Tag Archives: GAM

Web3 Metaverse, Carrieverse Unveils Gameplay Trailer

  • Open world Web3 Metaverse is unveiled for the first time
  • Take a look at the Carrieverse content where anything is possible

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — On December 8th, Carrieverse Co., Ltd. releases the first gameplay of the Web3 Metaverse, “Carrieverse”.

With a K-pop themed BGM, the gameplay begins with the main character waking up in her own house, going out to meet friends to play games together, and ends with all of them having a party. Additional footage of them riding around the open world with various modes of transportation, as well as having a good time with their pets can be seen. Clips of the character posting on SNS and interacting with friends through various reactions are shown as well. The Carrieverse trailer, which consists of actual in-game play, is meant to emphasize and convey the feeling of “freedom and happiness of secondary characters that are different from reality”.

“Carrieverse” is a family-friendly metaverse for men and women of all ages, and will be available on both PC and mobile platforms for cross-play. By blending various contents such as educational content, VOD, SNS and various mini-games into one vast open world, it aims to be a place for people all over the globe to party together through one-build and multiple language support.

David Yoon, the CEO of Carrieverse Co., Ltd. stated that “In Carrieverse, users can create their own unique avatar and live the life of a ‘second character’ that is different from reality”. He also believes that through the ecosystem built with Polygon Studios, the economic value of users can be captured within the Web3 metaverse.

‘Carrieverse’ will be released globally in the 1st quarter of 2023. With the unveiling of the first gameplay, the company plans to continue to spread news about the game through various outlets such as partnerships with K-pop stars, as well as collaborations with local partners.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-AzmICkekE

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/carrieverse

Bilibili Manhua’s most popular Chinese comic characters come to life on famous landmark digital screens

Chinese comics exhibit potential for establishing an important presence in world markets

SHANGHAI, Oct. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — In September, a lineup of videos presenting Chinese comic characters appeared on the screens of NASDAQ and Tokyo Shibuya, drawing sizable attention. The winning lineup was selected from the just-concluded summer vacation event, the Chinese Comic Star Project, launched by Bilibili Manhua. The lineup included Heaven Official’s Blessing, Breaking Through the Clouds, The Saintess has a Showdown, Global Examination, BLISS ~ End of Gods, Please Bully Me, Miss Villainess!, Fatal Flower and Song of the Sky Pacers.

The Chinese Comic Star Project is a campaign, launched by Bilibili Manhua in 2021, to determine and highlight what fans of the platform consider the best among its content. The event is now in its second year. The one-month campaign debuted with the submission of more than 4,000 Chinese comic works and concluded with eight winners based on the results of voting by hundreds of thousands of the platform’s fans. The vast participation in the voting process demonstrates the love that fans have for the platform and its content.

In recent years, many popular Chinese comics have earned recognition on the international stage and started exerting influence on the broader worldwide market. The driver of this increase in popularity has been the launch of overseas marketing campaigns by Chinese comics platforms seeking to raise the visibility of their assets outside of the home market.

To cite an example, Heaven Official’s Blessing from Bilibili Manhua won a place among the top eight performers for two consecutive years as a result of the success of the Chinese Comic Star Project. Derivative products and authorized co-branding platforms vastly added to the influence and commercial value of the intellectual property (IP). In the 18 months since the launch of the English version, 8,288 visitors have rated the comic on Anime-Planet, garnering an impressive 4.4 out of 5. As of October 17, 2022, Heaven Official’s Blessing was ranking 102nd among all comics on the platform. On Facebook and other social media platforms, seven interest groups were spontaneously formed by comic fans, collectively adding up to some 100,000 followers. Readers from around the world recommended this comic, drawing attention to and spurring the purchase of its merchandise. Whether in terms of the quality of the content, or the influence of readers, the comic serves as just one example of the huge potential, artistically creative Chinese comics in overseas markets.

Bilibili Manhua is the largest legitimate comics distribution platform in China and holds the leading position both in terms of scale and of activity among ACG (Anime, Comics, Games) fans. The platform was launched in November 2018, and currently hosts nearly 100,000 comics. Bilibili Manhua operates and manages the whole industry chain, including original comic creation and the subsequent animation, film, games, vomics, peripheral derivatives, publications, and IP licensing. A spokesperson for the platform said, in the future, “on the basis of ensuring the management of superior comic content in our home market, we also look forward to their outstanding performance overseas.”

