The new year is nearly upon us! To help you discover upcoming game industry conferences, conventions, festivals and other events, we post a consolidated list of events for each month. View the complete May event list below.
Augmented World Expo 2018 (AWE 2018) is returning to Silicon Valley, perhaps one might say in triumphant fashion. By some estimates, Augmented Reality (AR) is clearly in the driver’s seat of the fast-growing mixed-reality sector, and AWE is one of the few events with a clear focus on AR.
Specifically, gaming in AR is what Michael Levine, Founder and Creative Director of HappyGiant, will be talking about at AWE 2018. HappyGiant is the developer behind the mixed-reality title HoloGrid: Monster Battle. We engaged with Michael via an email Q&A about the state of AR and gaming and his upcoming talk about that hot topic.
Events for Gamers (E4G):What first attracted you to develop an augmented reality game? Was it the game concepts or the technology, or both aspects in equal measure?
Michael Levine: For us, we have to go back now about 3 years, so while it was the “medium” of AR in general that attracted us, the specifics of the tech have changed several times, and keep changing. Overall we were and are very attracted to AR gaming and entertainment as it represents a quantum shift in how we think of tech and the world around us, and thus will spawn exciting new forms of gameplay.
Michael Levine, Founder & Creative Director, HappyGiant (photo credit: HappyGiant)
E4G: At AWE 2018, you’ll be discussing the augmented reality industry in gaming, in general. What learnings do you plan to highlight?
Michael: For some insight into my thinking, check out my new blog here. I will talk about some of our experiences and talk about the state of AR overall.
E4G: Mobile augmented reality seems to command the lion’s share of the attention recently, but do you think desktop AR in gaming offers as much potential?
Michael: Not really (: Not everyone has webcams for starters. And webcams on desktop PCs are not really conducive to point at much other than your face. Are you talking about something else?
E4G: Knowing what you do now about developing and marketing augmented reality and mobile games, what would HappyGiant do differently in developing “HoloGrid: Monster Battle AR”?
Michael: Well, it depends which version you are referring to. For the AR Kit version and an AR board game in general, it requires a longer session of gameplay. We tried to make HoloGrid as fast paced as we could, as with Mobile AR its hard to hold up your device for lengths of time. With new games we are developing, we are working on shorter sessions, and find portrait view is much more comfortable for mobile AR.
HoloGrid: Monster Battle in action (photo credit: Happy Giant)
E4G: The augmented reality business seems to have inherited the heat of the hype cycle from virtual reality. Do you think the business will also be prone to the “trough of disillusionment” that the VR space has been working through?
Michael:: It’s already happening. I could argue its worse in AR. In VR, we see titles like Beat Saber pre-sell 50,000 units. That’s not happening in AR. In VR you have people who bought new hardware with a dedicated marketplace looking for titles to try out their new devices. With AR, you are in an already overcrowded app store, fighting for visibility with limited device penetration and with people not actively seeking out AR or even knowing their device is capable of it in many instances.
E4G: What aspects of AR for gaming are different from the augmented reality space as a whole?
Michael: If you are doing it right, almost everything is different. As I alluded to above, we see AR as a fundamental paradigm shift in how we interact with technology, and the world around us. Compare it to VR, where you are putting people in 3D worlds. We have been doing this in games for over 20 years. VR is amazing, but it’s just a new way to experience those 3D worlds and move around them. By comparison, AR requires new thinking. As someone said on Twitter recently “If VR devs hate not controlling the camera in VR, wait until they try AR and can’t control the set!”. We are now making experiences for people and we do not know where they will be when they try them. This has never been done in a sense. Then using that world around them, whether its spatial data, GPS or other things, takes on new forms of gameplay and experiences.
E4G: What do you think AR experiences in gaming might look and feel like by 2020?
Michael: By 2020 the first good consumer level AR headsets should be coming out from Apple, Magic Leap and others. This is when things are going to get interesting, and even more fun. At first it will be a step back in terms of market share. We will be like VR now with a small user base. But to companies who get in early, this will be the beginning of the real AR revolution. Once our hands are free and we have true spatial computing, an AR cloud, multiplayer … it’s going to be fun.
