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Sidewinder Game Voice
The SideWinder Game Voice brings a new sensory dimension to PC gaming by allowing players to communicate within games (over the Internet or LAN) and to take advantage of voice activation of game commands via a stereo headset connected to an eight-button control unit.
With the Game Voice, online gamers can easily choose between broadcasting their voice to the entire group or directing their communications to private team channels. While online or offline, players can take advantage of Game Voice's voice command functionality. To activate this feature, a gamer needs only to press a button and then speak commands such as "change weapons," "attack," "jam radar," or "eject" to respond swiftly and intuitively to any situation they might find themselves in during gameplay.
This combination of voice command and voice chat is facilitated by the control unit, which has buttons for activating command and control, selecting team or all players channels, and volume controls.
Cutting-edge features and functions of Sidewinder Game Voice include the following:
Strategic Commander
- An eight-button control unit eliminates menu navigation by giving users direct access to commands with the touch of a button. With the control unit, users can adjust headset volume, access command and control functionality, and manage voice communication features such as channel selection and mute.
- Based on the DirectPlay Voice, part of the DirectPlay® API, Game Voice's voice communication technology delivers clear, robust sound through nearly all Internet connections, from 33.6Kbps modems to cable modems to ADSL.
- Because Game Voice allows up to 64 players to conference in a single chat session, channels enable the user to create smaller, more manageable groups. Utilizing the control unit buttons, users can quickly switch between channels and smaller player groups.
- Game Voice is equipped with prebuilt word sets for popular games, which can be customized by users adding their own commands. Command lists will be available for download on the SideWinder Web site, and users are free to publish their own command sets.
- The software for Game Voice will support multiple international languages and can be trained to recognize accents.
- As a USB device, Game Voice delivers a smooth performance by taking advantage of the latest technology innovations afforded by the Windows operating system
The first of its kind, Strategic Commander is a left-handed device that works in conjunction with the mouse and keyboard to greatly enhance gameplay in strategy games. Strategic Commander makes the most critical control tasks available with the touch of a button, eliminating the need to execute a complex series of keystrokes.
The sleek design of Strategic Commander gives gamers access to the most critical building and unit-control tasks through six programmable buttons. By using three modifiers (or shift buttons) and a three-position profile switch, up to 72 key combinations can be programmed into the gaming device. Strategic Commander also facilitates the smooth map scrolling and fluid camera movements ideal for use with 3-D viewing found in next-generation strategy games.
In addition, features such as record-on-the-fly key mappings provide programming flexibility for the user.
Cutting-edge features and functions include:
- With its efficient grouping of programmable buttons and excellent ability to navigate map and camera movements, the Strategic Commander eliminates awkward keyboard commands in strategy games while enhancing mouse functionality.
- Six buttons, three modifiers, and profile switching combine for 72 possible key mappings, allowing users to easily adapt to any gaming scenario.
- Record on-the-fly key mappings and on-the-fly profile switching facilitate quick adjustments with each new circumstance.
- Fast, easy map navigation and camera control enhance supported 2-D and 3-D strategy games.
- By using illuminated buttons that alert users when they are in the process of recording a new key mapping, and show which buttons are available for programming, Strategic Commander greatly reduces the possibility of inadvertently overwriting programmed functions.
- Strategic Commander's leading design brings comfort during intense game sessions.
- Strategic Commander's USB compatibility takes advantage of the latest technology afforded by Windows 98.
SideWinder Strategic Commander is expected to have an estimated retail price of $64.95, and SideWinder Game Voice is anticipated to have an estimated retail price of $74.95.
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