Today’s post was written by Mark McKelvey, vice president of information technology at Brooks Running Company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

I’m a runner and I work in IT, so I couldn’t have found a better fit than Brooks Running Company, where we get deep into the biomechanics and technology of creating great running shoes. In 2001, our CEO, Jim Weber, pivoted the brand to focus solely on running. This corporate running culture encourages a single-minded focus on doing one thing really, really well: providing runners with the best running footwear, apparel, and accessories to promote a healthy lifestyle. My role in IT is to work with the business to provide the technology to support that strategy.

That’s why we are very heavily focused on cloud computing at Brooks. Cloud technology reduces barriers to productivity so we can continue to hone our specialty products. For IT, that means not wasting time with on-premises servers, so we can work with IT solutions directly related to our business. And for the workplace, that means each employee enjoys easy access to the tools and the information they need for their role, from anywhere. Microsoft cloud computing forms a big part of this strategy. We’ve been on the cloud journey for a while, and with Microsoft 365 E3 we’ve taken another step toward winning the race to productivity.

I am really excited about the possibilities inherent in a unified Microsoft cloud platform, from Microsoft Azure to Dynamics CRM to Microsoft 365. This platform is a cost-effective way to boost agility and deliver IT services to the business. The public cloud has also helped a whole new set of small, agile players to deliver innovative solutions based on the same Azure cloud platform that we use. For example, it was a seamless process for Brooks to take advantage of a great new B2B solution from Neocles, a small company in the Netherlands. We deployed the platform worldwide and introduced a mobile app—all to rave reviews from our retailers. When we make it easier for retailers to do business with Brooks, it’s good for their business and ours.

We’re also disrupting the industry and leveraging our biomechanical expertise using the Azure platform to build an app that helps customers find the best running shoe for their personal gait. “Run Signature” is a gait analysis tool that’s breaking new ground in delivering customized support for customers. All the information that we capture from this app flows to Azure, where it’s stored for our biomechanics team to further advance the science of running—and our competitive advantage.

That’s why it’s so important that we protect our intellectual property. We use the multilevel security capabilities in Microsoft 365—multifactor authentication, data loss prevention, and legal hold—to add layers of security to our modern workplace. And we have completed our Windows 10 deployment, which supports highly secure, mobile access to data on any device. We are a global company, and we expect Windows 10 to be a boon for protecting the information on employee devices as they travel from our Seattle headquarters to our factories in Asia or our sales offices in Canada and Europe.

Enhancing collaboration among employees around the world is another benefit we’re exploring with our intranet, called “Inside Track,” which is based in SharePoint Online. With different time zones and work environments, we use Microsoft 365 real-time collaboration apps and highly secure mobile access to data as the foundation for a more flexible way of working at Brooks—from changing the physical layout of our headquarters to supporting work from home, hotel rooms, or airports. These tools, just like our gear, deliver what it takes to run your best race.

—Mark McKelvey

For more on the Brooks move to a modern workplace, read the full case study.

Two classic adventures arrive on NES – Nintendo Switch Online on Jan. 16

Since its launch last September, the Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online library of classic games has continued to grow. These classic NES™ games, which range from household names like Super Mario Bros.™ 3 to hidden gems like Pro Wrestling, have been enhanced with online features and, with the Nintendo Switch™ system, can be played at home on the TV or on the go.

On Jan. 16, two additional classic NES games will be added to the library of NES – Nintendo Switch Online games: Blaster Master and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link™.

• Blaster Master – It’s panic or perish as you blast through an endless maze of tunnels, seeking secret passages for an escape. Destroy the Plutonium Boss and his mutant cronies before these warlords destroy the earth. Load up your arsenal, and get ready for the final encounter!
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link – Link™ returns to Hyrule to search for the Triforce™ and to awaken Zelda™ from an endless sleep. Embark on a quest to find the Triforce of Courage and save Hyrule from ruin. Learn magic spells, talk to people in towns to get clues, collect items to increase your power and explore six palaces where the underlings of the evil Ganon await you.

