eSports

FNATIC REVEAL THE FNATIC X BMW VISION MOUSE A FIRST-OF-ITS KIND PRO-GAMING MOUSE UNIQUE TO EVERY HAND

Published

1 year ago

November 7, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Fnatic x BMW have revealed the FNATIC X BMW VISION MOUSE – a lightweight, pro-gaming mouse custom-moulded to fit the hand.

In a first for the esports industry, each Fnatic x BMW Vision mouse is unique – ergonomically designed and 3D printed to reflect the player’s hand shape, curvature, and grip, with the level of customisation aiming to enhance competitive performance by providing improved control, response, and hand-comfort.

An initial limited run has been made for Fnatic’s League of Legends pro-team with future commercial availability dependent on further testing and public interest.

Fnatic and BMW Designworks joined forces on the project with the shared belief that esports pro- gamers should have customised equipment, like pro-sport athletes, to give a competitive advantage. On average, a pro-gamer will spend up to 70 hours a week practising or taking part in competitive matches. Highly bespoke accessories will allow players to compete better, for longer, with a reduced risk of hand injury. The Fnatic x BMW Vision mouse was designed to meet this need, and as the BMW Group has been successfully using 3D printing technology for more than 25 years, it makes it a perfect partnership.. Classic examples of the use of additive manufacturing can primarily be found in areas, in which customised and sometimes very sophisticated components are required in small numbers.

Each Fnatic x BMW Vision mouse consists of two parts – the shell and chassis. The shell is unique to every player and is created in two distinct design and manufacture stages.

The design stage is carried out by Fnatic’s product engineer who works with each player to understand their precise needs to develop a design profile in addition to 3D scanning each of their hands. The profile covers a broad set of requirements including preferred playstyle, device set-up, and hand ergonomics. An initial shell template is then created, and further refined using a robust trial and error approach until perfected.

A functional prototype of the shell is 3D printed using SLS 3D printing technology, under the guidance of BMW and their unrivalled expertise in printing materials for high performance use. This insight enables Fnatic to craft a shell that’s extremely lightweight, made to the highest quality, and ergonomically precise.

The need to replace the mouse due to wear and tear or because of different ergonomic requirements is no longer a concern. The shell can be constantly refined to meet changing needs, with the same materials reused for re-printing and placed on the existing chassis.

The final stage is adding the shell to the chassis of Fnatic’s BOLT mouse, known for its high performance, unparalleled durability, and best-in-class internals.

Another focus when designing the Fnatic x BMW Vision Mouse was on circularity. This responsible use of resources plays a fundamental role at the BMW Group. Based on the expertise of BMW Designworks in this area, the bioplastic Nylon 11 is used for the mouse shell. In addition, the mouse chassis is made from recycled components from the proven Fnatic BOLT mouse, which adds another level of consideration.

Stefan Ponikva, Vice President BMW Brand Communications and Experience, said: “The development project for the Fnatic x BMW Vision Mouse is a very good example of how we define our role in Esports. Our know-how should benefit the community, and contribute to the further development of the industry. In professional Esports, the key is the performance of the players. 3D manufacturing methods, which we have tried and tested in house, and our experience with sustainable, circular materials are being applied in innovative ways in sport. Together with Fnatic, we are genuinely helping to improve the performance of professional gamers.”

George Barrett, Industrial Designer, Fnatic commented: “Esports is immensely competitive and the difference between winning and losing can be minute, often mere milliseconds. Being able to own this difference is why we’re constantly looking for ways to give our players that competitive advantage. “Working with BMW Designworks has given us the opportunity to create a gaming mouse unique to each athlete that seamlessly blends performance, ergonomics, and sustainability like nothing else in the market. On their own, these adjustments would be negligible, but incrementally they can make a real difference to the player’s performance.”

Tom Allemeier, Design Director at Designworks, said: “For us at Designworks, it was particularly attractive that Fnatic and the BMW Esports team were not just looking for material alternatives. They were collectively hungry for an overarching understanding of circularity. The team wanted to learn how an optimal use of materials and the right processes, manufacturing and processing methods could lead to more sustainable results in the future.”

Zdravets “Hylissang” Iliev Galabov , Fnatic League of Legends Pro-gamer commented: “To have the opportunity to use a mouse designed by BMW and Fnatic is awesome. My mouse is a fundamental part of my setup and I see it as an extension of my hand. I need it to be responsive, accurate, and comfortable to support my playstyle and help prevent any fatigue from extended play. The Fnatic x BMW Vision mouse is like nothing I’ve seen before. A mouse that fits only to your hand is unreal.”

The Fnatic x BMW Vision mouse is currently in production for Fnatic’s League of Legends pro-team. While there are no current plans for commercial production, Fnatic will listen to fan feedback and monitor competitive performance.

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eSports

North Star Network acquires Um Dois Esportes

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

Peter Tolan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

North Star Network are delighted to announce the acquisition of umdoisesportes.com.br, which becomes the latest addition to NSN’s global sports media portfolio.

Born from the GRPCOM merger of the editorial teams of Gazeta Do Povo and Tribuna do Paraná in 2020, Um Dois Esportes provides in-depth sports coverage and analysis for the Brazilian state of Paraná and beyond.

