| PCGames Interviews Vincent Tang |
| Date |
27.09.2009 |
| Author |
Adz |
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Page 1 of 1 |
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One of the biggest gaming website in China PCgames has interviewed the CEO of ZOWIE GEAR -- Vincent Tang, Vincent has disclosed the spirit of ZOWIE GEAR very clear, so we have translated a English version here.
Master of e-Sports gear ---- Interview VT, ZOWIE GEAR’s CEO
Nice to meet you VT, we have recently heard a lot about ZOWIE GEAR, especially regarding SpawN & HeatoN joining forces with ZOWIE GEAR to create new gaming gear. SpawN’s mouse pad has already been released. But going back to the beginning When did you become the new CEO of ZOWIE GEAR?
"Nice to meet you. Initially I was responsible for ZOWIE GEAR’s product development but I became the CEO of ZOWIE GEAR this May."
What is ZOWIE GEARS’s spirit and focus in developing the brand?
"ZOWIE GEAR pursues perfection in any product’s quality. Quality has always been my main concern. ZOWIE GEAR will begin with products used for e-Sports, which is my specialty; gradually we will focus on professional products. We have started to work on some customized products based on each group’s requirements. Let’s take products used in e-Sports for example; each program has its own requirements to its products. We do not expect to cover all markets by using one unified product."
Is the SpawN pad produced with the same high quality standards?
"Yes it does. A lot of thought was applied while making Spawn‘s TF pad. The majorities have no choice but to accept the visible discrepancies of a product, this is a passive accept. What we have done is to find solutions from the discrepancies which have been accepted passively. Please allow me to use an example. This is the first time I disclose this secret. If you tear the surface cloth of SpawN mouse pad, you will find below the first layer, there is another layer of cloth. That layer is glued with rubber, and then another layer is used which is seen and used by any players. The purpose to insert an extra layer of cloth is to increase the maximum smoothness of the surface. Someone might not think its necessary, but we think without improving this detail, it might be possible to have a problem. The reason not to disclose this detail during press release is that we want people to focus on the accurate and comfortable experiences by using the products."
Can you tell the readers something between you and SpawN during the development of this TF pad?
"Honestly, SpawN was a little resistant to use a cloth mouse pad. He has always used a pad with a fast surface as well as the “kernel” sensation. To apply the above two to a cloth mouse pad is very challenging. SpawN does not like coating on the surface. His concern is that the coating might cause wrinkled surface and shorten life cycle of endurance. He could not believe that cloth can meet his standard. Anyway, I asked him to give it a try. The first impression after his trial was “How come?” Immediately did he ask if any coating was applied? “NO”. After analyzing SpawN’s feedback, some modifications were applied at the weaving stage, which brought us to our final product. SpawN also invited his friends to test the product. I can not disclose who his friends are, but I can tell you that they are all known in this industry. All feedback SpawN gathered is positive. Everyone who tested this product loves it."
People have shown great curiosities in what made legendary figurines like HeatoN and SpawN to join ZOWIE?
"This question might be better for them to answer. From my conversation with them, I can feel their true passion to develop these professional CS equipments. I am amazed that both of them are willing to join Zowie. It’s been a pleasure working with them."
Do you feel different working with HeatoN and SpawN?
"Frankly, anyone who is successful in his/her field has some similarities. I believe that the reason for HeatoN and SpawN to be successful in e-Sports industry is because their concentration and respect to their work. Their personal hobbies in their own lives are different. However their attitude to work is the same. Both of them are highly motivated and detail oriented, which are advocated by ZOWIE as well. This is one of the reasons we can work together really well."
Amazing, each product released by Zowie is very creative. Where did your inspiration come from?
"Inspiration is mysterious, ours is very simple we listening to customers’ voices. I also ask our employees who have good knowledge on e-Sports. If you do not know e-Sports, you cannot develop a good product for the industry. If you do not know e-Sports, you cannot market e-Sports gears well. If you do not know e-Sports, you cannot sell e-Sports gears well. We do not need to be super professional players necessarily. But without the knowledge of e-Sports, one can hardly tell what the market needs. One can hardly communicate with SpawN, HeatoN and other co-workers. One cannot develop a product blindly without considering reality, and then name the product “Gaming” for customers to pay for it."
Do you play e-Sports?
"I do play CS in my spare time. When HeatoN visited Taiwan last time, I mixed with him and other players of UMX. Many deficiencies can be found while one’s playing physically. Then we would do some study and find out the possibilities of improvement. I don't think there's any product that is perfect, if the perfect products exist, we do not need the development anymore. Does that make sense?"
Do you watch any games?