With a membership to Nintendo Switch Online, these games (as well as the dozens of other NES games currently included in the NES – Nintendo Switch Online library) can be played at any time*.

In addition to classic NES games, Nintendo Switch Online members gain access to online play and Save Data Cloud backup in compatible games, plus a smartphone app that enhances features of supported games. To make playing NES games feel more authentic, Nintendo Switch Online members with a paid membership can purchase Nintendo Entertainment System controllers** that are compatible with Nintendo Switch by visiting https://nesc.nintendo.com/nintendo-entertainment-system-controllers.

For more information about Nintendo Switch Online, to view membership options and to learn about a free seven-day trial for new users, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/.

Persistent Internet and compatible smartphone required to use app. Data charges may apply. Nintendo Account age 13+ required. Online play, Save Data Cloud backup and Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app features available in compatible games. Not available in all countries. The Nintendo Account User Agreement, including the Purchase and Subscription terms, apply. https://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/

* See https://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/faq/ for more info.

** Limit one purchase per Nintendo Account with paid Nintendo Switch Online individual or family membership. Offer not available for trial membership. These controllers are optional and not required to play the Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online collection of games.

Cosmic Top Secret is an unusual game, about as close to non-fiction as video games get. Games like the Cold War board game Twilight Struggle may seek to simulate historical events, but Cosmic Top Secret, in an abstract and whimsical way, is autobiographical.

Produced by Copenhagen-based film and game studio Klassefilm, Cosmic Top Secret recounts the experience of game director Trine Laier as she discovers her parents’ role in the national security of her country of Denmark.

Laier’s background in game development goes back to the 1990s as an animator, and in 1998 she established her own company, Those Eyes, co-producer of Cosmic Top Secret. Here’s Laier in her own words on the topics of storytelling in games, personal journeys, and game design.

Cosmic Top Secret is produced by Klassefilm and co-produced by Those Eyes, hence it’s probably more like a joint venture taking advantage of our different backgrounds and mutual interest in telling ”real” stories, if possible as video games. We met at the conference Nordic Game seven years ago, when we were both scouting for business partners and possibilities in the cross-media area.

Games are by many still considered to be a waste of time, and that’s what we’re humbly aiming to change with Cosmic Top Secret. By working with serious matters that are usually dealt with in film, literature, art, graphic novels, etc. At the same time we totally honor games as a suitable form, if not better than any other media to tell this particular, for us important, story about being estranged from one’s origin. 

It is about both, in terms of the history of the Cold War and my parents’ role in that, what we call ”The Big Circle,” and ”The Little Circle,” about my personal relationship with my parents. You may ask, ”Why does it need to be personal?” It’s because we believe it’s through honest and detailed descriptions of other people’s lives that we reflect on and evaluate our own life. We believe those kind of themes can be dealt with both via mechanics, involving your body more directly than a film can, and via regular story elements.

For us [a personal experience] was quite suitable as the backdrop for an investigative game, where you have to explore and put bits and pieces together to form a bigger picture; where you the player, to a certain extent, can design your experience, like how much do you want to go in depth into specific areas and missions. 

About 50 percent of the game’s content is in optional missions. If you, for instance, take a special interest in early computer technology, you can freely choose to pick up all the ferrite cores for the ”Bits” dossier that are used as ”guiding coins” during the game, and if you find them all, you’ll get a video about cryptographs etc. 

If you’re more up for crazy (but true!) anecdotes, you can choose to complete the ”Khrushchev’s Poop” dossier and get the story about the Soviet leader’s visit in Copenhagen in 1964, where Danish Intelligence installed extra pipes in his hotel room to take out a stool sample because of rumors said he was seriously ill. He was not. 

Should you care more about how it was like to be platoon leader for the Danish queen in the Women’s Auxiliary Force, and be headhunted to the flight division O3 at Intelligence as my mother did, you can choose to follow that branch.

So many game premises are alike, and we believe there’s a vast potential for developing new interesting games with unseen, unheard of premises without compromising quality of gameplay. They may even add new angles to the development of gameplay.

