Complexity Edition Arena Surround Gaming Headsets…first look!

Hey there folks,

VERY excited to announce our limited edition Arena headsets featuring the Complexity gaming logo and team colors.

The Complexity team will be wearing these headsets in all of their matches (including the MLG and Dallas events this weekend).

When we started our partnership with the Complexity gaming brand we knew we were signing on with the most storied US gaming teams ever. And it just made sense to come up with a headset that would live up to this brand. So what better than to have the brand that STARTED PC gaming audio and the gaming team that ELEVATED team e-sports to the next level coming together to create a truly badass product?

The goal here was to take advantage of the already striking look of the Arena headset and customize it for the players (and their fans!).  These definitely will stand out from the crowd for sure.

And yeah…they are loaded with Sound Blaster tech and sound pretty damn sweet as well.

We’ll be launching this to the public within the next week or so with a special offer that we’ll be announcing on the Complexity website.  So stay tuned coL fans for more info!

As always…much more to come.

Ryan (AKA DigitalRonyn)

Arena Surroud Blog Photo 1

arena surround blog photo 2

Sound Blaster Windows 7 Drivers

Well if you’re here you probably have seen the front page of  SoundBlaster.com

As many (if not all) of you are aware Windows 7 has officially launched.

Our social media maven Tawnee had me sit down and give a brief summary of where you can find the drivers and some other info about our prep for the Win 7 launch.

So take a look if you’re interested!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLERGMaqPGk

Ryan (AKA DigitalRonyn)

Arena…Complexity style.

So we’ve been busy…oh so busy here in Sound Blaster land. As many (if not all of you) know we’re sponsors for Complexity Gaming…a legendary gaming brand in its own right. In recognition of that status and the launch of the Sound Blaster Arena we’re busting out a Complexity Edition version of the Arena headset so fans of coL can show the colors at events or at home.
Here’s a sneak preview of the coL edition of the Arena:

Arena Surround Complexity Edition

The headset will be shipping in mid Nov from Creative.com with a special launch promo (coL fans will love what we have cooking) and the team will begin wearing the headsets in competition starting in November as well. They already are using the standard edition Arenas in recent events including their recent ESL-I Championship  win.

AND…if you want a shot at winning one of these bad boys at ship time. Hop on over to our Sound Blaster facebook page and sign up as a fan. We’ll be giving out 3 of these limited edition headsets to random fans at launch! So go…click..now!

The fans have been asking..and we’ve delivered.

As always…MUCH more to come!
Ryan (AKA DigitalRonin)

Updates from the Arena! (yes..some WoW headset info too)

Hello Sound Blaster fans,

It’s certainly been a VERY busy past few weeks here so apologies for the lack of updates here. Should be back to our regular scheduled updating moving forward.

For starters we’ve officially launched the Sound Blaster Arena Surround gaming headset and it’s off to a fantastic start getting positive reviews from the public and press reviews should be hitting the web and print any day now. I’ll pop up the links here when they go live.

I’ve had many questions about “why” the Arena is “such a big deal”. And really I can sum it up with the fact that it’s the first headset to bear the Sound Blaster brand. A culmination of technology if you will. Really what the Arena reflects is the change in PC gaming in general. As PC gaming has evolved it has become more and more social to the point where single player games now are few and far between and the PC gaming core is mostly playing team or MMO based games.

With games going online and communication being a key factor to succeeding in those games, the Arena has been designed to excel in the “new-world” of PC gaming. In fact the Arena was originally designed to be the on-air headset for the CGS gaming league…which is where Silencer came to light since it would effectively eliminate the loud background crowd noise while the teams were competing in studio.

It just so happens that that technology ends up being perfect for those at home as well. We of course tweaked the design and came to market once the product was “ready”.

With the Sound Blaster Arena there’s now a solution for every type of PC gamer. Those on the go, those with massive rigs at home…or those of a casual nature just looking to get their game on. It’s the evolution of the internal sound card to the external world WITH the actual delivery device attached.  It’s the new generation of sound “card”.

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I’ve also received a LOT of questions in regards to the World of Warcraft Wireless headset that we debuted back at Blizzcon.  I know many of you out there are waiting in anticipation for the headset.

Without saying too much I can say we’re launching the headset “when it’s ready” taking a page from the company you all know and love…but I can say..we’re close…so close. If you managed to see the prototype at Blizzcon you haven’t seen ANYTHING yet.

