Bangai-O Spirits on DS features unique 'Sound Load' technology

by Scott Jon Siegel { Feb 27th 2008 at 1:55AM }

As we reported last month, classic Treasure shooter Bangai-O will be getting a second life on the DS as Bangai-O Spirits, due for North American release in the second-quarter of 2008. The former Dreamcast game is being published by D3Publisher, and we learned during a special GDC event that it will feature one of the strangest uses of the DS's microphone that we've heard of in a while.

The "Sound Load" feature on Bangai-O Spirits will allow users to share custom levels, high scores, and replay videos as sound. Sound. When the mode is active, the selected data is converted into an audio track, which is played through the speaker of one DS, and can be intercepted by the microphone of another, where it is read and turned back into game data. The sound files can even be uploaded to computer, for easy sharing of content over the internet. We're as amazed as you are.

Bangai-O Spirits will also feature competitive and co-op multiplayer for 1-4 players through local wireless. For more information on the game, do check out DS Fanboy's colorful overview. We've also appended a gallery of new screenshots (which don't quite capture the game's hectic and explosive gameplay).

Gallery: Bangai-O Spirits (DS)

Tags: bangai-o, bangai-o-spirits, d3publisher, GDC08, treasure

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ThornedVenom (Patapornographer) @ Feb 27th 2008 2:13AM

And its contribution to society is... ?

seasidebaz @ Feb 27th 2008 3:04AM

woo zx spectrum-style loading ftw!

Dustin @ Feb 27th 2008 3:12AM

Converting data to "sound", transmitting, and converting this "sound" to data is called MOdulation / DEModulation a.k.a. it's a MODEM. Certainly not a new concept by any means, but is an unusual place to use such an idea.

Kn1ves @ Feb 27th 2008 3:31AM

Wonder if the guy from Police Academy can hook me up with some insane custom level

Dio @ Feb 27th 2008 4:06AM

Gah, I was thinking the same thing XD I also wonder if you can just make up your own noises and have it work...

Forgot69 @ Feb 27th 2008 3:41AM

Ummm... does someone wanna let the developers know that the DS has adhoc wifi? ;)

ScallionN @ Feb 27th 2008 4:33AM

Because this sounds cooler.

caramelzappa @ Feb 27th 2008 3:55AM

So why aren't they using wifi?

Micah @ Feb 27th 2008 4:35AM

Interesting feature. Too bad it's on such a dull sounding game.

WiNG @ Feb 27th 2008 10:15AM

Hint: Treasure doesn't make dull games.

Moofree @ Feb 27th 2008 10:47AM

Go play Bangai-O on Dreamcast and tell me it's dull.

Peter R. @ Feb 27th 2008 5:04AM

Ah, wouldn't nearby noise be an issue when sending data to a nearby DS? Transmitting data over Wifi is better, although the sound load feature is cool, its not very practical.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Feb 27th 2008 5:51AM

why isnt it practical? every DS has speakers just like it has a microphone. and very few people use a computer without speakers anyway. this way people can share online better since you can exactly plug a DS up to the computer and get new levels. this also bypasses friend codes too. sounds like a good idea to me. seems like it has wifi also though.

Nate @ Feb 27th 2008 8:15AM

It's not practical because you get horrible interference. The speaker on the DS is not high quality, the microphone on the DS is not high quality, and background noise will interfere.

AND IT HAS WIFI! For god's sake, people, why on earth would you do something so inane as to use modem technology through the air instead of the wifi?

WiNG @ Feb 27th 2008 10:16AM

It's not practical because it blows your cover while you play DS during your class/meeting/aunt's funeral.

SoB @ Feb 27th 2008 5:18AM

My one-for-all remote is upgraded just like that. You call the support centre, tell them your device, and they play a sound over the phone to your remote control and voila! it can operate your device!!
You can also do it online.

And yes it sounds just like a good old ZX Spectrum game loading. Bless.

J.Goodwin @ Feb 27th 2008 7:35AM

It couldn't be simpler:

LOAD"Bangai-OGhost",8,1

Then push play.

WizarDru @ Feb 27th 2008 8:03AM

Will they give us a special coupler unit, too? Explain to me why I'd want to do this, rather than use the BUILT-IN WIRELESS technology on the DS? This idea might have been cool...in 1998.

Sounds like a gimmick looking for a use.

C.A. @ Feb 27th 2008 8:23AM

Wow-wee! It's got sound-O-mography!

Seriously though guys, do you every thing about how CD's work or hard drives, or telecommunications, or the various other ways that data is transferred? Yeah it's cool to think about as a whole, but this isn't anything new or more astonishing than any of the other million things that happen on a daily basis in technology.

Marshmallow713 @ Feb 27th 2008 8:46AM

Just when you think you've gotten away from the horror of the modem blowing your ear-drums every time you log onto the internet, someone has to bring it back...

Oh man, won't it be cool when we can plug out devices into wires and by-pass this annoying technological hindrance? Oh wait...

Chase @ Feb 27th 2008 11:08AM

Well, at least kids will now know our pain.

mocax @ Feb 27th 2008 9:23AM

Maybe when you're loading some stuff and your mom yelled at you to finish your lunch, you suddenly get one badass powerup.

Marty @ Feb 27th 2008 10:46AM

Ya, This 'technology' came out a little bit ago. I think the system was called the Commodore Vic-20. Ahh.. cassette tapes..

shMerker @ Feb 27th 2008 1:29PM

The DS also has ports that bypass the system microphone and speakers, so you could actually use a custom cable to directly connect two DSs or a DS and a computer together, but honestly this whole concept amounts to using tin-cans when you have a cell-phone.

The only functionality it adds beyond what's normally done on a DS game is potentially storing on a PC. I have a feeling that this has something to do with what Nintendo allows developers to do with wi-fi, and D3Publisher looking for a way around that.