Gaming
Bacta to give evidence to UK Government’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee
John White Chief Executive of UK trade body, bacta, will be outlining the impact of the Gambling Reform White Paper on land-based gambling entertainment businesses when he provides evidence to the UK government’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 11th July.
The Committee is chaired by Conservative Party Member of Parliament Dame Caroline Dinenage and features a further ten MPs representing all of the major British political parties.
Looking ahead to his appearance in front of the influential Committee John White said: “Immediately after the White Paper was published on April 28 we started the process of consulting with members and researching the implications and outcomes of the various proposals, specifically the impact of a 50/50 machine ratio, the introduction of modern payment methods and the projected impact of a mandatory levy.
“That initial research programme has been completed and I will be able to share with the Committee both the findings and our analysis of how the White Paper recommendations will impact inward investment, employment levels, the industry’s support for local economies and the sustainability of businesses.”
He added: “Regulation that’s fit for the digital age must permit operators to offer the payment methods that every other land-based retailer provides and which modern consumers expect.”
Gaming
Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK
Summoners War, a popular mobile role-playing game, has captivated millions with its turn-based monster battles. Boasting over 220 million total downloads across platforms, Summoners War has cultivated a loyal and passionate fanbase.
To celebrate this dedicated community, the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 in Hamburg on 30th November invites fans to engage in exciting activities and connect with the community, with top players NEF and ISMOO headlining this sold-out event. We caught up with NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK, the top three winners of the SWC 2024 Europe Cup, to dive into their strategies, the influence of AppGallery, and the upcoming meetup.
What key strategies helped you win the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Semi-Finals match?
NEF: A lot of preparation involved strategizing with my friends and anticipating my opponents’ moves. Additionally, having favourable RNG in critical moments played a crucial role in my success.
What was your turning point in Summoners War that influenced you to start competing professionally?
NEF: Throughout my Summoners War journey, I have met so many incredible people who have really helped shape my experience and push me to grow. Watching ISMOO’s energetic performance on the big stage, gave me the motivation to chase my own dreams and got me to where I am today!
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
NEF: I am thrilled to be a part of meetup! Being involved in this vibrant community has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate the variety of Summoners War campaigns that AppGallery offers, catering to all kinds of gamers, regardless of budget. Attending Gamescom last year was a phenomenal experience. The energy was electrifying, and it was amazing connecting with fellow gamers who share the same passion!
What key lessons from your past World Finals experiences have contributed to your success in reaching the World Finals’ Semi-Finals again?
ISMOO: Competing in past World Finals has been a crucial step towards my success in the Semi-Finals. It has taught me to stay composed and avoid costly misplays, even when the stakes are high. I have also learned to better analyse and adapt to opponents’ strategies, enabling me to make smarter decisions and perform more consistently under stress.
Reflecting on your 8-year journey, what key moments shaped your path in Summoners War?
ISMOO: One of the highlights was meeting all my in-game friends from Summoners War, including NEF, that I had only interacted with online. It was incredible to finally meet them in person and getting to know each other better!
Another unforgettable moment was competing in SWC World Finals 2022 in Korea. It was my first time traveling to Asia, and playing live on stage was such an exhilarating and surreal experience.
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
ISMOO: It feels amazing to be part of this meetup. Reconnecting with the community and meeting so many new people has been a blast! Incredibly grateful for the multiple events that AppGallery has hosted and invited me – It is truly an honour and excited for future events!
What key lessons helped you win second-place at the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Quarter-Finals match?
STARTIIK: I spent a year focusing on mastering drafts and learning which monsters counter certain meta picks. My Europe Cup preparation involved studying my opponents and analysing their playstyles. However, the World Finals demanded a completely different approach. Preparing for LADRILLO-OS was manageable while LEST’s unpredictability made it more challenging.
As a first-time Europe Cup player, what elements of your gameplay surprise opponents, and does their underestimation give you an edge?
STARTIIK: As a first-timer competitor on stage, many opponents underestimated me despite having experienced my strengths in previous matches. The real challenge lies in proving yourself as a worthy competitor who can handle pressure and deliver consistent results. My fast-paced cleaving strategy has always been my focus but the addition of Lora to my roster this year has strengthened my second-turn gameplay, allowing me to explore new strategies.
How has your AppGallery experience been, and how do its Summoners War campaigns and cashback benefits enhance your gameplay?
STARTIIK: My experience with AppGallery has been great! Installing it on my Android device was a breeze, and navigating the app is intuitive and straightforward. The enticing campaigns and cashback deals have been a great bonus, enabling me to grab some excellent discounts on in-game packs.
Asia
Mumbai gamers win premium CyberPowerPCs worth over INR 1 lakh at GamingCon 2024; over 500 attendees participate.
Mumbai gamers Rehan Siddique and Vipul Dalvi were the two lucky attendees who took home premium gaming rigs from CyberPowerPC, a global leader in custom gaming computers that debuted in the Indian market earlier this year.
Competing against over 500 participants at GamingCon 2024, one of India’s biggest gaming festivals, both gamers won the state-of-the-art CyberPowerPCs, valued at over INR 1 lakh each for free.