Here’s a little mini faq to hit up some of the questions we’ve got in regards to the headset:

Q. When is it shipping?

A. Soon ™.

Seriously though. We’re putting polish and the touches on the headset that is going to truly put this headset in a class of its own. I really want to emphasize that this hardware is NOT a simple “slap the brand on it and sell a ton” project. It’s been painstakingly crafted to push design and technology.  The wait will be worth it.

Santa should be packing these in his sleigh…

Q. Will there be pre-orders?

A. YES. Stay tuned to SoundBlaster.com for more info. There are definitely going to be pre-0rders. If you haven’t already signed up on the info page for the headset…I highly suggest you do. You’ll get the info the moment it goes live.

Q. Will the headset work with a laptop?

A. Absolutely it will. It’s ideal for desktops OR laptops. AND…it works with PC or MAC. So all you Apple lovers out there will have cutting edge gaming audio at your disposal …in wireless glory. Another big milestone for us here at Sound Blaster / Creative.

Q. What’s the story about THX TruStudio PC? How is it different than X-Fi tech?

THX TruStudio PC is built from the ground up to enhance a gaming , music and movies. It definitely pulls from our X-Fi experience but it isn’t just a rehash of the tech. We’ve employed different methods and refined many things. The Surround portion is particularly impressive. CMSS 3D is hands down the best headset / headphone surround out there right now…THX Surround takes this to another level.  I’ve also particularly enjoyed the Bass enhancement in the THX suite as well. It makes even low end 2.0 speakers or built in laptop speakers sound respectable. No joke. It’s the real deal. When you couple this with a headset that has a nice set of drivers you’ll have all the bass you need. This tech is made to work within several applications and really adds to your entertainment experience. THX is synonymous with entertainment. All of us have at one time or another sat in a movie screen and had their hearts start to pump when that very familiar THX sound comes through the speakers (my favorite being the Simpsons version of it). We’re bringing that excitement to the desktop.

Q. So when does it ship again?

A. See first question above.

Q. Is there only a wireless version?

A. No. Both wireless and wired versions will be available at ship time.

That’s it for now.

Be sure to check out the Sound Blaster Arena if you’re looking for that competitive headset…you won’t be sorry!
And as always. MUCH more to come (very soon now).
Ryan (AKA DigitalRonin)

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Sound Blaster e-mail Blaster

Hey there Sound Blaster fans!

In case you aren’t aware…our resident PR guru Susie sends out a quarterly email  that updates what we’ve been up to over the past quarter. It’s a great way to see the big picture of Sound Blaster news in a quick and easy read. I’m copying and pasting here on my blog just in case any of you missed it!

You’ll see a sign up icon for this mail appear on the site shortly in case you want to be one of the first for all the latest greatest Sound Blaster news in the future.

Without further ado..here we go….

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Audio e-mail BLASTER Q309

From your friends at Creative

Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Headset

At this year’s BlizzCon Creative unveiled the much-anticipated first units of the Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset.  The headset will include customizable ear cup Glyphs, featuring Horde and Alliance artwork, and programmable 16 million color LEDs.  It will also feature Creative’s newly announced THX TruStudio PC audio technology (more information below) and will be available for pre-order in November.  More information is being released on a regular basis on Creative marketing team member and WoW Guild Master DigitalRonyn’s blog at www.soundblaster.com, so check regularly for new photos and product details.

Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset

The Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset is the first headset to feature both Creative’s Silencer™ noise-suppression technology and Sound Blaster X-Fi® audio technology.  The combination of X-Fi and Silencer  will make you play like a pro.  Speaking of pros, there will also be special edition CompLexity version of the headset released this month.  Check it out exclusively at www.complexitygaming.com.

Creative and THX

You know us as the leaders in PC audio.  You know them as the preeminent brand for ultra high-end sound system engineering.  Now, Creative and THX have partnered to develop THX TruStudio PC™, a suite of audio technology solutions that provide an unprecedented PC audio listening experience.  These technologies enable a significant quality differentiation for OEM PC manufacturers that incorporate the solution into their PCs.  The THX TruStudio PC suite of technologies features THX TruStudio PC Surround™, THX TruStudio PC Crystalizer™, THX TruStudio PC Speaker™, THX TruStudio PC Dialog Plus™ and THX TruStudio PC Smart Volume™.

THX TruStudio PC
THX TruStudio PC is specially designed to bring the same great audio experience found in live performances, films, and recording studios to the PC.  THX TruStudio PC provides groundbreaking technologies that are the product of years of collective experience and research by Creative and THX. Together, these technologies deliver the fullest audio experience for music, movies and games, while remaining true to the source and intention of the artists who created it.

