Kingston Inaugurates World’s First Kingston FURY Gaming Lab

Kingston FURY, a division of Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, continues its stride of connecting gamers to their passion with the inauguration of the world’s first Kingston FURY Gaming Lab at its APAC office in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan. Demonstrating Kingston’s commitment in creating a comprehensive gaming ecosystem. The new Kingston FURY Gaming Lab integrates compelling gaming solutions and technology by bringing visitors an immersive experience that links Kingston FURY’s memory and storage solutions with real-life applications.

World’s Leading Brand Pushing Industry Standards

Kingston was ranked as the #1 supplier of third-party DRAM modules for the 18th consecutive year and the #1 supplier of Channel SSD units in 2021. Leveraging 20 years of expertise and an established reputation in the PC gaming hardware market, Kingston debuted its high-performance gaming line, Kingston FURY, in 2021. As a leader in the launch of DDR5 memory products, Kingston FURY expanded its gaming product portfolio with high performance Kingston FURY Renegade PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

 

Kingston has always aimed center stage for launching high performing products and pushing the industry standards ever further. From engineering processes to product testing and quality control, Kingston’s R&D center at the Hsinchu Science Park has been the backbone of countless innovative projects, making it the perfect location for the Kingston FURY Gaming Lab.

 

“Our business and marketing strategies heavily emphasize the feedback from our customers, so we seek to bring the latest and most exhilarating gaming experience to the table,” Kevin Wu, Sales/Marketing and Business Development Vice President of APAC region stated, “Here at the gaming lab, we look forward to gamers, overclockers and partners participating in the fine-tuning and optimization of Kingston FURY products to help us emphasize the evolving needs of our customers.”

 

Integrated Gaming Experience at the First Kingston FURY Gaming Lab

Designed to personify Kingston FURY’s rebellious energy, the Gaming Lab is decorated with the brand’s signature colors, fiery red and jet black with signature heat spreader patterns throughout. The entire setup is adorned with LEDs that resemble the vibrant RGB lighting effects of the Kingston FURY range enjoyed by gamers across the world.

 

The Gaming Lab space included three zones:

• Zone A, a DRAM-shaped pillar where visitors participate in an interactive game to understand the type of gamers they are with product solutions recommended to best fit their needs.
• Zone B, where Kingston invited the world’s top PC modders to customize three PC builds: FURY Racing Spacecraft, Memory Nexus and FURY Jet Pack. These mods embody the brand’s rebellious spirit and innovative image. Targeted at empowering gamers to achieve more on the battlefields, the three PCs and one laptop displayed in Zone B are equipped with different Kingston FURY products, including DDR5 memory, Renegade PCIe 4.0 SSD and the latest Impact DDR5 SODIMMs for laptops and small form factor machines, covering the needs of mainstream and extreme gamers.
• Zone C gives a deeper look into Kingston’s engineering process and its strategic alliance with industry partners that ensure seamless platform compatibility and performance.

 

Sneak Peak of the Newest DDR5 RGB Memory

In addition to lab space, Kingston FURY previewed its brand new RGB lighting effects for DDR5 memory, showcasing 16 presets including countdown, fireworks, flames and rhythm special effects controlled by the intuitive Kingston FURY CTRL software. Users can personalize the colors and speeds of the lighting schemes to match their gaming aesthetics. Kington FURY Beast DDR5 RGB memory will be available in the second quarter of this year.

 

Fitness Made Easy with pTron Force X11

Smartwatches are the trend nowadays, but it is not easy to find an affordable yet feature-packed smartwatch. pTron ForceX11, is the best option for you as it packs just everything that you need your smartwatch to do in a decently-priced price tag. It helps you keep a check on your fitness levels and also notifies you & helps you stay connected/make & respond to calls directly via the watch with the help of Bluetooth function and the built in mic & speaker when someone tries to contact you during those fitness sessions. Smartwatches today are a combination of everything: a companion device, a health device that can monitor several things including blood oxygen level, but also more of an accessory and fashion statement.