GAMURS CLOSES $17.8M AUD SERIES A FUNDING ROUND LED BY U.S. INVESTORS ELYSIAN PARK VENTURES AND CERRO CAPITAL


Leading Gaming, Esports, and Entertainment Media Network Will Accelerate Strategic Acquisition Opportunities and Expand Into Adjacent Markets

SYDNEY, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — GAMURS, the leading gaming, esports, and entertainment media network, today announced it has closed a $17.8M AUD ($12M USD) Series A funding round. U.S. based investors Elysian Park Ventures, the private investment arm affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group, and Cerro Capital co-led the round, with participation from Powerhouse Capital, Aura Ventures, and Artesian.

GAMURS will leverage the financing to accelerate its rapid growth strategy and expansion into adjacent markets. Founded by Riad Chikani in 2014, GAMURS has quickly developed into one of the industry’s largest media networks, with 55 million active monthly users across its portfolio of 16 major digital publications covering esports, gaming, and entertainment. 

“We are incredibly proud to have the backing of Elysian Park Ventures, Cerro Capital, and all of our incredible investors,” said Riad Chikhani, Founder and CEO of GAMURS. “The round not only presents a fresh injection of growth capital, but offers the opportunity to collaborate with strategically aligned investors who will actively add value in our journey to redefine gaming and entertainment media.”

The company’s organic growth profile has been amplified by acquiring small, underdeveloped digital media platforms and providing them with the tools, resources and global platform they need to scale with purpose. With the company already being profitable, the funds from this raise will predominantly be used towards further acquisition opportunities, as it continues to see these investments as core to its business model. As of July 2022, GAMURS’ revenue is tracking at 158% up on the previous year, and its EBITDA has more than doubled. 

“At Cerro Capital, we view GAMURS as the driving force to consolidate an incredibly fragmented esports and gaming media ecosystem. Through a number of M&A transactions to date, we’ve seen that they’re incredibly adept at identifying targets, running a smooth integration process, and driving near immediate growth in audience and revenue, in a profitable manner,” said Ashish Patel, Cerro Capital Co-Founder and Managing Partner. “We’ve been consistently impressed by CEO Riad Chikhani’s discipline and leadership in operating the organisation profitably – a rare feat in today’s digital media environment – all while still being under-monetised from an advertising perspective.”

According to Grand View Research, the global esports market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.9% through 2030, with factors influencing market growth including an increase in live streaming of games, rising audience reach, and infrastructure for league tournaments, among others. Since its inception, GAMURS has been at the forefront of identifying authentic and authoritative voices in the space, including its flagship brand, Dot Esports, and Gamepur. The market presents a unique opportunity for GAMURS to continue growing in terms of organic reach, and it plans to expand on its monetisation strategy to amplify its yield and earnings across its portfolio of brands.

In addition to its extensive media portfolio, GAMURS supports brands looking to reach its sizable esports and gaming audience which is predominantly 18-34 year-olds (64%). GAMURS’ service offerings include strategic sponsorships, digital media buying, bespoke content creation and campaign solutions, product partnerships, and more. GAMURS has created innovative campaigns with leading global brands such as McDonald’s, Red Bull, Nintendo, Intel, and more.

“Our mission at Elysian Park Ventures is to invest in companies that are going to have a profound impact on the sports world,” said Nikhil Bahel, Elysian Park Ventures Managing Partner. “GAMURS has quickly snuck up on the emerging esports market with a sustainable business model, and a remarkably focused and passionate founder in Riad. We’re excited to support the company as it continues to scale and present more opportunities for both consumers and advertisers.”

“We’re thrilled to continue to follow-on our investment into GAMURS for the third time, a testament to the company’s rapid growth and success. Our conviction has never been stronger as the team continues to deliver impressive results and maintains a healthy profitability margin,” said Eric Chan, Aura Ventures Managing Partner.

About GAMURS

GAMURS Group’s far-reaching gaming and entertainment network reaches 55 million monthly users across its group of mastheads. Its media portfolio includes Dot Esports, the world’s premier destination for competitive gaming news, Gamepur, a fastly growing voice in gaming journalism, Pro Game Guides, featuring in-depth guides for all gaming genres and devices, TouchTapPlay, a top destination for mobile gaming news and guides, We Got This Covered, a wide-reaching entertainment news site, and The Mary Sue, the geek girls’ guide to the entertainment universe, and others.

