Computex 2013: ECS launches a Gaming Range: GANK, AGGRO and KILLSTEAL
by Ian Cutress on June 11, 2013 11:55 PM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
- Motherboards
- ECS
- Computex 2013
One of the more esoteric showcasing at Computex was from ECS. In recent chipset and processor launches more and more motherboard companies are jumping on the bandwagon for a range of gming oriented motherboards (either part of the main motherboard stack or separate). ECS has sought the services of a branding agency and developed their Z87 range under the heading of GANK.
The word GANK, which I had no idea what it meant, is from the realm of MMORPGs, meaning ‘gang kill’. Under this range ECS will launch a few motherboards building on the Golden and Extreme ranges of the last generation.
The top board of the range will be the Z87H4-A3X Extreme, which offers an x8/x4/x4 + x4 PCIe layout for up to two-way SLI and four-way CrossfireX. Rather oddly it does not have an onboard VGA power connector, suggesting that ECS are attempting to draw 300W through the main 24-pin ATX power connector.
It is interesting to note that the Machine and Domination motherboards (for Extreme and Golden respectively) both contain Thunderbolt controllers.
The other ranges are for different segments – AGGRO for AMD and KILLSTEAL for the next Intel enthusiast range (Ivy Bridge-E) launched later this year.
For the main range of motherboards, ECS are styling them clear broad colors and listing them under the Essentials, Deluxe or Pro branding:
Also on the ECS stand we had the entrants for ECS’ ‘MODMEN’ competition, encouraging case modders from around the world to compete for a cash prize. They were certainly impressive!
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ChadnSteff - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
It's ECS, who gives a whoop?dac7nco - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
Nobody. Additionally, I couldn't bring myself to buy a motherboard called GANK or KILLSTEAL if it was from ASUS either.ShieTar - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
Yeah, why does anybody go out of his way to find namings with a negative connotation? Did some ECS manager overhear a discussion of his gaming kids and picked words at random? And then nobody in the company had the balls to tell him this would be a stupid idea?Sabresiberian - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
ECS is making an attempt to change their position in the marketplace and improve their consumer-grade products. That being said, the choice of names here isn't a good sign - unless this is a total publicity joke.For your edification Ian (and others who have no reason to know), "gank" in today's gaming world essentially means repeatedly killing a another player that is far below your level (so has utterly no chance of defeating you no matter how good a player he is), or having a gang of players kill one player. While it is considered to be one of the normal situations that you have to put up with in a PvP (Player vs Player) environment, the people that do it are considered to be the low-life scum of the PvP world. There is no positive connotation to it.
"Killsteal" is the same way. It means exactly what it says - another player steals the kill you started to make on some entity. It is also considered to be bad form, and in most games there is actually a lockout mechanism to prevent it happening these days. If you "tap" a mob first, only you get credit for the kill , so only you get the experience points and whatever loot drops. Others might be able to assist you, depending on the game, but they don't get credit.
Aggro - is a situationally good or bad word. It essentially means to draw the attention of the mob (mob is a general term basically meaning any entity a player would want to attack). If you are "tanking" then you are assigned the job of "taking aggro" and you do everything you can to build up your aggro numbers by generating more "threat". However, if your job is to damage the mob but you are a class that goes down quickly if attacked, generating more threat than the tank and so "aggroing" the mob is a very bad idea, as it can get you and the whole group killed.
So, to most gamers, the least offensive name here would be "Aggro". I actually don't have a problem with that name, but like others here, wouldn't touch a product named "Gank" or "Killsteal" no matter who made it - and it would throw a bad light on the whole company, for me. Someone needs to clue ECS in.
Unless, of course, it IS intended to be a joke and they have no intention of actually naming their products "Gank" and "Killsteal", in which case I'd say "Well played, and very funny." :)
ShieTar - Thursday, June 13, 2013 - link
Well said. So in conclusion, "Aggro" would be fine, as long as the board comes with a nice set of thermal armor.Zefeh - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
While I agree with the below comments, buying a motherboard called GANK/AGGRO/KILLSTEAL is sorta weird. And I'd like to point out while AGGRO and KILLSTEAL came from MMORPG's (World of Warcraft, Guild Wars) I'd like to point out that there is a "Complexity Gaming" Logo in the background of the first Picture. They 'had' a League of Legends competitive team up until they got eliminated. The word "Gank" got much more of it's popularity from League than anything else.piroroadkill - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
Can't Kill steal in Guild Wars 2!extide - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
Gank really came from DotAheinousjay - Monday, June 17, 2013 - link
"Gank" came from the late 80s/early 90s gangster rap scene. It meant pretty much the same thing.Paulman - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - link
"Are you serious!? [LOLOLOLOL]" <- literally my initial reaction to reading this :D