Icrontic was invited to spend some time up in Thermaltake’s private suite at CES. There we were shown all of Thermaltake’s outstanding efforts in the enthusiast PC gaming space. From chassis to cooling solutions to apparel, they had a little bit of everything. What left the greatest impact on us, however, is the changing face of this company. Well known as a company for high level enthusiasts, Thermaltake is taking things to the next level by focusing on the increasingly popular eSports segments.
The Thermaltake Meka G Unit gaming keyboard
Interest in eSports have risen significantly in the United States over the last two years. StarCraft II and the GSL (Global StarCraft II League) have brought many new fans thanks to the regular live streams of high level competitions. Professional video game playing has become a reality, with competitors earning major money and reputations in giant, sponsored tournaments. Thermaltake have taken notice of this newfound interest in eSports and are adjusting their brand to cater to professional gamers in many ways.
We were shown many products that are aimed at high-end enthusiast gamers, but we were particularly impressed by the design language used in Thermaltake’s products, most notably the Tt series that are built to support professional gamers and eSports. Thermaltake are now offering many of their products in alternate colors, such as white, to give gamers the choice of having a sharper look to their builds.
Thermaltake’s Tt series of headphones were especially impressive, offering three different styles of cans catering to different types of users. At the mainstream casual use level was the Draco series, offering boomy bass and solid acoustics. For the DJ and audiophile crowd are the Draco Signature series, which specialize in crisp mid- to high-range accoustics, meaning stronger vocals and instrumentals. For gamers, Thermaltake has the Cronos series, which feature attached microphones for in-game communications. All of the Tt headphones will be available in multiple colors and designs so users can customize the look of their gear to their specific tastes. Additionally, they were showing an attractive headphone stand that can easily collapse for travel needs.
The headset lineup from Thermaltake
One of my personal favorites, while seemingly simple, is a currently unnamed product that acts as a cable holder of sorts for your mouse. Thermaltake Director of Product Management Weller Chen called it a “mouse bungee”, though this may not be the final product name. This small device sits on your desk ahead of your mouse, and the cord from the mouse clips into the holder, perched about six inches above the surface. This ensures that the mouse is not inhibited by the cable bumping into objects or grinding on the edge of the desk. As simple as it seems, it all serves to push Thermaltake’s products to focus on the professional gamer who wants nothing to come between them and their game.
Pushing the envelope even further is one of Thermaltake’s most bold and unexpected moves—the upcoming launch of their own eSports apparel. In a side room, Thermaltake had on display various garments including shirts, hoodies, shoes, and hats, all adorned with their “Chao” logo. The shirts and hoodies were particularly sharp, displaying interesting designs that are on the bleeding edge of modern fashion trends. We were told that the all of the designs are currently works in progress, and they will initially be launched in Korea (where eSports enjoys its largest crowd of fans). Designs will then see adjustments, if deemed necessary, before an eventual launch in the United States.
Some product samples from the Chao clothing line
As eSports continue to gain worldwide notoriety, it is interesting to see a company so heavily entrenched in PC gamers’ favor work to improve their image and tap into this exciting culture. Launching trendy hardware and apparel is a rather unprecedented move for any PC hardware and accessory manufacturer. For any gamer who finds interest in watching GSL tournaments, Thermaltake will be a company to keep your eyes on.
Articles RSS