Category Archives: Gaming

Gaming, Lifestyle, News

E3 2023 is Officially Over

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It is official, E3 2023 has been cancelled. There are plenty of speculations to the real reason to the cancellation. IGN reported that the organisation behind E3 has cited that companies interested in E3 and supposed to attend the conference were not ready and will not be ready to showcase their games in the committed timeline.

While E3 2023 was something gamers was looking forward to, the same cannot be said about the gaming industry as a whole. Ubisoft very recently announced that they will not be attending E3 2023 and will host their own hybrid event instead. Nintendo and many other developers have also not expressed interest or even committed to attending E3 2023. In this case, many speculates that the lack of interest in the conference is the main contributing factor for the cancellation.

E3 used to be the biggest platform for the gaming industry to make their announcements and demos for their upcoming games. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit though, E3 took a hit too. They had to cancel their E3 conference in 2020 forcing the gaming industry to make their announcements on their own and leverage streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Ever since that first cancellation, E3 has not been physically held until they scheduled their June 2023 date, which has since been cancelled too: another year without E3.

That is not to say that the gaming industry is asleep and is facing difficulties though. Ubisoft announced that they are holding a separate event on their own. We expect more announcements from Sony’s PlayStation camp and even Microsoft’s Xbox camp. We are expecting Nintendo to make some sort of announcement in June about upcoming games. Ubisoft and Microsoft have, in fact, announced that they are holding their own announcement event also in June 2023.

This year’s E3 cancellation raised some questions for the gaming industry. Firstly, is E3 coming back for 2024? Secondly, is E3 even relevant anymore?

To the first question, the people behind the scenes have reported that they are still “committed to provide an industry platform for marketing and convening”. The answer vaguely says that E3 is looking to come back in 2024, but is also filled with plenty of uncertainty. Us gamers obviously hopes that E3 makes a come back in 2024 in some capacity.

To the second question, there are a few things to think about. Larger developers like Sony’s PlayStation Studios, Microsoft’s Xbox, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and even Epic Games have realised that they do not really need to rely on E3 to make their own announcements. They also have enough funding to manage and create their own announcement events without constraining to space and tight schedules. Instead of announcing everything within a specified time frame, they can even space their announcements out. While having to learn to leverage online platforms for their announcements, they perhaps learned that they can hit a larger audience at a lower cost cap too. In that case, it is perhaps a more sensible platform to leverage on than having a physical presence in E3.

There is a lot of unknown for E3 in the coming years. The only thing we know is that they will not make a 2023 comeback. At the same time, we think that E3 might still have a place in the gaming industry since Gamescom and the Summer Game Fest will still be happening as scheduled. For now, we can only hope that the people behind E3 have not given up just yet.

Android, Gaming, Mobile, News

Lenovo’s Legion Phone series is Dead

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Gaming smartphones are continuing to carve a niche for themselves ever since the ROG Phone was announced by ASUS. While that may be the case, the unique place the smartphone occupies in the market has made it one of the most competitive segments in the smartphone arena. Lenovo was one of the many brands to enter that arena with their Legion gaming brand in 2020.

However, it looks like the recent Lenovo Legion Y70 is the last phone that will be released by Lenovo under their Legion brand. Rumours surfaced earlier last week that Lenovo could be sunsetting its Legion smartphone. These rumours started as someone claiming to be a Lenovo posted a comment suggesting that the Legion phone would not be continuing.

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It looks like that may just be the case. In a statement to Android Authority, a spokesperson confirmed that “Lenovo is discontinuing its Android-based Legion mobile gaming phones..”. Apparently, the sunsetting of the Legion phone comes as a larger business transformation exercise which includes a consolidation of their gaming portfolio.

Here’s their full statement to Android Authority:

Lenovo is discontinuing its Android-based Legion mobile gaming phones as part of a wider business transformation and gaming portfolio consolidation. As a leader in gaming devices and solutions, Lenovo is committed to advancing the gaming category across form factors, as well as focusing on where it can bring the most value to the global gaming community.

