Yamaha's Extensive Sound Library ``DLS by XG'' to Enrich Square's Final Fantasy VIII for the PC; Authentic Sound Effects and Vibrant Music Heighten Excitement

Business Wire, Dec 24, 1999

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

HAMAMATSU CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 24, 1999

Yamaha Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of musical instruments, announced today that the PC version of the sensational video game 'Final Fantasy VIII' will come packaged with Yamaha's extensive voice library DLS by XG and a Yamaha SoftSynthesizer upgrade module, so that PC users can gain maximum enjoyment from Square's exciting game.

In the software package for Final Fantasy VIII for the PC, to launch worldwide in early 2000, will be Yamaha's DownLoadable Sound (DLS) voice library that contains over 300 voices -- ranging from musical sounds to special sound effects -- all recorded in high quality XG Format (note1), Yamaha's electronic sound generator format for musical instruments and electronic music devices. Included too are XGlite (note1) sound effects such as applause and footsteps.

"The use of XG to play background music and generate sound effects of CD quality means PC users can experience the full dramatic effects of Final Fantasy VIII for the PC." said General Manager Genichi Ito of Yamaha Corp's XG Division.

Final Fantasy VIII for the PC is scheduled to make its worldwide debut in North America on Tuesday, January 25, 2000. Its Japan release date is slated for next March, distributed by Square Electronic Arts LLC. Final Fantasy VIII for the PC is the first software package to take advantage of Yamaha's licensing of DLS by XG announced in July 1999, and Yamaha's DirectMusic compatible SoftSynthesizer for software developers. DLS by XG was specifically selected by Square for its excellent sound quality.

DLS by XG contains tone generation wave data as well as sound parameters and can be used with Yamaha's DirectMusic-compatible SoftSynthesizer (note2). (See below for details on DirectMusic.)

PC users owning Yamaha's SoftSynthesizer S-YXG50, S-YXG70 or S-YXG100plus will be able to upgrade to S-YXG/DM (DirectMusic-compatible SoftSynthesizer) using the upgrade module included with Final Fantasy VIII for the PC.

"The incorporation of CD-quality background music and the provision of realistic sound effects will enable users to enjoy this hit game just as if they were playing at the arcade." added Genichi Ito.

Background

-- DirectMusic

The DirectMusic-compliant tone generation system and

controller for Final Fantasy VIII for the PC optimizes the timing

of the interactive performance of sound effects and music to

match on-screen action.

DirectMusic is a Microsoft music authoring tool that makes it possible for game developers to use MIDI (note3) data created on an electronic instrument or computer to effectively add music to their games. In addition, the DLS function permits software developers to freely create their own sounds.

-- Final Fantasy Final Fantasy VIII is the latest release in the

popular series of role-playing games for home video game systems

developed by Square Co., based in Tokyo. The original Final

Fantasy was released in 1987 and was quickly recognized by

enthusiasts as a game of epic proportions with great depth of

characterization, not to mention computer graphics and sound of

profound beauty and impact. Final Fantasy VIII, the latest in

this series, was released in February 1999. With its 3-D computer

graphics and cinematic audio-visual workmanship, the game proved

to be a worthy successor to earlier versions, selling 3.61

million units in Japan and over 6 million worldwide. (As of

December, 1999)

Final Fantasy VIII for the PC, the personal computer version of this blockbuster game, was developed by Square's American subsidiary, Square Soft, Inc. Though unavailable in Japan Final Fantasy VII was the first in the series to be developed for PCs and demonstrated how the full dramatic effect of Final Fantasy could be revealed in its audio-visual splendor on the PC screen.

Notes:

1) XG Format, XGlite

The XG Format is a tone generation format for

electronic instruments. Although upwardly compatible with the

General MIDI (GM) format, it expands significantly on its

predecessor, providing more voices, editing capability, effects

and input from external sources. XGlite is a subset for

multimedia applications of the XG format, and is intended to

permit the reproduction of XG format data with an absolute

minimum of system resources.

2) SoftSynthesizer

Yamaha SoftSynthesizer embodies software technology that enables

computers with high-speed CPUs to effect the playback of MIDI

data even without dedicated hardware such as an external tone

generator or a sound card. Functions such as the number of

available voices and tone control are dependent upon CPU capacity.

3) MIDI

MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) is an

international standard for external control of electronic musical

instruments which incorporate sound generators such as

synthesizers.

Final Fantasy is a registered trademark of Square Co., Ltd. DirectMusic, and DLS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

XG and the XG logo are registered trademarks, and SoftSynthesizer is a trademark of Yamaha Corporation. All other product names contained in this article are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.