We stuck to the initial idea of the game all the way through: You, the player, controls me trying to reveal what my dad worked on for real at Intelligence during the Cold War. It should consist of real people and real material and real feelings. And it should, as much as possible, integrate the story in the mechanics, and vice versa.

Actually, we aimed for developing the game’s mechanics and the story simultaneously, not favoring one from the other. That may just be an idée fixe, but it has encouraged us to keep prototyping on the mechanics, without exactly knowing what would happen in the story.

This was a method that was met with a lot of skepticism from the outside: “First you have to write the story and then you can do the game.” Instead we tried to form a structure of the possible story elements: we had game jams where we played around with those elements, and chose the ideas that seemed to correlate the best with the theme. For instance, we discovered there was a good connection between the story aspect, where you have to follow dad, and the mechanics that suited that aspect of motion. I would then follow my dad in reality with some sort of recording equipment, and be especially focused on capturing him while in motion.

In that way, we went back and forth with story and mechanics, and the ideas of fragile paper characters in a just as fragile paperworld (tip: throwing a hand grenade on the right spots can open secret passages) emerged, and we prototyped the best ideas. [Ideas were] pretty much based on the ‘natural’ abilities of paper: paper can crumble, fall apart, shred, glide as paper planes, etc. Then we mocked up the levels very roughly. Early in development we decided on a six-level structure, and to have each level represented by one side of a cube and each side divided in nine fields, meaning you need to collect nine objects for each level and 54 objects to complete the game.

It was, in my opinion, a good plan to decide on this structure early, and then keep an open mind to other aspects of the game during the further development. It’s never too late to add crazy ideas, but it’s impossible to change the game fundamentally.

When I followed my dad during recording and he accidentally fell and hurt himself while throwing a hand grenade, it became the turning point in level 1, because I realized there was something important for me, connected to the memory of a physically strong and active dad always protecting me, and the scary fact that he was getting old and fragile, and somehow it corresponded with the history of the little kingdom of Denmark and its role in the Cold War. 

The term ”need to know,” used in Intelligence, means you’re only allowed access to information you’ll need for your specific mission, nothing more. It became the emotional mission, so to say, to get to know dad as a human being and not only a dad or somebody who worked for Intelligence. We have worked with it as what you would call a C-plot in a film. The B-plot is about the relation between father and daughter. Whereas the A-plot is the main plot: What did they work on? Was dad a spy?

Around the same time I called Danish Intelligence and asked for permission to investigate my parents dossiers, which became the turning point in level 2. They were very kind and helpful and actually invited my parents (not me) for a ”declassification” meeting where they were briefed about what and what not they could talk with me about. But I’ve also talked with less helpful former employees at Intelligence who advised me not to proceed. 

So I’d say, under the googly eyes and the relaxed everyday chitchatting lies a more uncertain no man’s land kind of atmosphere, where you never really know when to stumble over invisible threads connected to automatically firing machine guns. It might be an imagined thread or unexplained subconscious fear of doing something wrong both in term of family traumas and national security, but I think that might be the root of the tension one may feel dripping from the trailer.

The eyes came on a little later in the process. Actually me and [producer] Lise Saxtrup where at a talk at Nordic Game and I was working on the model sheet for the characters on my laptop, when I maybe, just for fun, added those googly eyes to the dad model. It was hilarious, and when I showed it to Lise next to me, we were dying of laughter and ruining the talk we were supposed to be attending.

But actually [the eyes] solved a problem with communicating feelings. In the previous design it was only the mouth that could animate and that is not enough–the big white round eyes show clearly the different moods of the characters and they can easily be reused between characters, also making it possible to work cost-effectively with a cast of more than 30 personalities.

A piece of advice [for establishing your own style] would be to do silly stuff and believe in it: to encourage the team to not be afraid of trying something outrageous. I read a long ago that Walt Disney always asked his visual artists and animators for something more wild. “Yes, that’s great, but try to exaggerate it even more!”