Lightweight and ergonomic pTron Force X11, features 1.7” large full-touch HD color display offering crisp graphics and amplified brightness. The elegant 2.5D curved spherical dial rests in a premium alloy metal casing. Built to last, Force X11 has been rigorously tested to ensure it makes for a perfect and comfortable all day and night wearable accessory.  Equipped with advanced health & wellness sensors, Force X11 efficiently & continuously tracks Heart Rate & other vital body functions like Blood Oxygen. From monitoring heart rate throughout the day to being reminded to take a moment to reset with a guided breathing session, and even scheduling a daily walk, users can stay mindful of their intentions by tracking their wellness goals on Force X11.

Force X11 offers a range of smart features to help you manage your day and quickly get the information you need most for incoming calls, SMS, and social media alerts with wireless calling via the Bluetooth v5.0

 

With just 3 Hrs of charging time for an extended battery life of 7 days, the Force X11 is compatible with DaFit App  both Android and iOS) for an improved user experience. It allows access to a wide range of health data, set reminders, and customised watch faces.

 

Force X11 is available in three stylish colors that fit seamlessly into your life: Onyx Black, Ocean Blue & Suede Pink. Force X11 is available on Amazon India at an affordable price of INR 2799/- and comes with one year warranty.

GoodGameNation signs Viral Fission to drive India's largest college esports competition

 Viral Fission, Asia's largest GenZ community, today announced that it has signed a multi-year contract with GoodGameNation (GG Nation), India's first and only esports-as-a-service platform, to create India's largest esports championship and transform gaming from a hobby to a lucrative career option for millions of Indian student gamers by creating gaming clubs and gamer communities across campuses in India.

Esports is the fastest-growing sport globally and is the competitive format of video gaming, and is now a medal sport in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games; esports are also under consideration for the Olympics. To unearth and attract gaming talent that can represent India on the world stage, GoodGameNation has also announced its plans to disburse ₹ 3 crores in cash prizes.

Over the course of three years, this tie-up envisions attracting 100 million gamers and hosting over 16,000 intra-college and 10 national-level college esports tournaments.

 

Speaking on the vision for the partnership, Animesh Pande, Head of Marketing, Community & Content from GoodGameNation, said, "We are excited to partner with Viral Fission to amplify our efforts in campus esports in India. Viral Fission's track record of delivering youth activation for some of the biggest brands globally was an important factor in GoodGameNation picking them to amplify our efforts in campus esports. At GoodGameNation, we truly believe in the power of esports and its ability to bring communities together.

 

The Federation of Electronic Sports Associations of India (FEAI), the country's apex body for esports, states that India's esports industry will touch INR 1100 crore by FY25. This association will present the student gamers across the nation with unique opportunities to upskill themselves in the gaming arena through mentorship programs and engagement with their peers. "With this partnership, we endeavor to further our mission to build the most holistic and well-rounded ecosystem of gamers in the country by creating a platform for them to compete at multiple levels, upskill themselves and potentially even explore a full-time career in this fast-growing industry. Our dream, though, is to create esports athletes that could represent India at international tournaments and bring glory to Bharat," He further added.

 

Under the partnership, campus-based gaming clubs and gamer communities will be created across campuses to provide an opportunity for student gamers to compete in domestic and national-level esports competitions. These clubs will also be an inclusive space for gaming enthusiasts, game developers, and game streamers, to cultivate a sense of belonging. They will further act as a catalyst for brands to host various mobile, console, and PC games competitions in over 3000 colleges across the country.

 

Speaking on this partnership, Umang Gandhi, Product Head from Viral Fission said,

"We believe in fostering communities and in creating community first experiences in order to foster and nurture the next generation. Gaming is one of the fastest-growing industries globally, providing ample opportunities for young minds. With our partnership with GG Nation, we are glad to be a part of the global gaming boom and to bring gaming-first nano-communities within the campus ecosystems. This truly will create a unique experience for the youth and will foster the culture of gaming at the grassroots level. We aim at unlocking unique opportunities for the youth to get on board this wagon and build lucrative futures for themselves in the gaming industry."

 

About Viral Fission

Viral Fission was founded in November 2019 with a vision to bridge the gap between India's energetic youth and the brands they love. The core thought is an inspiration drawn by the founders from their own academic experience and learning. The company aims at redefining brand salience metrics with/for the youth. Viral Fission offers a community-based youth network that co-creates unparalleled brand experiences.

