amBX has the rFactor

CES, Las Vegas - Philips today teamed with Intel Corporation and Image Space Incorporated (ISI) to amBX-enable the PC vehicle racing title series, rFactor. Intel, as Official Corporate Partner of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, earlier commissioned ISI to develop rFactor Special Edition 2006, featuring the team's F1.06 race cars, six new Grand Prix-inspired replica circuits, and software optimizations for Intel® Core 2 Extreme processor technology. The amBX-enabled rFactor Special Edition 2006 experience will be available to play in Intel's ¾-car BMW Sauber F1.06 simulators at the World Series of Video Games Presented by Intel All-Stars event [Central Plaza CP16] at CES, Las Vegas, from 8th to 11th January.

The first instalment in the series, rFactor features mixed class road racing polished with ultra realistic dynamics, an immersive sound environment and stunning graphics. rFactor goes even further to provide incredible flexibility, allowing the series to grow and evolve with the mod community's input, race club information and worldwide user feedback.

Fuel-injecting rFactor with amBX, the forthcoming 'ambient experiences' technology from Philips, will add unprecedented levels of raceway realism through the use of light, colour, air movement, rumble and sound. amBX will deliver effects such as variable airflow over cars, road surface vibration and both environmental and dynamic lighting, including track lighting conditions, crash flashes and explosions, brake lights, start lights, warning lights and flags, dashboard information lights and even the flash of red and white rumble strips.

Using a scripting language, software engine and architecture, amBX has been designed to deliver these all-new player experiences through enabled devices, including the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals range of LED colour-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and desktop fans, all placed strategically around the player's room.

"Image Space has the attention and admiration of serious racing gamers worldwide and rFactor is the perfect vehicle to showcase amBX in action at CES and with the Intel® Core 2 Extreme processor, Intel have once again demonstrated their commitment to creating products which enhance the PC gaming experience for the consumer," commented Jo Cooke, Chief Marketing Officer, Philips amBX. "Thanks to the ongoing feedback of the gaming, modding and racing communities, the rFactor series and associated amBX effects will evolve side by side and the Intel® Core 2 Extreme processor will enable this experience to be delivered to the consumer in the best possible way. This is the start of an exciting revolution for the car racing gameplay experience."

"The reflexes and skill required to rise to the level of professional race drivers are simply incredible, yet we all aspire to have them. No other racing simulator experience delivers as immersive and adrenaline-laden rush as the amBX-enabled rFactor simulators", added Martin Olivero, Director of Global Sponsorships at Intel. "We are pleased to be working with Philips amBX and Image Space to deliver such a rich and exhilarating brand experience that activates our sponsorship of the BMW Sauber F1 Team and showcases the performance of the Intel® Core 2 Extreme processor so well."

Philips is setting a global standard by licensing the amBX technology to computer game developers, publishers and peripherals manufacturers and Intel and Image Space join a rapidly growing fleet of games industry companies supporting amBX-enabled games and peripherals, including Gas Powered Games, Codemasters, Introversion, Kuju, THQ, Revolution, Sumo Digital, Philips Peripherals & Accessories and Logik 3. Philips is currently in the closing stages of agreements with a number of other high profile companies regarding amBX-enabling all kinds of games.