, particularly for gaming. You can check our initial review for a second opinion.

• Hercules XPS 510 5.1
  TweakNews has posted a a mixed review of Hercules XPS 510 5.1 Speaker system. TweakNews found the bass to be fairly impressive while midrange was weak. Overall they still think it's a decent system considering the price (according to the review $89). No mention of what other systems they listened to for context.

• Telex EV SonicXS Speaker
  Gaming Illustrated has posted an extremely positive (perfect score) review of the Telex EV SonicXS speaker system. It's a $200 2.1 system that uses a 4 inch mid/bass driver and a 1 inch horn loaded tweeter matched with a subwoofer with a 6 inch long throw driver. One thing the review does not mention is just what other multimedia speaker systems they have used for context.

• XA3021 Speaker System
  NextGen Electronics has posted a very short review of Altec Lansing's $100 2.1 system, the XA3021. The review is extremely positive saying Altec Lansing could have priced the system $50 or even $100 above current price and it would still have been a great buy. No mention of what other systems he listened to costing $150-200 it outperforms though.

• Philips MMS306 5.1 Speakers
  Video Game News has posted a short and very positive review of Philips MMS306 5.1 Speakers. The review lacks comparisons to other speaker systems.

• iRock! 520
  SubZeroTech has posted a mixed but overall postive review of the iRock! 520 MP3 player. The found that the main strength was getting a player with 64 MB on board for only $99.

• CyQ've WalkieMusic MP3 Deluxe
  HardwareZone has posted a review of CyQ've WalkieMusic MP3 Deluxe. It's a portable mini MP3 CD Player. They found it to be rather average but ok if you are only looking for a "basic no frills MP3 player that can play back 8cm media".

• Bantam BA350 MP3/WMA Player
  Sound Card Central has posted an overall very positive review of the Bantam BA350 MP3/WMA player. The unit which comes with 128 MB on board is extremely small, about the size of a credit card, and carries a list price of $200.

• Mojo 620 CD-Mp3 Player
  Gamer's Depot has posted an overall positive review of the Mojo 620 CD-Mp3 Player from TDK.

• Sigma Designs REALmagic X-Card
  Tech Spot has posted a detailed and overall positive review of Sigma Designs REALmagic X-Card, a hardware VCDs/DVDs & MPEG1/2 decoder that replaces their older very popular Hollywood Plus card.

• MySoundStudio
  MonsterHardware has posted a positive (7.5 out of 10) review of MySoundStudio.

Other sound news

• Klipsch Speaker Connection Mod
  LAN Addict has posted step by step instructions on how to modify the mini-jack connection on the rear of the ProMedia 2.1 and 4.1 satellites to a stereo binding post connection. Thanks to Slattery Stuart for the pointer. As they note in the article, the stock mini-jack connections can sometimes give a poor connection and this mod will eliminate that. However I want to further emphasize their cautions. The mod WILL void your warranty so only try it if you are comfortable with the process.

• Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 and 4.1 Refurbished Sale
  Klipsch is offering factory refurbished ProMedia 4.1 units for $149.99 (half price) and factory refurbished ProMedia 2.1 units for $99.99. Klipsch's site is the only place to get them, and only for a limited time. They also come with a warranty. Here are the direct links: Promedia 2.1 Promedia 4.1

• e.Digital Announce Odyssey 150 and Odyssey 800
  e.Digital has announced the addition of two new players to its line of digital audio players.

  The Odyssey(TM) 150 and Odyssey(TM) 800 are both PC and Mac compatible and possess many of the same features as other Odyssey players but have different storage capacities and price points. Both players will be available to consumers this fall. You can find all the details in the press release.

• Perception Digital unveils PD Hercules Car Jukebox
  Perception Digital has unveiled its latest hard disk-based music server solution, the PD Hercules Car Jukebox. The PD Hercules Jukebox comes with a standard 20 Gbyte trunk mountable hard drive and a sleek navigation unit. The rugged unit also comes with a very unique feature that allows users to convert any audio source -- driver's voice, radio station program, car CD music -- into MP3. Manufacturer suggested retail price is $399. You can find some additional bits in the press release.

• MS Offers Free DVD Movie Playback Kit With XBox
  Effective immediately through a special limited-time retail offer, it is now possible to get the popular DVD Movie Playback Kit for Xbox free after a mail-in rebate worth up to $30*. This offer is good now through Nov. 2, 2002, and is available with the purchase of an Xbox console at any retail outlet in the United States. You can find more details in the press release.

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.
  

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