Game Commander 2

Mindmaker Inc. Game Commander 2

Game Commander 2

Manufactured By: Mindmaker Inc.

**Retail Price:

Game Commander 2 Download: US $29.95**

Software-only. **

Game Commander 2 CD with Mic: US $39.95**

Review Date: 02-09-01

Game Commander was/is one of my all time favorite control devices. Talking to you computer with it actually listening (and obeying) is appealing- especially when it works. The original GC won The Control Center's Best Non-Controller Controller of 1999 Award. It was really one of the handful of products that brought an evil grin to my face the first time I tried it.

Game Commander 2 takes the basis of the original and tightens the fit, function and operation into the latest release- Game Commander 2.

Features-

• Voice control without the need for training
• Training option
• Customizable audio feedback
• Global commands
• Auto-loading
• Command editing
• Commands to 256 keystrokes
• Adjustable keystrokes (auto-fire, duration, sequencing, etc.)
• Compatible with chat programs

Appropriate For-

• Any Windows 95/98/2000 game with keyboard commands.
• Also works quite well for Windows applications.

System Requirements-

• Microsoft Windows® 95, 98, Me or 2000
• 486/66 MHz or higher (133 MHz Pentium®-class for Windows 2000)
• 24 MB RAM (64 MB for Windows 2000)
• 10 MB available hard disk space
• 256-color display mode VGA
• Full-duplex Windows-compatible sound card
• Microphone (included with retail package)
• CD-ROM drive
• DirectX® (included)
• Mouse or other pointing device
• Keyboard

Price -

Game Commander 2 has a varied price structure. You can download an upgrade if you own the original for a few dollars. For a few more dollars you can download the latest version without upgrading. Finally for a measly $40 (US) you can get the full retail package that includes a very nice Labtec Clear Voice Headset.

At any price the money is well spent.

Warranty-

90 day limited warranty.

Performance-

I got really caught up in the testing of the Game Commander 2. I used the provided Labtec mic and also tried the embedded mic in my monitor. I suggest a headset mic for best performance. If you own the previous retail GC the headset from it works great with the latest software. The close the mic- the better the recognition due to errant sounds being picked up from other sources including your computer.

The first test I put the GC2 through was with the global commands. I assigned actions for the arrow keys, tab, the Windows key and many common combos such as Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. These global commands are pretty much standard fare for Windows applications and provided an extra set of fingers for basic navigation, cutting and pasting actions. I used the commands in Internet Explorer, MS Word, Excel, FrontPage, my MP3 player and some graphic editing apps.

I also created profiles for specific application that come into good use. For example I have assigned commands in FrontPage 2000 (used to create this page) for spell checking, saving, inserting a table, previewing in a browser and switching views. I did the same with other applications remembering that the global commands also applied. By carefully choosing the global commands I had no conflicts in any of the setups.

Gaming is where I really put the GC2 to work! The 2 pages of actions in Microsoft Flight Sim 2000 and Combat Sim 2 were reduced to a list of voice commands. I did not need to use the training feature for any to be recognized but did need to set some of the commands with the "sounds like" feature for best performance. Neither of the sims displayed any loss of performance with the GC2 running and operating in the background. I experimented with the confirmation sounds for voice recognition assigning individual sounds for each action to confirm the recognition. I later removed most of them because it got too chatty. I opted for a global tone to confirm the recognition and a short "dink" if it was not recognized.

I used the GC2 for many other games. Most notably for first person shooters. In the two biggies- Q3 Arena and Unreal Tournament there is no easier way to give command to your teammates. Weapon switching was also assigned to voice commands so I could call up specific weapons. The very brief delay experienced with the original GC when doing this was not apparent with the latest version.

Overall performance of the GC2 is stellar. The headset mic is comfortable and light. It can be used in conjunction with glasses and/or headphones.

Setup-

Physical setup of the GC2 comprises of installing the headset to your line-in 1/8" plug on the soundcard. The headset has a boom microphone that can be adjusted towards your mouth for optimal pickup. Once this is done you can install the GC2 software. The GC2 program auto installs. The installation may have you update DirectX on your system and/or require a re-boot before it can be activated. You will be prompted to enter the GC2 serial number conveniently printed on the CD. Be sure to scribble it down before inserting it into your drive.