Lenovo Spokesperson

It’s sad to see a smartphone go the way of the dinosaurs. However, there’s still brands like Blackshark and ASUS that are still committed to their gaming smartphones. In fact, ASUS’s ROG Phone 7 is set to be announced later in April.

Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Ubisoft Pulls Out Form Upcoming E3 2023

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There are few things we look forward to every year. You have the usual flagship smartphone launches, including the iPhone launch and Samsung’s two Unpacked events every year. In terms of gaming, we have the E3. The E3 showcase that has been happening every year for a long time now and it is a gathering of every major game developers and even some minor ones that has been cherry picked by the likes of Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox to chow case their upcoming games on the big stage. Before YouTube, E3 was the only stage you get to premiere your games to the world.

There is a problem with E3 however. Ever since the pandemic hit the world, the E3 conference has stood on quite unstable grounds. While there are still parties keen on attending and make good on the show that is E3, there have been several occasions where big names opted out of the conference. They even had to cancel in 2021 and 2022. This year, Ubisoft has opted out of E3.  

Ubisoft’s absence in E3 2023 will undoubtedly be felt. Ubisoft at this point is one of the largest game developers the world has seen. They own namesakes like Assassin’s Creed, Ghost Recon, ANNO, Far Cry, and more. They own enough IP that they have to have their own curated game store separate from Epic Games, and Steam. They are one of those giants in the gaming industry then that will have no presence in E3 2023 scheduled in June.

That does not mean that Ubisoft will not be producing or publishing any games for 2023 though. It does not mean that they have nothing new to show the world too in 2023. In light of them being absent from E3 2023 for whatever reason, they are also hosting their own show in June 2023. They scheduled their Ubisoft Forward Live showcase on the 12th of June 2023 in Los Angeles.

For the upcoming show, we are expecting Ubisoft to show a little more from their latest announced Assassin’s Creed title, Assassin’s Creed Mirage. We are also expecting Ubisoft to have at least a few more announcements in their other titles and probably introduce new titles in the upcoming show. It would only make sense for them to have a few more on tap to have an entire showcase of their own.

Editorial, Gaming, Reviews

Diablo IV Is Going to Turn Sanctuary Inside Out

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Diablo IV’s release moves ever closer like the summoning of Lilith to Sanctuary. The game has been in the news for a while now with previews and announcements happening regularly. However, this past week was the early access beta for the game.

Here’s how the beta left us after a 10 hour playthrough.

The World of Sanctuary Like You’ve Never Seen Before

“Hello, my friend, stay a while and listen” those are some of the most nostalgic words for any veteran Diablo player. The words that ring every time you come to Tristram to identify items and progress the story as you listen to the exposition from Deckard Cain. But that’s all dead and gone now, the world of Sanctuary in Diablo IV is larger, more dynamic and more steeped in the corruption of Prime Evils than ever before. In a lot of ways, it feels like a natural progression for the series.

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  • Diablo IV Early Access Beta 11 4

Even with just the first act in the Early Access Beta, there was so much to do that even 12 hours of gameplay didn’t feel like enough. While it was just a fraction of the world map, the dynamically generated events brought side quests to the table organically and with little repetition. Unlike Diablo III and Immortal, there is a sense of progress in finishing map quests although it didn’t further the story much.

Blizzard has also found a unique balance when it comes to the massively multiplayer aspect of Diablo IV. While you adventure alone, you aren’t bombarded continuously by players running around the map. Instead, players appear and disappear as you play. They are free to join a map quest or event and provide assistance but they don’t disrupt your gameplay. You see players in towns and strongholds as well, but that’s about it. If you’re like me and miss the feel of the original Diablo game, Diablo IV has brought that feeling back and then some.

More Organic Interactions with More Fleshed-Out NPCs

Speaking of towns, one thing that has made a big difference is the NPCs. The world feels a lot more fleshed out thanks to the NPCs that populate it. They aren’t just one-dimensional sprites, interacting with them is fun, sometimes enraging and for key NPCs – eye-opening.