About Elysian Park Ventures

Elysian Park Ventures is a private investment firm created by the ownership group of the Los Angeles Dodgers that partners with exceptional entrepreneurs operating at the intersection of sports, technology, and entertainment. Based in Los Angeles, New York, and London, Elysian Park invests across stages from seed to growth, and also provides entrepreneurs with strategic, operational, and management resources through the Global Sports Venture Studio, Trailblazer Venture Studio, and Robin, among others. Learn more at elysianpark.ventures.

About Cerro Capital

Cerro Capital, a global sports investment firm, has launched a growth equity fund investing in the Future of Sports. Founded in 2021, by a team of principal investors and operators with decades of global experience, deep seated industry relationships, and access to premium deal flow, the fund aims to be the leading growth capital investor for Sports IP & Technology – a specialised yet significantly large and influential global industry reaching massive adjacent markets.

Logo – https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gamurs-closes-17-8m-aud-series-a-funding-round-led-by-u-s-investors-elysian-park-ventures-and-cerro-capital.jpg

ViewSonic Expands its Gaming Monitor Line with the New OMNI Series for Casual Gamers


BREA, Calif., Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, introduces the ViewSonic OMNI monitor series, an all-new line of monitors designed for beginner and casual gamers. The latest ViewSonic OMNI VX2416 and VX2716 are cost-efficient options that provide powerful performance and a sharp, fluid gaming experience for work and play.

ViewSonic's OMNI VX2416 and VX2716 provide powerful performance and a fluid gaming experience
ViewSonic’s OMNI VX2416 and VX2716 provide powerful performance and a fluid gaming experience

“Adding to our existing professional gaming and esports series – ELITE, ViewSonic Gaming is expanding with OMNI as part of our ongoing innovation and product development efforts,” said Oscar Lin, General Manager of the Monitor Business Unit at ViewSonic. “Research[1] suggests that most players do not identify as gamers, and less than a third fit the stereotypical mold of a gamer. With our new OMNI line, we go beyond what a gamer should be and celebrate the fun and creativity of gaming.”

ViewSonic Gaming is a comprehensive line-up of gaming monitors built for all types of players and gameplay. It consists of the established ELITE series and the all-new OMNI series. ELITE displays and devices are designed with minimalistic style, top-of-the-line specifications, and innovative technology. Ranging from 17″ to 34″, the OMNI displays are designed to equip every player with superior graphical performance for an excellent, silky-smooth gameplay, regardless of their gaming experience or the genre of the game. These quality displays are at an accessible price range, giving a broader audience more opportunity to game.

The new OMNI VX2416 and VX2716 monitors feature a 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution, a superbly low response time of 1ms (MPRT), and AMD FreeSync™ technology, which delivers vivid and buttery-smooth visuals. Armed with dual integrated speakers, HDMI, and Display Port connectivity options, the series offers a complete multimedia experience with immersive stereo sound. Gamers can choose a 24″ or 27″ display to fit their desk space, making it the perfect option for both work and play.

Key Features of OMNI VX2416 and VX2716 Monitors

  • 24″ and 27″ FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution
  • MPRT 1ms response time and 100Hz refresh rate
  • AMD FreeSync™ technology
  • Integrated 2W dual speakers
  • HDMI and DisplayPort connections

[1] Gallery of the Gamer Research by Activision Blizzard Media

About ViewSonic

Founded in California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions and conducts business in over 100 countries worldwide. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, pen displays, commercial displays, All-in-One LED displays, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 35 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers “See the Difference.” To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

“Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team” Debuts New Players Including Tsubasa Ozora and Rivaul Wearing Official FC Barcelona Uniforms

TOKYO, Sept. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — KLab Inc., a leader in online mobile games, announced that its head-to-head football simulation game Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will hold the FC Barcelona Official Campaign starting Friday, September 9th. During the campaign period, new players Tsubasa Ozora, Rivaul, Gordoba Gonzales, and Pedro Fonseca will debut wearing FC Barcelona official kits. See the original press release (https://www.klab.com/en/press/) for more information.

Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will hold the FC Barcelona Official Campaign starting Friday, September 9th. During the campaign period, new players Tsubasa Ozora, Rivaul, Gordoba Gonzales, and Pedro Fonseca will debut wearing FC Barcelona official kits. There will be various in-game campaigns to celebrate this collaboration so be sure to see the announcements for more details.
Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will hold the FC Barcelona Official Campaign starting Friday, September 9th. During the campaign period, new players Tsubasa Ozora, Rivaul, Gordoba Gonzales, and Pedro Fonseca will debut wearing FC Barcelona official kits. There will be various in-game campaigns to celebrate this collaboration so be sure to see the announcements for more details.

