zywoo-wins-counter-strike-player-of-the-year-at-the-hltv-award-show

ZywOo Wins Counter Strike Player of the Year at the HLTV Award Show

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

The HLTV Award Show, presented by 1xBet, has awarded Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut the coveted Player of the Year award for a record-breaking third time. ZywOo, along with Team Vitality, who also won the Team of the Year award, have been a force to be reckoned with in 2023, having won the last-ever CS:GO Major in Paris. The French player also took home more accolades than anyone else this evening, winning AWPer of the Year and Highlight of the Year in the Panel Awards.

The HLTV Award Show, the most prestigious awards show in Counter Strike, has seen some of the best talent in Counter Strike recognised for their fantastic contributions to the sport and the community. This included Nigma Galaxy winning Women’s Team of the Year, the ever-popular Nikola “NiKo” Kovač winning Opener of the Year, and Danny “zonic” Sørensen for Coach of the Year. Robin “ropz” Kool also achieved his highest HLTV ranking this year by placing in the top three, and also taking home the Closer of the Year Award.

 

 

On display at the award show was HLTV’s first ever photo exhibition, consisting of 75 photos spanning the entire history of Counter Strike, carefully selected by HLTV journalist and photographer, Lucas Aznar Miles.

The top 20 players from the past year were also gifted custom keycaps, so that players can take them away and actively play with a piece of CS history, and was also featured on HLTV’s Instagram page.

These awards stand as a beacon of recognition for the outstanding achievements and contributions within the competitive Counter-Strike community. Now closing off its third edition, the HLTV Award Show is a curated program that showcases the pinnacle of skill, dedication, and sportsmanship in the world of Counter-Strike.

The winners for the HLTV Awards in each category are as follows:

Player of the Year

  • Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut

Women’s Player of the Year

  • Ana “ANa” Dumbravă

Team of the Year

  • Team Vitality

Women’s Team of the Year

  • Nigma Galaxy

Rookie of the Year

  • Guy “NertZ” Iluz

The Panel Awards were voted on by community peers including five members of HLTV’s newsroom, ten on-air talent members, and 20 representatives from the best teams of 2023. The winners of the Panel Awards are as follows:

Highlight of the Year

  • Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut

Opener of the Year

  • Nikola “NiKo” Kovač

Closer of the Year

  • Robin “ropz” Kool

Anchor of the Year

  • Emil “Magisk” Reif

AWPer of the Year

  • Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut

IGL of the Year

  • Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

Coach of the Year

  • Danny “zonic” Sørensen

The winners of the Community Awards voted on by members of the HLTV community are as follows:

Talent of the Year:

  • Chad “⁠SPUNJ⁠” Burchill

Event of the Year:

  • BLAST.tv Paris Major

Creator of the Year:

  • 3kliksphilip

Streamer of the Year:

  • Ohnepixel

“This year’s awards were a fantastic celebration of excellence, and ZywOo is very deserving of the Player of the Year Award. His exceptional performance in 2023 has not only solidified his status as a standout player but will also make a lasting impact on the history of competitive Counter Strike. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees who have all contributed to the community and we look forward to welcoming them back next year, as we gear up for another year of memorable moments in Counter-Strike.” – Zvonimir Burazin, Head of Operations, HLTV

For more information and highlights from this year’s award show, check out the HLTV Award Show page.

nominations-for-the-italian-gaming-awards-(iga)-are-open-an-event-within-the-event-in-cooperation-with-ige-–-italian-gaming-expo-&-conference

NOMINATIONS FOR THE ITALIAN GAMING AWARDS (IGA) ARE OPEN AN EVENT WITHIN THE EVENT in cooperation with IGE – ITALIAN GAMING EXPO & CONFERENCE

Reading Time: 5 minutes

 

A two-day conference and exhibition for the gaming industry, together with the debut of the Italian Gaming Awards: to examine in depth the reality of a sector of central importance for the country. “The sustainable future of gaming” is the title of the first edition of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference (Ige). The new B2B event dedicated to the Italian gaming industry which will take place on April, 18-19 2024, in the Palazzo dei Congressi, in Rome.