Diablo IV Early Access Beta 06

We’ve also go multiple artisan NPCs that populate the tons. These NPCs don’t only have quest-related dialogues when applicable, they have unique offerings that refresh at preset time intervals. There’s a dynamism to the interactions with them thanks to this.

One Character Multiple Builds

In my short 10-hour gameplay during the early access beta, my rogue went through about 4 different character builds. I found myself constantly tweaking my skills to complement the equipment loadout my character was using. Peaking at level 16, I was a few levels short of completing a full build of my liking.

Diablo IV Early Access Beta 08

However, unlike Diablo 3, the skills, both passive and active, can be upgraded and reset to maximise the damage your character can do. In addition, you also unlock specializations later on in the game. These will also change your characters’ play style and load out as the game progresses.

Open World Done Right for the Prime Evils

The doors to Sanctuary are literally flung open in Diablo IV. The world has been fleshed out immensely. However, the one thing that stood out during our time with the beta was how the team at Blizzard incorporated the open-world aspect into the game. Unlike Diablo II and Diablo III, waypoints and checkpoints in the game are not linear. You will undoubtedly be running around the massive maps of the various regions of Sanctuary and stumbling on enemies that punch well above your level. This happened more than once in my playthrough but it was a welcomed surprise which also led to hilarious running away and cussing – only adding more spice to the gameplay.

  • Diablo IV Early Access Beta 07
  • Diablo IV Early Access Beta 09

The open world is peppered with dynamic map events including cursed chests and even side quests and even dynamic dungeons. Blizzard’s implementation of the cursed chest side quest was one that kept me on the edge of my seat. Literally opening a random chest can get you surrounded and battered by monsters in an instant. It’s invigorating to have these surprises jump out at you willy-nilly.

Diablo IV Pandemonium is All But Expected Come June

After this open beta, it’s hard not to pull the trigger on pre-ordering Diablo IV. Blizzard has truly upped the ante with Diablo IV’s gameplay. While we only got a taste of the story, it’s compelling enough to keep us on the edge of our seats until June. In fact, I want my Diablo IV fix NOW! Give me the keys to Sanctuary!!

D4 Misc Social Assets Lilith Wallpaper 1920x1080 png jpgcopy
Source: Blizzard Entertainment

We’re optimistic that Diablo IV could be in the running for game of the year if it has all its pieces in place. It’s a given that Blizzard’s team has a compelling story with the daughter of a Prime Evil – Lilith – being the centre of the conflict in Sanctuary this time round. We’ve also got loose ends from Diablo II being picked up in the first act.

That said, Diablo IV can’t come soon enough.

Gaming, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Nasi Lemak in PUBG? No, Really, it’s Real – I Promise You!

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PUBG Mobile has proven to be some of the most popular mobile game to date in the Southeast Asian region at least. It is not like they have no competition in the region as well. We saw entry from games like Free Fire, and the surge of players moving to Call of Duty Mobile, all employing the Battle Royale genre. To be fair, alongside Fortnite, PUBG Mobile is the pioneer of Battle Royale style game in the mobile gaming space.

 There is also a reason to why PUBG Mobile has stayed on top of their game for so long. Within the game, players can explore a plethora of customizations for their characters. The more they play, the more customization option they get for their in-game characters. Tencent has also sort of localized the game to include region special customization option. One such new option is the ‘Nasi Lemak’ kit.

If you are reading this from other parts of the world, ‘Nasi Lemak’ is a local delicacy made from aromatic rice, an egg (either fried or hard-boiled), peanuts and anchovies on the side, and topped with a good amount of spicy ‘Sambal’ sauce served on top of a piece of banana leaf. Over the years, Malaysia’s obsession with this local delicacy has inspired many creations like ‘Nasi Lemak’ ice cream, and ‘Nasi Lemak’ burger. Those are still foods. The one in the game is a little different.

