nZone thrills Chennai

Vvrrrroooooooom... Chennai has entered the speed zone. Gaming here has taken
on a new meaning with the launch of Zebronics nZone at the Spencer's Plaza.

Said to be the first-of-its-kind PC gaming zone in Asia, nZone is sure to
thrill. nVIDIA, a global leader in visual processing solution and the promoter
of nZone concept, has so far set up 278 nZones across the world. The Chennai
zone was inaugurated by Daniel Saison, Head of Sales for India & Middle
East, nVIDIA.

"Anything new is always in demand and if one offers a variety in
experiences, users are ready to try it out. Unlike other gaming zones, nZone is
a place for games-the way it is meant to be played," said Rajesh Doshi,
Director, Top Notch Infotronix, promoter of the Zebronics brand.

To give you a peek into nZone: It is an adventurous world with a mammoth 'Outlaw'
inviting you with open arms, at the entrance. Howe-ver, before you bump into it,
there is a mermaid 'Nallu' swaying around-which is nVIDIA's mascot for
PCI Express solutions-while Vulcan spits fire from behind. Once you step into
the den, the thunders are loud and lightning hits you. Now, the cave (mezzanine)
is open for games with seven play stations, all with TFT monitors. The
spine-look alike seats are very comfortable and you are all set for the action.

The nZone gaming stations are powered by nVIDIA grap-hics that are played on
LCD monitors offering a 'next to reality' feel. The terminals are also
equipped with high end XFX make of nVIDIA chipset graphic cards.
"Currently, we have more than 15 games such as racing, adventure, horror
and kids stuff. The games are designated for age groups such as 6+, 12+, 18+,
and so on," explained Doshi. The fee charged is Rs 125 for 30 minutes and
Rs 200 for one hour, he informed.

nZone has been set up in an area of over 1,000 sq ft. "I would say there
is no other gaming zone in the country which is as real as this. It is proof
enough of the invest-ment that has gone in to it. We have brought several
charac-ters and materials from abroad to bring reality into the zone. nVIDIA has
been of great help to us in this initiative and we will continue to get their
support," he said.

A similar gaming zone by XFX is in the process. It's time to fasten your
seat belts and get ready for some pulsating action.

S Gopikrishna

Chennai