But waiting to celebrate the event, the Italian Gaming Awards 2024 (Iga) have just started, which will accompany the April event (with the awards ceremony in a gala evening on April, the 18th at the Spazio Novecento in Rome), for which companies leading the Italian market can already present their applications for. In total there are 20 award categories, aimed at operators, suppliers and more (Info and nominations on www. italiangamingawards .com)

Therefore, this is a debut for lge (but for Iga too) in the national panorama of events and an initiative focused on content, offering a unique opportunity to study in depth the main themes that will lead gaming world in the coming months and years, to define the approach guidelines for companies that want to look to the future, to innovation, to sustainability.

The event offers two days of in-depth analysis on all aspects interesting the stakeholders of one of the most important gaming markets in Europe and in the world. Right around the time in which the Government and Parliament started the reform process that will lead to the birth of a new sector, through the rewriting of the rules governing it, and the issuing of tenders for the renewal of all concessions.

“2024 will be a strategic year for the Italian gaming industry and the event will in turn be strategic for the industry and for the entire ecosystem”, Simona Clarizio, Head of Ige, with over 20 years of experience within the Fiera Milano group and in the organization of b2b events, explains “Ige therefore looks to the future of gaming in Italy: a future that wants and must be fully sustainable – the manager adds – This is in fact the challenge that concerns all interested parties in the sector reform process”.

The two days of Ige will be dedicated to the C-levels of the gaming market who, together with institutions, experts, scholars, opinion leaders, influencers, will meet to stimulate dialogue on the main themes that will lead the industry. One of the main targets of the event is to allow participants to meet and discuss with experts, opinion leaders, scholars and some of the best C-levels at national and international level, to find new ideas and solutions that look at the growth and development of its own business.

 

Technology, innovation, sustainability

In an evolutionary context in which technology rules, it is essential to base any type of comparison on a precise analysis of the state of the art of the sector, passing through the more general one of the world of work and the economy, in order to be able to truly outline those next steps that everyone will have to aim for in 2024 and beyond. Indeed, especially beyond: given that the new rules that will be written by the legislator in the coming months will shape the future of the industry in the medium-long term. For this reason, in this first edition of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference, the organization has decided to bring attention to other less explored areas in gaming, relating to the world of Supply Chain and Procurement managers, CFOs and Hr executive directors to understand more and more how the dynamics of the value chain, Esg (Environmental, social, and corporate governance) models, Diversity & Inclusion and new organizational processes are imposing a crucial change of pace towards sustainability and digital transformation.

In addition to exploring the main trends of interest to the industry that will radically shape its approach: from the metaverse to artificial intelligence, from blockchain to digital payments, which are added to the endemic and regulatory trend topics, such as the fight against matchfixing, the relaunching of the horse racing sector and esports regulation.

The event, dedicated to the Italian industry, will however have a clearly international profile, with a part of the agenda also designed for the international public, with a series of cross-cutting nature subjects and a series of influences of other global realities. In this sense, the partnership signed with the network of professionals of Imgl – The International Masters of Gaming Law, which will organize two Master Classes within Ige, and the media partnerships with the main international gaming organizations, such as Sbc Media, InterGame, Casino Magazine, and more play a strategic role.

 

An exceptional Scientific Committee

As regards the content and general organisation, the event can rely on an exceptional scientific committee capable of bringing together experts, scholars and professionals of various profiles and international fame. Like Lucio Lamberti, professor of Marketing analytics and analytics for Business Lab at the Politecnico di Milano as well as scientific director of the Metaverse Marketing Lab; Francesco Rodano, Playtech’s chief policy officer and former online gaming regulatorQuirino Mancini, president of Imgl, global head of the gaming and hambling Practice Group and partner of Tonucci&PartnersLudovico Calvi, honorary chairman of United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports – UlisGianluca Comandini, Italian entrepreneur, university professor and technological communicator expert in fintech and new mediaCarlo Alberto Carnevale Maffè, Professor of Strategies at the Università Bocconi Sda and Matteo Caroli, professor of International Business Management at the Università Luiss Guido Carli of Rome. In a perfect balance between industry and academy.