In the system play controls (accessible from the speaker icon on the system tray of Windows) be sure the line in is activated and not muted. Depending on your soundcard you may also need to update the soundcard drivers for optimal performance. Other adjustments may be needed according to the soundcard (i.e. activation of full duplex mode). Consult the Game Commander website for specific card instructions and compatibility information. Once your system is properly configured with the GC2 you should enter the GC2 Command Center and access the microphone adjustment and test feature. Run it through the test and make any needed tweaks to optimize everything.

One of the cool features of GC2 is the ability to assign Global commands. To do this access the empty global profile and start adding. Just remember that these commands will apply to everything and have precedence over other assigned commands. For example if you assign "start" to the Windows key (activating the start menu) you can't assign a "start" command in a flight sim to activate the engines. It will activate the start menu instead. The global commands are best reserved for commands used in applications such as "copy" (Ctrl+C) and "paste (Ctrl+V). Interestingly enough this global feature even works with cutting and pasting in Game Commander 2's Studio!

**Software -

**The Game Commander 2 software will be familiar to original Game Commander users. Still, it incorporates many new features and has a slightly different layout that makes it easy to use and understand. Of course the help function is available right from the software if you get stuck, have a question or need advice.

I suggest you start with provided game profiles first to acquaint yourself with the setup. You can use the microphone level/test feature I mentioned in the setup to see how your voice works with GC2. Select one of the commands from the drop down menu and say the word(s) into the mic. If GC2 understands your command you will receive a green indicator light and the command will appear in the green window. It will also tell you if it is not recognized.

You can add an audio feedback indicator to some or all commands so you can tell if your command was recognized in the heat of battle. The sound can be generally applied to all commands or assigned individually. If your piloting a mission to get your craft to its destination, drop its payload and return to base you might be surprised if your command to bomb was missed by the software and you missed the target. Expecting to hear the reactor blow from a distance but only receiving silence is frustrating- this feature allows you to have a pre-recorded "bombs away" sound effect let you know the deed is done. You can also assign a sound to be prompted when a command is not recognized.

GC2 also allows you to assign an on/off trigger to the voice recognition. The selected key toggles the recognition feature on or off- handy for cut-scenes and using voice chat software in conjunction with your games. GC2 does a good job of recognizing commands if you input them phonetically. You have the option of training individual commands. To do this you simply repeat the verbal command 3 times when indicated.

To assign actions to a command you simply record the keystroke(s). You can adjust the duration, delay, auto-fire properties, simulate key holds, keyboard cycles and more under the advanced properties of the action. Be sure the assigned keystrokes do not conflict with one another and the game is set to use the same actions you program to it. Most games offer a restore default option so you can program using the game manual or quick reference card.

The biggest benefit of the GC2 software is its low CPU usage. The GC2 uses ~2% of system resources while in use compared to 5-9% for other voice recognition packages. This means there should be no perceived loss of framerate, physical control or sound stutter. You will still want to have a good soundcard with a low CPU usage rating such as a Vortex2 or Live! card.

Once you have created the ultimate profile you can print a list of the commands and actions for easy reference. You can share too. The profiles are easily exported to disk or of upload to the web. A huge list of user created profiles and setups is available on the GC2 website.

Game Commander 2 Studio editor

Documentation-

The Game Commander 2 is a simply laid out, but complex tool. The manual provides you with every detail you will need to install and use the hardware/software package. The manual I reviewed was an Adobe Acrobat file but the retail package comes with a printed manual. Of course the Adobe file is on the CD and available from the GC2 website.

Speaking of the GC2 website- you can get a great run-down on this and other Mindmaker products from the GC website. The site features news, reviews, discussion boards (where the manufacturer actively participate), extensive profile downloads, an on-line store, and many help files related to compatible soundcards and setup issues.

Overall Rating-

The Game Commander 2 takes a great product and makes it better- just when you think its not possible. The improved programming features may not be worth the full price of the package but Mindmaker offers an upgrade that is worth the investment. What is worth the investment is the improved CPU utilization. The original was efficient but the second version reduces the strain on your system even further- but adds more features.

The Control Center highly recommends the Game Commander 2. You can tell your computer I said so!

Pros-

• Eliminates the need to memorize keyboard commands.
• Improved voice recognition.

Cons-

• Requires a true full-duplex soundcard.