PC gaming is alive and kicking in the Philippines and IDC (International Data Corporation) is showing us some relevant figures that support such a vigorous statement. From about 6.3 million last year, the estimated population of Filipino gamers is incessantly increasing at present. IDC is predicting that it would reach 7.8 million by the end of 2009. Noteworthy, these numbers pertain only to the online gaming community in the country, not including those who are into other sorts of game genres. Nonetheless, these stats are already adequate to provide us with what’s happening in the local gaming business.

 

 

 

Likewise, based on these figures, we should also see why gaming peripherals are a big venture for manufacturers such as Logitech. By simply visiting their website, you could see that the Swiss company has a fairly comprehensive arsenal of weapons for hardcore types of gamers. Two new additions to this elite armory are the Logitech G13 advanced gameboard and the Logitech G35 USB gaming headset, both of which had a stopover at our new, sweet home recently.

 

 

 

While PC gaming usually involves the use of either a kitschy keyboard or a gaudy gamepad, Logitech revolutionizes such a conception with the introduction of the G13 advanced gameboard.

 

 

 

It is obvious that Logitech handpicked some elements from one of their keyboards and joysticks then combined all of them to produce a new mutant species. The Logitech G13 makes use of the USB 2.0 interface for connection.

 

 

 

The G13 has a set of twenty-five programmable, backlit keys and a mini-joystick. 

 

 

 

The position of the mini-joystick suggests quite an instant advantage for left-handed and ambidexterous gamers. Nevertheless, we believe that those who are right-handed could quickly catch up, right?

 

 

 

To make PC gaming a more comfortable experience, Logitech has fashioned the G13 gameboard according to the natural contour of the human hand.

 

 

 

Hence, the design should reduce hand fatigue due to long hours of nonstop gaming.

 

 

 

In addition to its ergonomic design, it features a rubber palm rest as well.

 

 

 

Turned turtle, the G13 shows rubber feet that are strategically placed to prevent the gameboard from sliding from your desktop, especially during exciting moments of a game.

 

 

 

The most prominent feature of the G13 is its LCD which allows you to alter gameboard settings, change function or switch to another set of key profiles by using the navigational buttons below. As a multifunctional device, the G13 can work as a timer,

 

 

 

a clock,

 

 

 

a newscast through an RSS reader,

 

 

 

and a CPU-memory performance monitor. The latter function works just the same as the Task Manager on Microsoft’s Windows OS.

 

 

 

To get the most out of the G13, it is necessary to install the Logitech GamePanel tool which includes the device driver as well as additional software such as World of Warcraft, Ventrilo and Adobe Acrobat Reader.  

 

 

 

Once everything is set, the G13 can be manually configured by using the Logitech G-Series Key Profiler which can be used to assign a particular keystroke, macrokey, function, shortcut, text block or script to each key of the gameboard, depending on your needs. Therefore, the G13 is not only limited to playing games; it can also be employed as an auxiliary tool for complex applications such as multimedia editing software.

 

 

 

G13 users can enable and disable its additional functions through the LCD Manager tab of the G-Series Key Profiler.

 

 

 

If changes on the key configuration were not saved intentionally, the application would do it for you automatically. 

 

 

 

Worth mentioning, the brightness and color of the gameboard’s backlight can be customized using the same software as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As what’s expected from a gaming gizmo, the Logitech G35 appears loud and intimidating. In general, it is matte black and has a rubbery texture.

 

 

 

Supplied with two extra, swappable, contoured headband pads, the G35 offers comfort to users wearing it.

 

 

 

 

Plush circumaural ear pads provide you with long lasting snugness and isolation, allowing you to concentrate more on the game and not on distracting ambient noise.

 

 

 

 

An additional feature of the G35 that highlights comfort is its adjustable, sliding headband.

 

 

 

All control buttons and switches are found on the left earpiece. Shown in the photo from top left, clockwise are microphone on/off; three G-keys for one-touch command over media players, voice morphing and audio controls; Dolby surround sound on/off; and volume switch.

 

 

 

 

The red light at the tip of the microphone indicates that it is turned on.

 

 

 

Here is where you can change the settings of the G35 headset.

 

 

 

Aside from the volume, the intensity of treble, bass and microphone volume can be increased or decreased by using the volume control of the headset.

 

 

 

 On this side of the application window, each G-key can be assigned to launch a particular media player or execute a command with just the touch of a finger.

 

 

 

This icon signals whether Dolby surround sound is on or off. The G35 mainly highlights its 7.1 surround sound which is powered by Dolby technology. This feature is particularly useful when you are running FPS (first person shooter) titles, most of which are intentionally designed to work with surround sound speakers. With that said, the G35 allows you to hear the movements of an approaching enemy as well as situational sounds on highly immersive games such as Crysis and Far Cry 2.

 

 

 

Last but not the least, the G35 headset features real-time voice morphing. You can select from six preset voices – Troll, Mutant, Alien, Giant, Cyborg and Space Squirrel – that are accessible on the G35 control panel.

 

 

 

 

 

Given their revolutionary, ergonomic design as well as abundant feature set that can be customized on the fly, there is seemingly no reason not to like these gaming gizmos.

 

 

 

So if you are planning to throw yourself into a round the clock gaming session, either alone or with your buddies, aside from digging up several cans of soda, take into account getting these exciting gadgets to fulfill your desire.