"Of course I do, I focus on CCSL, which is a cut and try trial. Personally I do care about this tournament since I agree to its concept. Therefore I want to know the result of it. China itself is a huge and individual market. There are some causes for CS going downward; one of them to speed this trend is that the game has been played by one super team only. Who wants to watch a game without any suspension? The reason Sky is not a champion forever will make WarCraft popular in China. Now wNv and Tyloo are competitive with each other, Jungle is back. A more vigorous CS team has been set up in Shanghai. These elements are making CS in China more interesting. I am very optimist to the development of CS in China if CCSL game is continued and with LAN games. Don‘t worry about hearing someone’s bad mouthing If they do not care about it; they would be too lazy to bad-mouth it."
As well as the SpawN mouse pad, ZOWIE has also recently released its headset. What are the characteristics of the headset?
"The most important part of the headset is audio quality. In the past, in order to show details of games, concessions were made to lower the comfort of audio heard. We have improved these parts and equipped with extra pair of ear cushions. Different ear cushions leads to different audio effects. We hope these extra ear cushions can not only be used for gaming but also it can be used for listening to music or watching movies, when any consumer purchases it. A simple option ear cushions has made gamers not to consider the purpose of purchasing headset is for the more use of gaming or listening to the music. In addition, many gamers feel uncomfortable when they wear headsets for a long time (pressure is caused to ears as if the ears are clipped). Our headset has solved this problem in this aspect, one will not feel uncomfortable even he/she wears the headset for a long period of time, which is very important for customers, in my opinion. Finally, we have learnt from our experiences that it’s easy to break parts to any headsets that have been updated. No matter how responsible a manufacturer is, its products which need repairing frequently will harm the manufacture itself as well as customers."
Does ZOWIE have any plan to release its mouse and keyboard? If the answer is yes, we will expect ZOWIE’s creativity to its mouse and keyboard.
"The plan is in processing. You might be disappointed if you are looking for the creation. We will stick to our essence that we are making e-Sports gaming gear. An e-Sports player is looking for product’s “quality” not “quantity”. It’s not necessary to apply multiple functions to an e-Sports gear. Clicking a mouse or other functions excessively might lead to the chances of mistakes during competition. The mouse we will produce is as simple as possible. After the mouse is plugged to a PC, the players can start to play immediately. Our goal is to produce a mouse with accuracy, comfortable grid and fewer chances of mistakes. Some factories have contacted us with their chip of newest technology and multiple functions. We will not deliver any new technologies before we have proven results. We will not adapt any new technologies before we have proven reports of the stabilities. E-Sport is a sport, which requires professional products. It might not hurt anything if a mouse to your PC at work has a problem. However if a mouse has some trouble for a gamer during competition, the outcome cannot be expected. A mouse used in e-Sports is very different from a mouse used in office or online game. You can wear formal clothes and leather shoes for a party; while you have to wear comfortable sport shoes and clothes if you go to play basketball. Wearing leather shoes to play basketball will increase the chances to be hurt and mistaken even you wear the most expensive and fashionable leather shoes. If anyone agrees that e-Sports is a sport, he/she will agree human being plays the leading role in e-Sports. As a product supplier, we only supply players with a result driven product. We do not need to transgress what is right. It’s cheating if we produce a mouse which can have headshot automatically."
Terrific understanding. It looks like it’s very different from ideas of main stream.
Do you have any concerns that you're ideas may restrict your expansion?
"ZOWIE GEAR is producing professional products. This market has its limitation. Talking about market expanding, ZOWIE will explore other specialized fields in the future. At this moment, it’s more important for us to do a good job in e-Sports."
What’s your take on other competitors?
"My coworker and myself have shared and emphasized this idea which you can never stop other people producing a great product. If the products from other competitors are bad, our products are bad as well. These bad products will be discarded by the market sooner or later. The most important thing is to produce the best if you can. One should transcend him/herself, not to follow others closely."
Q. As I know, you are running a CO/GENES bags for e-Sports. What made you develop a product like this brand?
A. CO/GENES want to provide more choices to e-Sports fans with specialized functions, sensational appearances, and qualified accessories and exquisite workmanship. Everyone can tell this is a high cost and high quality product if he/she inspects it carefully. Comparatively, CO/GENES have an even smaller market than ZOWIE has currently, but I am confident that some people will love it. CO/GENES have gained tremendous compliments in Europe.
Thank you for your time to let us conduct this interview. We hope to see more and more professional products from ZOWIE.
"Thank you. PCGames has served as a great media platform for e-Sports fans. As an e-Sports fan, I should say thanks to you all."
The original Chinese interview: http://fight.pcgames.c.../news/0909/1624626_3.html |
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