Gaming firm Razer and food company Mars announce official joint venture with snack line
Razer, co-founded by Singaporean entrepreneur Min-Liang Tan, previously conceived the Respawn snack line as an April Fool's joke. It was then launched as a project offering flavoured drinks.
Razer then collaborated with Mars to release gum and mints under the Respawn brand. Some of the current products in the range include Blackberry Vanilla and Mango Habanero mints, as well as Pomegranate Watermelon gum.
According to Razer and Mars, the joint venture will see them developing "a full portfolio of snack products made for gamers, by gamers".
In a statement, Tan said that Respawn "represents a strategic evolution in the expansion of Razer's mission to serve the global gaming community".
"Our collaboration with Mars extends our gamer-centric ecosystem into the world of snacks," said Tan. "Respawn is a platform designed to redefine how gamers fuel their play, with snacks purposefully crafted to match the energy, focus and intensity of modern gameplay."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
‘And heeere they come!' Meet Mr X, the voice of NDP for over 20 years
"Look up at the skies! And heeere they come!" Moments after William Xavier's iconic command booms across the National Day Parade (NDP) venue, fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force soar overhead in a bomb burst manoeuvre. The signature aerial display at every NDP sees a tight formation of aircraft suddenly fan out in different directions, like fireworks exploding in the sky. Down in the stands, heads tilt upwards and arms shoot up, phones poised, mouths agape, as the planes thunder above. The magic is fleeting, but real. And Xavier, affectionately known as Mr X, has been ushering in this spectacle since 1998. As the parade's official emcee and 'Voice of NDP', anyone who has watched the show – even just a rehearsal – would recognise his deep baritone. He's not seen on stage, unlike the four main hosts. But his voice is a hallmark of the NDP experience. In industry speak, his 'disembodied voice' is known as the 'Voice of God', the 66-year-old told CNA Lifestyle ahead of Saturday's (Aug 9) show about a role he's glad to reprise yearly. The term refers to a voice that proclaims from on high, issuing announcements or instructions that carry weight and are rarely disputed, he explained. '(It's the) all-seeing eye, reaching down and saying: Let there be light ... And since I'm the only one speaking, somebody's got to reach for a switch or replace a light bulb,' he quipped. 'You don't dispute the Voice of God because he speaks with a certain level of authority. In other words, if the Voice of God says 'stand up' because the president is here, (there's) nothing much to be discussed.' THE ONLY 'VOICE OF NDP' SINCE THE START Now a radio DJ with Mediacorp's Gold905 where he helms Nite Flite on weeknights, Xavier began his career in 1981 as a radio and television presenter, as well as voiceover artiste. But it wasn't until 1998 that he first lent his voice to the NDP. He took to the stage as a host that year, alongside the late Victor Khoo, Dahlia Z and R Chandran. Announcements, such as introducing the prime minister's motorcade, were simply read from a sheet on hand by whichever host was available at the time. Gradually, the NDP committee saw 'some usefulness' in designating a single voice for such announcements, he said. It was "most likely 2003" when they invited him to be the 'stadium announcer' – a position distinct from the on-stage hosts who engaged the crowd directly. Meanwhile, speaking to the television audience remained a separate task. 'I think they went out of their way to blank me out or have the TV commentator speak over me when there appeared to be some duplication of duties,' he recalled. Yet, his boss eventually found a way to let his voice be heard both at home and in the stands. And because he's been the 'only person' to have held this very NDP responsibility, 'I basically define the role', he added. DELIVERING UNDERSTANDABLE COMMENTARY Even though the NDP follows a largely consistent overall structure, Xavier's script is never a carbon copy of the previous year's. He doesn't memorise his lines word for word, as he also has to be ready for possible eleventh-hour changes – like announcing the delayed arrival of a guest on the day itself. Nonetheless, the weekly rehearsals leading up to the Aug 9 show give him a chance to flag 'less than spectacular sections, or weaker sections of the proceedings that need to be tightened up', he said. He occasionally suggests tweaks to make a segment feel 'even more like a performance', since he's noticed the military tends to focus on 'getting from Point A to Point B without any sort of showbiz element'. On a nitty-gritty level, he taps on his experience as a professional speaker to spot words, phrases or sequences in the script that may trip him up. A line with too many vowels, for example, could be tricky. Words can feel slippery or hard to enunciate clearly without enough consonants to break up the flow. This can affect pacing, clarity and breath control. He also prefers scripts formatted in a way that won't potentially disrupt delivery. It wouldn't be ideal if, say, a certain phrase or paragraph that's meant to highlight a parade segment finishes on a different line or continues onto the back of the page. 'For me to minimise these mistakes, I have anything that I'm talking about appear on one page. No continuation onto another page,' he said. 'And any given item is completely laid out – hence giant sheets, I think A3 and up – with spaces in between for me to correct, or to suggest a neater or clearer way of presenting the message I'm conveying.' Since the audience doesn't have a copy of the script to follow, they must be able to understand it the minute they hear it. If his speech is replete with jargon, 'then all the effort would have been for naught', he stressed. 