MI6 grabbed some time with "Director of Advanced Technology" Mark Tuffy, to chat about how THX will fit into the forthcoming Bond game Everything or Nothing"...

Interview - THX (2)
28th February 2004

Continuing...

What are the main differences between playback for a computer game and motion picture?
The two main differences are the equipment used for playback and the playback environment. There are a variety of different playback platforms for games-PS2, X-Box, GameCube or PCs-and each translates the game experience uniquely. Each platform has its own hardware, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. That means we have to look at how the audio content will playback on all the platforms, and what is the best for each particular platform. For example the X-box has Dolby Digital capability, so should that sound closer to the movies? Maybe. There's the ability on PS2 to do DTS. So, we really have to make sure that you can go from console to console and have a very similar experience, even though they all playback the content quite differently. In addition, we have to evaluate the differences between the playback environments for films and video games. Let's face it movie theatres are designed quite differently than the average living room. Room acoustics, background noise, and placement of speakers and furniture all affect the sound and picture experience.

Above: Exclusive behind the scenes at EA

How challenging has it been to work on a video game apposed to a movie? The work we are doing with EA in their video and audio-mixing studios translates well because we are working on equipment and in environments that are similar in concept to post-production studios for filmmaking. We're talking about audio mixing and video editing rooms, and content creation stations. So, there is a lot of correlation between the movie and DVD worlds, and work that is happening on video games. And as game production continues to advance and mature, the development environments will become even closer to film post-production.

Even though the mind set is different between the filmmaking and video game industries, the actual work that we do is very similar because we are providing content creators-sound designers, audio directors, graphic artists- the ability to have a controlled environment to make their magic. So whilst the content maybe different, the process and the way in which artists produce the sound and visual content is very similar.

A Different Experience...

How will THX surround boast the Bond atmosphere from a receiver standpoint? Currently, THX does not require users to have specific receivers or other home theatre components to benefit from our games certification program. This means gamers can get an improved sound and picture experience on their television sets or PCs without having to purchase additional equipment. And they can experience the games in Dolby Digital or DTS. However, as our program expands and matures, it's quite possible that we will develop a "games mode" for THX Certified receivers. This will provide the user a replay system that matches exactly the recording system that was used in the game's development environment.

What noticeable difference on will there be on the soundtrack as apposed to previous 5:1 games?
What you should find is that all of the audio personnel working on "Everything or Nothing" have had the ability to work in the environments where they can really tell, this is what the user should hear. So they have advanced facilities now to do there work and a lot of the personnel reported that they really noticed a difference in the environments and the way they monitor and hear things. So I'm then hoping that because they have had the ability to work in these advanced environments that the user will notice a great difference in things like soundstage in the impact of the music in the ways that bass is used and in the ways that the surrounds are used as well and also users will really notice a big difference.

Above: Exclusive behind the scenes at EA

Layman's Terms... How does THX differ form Dolby Digital? There is a misconception that THX competes with products from Dolby and DTS. This isn't true. Dolby and DTS provide technology to encode and decode audio information on game programs, films and DVDs, and then send that information to the correct surround channels on a user's home theatre system. The THX Certified Games program is a set of standards for producing and editing audio and video content for gaming titles. It's meant to create a standardized environment at development facilities to ensure the quality of the title is delivered to the consumer.

However, THX does set performance standards for home theatre components, such as receivers and speakers; requiring consumer electronics manufacturers to meet or exceed these standards to achieve THX Certification. The THX standards and processes for home theatre components help bring the true quality of film soundtracks and multi-channel music to home audiences. In essence, the consumer experiences the work exactly as it was created. The THX standards take into account the size of the room, speaker and component placement, as well as the way the content was originally mixed. Today, THX Certified home theatre products are considered the best in the industry, and are often used by filmmakers themselves to work on their films at home.

What benefit will the game and gamers have et al?
Gamers will notice an improvement in the audio and visual quality. They will see more detail in the visual images and experience better, more vibrant colors. In terms of the audio, there will be an improvement in the way sound is delivered from the studio to the home. The goal is to create a more enveloping experience, to actually surround the gamer with sound and pull them into the action on-screen.

Many thanks to Mark Tuffy. Images courtesy THX.

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Interview - THX Mark Tuffy (Part 1)
MI6 "Everything or Nothing" Coverage