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features Sound Blaster Live! Platinum Written by Clarence Song Sound Blaster Live! for Games One of the selling points of the Sound Blaster Live! and other 3D sound cards are the improved directionality of sound in games. Since the introduction of the Sound Blaster Live! in Q4 1998, Creative has successfully evangelized the EAX (Environmental Audio Extensions) API to game developers. Since then, more and more developers are including support for EAX, and the latest iteration, EAX 2.0 is also slowly gaining momentum. Games like Rogue Spear support the occlusion and obstruction parameters provided in EAX 2.0. Aureal, with their A3D API and Vortex sound cards, have always been a strong competitor to Creative. Many recent surveys have shown that game developers prefer using Microsoft's DirectSound3D API for 3D positioning and Creative's EAX API for environmental effects, rather than the A3D 2.0 API, citing reasons that A3D is more difficult to implement. That said, 3D audio and EAX would be more useful in first person shooters like Quake and Unreal, where you are in an environment and sounds can be positioned accurately and made to bounce off the walls to create echoes. In contrast, strategy games like Starcraft provide an overhead, or bird's eye view of the map, and EAX effects wouldn't be of much help since there isn't a need for ambience if you are looking at tiny soldiers and machines moving about. All in all, 3D positional sound is the way to go for gaming and the Sound Blaster Live! does it very well. In addition, the EAX API is slowly being accepted in the industry as the standard for applying environments to audio in games.   Game Bundle Creative has included full versions of popular games in the bundle. Most of them support DirectSound3D and make good use of EAX effects to add to the ambience of the game. Need For Speed 4: High Stakes The fourth installment of the popular Need For Speed series puts you in the driver's seat of many cool concept vehicles. It includes more features than its predecessors, in particular, the game mode where you race other cars while evading the police, who will be setting up roadblocks and giving chase. An interesting feature added in this installment is the ability to play the game as a police officer to catch traffic offenders. [Need for Speed Web Site] Thief: The Dark Project Thief was one of the first games to implement EAX, and it added much atmosphere to the game. This first-person action game puts you in the shoes of a thief, with missions like looting. Thief is in a unique premise, that being a first person game, it still doesn't promote mindless shooting and killing. Instead, you rely on stealth and your wits to accomplish the mission objectives. [Thief Web Site] Descent 3 The full version of Volition's Descent 3 comes on two CDs. Descent is a first-person game where you fly a ship through tunnels battling robot enemies with a whole arsenal of weapons. What sets this game apart from other first person shooters is the freedom of movement - you can fly up and down in nearly any direction, though sometimes it is rather disorientating! [Descent 3 Web Site] Alien vs Predator (Demo Version) A demo version of Alien vs Predator is included. The Alien and the Predator are both taken from their respective movies, and put into a first person game. Its weird that the full game is included only in the European version. [Web Site] The above games are not included in the European version of the Platinum. Instead, Alien vs Predator (full version, not the demo) and Rollcage (racer) are bundled. This is most probably due to licensing issues.

contents Introduction The CT4760 Card Live!Drive Other Stuff Package contents, digital output options, digital CD audio connection, and other nice touches. Software Bundle Applications Games Creative Apps Installation Existing Owners What about those of us who already own a SBLive! product? Should you upgrade? Conclusion Review Links Find out what other reviewers think of the Platinum. Early Information recent stuff Audigy 2 Information on Creative's latest sound card! The Audigy Forum is open! Extigy Review Audigy Review Contribute information & news Talk in the ALive! Forum Our Sponsor:

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