At an exclusive event held on 30 May at Sally Mustang – Johannesburg’s hottest new venue – a select group of South Africa’s tech and gaming media were treated to a showcase of new ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) offerings, in the form of five new gaming laptops that promise to level up the gaming experience in more ways than one. Hosted by MC Pippa Tshabalala, the launch event challenged even the most hardcore gamers, putting their tech knowledge to the test, and rewarded the most knowledgeable teams with an array of awesome ASUS prizes.

“The five new laptops are specifically designed to enhance the gaming experience by addressing the issues that any gamer worth their salt already knows all too well; from overheating to delayed loading, and dull colours to frustrating refresh rates,” explained Bora Aras, ASUS’s Regional Head of Africa, Turkey and Israel. “The new laptops are made with serious gamers in mind – and the excitement we witnessed from the guests at our event is proof that ASUS has, yet again, gotten it right.”

Here’s a rundown of the five machines set to change everything you know about gaming laptops.

ROG G703

This powerful laptop has what it takes to stand up to today’s strongest desktop rigs, with a factory-overclocked 8^th Generation Intel® Core i9 processor and overclockable NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 graphics card. That means you’re free to play your favourite games on ultra-settings without compromising on performance! The G703 also boasts HyperDrive Extreme storage, combining three NVMe PCI Express® SSDs in Raid 0 configuration, resulting in read speeds of up to 8700MB/s – so say goodbye to slow load times.

ROG Zephyrus

Another model built for hardcore gamers, the ROG Zephyrus is the world’s slimmest gaming laptop, powered by up to an 8th Generation Intel® Core, better than any competitors and still has all the hardware to take on high-end desktop builds. Its body has been slimmed to an unbelievable 16.9-17.9mm and conceals a surprisingly powerful cooling system that delivers unbeatable acoustic efficiency thanks to the new Active Aerodynamic airflow system. Thinking of switching from desk to lap? This model’s RGB keyboard will have you feeling right at home.

ROG Zephyrus M

Big performance in a small package, the Zephyrus M is powered by an 8th Generation Intel® Core i7 processor and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 graphics card – making it the perfect accompanist for e-Sporters and travelers alike. It’s also a master in the visual department, with an IPS-level display and lightning-fast 144Hz refresh rate. And for those inevitable all-nighters, the Optimus power-saving mode means impressive battery life, too.

ROG Strix Hero Edition

Built for epic multiplayer, RPG, and RTS battles, and further optimized for esports gaming, the Strix laptop comes with Windows 10 Pro, features a 120Hz display for super-smooth visuals, and includes wide-view technology and a color gamut that’s almost equal to 130% sRGB. It also comes equipped with a desktop-style Aura Sync-enabled keyboard and a 20-million-key-press lifespan for years of reliability. Put simply, this laptop is all you need to elevate your gaming to new levels of awesome and is exclusive to Incredible Connection.

ROG Strix SCAR Edition

This is one for the sharpshooters – designed specifically for domination in the FPS arena. In addition to Windows 10 Pro, an 8th Generation Intel® Core i7 processor, and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 10-Series graphics, you’ll experience silky-smooth visuals thanks to the IPS-level display, which features a 144Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. Find this piece of machinery on Evetech exclusively.

Make no mistake – these laptops are NOT for the noobs among us. Our gaming enthusiasts were practically gagging to get their hands on one as soon as the showcase was over. No doubt, you will too.

In addition to sampling the exciting new product range, a surprise announcement was made. An ASUS e-Sport Tournament will kick off in July, coined the ASUS Republic of Gamers: DOTA2, with registration beginning in June.

Vodacom 4U has come on board to sponsor and host three major tournaments at Rush on PC, console and mobile platforms across three impressive esports stages. The three tournaments are:

• Fortnite 1 vs. 1 on mobile
• FIFA 18 1 vs. 1 on PS4
• CS:GO 5 vs. 5 on PC

“In a world that’s constantly accelerating, cutting-edge technology is no longer an exception – it is expected,” says Ulanova Visser, Marketing Director at Vodacom 4U.  “Vodacom 4U has responded to these technological trends and provides a youth-oriented service and experience in our 81 stores nationwide. To this end, associating with youth relevant events and being where they are, is core to us anchoring our position as the go-to channel for all of their technology needs. Hence our involvement with Rush esports seems a natural fit.”

“We are very excited to be part of the phenomenal esports growth trends and to see where this journey takes us as a brand.”

According to Visser, IOT, connectivity (fibre and mobile) and a high demand for access to data makes Vodacom 4U the right choice for gamers no matter what device they use, as the brand can offer connectivity to all.”

Registrations for these tournaments will be opening on Friday 1 June on www.rushesports.co.za.  Entrance to any of the tournaments is free for competitors, although spectators supporting the players will be required to pay an entrance fee.

If you’re a professional esports player, someone who just wants to have fun and see how good you are, or even a parent looking to find out more about your child’s obsession, Rush will have something for you.

So come and experience the energy and excitement of live esports first-hand!

EVENT DETAILS:

When is Rush 2018?

29 June – 1 July 2018

Friday: 10am-7pm | Saturday: 9am-7pm | Sunday: 9am-4pm

Where is Rush 2018?

Sun Arena, Time Square, Pretoria

How do I buy tickets to Rush 2018?

Tickets to Rush will be on sale on Friday 1 June at all Computicket outlets countrywide and online. Tickets will also be on sale at the door.

Day Pass (valid for entry for one day only): R60

Weekend Pass (valid for entry for all three days): R100

How do I stay connected?

To stay up to date with all the Rush announcements and additional info, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel NAG or go to www.rushesports.co.za.