Website: https://www.viralfission.com/

 

About GoodGameNation

GoodGameNation (GGNation) is India’s first and only esports-as-a-service provider for student gamers in high schools and colleges. GGNation offers a holistic and structured program in esports that includes competitions at an institutional, domestic, regional and national levels, coaching from professional players and teams, and career opportunities for the best performers every annual calendar. GGNation was founded in 2021 by Abhinandan Balasubramanian, ex-founder of Racing Promotions which was majority acquired in 2021, and Hariansh Nagpal, Director of Rosmerta Group of Companies. GGNation already has campus gaming clubs in 100 colleges across India, and has conducted over 500 tournaments till date.

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube

Chase India launches report on Regulatory Road Map for Online Skill Gaming Platform

Chase India released a paper highlighting the need for ‘unified’ framework for the online skill games ecosystem. A clear and sound national regulatory framework for skill-based online gaming will protect children, consumers, ensure the growth of the ‘sunrise’ sector while keeping at bay the illegal actors operating from overseas in the space.

 

At present different states have interpreted laws on gaming differently causing confusion for legitimate players while unwittingly allowing illegal offshore players with no accountability in the country to operate with abandon.

 

The policy paper examines the issues relating to online skill gaming and proposes the way forward. Based on the issues faced by users, industry, and other stakeholders, the policy paper recommends reforms in the existing regulatory framework to ensure that the growth of the industry is balanced with protective measures to ensure that consumers particularly children are not harmed, and unscrupulous players are weeded out.

 

The following framework of regulation can ensure growth of the ecosystem and protection of users of online skill gaming platform:

 

1. Games of skill should be clearly defined in the proposed regulatory framework.

 

2. Build a robust self-regulatory mechanism that sets high standards of ethics for the industry while maintaining their operational efficiencies.

 

3. A grievance redressal mechanism on the lines of OTT platforms regulatory framework should be prescribed in the gaming industry.

 

4. Provisions to ensure protection of children should be in built into the system, such that their access to age-inappropriate content can be blocked.

 

5. The regulations should ensure reasonable security and privacy of the users and the platforms.

 

6. Through this light touch regulation financial protection of the users should be ensured.

 

7. The regulatory framework should be able to tackle the menace of offshore gaming sites systematically operating in India.

 

 

The policy paper recommends that the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 may be amended to include specific provisions for online game of skill intermediaries. The proposed reforms will address the urgent need to protect players and online games of skill ecosystem.

 

The policy paper urges the nodal ministry, Ministry of Electronics, and Information Technology to initiate the process of inclusion of guidelines for online games of skill intermediaries with administrative support from the concerned line Ministry.

 

ABOUT CHASE INDIA: Chase India is a leading public policy research and advisory firm with growing practices in Technology & Fintech, Transport & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Energy and Sustainability. Chase provides consultancy services to organizations for mitigating business risks through insight-based policy advocacy. Chase India is a part of the WE Communications Group worldwide. For more information, please visit www.chase-india.com

"Ab India Banega Smart" with the launch of Micromax IN 2c smartphone

Micromax Informatics Ltd, India's indigenous mobile and consumer electronics brand today announced the launch of its latest smartphone – IN 2c, ‘Ab India Banega Smart’ in the budget smartphone category. With a focus on ‘high-performance’, the IN 2c is powered by Unisoc T610  Octa Core processor with 1.8 GHz speed, improving efficiency by 30%. Fusing the best of both worlds where performance meets design, it has an 6.52" HD+ Drop-Notch display with a 1600:720 crisp resolution, giving its users a life-like experience coupled with a sophisticated craftsmanship.

Underlining its commitment to offer quality products with uniquely concocted design, the smartphone comes with Arm Cortex-A75 and -A55 CPUs. The Arm G52 class graphics processor gives a highly responsive non-stop experience that is further enhanced by the 12nm Octa-core CPU ensuring a powerful experience. It comes with an 8 MP dual AI rear camera with 30 FPS frame rate. For the selfie lovers, the 5 MP front camera offers face beauty mode, Night mode and portrait mode among others to capture one’s best moments. The smartphone has 3 in 1 slot (2 SIM card slots & 1 Dedicated SD card slot).

