Any game in 16/9 format and 5.1/7.1 surround sound?

[xtrips]

Hello,

I haven't been playing games for years but the thing is I have this very fast PC that performs as an HTPC in a dedicated dark room with a high-def (1920x1080p) projector, a very large screen and a great 7.1 surround system.
So I thought it would be great to run a car race game or a combat flight simulator on my gear.
The first I have tried is NFS Carbon and although the picture is great, the sound is still stereo and the picture a boring 4/3.
Any recommendations?

Thanks :):

[Karlsweldt]

Welcome to 3D Gamers!
Not too much available right now.. but in a year or so, there should be some 'reworks' of favored games.
You should be able to get good results with any standard game, but in the reverse letterbox effect.. black 'curtains' at the sides. Your video control panel may allow for resizing of the image, but for a wide-screen you may loose some top and bottom imaging.
For audio, the data needs the multi-channel encryption codes in it.. or you will get plain stereo as default, or whatever scheme was employed. You could use the audio control panel to set moods, but each would be separate. Some synthesizers can mimic the 5.1 or 7.1 sound scheme realistically. You could create a mood of several different types, and label each as "mood 1", "mood 2", et al.. and employ it for the program. But you would need to revert to the "default" mood after each program.

Found from a quick Google search, two sites.. 3D Gamers (http://www.3dgamers.com/companies/widescreen/) and IGN games (http://games.ign.com/objects/027/027748.html).. some offerings. There should be some others available.

[xtrips]

While I was pending my first post on this site (spam oblige) I actually found THE site:
www.widescreengamingforum.com

It doesn't help for sound but I gotta say I am impressed with what they propose with the picture format.
I already used one of their crack and update for NFS Carbon and it's just uncredible.
The picture has no distorsion. I project at 1920x1080p (my nvidia does some mod on the interlaced mode) and I set the game for maximum details. Very, very impressive. Actually i modified the stereo sound through my pre-pro to a full Pro-Logic IIx Game mode at 7.1 speakers. It's nice but compared to the projected image it's dull.
I wonder if they're some games with native 5.1 or 7.1 sound.

Thanks for your info. :):

[Ojnod]

As far as I know most games out there can produce 5.1 or 7.1, the problem usually lies with the output you use to get to the receiver. There are very few sound cards that will decode a 5.1/7.1 stream that can be sent over an optical cable or S/PDIF, even the creative x-fi cards that cost hundreds of dollars won't. What you can do if you have unused analog audio inputs on your receiver (usually reserved for SACD and DVD-A setups) is buy some cables so you can hook your sound card up that way. These (http://creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=16&product=14309) are the kind that I had to buy for my card so you'd probably need something similar.

Now if you don't have those empty connections on your receiver you could look in to getting one of the few sound cards that can apparently send digital 5.1 game sounds across optical or S/PDIF. AuzenTech Xplosion (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156001) is one of the only ones I know of but there may be a few more that can do it.

[xtrips]

Thanks for the info. I am actually buying the new Auzentech, Prelude 7.1 coming out these days for other similar purposes.
But what do you mean by saying "most games out there can produce 5.1 or 7.1" ?
Could you give me an example for a car racing or flight sim game?

Thanks

[mandrake]

What you want to look for in the games is EAX compatibility. That will cover you for good surround in-game.