E4G: What else do you look forward to checking out at AWE 2018?
Michael: Anything related to gaming or entertainment. But also all of the AR cloud companies and their demos. Anything in the Playground. The fun stuff and things we can use going forward now, not in a few years.
Thanks to Michael Levine for taking the time to share his thoughts ahead of his AWE 2018 talk. Speaking of that, here’s the link to the “State of AR Gaming” at AWE 2018, if you plan to attend and want to know more.
Taipei, Taiwan (22 May 2018) – G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world’s leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, will be hosting two major extreme overclocking events – the 7th Annual OC World Record Stage 2018 and the 5th Annual OC World Cup 2018 – and the first ever G.SKILL Extreme Mod Stage 2018, where six modded systems built with the latest G.SKILL hardware will be showcased, at the G.SKILL booth during Computex 2018. These 3 events will be held throughout Computex week at the G.SKILL booth in the Nangang Exhibition Hall, 1F, Booth J0806.
7th Annual OC World Record Stage 2018
The OC World Record Stage is one of the biggest annual overclocking events in the extreme overclocking community, gathering 14 professional overclockers from around the globe to break as many benchmark records as possible. Featuring the latest Intel platforms, Samsung memory components, G.SKILL memory modules, and performance motherboards from major vendors such as MSI, ASUS, EVGA and ASRock, the extreme limits of hardware performance will be put to the test under a generous dose of liquid nitrogen cooling.
5th Annual OC World Cup 2018 – $20,000 USD Prize Pool
This year, G.SKILL is increasing the OC World Cup 2018 competition prize pool to a massive $20,000 USD, where $10,000 USD would be awarded to the overclocking champion of the competition. The OC World Cup 2018 competition will feature the latest high-end hardware from Intel, Samsung, and G.SKILL. After an intense online qualifier round that ended in April, six overclockers from around the world will be competing live on the G.SKILL stage to demonstrate their overclocking skills during Computex week. The contenders, in no particular order, are rsannino from Italy, Lau Kin Lam from Hong Kong, Dancop from Germany, Alex@ro from Romania, Lucky_n00b from Indonesia, and rtsurfer from USA.
G.SKILL Extreme Mod Stage 2018
A new addition to the G.SKILL booth is the Extreme Mod Stage, where six custom PC system mods will be on display, showcasing the incredible creativity and works of art from professional modders. System mods breaks away from the traditional bland computer-in-a-metal-case and shows off the carefully chosen hardware in a unique themed build, so a high performance system can also look amazing while it’s crunching away at a workload or running a game.
With so much to see, come join us at the G.SKILL booth at Computex 2018!
If you’ve been following tech trends for the last, oh, several years, you’re aware of the growing influence of blockchain in several business sectors. Gaming is no exception to the reach of blockchain, which could affect everything in the world of interactive entertainment from game development, user-generated content, financing, virtual goods transactions, and more.
With the rise of blockchain in recent years, so has a cottage industry of blockchain conferences catering to the fast-growing, much-hyped business. And, given the paragraph above, conferences, meetups, and other assorted events about “blockchain in gaming” are starting to emerge. One of the first high-profile events on the scene is Pocket Gamer’s Blockchain Gamer Connects conference.
We had the chance to carry out a Q&A with Jon Jordan, who writes for the blockchain in gaming-focused online publication, BlockchainGamer.biz; and he helped organize the recently-held Blockchain Gamer Connects conference in San Francisco.
Events for Gamers (E4G): How did the idea to create Blockchain Gamer Connects originate?
Jon Jordan, BlockchainGamer.biz and Blockchain Gamer Connects (photo credit BlockchainGamer.biz)
Jon Jordan: Steel Media ran a half day event about blockchain gaming as part of its Pocket Gamer Connects London 2018 event in January, which proved highly successful.
One result was the launch of BlockchainGamer.biz in mid-March, which in turn lead to blockchain gaming getting its own full two-day track as part of Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2018 in May.