FC BARCELONA OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN Login Bonus
Login every day to the game during the event period to receive great rewards.

FC BARCELONA Selection Transfer
Rivaul, Gordoba Gonzales, and Pedro Fonseca wearing the FC BARCELONA official kit debut as new players in this Transfer.

FC BARCELONA OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN Daily Scenario
Users can complete these limited scenarios once a day during the event period. Clear the scenario to receive points and medals to exchange for amazing items.

FC BARCELONA OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN Event Mission
During the event period, complete the Event Missions to earn great rewards.

FC BARCELONA 2022/2023 Official Kits Added to Dreamball Exchange
The Dreamball Exchange is getting an update with the FC BARCELONA 2022/2023 home, away, GK uniforms. Users can exchange Dreamballs to collect them.

Overview of Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team

Supported OSes: Android™ 4.4+, iOS 10.0+, HarmonyOS 2.0+
Genre: Head-to-head football simulation game
Price: Free-to-play (In-app purchases available)
Supported Regions: Global (Excludes Japan and Mainland China)
Official Website: https://www.tsubasa-dreamteam.com/en
Official Twitter Account: @tsubasaDT_en
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tsubasaDTen 
Official YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgOPO7kIQ35YzB7SBIQoWQ/
Official Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/6tyEs48
Copyright: ©Yoichi Takahashi/SHUEISHA
                   ©Yoichi Takahashi/SHUEISHA/TV TOKYO/ENOKIFILM
                   © KLabGames

Download here:
App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1293738123 
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.klab.captain283.global 
AppGallery: https://appgallery.huawei.com/#/app/C105375049

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/captain-tsubasa-dream-team-debuts-new-players-including-tsubasa-ozora-and-rivaul-wearing-official-fc-barcelona-uniforms-301619984.html

Source: KLab Inc.

“Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team” Debuts 5 New Players Including Ryo Ishizaki and Jun Misugi Wearing the 2022 Season J.LEAGUE Official Kits

TOKYO, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — KLab Inc., a leader in online mobile games, announced that its head-to-head football simulation game Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will have a collaboration with the J.League. Starting Friday, August 5th new players including Ryo Ishizaki, Jun Misugi, Shun Nitta, Leo, and Teppei Kisugi wearing the official J.League kits for the 2022 season will appear in the game. In addition, various in-game campaigns will be held to celebrate the collaboration. See the original press release (https://www.klab.com/en/press/) for more information.

Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will have a collaboration with the J.League. Starting Friday, August 5th new players including Ryo Ishizaki, Jun Misugi, Shun Nitta, Leo, and Teppei Kisugi wearing the official J.League kits for the 2022 season will appear in the game. In addition, various in-game campaigns will be held to celebrate the collaboration and the Summer Campaign begins at the same time.
Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will have a collaboration with the J.League. Starting Friday, August 5th new players including Ryo Ishizaki, Jun Misugi, Shun Nitta, Leo, and Teppei Kisugi wearing the official J.League kits for the 2022 season will appear in the game. In addition, various in-game campaigns will be held to celebrate the collaboration and the Summer Campaign begins at the same time.

J.LEAGUE Collaboration Campaign

Players who were part of the J.League in the original Captain Tsubasa story will appear in Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team wearing the official J.League kits for the 2022 season.

The campaign will feature a login bonus, daily scenarios, and more so be sure to check out the in-game notifications for more information.

J.LEAGUE Selection Transfer

Jun Misugi, Ryo Ishizaki, Shun Nitta, Leo wearing J.LEAGUE official kits debut as new players in this Transfer. This is a Step-Up Transfer where 1 new SSR player is guaranteed on Step 5.

Dreamball Exchange Update

Home, away, and keeper kits for 18 teams from the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J1 League are now available in the Dreamball Exchange.

Summer Campaign Begins

The campaign will feature a login bonus, event missions, and the Summer Cup. Participate in the Summer Cup during the event period to receive amazing ranking rewards.

Overview of Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team

Download here:

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1293738123

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.klab.captain283.global

AppGallery: https://appgallery.huawei.com/#/app/C105375049

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/captain-tsubasa-dream-team-debuts-5-new-players-including-ryo-ishizaki-and-jun-misugi-wearing-the-2022-season-jleague-official-kits-301600573.html

Source: KLab Inc.

“MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA” New Playable Characters “Mash Kyrielight” and “Neco-Arc” Announced All Additional Characters up to the Fourth Set will be Available for Free!

