Hard-core gamers are very familiar with Logitech peripherals. The mouse and keyboard maker has had a strong line-up of gaming-related products for quite some time now, and here at Rage the 2 000-person LAN sees quite a number of gamers using Logitech mice and keyboards.
Obviously, with so many gamers packed into one big arena, competing with one another's sound systems isn't ideal, so headsets are required. Fittingly, this is where Logitech is seeing a lot of growth - gamers who need high-end audio kit for their online communications and keeping tabs on their approaching opponents' footsteps.
The current line-up of wired headsets includes the entry-level G330 wrap-around model, while dedicated sound nuts are more likely to opt for the G35 7.1-surround sound "uber headset.
Later this year the company will release its G930 professional headset - it'll do everything the G35 does, but wirelessly. There are even programmable keys to automate certain functions on your PC or in a game.
Also making its way to SA shores will be a replacement for the venerable Z5500 surround sound speaker system. Very few details are available on the new system, called the Logitech Z906, but expect more news, and specs, closer to its April 2011 launch date.
In the meantime, Logitech is focusing on its omni-directional audio systems, capable of providing convincing stereo sound from anywhere in a room.
There's something for everybody in the Logitech range, including fans of the niche flight sim games. The Logitech G940 is a pricey peripheral, at R4 500, but competition in the local market is weak: most of the other, big international names don't have a presence here and gamers stick to what they know. Logitech certainly isn't complaining.
Asked why there are fewer console-related peripherals on the market, Logitech's country manager Leslie Smyth explained that the closed ecosystem favoured by the console makers requires royalties, and this drives up the prices of the peripherals tremendously.
That said, it does plan to release a console-exclusive wireless gaming headset. The F540 headset is aimed at gamers who can find the time to play, but maybe have a wife or kids who'll be kept awake by loud sound systems. It'll be compatible with the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii, and its set-top receiver box will double up as a charging dock for the headset.
Exciting times are ahead for gamers and tech consumers. With Logitech's push to focus on more accessible technologies, we'll soon see the brand in places outside the study or computer room, and in our everyday lives.
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