E4G: How challenging was it for the organizing team to integrate Blockchain Gamer Connects with a well-known event series in the games business, like Pocket Gamer Connects?
Jon: As with most events, there was a time challenge in terms of getting high-quality speakers early enough to be able to promote to potential attendees. But the blockchain gaming area is pretty dynamic so this wasn’t a major issue.
E4G: What qualities do you feel differentiates Blockchain Gamer Connects from other blockchain or cryptocurrency business or developer events?
Jon: While there are plenty of blockchain conferences, there are only a handful of blockchain gaming conferences. That, combined with the reputation of the Connects brands within games, means we had a strong proposition.
E4G: In hindsight how does the team feel the first iteration of the Blockchain Gamer Connects event generally worked out? What would you, as the organizers, do differently if anything?
Jon: With an excellent selection of speakers, a full room, and strong audience participation throughout the two days of the conference, we are very pleased with our first iteration.
E4G: Do you feel the Blockchain Gamer Connects summit reflected the opportunities and challenges of the still-emerging “gaming in blockchain” space as they stand right now?
Jon: The sector is clearly nascent. I guess the argument is just how nascent. Given that situation, the challenges are more current than the opportunities but I think the speakers reflected this situation while still being enthusiastic about the long-term potential.
E4G. What do you feel were the most distinctive “blockchain in games” thought leadership themes from participants to emerge from the summit?
Jon: As per the previous question, I think most speakers attempted to balance the many current challenges with the big future opportunities. The interesting debate at present is how quickly we move from the former to the latter.
E4G: Looking ahead, what’s the possible future of the Blockchain Gamer Connect event?
Jon: Next up, we’ll be debating the state of play in a couple months time in Helsinki, Finland as part of Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki 2018 in September. You can sign up right now!
Thanks to Jon Jordan for taking the time to share his thoughts about blockchain in gaming and Pocket Gamer’s conferences in the mix of it!
The Canadian province of Quebec and its largest city, Montreal, has gradually, steadily been growing their influence in the world of game development. One reflection of that growth s the number of game industry-related conferences, conventions, meetups and more are emerging and growing in that region.
Now, a few of the bigger Montreal-based events are coming together this year to create a “super show” of sorts. Today, the movers and shakers behind the pop culture and games convention, Montreal Comiccon; the French-Canadian video game news outlet, Multijoueur; and the game industry conference, Canadian Gaming Expo have announced they are partnering up to host a two-day games conference with indie game developers and the community in mind.
This partnership will play out during Montreal Comiccon, which will be held on July 6 to 8 at Palais des congrès. The event, CGX Montreal, will start the day before, on July 5, with a hiring event and a one-day conference. An event, the Indie Village, during the Comiccon expo will bring together indie game developers, with booth space, media support, and community.
Preceding both events both a couple of weeks, the Canadian Games Expo will take be hosted in Canada’s capital, Ottowa, on June 23 and 24.
From the press release, the president of Multijoueur shared his sentiment on the new partnership
“We are excited to work with two great companies that have one motivation at heart, the communities that make them”, said Bruno-Pierre Campeau, president of Multijoueur. “Multijoueur prides itself on reaching out to communities and building media opportunities and hold events that connect developers with the fans. It’s really all about discovery.” The goal is to supply independent studios in the area with representation at Comiccon while also keeping the associated costs as low as possible, breaking down barriers that may prevent smaller studios from attending similar events. The event will have plenty of booth space available, with room to expand depending on developer’s needs.
Jillian Mood, owner of the Canadian Gamiing Expo, who we interviewed late last year about the expo she helped to build, shared her thoughts with us today about the multiplier effect of the partnership. “Our mission is to grow the Canadian Game Industry in a positive way, and collaboration (as opposed to competition) is the best way to bring ideas and communities together!”
It’s not just the number of related events in Quebec that are booming in Quebec. The Entertainment Software Association of Canada’s recent report, Essential Facts About the Canadian Video Game Industry, states that Quebec has seen the number of companies in game development rise by 42% to 198, all since 2015. The workforce size, though, has decreased by 7% in the same time period, suggesting, perhaps, a growth in the number of smaller indie game development studios, if not at the largest game developers and publishers. Kongregate, a game publisher, has just announced they’re opening a new office in Montreal to attract the attention of the region’s indie developers.
