Equipment

Is it live, or is it Memorex?

No question about it, Elite soldiers need equipment to match. The only limiting factor in a conflict should be your skill, not poor equipment. Sony steps up to the challenge and bundles a USB voice recognition headset with the game. Incidentally, the broadband adapter has come out just at the same time to let you take advantage of the headset online!

The USB headset is made by Logitech, which features a little black box with the SOCOM logo. This ‘little black box’ is the Digital/Analog and Analog/Digital converter for the headset. It plugs into the USB port on the PlayStation 2. One immediate drawback is the distance between the box and the USB connector. It is a little short and makes the box hang from my PS2. The total length of the headset is about 30 inches more than a standard OEM controller, that’s roughly the distance between your playing hands and your head. Unfortunately if you play with your controller stretched out, this would stretch the headset cable out as well, since it is on your head this can be a bit uncomfortable. In addition I would worry that this would stress the delicate wires in the cable and the connectors, so I attached a USB extension cord. Some USB peripherals do not function well with extension cables, Epson printers being an example. Luckily enough, the Logitech headset had no problem with this.

Using technology similar to that used in Dragon Naturally Speaking, SOCOM allows the gamer to give commands to his teammates using just his voice. This used to take loads of processor power, but the PlayStation 2 does this effortlessly. There is no training needed for the voice recognition, and I was able to get the voice commands to work using various fake accents. The hardest part is learning what commands are recognized by the game. Some of the commands are listed in the game and manual, but as you probably expect there are a few secret commands. What would have been nice is the ability to create your own voice macros, but this option is not possible.

Headset

Broadband adapter

The broadband adapter fits snuggly into the back of the PlayStation 2. It has two connectors on the back, a 10/100 Ethernet port and a 56k modem socket. Once installed, the module looks like it belongs on the back of the Playstation 2, it doesn’t stick out too much and the finned design blends in with the stock Playstation.

Blackbox!

Back of the box

One advantage of the Sony implementation of broadband is the ability to support PPPOE protocols. This is the favored protocol for many DSL providers. I tested it on Mindspring/Earthlink/Covad with success. I also tried it using Windows 2000 Internet Connection sharing and again, it performed well. I did not bother to test the 56k modem as online play really isn’t enjoyable at narrowband speeds. To Sony’s credit, setting up the network adapter is very easy and the end-user doesn’t even need to know whether or not their ISP uses PPPOE, since it is detected and configured automatically.

Box installed

Another view

SOCOM is designed to take full advantage of the broadband adapter, with a separate online play module with unique levels and scenarios. Narrowband gameplay is not supported.

Another technological breakthrough with SOCOM is the ability to output a progressive scan 480p signal. This is the first US PS2 game with this capability. The increase in resolution when coupled with a high definition TV brings another level of realism to the game.

Progressive scan baby