Tokyo Game Show 20 23" (TGS2023), one of Japan's largest game festivals, was held from September 21 (Thu.). TGS2023 was the largest-ever event of its kind, and " e☆Earphone, " a well-known specialty store for earphones and headphones, exhibited at the show. We visited their booth.
Report on the "e☆ earphone" booth!
There was an exhibit that caught my attention at TGS2023. It was the booth of the earphone/headphone specialty store "e☆Earphone". As is typical of a specialty store, at the end of a gate monument in the shape of a headphone, there were earphones, headphones, and headsets selected by the store for TGS visitors, along with game movies for listening and PCs for game play.
In addition, many more headphones were displayed all over the wall at the back of the store, creating an exhibition area that had the feel of a specialty store with an overwhelming presence. The number of headphones displayed on the wall was an overwhelming 250. I am sure there must be a headphone among them that you have used before.
At the same time, the " CRAZY RACCOON EARPHONE," a collaboration between the popular professional gaming team "Crazy Raccoon" and the company, was also on display. Fans gathered around the booth, indicating the high level of attention paid to both the team and the earphones. The booth was a good example of the significance of the company's presence at a large-scale game exhibition such as TGS, as a "booth that communicates the enjoyment of sound for the greater enjoyment of games.
I actually tried out the headphones!
Do you use earphones or headphones (or a headset) when playing games? With the recent increase in the number of players using PC environments, as opposed to the previous style of game playing on CS consoles, many people may be using headphones rather than monitor output. While there are those who choose the same headphones as their favorite distributors or professional players, many FPS players such as Apex Legends and Valorant choose earphones and headphones as part of their gear selection as an "item to win". In such a situation, we have decided to introduce the earphones and headphones to the game players. In such a situation, Mr. Hamachan (@eear_hamachan ), the PR manager of e☆earphone, made a new proposal for game players this time. The Sennheiser headset that I have been using for many years has been noticeably malfunctioning, so I asked him to introduce it to us from a professional's point of view.
SONY Gaming Gear "INZONE
Saiga NAKFor those who have never been particular about sound, or for those who want a new, better headset for gaming, SONY's gaming gear brand " INZONE " is still one of the most popular items. The headset lineup includes three models: the entry-level "H3," the middle model "H7," and the high-end "H9," but one feature is that it is difficult to detect any major differences in sound quality. The fact that even entry-level models offer sound quality close to that of high-end models is a welcome feature for users who want to save a little money. However, Sony's distinctive noise-canceling technology and wireless elements are only available in the high-end H9, so if you want to play in a better gaming environment, the H9 is recommended. The official SONY website has interviews with professional team players who have used the H9s, so you may want to take a look.
However, this is just one of the options when choosing "gaming gear for winning. In contrast, Mr. Hamachan's new proposal is a headset that can be chosen from the perspective of "a gaming device for experiencing games in a new way as entertainment. This entertainment and gaming experience was focused on enhancing the "sense of immersion" in the world of the game.
RAZER "Kraken V3 Pro
The first item introduced was RAZER's " Kraken V3 Pro ". RAZER is one of the top gaming device brands, and many of you may have heard of them. What makes this product so great is that it "vibrates in time with the sounds of the game. In fact, when I tried it on during the trailer for "Resident Evil Village," the device vibrated in time with the bass, and I felt the illusion that I was actually in the game happening right in front of my eyes. Contrary to the ruggedness of the main unit, the 372 g weight made it feel lighter than it looked, and the low side pressure was good for those who wore it. There have been similar products in the past that vibrate the main unit, but many of them had too much bass or focused too much on vibrating the unit, sacrificing the important sound itself. However, the "Kraken V3 Pro" has improved on this point, and we were surprised to find that the sound quality has not been compromised, and that it delivers the sound that we want to hear.
JBL "Quantum 910 Wireless
The second product introduced to us was the JBL "Quantum 910 Wireless. This is a product created by JBL, a well-known audio manufacturer, and its immersive sound effects, such as ANC, surround sound, and head tracking, were said to be its main selling point. As for the video, we watched Resident Evil Village. The clarity of the game music and the separation and localization of the voices were well-defined, and unlike the previous experience with vibrations, I had a different impression of the immersive effect created by the "sound itself" appealing to the senses. The easiest way to imagine this product would be to enjoy the same movie with a different installation system in a movie theater.
Let's compare devices of various brands!
While each person may have their own preferences, I think both products were quintessential in that they share a commonality in creating a sense of entertainment while offering an immersive experience through their different approaches. I think it would be interesting to choose a device that suits your style and the games you play, not only as a device for winning, but also as a device for immersing yourself in a work of art. If you have a chance, please try to select a device, including listening to the actual device, and enjoy a new way to enjoy games.