It will be interesting to see how well the fast-growing game events side of the equation keeps up with the game industry’s changes in Canada. Jilllian Mood added her vote of confidence for the potential for all aspects of the games business in the region to scale equally well: “The game industry, especially in Canada, is an ever-growing industry with thousands of developers and millions of fans all across this amazing Country…so YES (it can keep up with the new events)! ”
The full official announcement about the Quebec events partnership is posted here.
PHILADELPHIA – May 17, 2018 – Tickets for PAX Unplugged 2018, the tabletop-centric entry in the international line-up of PAX events, taking place Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2018 at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Convention Center, are on sale now.
Single-day badges for the event will be available for $30, while three-day badges will cost $65. Pre-sale merchandise, including branded blankets, socks, and dice will be available as well.
Established in 2017, PAX Unplugged delivers the experience PAX attendees have enjoyed for more than a decade, but with a focus on celebrating card, board, and other tabletop games. Now in its second year, the show will build on the success from the inaugural PAX Unplugged, where tabletop fans had the opportunity to witness the reveal of new games, go hands-on with exciting upcoming titles, play in tournaments, and participate in panels with industry leaders.
Produced by ReedPOP, in conjunction with Penny Arcade, PAX– West, East, South, Dev, Unplugged, and Australia – have become some of the world’s largest gaming conventions, each with tens of thousands of guests every year. Every show is a celebration of gaming culture, where prominent game creators connect directly with the gaming community via panels, demos, concerts, tournaments, and freeplay sessions.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Early BirdRegistration is now open forExternal Development Summit (XDS) 2018. Occurring September 5 -7 in Vancouver, Canada at the Parq Vancouver– XDS is the only annual, international video games industry event with a primary focus on external development for art, animation, audio, software engineering, QA and localization.
Last year’s sold-out event boasted 50 quality speakers, over 500 high caliber attendees from more than 38 countries, 3,000+ B2B meetings, daily networking opportunities and special events, and 39 world-class sponsors. This year is on track to once again exceed expectations. The official capacity has been increased to 600 to accommodate growing demand, and organizers are expecting another sold-out event.
Toby Ow, Production Supervisor at Sony Interactive Entertainment said, “XDS has quickly become THE must attend event if you’re involved with external development. There is no greater opportunity to connect with likeminded colleagues and discover the past, present, and future of external development.” In a similar sentiment, Alex Stein, Art Manager at Treyarch/Activision, stated, “How is it XDS only continues to improve every year? See you next year!”
Early Bird Passes are on sale for $769USD until June 12 (i.e. June 11 at 11:59 PM PST), when prices increase to $899USD. To register, visit: www.xdsummit.com.
Sponsor/exhibitor opportunities are already over 60% sold-out. To find out more, contact Partnerships Manager Rachel Orris directly at Rachel@xdsummit.com. All other inquiries can be directed to info@xdsummit.com.
About XDS
External Development Summit (XDS) is the only annual, international video games industry event with a primary focus on external development for art, animation, audio, software engineering, QA and localization. A professionals only event, XDS brings together a niche community of game developers and publishers, vendors, middleware providers, and trade organizations to advance the industry through collaboration, sharing of best practices, networking and the delivery of a high-calibre, educational program.
COUGAR is proud to announce the arrival of the last and most powerful iteration of its renowned Panzer Full Tower series: the Panzer EVO RGB. Combining four tempered glass covers, powerful RGB lighting and the industrial inspiration design that has characterized the series, this case offers massive amounts of space and unparalleled aesthetics.
As its name indicates, RGB lighting is one of the strengths of this case. This is not limited to the four powerful Vortex RGB fans but also includes the COUGAR Core Box, capable of supporting up to 8 COUGAR RGB fans and four COUGAR RGB LED strips, as well as a driver-free remote controller. This allows users to start enjoying and customizing the more than 100 RGB lighting effects right out of the box, without going through any software installation or encountering compatibility issues.
