With E3 just around the corner, we thought we would share our official appointment calendar with our loyal readers. We have set up some pretty cool demos such as Left4Dead, Fallout 3, Project Origin, and a bunch more. This list is only our appointments mind you, we will still be bringing news from the show floor as well throughout the event.
Author - Jerry Paxton
I must start this by saying that I am no audiophile. I am a gamer. So I do not know about decibels and other things with complex molecular structures. I know frame rates and how things sound to me as I smite my numerous enemies, see them driven before me, and hear the lamentation of their virtual women. Its what I do.
The Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty sound card is their second foray into the world of the PCI-E interface. Primarily used for graphics cards up to this point, it is good to see some additional hardware for the faster interface. 
This is, without a doubt, the coolest-design for a card that Creative Labs has ever made. The circuit board is semi-enclosed and shielded by a black metal casing that gives the X-Fi Titanium the look of a cartridge that would record data aboard Blue Thunder. It features color-coded input ports on its backside that make connecting your speakers extremely simple. I remember a time when I would connect the plugs, run the surround sound test, and try again and again until it was correct. Well, times have changed. We have colors now. On our original X-Fi Fatality, the lack of optical plugs was disturbing. Creative has added such an option now with an optical input and output. This makes it much easier to connect to your home theater’s receiver/decoder. On the outer edge of the card when seated on the mobo is the standard X-Fi logo, back lit in white when the PC is running.
Installing the card physically was not a chore by any means, the card itself is fairly small and it fit within the case without issue. If you have two video cards installed, there could be an issue getting it to fit, however. After installing the software, you have to type in this special code to activate your product over the web. This is a new security feature Creative has introduced and we are still not sure what their long-term reasons are for doing this. The biggest problem we encountered while installing this new Sound Blaster was a problem with the drivers in Windows Vista. At first setup, the OS would not recognize the card. We had to reinstall everything (did not take too long thankfully) and the second time, the card was identified. During our research on this issue, we found that most people having issues with the X-Fi Titanium are Windows Vista users, so hopefully we will see improvements with the next-gen Creative drivers.
Now for the technical gobbledygook, with talk of all the incredible features and things the card can do (no, I don’t understand alot of this either):
Technical Specs
- 24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96kHz sample rate
- 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output
- 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 192kHz to stereo output
- 16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
- ASIO 2.0 support at 16-bit/44.1kHz, 16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring
- Enhanced SoundFont support at up to 24-bit resolution
- 64MB of X-RAM
We ran a benchmark during play of our favorite current title, the MMO Age of Conan. We ran the FRAPS benchmark utility in three separate trials per mode and then averaged each together. Our build:
- AMD AM2 6000+ Black Edition CPU
- 4096 DDR2-800 RAM
- BFG GTX-280 OC Video Card
- ASUS M2N-SLI DLX Mobo
Our three modes of operation were using the new X-Fi Titanium, the older X-Fi XtremeGamer (which is a PCI card), and the standard on board Asus sound chipset. Age of Conan’s audio settings were all set to MAX and all to 5.1 surround sound mode. Video settings were set to 1920×1200 with 8xAAQ, SM 3.0, and 75% slider settings. Once was all said and done, we ended up with this:
What we saw was that when it came down to sheer FPS, the on board sound card actually performed better than the new X-Fi Titanium by one frame per second, a negligible increase at best. The older X-Fi XtremeGamer fared only slightly worse, falling two frames per second behind the newer model. With these numbers, it is safe to say that the kind of sound card did not matter in this title. The X-Fi cards we used had 64MB of X-RAM each, but this did not sway the bench at all due to Age of Conan’s not taking advantage of that feature. The X-RAM has been a mixed bag with only a handful of games taking advantage of its abilities of off-loading audio to the sound card itself, freeing up more CPU cycles.
By these results, you would think we would be denouncing the X-Fi Titanium, but in reality, we are praising it for two simple reasons: Sound quality and channel separation. In our tests, the biggest thing that stuck out to our ears was that the audio coming from the newer X-Fi model was noticeably ‘crisper’ and ‘richer’ than even the older X-Fi. Additionally, the 5.1 channel separation was MUCH more defined and immersive. We can’t wait to try it out on a 7.1 channel system as soon as possible.
With that and the additional features that EAX, the Crystalizer, and the inclusion of Dolby Digital Live provide, it is hard not to recommend this card to gamers looking for the most immersive audio experience possible. Audiophiles will enjoy the card with all its audio-processing mojo, as will home theater PC builders, but REALLY big audio geeks (we use the term with love) might consider picking up the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty ‘Champion’ series card that comes with a 5.25” drive bay panel with lots of extra sweet audio ports, knobs, and switches to rub your ears all over in aural glee.
Overall, however, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty is an excellent sound card for your PC with the best sound quality our ears have perceived and some wicked surround sound processing. At an MSRP of $149 dollars, it won’t break your bank either.
