As GameSpot News reported last evening, Creative Labs is introducing a US$99 Sound Blaster Live Value edition to the public, and it ships next week. The value edition of the card still uses the same EMU10K1 processor that powers the more expensive Sound Blaster Live! card but without the Digital I/O card or the high-end professional level software.

　　What does this mean for gamers? Well, you won't have to worry about musician software on your PC (unless you do produce MIDI music), and you'll have more money to use in buying more games or caffeine. The board will still ship with a special version of Unreal along with some of Creative's audio applications.

　　"With this Value edition offering awesome technology at a 'no-brainer' price, Creative shows that it can execute at lightning speed to meet the needs of the mass market," said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and chief executive officer of Creative Technology Ltd. "Creative aims to rapidly bring the revolutionary Environmental Audio platform to our 60 million Sound Blaster users around the world. PC entertainment will never be the same!"

　　GameSpot News has been monitoring gaming audio newsgroups over the past several days concerning the 3D audio war between the Sound Blaster Live! and Diamond's recently announced Monster Sound MX300. One of the major topics in the postings was the higher $199.99 price of the SB Live and the fact that the MX300 had a lower price point. Now that the new SB Live! Value edition will be priced similarly to the MX300, we're sure that gamers will have even more to talk about in the coming months.