Known sound issues in Zoo Tycoon 2 (889366)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger
  • Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania

INTRODUCTION

This article describes known sound-related issues that you may experience when you play Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2. The information in this article first describes general issues, and then describes issues that have only been known to occur on computers that have specific types of sound hardware.

MORE INFORMATION

General sound issues

The following are general sound-related issues that are not specific to a type of sound hardware.

Some or all Zoo Tycoon 2 game sounds do not play

An incompatibility between the Sound Card Providers setting in Zoo Tycoon 2 and the sound adaptor on your computer may cause some or all Zoo Tycoon 2 sounds to stop playing. To resolve this issue, set the Sound Card Providers setting to Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Zoo Tycoon 2.
  2. Click Game Options.
  3. In the Sound Card Providers list, click Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio, and then click Save changes and exit.

Zoo Tycoon 2 sounds are distorted

If the Zoo Tycoon 2 Sound Card Providers setting is set to DirectSound3D Software Emulation and the Direct X Sound Acceleration Level is set to No acceleration in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, the animal sound, the building sound, and other Zoo Tycoon 2 sounds may be distorted. To resolve this issue, set the Sound Card Providers setting to Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio or to Dolby Surround. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Zoo Tycoon 2.
  2. Click Game Options.
  3. In the Sound Card Providers list, click Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio or click Dolby Surround.
  4. Click Save changes and exit.

Sounds that are coming from the bottom of the computer screen are louder than sounds that are coming from the center of the screen

Sound coordinates in the game have been intentionally set so that sounds that are coming from the bottom of the screen are louder to help provide a good experience for all players who are using a variety of different sound adaptors. You may achieve a better sound experience by adjusting the settings for your sound adaptor, speakers, or headphones. For help with your sound adaptor, speaker, or headphone settings, contact the manufacturer.

Hardware-specific sound issues

The following issues apply only to the specified types of sound hardware.

Aureal A3D 2.0, Aureal A3D Interactive, Creative Labs EAX, Creative Labs EAX 2 or Creative Labs EAX 3

Some or all Zoo Tycoon 2 sounds may not play if the Zoo Tycoon 2 Sound Card Providers setting is set to one of the following settings:
  • Aureal A3D 2.0
  • Aureal A3D Interactive
  • Creative Labs EAX
  • Creative Labs EAX 2
  • Creative Labs EAX 3
To resolve this issue, set the Sound Card Providers setting to Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Zoo Tycoon 2.
  2. Click Game Options.
  3. In the Sound Card Providers list, click Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio, and then click Save changes and exit.

The Creative Sound Blaster Extigy device

If you are playing Zoo Tycoon 2 and you turn off the Creative Sound Blaster Extigy device and then turn the device on again, Zoo Tycoon 2 sounds may not play. To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Quit Zoo Tycoon 2.
  2. Make sure that the Creative Sound Blaster Extigy device is turned on.
  3. Start Zoo Tycoon 2.
If the Creative Sound Blaster Extigy device is turned off when you change the Sound Card Providers setting in Zoo Tycoon 2, Zoo Tycoon 2 may stop responding. To prevent this issue, make sure that the Creative Sound Blaster Extigy device is always turned on when you change the Zoo Tycoon 2.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2:

Audio may not play correctly if you are running Windows 98 Second Edition and you are using hardware acceleration. To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, and type dxdiag in the Open box.
  2. Click the Sound tab.
  3. Move the Hardware Sound Acceleration Level slider all the way to the left (to the No acceleration setting).
  4. Click Exit.
  5. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.
Sound Card Providers setting.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
For information about how to contact an audio hardware or software manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

REFERENCES

For more information about driver updates for your audio device, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

To view a video about how to access and use the Windows Update Web site, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/ShowMeHow/082004.asx

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/10/2006
Keywords:kbsound kbhowto kbinfo KB889366 kbAudEndUser
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.