THX TruStudio PC Surround
THX TruStudio PC Surround provides immersion control to enhance the natural sense of audio depth and spaciousness by creating virtual surround sound channels.  Stereo content or multi-channel content played over stereo speakers and headphones will sound as if it’s coming from all sides while voices remain centered in front and original balance and timbre is preserved.

THX TruStudio PC Crystalizer
THX TruStudio PC Crystalizer restores the natural dynamic range that is lost when iTunes and MP3 music gets compressed.  This makes the music sounds as good as the artist originally intended, and adds an enhanced level of realism for movies and games.

THX TruStudio PC Speaker
THX TruStudio PC Speaker fills in the missing low frequency tones and gives the extra impact for a better entertainment experience.  Consumers no longer have to tolerate lack of bass in speakers built into notebook PCs, 2.0 speakers or headphones, as THX TruStudio PC Speaker technology dramatically improves the sound experience without a subwoofer.

THX TruStudio PC Dialog Plus
THX TruStudio PC Dialog Plus enhances the voices in movies for clearer dialog, allowing the listener to hear the dialog over the rest of the soundtrack and over ambient noise in the listening environment.

THX TruStudio PC Smart Volume
THX TruStudio PC Smart Volume addresses the problem of abrupt volume level changes during playback and between songs by automatically and continuously measuring volume, and intelligently applying gain and attenuation to compensate for those changes.

For more information check out www.creative.com or www.thx.com.

Creative and CompLexity Gaming in North America

Creative sponsored pro gaming team CompLexity is continuing to dominate competitions and its world class Counter-Strike team recently won the CEVO-Professional Championship.  Also, its World of Warcraft team finished third at MLD Dallas.
In addition, the organization recently signed Quake and Unreal Tournament legend Brian “dkt” Flander, a WCG world champion in Unreal Tournament.  CompLexity has also acquired Madden Champion Len “Dynasty” Green.  Dynasty boasts a long list of accomplishments, not least of which that he won virtually every major Madden event in 2008, including the EA Madden Challenge.

CompLexity Gaming was formed in 2003 and since that time has become known as a global leader in gaming.

Ways to Follow Creative

For up to the minute information on Creative products, partnerships and driver updates there are several ways you can follow us:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Sound-Blaster-X-Fi/33831617258?ref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CreativeLabs
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/wearecreativelabs
SoundBlaster.com Blogs: http://www.soundblaster.com/community/welcome.aspx

Optimize the performance of your Creative Sound Blaster audio solutions with downloads from www.creative.com/support

Driver Updates and Applications for Creative Audio Products

Check out the list of recent driver updates to get the most out of your Sound Blaster products.  Please note that all of these drivers are still in beta form so it is important to take note of the following:

Beta drivers are unsupported.  There is no technical support for these drivers.
We recommend only experienced users install these drivers.  Do not install any of these drivers on systems used to perform critical tasks.
Users who are looking for stable drivers should wait for the final release.

1. Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Driver 2.17.0007
Release date : 30 Jul 09

2. Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio driver 1.04.0090
Release date : 2 Jul 09

3. Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes Windows software
Release date : 31 Aug 09

4. Creative Sound Blaster Beta Driver 1.01.0097
Release date : 7 Sep 09

This download supports the following audio devices only:
For Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP

Sound Blaster X-Fi™ Go!
Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook
Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Karaoke
For Windows 7 and Windows Vista only

Sound Blaster Audigy® 2 ZS Video Editor
Sound Blaster Live!® 24-bit External
Sound Blaster Digital Music SX
Sound Blaster Digital Music PX
Sound Blaster Digital Music
Sound Blaster Surround 5.1
Sound Blaster Connect
Sound Blaster MP3+
USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX
USB Sound Blaster Digital Music LX

5. Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! driver 1.01.0096
Release date : 13 Jul 09

6. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy series driver 2.18.0011
Release date : 13 Jul 09

This download supports the following audio devices only:
Sound Blaster Audigy including Platinum and Platinum eX series
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 including Platinum, Platinum eX, and Value series
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS including Platinum and Platinum Pro series
Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Pro and Sound Blaster Audigy 4
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA

7. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy series beta driver 2.18.0011
Release date : 1 Oct 09

This download supports the following audio devices only:
Sound Blaster Audigy including Platinum and Platinum eX series
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 including Platinum, Platinum eX, and Value series
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS including Platinum and Platinum Pro series
Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Pro and Sound Blaster Audigy 4
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA

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First Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset Overview Video

Hey guys,

Tawnee (our social media guru) just fired off a quick video of the Sound Blaster WoW Wireless headset for you to take a look at.

