Hangout with NZXT!

NZXT is hosting a live Google+ Hangout this Friday 5/17/13 at 5:00PM PST. Tune in and we’ll try to answer any and all questions you have about the company, our products and any other general inquiries. use the hashtag #askNZXT and tweet us your questions at @nzxtcorp.

We’re live! Hang with us at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8BGojXfRdM

Submit your questions now:

1. Tweet us @nzxtcorp with the #askNZXT hashtag.

2. Comment on the Youtube broadcast

3. Participate in our AMA on /r/IAmA : http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ejr7d/we_are_computer_hardware_manufacturer_nzxt_ask_us/

Borderlands 2, what a fun game

Title says it all; Borderlands 2 is a REALLY, really, really, fun game.  In addition to the jam-packed action, the storytelling itself  is entertaining, funny, and it keeps you wanting to play to find out what happens next.

I have beaten the game twice now with a level 50 Gunzerker. His “action” skill, which is his special ability, turns him into beast mode. Basically allows akimbo, which is wielding 2 weapons simultaneously, and has insane health regeneration. Needless to say, very fun!

(Love me some 100K crit)

In case you were interested, below is a picture of the skill tree I use. I went with this build because I usually run in like a madman, and this keeps me alive the longest. I love that play style, can’t imagine playing any other way.

You can play this game solo or with up to a group of 4 friends. I would highly recommend playing with friends as this improves the experience regardless of the game.

I decided to play the game yet again! BUT, this time as Commando! His turret special ability seems very fun as well. I can’t wait to attach rocket pods to it, hah.

Bottom line, Borderlands 2 is a must have game that is entertaining and can be played with up to 4 friends. I’m definitely looking forward to more expansion packs.

-Michael M
Marketing Specialist

The Hobbit. Not an Unexpected Failure

The newly released Peter Jackson movie is every bit as exciting as its predecessors, if not more. I just don’t get why critics are slamming it to the floor. Have you seen the movie yet? If you have, then I bet you heard woes and wows plus hand clapping in the end. Not only is “The Hobbit” the most enjoyable out of series, it is also the funniest. Not all will agree with me though. For starter, some critics are saying the film feels like a well-executed videogame while others call it an endurance test.

This almost feels like 13 years ago when critics talked about the Starwars’ The Phantom Menace; saying it lacked warmth and humor and it’s ponderous and plodding. The Hobbit shared none of those. This movie is visually stunning and is unexpectedly good despite all the negative hype. Have you seen the film yet? What did you think of it?

Shin F.
NZXT Product Team

We Have To Go Back!

Happy holidays, readers!  I’ll try keep this one brief so you can get back to downing your eggnogs and stuffing stockings. I don’t know about you guys, but I love this season although it’s been a crazy couple of months of shopping and spending. It seems everyone I know has their birthday around this time of year so I hardly ever get to spoil myself for the season. This year I decided to change that and planned an impromptu trip to Hawaii. It was my first time there and it was AMAZING! Being a LOST fan, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ride an ATV through areas that were used in films and shows, including (yep, you guessed it) LOST. Aside from that, Hawaii is a beautiful place and I wished I could stay longer.

Anyway, I hope you fans are able to check everything off your list this year while saving a few bucks along the way. And most importantly, if you haven’t learned from my post above, it’s okay to spoil yourself sometime. Also don’t forget to swing by the Armory Store and check out the amazing bundle deals; maybe your friend wants the Switch 810 and you want FZ Fans, I highly recommend the bundles as a great buy. Oh, and the NZXT Limited Edition Helm (made of metal, not plastic as some of you speculated) comes free with purchase of a bundle deal. So, everyone gets a gift!

Alright, excuse the shameless plug, but I’m a sucker for great deals and it’d be ridiculous to pass up on the offer. Stay warm… and alive (“Armageddon” day)… and a very merry holiday to all of you! See you all in the new year!