To make sure the included RGB fans, as well as any additional lighting the user might want to install, are fully visible, this case sports four tempered glass covers on its front, top, left and right. Special care has been taken to apply the exactly right amount of tinting to the tempered glass, achieving an ideal balance between an elegant dark look when no lighting is used, and clear visibility for all the RGB effects then the lights come on. This guarantees that the case will look great irrespective of whether the computer is on or off.
Panzer EVO RGB continues with the generous tradition of the Panzer Full Tower series when it comes to specifications: extensive motherboard support; plenty of space for both SSDs and HDDs; incredible connectivity (including a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C connection for ultra-fast data transfer); and support for up to four graphics cards with a maximum length of 390mm. More than enough to build the ultimate gaming computer and enjoy the latest games at ultra settings.
No gaming case is complete without good cooling support. As usual, COUGAR has not skimped on this: support for four radiators (up to 360mm long behind the front and top covers) and up to eight fans allows users to create the perfect solution for each build, one that will enable them to prevent overheating and concentrate in enjoying their games.
This is, in essence, the culmination of years of development, a powerful case that combines RGB lighting, enhanced aesthetics with tempered glass and extended expandability.
Panzer EVO will be available in the United States in June with an MSRP of 219 USD. For more details regarding availability in global markets, please check the Where to Buy section on the COUGAR website (http://cougargaming.com/wheretobuy/).
The ModMic series is a microphone product line by Antlion Audio, an audio products and accessories company. The ModMic attachable boom microphones line splits into business and gaming products. Of course, we’re going to look at the gaming product, which brings us to the ModMic 5.
Front and back of ModMic 5 box (photo credit: E4G)
The basic idea behind the ModMic series is that they are an attachable and detachable microphone that can be mounted to any pair of headphones, thus making it ready for gamers and content producers, who might need voice access, in a pinch.
The package deal:
Out of the box, the ModMic 5 comes with a branded zippered carrying case, with most of the “stuff” inside and two meter coil of cable wrap outside.
Closed ModMic 5 case with cable wrap (photo credit: E4G)
First impressions are not necessarily everything for a device like this, but it doesn’t hurt that all the items are bundled neatly in a functional carrying case. Inside the case is the ModMic 5 attachable boom mic; a separate mute switch; a foam pop filter, one 3.3 foot cable and a 6.6 foot cables, both sporting the near-ubiquitous 3.5mm jack; base clasps; extra adhesive “spots”; the aforementioned cable wrap; and ten cable clips to keep any wire spaghetti in control.
Open case with ModMic 5 and accessories (photo credit: E4G)
Lastly, there’s the instruction pamphlet to connect the dots. In spite of all the accessories, the manual is a small-ish, folded two-sided piece of paper suggesting that assembly and customization is a relatively easy thing to do. Fortunmately, it is.
Setup:
Attaching the mic to on a pair of headphones or a heaqdset should not take more than a few minutes. There’s an alcohol wipe in case you need to pre-prep the earcup with a little extra cleaning. Aside from that, the adhesive can be peeled right off and attached to the side of any headphones. The adhesive may attach the mic, but the magnets in the detachable mounting base have enough pull to comfortably help keep it there. It’s worth mentioning the kit comes with two bases, so the mic can be switched easily between two different headsets.
I mounted the ModMic 5 to a pair of Axceed over-ear headphones, and affixed it to the semi-gloss surface of the earcup. I admit, in spite of the instructions’ assurances otherwise, I was a bit concerned the adhesive might peel away the semi-gloss finish, but I’m glad to say that was not an issue.
ModMic 5 mounted on Axceed headphones (photo credit: E4G)
The boom itself is rather stiff, and it will take a willingness to flex it to adjust it to more comfortably fit. Whether you have the luxury of a mic port on your headphones or headset or just need to use a splitter, the cable clips to bundle the microphone and headphone cables together into one bundled cord will make it much less messy to use the ModMic 5.