We’ll be filming another one most likely later today to go over some of the feature set for all of you that didn’t get a chance to see the prototype in action at Blizzcon.

If you haven’t checked it out yet..go now!

http://bit.ly/UDq8H

As always…more to come…

Ryan (DigitalRonyn)

World of Warcraft Wireless Headset Giveaway on WoW Insider.com

Hello everyone!

If you haven’t already seen it. Head on over to WoW Insider and drop a comment on the thread for the headset contest there for a chance to win one of the upcoming Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset (it’s purple because it’s EPIC).  The winners (we’re doing multiple weeks here!) are going to be some of the first people in the WORLD to get their hands on this headset.

Be sure to read the official rules of the contest when you enter.

In addition to the weekly giveaways we’ve got some larger activities planned with WoW Insider as well. So stay tuned to their site for more details.

Good luck.

And of course…much more to come including that video I promised.

Ryan (DigitalRonyn)

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Updates from the front! (Yes…WoW Wireless updates in here…)

Quick update here from the Creative Labs…err…labs!

First off we’ll be announcing the availability of the Sound Blaster Arena Surround headset here in the states shortly.

If you haven’t heard about this bad boy yet we’ll be dropping the knowledge on you in about a week. We’ve taken our Sound Blaster tech and wedged it into a USB headset designed for competitive (and comfortable) gaming.

A few interesting side notes:

- The Arena Surround was actually the headset we were developing for the CGS to be used on TV and in the competitive (and NOISY!) environment there. When the CGS folded we actually decided to take some additional time and refine the product even more.

- Its analog brother the Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII was the first rendition of the refinements to the original prototype Arena headset. And obviously the Arena Surround is the USB version with some subtle changes.

- The Arena Surround is the first gaming headset to bear the legendary Sound Blaster name.

- We’ve got a special edition en route as well that we think some longtime US gaming scene fans are going to love. More on this a bit later as I don’t want to spoil the surprise just yet.

In other news:

I know I keep promising all of you more info on the Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Gaming Headset. Rest assured (once again) the floodgates will be opening soon in regards to pricing, availability and feature set. In fact we’ll be working with WoW Insider and right here on Sound Blaster.com to provide you a ton of new info very shortly. I think all of you WoW fans out there are going to love what we’re doing and planning with WoW Insider as we get closer and closer to launch.

I’m in the process of working with Tawnee (our new Social Media guru) to get a video out of the WoW headset to you very soon…so those of you that didn’t get to go to Blizzcon will get a chance to check out the prototypes that we brought to the show and the fans loved.

As an fanatic WoW player myself I was really glad to see the response we got at Blizzcon to the headset. We’ve really designed this headset from the ground up with the MMO gamer in mind. And as we get closer and closer to launch and see the product going from drawings on the page to the real deal I’m reminded of how much work has gone into this project. I think those that get their hands on this headset are going to “get” exactly how much effort has been taken to make the ultimate headset.

So again..expect more in a bit on this front. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

And in other other news. If you haven’t checked out Arkham Asylum yet. DO IT NOW! Amazing game that sets the bar for Action games moving forward. Haven’t had this much fun in a new PC title since Left 4 Dead.

As always…MUCH more to come (soon!…promise!)

Ryan (DigitalRonyn)

Enter the Arena!

Hello everyone,

Hot on the heels of our recently announced Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset comes another gaming headset option for those looking to dominate the battlefield.

The Sound Blaster Arena Surround

We’ll be making a formal announcement stateside in a couple weeks (expect the headset to hit the market at the end of September in the US).

There’s a few things that make this headset truly unique:

- It’s our first gaming headset to bear the legendary Sound Blaster name (shipping that is…the WoW headset will be a Sound Blaster product as well). What does that mean? Well it means we’re taking advantage of USB2.0 to deliver the features of our sound cards straight into your domes all with the convenience of a USB connection. This means you’ll get our superior headphone surround in addition to the additional X-Fi tech, Silencer, and VoiceFX in one easy to tote around package.

- We’ve optimized the drivers for the Arena to truly take advantage of all the built in tech. They won’t just look pretty on your head…they’ll sound good as well.

- We’ve taken feedback from several sources on this one leveraging the stable of pro-gamers (and some of us wannabe pro’s as well) to deliver a superior gaming headset that gives you every penny of performance you pay for and more. (They’re going to run $99).