The smartphone is available in two colors namely - Brown & Silver, with 3GB + 32GB in-built storage that is expandable upto 250GB. The smartphone is priced at INR 8499 and will be launched at an introductory price of INR 7499 and will go on sale on Flipkart & https://micromaxinfo.com/  from 1st May 2022. 

Speaking on the launch announcement, Rahul Sharma, Co-Founder, Micromax India said, “In today’s digitally fast-paced world, smartphones have become an inseparable and essential product in our lives. Today’s consumers are looking for an affordable yet extremely powerful “no-hang” smartphone. The new set of digital experience/applications available through the google ecosystem have seamlessly entered the digital lifestyle of the Indian consumer and indeed the consumer is looking forward to a smartphone which can effortlessly handle the said usage. The launch of IN 2c is our reflection on these prevailing trends to ensure a seamless fusion of exemplary design & extremely powerful performance that collectively creates a wholesome experience for our consumers without burning a hole in their pockets.”

Micromax IN 2c – ‘Ab India Banega Smart’

Conceptualized & executed with perfection, the IN 2c has latest connectivity features like Dual VoWifi, Dual VoLte, Wi-Fi Band (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth V5.0. The super-performance smartphone comes in a memory variant of 3GB + 32GB RAM that is expandable upto 250GB, ensuring abundant storage on the smartphone. The device comes with 3 in 1 slots (2 SIM card slots & 1 Dedicated SD card slot).

Manufactured in India & fired by a 5000 mah battery, IN 2c also comes with a 10W Type-C, fast charger in-the-box. Built with superior technology, the IN 2c has an 8 MP dual AI rear camera with a f\1.8 aperture and auto HDR. It also has a 5 MP front camera to capture selfies that allows users to click pictures with sharper details. The IN 2c boasts of a 6.52” drop-notch display, 1600:720 pixel screen with an aspect ratio of 20:9.

With a weight of 198 grams makes the powerful IN 2c smartphone a lightweight, easy-to-use and the preferred choice of customers in the segment.

MaskGun Crosses 62 Million Players Worldwide

Made-in-India shooter MaskGun gets new features such as spectator viewing and audio chat to its 1v1 mode in its v3.02 update. Now up to five players can spectate matches and both players and spectators can engage in banter during matches.  

In addition to this, the new update brings improved matchmaking and quality of life fixes for an even better MaskGun experience. Introduced in January 2022 to celebrate MaskGun’s third anniversary, 1v1 is now the most popular way to play MaskGun, which now has over 62 million players globally. 

From MaskGun’s 1v1 launch in January 2022 till date, players have clocked in over 2,300 days in the mode with over one million matches played and more than 2.5 million total kills, making it the best new way to play MaskGun.

“MaskGun’s community has been asking for the 1v1 feature for a while now and it’s no surprise to see that it is currently the most popular mode in the game”, says Roby John, CEO and co-founder. “We’ve had the highest engagement rate ever after the addition of this mode. The leaderboard and in-game rewards have helped keep players coming back for more.”

1v1 marks SuperGaming’s first foray into competitive gaming and is accessible via the game’s Rumble section for all players at level five and upwards.

As the name suggests, 1v1 pits one player against another in a no-holds barred contest to see who is the best. Select from three weapon types — assault rifle, shotgun, and sniper rifle and square off against your friend (or enemy) and settle rivalries once and for all. You can check out what to expect from 1v1 in this handy trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_S2cFbRyMw

You can download MaskGun for free right now on the App Store and Google Play.

About MaskGun

Developed by SuperGaming, Maskgun is a real-time online multiplayer first-person shooter for mobile. Modes include deathmatch, team deathmatch, bomb defusal, and now, 1v1. Player customisation and expression are at the forefront of MaskGun with a host of unique armour, patterns, decals, masks, and guns to choose from.

Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells Celebrates “Fantastic Beasts

Zynga, a global leader in interactive entertainment, announced that its magical Match-3 mobile game, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, is introducing a special in-game series of events in conjunction with the launch of Warner Bros. Pictures' new film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” now playing in theatres worldwide.

By featuring magical characters and creatures from the film franchise, the limited time Fantastic Beasts Celebration invites players to experience the wizarding world of “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells. In the in-game event, which runs through tomorrow, famed Magizoologist Newt Scamander appears in the game for the first time, as a guide and host. As a special event bonus, players can earn badges to collect the Niffler, the lovable magical creature known for collecting shiny objects and treasures. For the first time, players can keep the Niffler as a permanent creature they can use in gameplay going forward – but they need to act quickly to seize their chance.

 

Players who’ve been swept into the Fantastic Beast Celebration can dive even deeper into Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells with the special Magical Creatures Season that runs from late April to late May. This in-game event enables players for the first time to unlock the Qilin, perhaps the wizarding world’s most revered magical beast, to help complete Puzzles when activated.

 

“We’re incredibly excited to announce the latest Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells in-game event series in conjunction with the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” said Yaron Leyvand, Executive Vice President, Games at Zynga. “The film series has created a massive global fan following, and we are excited that our players can see the film’s most beloved characters on the mobile screen.”

 

In Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, players enter a Match-3 adventure brimming with the spells, humour, colour and characters of the Harry Potter series. Featuring the soundtrack and voiceover recordings from the original Harry Potter films, fans follow an authentic, mobile retelling of Harry’s journey through the wizarding world. Earning spells and special boosts as they advance, players solve Match-3 Puzzles populated with hopping Chocolate Frogs, fluttering Winged Keys, battling wizard chess pieces and other unexpected obstacles and objects. In the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition at Hogwarts, players can join or form Clubs with other fans to socialise, collaborate on Puzzle strategies, share lives and vie for Prizes in exclusive Club Events.

Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells is playable on iOS and Android devices worldwide, as well as on Amazon Kindle and Facebook. For more information and to connect with other fans, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visit the game’s website at www.harrypotterpuzzlesandspells.com.

Meesho partners with Cashfree Payments to provide Instant Refunds to customers

  Meesho, India’s fastest growing internet commerce company, today announced its partnership with Cashfree Payments, India’s leading payments and API banking solutions company, to enable instant refunds for all Cash on Delivery (COD) orders placed via Meesho’s platform. This integration of Cashfree Payments is set to enhance the shopping experience of all Meesho users while also minimizing the need for manual intervention in certain orders.

 

Traditionally, in India, COD has been the preferred mode of payment especially for users from tier-II+ markets. Reducing the overall turnaround time taken to process refund payouts will enhance customer experience and also increase their trust towards online transactions. Through this partnership, Meesho aims to successfully process each refund payout in under 2 hours and eliminate drops in the payout funnel caused by technical failures or bank downtime. This entire refund process is automated by Cashfree Payments’ bulk disbursal offering ‘Payouts’. Further, the integration with Cashfree Payments will automate supplier payouts and also enable payout via UPI.

 

Commenting on the partnership, Kirti Varun Avasarala, Chief Product Officer, Meesho said, “In India, Cash on Delivery (COD) continues to be a preferred payment mode. We’ve noticed that any unexpected delay or hassle caused in processing refunds can cause inconvenience and lead to trust deficit. Meesho’s aims to become the preferred shopping destination for the next billion Indian consumers and our partnership with Cashfree Payments will address a very important aspect in the users’ journey and help us move closer to this goal.”

 

Reeju Datta, Co-Founder, Cashfree Payments said, “We are glad to collaborate with Meesho in solving the problem of slow refunds, especially in case of COD orders. Our bulk disbursal product, ‘Payouts’ will help Meesho delight its customers with faster refunds by crediting the refund amount to the customer's bank account in under 2 hours by automating the process. Queries around delayed refunds are a major source of customer tickets for e-commerce businesses, and we look forward to help Meesho reduce such queries to nil.”

