Gaming
Lenovo and GEMS Education Setup Esports Zone at GEMS FirstPoint School
Lenovo has announced the expansion of its successful partnership with GEMS Education to further include opportunities for students in gaming. Hot on the heels of Lenovo’s collaboration with GEMS Modern Academy, the rollout of its second Esports program sees GEMS FirstPoint School – The Villa benefit from a range of Lenovo offerings. These include products from the Lenovo Legion and Workstation lines that will allow the school to further level up the intersections of learning and gaming.
As part of the collaboration, Lenovo’s second ‘Legion Gaming Zone’ at GEMS FirstPoint School will feature a 360-degree solution consisting of industry-leading Legion PCs and monitors for gaming immersion, and high-performance ThinkStation workstations for seamless designing and programming. With GEMS FirstPoint School being the first institution in the UAE and wider region to offer international BTEC courses in Esports and Creative Media – Game Design, Lenovo’s specialized gaming setup with industry-level hardware and software will allow for further practical and professional skills development.
Commenting on the rollout of Lenovo’s second Esports program with GEMS Education, Mohammed Hilili, General Manager, Lenovo Gulf, said: “As with any competitive sport, Esports gaming helps students develop discipline – teaching new skills and building engaged communities. But more than that, Esports can foster an inclusive community that is largely independent of physical ability, gender, location, and other factors. With access to the right technology, diverse students from all backgrounds can compete on a global stage, opening up professional opportunities for playing and developing gaming. At Lenovo, we will continue leveraging software and services, paired with devices, to deliver integrated and customized Esports solutions that will enhance the lives of students and teachers alike.
“Over the last period, we have worked with GEMS Education to align on the key requirements and goals for establishing a vibrant and successful Esports program, with GEMS Education consistently seeking new ways to engage its students. With the successful rollout of Lenovo’s first Esports program, we have expanded our collaboration with the educational institution. The second partnership is a testament to GEMS Education’s mission and commitment to nurturing students to become productive members of society by helping them build life, social, career, and workforce development skills.”
Matthew Tompkins, Principal/CEO of GEMS FirstPoint School, said: “At GEMS FirstPoint School, we are delighted to be partnering with Lenovo on this project, as we are acutely aware of the increasing industry demand for students with gamification skills and experience. The introduction of this state-of-the-art ‘Games Laboratory’ coincides with, and enhances, our courses that promote the development of gamification skills. Our students learn coding and computer skills from Year 1, with GCSEs and A-levels available at the senior end of the school. We recently added BTEC Esports and BTEC Digital Game Design to our qualification offering and are the first school in the Middle East to offer BTEC Esports. We are also proud to be members of the British Esports Federation.
“As a school, it is our responsibility to reflect the ever-evolving workplace and provide our students with skills that will allow them to enter university and employment as leaders from day one. GEMS FirstPoint is very fortunate to be part of the GEMS family of schools, which promotes innovation and supports us to improve our offering to best support our students.”
Baz Nijjar, Principal Advisor – Education Technology, GEMS Education, said: “Our focus on innovations is aimed at increasing student engagement and collaboration and supporting their learning outcomes with a STEM-centred approach. Through the rollout of Lenovo’s Esports programme at GEMS FirstPoint School, we are providing a world-class environment in which students can develop as exponential thinkers and further build their social, emotional and interpersonal skills. Our partnership with Lenovo sets a foundation to increase inclusivity and outreach to students across the GEMS network. We see Esports as a gateway to providing meaningful opportunities that will support lifelong learning by developing transferrable employability skills.”
In the Middle East, gaming continues to grow at an exponential rate with forecasts suggesting that average Esports players in the UAE will spend at least $115 per year in the next five years. This has pushed governments to invest billions of dollars in theme parks and other venues where Esport players can access the games or take part in the competitions. Considering that about 70% of UAE’s population is below 30 years, the entire business will potentially involve about 20 million people – many of which are school students.
Components
CORSAIR Intros MP700 ELITE Series PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSDs
CORSAIR has announced the immediate release of the MP700 ELITE series of PCIe 5.0 SSDs. These new drives bring the next generation of storage technologies to mainstream markets, offering incredible performance and reliability at a more affordable price point.