Another bit of advice could be to combine, to crossbreed different genres, like what would happen if you mixed Warhammer with chick lit, etc. In our case it’s probably ’60s cool spy style The Spy Who Came in from the Cold mixed with a more humorous Fritz the Cat kind of style. I think we should initiate more visual jams – we operate a lot with game jams but actually the visual style is not up for jamming in the same way. I’m sure that there would come up some interesting styles, if we tried to do that more. 

The music is made by electronic composer and performer Bjørn Svin and the sound is designed by Anne Gry Friis Kristensen. Bjørn Svin composed some of the music as live sessions while we played early versions of the game.

For instance the track ‘Underverdenen’ (Underworld) was composed like that, while playing a level that took place under the paper tapes, so to say. If you fell down the holes of the paper tapes you would land in an abstract black world together with all the mistakes and bugs. That level later became the fourth level in the game and instead of having a dark underlying level under each level in the game, we introduced the sudden nightfall in each level and the dual idea of objects being easier to find in the dark, but at the same time it’s easier to get lost in the dark.

Anyways, Bjørn was part of the development from the very beginning and we talked a lot about the feelings operating in the game, especially those more subtle ones about feeling insecure and feeling like doing something you’re not allowed to do or not supposed to do.

Well, I think there’s a lot of tendencies here, one being the general opinion in the game business that we need to categorize games and be clear on the target group, style, genre etc. before anything else. It makes sense, but it also cuts down on the possible variations you could come up with before you reach decision makers who would actually be able to acknowledge the quality of your original game.

And yes, games are still perceived as childish, but you would also need to be pretty involved in following the indie game scene or triple-A [in order to find games that] actually try to do work with more subtle storytelling and mechanics; to know that there’s much more to be found in games than just having casual fun.

With Cosmic Top Secret, for instance, we’re dealing with quite heavy matters, but dealing with them in a humorous way and using a child character as the helper throughout the game. Together with the googly eyes it lead some people to think that this is only for kids, but on the contrary, it’s a game for the mature gamer on the lookout for something that actually reflects their life and feelings–a meaningful experience, we call it. Whereas you can find lots of games with huge amounts of storytelling, most of it is so very conventional and seldom surprising.

Grab whatever tools you have at your disposal and get something started: Write, draw, talk to a friend or record your thoughts, build paper or digital prototypes, test it out as early as possible. Ask yourself and your team, is there a theme? Is there a situation from your life that fills you with joy or haunts you and what is it about? Can it be formulated as a statement, a premise? Can it be played out as a game? Can you come up with mechanics that resonates with your statement? Or if you started with the mechanics, what kind of statement would suit? Can you exaggerate it more, make it wilder? Voila! There’s your concept. ?

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to change).

Games

January 07, 2019

An online multiplayer combat experience where you are placed behind the mask of a Prospect by the ever-present Guides, rulers of the fallen Adal Empire that will determine your worth in joining their elite corps of enforcers. Wander forsaken lands, encounter others to learn new combat skills, acquire weapons and armor, and engage in solo duels and intense three-on-three battles. Absolver will also be available for Xbox Game Pass members.

Games

January 10, 2019

A 3 v 3 competitive game pitting invisible robots against an invincible security squad in high-voltage tactical skirmishes. The robots must sneak around to punch down all the energy extractors on the site while the guards are tasked to spot the attackers. It’s up to you to stop them and put an end to the uprising! Aftercharge will also be available for Xbox Game Pass members.

 

Games

January 11, 2019

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tales of Vesperia and the return of this fan-favorite with the Definitive Edition. Tales of Vesperia is one of the most beloved entries in the ‘Tales of’ series and returns with beautifully remastered full HD graphics, never before seen characters, expanded story, and much more!

Games

January 11, 2019

Xbox One X Enhanced – Assume the role of the Jumpers and blast your way through subterranean alien hives in chaotic run-and-gun 2D platforming action. Up to four players can band together via local multiplayer to destroy aliens, avoid traps, collect treasures and lost relics. Win the final battle against the hive queen to save the galaxy!

 

Games

January 11, 2019

Arcade style, top down 2.5D space shooter where intense action is the focus and choosing the right education could pay off. Manage your Space Bucks to destroy your student loans before you die. If you succeed your score could sing your praises through all of Valhalla.

