Joystiq

Wii Guitar Hero III outputs only mono sound

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:05:00 EST

If it weren't bad enough that Activision shipped out Guitar Hero III with no offline co-op quickplay mode, a few careful listeners have noticed another thing they left out - a few channels of sound.

Audiophilic owners of Guitar Hero III for the Wii have noticed that not only does the game not support Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound systems (despite that feature being advertised), but it doesn't even output sound in stereo. As we all know, it's nearly impossible to pass "Cult of Personality" on Expert unless the manic shredding of Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid washes over you from six different angles.

Apparently, Activision is looking into the problem, though they said in regards to a fix, "the time frame is still unknown." For the time being, we're afraid you're going to have to learn to rock out monaurally.

Wii Guitar Hero III outputs only mono sound originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surround sound with style

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Peripherals

Always wanted surround sound but were afraid that those ugly black components would clash with your pearly white 360? Then Pioneer has the ultimate system for you! Enter the HTP-GS1, the first officially licensed sound system for the 360. Borrowing the aesthetics of the 360 and combining them with top quality sound, Pioneer hopes to sell plenty of these among the five million 360 owners out there.

The system can be set in either a 3.1 or 5.1 configuration. An all-in-one solution, the system has built in decoders, a tuner, a remote control and a separate display for the individual settings. The remote features a Media Center button as well as the Xbox Guide button and the X,Y,A, and B buttons. Also on board is a nifty feature Pioneer calls Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System, or MCACC (shouldn't that be MCACS?). This feature utilizes an embedded microphone that adjusts each individual speaker to fit the acoustics of the room, ensuring that the sound from each speaker reaches your ear at the same time and the same volume. Um...wow.

If you've got about US $500 to spare, you can pick these up this month -- or you could always get something cheaper.

[Thanks, Randy]

Surround sound with style originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative's ProGamer system goes wireless

Alan Rose — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC

Maximum PC has posted a review of Creative's latest contribution to 5.1 gaming, the GigaWorks ProGamer G550W. Creative has improved upon the original G550 system by making the rear channels cord-free, and including a wireless remote control that can also be used with select ZEN and MuVo MP3 players.

The ProGamer G550W retails for $400, but can be had for as little as $305 online. Visit Creative's product page for more information.

Creative's ProGamer system goes wireless originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pioneer 5.1 surround for Xbox 360

Ken Weeks — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals, WMC

European gamers will soon have the opportunity to batter their ear drums with an Xbox 360-branded surround sound set-up "designed specifically" for the next-gen console. Here's a description from the French site Le Journal du Geek (helpfully translated by Xbox-Scene):

The Pioneer HTP-XGS1 5.1 channel surround sound system is designed specifically to work with the Xbox 360. The unit has an output of 600 watts which will blow you away. The HTP-XGS1 is equipped with MCACC which stands for Multi Channel Acoustic Calibration. So what does MCACC do it measures your room's acoustic properties, and automatically adjusts the sound coming out of the speakers to to give you the best listening experience. The remote controller should also allow you to control some of the features of the Xbox 360. There's no price yet, but the device is expected in may in Europe (no US/Jap info yet).

Sounds ok, but other than marketing mumbo jumbo, the only thing that directly relates this product to the 360 is the remote. Couldn't they at least throw in a faceplate or something? Then again, we are fanboys and it does have a 360 logo on the cardboard. If the price point is decent I guess your purchase depends on whether or not your obnoxious audio snob friends will laugh at you for having a home-theater-in-a-box system.

Pioneer 5.1 surround for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Mar 2006 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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