Philips has announced an agreement with id Software (
Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein) to provide an amBX-enabled mod for
Quake 4. A multiplayer version of
Quake 4 received amBX support through a mod demonstrated at the annual
QuakeCon fan convention in August, and Philips indicates that the popularity of that demo helped inspire this new mod.
Shorthand for "ambient experiences", amBX extends the gaming experience by allowing developers to use light, color, sound, rumble and air flow through enabled devices like LED colour-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and variable speed desktop fans.
Other games which are amBX compatible include
Broken Sword: The Angel of Death, Darwinia, DEFCON, Supreme Commander and
TOCA Race Driver 3. Philips says it is currently in the closing stages of agreements with a number of other high-profile companies regarding amBX-enabling and game modding. Most recently, the company
announced an agreement with Codemasters to add amBX support to its titles
Overlord and
Clive Barker's Jericho.
Philips says that the
Quake 4 mod, which when played with amBX peripherals, will see fans, lights and rumble effects, including 360 degree environmental lighting, form an integral part of the gameplay, as fan effects respond to players' running and jumping, weapons generate custom light effects, and rumble shudder accompanies blast effects.
On a more subtle level, says Philips, rear view lighting is darkened when players use a weapon scope, and damage feedback is displayed through a multi directional red light blood splatter and bullet impact vibration. Finally, power and pick ups are represented through different light effects, including a light blue aura for Quad Damage, pulsing red for Regeneration, a fast yellow pulse for Haste, green light for Health and blue light for Mega Health.
Said Philips amBX CMO Jo Cooke, "The response to the QuakeCon multiplayer demonstration was overwhelmingly positive and we're delighted to offer all those fans an amBX Mod for
Quake 4. The range of effects amBX brings to
Quake 4 is so diverse, it really offers an all-new first person shooting experience."