Microsoft and our partner ecosystem are delivering intelligent cloud and intelligent edge solutions that help customers manage their digital lives and achieve more. We’re also supporting businesses by providing the platforms, devices and solutions that power a new era of productivity, creativity, simplicity and security.

At CES we showcased partner solutions and innovation across the intelligent edge including: modern PCs, connected computing devices, powerful gaming PCs, exciting IoT retail experiences and new Azure Sphere modules and starter kits that will help ensure security for billions of connected devices. Our partners are bringing the edge to life, and it’s amazing to see so many examples of that on display here at CES.

Modern PC experiences

We think of the personal computer as the ultimate intelligent edge – it’s the device that has transformed the world of creativity and productivity, and help us get more done. The level of innovation we’re continuing to see in the PC space is fueling new scenarios, breakthrough levels of performance and new cloud-connected experiences.

Modern PCs are sleek, fast, secure and durable, and have long battery life, offering beautiful designs across all price points. Premium PCs like the HP Spectre Folio and the LG Gram 17″ provide elegant designs with amazing battery life, are great to use and have the latest and greatest features – showcasing the best that Windows 10 has to offer.

Acer Swift 7

There are sleek, mid-range, long-lasting 2-in-1s like the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS (Windows on Snapdragon) or thin and light such as the Acer Swift 7 that can slip right into your bag.

We also see a growing number of highly affordable laptops that are secure, easy to use online or offline, and are great options for work or play. To see them in action, check out the ASUS Vivobook 14/15 X412/512 or the Dell Inspiron 5482 2-in-1 or Samsung Notebook Flash.

ASUS VivoBook 14

Treat yourself to all the power and performance you want and expect from Windows, at the price that’s right for you.

Connectivity everywhere

Another area where we’re seeing PC innovation is in the connected computing space. These devices will change your expectations of a PC, as they are always securely connected, and provide all-day battery life to help you be even more productive.

Where LTE was once “nice to have,” more and more users are seeing the benefits of being always connected to what is important to them, both at home and at work. The investments Microsoft and partners like Intel and Qualcomm are making in connected computing are transforming work and life, and we firmly believe that fast, affordable and ubiquitous cellular connectivity, driven by LTE and now 5G, will become core to the way people work across devices.

HP Spectre x360

Check out the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS (Windows on Snapdragon) or the HP Spectre X360 13″ to learn more.

Power of PC gaming

Windows 10 is the biggest PC gaming platform out there – and we’re adding new features that bring immersive gaming to life in incredible new ways. Our partners are driving innovation by leveraging these new Windows features and releasing new powerful gaming rigs, with the latest silicon, graphics and performance enhancements for the gaming community.

Samsung Notebook Odyssey

With Windows 10, you get the latest in gaming innovations, including support for HDR screens and 4K, and now DirectX Raytracing – which gives graphics better lighting, shadows and reflections. It’s a whole new visual experience that you can only get on Windows 10 gaming rigs.

Windows 10 also has Game bar, which lets you record, broadcast and customize your gameplay. It’s the one-stop shop that allows you to control individual audio settings, take screen recordings, and instantly stream live gameplay to Mixer. No additional software is required.

Lenovo Legion Y740

At CES, partners including ASUS, Acer, Dell and Lenovo announced gaming PCs featuring the new Nvidia RTX 20 Series chips, which enable raytracing. This amazing advancement in silicon takes immersive gaming to a whole new level, thanks to the power of Windows 10.

Also, partners including ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and MSI are bringing thin and light PCs traditionally targeted at gamers to new audiences, such as creators who also benefit from powerful processors and incredible graphics, allowing them to build large design or video files seamlessly.

Check out Xbox Wire for the latest on the new gaming PCs announced at CES.