Instead of a free ‘Nasi Lemak’ pack, you get to adorn your character in the Ramadan special skins. They have introduced the Nasi Lemak Suit that comprises of a banana leaf jacket, coconut rice T-shirt, ‘ikan bilis’ (anchovies) necklace, and peanut bracelet. To spice up your character, there is also a ‘Nasi Lemak’ hat that actually looks like a plate of ‘Nasi Lemak’ with fried egg and spiced fried chicken topping on your head. To complete the entire ‘Nasi Lemak’ look, there is a pair of glasses made up of cucumber slices as lenses. No, the banana leaf jacket and coconut rice T-shirt does not add any protection to your character. The cucumber lenses looks cool, but does not offer additional stats to your character too, but it might be useful in the scorching sun of PUBG Mobile’s various maps. The ‘ikan bilis’ necklace and peanut bracelet cannot be eaten too to heal your character, unfortunately. You might get some laughs from your suit too, but that is the point of playing games with your friends. Oh yes, you might stand out a little bit in the game.

Alongside the local delicacy that is ‘Nasi Lemak’, PUBG Mobile is also featuring another local delicacy into the game as a weapon. They call it the ‘Roti John Machete’, a famous omelette sandwich topped with onions, cabbages, ground meat, and various sauces. It resembles a huge sandwich from Subway in the game and it works like a basic machete within the game. No, it is does not work as such in real life too, it is not that sharp. If you are a foreigner visiting Malaysia, you might want to try ‘Roti John’ in your supper adventures in Malaysia.

Players can redeem the Nasi Lemak set for free when they participate in a time-limited in-game event. Look for Nasi Lemak-Tapau All! Event anytime between now all the way to the 29th of March 2023. The event will require you to complete several Ramadan missions to redeem the full set of ‘Nasi Lemak’ gears.

Accessories, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

More Gaming Peripherals to Show You Alienware Allegiance

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You know Alienware as one of the first brands to cater its brand and hardware. Unlike Razer, Alienware delved into the PC gaming market by creating the most powerful PCs in its early days specifically for gaming purposes. This was back when games did not even look half as good as it is today. This was back when 3D graphics was still a blocky mess.

Back then as well, gaming peripherals were not really gaming peripherals at all. They were redressed regular mice, keyboards, and speakers for ‘gaming’ that has no real advantage or difference over regular peripherals. It is a very different story today.

Gaming peripherals are not just a more expensive version and RGB dressed regular peripherals. In 2023, they are purpose built gear to enhance both a gamer’s experience and performance in their chosen games. To think about it, while other manufacturers like ASUS ROG has been pushing their peripherals for a bit, Alienware has been silent about new gaming peripherals, until now that is.

Alienware Wireless Gaming Mouse (AW620M)

  • AW620M LL Top
    Source: Dell
  • AW620M DSOTM Top
    Source: Dell
  • AW620M LL Thumb Side
    Source: Dell
  • AW620M DSOTM Side
    Source: Dell
  • AW620M LL Right Side
    Source: Dell
  • Alienware Command Center AW620M
    Source: Dell

To start with, you want a reliable gaming mouse. Something that is ergonomic that fits perfectly in the palm of your hands. You want it to be an extension of your arms and you want it to feel like it is a part of your limb, for it to be as light as possible.

The new AW620M gaming mouse is Alienware’s latest wireless symmetrical gaming mouse. This is not made for the left-handers, unfortunately. It is made specifically to be wielded by right-handers. It is oddly shaped to ensure that your right palm gets the best grip possible with the mouse without feeling as much as a strain. The right mouse button is also slightly longer than the left mouse button to accommodate the naturally longer middle finger. The mouse also features a thumb rest below the two extra buttons on the side.

The new gaming mouse packs Alienware’s sensor technology below their magnetic-force keyplates. What that means is you get Alienware precision and speeds with every click of the buttons. It is highly accurate and flexible to work with too at 26,000 DPI, 650 IPS, and 50G max acceleration capabilities. While the best way to work the mouse is with a wired connection with your PC, the 2.4GHz wireless dongle offers 1000Hz polling rate for a near lag-free experience for up to 140 hours on a single charge.