The giveaway, held during the two-day gaming festival at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, was another initiative by CyberPowerPC India to contribute to the growth of PC gaming in the country and showcase the power of customised gaming PCs.
Participants completed a series of challenges, starting with a fun activity, followed by exploring CyberPowerPC’s innovative EZPC tool and wrapping up with games like Just Dance and Beat Saber VR.
On Day 1, Rehan, a first-year game design student from Mumbai, emerged as the winner of the Xtreme Arctic 500 Gaming PC. Being a passionate PC gamer, Rehan enjoys playing titles such as VALORANT, Grand Theft Auto (GTA), and Red Dead Redemption, which complement his growing expertise in game design.
“Winning CyberPowerPC India’s Xtreme Arctic 500 Gaming PC was an unbelievable experience. I still can’t believe I won and it was the highlight of the entire event for me. Red Dead Redemption 2 will be the first game I play on this amazing PC,” said Rehan Siddique.
Day 2 saw Vipul, a BMC employee, claim the Xtreme 500 Gaming PC. An equally dedicated gaming enthusiast, Vipul’s favorite games also includes VALORANT, alongside EAFC, and Formula One, showcasing his love for both competitive and simulation-based gaming experiences.
“The whole experience was amazing, and I am still in shock that I won a gaming PC. The atmosphere at the event was top-notch, and now I can finally play EAFC 25, which has always been my dream game,” shared Vipul Dalvi.
Attendees also explored CyberPowerPC India’s innovative website at its booth, learning how easy it is to design a custom PC using the Configurator.
They also tried the EZPC module, which allows gamers to quickly build or select their ideal PC in just 30 seconds based on over 25 popular games, including Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, Elden Ring, GTA V, League of Legends, and Fortnite.
Sharing his thoughts, Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer, CyberPowerPC India stated, “We were thrilled to witness the excitement and engagement of the crowd for our giveaway at GamingCon 2024. It was encouraging to see the growing interest in PC gaming as attendees were eager to try out our configurator, live FPS, and the EZPC tool, all designed to help gamers easily customize their perfect gaming rigs. Congratulations to both Rehan and Vipul, who will now have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the world of PC gaming with their new high-performance systems. This initiative aligns with our mission to inspire and support gamers by providing access to cutting-edge technology, thereby contributing to the growth of India’s burgeoning PC gaming community.”
Alongside the customised rigs, CyberPowerPC India also rewarded approximately 300 participants with branded merchandise, including t-shirts, caps, mousepads, and sling bags, for completing fun tasks at their booth over the course of the event.
The recently released ‘Indian Gamer Behaviour and Market Insights’ report by Niko Partners shows that 77.3% of PC gamers in India spent more on games in Q1 2024 than the previous year, outpacing mobile and console gaming.
Additionally, Steam reported a 150% increase in new users in India from 2019 to 2024, highlighting the growing interest in PC gaming.
Staying true to its commitment, CyberPowerPC delivered on its promise of giving away two premium gaming PCs absolutely free at GamingCon 2024.
This initiative highlights their dedication to supporting India’s growing PC gaming community and introducing gamers to the potential of custom-built rigs.
Gaming
Find out what presents await in Gaming Corps’ latest Smash4Cash™ title, Xmas Unwrapped.
Gaming Corps, a publicly listed game studio based in Sweden, is proud to announce the release of its latest Smash4Cash™ game, Xmas Unwrapped.
Thanks to the innovative team at Gaming Corps, Christmas has arrived early this year with the release of Xmas Unwrapped. This highly engaging title challenges players to smash open beautifully wrapped presents to discover festive treats worth up to 5,000x their stake and a selection of joyous bonus features.
The game invites players to settle in for some cosy holiday fun around the Christmas tree. They will encounter a single Christmas gift, with two rows of three presents on either side. The aim of the game is simple: unwrap the present and get your hands on the festive surprises inside.
It is just not cash prizes that players can unwrap. After opening a present, the Multiplier feature can be activated. A random Multiplier will be revealed, and it will then be applied to the next present that is opened.
The Rampage feature can also be unwrapped. This sees automatic attempts to open presents, with two or more presents guaranteed to enter during the round. Those lucky enough to be super high on the nice list might trigger the Multiplier Rampage mode, which combines the two.
There is also the possibility of opening an instant-win prize. Six can be won: the Mini, Minor, Major, Mega, Grand, and Super, which are worth 10x, 25x, 50x, 100x, 500x, and 5,000x the player’s stake, respectively.
Xmas Unwrapped also allows players to bump their way up the nice list and unlock the bonus features using the Feature Buy Mechanic.
Xmas Unwrapped is the latest title to utilise Gaming Corps’ popular Smash4Cash™mechanic, following in the footsteps of big hits like Buffalo Smash4Cash™ and Piggy Smash Smash4Cash™.
Connor Blinman, Head of Games at Gaming Corps, said: “At Gaming Corps, we love getting in the festive spirit and releasing a brand-new Xmas-themed title has become a holiday tradition for us.
The Smash4Cash™ is one of our flagship features, and what better time to treat our customers to another dose of Smash4Cash™ fun than Christmas?”
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