 

An event within the event: the Italian Gaming Awards

As mentioned, Ige’s will not be the only debut on the Italian gaming market. The first edition of the Italian Gaming Awards (Iga) will enhance the event. A special evening to reward the excellence of Italian gaming and the best best practices in the sector, in an exceptional location, full of charm, like Spazio Novecento. Between music, entertainment, good food. And lots of networking.

The event will be coordinated by a Scientific Committee and the voting will be carried out by a jury of experts bringing together international sector professionals, scholars also from different sectors and the world of information, through a certified software platform and a procedure of professional, highly reliable and transparent selection.

Applications by companies (Free!) can be sent from 1 December to 29 February 2024. While the evaluation process by the judges will take place from 1 to 30 March 2024. With the celebrations and awards that will take place in the gala evening organized in the Ige’s first evening, April, the 18, 2024, at the Spazio Novecento, a few steps from Palazzo dei Congressi, which hosts the conference.

 

International experience and profile

The Italian Gaming Expo & Conference is promoted by the Gn Media publishing group, active for 15 years in the world of gaming at an international level. Thanks to its world-class network, it assures direct access and a point of contact with the entire gaming industry, giving voice and participation to thousands of users. Through the GiocoNews .it and EsportsMag .it networks, over 1 million people are reached per month, using these publications for their daily work. Representing a real point of reference for gaming world, one of a kind in Italy. This assures deep penetration into the sector and an exclusive audience.

But in addition to the group’s networks, the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference will be supported by an integrated communication strategy, that will allow maximum prominence both within the industry and outside. In fact, Ige can rely on Media Partnerships with the main newspapers and press agencies in the sector, at a national and international level, as well as the support and cooperation of the organizers of global events. Furthermore, it will be supported by an ad hoc communication campaign, which will allow it to have prominence in the main national newspapers, thanks to the strategic partnership with the ItalCommunications group.

wa.technology-gear-up-for-ice-london-2024

WA.Technology Gear Up for ICE London 2024

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

WA.Technology is delighted to announce its participation in ICE London 2024, which will unfold at the ExCel London from 6 – 8 February

 

Following their success at  SiGMA Europe 2023 in Malta, the WA.Technology team will join guests arriving on 5 February for one of the world’s most significant international iGaming events, ICE London 2024, set to attract over 45,000 professionals at ExCeL London, its UK swansong, before the annual extravaganza relocates to sunny Barcelona, Spain, in 2025.

WA.Technology has big plans for expanding its African presence, launching into multiple African markets with its localised omnichannel platform seamlessly integrating mobile, retail, and online provision, all supplied by a specialised African market team. WA.Technology’s hugely successful Latin American specialists have already taken Brazil and the broader Latam market by storm, so expect big things from WA.Technology in the heart of Africa

The exhibition will showcase the reimagined WA.Technology flagship product, WA.Platform. This is more than an upgrade; the enriched version significantly enhances player experience and engagement.

 

Including:

  • Casino AI adaptation tailored to individual user behaviour.
  • Localised, AI-powered CMS.
  • Brand and player-level customisation for all products.
  • Dedicated back office access per product.
  • Improved reporting system.
  • Fresh, customisable dashboard.
  • Site editor and builder.
  • Updated security protocols.
  • Overall fresh, new look.

 

Visitors will also have a chance to witness exciting new launches from WA.Technology’s verticals with fantastic prizes up for grabs, including new, state-of-the-art games from WA.Lottery and WA.Fantasy. Attendees will be entered into WA.Lottery’s daily big prize giveaway for their chance to win one of the high-value prizes. WA.Fantasy will also allow attendees to compete against one another in a fun-filled Daily Fantasy Sports game for the upcoming Premier League weekend with a chance to win big with even more valuable prizes.

In collaboration with Authentic Fruits, WA.Technology will also gift Brazilian superfood Açaí to its valued friends. The special WA.Technology edition Açaí – sourced from family-owned, sustainable farms in Northern Brazil – highlights WA.Technology’s commitment to social impact and environmental preservation, as well as providing its esteemed global clients with the best possible iGaming offerings with a decidedly Brazilian touch.

Meet the WA.Technology team at stand S4-240 or at their exclusive area in the WA.Technology-sponsored Meeting Zone S1-360. Contact the team to book a meeting.