Alienware Wireless Gaming Keyboard (AW920K)

  • aw920k DS Angle
    Source: Dell
  • aw920k LL Top
    Source: Dell
  • aw920k power switch LL
    Source: Dell
  • aw920k programmable controls DSOTM
    Source: Dell
  • aw920k back LL
    Source: Dell
  • aw920k DS Front 2
    Source: Dell
  • aw920k DS Left Side
    Source: Dell
  • aw920k LL Side
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k Top
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k Angle
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k back
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k back detachable cable
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k Front
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k Left Side Angle
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k Main
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k Side Feet Down
    Source: Dell
  • aw420k Side Feet Stowed
    Source: Dell

Once you settle in on a gaming mouse, you want your keyboard to also match your set up and speed. You want a gaming keyboard that can also work wirelessly to keep that clean look on your desk. You also want your keyboard all-in-one keyboard for not just gaming. You want a single keyboard to be the control center of your entire desk set-up. This one does just that.

Alienware’s first wireless gaming keyboard is a mechanical keyboard with CHERRY MX Red switches for fast and fluid strokes and near instant presses. Working the switches are Alienware’s PBT double-shot keycaps that are beautiful and durable. Of course, underneath the switches are per-key AlienFX RGB lighting that shines through the keycaps’ letters. There is also a new Programmable Rocker Switch right beside a programmable dial as well to control media. You can program them via Alienware’s new Command Center.

You can use it with a USB paracord cable included in the box. You can also turn it wireless with a 2.4GHz dongle and work with it for 42 hours in that mode. You can also make it your Bluetooth 5.2 keyboard for up to three devices with a simple switch at the back of the keyboard. There is also a Tenkeyless (TKL) variant (AW420K) of the wireless keyboard if that is what you prefer to work with.

Alienware Dual Mode Wireless Gaming Headset (AW720H)

  • AW720H DSOTM Main
    Source: Dell
  • AW720H LL Main No Dongle
    Source: Dell
  • AW720H DSOTM Controls
    Source: Dell
  • AW720H LL Back
    Source: Dell
  • AW720H LL Side
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h DSOTM 8
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h DSOTM 9
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h LL 7
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h LL 10
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h DSOTM 4
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h LL 4
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h LL 3
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h DSOTM 1
    Source: Dell
  • aw520h DSOTM 2
    Source: Dell

Once you deal with your controls, you now want something that will sharpen and hone your senses. You need absolute focus and immersion when it comes to getting your senses tuned. You want a gaming headset that pulls you into the game world. You want an Alienware AW720H wireless gaming headset.

The AW720H Wireless Gaming Headset packs a powerful 40mm driver with hi-res certification and Dolby Atmos tuning for the most immersive experience you can get in a headphone. It offers 3D virtual surround sound for that all-important environmental awareness in your games. Attached to the headphone is an AI equipped noise-cancelling boom microphone for your communication needs. The mic reduces ambient sound in your physical environment to ensure that your speeches are extra crisp and clear even during an intense battle. If your teammates cannot hear you, you might want to get them to buy this pair of headphones too.

It comes with a 2.4GHz USB Type-C dongle to be plugged into your PC or your smartphone if you want. It will last up to 30 hours in wireless mode. If you prefer a wired connection, there is still the 3.5mm AUX jack. Or, you can go for the wired variant (AW520H) of the headset. There is no gesture control nonsense here either. There is a quick-access button array on either side of the ear cups to quickly control your headphones without exiting your games.

Price and Availability

Alienware’s latest Tenkeyless Gaming Keyboard AW420K is now available on their website at MYR 719. The new wireless gaming headset AW720H and wireless gaming mouse AW620M will be available by the end of March 2023 for MYR 679 and 369 respectively. You can choose between Alienware’s signature White or black colour option for the headset. The wired variant of the headset (AW520H) and the full-sized wireless gaming keyboard AW920K will be available in Q2 2023 onward with no price revealed. For more information on Alienware’s latest gaming peripherals, you can head to their website.

Computers, Contributed, Gaming, Lifestyle

Concept Nyx and Explorations for the Future of Connection

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How will we connect with colleagues in five to ten years’ time? Will we all be interacting with holograms? Fully immersed in virtual worlds? Or will the reality be much closer to how most of us work from our laptops today?

