Getting Intimate With Sound: dSonic Demonstrates Adaptive Audio at Game Developer’s Conference

March 08, 2006

dSonic announced today that it will demonstrate its unique adaptive audio techniques in two AAA titles at this year's Game Developer's Conference, March 20 - 24.

In a patch created for Unreal Tournament using Creative Labs ISACT audio engine, dSonic composed adaptive music that reacts to the fast-paced changes in game play, as well as weapon sounds that surround the player. In addition to the adaptive audio demonstration, dSonic has developed a highly detailed sound environment that evolves in real-time in Namco's Mage Knight: Apocalypse. dSonic is showcasing the concept with Creative Labs in GDC's Exposuites, Room 238.

"What we're showing at GDC is how games and the gaming experience can be improved by collaborating with developers early in the production process," said Kemal Amarasingham, co-founder of dSonic. "When you do that, rather than being just icing on the cake, audio can become part of the game play itself."

dSonic's collaboration with Taiwanese developer Interserv on Mage Knight: Apocalypse has pushed the envelope for what is possible for outsourced audio production. dSonic acted as a remote audio department responsible for the entire audio production of the title, including the implementation of the assets into the game using Interserv's proprietary tools and Creative Labs' audio middleware, ISACT.

Amarasingham continued, "Working with the technology to implement the audio into the game engine allows us to be more effective on the creative side. While composing, we create music and sound effects that will take advantage of the sound engine. We can immediately try them out in the game, and if something doesn't work, we tweak the creative content and put it back in the game."

The resulting benefit for the gamer is increased immersion into a much more detailed and ever-varying sound environment that dSonic believes will surprise RPG fans when Mage Knight Apocalypse is released later in 2006.

About dSonic

dSonic believes that music and sound can be integral to game play. They are leading the game industry's audio efforts by working with top companies like Creative Labs and game developers such as Microsoft Game Studios, Blue Fang, Floodgate Entertainment, Arkane Studios, Mumbo Jumbo, Namco, Ubisoft and Bethesda to create the most realistic and interesting audio for games. dSonic's scores sound effects and dialog have been heard in dozens of popular games like Zoo Tycoon 2, Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide and Gladiator: Swords of Vengance. dSonic's upcoming titles include the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Mage Knight: Apocalypse. For more about dSonic and to listen to audio clips, please visit www.dsonic.com