GSC Game World and Deep Silver have released the box art for the upcoming prequel to the popular FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R. called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is set for release on August 29th.
Packshot after the jump!
Official Release:
GSC Game World, computer games developer, its publishing subdivision GSC World Publishing and Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, today announce the official box shot for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, the long-awaited prelude to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is a survival FPS game for PC based on a ‘what-if’ scenario of the second Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. The game is created as a warning to mankind against mindless play with technologies. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is the official prequel to the renowned S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game by the Ukraine-based GSC Game World studio. The game is set in 2011and brings forth the events to have preceded the third cam-paign of Strelok to the Zone center. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky introduces an alternative look onto the events of the original game and offers the player to try himself out as a mercenary s.t.a.l.k.e.r. in search of his own path in the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Rockstar Games has pushed back their upcoming racer, Midnight Club: Los Angeles, to October 7th for North America and October 10th for Europe. They are also releasing the PSP title Midnight Club: L.A. Remix simultaneously. Midnight Club: Los Angeles promises an open-world where players are free to roam and explore as they like.
Official Release:
Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) today announced a new release date for the fourth installment of its critically-acclaimed and genre-defining Midnight Club franchise, Midnight Club: Los Angeles. Set for release on October 7th in North America and October 10th in Europe and developed by series creator Rockstar San Diego, Midnight Club: Los Angeles will give gamers the unprecedented freedom to race through a hyper-realistic LA.
Also scheduled for release simultaneously, Midnight Club: LA Remix for the PSP® system will provide another incredible portable racing experience. Developed by Rockstar London, the game will take full advantage of the hardware to deliver the unrivaled sense of speed and style that the best-selling Midnight Club series is known for.
Over the course of our history, there have been a large number of stories where heroic, legendary soldiers risk life and limb to accomplish lofty, idealistic goals for the free world. These heroes do not need thanks, payment, or anyone to know of their deeds. The characters in B-Company…Are NOT these kinds of soldiers…
Nor are most people that altruistic. Indeed, one of the things we admire most about the single-player portion of the shooter is the bantering that goes on between your squad mates and their fairly sardonic (yet highly amusing) views on life, each other, and everything else. In Battlefield: Bad Company, you play as a new recruit to B-Company, a special four-man squad in the U.S. Army full of very skilled rejects from regular units.
Usually a multiplayer PC gaming developer, EA’s DICE studio has really outdone themselves with BF:BC, as the single-player campaign is very engaging once it picks up. The first few opening assignments are a little bland, and totally opposed to how the game ‘feels’ later on thankfully. Gameplay in the campaign is fairly straight forward. You can, of course, drive and fight from vehicles which is particularly entertaining. The combat on foot is action-packed and exciting as well. However, the best part about the gameplay are the destructible environments. Alot of games these days are touting this feature, but few have delivered like BF: BC. Nearly anything can be demolished and nearly any structure can have hole shot into it. The size of these holes is up to you. Watch an enemy soldier run for cover inside a building and surprise the heck out of him by blowing the wall up in front of him.
Unfortunately, the AI in the game is a bit spotty, and every so often you will find an enemy standing in the open waiting for your to blow them away. Thankfully, most of the NPCs have terrific fighting AI and can be a real challenge when you find the cover you are hiding behind had been blown away!
Some reviews have criticized the game’s graphics but we think they look great and provide plenty of depth and detail to satisfy. Explosions look terrific and powerful, and character animations are fluid. The sound effects are excellent and if you get the chance to play with surround sound you are in for a treat as the sound channel separation is calculated extremely well.
Something that should have been included but for some reason was not is a co-op campaign. Battlefield: Bad Company has a good multiplayer engine and one has a hard time understanding why a co-op campaign was not added. Sure, it might not have had all the squad banter but playing in a co-op game with your buddies would make up for it.
Overall, Battlefield: Bad Company is a strong, action-packed shooter that gives gamers plenty of explosions to keep coming back for more while not patronizing them with gratuity alone. The combination of storyline and gameplay mechanics make for a great, engaging time.
Vivendi Games has launched the Bourne Conspiracy on the ‘mobile’ platform, basically meaning cell phones. The game appears to be primarily a side-scrolling fighter. You can find out more at vgmobile.com
Official Release:
Vivendi Games Mobile, a division of Vivendi Games, today announced the launch of Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy™ on mobile phones throughout Europe. The mobile game allows players to become Jason Bourne – experiencing the action as both the hunter and hunted, playing as both trained CIA assassin and marked government agent on the run.
The mobile experience features the signature Bourne-style action taking players deeper than ever before into the world of action and espionage. With a seamless blend of hand-to-hand combat, gunplay, dramatic escapes and driving, players will experience an adventure on their mobile phones like never before.
Microsoft in cooperation with iGames centers will having more Xbox LIVE HD Game Nights throughout the ten weeks between July 9th and September 18th. The event, taking place at various iGames centers, allows gamers to get together and not only take part in game tournaments but also enjoy HD movies and TV shows.