North Star Network co-founder Julien Josset said: “Thank you to the team at GRPCOM for their faith in us to take the brand forward. Um Dois Esportes is an established and renowned site in Paraná State, and we’re excited about the challenge of developing this asset.”

“We’re happy to maintain the collaboration with the existing editorial team, and look forward to working with them, bringing our unique NSN approach, to take UDE forward.” NSN’s signing of Um Dois Esportes is the media house’s fourth acquisition of 2024, following the recent deals to purchase UK-based SportsMole and MrFixitsTips, as well as Chilean site AlAireLibre, which was announced in March.

The latest addition to the North Star media portfolio joins existing assets including Top Mercato, Afrik-Foot, and Vringe. The Paris-based company already oversees a significant Brazilian operation, delivering over 6 million sessions per month, from the likes of Trivela, Premier League Brasil and Lakers Brasil.

NSN will retain Curitiba-based journalists from the Um Dois Esportes legacy team to maintain the asset’s unique tone and popular coverage of the Paraná sports scene across site and social.

“We were surprised by the interest, and initially had no intention of selling Um Dois, but as the conversations evolved, we realised this was a serious group with good intentions,” said GRPCOM Director Rafael Mello. “We were very happy to see our project being valued by a large international group and going global, demonstrating the quality of the content we produced.”

“We’re also proud that North Star inherited our journalists, who are truly responsible for the success of the product we offer readers every day.”

eSports

GIANTX Promotes LVP Superliga Toplaner Th3Antonio to the League of Legends EMEA Championship Roster

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Today, GIANTX is excited to announce an update to its LEC competitive roster. Antonio”Th3Antonio” Espinosa Bejarano is recognised as one of the most successful LVP Superliga players in the history of GIANTX, and he has now reached a pivotal moment in his career to compete in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC).

The LEC is the most important League of Legends competition in Europe and one of the most relevant in the international esports scene. The Barcelona-born ‘toplaner’ will be part of the lineup kicking off the LEC Summer split season in Berlin, which starts in June. As the community quotes; ‘Th3LEC’ is finally a reality.

Commenting on his new role, Th3Antonio said:

“This is the dream I’ve been working towards since I entered esports. I always wanted to compete at the highest level to face the best, and finally, I have this opportunity. I never stopped striving, and thanks to that and the work we’ve done together with all my teammates, we’ve achieved great things in Spain, but the LEC has always been my ultimate goal. Going to the LEC with my lifelong club, GIANTX, is a double dream. Everyone knows what GIANTX means to me”.

Sports Director at GIANTX, David Alonso, added:

“Th3Antonio deserves this opportunity, both in recognition of the level he’s at and all the work he has put in over the past few years. We are convinced of this decision and that he will give everything to succeed in the LEC. He has always been characterised by sacrificing himself for others, and lately, he has taken a step forward by leading in crucial moments, a clear sign of his maturity as a player”.

Having joined at a young age in 2017, Antonio ‘Th3Antonio’ Espinosa has become one of the most decorated players of the LVP Superliga and of GIANTX history. During his time with the team, he has won four Superliga titles, two Iberian Cups, one Copa, and has reached an EMEA Masters final, as well as other national competitions.

The decision to promote Th3Antonio reflects GIANTX’s need to implement changes following the results of the LEC Winter and Spring split seasons. In both splits, the team fell short in the first round of playoffs. The Summer split season is the main shot at Worlds for all teams, and the aim of the club was to make the necessary changes to achieve this goal. After a period of reflection and numerous trials, Th3Antonio has been chosen for the toplaner position.

eSports

L&G esports team founded by Alona Shevtsova won the national Dragon EC Cup tournament

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

Zoltan Tundik

Four teams competed in the tournament's final: Lazer Cats, L&G, which received a direct invitation to the final stage, EsportsBattle, and ThunderFlash, which had open qualifiers.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Ukrainian esports team L&G won the Dragon EC Cup tournament, held on the 20th of April by Dragon Esports Club. Four teams competed in the tournament’s final: Lazer Cats, L&G, which received a direct invitation to the final stage, EsportsBattle, and ThunderFlash, which had open qualifiers. During the Grand Final, the L&G team competed with Lazer Cats on Mirage, Anubis, and Vertigo maps.

“This victory is a testament to the exceptional talent and commitment of our players, as well as the collective effort of our coaching staff and support personnel,” said Alona Shevtsova, founder of L&G Esports. “We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the unwavering support of our fans.”

L&G is among the top 5 Ukrainian teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It was founded in 2021. The previous name was Leogaming, and it was created on the initiative of the famous Alona Shevtsova from the fintech sector.

The team began competing in top tournaments and almost immediately made it to the Advanced division of the ESEA League Europe competition. The team also participated in and took prizes in European tournaments such as the SCL League, WhiteBit Crypto Open, Phoenix League, and local competitions. The team players are marat2k, r0ublE, kr1vda, kL1o, OneUn1que, rji (coach).

The winners received a 50,000 UAH prize. Dragon Esports Club also prepared a 15-skin giveaway for the broadcast’s viewers.

It is worth mentioning that the L&G team created its merch items, which are available for order worldwide. To get more information about the team, visit the L&G Instagram page, Twitch, or Telegram Channel.