Virtual Reality, eSports are Game Changers at COMPUTEX 2017
COMPUTEX 2017, the leading global ICT show with a complete supply chain, and IoT and startup ecosystems, hosted significant gaming and virtual reality (VR) exhibitions and competitions this year. These included the world’s first VR calligraphy and streaming VR gaming exhibits, COMPUTEX’s first eSports and PC modding competitions, the G.SKILL OC World Cup overclocking competition, and HWBOT World Tour overclocking events. These activities were part of COMPUTEX’s Gaming and Virtual Reality exhibit, a featured exhibit this year for the first time at COMPUTEX.
The world’s first virtual reality calligraphy exhibit and a related VR painting exhibit were created in partnership with Taiwan’s National Palace Museum. The virtual reality calligraphy exhibit, “The Spirit of Autobiography – National Palace Museum Calligraphy,” transported participants into a fantasy world of Chinese calligraphy based on “Autobiography,” a world-famous running script produced by Tang Dynasty monk Huaisu in the year 777 A.D. A related exhibit, “Roaming Through Fantasy Land – National Palace Museum Painting,” immersed viewers in a walk and boat ride in a Chinese village and landscape painting, “Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains,” created in 1295 A.D. by early Yuan Dynasty painter Zhao Mengfu.
The world’s first VR eSports exhibition, hosted by hardware manufacturer, ZOTAC, as part of its ZOTAC CUP MASTERS eSports tournament at COMPUTEX, featured two teams wearing ZOTAC VR GO backpacks with HTC Vive headsets competing in the VR first person shooter, “Smashbox Arena.” Two American rivals, Chad Lawson and Robert Blanford, who are among the top three “Smashbox Arena” players, had competed almost daily in “Smashbox Arena” for six months and met in-person for the first time at COMPUTEX. Friends and families gathered during the early morning hours to watch the streaming competition live on the ZOTAC CUP Twitch channel back home. Chad’s team won this time at COMPUTEX, but there will be many rematches ahead.
Robert and Chad highlighted the benefits of the new horizon in gaming, virtual reality gaming, which includes full-body movement, exercise that led to weight loss for both men, improved coordination and response time to stimuli, and mental stimulation. Both men agreed VR gaming is the future because of its immersive quality and ability to move the full body while playing the game.
The ZOTAC CUP MASTERS was the first eSports tournament at COMPUTEX. For five days, competing teams playing the “Dota 2” multiplayer online battle arena video game participated in elimination rounds, playoffs, semifinals, and grand finals. The winning team, Newbee, from China received US$50,000, while the second-place team, NP from North America received US$20,000. The total prize pool for the ZOTAC CUP MASTERS was $100,000.
About COMPUTEX TAIPEI (also called COMPUTEX):
Established in 1981, COMPUTEX TAIPEI is the leading global ICT and IoT show with a complete supply chain and ecosystems. Co-organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taipei Computer Association (TCA), COMPUTEX, based upon Taiwan’s complete ICT clusters, covers the whole spectrum of ICT industry, from established brands to startups and from ICT supply chain to IoT ecosystems. With strong R&D and manufacturing capabilities and IPR protection, Taiwan is a strategic destination for foreign companies and investors looking for partners in global technology ecosystems.
About TAITRA:
Founded in 1970 to help promote foreign trade, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is the foremost non-profit trade promotion organization in Taiwan. Jointly sponsored by the government, industry associations, and several commercial organizations, TAITRA assists Taiwan businesses and manufacturers with reinforcing their international competitiveness and in coping with the challenges they face in foreign markets.
TAITRA boasts a well-coordinated trade promotion and information network of over 1,200 trained specialists stationed throughout its Taipei headquarters, four local branch offices in Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, and 60 overseas branch offices worldwide. Together with its sister organizations, Taiwan Trade Center (TTC) and Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), TAITRA has created a wealth of trade opportunities through effective promotion strategies.
In addition to organizing trade delegations and providing customized procurement services, TAITRA also hosts more than 35 international trade shows annually in Taipei and in Kaohsiung. In 2016, 11,128 exhibitors and 83,807 international visitors took part in these events.
