I-O Data Device, a comprehensive manufacturer of peripherals for smartphones, TV, and PC with its head office in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its gaming monitor brand, GigaCrysta, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Here is a report on the GigaCrysta 10th Anniversary Event, which was held at a location in Tokyo!
Looking Back at 10 Years of GigaCrysta
The "GigaCrysta 10th Anniversary Event," held in Tokyo, was attended by notable companies like the world-leading display manufacturer BOE Technology Group, SEGA, which has ties with the Puyo Puyo Grand Prix, and Square Enix, which develops Final Fantasy XIV, all in attendance to celebrate.
A board looking back on the 10-year history of GigaCrysta was also on display.
Although it was a private event, the MC was esports caster OooDa (@OooDa)! It was a great lineup!
Initially, when we talked about gaming, the environment was different from today's. Our brand policy was centered on displaying things more beautifully, primarily through super-resolution technology, and on the operability of entertainment content.
Currently, as GigaCrysta, we're able to participate in various events, and we have daily discussions with our staff about what would make our users happy.
For example, while the latest specs might be high refresh rates like 540Hz, we want to make products that balance cost and performance well, like 165Hz and 240Hz, and commercialize them as monitors that are easier for more users to use. We want to make many users happy and create events together with them. We believe this will be a way to give back to them in terms of satisfaction.
We kindly ask for your continued support of GigaCrysta.
(Translated from Japanese)
Guest Talk Session
Recently, I've been calling us a gaming brand where you can see the creators (laughs).
I hope to hear everyone's passionate requests today.
Thank you for coming!
(Translated from Japanese)
Since January 2019, I-O Data Device has had a sponsorship agreement with the professional gaming streamer group "Father's Back."
Because of this connection, Abitun (@abitun1) appeared at the venue, and Terushan (@teru9232) also joined remotely.
In 1997, I-O Data Device released the 13.8-inch high-definition LCD display "LCD-D14T."
In 2014, it entered the gaming monitor market with the new brand "GigaCrysta" and has since released various products over the past 10 years.
Abitun, a heavy GigaCrysta user, is from Ishikawa Prefecture and said he used to pass by the I-O Data Device head office every day on his way to school.
In addition to the monitor's performance, he praised its user-friendliness, saying, "It's great that the OSD (the monitor's settings screen) has explanations of the terms!"
Here, Satoshi Nakamura(@nakamura), an associate professor at Meiji University's School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, also took the stage.
He is the very person who supervised the new feature "Focus Mode" installed in the GigaCrysta 10th anniversary model "LCD-GCQ271UD."
Many people might know him by the name "the BADUI guy."
Focus Mode is an industry-first new feature that shrinks a 27-inch screen to the equivalent of 24 inches and displays animated images in the surrounding empty space.
Nakamura said he has been conducting research for 10 years based on the hypothesis that while we focus on our central vision, or the center of the screen, when playing games, we could enjoy content even more by utilizing our peripheral vision.
The goal of Focus Mode is to increase concentration on the inside of the monitor by displaying intentional noise on the outside.
OooDa jumped in and asked, "I probably shouldn't say this out loud, but won't it be a 'hardware cheat'?"
Yamagata encouraged him by saying, "Don't worry!"
A request was also made: "It would be cool if you could activate it with voice recognition, like 'Focus Mode On!'" (laughs).
Abitun's test showed an improvement in his score, so Focus Mode seems to be effective indeed.
In fact, there's a huge need for research that wants to use peripheral vision like this, but it hasn't been put into practical use from a computer resource perspective.
I think it's a great technological innovation that I-O Data Device solved this problem with the monitor itself.
I hope this technology will spread and be applied even more in the future.
Thank you for today.
(Translated from Japanese)
Time really flies. It's been six or seven years since I started working with a company I've been watching since I was a high school student.
With this Focus Mode, I think it's a perspective unique to I-O Data Device to "realize with hardware what cannot be done with software," as Professor Nakamura said.
As a local company, I'm so proud! I love Ishikawa Prefecture! (laughs)
Thank you for your continued support.
(Translated from Japanese)
I was made to realize that monitors still have room for evolution.
It's not just about increasing resolution and refresh rates; they're even developing new features... I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with monitors in the future.
I-O Data Device has always taken care of us, so I hope Father's Back can continue to walk alongside GigaCrysta for 20 or 30 years to come.
Once again, congratulations on your 10th anniversary!
(Translated from Japanese)
It's truly a valuable and happy moment for me to celebrate the monumental day of GigaCrysta's 10th anniversary in such a wonderful setting, reminisce about fun memories, and talk about the future.
Thank you all so much for today. We look forward to your continued support.
(Translated from Japanese)
New Information About the Future Also Revealed!
