Latest News
Paf launches tech school
The Nordic gaming company Paf will start up and run a tech education for 50 software developers. The education is carried out completely without teachers and classes, where the student’s own ability to develop is in focus. Paf was given the task to start up the education from the Government of Åland.
grit:lab is a new and alternative IT education that in 2022 will start educating 50 students to become tech developers of the future. The education is a kind of coding school that is based on the 01 edu platform’s pedagogy, an alternative education in contrast to the traditional education within IT. The education is completely project-based, teacher free and without regular classes and follows a gamified two-year learning process.
“This is an interesting and exciting educational concept, where students learn to learn for themselves. It will be an excellent complement to current education and I think that a learning process without regular classes can be good for many students,” says Annika Hambrudd, Minister of Education in Åland’s provincial government.
The need for tech-talented people is great both on Åland and throughout the Nordic region.
“This is an important investment for our tech companies in Åland, which have a large demand for IT-educated personnel. I strongly believe in this modern concept of educating oneself in IT. Where different people with different backgrounds are combined with the creativity that exists in the Paf house,” says Fredrik Karlström, Minister of Trade and Industry in Åland’s provincial government.
Campus in Paf’s headquarters
The training will be run by Paf in Paf’s head office on Åland. It gives students an excellent proximity to the latest technology and a tech inspired campus environment.
“We are convinced that this will be good and in the end grit:lab can help us find the tech talents we need.”
“But the training is not only for Paf, it is for all IT companies. And we hope that many companies want to become partner companies for the education program so that we together can both help and get help from the IT students,” says Daniela Johansson deputy CEO and CRO at Paf.
An excellent education for a career within tech
The foundation for the education began in France and there are now similar educations in 40 different countries around the world. No previous basic knowledge of coding or IT is needed, in order to be admitted to the education.
“grit:lab is looking for those who have talent and the right personal drive forward, regardless of their age, gender or where they come from. I have no doubt that these students will get a tech job after their education,” says Francois Maugis, CTO at Paf.
Applications, in the form of an online test, will open around the turn of the year 2021/2022. Based on the first stage of tests, 150 persons can go on to the next step in the application process, after which 50 students will be allowed to start their education for free in the grit:lab in August 2022.
“The people we are looking for are people who have a logical mind set but above all have a commitment and the will to develop themselves. Talent alone without effort, is not enough to achieve results.”
“If you want to be part of grit:lab, you need to have ‘grit’, the energy and a passion to find solutions so that you get past obstacles and setbacks with the help of others without giving up. When it is challenging, you are driven by the desire to move forward towards the goal and at the same time along the way you like to collaborate and co-create solutions together with others,” says Anna-Lena Svenblad Development Director at Paf and Paf’s project manager for grit:lab.
Powered by 01Edu (the internationally-acclaimed pedagogy co-founded by Nicolas Sadirac), the course is teacherless, with students solving gamified projects at their own pace while learning from their peers. With a renowned industry-leading reputation, the curriculum has been rigorously designed for learning skills of the digital world and technology industry. Taking a different approach than the classic teaching methods, learning is facilitated through a collective and co-creative process in a professional environment.
eSports
Sony Group Becomes Founding Partner of Esports World Cup
Multi-year collaboration will produce the Anthem and original documentary series of Esports World Cup 2024
The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) and Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”) have signed a multi-year partnership agreement to collaborate on initiatives for the Esports World Cup. The collaboration leverages Sony’s acclaimed gaming products and entertainment expertise alongside the EWC’s vision to unite the global gaming and esports communities across the most popular games, and underscores a shared ambition to broaden the appeal of gaming and esports to players and fans worldwide. The inaugural Esports World Cup 2024 is slated to take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
As part of this agreement, Sony Pictures Entertainment will create a behind-the-scenes documentary series showcasing the players and games of the Esports World Cup. Sony, together with Sony Interactive Entertainment, will also look to exploring additional opportunities to support promising creators and talent in the region. Sony Music Entertainment will produce the music Anthem of the Esports World Cup 2024
“Sony is the perfect partner for the Esports World Cup,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Our goal is to establish a global platform for esports and gaming that sets new standards for live esports events. Sony’s experience in creating stunning visuals, engaging music, compelling storytelling, and state-of-the-art technology will be a game-changer for the Esports World Cup. The EWC aims to take esports to the next level, and we are thrilled to count on Sony’s world class expertise in this endeavor.”