 

According to a recent report by data.ai (formerly App Annie), Meesho was the most downloaded e-commerce app in the world last year. Over the course of 2022, the company will continue to fuel the discoverability of hyperlocal businesses and products, make e-commerce accessible to value conscious customers and innovate to become the preferred e-commerce destination for the next billion users in the country. Meesho also aims to reach 100 million monthly transacting users by December 2022 and increase its roster to over 50 million products.

GOVO introduces new variants to GOBUDS and GOKIXX series

 Further expanding their audio products portfolio, GOVO has announced the launch of the all-new GOBUDS 901, GOBUDS 902 under the truly wireless category and the GOKIXX 651 in the neckband category.

The variants are currently available for purchase on their website (https://www.govo.life/), with GOBUDS 902 as Amazon specials, GOKIXX 651 on Flipkart. GOVO range of products are made available in other leading e-commerce marketplaces like Snapdeal, TataCliq, Nykaa, Nykaa Fashion, and more as GOBUDS, GOCRUSH, GOKIXX and GOBASS variants.

The GOBUDS 901 and GOBUDS 902 each have a unique and elegant design, an ergonomic fit for continuous linear usage, rich sound with dynamic driver for deep BASS and True audio. They come with Bluetooth 5.0 with up to 30ft of seamless connectivity and a long battery life with up to 20h of nonstop music with Type C Input.

Priced at Rs.2299 and 2499, they are great for listening to music, a companion while working out, or to use while traveling and gaming. In addition, the devices are voice assistant enabled with Siri and Google Assistant support, have super touch control and malfunction touch controls for ease of use, and come in a premium Aluminum metallic curvy case making it a one-of-a-kind offering.

 The GOKIXX 651 neckband has a CNC, CD Texture, magnetic earbuds, metallic polished finish and is built with medical grade Silicon. It comes with HD RICH Sound, Sound Engineered though Listen USA devices and functions on fast charge for 10min for 10h of seamless music, and all day & night battery up to 20 hours. In addition, the neckband offers Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, Passive Noise Cancellation, water & sweat resistance IPX5 and comes with in-built voice assistant support making it a great partner for your personal audio needs.

REVENANT ESPORTS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES MAIDEN APEX LEGENDS TEAM

Revenant Esports has announced that they are announcing their first-ever Apex Legends team. The team will sit alongside their current teams - Battlegrounds Mobile India, Free Fire, Valorant, Wild Rift EU & Call of Duty Mobile.

 

Revenant Esports will be the only organization from India to be playing the ALGC Playoffs in Sweden against world-class organizations like G2 Esports, Cloud9, TSM & 100 Thieves to name a few.

 

The roster will be seen representing Revenant Esports in the Apex Legends Global Series Split 2 Playoffs in Sweden, on the 29th April to 1st May, 2022.

 

The roster currently consists of Muhammad Iqbal Salis “BellkunX_” Kadafi, Muhammad Zidan “MeXiousx” Syahada, Muhammad “laheemx_” Ilham and coached by Apex Legends veteran player Hasan Ali “FATTMONSTER” Naqvi.

 

Rohit N Jagasia, Founder & CEO of Revenant Esports said “Apex Legends via the Apex Legends Global Series has managed to build a solid viewership in the past couple of months and has been ranked in the top 5 most viewed constantly on Twitch. There is a massive potential for the Apex Legends esports scene to continue to grow with our new signings, and we are highly ambitious to make Revenant a global organization.”

 

The company strongly believes that this is the right time to enter the Apex Legends Competitive scene since it’s a highly successful video game with thriving competitive scene with the Apex Legends Global Series.

 

The entry of Revenant Esports into this brand new title has caught everyone’s attention from the South Asian Esports Industry.

 

Hasan Ali “FATTMONSTER” Naqvi added, “ We are so excited to have joined Revenant Esports. Being one of the fastest growing organizations in India and along the entire onboarding process, Rohit & the team gave us a lot of confidence that we have found a comfortable home here at Revenant Esports from being Free Agents. Being the only Indian organization competing at the ALGS Split 2 Playoff in Stockholm makes me very proud since I am also the only Indian Coach / Player at the event. Our players from Indonesia are very excited to have joined Revenant Esports as well & are looking forward to the exciting future. We are hoping to bring the trophy home from Stockholm.”