Internet of Things

IoT is another area where we’re seeing innovation throughout the ecosystem with partners bringing new intelligent edge and intelligent cloud solutions to meet customer’s needs. IoT is transforming the way businesses operate – helping them increase operational efficiency, reduce cost, improve customer experiences and digitally transform their products and services. Consumers are also using connected IoT solutions in new ways. Fitness, connected home, shopping, finance, and so many more areas in which industry is delivering new IoT-based devices and experiences that help customers seamlessly stay connected and be more productive.

Microsoft is excited to partner with the broadest set of IoT ecosystem partners – hardware manufacturers, solution providers and aggregators – to supply a diverse portfolio of IoT solutions to businesses and customers across industries and scenarios. Below are a few that we’re showcasing at CES.

Retail solutions

Global retail trends point to an enormous IoT growth motion with 70 percent of retailers planning to invest in IoT by 2021. We are seeing these investments improving the retailer’s own operations, creating new customer interactions, both in-store and online, as well as transforming personalized shopping experiences.

For example, this holiday I didn’t have to wait in any lines to buy gifts. I used an app on my mobile phone, like SKIP’s frictionless shopping solution which we are showcasing at CES this year.   With SKIP, a shopper can enter the store, scan any item they pick up along their shopping journey and simply exit the store. The charges will be automatically billed to the shopper’s SKIP account. This type of simplified mobile checkout solution helps retailers enhance customer experiences and lets retail employees focus on more important things.

It’s not just the in-store experience that’s changing. We are also showcasing Mobiliya’s Asset Tracking and Monitoring solution which leverages low-cost IoT sensors using RFID, sonar and Bluetooth technologies to track assets both indoor and outdoor. This solution improves operational efficiencies, increases visibility and enhances supply chain management for both retailers and their suppliers.

We are also demonstrating Genetec’s Retail Sense Video Analytics solution. Powered by Microsoft Azure, Genetec’s solution enables retailers to use their existing camera systems to layer on this analytics solution to track key retailer metrics such as: customer counting, dwell-time and heatmapping, directional analysis, and occupancy. Using this data, store operators can make adjustments to displays and fixtures, store staffing schedules and much more in improving their overall in-store shopping experience.

Connected cars in the year ahead

The auto industry is also innovating on the intelligent edge. Several of our auto partners including ZF, LG Electronics (LGE) and the BMW Group announced new Azure and Microsoft AI solutions this week.

Securing connected devices

It’s clear at CES that everyone is making IoT devices and solutions available – everything from household appliances and health monitors, to cars, toys and industrial equipment. Because these devices can be cloud-powered or run without connectivity, a holistic security approach must be taken, from hardware to software and the cloud. For instance, Hampton Products International, makers of the ARRAY By Hampton family of connected devices, has selected the Microsoft Azure IoT cloud platform to power its next-generation smart devices and future IoT product development. Avnet, AI-Link and Seeed are making it easier for customers to develop secure, connected microcontroller-unit (MCU) devices by making an Azure Sphere starter kit and Azure Sphere modules available. This will help secure the billions of MCU-powered devices that ship every year, helping make the devices we put in our homes more secure. To learn more about partners who have announced new connected devices and solutions, check out The Azure IoT blog by Sam George.

© Alexander Wells / James Gilleard

In just a couple of days’ time on 11th January, Los Angeles-based art gallery Gallery 1988 is hosting a new exhibit which will focus on a lovely collection of video game prints. The artists have now shared some of these images online for all to see, and they’re pretty incredible.

The exhibit is set to feature the work of both Alexander Wells and James Gilleard, two artists who create pieces with extremely different art styles. Both artists have created limited edition posters for the event based on popular video games, including quite a few Nintendo options which have us immediately reaching for our wallets and eyeing up any available wall space.

We’ve gathered a few of them for you to admire below, but we’d urge you to check out the two artists themselves via their own channels, too.

