Johannesburg, 01 Apr 2004
We all know that the information technology sector is fast moving. Products have an average lifecycle of 18 to 24 months but nothing beats the fast pace of the gaming industry where some graphics card and graphics chipsets have a shelf life of three months before the next generation takes its place. In April, Axiz will focus on the gaming industry as a sector which provides immense growth potential and often a whole lot of fun.
Video games today have evolved well beyond the simple toys they were 20 years ago, dispelling the myth that games are for kids. In America, the average gamer is 29 years old, and a lot of those gamers are women. As a result, there are literally hundreds of games available, which are very specific in terms of content. Some are country or even religion specific. Whether it`s clever investors recognising this expanding demographic or the gaming industry attempting to entertain audiences in new ways, video games are shaping our cultural landscape.
Perhaps the most influencing growth contributor is the realism of the games today. The animation is so impressive you would be forgiven if you started living in your cyber world. But, before you go to the other side, you need to ensure you have the right equipment - the right graphics card. Without it, your gaming experience will not be near as satisfying as you would like.
There are four areas to consider before purchasing a card: needs analysis, warranty, brand and budget.
* Needs analysis: Decide what you want to do before purchasing a card. Is it office work, Internet activity, entry-level gaming or application-specific functionality? By doing this you will narrow down the very broad range of cards on offer and spare yourself the cost of future upgrades.
* Warranty: The warranty is directly related to the quality of the product. If you choose one of the top brands, such as the ones supplied by Axiz, you will receive a generous three-year warranty. If not, the average warranty is between one and two years.
* Brand: For those who are brand-conscious there are several blue chip brands in the gaming space.
* Budget: Perhaps the most important of all is how much you want to spend. Many manufacturers provide "scaled down" versions or "more value" products, which provide a memorable gaming experience, but not at the same speed as the premium product.
If you feel daunted by the amount of products available and not sure which one to select, we encourage you to contact an authorised dealer for assistance. They can provide you with a "cheat sheet or product matrix", which segments the market and features of each card, making your decision far simpler.
Visit www.axiz.com or www.gainward.com for the latest product news and don`t forget to register for one of the biggest gaming events in SA - The Gamers Gate Event at The Carosel from 23 to 25 April 2004.
Share