“We’re excited to make the Esports World Cup more fun and engaging for fans globally by harnessing the creativity and technology from across our diverse businesses.” said Toshimoto Mitomo, Executive Deputy President and CSO, Sony Group Corporation. “Sony has been enhancing the esports experience especially with Sony Interactive Entertainment’s initiatives such as PlayStation Tournaments and the annual EVO fighting game series. We look forward to further catering to this growing, global community of players and fans with the Esports World Cup.”
With the Esports World Cup, EWCF has created an unprecedented celebration of competitive gaming and esports fandom. This summer, top esports organizations will face off in Riyadh, to compete in a unique cross-game structure for the largest prize pool in esports history. Recently, the EWC has announced the addition of ten popular titles – Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, PUBG, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, Free Fire, Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege – as participating games. More games will be announced soon.
Latest News
PRAGMATIC PLAY ADDS TO SWEET SENSATION IN SUGAR RUSH 1000
Sweet spot multipliers of up to 1,024x await in the provider’s latest online slot release
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, invites players to explore an extra sweetened version of its candy-filled classic in Sugar Rush 1000.
Building on the success of the multi-award-winning original Slot, Sugar Rush 1000 offers the same great gameplay across 7×7 reels, including both the tumbling feature and cluster pays mechanic, but supercharges the potential of the multiplier spots up to 1,024x.
Hitting three, four, five, six or seven scatters awards 10, 12, 15, 20 or 30 free spins respectively. During the bonus round, multipliers remain sticky on the reels, increasing players’ chances of landing mouthwatering wins up to 25,000x their bet!
Sugar Rush 1000 is the latest supercharged sequel in the Pragmatic Play portfolio, following Gates of Olympus 1000 and Starlight Princess 1000.
Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “Adding to one of Pragmatic Play’s most popular and celebrated releases of all time, Sugar Rush 1000 takes fan-favourite content to new heights with even sweeter multiplier spots and a max win of up to 25,000x.”
eSports
NEW YORK ISLANDERS REPRESENTATIVE ERIK ‘EKI’ TAMMENPAA EARNS HIS SIXTH EUROPEAN TITLE AT THE EA SPORTS NHL 24 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
In a rematch of last year’s European Championship, Erik ‘Eki’ Tammenpää, representing the New York Islanders, again prevailed over Teemu ‘Temppanen’ Karvonen representing the Anaheim Ducks to win the EA SPORTS NHL 24 European Championship title. The win marks Eki’s fourth-straight and sixth-overall European Championship title (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and another $15,000 USD in earnings. Temppanen placed second in the competition that took place at the Copenhagen Media Facility in Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday evening. For a second year straight, both players will represent Europe in the EA SPORTS NHL 24 World Championship taking place in April in New York.
Eki is a full-time YouTube and Twitch content creator and EA SPORTS™ NHL® 24 expert and 24-year-old native of Helsinki, Finland. He remains the most decorated esports player on the NHL competitive circuit and will try once again to capture the World title after capturing runner up at last year’s EA SPORTS NHL 23 World Final.
During the competition in Copenhagen today, Temppanen and Eki qualified for a spot in the World Final by competing in a semifinal best-of-three round. Both players split their first two games, with Temppanen ultimately overtaking NikkeDanglesin a tight competition and Eki defeating Eken45Jr with eight goals in a Game Three shutout.
The Championship series saw a rematch of last year’s EA SPORTS NHL 23 European Final with Temppanen and EKI facing off once again. While Temppanen took the lead with an early goal in Game One, Eki scored three quick goals in a three-minute span during the second period and a game-winning goal in the third period by Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers). Eki continued his goal streak and dominated Game Two, ultimately scoring six unanswered goals, including tallies from Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Bo Horvat(New York Islanders), and Cam Atkinson (Philadelphia Flyers). Eki’s
6-0 victory solidified his sixth European title and status as “the one to beat.”
EA SPORTS NHL 24 EUROPEAN FINAL STANDINGS
1st: Eki, New York Islanders
2nd: Temppanen, Anaheim Ducks
3rd: Eken45jr, Pittsburgh Penguins
4th: NikkeDangles, Washington Capitals
5th-8th: Alphaborje, Detroit Red Wings
5th-8th: Kibeeex, Toronto Maple Leafs
5th-8th: Launonexx, Tampa Bay Lightning
5th-8th: Teemuyy, Colorado Avalanche
The EA SPORTS NHL 24 North American Championship will be contested on March 24 at the NHL Flagship Store in New York beginning at 1 p.m. ET on the NHL’s Twitch channel. For more news, fans can visit www.nhl.com/NHL24 and follow the conversation on social using #NHL24WC.
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