The MP700 ELITE boasts incredible sequential read speeds of up to 10,000MB/sec and sequential write speeds of up to 8,500MB/sec, powered by the cutting-edge PCIe 5.0 x4 controller. This leap in performance ensures users can experience faster boot times, quicker game loads, and seamless file transfers, taking their overall computing experience to new heights.
Featuring High-Density 3D TLC NAND, the MP700 ELITE series provides the perfect blend of performance and endurance, keeping your system running smoothly for years. With support for Microsoft DirectStorage, these drives can communicate directly with your graphics card, significantly reducing load times for compatible games and enhancing gameplay.
Utilizing the compact M.2 2280 form factor, the MP700 ELITE is available both with a heatsink for desktop motherboards, and also without a heatsink for use with integrated motherboard cooling and in compatible laptops. Moreover, backward compatibility with PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 platforms ensures that a wide range of users can benefit from this advanced technology. A PCIe 5.0 platform, such as Intel’s 800-series or AMD’s 800-series is required for the highest throughput.
With a comprehensive five-year warranty and the CORSAIR SSD Toolbox software for advanced drive management, the MP700 ELITE series stands as a testament to CORSAIR’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. The CORSAIR MP700 ELITE series is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Components
Cooler Master Releases the MasterLiquid 360 Ion White
Cooler Master, a leading provider of PC components, gaming peripherals, and tech lifestyle solutions, has today announced the release of the MasterLiquid 360 Ion White, an all-new colourway for their premium liquid cooler. This flagship AIO cooler features the company’s first LCD display and showcases the most advanced cooling technology to date.
Key features and benefits of the MasterLiquid 360 Ion White include:
- Gen X Dual Chamber Design: Dual chambers work together for the most efficient cooling.
- 2.1-inch IPS LCD Screen: The pump features a 2.1-inch LCD screen, fully customizable via the MasterCTRL software.
- Mobius 120P ARGB Fans: Equipped with three white Mobius 120P ARGB fans for unmatched cooling performance.
- Personalization and Compatibility: Built-in features such as controllable ARGB lighting and automatic PWM adjustment are compatible with all major motherboards and allow for in-depth personalization.
- Easier Installation: Preinstalled Mobius 120P ARGB fans and a simplified bracket design make installation simpler and faster.
The MasterLiquid 360 Ion White is the liquid cooler to watch for in the next generation of PC building. With the ideal combination of flagship performance and customization possibilities, as well as an all-white aesthetic for an entirely different look, the Ion is a cooling powerhouse you just can’t look away from.
Gadgets
Corsair Introduces K70 PRO TKL
CORSAIR has unveiled the K70 PRO TKL, a tenkeyless keyboard that redefines the standards of gaming performance. Powered by CORSAIR’s innovative MGX Hyperdrive magnetic switches and featuring cutting-edge technologies like Rapid Trigger and FlashTap, the K70 PRO TKL is designed to dominate the competitive gaming scene.
The K70 PRO TKL introduces CORSAIR’s MGX Hyperdrive magnetic switches, which utilize Hall-effect sensors for lightning-fast activation. Combined with Rapid Trigger, these switches accelerate actions by registering and resetting keypresses instantly, surpassing the capabilities of traditional mechanical switches. The customisable actuation distance, ranging from 0.1mm to 4.0mm, allows gamers to tailor the keyboard to their specific preferences.
The K70 PRO TKL also offers FlashTap, a revolutionary SOCD system that enables esports-grade character movement. By prioritizing the first or last keypress, FlashTap significantly enhances in-game movement, particularly for rapid-strafing and move-mirroring techniques.
The wired-only K70 PRO TKL boasts 8,000Hz hyper-polling, ensuring ultra-fast keystroke registration. CORSAIR’s AXON hyper-processing technology further minimizes input lag and delay, giving gamers a decisive edge in critical moments.
The K70 PRO TKL delivers a premium gaming experience with its pre-lubricated MGX Hyperdrive switches, which offer a consistent and wobble-free keystroke. The keyboard’s sound-dampening foam reduces unwanted noise, creating a quieter and more immersive gaming environment.