Signing off,

Tina
{Lead Graphic Designer}

Three Weeks in Asia

Around mid-October I finalized plans to travel and oversee the first production of the NZXT Kraken. It was a simple but an ambitious trip involving just 3 nights in Xiamen China and a quick return home. As the trip grew nearer the more those mere 3 nights felt like a waste of an 18 hour flight, it was then decided that I would add a leg in Taiwan to work in our Taipei team with a few upcoming projects for a week. I had previously been to China and Taiwan a few months back for Computex, it was with a sizable group of coworkers, this was the first real trip I had ever taken on my own.  With underpinnings of fear and excitement I managed to contain myself and eagerly boarded the plane for my trip.

 My overkill portable entertainment system

I arrived in Xiamen and came upon my first trial, getting from the airport to my hotel. While this may sound simple, it is most definitely not trivial and was my biggest concern in planning the trip. Thanks to my forethought I had printed the address in Chinese and arrived without issue. Most of my time in Xiamen was spent in the factory testing and reviewing the Kraken, but in my few spare hours I spent time touring the city with local employees and enjoying the nightlife. I wish I could say more about the factory experience because it was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had, but said shortly it was a truly incredible time.

 Overpass covered in wildflowers near my hotel.

In Taiwan I was in familiar surroundings and much more confident in my capabilities and accessibilities. I took the MRT every morning into the office listening to Lana Del Rey with Dunkin Donuts in hand. From the station to the office I was greeted daily by a crossing guard and bright eyed stray dogs. I fell into a routine and it felt great and comfortable, despite knowing next to no Chinese and spending most of my life in farmland on the East Coast. I explored Taiwanese history outside of Taipei. I visited a few museums featuring with the unfortunate subjects of animal human hybrids and death. My Thanksgiving was full of 7-11 hotdogs and drunken Karaoke. I spent hours looking at region specific sneakers. Overall the food was scrumptious, the tech shops were plentiful, and the people were lovely. I spent the most of my days staying late in the office but I look back on the trip fondly and cannot wait to return.

 The view from outside my hotel.

 Mural at the entrance of our Taipei offices.

 Wooden zombie ducks!

 Our Taipei team.

-Rob Teller
Product Manager

World of Warcraft: Then and Now

For me, World of Warcraft brings about a plethora of mixed emotions: happiness, sadness, rage and everything in between. But above all else, nostalgia. For those of us who have wasted dedicated countless hours throughout the game’s lengthy history, the game has had its share of memorable moments. Since its release in 2004, I’ve played the game on and off, but have been very resistant to the two most recent expansions. And the reason is pretty simple: World of Warcraft just isn’t the same anymore, and it never will be.

In its efforts to remain innovative and exciting, the World of Warcraft development team has made a very long list of questionable design choices that have completely alienated its original core player base. While the gameplay changes and content updates have kept World of Warcraft at the forefront of the MMORPG battlefield, the game’s rapidly declining player base is a clear indication of what’s to come.

But don’t get me wrong, World of Warcraft is still an excellent game and I applaud the team’s efforts to release new and refreshing content year after year. The game has certainly become very accommodating to new users and its casual player base, but I personally feel like the game has lost its competitive edge. As a hardcore raider that participated in more than a few races to world first kills, I’d have to say World of Warcraft in Vanilla, TBC and partially WOTLK was the most enjoyable.

The changes to talents, spells, skills and general gameplay modifications that came with Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria have certainly transformed the game into something else entirely. If you take a look at the Hunter class (one of the main classes I’ve played throughout the years), you can get a sense of the gravity of Blizzard’s changes. The Hunter was once a complex class, very easy to play (hence the birth of the Huntard) but fairly difficult to master when you consider mana management, optimal shot rotations, static shooting/casting, the “deadzone”. Now, Blizzard has tossed it all aside to make way for simpler, more user-friendly gaming. (And Hunters certainly aren’t the only ones) Whether overhauls like these are a positive or a negative change is still a highly debated topic.

For me, I’m hoping Blizzard’s Titan project blows its previous MMORPG out of the water.