Alexander Wells, via Twitter

Source: @WellsIllustrate

For gamers who want to see a preview of the best hardware and software advances in PC gaming to watch out for in 2019, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is a great place to kick off the new year. Microsoft’s device partners were on hand this week showing off innovative notebooks, eye-popping visual styling, and slick in-game features that will provide powerful platforms for our full line of PC games. As CES comes to a close, you can’t help but be in awe of all that was unveiled this week. Three major trends emerged promising a stellar year in gameplay for both casual and hardcore PC gamers:

• Thinner and lighter gaming laptops with better graphics: Slim, stylish notebooks with powerful gaming features let you travel to gaming meetups without missing a beat.
• Devices that combine the power of productivity and gaming in a device: From business apps to graphic design and video creation tools, these machines work as hard as they play.
• Cutting-edge gaming technology with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs that brings DirectX Raytracing to your device: Enjoy incredible realism on a growing selection of gaming notebooks.

More Power, Better Graphics in Thinner PCs

While some PC gamers prefer to set up shop with powerful desktop rigs with customizable LED lights and visible cooling components, laptops are packing more portable gaming power these days in thinner and lighter forms. At CES 2019, partners showcased a variety of new, slim notebooks that make it easier to take your favorite games everywhere. Play at home or on long flights, or get together with friends for multiplayer action.

• ASUS showed off the ROG Mothership (GZ700) and ROG Zephyrus S (GX701) gaming laptops.
  
  • ROG Mothership sports a reimagined design that stands tall to draw more air into its advanced cooling system, housed in a finely machined aluminum chassis that frames a jaw-dropping 17.3” FHD IPS-level 144Hz/3ms with G-Sync technology display, powered by the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics and Intel 8^th Gen Core i9 processor. It comes with Hyperdrive Extreme that uses ASUS-exclusive technology to combine up to three NVMe PCle 3.0×4 SSDs for the world’s fastest RAID 0 storage in a gaming laptop.
  • ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is a 17-inch gaming laptop with a PANTONE validated super-narrow bezel 17” display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms GTG response time, that’s only 18.7 mm thin (less than an inch), and the only one in its product category with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design that combines GPU, thermal design and software to deliver powerful performance in an incredibly slim notebook.
• Dell showcased the thinnest and lightest Alienware 17-inch gaming notebook, the new Alienware m17, along with the recently announced Alienware m15, for gamers on the go who want a light, thin device for easy mobility. At just 5.79 pounds for the m17 and 4.76 pounds for the m15, both laptops feature the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series GPUs, which deliver advanced gaming features including real-time raytracing, artificial intelligence, and programmable shading.
• HP has taken the popular OMEN 15 Laptop to the next level. First announced in May 2018, the Omen 15 features single-panel access for storage and memory and a variety of ports, allowing easy expansion and hardware customization on top of the laptop’s amazing speed and performance. Enhanced editions presented at CES add NVIDIA’s newest mobile graphics cards for immersive gameplay along with easy mobility.

• iBUYPOWER launched the next evolution of esports focused Small Form Factor PCs. Revolt 3 combines form and function into a competition-grade system with dual-sided tempered glass windows and a unique layout mean that every piece of your PC’s performance is on display. Revolt 3’s chassis is designed to expand to fit larger hardware and larger cooling options. Need space for an extra-long video card and thick radiator? Revolt 3 can extend up to 40mm to accommodate.
• The MSI GS75 Stealth breaks the stereotype of the bulky, heavy gaming laptop with an 8^th Gen Intel Core i9 Processor and GeForce RTX 2080 GPU in a 2.2 kg thin bezel chassis. The immersive 17.3-inch 144Hz IPS-level display provides gamers with a panoramic view of the playing field, while the GeForce RTX 2080 ensures you’re gaming at the highest-quality settings.

Modern Features to Integrate Productivity and Gaming in One Device

Windows 10 gaming PCs have always delivered the high performance, realistic visuals, authentic sound, precise control, and high-quality streaming that gamers covet. But sometimes you just have to get a little work done. A new array of gaming laptops bring together powerful capabilities for video editing, graphic design, content creation, and business productivity, along with the speed and versatility to carry you through immersive multiplayer environments. Now you can move seamlessly from paying the bills to playing the newest titles.

• Acer unveiled two new gaming notebooks: the Predator Triton 900 and the Predator Triton 500. Both combine new, functional designs with powerful internals that rival gaming desktops while enabling powerful productivity.
  