- They’re REALLY comfy. Seriously. Our motto for headsets “No head clampers”.

- Did I mention it wears the Sound Blaster name?

We’re really excited to hit the market with our latest offerings. Especially since the technology we’re packing into these headsets simply can’t be matched by anything else out there. I said it at QuakeCon and I’ll say it here. If you’re going to buy a headset…I recommend going with a company that knows sound. There really IS a difference.

We’ve got a couple surprises up our sleeve for the US announcement that I think some of you long time Counterstrike fans are going to be happy with. Stay tuned for our US announcement later in the month!

In other news. The World of Warcraft Wireless headset is progressing nicely. We’ll be announcing when and where you can get these shortly as well. I’ve got a lot of personal comments / requests for info and I’ve been doing my best to keep up. Rest assured we’ll be dishing more info soon.

Until then. Keep your game strong.

As always. More to come!

Ryan S (AKA DigitalRonyn)

Details on Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset (Post Blizzcon ‘09)

Hello everyone!

First off I’d like to say thanks to everyone who came out and visited us at the Sound Blaster booth at Blizzcon ‘09 this year. The enthusiasm we saw from all the fans we talked to was absolutely amazing. We knew we were making a next-gen headset that was designed specifically with World of Warcraft in mind…but the reception you all had to it was just awesome!

As promised. Here’s some details on the Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset.

Technical Details:

- The headset uses a 2nd generation uncompressed wireless 2.4 connection. Due to the fact that the signal is uncompressed you don’t lose sound fidelity when transmitting voice or receiving audio. This also means latency is VERY low (unnoticeable). This tech is also highly resistant to interference as it employs several techniques to avoid it altogether. It uses a very small area of the 2.4 band and also intelligently looks at the signal to adapt and switch channels if it detects interference. All of this with no interruption of signal.

- The headset is equipped with full-spectrum 40mm drivers capable of delivering full performance audio. Just because it’s wireless does not mean it’s going to lack a powerful punch.

- The headset connects via a simple plug and play USB adapter.

- The headset hardware is PC and Mac compatible.

- The headset DOES have a mic! We’ll have more pics up soon with the mic attached to the headset! The mic is removable (a signature feature of all of our Sound Blaster headsets). The mic is noise-canceling.

- The headset is rechargeable.

- The headset is USABLE while being recharged. This is done via a simple mini USB connection. This was seen as a critical feature as no one wants to have to doc their peripheral if it loses power in the middle of an Ulduar raid.

- The headset has volume and mute controls directly on the earcup.


Cosmetic Details

- We’re using a decorative system called the “Glyph” system (inspired from WoW itself) to allow gamers to customize the headset. The headset will ship with a set of Horde and Alliance symbols to show your allegiance. Other “Glyphs” are planned as well (we know…CLASSES and Murlocs! we’re listening!).

- The headset employs RGB LED’s to allow for 16 million colors of customization.

- The combination of the decorative Glyphs and colored lighting options will allow people to easily customize the headset to their own personal tastes. All of the color choices are selectable in an easy to understand color picker in the headset software.

(Side note: It was actually pretty crazy to see how offended all the Hordies got when they saw the Horde symbol illuminated in BLUE!)

- The headset has a metallic finish offset by a matte black band. Giving it a look that is both sturdy and elegant.

- The headset has extra large padded earcups. The design is intended to be worn for LONG periods of time (longer than respawns). This will be especially beneficial to those of you like me who wear glasses.

- The ear cups are sweat resistant and designed to breathe so you don’t end up with sweaty lobes.

Other Details

- The headset will be the first Creative Sound Blaster product to use our newly announced THX TruStudio PC technology. I’ll be making another post that breaks down this tech in detail soon. One of the killer features is the focus on virtual surround..and in particular the ability to create true 3D audio allowing you to hear above and below you as well as in 7.1 (or more actually) around you. There’s other benefits to our THX TruStudio PC tech…which we’ll reveal soon.

- The headset has other software features we’ll outline in much further detail in the near future!

Hopefully that whets the appetite of those not able to attend Blizzcon!

If you’re interested in absolute up to date info on the headset I suggest clicking on the press release linked to in the teaser flash and then clicking on the “sign up here” graphic. All you have to do is enter your name and email and you’ll get up to date info on availability of the headset.

Again…thanks to all the amazing comments and enthusiasm we’ve been receiving from the denizens of Azeroth.

And of course..as always..more to come!

Ryan S
(AKA DigitalRonyn)