XeNTaX

Hey folks, trying to figure out some information on a really old file type from
1999/2000 - the SBF extractions from the space combat game Tachyon the Fringe.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/tachyont ... index.html
http://pc.ign.com/objects/011/011519.html

I'd like to be able to play them outside of the game, preferably so I can record or convert
them for other modders to make use of.

Oddly, while most of the audio files were WAV or MP3s the SBF archives contained audio clips
from all over the game (mostly scripted scenes or cutscenes) both music and voice.

While I can get the files extracted from the SBF archives, the extensionless output
doesn't seem to be playable by anything. I tried replacing WAV and MP3 headers from other
files from the same game, same similar size, no luck. About the only way you can hear
it is importing as RAW in Audacity, 44 kbps at 4 bit, 22 or 11 khz, IMA ADPCM.
Even with those settings, it comes out filled with static, screeching, and distortion.

About the only other information I have, as someone suggested it was a custom format designed
by Kyle Freeman of Novalogic. The game also used an early version of Miles Sound System / Rad Game Tools.
The SBF extractor I used was originally made for Delta Force.

Here's two sample files:

2.8 MB - http://files.fringespace.org/jgz/Xentax/exile.zip

1.7 MB - http://files.fringespace.org/jgz/Xentax/BC10mus.zip

I do have much smaller files available, but the play duration is very very short.


Here's a link to the old Tachyon demo, which was partially unprotected and buggy:

58 MB - http://files.fringespace.org/jgz/Xentax/TTFDEMO.zip

There is a newer demo, however it has a timed limitation, this is the original.
I can get you into most files there or in the retail edition, I know what nearly all of them are for.

was easy, just use GENH and select microsoft ima adpcm, 22050 khz stereo, 1024 interleave, header skip 0, plays flawless.

Thanks for the info I will have to check that out.
Been having problems getting vgm and winamp to work at all... but it's. very good to know it is accessible.

JGZinv wrote:
The SBF extractor I used was originally made for Delta Force.

What kind of extractor you used? I tried to use this one viewtopic.php?f=17&t=7814 but it didn't support Tachyon .sbf-files.

We did get this resolved and opened the SBF's.

As was said by Apollo above you have to use GenH, and Winamp to play or convert the files.