Once I had the ModMic 5 mounted, plugged in, and adjusted for comfort, the next major consideration was whether to first try the unidirectional microphone or the omnidirectional microphone. As the name might suggest, the omnidirectional style of audio pickup is for casting a wider net and broader frequency capture, which means it’s more likely to pick up ambient sound in the area of the microphone, like a computer fan or keyboard clicking. Alternatively, the unidirectional style is better for voice pickup, especially in a noisier environment (such as competitive gaming), since it’s focused on one direction and has an emphasis on the mid-range of audio where the human voice lives. When sound pickup of any kind is the last thing desired, the trusty mute button can be found near the head of the 3.5mm plug.
The specifications by the numbers are below.
Specifications:
Pattern: Uni-directional
Sensitivity: -38 ± 3 dB
Response: 100 Hz–10 kHz
SNR: >50+ dB
Impedance: 2.2 KΩ
Operating Voltage: 1 to 10V
Max current at 2.0V: 500 µA
Max input SPL: 110 dB
Pattern: Omni-directional
Sensitivity: -26 ± 3 dB
Response: 30 Hz–17.5 kHz
SNR: 58+ dB
Impedance: 2.2 KΩ
Operating Voltage: 1 to 10V
Max current at 2.0V: 500 µA
Max input SPL: 110 dB
(Specifications from Antlion Audio)
Performance:
After testing it against it the similarly priced Razer Kraken Pro headset, the sound quality of the ModMic 5 was decidedly louder, clearer and more emphasized, even in the omnidirectional mic mode. The pop filter did it’s work well, ensuring the plosive sounds, which can sometimes cause a popping sound effect, were almost totally neutralized. The unidirectional mic minimized (albeit not entirely) sounds like keyboards, my laptop fan, and other ambient noise so that the focus was on voice, not distracting noises.
Given the sound quality in this mode, many podcasters, voice chat-only streaming, and even competitive gamers should find the ModMic 5 unidirectional mic a match to their needs.
The omnidirectional mic is equally capable within its strong suit, picking up a broader range of sound than the human voice alone. Testing this mic on recording music when played through my phone’s speaker was surprisingly accurate and much less tinny than I expected when using the broader-ranged omnidirectional mic.
During the course of the testing, ModMic 5 mic stayed in place on my head and did so even when I gave the headphones and the mounted mic a light shake to see how well they might stay put.
Pros:
Good, neatly organized packaging
Easy-to-assemble and adjust
Mic stays mounted in place while in use
3.5mm plug by default makes it useable to more folks than a USB plug
Very solid, clean voice performance, and the foam pop filter does the job well
Cons:
A bit pricier than comparable solutions — and many entry-level headsets.
One or two extra dongles may be necessary to achieve connectivity on certain set-ups, which adds to the buy-in price
Ideal for:
Antlion’s ModMic 5 currently weighs in at a $69.95 price point at MSRP and on Amazon, so buying this might seem unnecessary for someone on a budget or who has a headset or mic setup they’re satisfied with. Still, the performance is very good and just might be strong enough to justify adding or replacing it as a go-to audio accessory.
The ModMic 5 is optimal for that podcaster, competitive gamer or streamer who already has a favorite set of cans or wants to try a new mic on their headset, but also wants the option of attaching a solidly and cleanly performing microphone. As an attachable mic, the ModMic 5 is also a strong on-the-go choice for someone who might want to “mic up” while at an event or otherwise on the road. Overall, the ModMic 5 microphone kit is versatile, capable and travels well.
The new year is nearly upon us! To help you discover upcoming game industry conferences, conventions, festivals and other events, we post a consolidated list of events for each month. View the complete May event list below.
LAS VEGAS – April 26, 2018 – ESP Gaming, the premier content creation company for esports and competitive gaming, has acquired online esports tournament provider, Auzom, known for its competitive PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS leagues and broadcasts across North America and Europe. The acquisition represents ESP Gaming’s continued commitment to deliver high quality esports production and tournament facilitation across numerous fan favorite games, genres and platforms.
