Saitek
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| Saitek | |
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| Type | PC Gaming peripherals |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Headquarters | Worldwide |
| Industry | Consumer Electronics |
| Products | PC Games Controllers, PC Peripherals, Mice & Keyboards, PC + iPod Speakers, Headsets |
| Employees | 2500+ |
| Website | saitek.com |
Saitek is a designer and manufacturer of consumer electronics founded in 1979 by Swiss Eric Winkler. They are best known for their PC Games Controllers, Mice & Keyboards, especially the Eclipse series of back-lit keyboards.
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[edit] History
Saitek was founded in 1979 by Swiss Eric Winkler as a manufacturer of electronic chess games. By the 1990s the company had distribution and design offices in the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, as well as a factory in China. Saitek diversified into PC peripherals, focusing on game controllers for flight simulation, driving and first-person gaming. Saitek has also expanded into PC peripherals, with an emphasis on input, connectivity and multimedia. In 2005, Saitek launched a high fidelity audio product line for PC & iPod. Retail audit data shows Saitek to be the 2nd largest brand in PC games controllers and one of the fastest growing brands in mice & keyboards.
In 1997 the group began Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), designing and building electronic products for OEM customers world-wide from its facility in China. Now under separate private ownership, it employs some two and a half thousand people, including one hundred technologists in design and development, and is punctilious in complying with international employment and environmental standards. Saitek's "Eclipse" gaming keyboards are made from anodised aluminium and have blue LED back-light keys (Eclipse I) and laser-etched keys with a choice of blue, red and purple for the back-lighting (Eclipse II). On the Eclipse I there is 3 lighting levels on the keyboard: bright, dim and off, but on the Eclipse II there are multiple levels for brightness. Another gaming product from Saitek is the GM3200 Gaming Mouse, it features movement tracking by laser, pulsating light effects and DPI settings of 800, 1600, 2400 and 3200. The driver CD comes with a program to modify the functions that the mode button controls. This program also interfaces with the Saitek Command Pad (comes with the Eclipse series keyboards).
In 2007 Saitek was acquired at a price of $30 million by Mad Catz.[1][2]
[edit] Cyborg Products
During mid-January, Saitek came out with a new line of products called the Cyborg range of gaming devices [3]. These products include a mouse, keyboard, gaming pad, command unit, and a headset.[4] Pricing is one main concern for the buyer, as for the mouse it costs $70 US, and Saitek also has made many JoySticks and Steering Wheels.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Mad Catz Acquires SaitekTM, a Leading Worldwide PC Games Peripheral Provider, for $30 Million (PDF) 4 (2007-11-14). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
- ^ Elliott, Phil (2007-11-14). Mad Catz acquires Saitek for $30m. gamesindustry.biz. Eurogamer Network Ltd. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
- ^ Saitek launches the Cyborg range of gaming devices.
- ^ saitekusa.com.
- ^ saitek cyborg mouse prices - Google Product Search
