Sierra's Prototype is first game with Neural-THX 7.1 surround sound
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For those with cavernous home theaters (or just really keen ears), Sierra is pleased to announce that Radical Entertainment's Prototype will be the first video game – evar! – to feature Neural-THX Surround technology, capable of driving sound through seven speakers and a subwoofer. While some critics have denounced 7.1 surround as "nonsensical" for home use, there is undoubtedly at least one audiophile out there who has been itching to press his ear to the right side-mounted speaker and proclaim, "Yes! The sound of that gunfire does correlate to the man on the right of the screen unloading his AK-47 into me and not to the other man just behind me firing off that Glock 19 – brilliant!" Sadly, these finer points will be lost on those of with just five speakers or, dare we mention, only two.
Reader Comments (33)
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 4:56PM (Unverified) said
Clearly you are being sarcastic, but this is actually really exciting. For audiophiles like me, this is great news. I actually have a 7.1 system, and the more games that come out that take advantage of this, the better.
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Posted: Jan 7th 2008 4:54PM VampireHunterZ said
I've heard 7.1 and it's amazing. But 5.1 is good enough for me. Plus I can't blast it as I wish in my apartment. I currently have my subwoofer disconnected so that I do not destroy the neighbors. So my system is actually 5.0 and not 5.1 /sigh
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Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:07PM Zertoss said
I agree, a 7.1 setup is awesome, but I don't have the room in my place to set that up, so I'll stick to my 5.1 system, which is plenty awesome for me.
Also, I have my bass turned way down so I don't bug my apartment neighbors, but I can still hear it on my subwoofer. ;)
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Also, I have my bass turned way down so I don't bug my apartment neighbors, but I can still hear it on my subwoofer. ;)
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:08PM 343 Guilty Fart said
The Onkyo receiver I got a few months ago has a Neural surround setting and I've liked it so much I have it as my default setting. At first I thought it was some cyberpunk setting that plugged straight into my head.
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Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:15PM (Unverified) said
So its a neat looking game with fancy sound?
...
I see no way this is bad. Carry on.
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...
I see no way this is bad. Carry on.
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:26PM (Unverified) said
All this means nothing if in any decent-AAA game can't take advantage of. If you don't got a stellar soundtrack which can please all sides of the spectrum with your work than good.
Either that or I'd like to hear a unique sound experience worth this benefit. Don't give me a BB gun sound in the office and equipment when end product value could of been on par with some realistic and in-depth value.
So when I hear whatever is coming out of my tv speakers ='( or 7.1 sound system I'd like to expect the games output to be semi-decent. In a game like this I'd want the helicopter whopping over head with guys to my right screaming orders. Marching soilders getting postitions and laying up their guns.
With the sound of tanks treads in the distance ever closing in and then all of a sudden a blank silence looms and a voice through the loud speaker is then heard echoing on to my position.
That there with all the added subtle / special effects to give an in-depth experience. As like no true experience is any fun w/o sound. With a feature of 7.1 now in developer hands it's not up to them to be able to create something worth the money and industry it drives.
Otherwise why bother?
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Either that or I'd like to hear a unique sound experience worth this benefit. Don't give me a BB gun sound in the office and equipment when end product value could of been on par with some realistic and in-depth value.
So when I hear whatever is coming out of my tv speakers ='( or 7.1 sound system I'd like to expect the games output to be semi-decent. In a game like this I'd want the helicopter whopping over head with guys to my right screaming orders. Marching soilders getting postitions and laying up their guns.
With the sound of tanks treads in the distance ever closing in and then all of a sudden a blank silence looms and a voice through the loud speaker is then heard echoing on to my position.
That there with all the added subtle / special effects to give an in-depth experience. As like no true experience is any fun w/o sound. With a feature of 7.1 now in developer hands it's not up to them to be able to create something worth the money and industry it drives.
Otherwise why bother?
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:29PM RBecho said
Here is my next question, what cable supports true 7.1 (non compressed, non matrix). HDMI (maybe don't know, but odds are it's matrixed) optical doesn't (matrixed), RCA doesn't.
Besides, it really is over kill, a good 5.1 system works great, and unless you truly tune a 7.1 system, odds are the furniture in your room or that door to let you into it kills it. Not to mention all the issues with balancing across the channels and so on.