WA.Technology will host an exclusive invite-only Latino Fusion Night on February 7 at SICAN for friends, partners, and clients for an evening that promises an unforgettable experience with live DJ sets, sumptuous food, and superb networking opportunities encapsulating ICE London’s spirit.

Sharing his thoughts on ICE London, Tim Scoffham, CEO of WA.Technology, said,

ICE London is the perfect stage to showcase our cutting-edge WA.Platform upgrade and market-specialist tailored range with the global iGaming community. 2023 was a groundbreaking year for the entire WA.Technology team, but 2024 promises to be bigger and better for growth in further markets, such as our highly-anticipated African expansion. We can’t wait to share everything we have in store for our clients.

hacksaw-gaming-and-soft2bet-hit-the-screens-in-romania

Hacksaw Gaming and Soft2Bet hit the screens in Romania

Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

The launch represents Soft2Bet’s first foray into the Romanian iGaming market!

The amicable history of Hacksaw Gaming and Soft2Bet dates back to 2020, a long-standing relationship that continues to advance across a multitude of regulated markets. With the scalability of the platform and wide range of promotional tools, Soft2Bet remains in force as one of Hacksaw’s biggest operators.

With an ever-increasing global presence, Soft2Bet has chosen Hacksaw games for their big debut on Don.ro to target prime demographics and set new benchmarks for online gaming in the region. The online casino site offers more than 1200 slot games, table games, and live dealer experiences.

The Hacksaw Gaming category can be found on the home page, showcasing our portfolio of games including smash hits Wanted Dead or a Wild, Le Bandit and RIP City. The welcome bonuses on Don.ro have offered casino enthusiasts an exciting introduction to classic Hacksaw style slots.

“Hacksaw Gaming has made a number of pioneering launches this year. We are eager to keep this up in 2024,” said CEO of Hacksaw Gaming, Marcus Cordes.

“Hacksaw is an obvious addition for Soft2Bet’s latest brand Don.Ro; the performance of the content reaches organic customers who are there for the thrill. We are ecstatic to add Hacksaw to our regulated offering in Romania.” added George Wadsworth, Head of Casino at Soft2Bet.

low6-and-whoscored.com-partner-up-on-next-level-fantasy-sports-game

Low6 and WhoScored.com partner up on next level fantasy sports game

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Low6, the leading gamification innovator, has announced a partnership with WhoScored .com, a leading football statistics website and Oddschecker Global Media brand, to supercharge UltimateFan in the UK as the leading free-2-play fantasy football game.

WhoScored .com will leverage supplier Low6’s innovative game mechanic as an engaging way to add value to its existing user base, while delivering an additional commercial opportunity through the games’ in-app purchases.

The Low6-powered UltimateFan app revolutionises the standard fantasy game by combining digital player cards, collectibles and pack openings with fantasy points scoring. Users open digital football player and team cards to create line-ups, compete in weekly contests throughout the season and have a chance to win an array of prizes including signed merchandise and gift cards.

There are also a number of mini-games within the app to benefit daily active usership, while WhoScored .com will also provide its users with deeper content by integrating UltimateFan stats into its varied product offering.

Stuart Simms, CEO of Oddschecker Global Media, said: “We are thrilled to embark on this partnership with Low6 and integrate UltimateFan into our offering. WhoScored .com has always been committed to delivering engaging content to our dedicated user base and UltimateFan adds yet another string to our bow.

“By joining forces with Low6, we see a tremendous opportunity to further elevate the football fan experience. We believe this collaboration will not only enhance user engagement but also open up new avenues for revenue generation through in-app purchases. We look forward to adding UltimateFan to WhoScored’s portfolio and offering an immersive experience to football enthusiasts globally.”

Jamie Mitchell, CEO of Low6, said: “We are excited to partner with WhoScored .com who have built a mass following amongst sports fans and are the perfect fit to engage with our game.

“Brands are seeing the benefit of Low6 free-2-play games to not just acquire and retain users but also to open up a new revenue stream through in-app purchases”.

UltimateFan has already proved to be a huge hit for Low6 with approximately half a million installs worldwide. The white label game has been leveraged by the likes of Flutter’s Sportsbet, Rivalry and Superbet, as well as the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals.