  • The 0.94-inch thin Predator Triton 900 is a fully convertible 2-in-1 that features four usage modes, a 17-inch touchscreen, and a trackpad beside the keyboard for natural hand placement. With the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, an Xbox wireless receiver, and Waves Maxx technology for hyper-realistic 3D audio, the Predator Triton 900 pulls no punches in delivering a best-in-class gaming experience.
  • At just 0.70 inches thin and 4.1 pounds, the 15-inch Predator Triton 500 can easily be slipped in a backpack or briefcase. The “weight” is the only thing light about it: Powered on, it’s a gaming superhero, with up to eight hours of battery life.

• The Corsair One Pro i180 delivers massive performance in a compact size for content creators, from game designers to video editors and beyond. Developed in partnership with Intel and clad in a 2 mm thin, aircraft-grade, bead-blasted aluminum gunmetal housing, the CORSAIR ONE PRO delivers incredible, 24-thread performance at speeds up to 4.5GHz, and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPU for cutting-edge graphics and real-time raytracing. It easily handles today’s most demanding applications, from video encoding to photo editing to rendering 3D graphics and more.
• Gigabyte announced the new AERO 15 and AORUS, some of the first Windows 10 laptops to feature Microsoft AI capabilities – giving gamers a dynamically optimized experience. Whether they are gaming or simply editing, gamers will experience the perfect CPU, GPU, fan, keyboard and sound setting configurations optimized based on their usage patterns. The Cool n Quiet app leverages Microsoft AI to dynamically distribute power based on how a the laptop is being used, dynamically reducing the heat and noise and shifting workloads depending on the scenario.
• The New Lenovo Legion Y740 and Y540 laptops are more powerful than ever and engineered to handle the toughest technical challenges while retaining a clean aesthetic that looks just as great in a living room as it does in a conference room with their discreet designs. Available with up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, Intel Core processors and Windows 10 Home, these laptops offer blazing-fast gaming speeds to play the latest releases, edit photos and videos, binge-watch shows, or multitask.

• MSI showcased the high-performance, good-looking PS63 Modern with its streamlined, portable design and powerful performance on multitasking and graphics rendering. Its 15.6-inch IPS-level display and 1.65 kg heft make it ideal for anyone who wants the freedom to take an idea outdoors and discover a new realm of creativity.
• Razer recently presented the new Razer Blade Stealth 13, redesigned with a high-grade aluminum unibody frame to deliver increased performance in a compact chassis with up to 13 hours of battery life. Now available with NVIDIA graphics and up to 4k resolution with thin side bexels that are over 60 percent thinner than the previous version for a visually stunning, edge-to-edge picture.

Raytracing Comes to Life

The Windows 10 October 2018 Update includes native support for DirectX Ray Tracing when coupled with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX GPUs. DirectX Raytracing delivers a level of realism that traditional rasterization can’t provide, such as reflections, shadows, and ambient occlusion. The result is an in-game environment that’s richer and more compelling than ever before. CES 2019 attendees got a first look at new PC gaming rigs that feature NVIDIA’s new GeForce RTX 20-Series GPUs, which bring raytracing to life in eagerly anticipated new games like EA’s Battlefield V.

• CyberPowerPC presented its latest line of Syber Tracer III gaming laptops powered by the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-Series Graphics, offering gamers the performance of a high-end desktop system on a 15-inch or 17-inch mobile gaming powerhouse.
• Raytracing is also a powerful new feature on lighter, thinner devices including the Alienware m17 and Alienware m15 mentioned above, and on productivity powerhouses including the Corsair One Pro i180.

• Origin PC introduced new EVO series laptops, the EVO16-S and EVO17-S, which feature new thin and light designs with powerful hardware inside. Thanks to NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, up to an RTX 2080 GPU with Max-Q design, the EVO series lets you play games with real-time ray tracing technology enabled.

These are just some of the new products bringing thin and light devices, powerful productivity, and advanced raytracing to gamers in 2019. Check back on Xbox Wire frequently to keep up with the latest PC gaming product releases and news.