Plain and simple, it's just not worth it for anything other than "Me First" claims.
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Besides, it really is over kill, a good 5.1 system works great, and unless you truly tune a 7.1 system, odds are the furniture in your room or that door to let you into it kills it. Not to mention all the issues with balancing across the channels and so on.
Plain and simple, it's just not worth it for anything other than "Me First" claims.
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:33PM kedward71 said
This might be the first game to use Neural-THX in 7.1, but it isn't the first game "evar!" to use a 7.1 surround audio format. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune supports uncompressed 7.1 LPCM surround and - I think - a couple of other PS3 titles have 7.1 support as well.
I played Drake's in 7.1 and it sounded pretty cool in my house. You really could hear the enemy moving around the room which helped pick them off.
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I played Drake's in 7.1 and it sounded pretty cool in my house. You really could hear the enemy moving around the room which helped pick them off.
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:44PM sketchlayerJosh said
That reminds me of this webcomic: http://www.biggercheese.com/index.php?comic=703
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Posted: Jan 7th 2008 5:54PM bm111 said
Even 7 speakers can't do half of what Holophonic sound can do with just regular old headphones (i.e. realistic near/far, up/down). I don't understand why developers don't focus on that more, and less on this unrealistic so called "3D" sound that requires ever more expensive hardware.
Oh, wait. I do understand.
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Oh, wait. I do understand.
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 6:13PM (Unverified) said
7.1 is amazing...play Half Life 2 on that... it sounds like you're really the guy...I'm happy to hear this (pun not intended) even though I've been playing 5.1 games with a onkyo reciver that can convert it to 7.1...so I wont hear any different then what I do now..
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Posted: Jan 7th 2008 6:36PM (Unverified) said
Dont tell anyone, but this is really Assassins Creed 2. Its a secret.
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Posted: Jan 7th 2008 7:49PM (Unverified) said
No the future is 10.5 sound! I want to hear a movie or game in 10 and a half directions while the sounds of my wife, children, and conscience go unheard.
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Posted: Jan 7th 2008 8:14PM theintellicow said
I'm... deaf in my right ear. Like, stone deaf. I listen to my iPod with a single earbud and a cheapo Radio Shack stereo-to-mono adapter. So, allow me a rueful chuckle at the notion of 7.1 surround.
You know what game sucks? Marco Polo. For serious. Try it with one ear plugged; it's tragic.
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You know what game sucks? Marco Polo. For serious. Try it with one ear plugged; it's tragic.
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 8:24PM (Unverified) said
Sounds sexy, but I'm sticking with stereo. I'd rather spend my money on audiophile stereo than passable 7.1
....at least until I win the lottery and become able to afford audiophile 7.1
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....at least until I win the lottery and become able to afford audiophile 7.1
Posted: Jan 7th 2008 9:11PM jynxycat said
What's that you say, audiophile stereo sound ?
We got you covered
http://gizmodo.com/341307/dr-dre-creates-beats-by-dr-dre-headphones-with-monster-cable
Reply
We got you covered
http://gizmodo.com/341307/dr-dre-creates-beats-by-dr-dre-headphones-with-monster-cable
Posted: Jan 8th 2008 2:36AM ThornedVenom said
First game to support 7.1 surround sound? Meh.
Wake me up when the first game to support volume level 11 comes out.
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Wake me up when the first game to support volume level 11 comes out.
Posted: Jan 8th 2008 4:09AM (Unverified) said
Technically my amp can be "9.4" as it can output to two sets of Front L/R speakers and 4 active subwoofers simultaneously, but I think that's a bit overkill. Heck, a single subwoofer is enough to make me worry about my neighbours - can't fathom what 4 subs would be like...
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Posted: Jan 8th 2008 4:10AM kedward71 said
Technically my amp can be "9.4" as it can output to two sets of Front L/R speakers and 4 active subwoofers simultaneously, but I think that's a bit overkill. Heck, a single subwoofer is enough to make me worry about my neighbours - can't fathom what 4 subs would be like...
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Posted: Jan 8th 2008 11:16PM (Unverified) said
Hi guys i am very happy to hear that now onwards games are supported with 7.1(i purchased it just 10 days ago) and i am very eagre to play prototype in it.
Cheers...
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Cheers...
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