It has scooped “Fantasy Product” and “Innovation of the Year” at the EGR Awards, while Low6 has also been recognised as “Acquisition and Retention Partner of the Year” at SBC North America Awards in the last 12 months.

nordcurrent-launches-first-ugc-fashion-designing-platform-for-pocket-styler

NORDCURRENT LAUNCHES FIRST UGC FASHION DESIGNING PLATFORM FOR POCKET STYLER

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Nordcurrent, the award-winning games developer and publisher, is reshaping the future of fashion gaming with the launch of its new UGC platform Pocket Styler Studio – the first platform where users can design entire clothing collections down to the last detail and then sell them in-game.

The online studio allows players to live their fashion-designer dreams, creating garments and entire fashion collections, including shoes and accessories, to their desired specifications. The studio currently has over 310 trillion possible outfit combinations!

Players can promote their completed designs under their own ‘designer label’ and sell them in the Pocket Styler game to millions of players globally, earning in-game currency, which has never been feasible in a mobile fashion game before. In-game earning potential is extremely high, with eight percent of global consumers already buying digital fashion, almost 50% of players buying skins with in-game currency and around 40% buying skins with real money.

 

How do you create your first design?

Powered by browser-based tools similar to those found in Photoshop, Pocket Styler Studio is an easy-to-use platform, whether you are designing coats and dresses, or sunglasses, gloves or hosiery.

Simply start by choosing a colour palette or partnered ‘fabric’ and then go to work! Choose from thousands of design details, such as the neckline style, sleeve design, skirt length silhouette and fit, and visual details like buttons or visible stitching.

No outfit is complete without bespoke accessories, so why not uniquely customise shoe styles, patterns, colours and heel heights too? Once the garment or accessory is completed, the platform renders it to fit on Pocket Styler avatars perfectly.

Sell sell sell!

The final collections are saved in the designer’s profile until they are ready to be marketed in the Pocket Styler app game. Designers can track their brands’ success by ‘Publishing’ items and assessing how many sell. Players can fully brand their designer label, even create their logo, and earn ‘Gems’, the in-game currency, for every item sold to other players.

Victoria Trofimova, CEO of Nordcurrent, comments: “Pocket Styler Studio gives anyone anywhere in the world a chance to become a fashion designer and build their own virtual fashion brand.

“The only limit to what you can create is your imagination. By designing their garments, players are transformed into designers, shaping the gaming universe – and potentially the real world of fashion.”

Fashion industry insiders say the launch of Pocket Styler Studio will revolutionise fashion forecasting, providing instant real-time data on the best-selling new styles. It will also allow fashion houses and designer labels to spot up-and-coming new creatives. Several big-name fashion brands have already expressed an interest in the new feature and the potential for designers to craft and showcase their items within the game. With 70 percent of users aged over 25 and 85 percent female, Pocket Styler Studio is expected to provide a hothouse of new talent for the global fashion industry.

Launched in May 2021, Pocket Styler is already a global gaming phenomenon, with over 21 million downloads and 100,000 fashion lovers spending 10,000 hours on the app daily.

opera-gx-and-msi-collaborate-to-bring-gamers-a-special gx-msi-edition-of-the-browser

Opera GX and MSI Collaborate to Bring Gamers a Special GX MSI Edition of the Browser

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

MSI and Opera GX have created an immersive co-branded browser experience and fully customisable MSI Mod with a playable live wallpaper game featuring brand mascot Lucky the Dragon

Opera GX, the browser for gamers, has partnered with the world’s leading gaming hardware company, MSI, to create the Opera GX MSI Edition, a special co-branded version of the Opera GX gaming browser including exclusive MSI-themed interactive backgrounds, music, sounds and content.

“The Opera GX MSI Edition and new MSI Mod ensures that users stay connected with the MSI brand and its products and services in a fun and engaging way while browsing the Internet with the best browser for gamers,” the General Manager of the Computing and Display Business Unit at MSI, Ted Hung, said.