'Speak concisely and clearly – which is basically part and parcel of everything I do elsewhere.' FINDING HIS VOICE, THEN HONING IT Admittedly, Xavier had quite a headstart, discovering his affinity for speaking at the age of eight. It was a few years after Singapore gained independence. His parents, both civil servants who took the English language seriously, instilled in him the same respect for clear speech and the importance of contributing meaningfully to national development. By listening closely to his parents and reading ahead with his older brother's books, he naturally performed at a higher level. Eventually he was selected, along with a classmate, to read aloud to their peers. As the 'literary people' of the class, the two boys' extracurricular activity (ECA) involved supporting a children's literacy programme run in collaboration with the National Library then at Stamford Road. 'It was our good fortune to be able to take advantage of all the so-called leading or new technologies, like (the) setting up (of) public libraries (and) encouraging people to read as part of school ECAs,' he recalled. On Tuesday afternoons, they were even brought to Radio and Television Singapore at Caldecott Hill – conveniently located a stone's throw from their primary school – where they would read their library books aloud and record them on tape. Still, despite stumbling upon his calling at a young age, Xavier doesn't believe his voice is a talent. '(Having this voice is) not special, not gifted. Lucky? Yes, very much so. Talent? No. It's not a diamond waiting to be mined," he explained. 'People who do what I do are not born. We're made. 100 per cent this is a skill, and skills can be taught." And he's learnt that a key skill in his industry is knowing how to be a team player, having been branded as a 'rebel' when he started out. 'You're part of something bigger. You have to identify with 'station'-ality, and not to be too caught up in 'person'-ality,' he said. It's about the ability to 'quickly and instinctively hone in on what matters', and to recognise the part you're meant to play. In his view, one's training and experience tends to support that. So when he steps into the announcer booth at the NDP every year, he's home. He seamlessly slips into the right tone for the occasion – in this case, formal yet celebratory. With voiceover work, it all depends on 'the context in which it is heard rather than the context in which it is read'. And then, it's showtime. '(This NDP role) is an expansion of what we do in radio and television. You do what you do, and I do what I do, but until we come together and put our abilities together, we don't have a show,' he said. 'You take that to the umpteenth scale (with NDP), and what you have is a huge number of moving parts, all with military precision.' Over nine weeks of rehearsals, something special begins to take shape – and it never gets old. 'When you see (the whole) thing come together, however you may feel about the process, the result is pretty darn satisfying,' he said. Such satisfaction, however, stems from what he calls the 'cardinal rule': Careful preparation beforehand. 'Whatever your audience sees and hears about you must come as a result of you having performed rule Number One. If I didn't have nine weeks of rehearsal and 20 years of experience, the answer would be: No, I would not agree to do the job,' he said. 'Most people have to decide between sounding good and speaking well. For me, there is no option. You have to be both. Or you can decide to be a lawyer.' Every Aug 9, the celebration may feel magical for many in the audience – but perhaps even more so for the man in the booth. For someone so deeply woven into the NDP experience, it's only fitting that Xavier is a National Day baby. Some may call it serendipity. Others deem it destiny. But to the man who's a national treasure in his own right, serving his country on his birthday is, simply and always, 'an honour'.
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Why are major car-sharing firms not stepping into the point-to-point void amid BlueSG's pause?
SINGAPORE: With BlueSG pausing its services, several major car-sharing firms told CNA they would not be filling the point-to-point void for now, although one did not rule out moving into that space in future. Car-sharing operators GetGo and Tribecar said a point-to-point service would be operationally more challenging and that they are focusing on enhancing their current offerings, while Drive Lah said it is "possible" they may consider such a service in future. BlueSG is suspending its operations from 11.59pm on Friday (Aug 8), in what it calls a 'strategic pause' as it prepares for a relaunch next year. The company is the only car-sharing platform that offers point-to-point services in Singapore. This allows users to pick up a car at one location and return it at another. Experts said its move to suspend operations was likely influenced by losses caused by an ageing fleet. OPERATIONALLY CHALLENGING GetGo's chief executive and co-founder Toh Ting Feng said a point-to-point car-sharing model would present "significant operational challenges". 'It requires a substantial investment in infrastructure, such as dedicated parking and charging stations across the island, and a complex logistical network to ensure vehicles are properly distributed and maintained,' he told CNA. "Our current model, which focuses on a 'point A to A' service, is a strategic choice that allows us to provide a reliable and consistent experience for our users without these complexities." GetGo said that since its launch in 2021, it has seen "sustainable growth" – from over 400 vehicles and 10,000 users, to around 3,000 cars and half a million users in three years. Similarly, Tribecar's co-founder Adrian Lee said it would be operationally more challenging and labour-intensive to offer point-to-point services, as cars could be parked in many different locations across Singapore. "The primary challenge is that the current regulatory and infrastructural framework does not support the entry of new players into the point-to-point space," he said. "Without a change in policy, it is not possible to launch such a service." When asked if Tribecar may have plans to offer point-to-point services, he said the company's primary focus is to ensure users in heartlands have sufficient vehicles that are readily available. Tribecar is only allowed to park registered cars that are specifically tagged to individual carparks that allow season parking. The company has a fleet of 1,400 vehicles, an increase from an initial 350 vehicles five years ago. Mr Lee said Tribecar has seen a 35 per cent year-on-year increase in users over the past five years and described the car-sharing sector as a "competitive market". Drive Lah's chief executive and co-founder Dirk-Jan Ter Horst said expanding into the point-to-point space was not on top of their list at the moment, but he did not rule out the possibility. Drive Lah's peer-to-peer model means car owners and commercial providers can rent out their vehicles on the platform, and users can lease these cars. Describing the company as an 'Airbnb for cars', Mr Ter Horst said the platform now has 275,000 users and about 2,000 cars. Explaining why moving into the point-to-point space was not currently a top priority, Mr Ter Horst said its model means owners want their cars to be returned to their homes. "We see the type of use cases where people take it a little bit longer, not just for half an hour but from point to point, but they return it. 