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March 22, 2001



Sony Develops 3D Sound Middleware "S-FORCE 3D Sound Library" for
"PlayStation®2"*1 Titles

Reproduction of Three Dimensional Sound through 2-Channel Speakers
(Tokyo, Japan) - Sony Corporation today announced the development of
middleware for PlayStation®2 titles named "S-FORCE 3D Sound Library"
that can reproduce the dynamic sound by simply connecting the L/R 2-channel
audio AV output on PlayStation 2 to a stereo television or stereo active
speakers.
In recent years, improvements in 3D (CG) processing technologies for
characters, objects, etc. have enabled computer game images to become
more vivid and three-dimensional. Along with the improvements in picture
quality, the demand for more realistic sound production has also grown.
Virtual sound technologies*2 realized by Sony
through developments of various audio devices are adapted into the "S-FORCE
3D Sound Library" middleware. By simply playing back a game title with
this middleware on a PlayStation 2, three-dimensional sound image movement
and positions that vividly portrait the movements of a character can
be reproduced through 2-channel front speakers such as stereo televisions.
With capability of reproducing the three-dimensional sound as if the
speaker was just beside or behind, this middleware generates a potential
for new game entertainment with more realistic representation and dynamic
story development in unification of sound and graphics.
Sony plans to supply the 3D sound middleware "S-FORCE
3D Sound Library" to game developers/publishers*3
from April 2001.
In autumn 2001, KONAMI CORPORATION plans to release the PlayStation
2 title, "Silent Hill 2" produced by KCE Tokyo, Inc., featuring
this middleware for the first time. They are currently planning to showcase
this new title at the Tokyo Game Show 2001 Spring starting from March
30th, 2001.
*1 "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc.
*2 "Virtual original technology" is a technology developed by
Sony; it performs recognition analysis of sound direction on the basis
of extensive acoustic data including Head-Related Transfer Functions
(HRTF) for over 10,000 points. It can produce a three-dimensional sound
that is difficult to produce by conventional methods.
*3 Customers are limited to game developers/publishers who have
signed the license agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications
and information technology products for the consumer and professional
markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line
businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be a leading broadband entertainment
company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of more
than $63 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. Sony's Home
Page URL: http://www.sony.net/
Inquiries Regarding Middleware Sales:
Home Audio Division
Home Network Company Sony Corporation
Email: info_snd@auau.sony.co.jp
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