The Opera GX MSI Edition browser also features an animated version of MSI’s brand mascot, Lucky the Dragon, in his lair. Created using Live Wallpapers, which is a feature that morphs your browser into an interactive game, users can help Lucky the Dragon grow from just an egg into a fully developed dragon. Using Game Strips, a feature which allows you to play games within Live Wallpaper or standalone, users must nurture Lucky the Dragon to ‘level up’ and unlock new stages of the Live Wallpaper. Once users have completed the Lucky the Dragon game, they can choose from a host of different MSI-branded wallpapers or keep the mascot in their browser.

“Partnership with MSI is only the beginning of a series of upcoming activities between the brands. Both MSI and Opera GX users can look forward to more collaborations and special projects in the near future,” the Gaming Business Development Vice-President for Opera GX, Mattijs de Valk, said.

Break up with your current boring browser and download the Opera GX MSI Edition today by visiting this site. As for the existing Opera GX, users who want to try out a new special themed version of the browser can upgrade by installing the official MSI Mod from the Opera GX Store site.

mga-games-establishes-an-impressive-presence-in-the-netherlands-after-launching-in-four-of-the-most-popular-casinos

MGA Games establishes an impressive presence in the Netherlands after launching in four of the most popular casinos

Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

MGA Games, a leading provider of localised content for the iGaming industry, celebrates its rapid growth in the Netherlands market, after launching its content in the online casinos of four leading operators in the country. In a few weeks, the company has managed to corner the market with the launch of its slot games on jacks .nl, onecasino .nl, hollandcasino, and 711 .nl.

These influential operators in the Netherlands have integrated an important part of MGA Games’ premium productions catalogue into their portals, including the Megaways and 5- and 3-reel slot games that stand out for their excellent animation, quality graphics, latest technology and download speed. This extensive and varied catalogue of content also features titles such as De Goudmijn Plus, Viking’s Conquest, DJ in Session, Cleopatra’s Treasure, as well as localised slot games, including Sylvia Geersen Golden Throne, from the Netherlands Celebrities series, one of the star products that MGA Games has prepared for this market.

“Thanks to these new collaborations, the presence and visibility of MGA Games in the Netherlands has grown considerably during the last month – explains MGA Games Sales Director, Javier Lanfranchi. Our presence in the Netherlands market has reached new levels of success. And soon we will be able to announce new and exceptional market shares.”

This new achievement highlights MGA Games’ commitment to providing innovative, high-quality games, soon to favourites among Netherlands players. With a constant focus on excellence and creativity, MGA Games continues to establish itself as a leading company in the online gaming industry.

emerge-group-partners-with-tz-apac-to-accelerate-the-introduction-of-web3-games-on-tezos

EMERGE Group Partners with TZ APAC to Accelerate the Introduction of Web3 Games on Tezos

Reading Time: < 1 minute

EMERGE Group, a Southeast Asia marketing technology firm specializing in IP and gaming partnerships, is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with TZ APAC, a Web3 ecosystem builder empowering founders, creators, developers and institution leaders to thrive on the Tezos blockchain. With this partnership, EMERGE Group will provide in-depth marketing solutions and publishing partnership support to accelerate the onboarding of Web3 games onto the Tezos ecosystem.

TZ APAC will lean on EMERGE Group for its industry expertise, extensive network of important IPs and advertising inventories to further position Tezos as the blockchain of choice for the gaming community. EMERGE Group has worked with renowned names such as Moonton, Singtel, Shopback and more.

Working hand-in-hand, both industry leaders will strive to create a seamless onboarding experience for promising game studios and foster a conducive environment through the significant application of the Tezos blockchain that transcends Web2 and Web3 gaming.

“With this collaboration, TZ APAC can now rely on a partner that shares the same goal — to empower the gaming community with the relevant tools, resources and network to succeed. Builders, gamers and ecosystem partners can stand to benefit from the marriage of full-suite support provided by TZ APAC and the marketing prowess of EMERGE Group,” said Jason Lim, Business Development (Gaming) at TZ APAC.

“We are honored to have been selected by TZ APAC as a strategic partner in support of their global Web3 gaming initiative. The partnership is a testament to EMERGE Group’s dedication and expertise in Web3 gaming, having worked with several big Web3 projects and successfully driving impactful partnerships within the gaming sector,” said Roy Kek, CEO and Co-founder of EMERGE Group.