THX Gaming?

Regardless of your opinion of THX, George Lucas, or advanced sound processing in games, you have to admit that this tidbit is pretty cool.

I don't have the article to paraphrase, but in this months "Home Theatre" magazine, there was an article that announced THX's split from Lucasfilm (they will still be affiliated with Lucas, but not as a partnership). They also split the company into different divisions/departments. One of with was a "gaming" department. The article mentioned that they were pursueing a standard for both hardware and software THX certification.

I'm not sure how it would be different than regular home theatre certification, and my opionion of THX was only so-so previous to this article (though the news that they cut ties with Lucas is good news to me), I think that since is potentially landmark. I wonder if this could bring a bit more respect and prestige to the industry, or at least could lead to a great emphasis on better sound processing.

Your thoughts?


again, sorry I don't have the article. Any Home Theatre subscribers around here? otherwise, I'll post it as soon as I can

THX is a quality standard. Nothing more, so what they have to say or do is pretty useless.

I can read owners manuals and spec out hardware without someone shilling to THX for that little label.

I would like the sound effects and such to get better in games to specifically take advantage of THX or even Dolby. Sound, thus far, has been pretty flat in videogames.

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Originally posted by Andrew
I would like the sound effects and such to get better in games to specifically take advantage of THX or even Dolby. Sound, thus far, has been pretty flat in videogames.

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You clearly don't own an Xbox.

Yes I do but I don't have a surround sound system. Even so the sound on a movie far outdoes the sound in a game.

If you say so...I have an expensive surround sound system, and the audio engineering and samples in Halo are amazing. Use of surround is also very cleverly crafted (in the raining jungle level, I just stopped playing for a bit and listened to it all).

MechAssault is great too on an surround sound system. Best sounding explosions I've heard in a game, and it will track individual missiles zooming by you in 3D space.

-hey!: Wait a minute, if you don't have surround sound, why even complain that not enough games support it?

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Originally posted by Andrew
Yes I do but I don't have a surround sound system. Even so the sound on a movie far outdoes the sound in a game.

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I don't agree with this statement. Movies seem to focus more on special effects. I have yet to watch a movie that makes me feel like I'm living it like Ghost Recon does when I'm playing. when you're hiding and you can hear the enemy surround you but you can't see them it is pretty amazing. Get surround sound and you'll see what I'm speaking of.

THX was first used in a game by LucasArts with Bounty Hunter, which surprises me, you'd think they would co-operate more in between departments.

Maybe it's because I don't have surround sound or something like that. I feel the music and sound effects in a movie like Star Wars, most horror flicks and LOTR are greatly ahead of any games out on the market.

Halo did have a really good sound system though.

Played UT2003 through me dolby setup the other day :O
Pretty loud! The whole room was shaking when firing.

I've been pretty happy with my Sony STR-D990, with time lapsed Pro-Logic. Play games like the Gamecube's Resident Evil, Star Fox or Star Wars: Rogue Leader, to really appreciate how good surround sound is. Lucas Arts games have used THX in many of thier titles, dating back to the N64.

Ahh! I forgot Lucas Arts made games. (duh!) I wish I had surround sound. I have it downstairs on my HDTV but not upstairs where the games are.