'And actually, from a cost point of view, it still makes sense – because the cost for one day or renting for six hours may still be worth it instead of doing two point-to-point trips,' he added. When asked if Drive Lah may in the future own a fleet to provide point-to-point services, he said this was "certainly possible". Transport analyst Dr Terence Fan said he does not think car-sharing operators will move into the point-to-point service space immediately. The assistant professor at the Singapore Management University (SMU) noted barriers to entry, such as securing parking lots in sought-after locations and taking the time to grow to a "reasonable presence". 'The competition has grown significantly over the past few years. Now almost every medium-to-large housing estate has one or more dedicated car parks used by car-sharing operators,' Asst Prof Fan said. 'New entrants need to offer something more to be competitive.' ACCREDITATION There were 97 complaints about car-sharing services in the first half of this year, said the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) on Tuesday. These complaints included pre-existing defects, poor maintenance, billing issues, high insurance excess and service reliability. The watchdog said it was working with operators to develop a CaseTrust accreditation scheme for the sector. This is aimed at raising standards and giving customers peace of mind, said CASE president Melvin Yong. "Consumer education will also play an important role as more people use car-sharing services. CASE will work with the industry to educate consumers on how to safeguard their rights and prevent disputes when using car-sharing services," Mr Yong told CNA on Thursday. Car-sharing services are private commercial arrangements and are not regulated by the Land Transport Authority. All three car-sharing operators told CNA they supported the accreditation scheme. Tribecar's Mr Lee said it would "formalise the role of car-sharing as an integral part of Singapore's sustainable transport ecosystem and provide a clear set of standards for the industry". "We have advocated for tough, comprehensive standards that will not only challenge us but also our peers and future entrants," he added. "This is because we firmly believe that elevating the entire industry is the only way forward to ensure sustained growth and public trust." Similarly, Mr Toh believes accreditation and guidelines would provide consumers with greater transparency and confidence. GetGo is also working with CASE to develop the accreditation framework. 'GetGo fully supports any initiative that aims to raise industry standards and protect consumers,' he said. 'An accreditation scheme would formalise the high standards we already adhere to,' Mr Toh added. "It would provide consumers with greater confidence and transparency. We view this as a positive development for the entire carsharing industry." Mr Ter Horst welcomed the accreditation, but hoped there would not be too much administrative work involved for the private car owners on Drive Lah's platform. "What you don't want to do is to scare people off ... you want to reduce the barrier as much as you can," he added. Asst Prof Fan also supported the "proactive move" by CASE, saying it could provide incentives for operators to behave in a "transparent and responsible manner" if done properly. "I hope the proposed accreditation won't simply (be) biased towards incumbents, and can shield operators from unjustified comments (or) complaints," he added. MAINTENANCE Some users have complained about the condition of cars they used on car-sharing platforms. Both Tribecar and GetGo said their vehicles undergo regular maintenance at intervals recommended by the manufacturer, besides adhering to LTA's inspection requirements. GetGo's Mr Toh said the company also conducts routine checks and has a system in place for users to provide real-time feedback. Tribecar's Mr Lee said its cars are taken out of service to be maintained typically at 10,000km to 15,000km intervals as recommended by the workshops. Almost all vehicles in the company's fleet also undergo annual inspections, he added. Besides reports by users on vehicle issues, Tribecar also proactively contacts 'super users' in specific areas for their input on the vehicle's condition, Mr Lee said. Mr Ter Horst said Drive Lah does not face frequent reports of dirty vehicles or poorly maintained cars on its platform. Although the company does not fully control how people maintain their cars, Drive Lah may block owners from offering their car on the platform if an issue has not been fixed, he added. Mainly, owners who rent out their cars on Drive Lah keep them clean for their own use and personally maintain them, he explained. "And also, if I'm renting your car, I feel that I need to be a little bit more careful when I use the car and that means issues like dirty cars – we hardly see it," he added.
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
More signing up for courses teaching them to build custom AI bots
Ordinary Singaporeans with no coding background are seizing the chance to build their own AI bots. These are tools that can remember routines, automate chores and send reports without being asked. Enrolments for some of these courses have soared nearly 400 per cent since 2023. With AI Singapore promising it can be 'as easy as making a PowerPoint", schools and training providers are racing to meet the surge. Deepika Giri, Associate Vice President at technology consultancy IDC Research, shares more on customised AI assistants.