On sale on Steam starting August 4

TOKYO, July 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Project LUMINA (NotesCo., Ltd., Aniplex Inc., Lasengle Inc.) announces new playable characters “Mash Kyrielight” and “Neco-Arc” for the 2D Fighting Game “MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA”.

MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA New Character 2022 Summer
MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA New Character 2022 Summer

“Mash Kyrielight” and “Neco-Arc”, scheduled for release this summer, will be available for free, along with two more playable characters to be added this coming winter.

Furthermore, the game will be on sale for 35% off on Steam, starting on August 4, 2022 at 10:00 (PDT).

There is also a sale underway on PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™, and Xbox One at this time.

· Official website
https://meltyblood.typelumina.com/en/

· Image & details
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V4juku_fmoJiH2YMT4iA_bvmRQfLRi8q?usp=sharing

About “MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA”

“MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA” is a 2D fighting game noted for its exciting, fast-paced battles and beautiful 2D animation.

Players control one of 18 characters for animated battles against each other. Select characters to use their numerous techniques and experience an individual story for each one.

Total global title sales have now surpassed 270,000 copies. The game was also selected for the main tournament category at the “Evo 2022” fighting game tournament.

The game features rollback netcode to ensure stable connections for online play worldwide, and supports online competitive play events and e-sports development.

All Additional Characters up to the Fourth Set will be Available for Free

The company has decided to release the upcoming four playable characters for “MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA” free updates.

The third set of new playable characters is scheduled for release this summer, and the fourth set this coming winter.

On sale on Steam for 35% off

“MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA” will go on sale for 35% off on Steam.

Be sure to add it to the Wishlist and keep an eye out for the sale.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1372280/MELTY_BLOOD_TYPE_LUMINA/

· Steam Sale Period
PDT August 4, 2022, 10:00~August 18, 2022, 10:00

Items on Sale

  • “MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA” Standard Edition
  • “MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA” Deluxe Edition
  • Round Announcements

Anticipated Online Showcase TapTap Presents Returns On July 23, 2022

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — TapTap Presents, the digital showcase connecting gaming fans worldwide and earning more than 10 million views in 2021, kicks off its third annual event introducing world premieres of new games and updates for popular titles on Saturday, July 23 at 4:00 a.m. PDT. Watch the show live on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and the TapTap App.


TapTap Presents 2022 will feature more than 20 games including new content from popular cross-platform titles like Genshin Impact and reveals of new games from partners DeNA and XD Inc.


Exciting updates for fan favorite games include: 

Torchlight: Infinite, the hack-and-slash ARPG from developer XD Inc.

Wuthering Waves, the open-world adventure narrative from developer Kuro Game.

NARAKA: BLADEPOINT Mobile, the cutthroat battle royale featuring an impressive roster of heroes.

Yeager: Hunter Legend, the 3D monster hunting game set on an alien planet from developer IGG.


Additional reveals to come from titles including:

Eternal Evolution, the strategy-based idle battler from developer Hero Entertainment. 

Ragnarok M: Eternal Love, the adorable fantasy MMORPG from developer XD Inc.

Flash Party, the competitive multiplayer brawler from developer XD Inc.

The showcase will feature these amazing titles in addition to many more.

Popular releases and updates in last year’s show include Hearthstone: Mercenaries, League of Legends: Wild Rift, MARVEL Super War, and APEX Legends Mobile.

Many more games of different genres will debut updates and world premieres in TapTap Presents 2022. Tune in to the live broadcast and not to miss any of the exciting news.

These game developers will attend TapTap Presents 2022
These game developers will attend TapTap Presents 2022

The TapTap app is chock-full of goodies so make sure to download to stream the event live and to access a massive amount of exclusive games. 

For more information, please visit the official website, follow TapTap on TwitterYouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, join the community on Discord, and search for #TapTapPresents on social media.

Assets

2022 Teaser Streaming Trailer

Event and Partner Logo Downloads

About TapTap

TapTap is a mobile gaming oasis built on the pillars of community and accessible gamer to developer connection. Co-founded in 2016 by XD Inc., TapTap hosts a wide variety of high quality AAA and indie mobile titles, and aims to bond like-minded gamers through their favorite games. The platform allows players to connect with developers, content creators, and each other creating a united community of passionate individuals.

To learn more about the TapTap community, visit the official TapTap website.

About XD Inc.