After the talk session, Naohiro Nishidaya, the General Manager of the Public Relations and Advertising Department, revealed the latest information.
Matagi Gunner × GigaCrysta Series Collaboration
【お知らせ🎉】
「モーニング」で連載中の『マタギガンナー』と、
ゲーミングモニター「GigaCrystaシリーズ」とのコラボが決定しました！https://t.co/jN8PNpcAk7#ギガクリスタ生誕祭 pic.twitter.com/O02pBsQSAQ— GigaCrysta-ギガクリスタ(公式) (@GigaCrysta_io) October 15, 2024
A collaboration between Matagi Gunner, which is currently serialized in Morning, and the gaming monitor brand "GigaCrysta," has been decided!
Details of campaigns and other information will be announced at a later date.
Sponsorship Agreement with EVO Champion MOV
It was announced that a sponsorship agreement has been signed with professional fighting game player MOV, who achieved a splendid victory in the "Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike" division at EVO 2024 in Las Vegas, USA.
My challenge with Street Fighter III, which I've been playing since I was in middle school, has come to an end, so I want to challenge myself with Street Fighter 6 from now on.
This is also a time for me to start a new team called Tokinomaru Gaming, and I hope we can join forces and advance to a new stage together. Thank you again.
(Translated from Japanese)
Sponsoring CAPCOM Pro Tour 2024 as an Official Monitor
It was announced that "LCD-GD271JD GigaCrysta type-27 Full HD Gaming Monitor 180Hz" from the GigaCrysta series will sponsor the "Keio Presents JCG STREET FIGHTER 6 CAPCOM Pro Tour 2024 PREMIER JAPAN" on Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3, 2024, as an official monitor.
A booth will also be set up at the event, where attendees can experience and purchase the same monitors used by the players in the tournament.
Official Release of White Models Confirmed!
The official release of the white monitors, which were exhibited as a reference at Tokyo Game Show 2024, has been confirmed!
A black model with the same specifications is also planned for release.
The Reception Had Many Noto Specialties! And a Luxurious Souvenir!
After the excitement of the talk session and new information, it was time for the reception!
Since I-O Data Device is a company based in Ishikawa Prefecture, various items originating from Ishikawa and Noto were present at the venue to show support for Noto.
Japanese sake such as Sogen, Noto Suehiro, and Zen no Sato wine was prepared!
There was also Shio Cider, which has a refreshing taste with a nice salty accent. It's my favorite.
"Sasa-Zushi," a representative product of Sasa-Zushi, a taste of Kanazawa.
The soul food of Ishikawa locals, "Champion's Curry," was also there with a pop-up booth!
The thick and rich curry sauce is packed with deep richness and flavor.
The continuous line for it meant it sold out in a flash!
You can't just be satisfied with curry!
For dessert, there was "Silkie Castella."
This moist castella is made with generous amounts of eggs laid by the Tenrai Silkie chickens raised in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
In between, the I-O Data Device event's famous rock-paper-scissors tournament was also held!
Adults seriously played rock-paper-scissors to win super luxurious prizes, including the GigaCrysta 10th anniversary model "LCD-GCQ271UD" with Focus Mode!
I made it to the very end but unfortunately didn't win...
Luxurious Souvenir Included Original Wajima-nuri Chopsticks!
At the end of the lively and fun event, which even included alcohol, we received a souvenir.
I was told what it was, but when I opened it at home, I was reminded of how luxurious it was!
🎉ギガクリスタ10周年おめでとうございます🎉
石川出身として、同郷の企業の成長をこんな形でお祝いできるなんて本当に嬉しいです！
輪島塗ギガクリスタ箸やギガクリタンブラー
10周年パーカー
石川の品々を頂きありがとうございました！
これからもよろしくお願い致します！#ギガクリスタ生誕祭2024 pic.twitter.com/7Q69fnQWa7— あびつん@父ノ背中 (@abitun1) October 16, 2024
An original GigaCrysta 10th-anniversary hoodie...
Original GigaCrysta chopsticks with Wajima-nuri lacquer!
A tumbler with the GigaCrysta 10th-anniversary logo and GigaCrysia stickers that look like that thing!
Thank you very much!
...And so, that was my report on the "GigaCrysta 10th Anniversary Event"!
Once again, congratulations on your 10th anniversary!
And we look forward to your continued support!
アイ・オー・データ機器のゲーミングモニターブランド「GigaCrysta(@GigaCrysta_io)」は10周年‼️
スペシャルイベントにお邪魔してチャンピオンカレーをいただいてます🍛#ギガクリスタ生誕祭 #GigaCrysta pic.twitter.com/OCVopPNVbE— Saiga NAK (@saiganak) October 15, 2024
