Aftershock PC's new experiential centre feels like a PC museum
Oh so fancy
Third time’s the charm, I suppose, for Singapore-based Aftershock PC. They first had a “showroom” at their Bendemeer offices, then a retail space at Suntec City, before reopening again at Bendemeer, but this time on the more accessible ground floor with a 1,120-square-foot space.
Featuring tons of PCs in various configurations to give visitors an idea of what they can expect based on the specs, especially for games such as Battlefield 6, Black Myth: Wukong and more. That way, you will know immediately if the PC you’re buying can run these games with no issues.
Then there’s also my personal favourite shop: MASH (not to be confused with the 1970s American sitcom). This one’s a dedicated keyboard store that you can mash (geddit) various switches and pick from your favourite keycaps to customise your very own keyboard.
Lastly, given how AI is just everywhere now, there are also dedicated AI PCs with demos on just what you can do with one. There’s one really impressive rig with four AI GPUs you’ll need to check out while you’re there.
One thing I noticed was how the layout felt like a museum, with displays of motherboards and components that you can slowly look at as opposed to a retail concept like they had in their Suntec City store. It felt very welcoming, and made me feel like spending more time there just browsing and trying things out.
In fact, Aftershock PC’s head of marketing, Jonathan Teo, said as much, stating that they wanted to design “a space people would return to”. There are also plans to conduct workshops, host watch parties, and hold special sales to make it feel more like a community space.
It also helps that Aftershock PC featured its range of custom setups, such as a bubble-tea PC to anime-inspired rigs to a very cute cat-themed PC that I really wanted (though it seems you can order the aptly named “meow meow” series online).
What was missing is a cool display of wooden slabs that you could pick for your Omnidesk table, but I supposed you can always pop over to Funan Mall for that. Otherwise, there are plenty of Omnidesk tables around you can check out at the experiential centre.
An interesting tidbit I discovered was that Aftershock PC had made the effort to secure the correct licensing for the experiential centre, since the area they are in is usually zoned for industrial use. I understand that there may have been issues previously, but that’s all settled now, I suppose.
Check out more pictures of the space below, and be sure to pop by the experiential centre at B-Central, 996 Bendemeer Road, #01-05, Singapore 339944. You can’t miss it as it is right next to the ramp. Opening hours are 11am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday, and 11am to 9pm on Friday and Saturdays.
This week in reviews, we tried out a new version of the Apple AirTag, tested JBL’s latest open earbuds, and played too much action RPG Nioh 3.
The new Apple AirTag has a longer range and is louder than the first iteration. And more importantly, the price remains the same at S$45. The design, too, is unchanged, which unfortunately means that its stainless steel back is still susceptible to scratches. But there’s no doubt that the AirTag remains a great way to track your luggage and other items.
The JBL Sense Pro are open ear-hook type earbuds that are suited for those who want to hear their surroundings. While you don’t get noise cancellation, the 16mm drivers on these earbuds can be fairly loud, while JBL even has its own spatial sound, and sound customisation features. More importantly, the call quality is excellent, thanks to its two microphones and AI-powered noise reduction.
Nioh 3 is the easiest way to get into this action RPG franchise. A new Ninja style makes for a more mobile, highly evasive character that’s more newbie-friendly, while the new open-field design also lets players switch between multiple areas to explore before confronting a tough boss. Co-op works great, too, and offers another option for players to overcome challenging fights.