Creative GameCODA Audio Middleware Will Support The Next Generation Xbox

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Creative Technology Ltd., the creator of Sound Blaster®, the worldwide standard for PC audio, and a worldwide leader in digital entertainment solutions, today announced that its GameCODA® audio middleware tools will support the next generation Xbox® platform.

"Our new agreement with Microsoft gives Creative a great opportunity to expand our relationship with the game development community," said George Thorn, director of developer relations for Creative. "We're providing a platform that allows easy implementation of high-quality audio in cross-platform titles for the next generation Xbox platform, so developers can create for the PC and the console at the same time."

GameCODA is the first truly cross-platform audio middleware solution available to game developers. The software, which is based on technology acquired from Sensaura, empowers PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Xbox programmers, sound designers and engineers to easily integrate complete, high-quality audio into their game titles.

"We see high-definition audio as a fundamental component of the next generation Xbox platform and its titles," said Tracey Frankcom, program manager, Xbox tools and middleware at Microsoft. "Creative's GameCODA audio middleware will complement our platform to support Xbox developers in creating compelling, immersive games."

In addition to next-generation console titles, upcoming current-generation games such as Worms 4: Mayhem by Team 17 have adopted GameCODA to enhance their in-game audio.

"We were very impressed with the depth of features that GameCODA provides to enhance the audio in Worms 4," said Mark Baldwin, producer at Team 17. "The user friendly toolset, the efficient implementation on the hardware of all the main gaming platforms, and the dedicated support team has made the audio development that much easier for us."

Features of GameCODA include:

3D audio with a choice of 3D rendering algorithms which include head-related transfer function (HRTF) positioning and a sophisticated environment reverb;
2D functionality that includes mixing, streaming, volume/pan change, and pitch shifting;
Interactive sound effects that include filters, envelope generators, and Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs);
Various output formats: stereo TV speakers, up to 5.1 speaker configurations and headphones.

WHEN:
Creative will be demonstrating the new features of the GameCODA audio middleware solution, along with its Interactive Spatial Audio Composition Tools (ISACT) and its EAX ADVANCED HD engine, in addition to speaking to developers about OpenAL 1.1, during the 2005 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, March 9-11, at booth 920.

Press Release