Official Release:
WHAT: Leading game center organization iGames will host a new and expanded season of Xbox LIVE® HD Game Nights, an exclusive 10-week series celebrating the wide-ranging HD content available on Xbox LIVE.
WHEN & WHERE: Every Wednesday and Thursday night July 9 through September 18 at 40 select iGames member centers across North America (July 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31; August 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28; Sept. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18)
WHY YOU SHOULD GO:
• Red-hot games like Halo 3 and Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ in addition to your favorite arcade and casual games
• Free HD showings of popular movies and TV shows
• Tons of free stuff, such as 4000 MS Point Cards, 1600 MS Point Cards, 64 MB Xbox 360 Memory Units, Xbox 360 Silver Faceplates, Xbox T-Shirts XL, Xbox blankets
Every so often comes a product that just proves itself to be too damned handy to pass on purchasing. Aerielle’s i2i Stream digital music broadcaster is one such example. In short, the i2i Stream broadcasts an audio signal over a frequency to be picked up by other i2i Stream devices within range. These receiving devices can be attached to headphones or larger speaker systems and reproduces the audio in near-CD quality.
Sounds like a simple enough device, but what caught our eyes, ahem, ears here in the GamingShogun offices was a glint of genius. When used properly, the i2i Stream can wirelessly connect your home or office for high quality music. We attached one of our two units to the resident Zune and the other to a desktop speaker system from Logitech. The result was that everyone here could enjoy the music I selected from my Zune…everything…
Even the stuff not much appreciated ’round these parts. Like the Allman Brothers Band…Alot of people just don’t get those guys… But, I digress.
The i2i Stream device is unique in that it is a transceiver, meaning it can both receive and transmit audio (although not at the same time). By simply clicking either mode button you can go from tuned listener to DJ. The audio is broadcast over a 2.4gHz signal within a 30 foot range. You can select one of seven different color-coordinated channels to transmit on. Just have your loyal fans set their receiving devices to the same color and you are all set.
Its high frequency signal can even penetrate light structures to really bring that wireless party to a boiling point. Aside from wirelessly connecting your home or office, Aerielle has marketed the devices to the younger crowd, looking to share music at school, the coffee house, etc. The device is very portable and would perform well in this role with battery life ranging from five to seven hours on a full charge.
Overall, we have to say that the Aerielle i2i Stream digital music broadcaster is a very handy tool for groups of audiophiles looking for a community experience as well as office-goers looking to rig their place of business for sound sans those easy-to-trip over wires.
A two pack costs $99.95 while one unit will set you back $59.95
Official i2i Website
Diablo III has officially been announced via the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational event in Paris, France by Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. The announcement came during the opening cermony and was met with massive applause and adulation from the large crowd.
We were able to remotely liveblog the conference for a while in between signal losses. We got a few raw captures from the footage shown.
In-game images and large splash after the break!
Official Site
Press conference still going, Blizzard CEO giving overview of Barbarian class with in-game play.
Barbarian class looks to play very similar to Diablo II, but is able to use the environment to aid in his attacks. Using debris, etc. Also will have mercenaries in Diablo III to aid you in your quest.
Some images from the stream:
Another in-game shot from the stream, notice the new skill bar in between the two indicator globes:
Also shown Witch Doctor class which can summon walls of zombies to attack your enemies. Notice the new all-3D game engine. The graphics of the stream are definitely better than screenshots can convey. Can’t wait for official images to come down the pipe.
Now seeing a boss battle:
The action seems fast and furious as we have come to expect from the series. The atmospher of the game based on the footage shown seems to be ‘right on’ and I can’t wait to see more.
And thats it! More to come in time…
PAX announced today that Sony, Nintendo, EA, and Microsoft will all be on-hand during the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle from August 29th through 31st. Also in attendance will be the Ghostbuster’s ECTO-1 hearse, the PAX 10 indy games showcase, and Video Games Live!
Official Release:
The organizers of the fifth annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) today announced key details of the upcoming gaming festival, to be held Aug. 29-31, 2008 at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle.
This year’s exhibit floor will offer PAX attendees hands-on time with highly anticipated games and products from more exhibitors than ever, including Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, EA, Activision and Ubisoft (see below for a complete exhibitor list). In addition to seeing a massive number of pre-release games on its show floor, attendees can expect a bevy of panels, the Omegathon gaming competition, tournaments, and more. First details of PAX 2008 programming include:
– The ECTO-1, of Ghostbusters fame, will be on display for all three days of PAX
– The PAX 10 independent games showcase, to thrill and delight you
– Two nights of music that will almost certainly change your life
‘We nearly doubled our exhibition hall and added another 80,000 square feet of content overall, so the show is going to be pretty amazing this year,’ says Penny Arcade’s Robert Khoo. ‘You should come. I think you would like it.’