Virtual worlds and immersive experiences could offer exciting new ways to connect with others – and our content. And with people more dispersed and working patterns more personalised than before, how we collaborate and get things done has never been more important.

Dell Concept Nyx Ecosystem 4

It’s my team’s role to dig into future trends and technologies, experiment with solutions and reimagine experiences. Though immersive environments will play a role in the future of work, face-to-face meetings, instant messages, collaboration tools, and video calls aren’t going anywhere. That’s why we’re focusing on the user experience and honing in on everyday micro-moments that could be disruptive as we potentially bounce between physical, digital and virtual worlds in the future.

We’re asking questions like: How will people interact at the intersections of these worlds? What tools will people need to move between these locations seamlessly? What if people don’t want to wear a headset and dive into a virtual world for 8 hours a day – would they be excluded from future projects or collaboration opportunities?

Intelligent, familiar tools for future interactions

Using Concept Nyx’s ability to deliver compute all around, powered at the edge, we have been exploring how familiar devices and peripherals could be paired with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to work together as an ecosystem to deliver easily accessible and immersive experiences beyond gaming.

Dell Concept Nyx Ecosystem 1

Our labs are packed with curated immersive demonstrations and concepts to help us test and explore how Dell could help people move between various spaces and tasks intuitively in the future. From fully immersive Virtual Reality (VR) builds to Mixed Reality (XR) experiences featuring displays and other tools that remove the need for a VR headset, these environments have helped us evolve concepts like the Concept Nyx Companion. As a lightweight tablet-style device that could be viewed and accessed in VR and XR environments, the concept could be a consistent tool throughout all these spaces and could ensure a user’s content is in one place as they move between spaces and tasks. No more taking photos of whiteboards or copying notes to be uploaded to a different space – users could just screenshot their project space and/or easily copy content for sharing across screens.

Together with the Concept Nyx Stylus, you could input notes by voice or via pen, and drag + drop them into digital and virtual collaboration spaces, and even use the voice activation for AI image creation – perfect for non-aspiring artists! All these tools could also seamlessly be used alongside the Concept Nyx Spatial Input in a future desktop environment with a keyboard and mouse, and possibly 3D displays too. We’ve been looking at creative ways to connect these traditional tools for a clutter-free space, and we’ve also been thinking about intuitive gestures for interacting with content – for example, using the tip of the Stylus for writing and the top of the Stylus for interacting with onscreen content or using the Spatial Input as a dial for a 360 view or for zooming in on details.

Dell Concept Nyx Ecosystem 2

We’ve even been thinking through how people might show up in future digital and virtual spaces. We’ve all been on video calls where we need to step away for a moment to answer the door or tend to a pet or child off-camera. Instead of leaving a blank screen, empty seat, or static 2015 headshot, imagine with a wave of your hand, you could stay present as an intelligent avatar while you step away or stay off camera completely. To explore this, we’ve been experimenting with gestures and movement tracking and building on our imaging technology and video conferencing expertise to create the Concept Nyx Spatial camera, which when paired with AI software, could learn a user’s expressions and mannerisms to deliver a more authentic representation of them for future interactions.

Advancing the Concept Nyx Ecosystem

From infrastructure to devices, Dell is at the centre of present and future workplaces and is focused on developing the tools that will be needed to navigate these spaces. Right now, this means bringing tools to market like a new generation of UltraSharp conferencing monitors and intelligent webcams with motion-activated controls and presence detection, and building on technologies like storage, 5G, multi-cloud and edge that provide the advanced connectivity and infrastructure to allow organisations to shape how they work. In the future, productivity tools will be connected and intelligent enough to seamlessly move from experience to experience and task to task, helping to break down barriers and redefine how colleagues connect with one another.  

Dell Concept Nyx Ecosystem 3

My team continues to explore the future of compelling, immersive experiences in both work and play. Concepts play a huge role in allowing our designers, engineers, and strategists to test and tweak devices and solutions to inform future experience roadmaps. We’re excited to keep you updated on our journey!

Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

No Budget, No Worries – Acer’s Nitro QG0 Gaming Monitors Starts at MYR 379 

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Buying a gaming PC set-up is an exciting thing. You tend to get excited though. You tend to spend the bulk of your money on the tower for your gaming PC, which is not wrong. You do want to spend most of your budget getting a PC set-up that will last you the next few years and fit within your budget. The problem is when you spend nearly all your money there, you do not have much left to spend on other things that will make your gaming set-up work.  

In those cases, your budget only allows you to buy a cheap monitor that is not designed for gaming, a regular mouse, and a regular keyboard. Here is the thing though, if you have MYR 400 set aside for your monitor, you still can get a gaming monitor. For MYR 379, you can get an Acer Nitro QG0 series gaming monitor. 

The Acer Nitro QG0 series is not just any regular poor quality gaming monitor for the masses. It is designed with budget in mind, yes; it is also built with enjoyment and gamers in mind. Of course, you want to tamper your expectations a little bit. 

You have two sizes to choose from – 27-inch and 24-inch. You do not get an IPS panel at this price, you instead get VA panels on the monitors. Still, that is not exactly a bad thing.  

Across the three monitors they just introduced for 2023, the QG0 series monitors all offer 95% in sRGB colour gamut. While you do not get the vivid colour quality from IPS or OLED panels, you still get rather saturated and somewhat accurate colours from the monitor. In that case, games and movies will still look acceptably good on whichever Ntiro QG0 monitors you choose.  

They are all fast panels too. The 27-inchQG270S3 and 24-inch QG240YS3 offer 1ms in response time. The QG240YH3 is a little slower at 4ms, but it is no slouch either at that speed. They also offer 180Hz and 100Hz refresh rates respectively, faster than the more premium Nitro VG270 E monitor. All the Nitro QG0 monitors comes with HDR10 certification too. All of them also comes with AMD’s FreeSync feature allowing for tear-free gaming.  

While all of them only offer an old-school Full HD resolution, they include a DisplayPort on top of an HDMI port to fit more modern gaming set-ups. They also have an audio pass through feature via an Audio-Out 3.5mm jack. If you need something to fit your old system, the QG240YH3 comes with a VGA port rather than a DisplayPort.  

  • Nitro QG270S3 QG240YS3 Front
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG240YH3 01
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG240YH3 3
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG240YH3 Left
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG270S3 QG240YS3 1
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG270S3 QG240YS3 Left
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG270S3 QG240YS3 2
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG270S3 QG240YS3 3
    Source: Acer
  • Nitro QG270S3 QG240YS3 Right
    Source: Acer

The Acer Nitro QG0 series is now available in Malaysia. You can get your hands on one from Acer stores, authorised partners, their online store, and even their online retaile partners like Shopee and Lazada. The VG240YH3 24-inch 100Hz monitor starts at MYR 379. If you prefer higher refresh rates, the 24-inch QG240YS3 will retail fro MYR 499, and the 27-inch QG270S3 will be priced at MYR 589. For more information on the new Acer Nitro monitors, you can head over to their website.  

Gaming, News

PUBG MOBILE x BoBoiBoy Enters Phase 2 with Epic In-Game Event

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PUBG Mobile is kicking its partnership with BoBoiBoy into high gear with Phase 2 of an exclusive partnership with the Malaysian IP. The new phase kicked off on 17 February and will end on 1st March 2023. The Elemental vs Shadow in-game event will bring exclusive in-game items and themed battles.

PUBG MOBILE brings fans and players exclusive BoBoiBoy elemental suits and voice packs with the launch of the Elemental vs. Shadow in game event.1
Source: PUBG Mobile

During the event, players will be able to win the exclusive Elemental Burst Set gear. The item set draws inspiration from Boboiboy’s titular character and his ability to control the elements when dealing with baddies. Players will be rewarded with parts of the set as they complete tasks in-game. The headset will be rewarded once they play five matches. However, to get the rest of the set, they will have to place in the top 5 seven times. The in-game event is open to all players for the duration of the event.

