Following the release of its first non-beta Sound Blaster X-Fi drivers for Vista earlier this month, Creative has updated its ALchemy software to support additional games. ALchemy, which Creative introduced back in January, is essentially a wrapper that translates DirectSound API calls into OpenAL calls. Because of Vista's redesigned audio pipeline, the software is necessary for EAX audio acceleration to function in some games running on the new operating system.� Aside from a handful of bug fixes, the new version 1.3 ALchemy software adds support for Baldur's Gate 2, Battlefield Vietnam, C & C Generals, The Chronicles of Riddick, Dungeon Siege, Far Cry, GTA 3, GTA Vice City, Hitman 2, Knights of the Old Republic 2, MDK2, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Serious Sam 2, and Serious Sam: The First Encounter. A complete list of supported games can be viewed here under the "verified" header. The latest ALchemy software can be downloaded from this page.

Once again, Audigy users with Vista will either have to deal with non-accelerated audio or upgrade to an X-Fi.