 

Gladiator Tuan Mai
<NZXT Marketing>     

Holiday Gift Giv… Receiving

It’s that time of the year, where the snow falls — unless you don’t have snow — and everyone’s feeling festive — unless you just broke up with someone.

But one thing’s for sure, gifts are on everyone’s mind. FWP. The question is, what  do you really want to get? And do you get what you always want? For us PC gamers, the focus is usually on hardware. Maybe someone’s wishing for that new and fast SSD. Maybe another person’s hoping for Santa to really be generous with a GeForce GTX 680 that only a parent’s love would afford.

Regardless, there’s plenty new to be had this holiday season. If you haven’t already received your perfect piece of hardware over the Black Friday trample-over-everyone sale, there are sure to be more sales coming. The only problem is you don’t always end up with a smile after unwrapping your gifts.

What would you do then? Would you go out and gift yourself exactly what you want? And if so, what would it be? Let us know!

/ Tuan N
Director

Shopping Frenzy

Black Friday is coming! Call the babysitter, take out your sleeping bags, and pitch a tent in front of your favorite store for days. If you have left your house in the last few decades, you will know I’m not joking.

Many people are aware of the horror, savagery, and complete and utter dismay that accompanies Black Friday, but what they are not aware of is its origin. Black Friday is traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and has been used since the 1950s. It was a term to describe the terrible traffic conditions that plagued the city during this time. This, being a negative term, got city merchants very riled up! So over the years, it was a collaborative effort to change the negative image of Black Friday to one of a more positive note: the soaring profits seen by stores during this time. Read more about it here.

But don’t forget about Cyber Monday, that is also a “thing”. It may not be as popular as “Black Friday”, but that definitely seems to be changing. The term was coined by Shop.org in November 2005 in a press release entitled “’Cyber Monday’ Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year”. “Cyber Monday” is an international marketing term used by online retailers whose goal was to capitalize on a study that showed an increase in online sales on the Monday following Thanksgiving. Did I just blow your mind? Do you feel cheated? Well get over it because that means more deals for you!

Well, that about wraps it up, hopefully it was entertaining, yet educational. O and, keep a lookout for NZXT Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals; they will be as awesome as this article! In case there is confusion, I mean the deals will be good. Heh.

Did you know that Coca-Cola did not invent Santa Clause? Nor were they the first to depict him in red and white colors. I just blew your mind again, didn’t I?

Wake Up. Campaign Controversy

Taylor Wimberly:

We know Samsung has an unhealthy obsession with Apple, but this is getting a little weird. This week in Australia, Samsung hired a marketing agency called Tongue to conduct some kind of guerrilla marketing campaign where they sent a bus of protesters to an Apple store and taunted people with the message “WAKE UP.”

Here’s an idea: just make products that don’t copy everything Apple does.

[Update]: It turns out that this lame WAKE UP campaign was entirely orchestrated by RIM’s Australian arm. Samsung received accidental coverage, but this goes to show just how far recessed RIM is from understanding what consumers really want.

/ Tuan N.
Marketing Department

We <3 kickstarter and the power of crowd sourcing

For those who don’t yet know about kickstarter.com, it’s a platform for end users to get involved on projects and ideas proposed by users on the site. Recently, it’s been the place where many of our favorite classic PC games are being recreated. Doublefine, led by Tim Schafer, has gotten over 3 million dollars in pledges from end users to bring back the classic adventure games ( hopefully with updated graphics ) like Day of the tentacles, Monkey island, and Full throttle. As a PC gamer who started out playing games like Loom, Indiana Jones, Monkey Island, and King’s quest, I can’t be more excited at the thought of going back to a time of adventures with a great story.

I want to thank Kickstarter.com officially giving these old school guys a chance at bringing back our old favorites, they’ve allowed gamers to choose what they want. Wasteland 2, Doublefine Adventures, Takedown ( think Swat 3, Rainbow 6 ), new Shadowrun are officially my most anticipated games. I can’t wait to see what ideas they’ve got in store for gamers worldwide when they’re hands free to do what they want.

 

Johnny Hou, Founder