In addition to this, players will also be able to get the exclusive Shadow Reign Suit which draws its inspiration from Fang, BoBoiBoy’s rival. To do this, they will need to visit the in-game store. PUBG Mobile will also be bringing the voices from the successful animation to the game through a limited edition voice pack. The voice pack will feature the voices of BoBoiBoy, Fang and Adudu.

BoBoiBoy Voice Pack1
Source: PUBG Mobile

If you’re just jumping on the PUBG Mobile bandwagon and missed out on the earlier event featuring BoBoiBoy, you’ll also be able to get the in-game backpack and helmet from the store. All BoBoiBoy event items will be available in the game store until 31st March 2023.

Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Razer Introduces the New Razer Blade 15 – The 2023 Baby Razer Blade

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Technically, as screen sizes go, this is not the smaller Razer Blade you can buy. There is a Razer Blade 14 which featured a smaller 14-inch display. As far as we know, they have made no announcement of the Blade 14 laptop, so we are going to treat the new Razer Blade 15 as the 2023 baby Razer Blade.

Contrary to what the name of the naming scheme of the name suggests, the Razer Blade 15 is not what you want to call entry-level. Far from it in fact, the 15-inch gaming laptop is designed to be as powerful as 15-inch laptops of its class can be. They say that the Razer Blade 15 is designed for those who wants to take their AAA games anywhere in the world while remaining as thin as laptops of this class can be.

As their marketing blurb suggests, the Blade 15 is designed to be uncompromised while remaining as portable as your textbooks. It still weighs about 2kg though, which is not all that light for a laptop this size. Still, you might not be too alarmed by its weight when you know what is within the 17mm (16.99mm to be exact) thick body.

Inside you can find up to 64GB of DDR5-5200MHz RAM. That should be a good indication to what you can expect to find within the all-metal body of the Razer Blade 15. To ensure that the Windows 11 laptop can run DDR5 memory at that speeds, Razer installed Intel’s 13th Generation Core processor. You can opt for Intel’s Core i7-13800H high-performance CPU with up to 14 cores clocking at up to 5.2GHZ (turbo). Alongside a powerful CPU and high-performance RAM, you need a powerful GPU to match too. This one comes with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4070 (up to) if you want.

Herein lies the problem. High-performance parts fitted into the Razer Blade 15 needs a lot of cooling. There is not a lot of space in the a body that is 25% smaller than the next best thing, the Razer Blade 16. They enhanced their vapor chamber cooling solution and put their exhaust fins on a diet to save space. That the same time, they made everything more efficient to ensure there is sufficient cooling within the svelte body of the Blade 15.

It is a laptop, so they need to ensure that it still has all the right qualities to make it as portable and mobile as possible. From its 80Wh battery, they say the Blade 15 can extract up to 6 hours of battery life. Its display offers a mobile viewing experience like no other with up to QHD in 16:10 aspect ratio goodness, and up to 240Hz in fluidity. When the mood takes you, 2.5ms in response time should keep you competitive no matter where you are seated. If cinematic games is what you care about, the 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut should take you to another world. You can kit your Razer Blade 15 with up t 4TB of storage too to ensure you have enough space for all your games, your movies, and your work documents as well.

  • Blade 15 2023 Render 1
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 10
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 9
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 8
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 7
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 6
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 5b
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 5a
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 5
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 4
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 3
    Source: Razer
  • Blade 15 2023 Render 2
    Source: Razer

The Razer Blade 15 is now available in select regions globally. There are no colour options for the Razer Blade 15, just the usual all-black. Alongside the Razer Blade 15, the Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18 will also be available with NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 40 series for laptops. The Razer Blade 15 will set you back US$ 2,499.99 (MYR 11,084*) onward. There are no confirmations as to whether the Razer Blade 15 will be available in Malaysia officially. It is available in Singapore though, so you can technically pop by and get your hands on one if you really want one. For more information on Razer’s latest Blade 15, you can visit their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.43 as of 24/02/2023 on xe.com