Jeff Liboon headshot (photo credit: ESP Gaming)
“We’re thrilled to welcome Auzom to the ESP Gaming family and look forward to an industry-changing partnership,” said Jeff Liboon, President of ESP Gaming. “Auzom has become a clear leader in the online competitive esports community with its tournaments and broadcasts, innovative formats and commitment to excellence. With the acquisition, we are accelerating our ability to produce and host world-class online tournaments and drive further growth and innovation.”
As part of the deal, Auzom will become the online tournament platform for ESP Gaming’s competitive gaming events, elevating the global reach of its tournament and league capabilities. In addition, ESP will help Auzom launch new games under the brand and add live competition to championship events.
“We built Auzom with the goal of providing the best online esports tournaments and organizations in the community. Together with ESP Gaming, we will be able to better reach the millions of passionate gamers around the globe and provide more opportunities for competitive play,” said Andrew Kean, General Manager at Auzom.
ESP Gaming has also brought on Gerard “Atlas” Kelly as VP of League Operations to oversee logistics and operations of event productions and player management for the company’s owned and operated leagues. Prior to joining ESP Gaming, Gerard was a co-founder of Team NRG, along with Andy Miller (Sacramento Kings) and Mark Mastrov (24 Hour Fitness Founder). Kelly was instrumental in bringing traditional sports investment into the esports industry, securing investments from sports stars like Shaquille O’Neal and Alex Rodriguez into Team NRG.
“I look forward to joining ESP Gaming and to have the opportunity to spearhead the company’s league operations,” said Kelly. “We will immediately begin work developing esports initiatives that will transform the industry.”
ESP Gaming is continuing to expand its influence in the esports space, having recently secured a multi-year partnership with Vainglory, the world’s No. 1 international mobile esport, and the Vainglory Premier League in North America and Europe. With decades of live sports production experience for high profile events, ESP Gaming is utilizing its expertise to create the best esports content for PC, console and mobile platforms.
For more information on ESP Gaming, visit www.espgaming.com. For more information on Auzom, visit auzom.gg.
More than 300 of the world’s leading experts on blockchain, crypto and games are expected to gather for the 1-day summit, which will feature a keynote from CryptoKitties creator, AxiomZen.
Kyiv, Ukraine – April 10 – The world’s first Crypto Games Conference will be held on May 11th, 2018 at Mercure Congress Centre, Kyiv, Ukraine. This first of a kind event will unite the worlds of games, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain to explore the amazing and transformative impact they are having on the future of entertainment and gaming.
Participants will learn from emergent leaders and experts in this exciting field, and have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and discuss important topics and issues facing the industry as it develops.
“We are super excited to host the first-ever conference focused on blockchain games, an exclusive event bringing together top experts in charge of shaping of the brand-new games industry,” says Andriy Sharanevych, co-founder of Crypto Games Conference “We’re proud to be able to work with developers and platforms who think out of the box and are set to change the canvas of market and of video games as we know them.”
Crypto Games Conference will offer two summit tracks, dealing with three themes in depth:
• Blockchain based games (СryptoKitties, Dragonereum, Spells of Genesis, and others)
• Game services using blockchain or cryptocurrencies (Alto io, BitGuild, Decentraland, and more)
• Gaming using blockchain or cryptocurrencies (DAO Casino, True Flip, EtherSport, etc.)
More than 20 high profile speakers from the USA, Europe and Asia have been confirmed. One of the many highlights of the summit will a keynote charting the explosive rise of Cryptokitties. Benny Giang, Product Manager of AxiomZen, will share the story of its success and discuss the importance of exploring extensibility for blockchain games.
Industry icon Gary Bracey (formerly of Kuju, Ocean) CEO of Terra Virtua will take the audience on a journey of how the games industry has evolved from 8-Bit Computers in the 80’s to the present time and explore the use of blockchain for in immersive VR games.
Attendees will be able to learn from panels and presentations – featuring experts from Alto, DAO.Casino, BitGuild, WAX, EverdreamSoft, SiGMA and many more.
Crypto Games Conference is a unique opportunity to join the community of decision makers and visionaries of the most important crypto gaming companies and ICOs for a full day of networking, knowledge sharing, and discussion of the newest and exciting developments in the games industry to date.