XD Inc. (HKEX: 2400) is a games developer and publisher. Founded in 2011, XD and its video game craftsmen are on a mission to deliver captivating experiences and inspire gamers around the world. In addition to its extensive portfolio of award-winning games including Sausage Man, Muse Dash, and Ragnarok M, XD has built the mobile game distribution platform and community, TapTap, to become one of the most vibrant gaming ecosystems with over 41 million monthly active users worldwide.

To learn more, visit XD Inc’s official website.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anticipated-online-showcase-taptap-presents-returns-on-july-23-2022-301591180.html

Source: X.D. Network Inc.

NetDragon’s Promethean Reaches Strategic Cooperation with Merlyn Mind to Drive Classroom Productivity and Innovative Teaching


HONG KONG, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (“NetDragon” or “the Company”, Hong Kong Stock Code: 777), a global leader in building internet communities, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Promethean, a leading global education technology company, has entered into a US-based exclusive distribution agreement with Merlyn Mind, Inc. Under the new distribution agreement, Promethean will distribute Symphony Classroom™, the voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) solution that brings the Merlyn digital assistant to teachers. With the alliance, customers will be able to purchase Symphony Classroom directly through Promethean’s network of resellers.

Symphony Classroom delivers the Merlyn digital assistant custom-built for the unique needs of education — enabling teachers to use voice commands or a remote to control their laptops, interactive displays, internet browsers, apps, and more. Supported by Symphony Classroom’s EdgeAI® technology that allows lightning-fast responsiveness, Merlyn frees teachers to move around the classroom so they can interact with students, simplifies everyday classroom tasks, and improves overall efficiency and productivity.

“Promethean’s ActivPanel is the interactive display of choice for millions of teachers who rely on our technology to drive student engagement and spark their imagination,” said Vin Riera, Chief Executive Officer at Promethean. “By adding Symphony Classroom to our portfolio, we will make it easier for educators to teach freely, supporting a student-centered environment that increases participation.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Promethean will have licensing rights to sell Symphony Classroom to new and existing customers throughout the United States, providing educators with innovative solutions that transform learning and collaboration. The Symphony Classroom offering includes feature updates, software patches, and a hardware warranty.

“At Merlyn Mind, we’re using the latest advances in AI to give teachers what they want most – the freedom to teach,” said Satya Nitta, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Merlyn Mind. “The AI software platform allows Merlyn to quickly respond to teacher commands and integrate with daily-used applications, simplifying work for teachers and in turn, leaving more time for students. We look forward to our new relationship with Promethean, so that we can bring our classroom management solution to a wider base of audience.”

Learn more about Promethean and Merlyn Mind here.

About NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited

NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777) is a global leader in building internet communities with a long track record of developing and scaling multiple internet and mobile platforms that impact hundreds of millions of users, including previous establishments of China’s first online gaming portal, 17173.com, and China’s most influential smartphone app store platform, 91 Wireless.

Established in 1999, NetDragon is one of the most reputable and well-known online game developers in China with a history of successful game titles including Eudemons Online, Heroes Evolved, Conquer Online and Under Oath. In recent years, NetDragon has also started to scale its online education business on the back of management’s vision to create the largest global online learning community, and to bring true integrated blended learning solutions to every school around the world.

About Promethean

Promethean is a leading education technology company working to transform the way the world learns and collaborates. From our founding in Blackburn, England, more than 25 years ago to our global operations in 22 countries today, we’ve continued to explore, innovate, and inspire —designing learning and collaboration tools that are built for breakthroughs. Our award-winning interactive display, ActivPanel, and lesson delivery software, ActivInspire and ClassFlow, were designed to engage students, connect colleagues, and bring out the brilliance in everyone. With headquarters in Seattle, Washington, and offices worldwide, Promethean is a subsidiary of NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777).

About Merlyn Mind

Merlyn Mind is the AI technology company behind Merlyn, the digital assistant for education. Merlyn seamlessly integrates into classrooms and existing edtech tools to automate everyday workflows for teachers so they can focus more time and attention on students. Merlyn is accessed through Symphony Classroom, an AI hub custom-built for the unique needs of education. Merlyn Mind is backed by Learn Capital. The company has attracted top talent from IBM Watson, Amazon Alexa, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Broadcom, the Allen Institute for AI, and other innovative organizations. Merlyn Mind is headquartered in New York City.

Tencent Games Explores the Value of Game Technology with More Than 40 Product Releases

SHENZHEN, China, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Games introduced 44 product and projects for the Chinese market, along with several projects that harness game-related technology for cultural, industrial and scientific research at its “SPARK 2022” conference.

At the virtual conference, Tencent Senior Vice President Steven Ma emphasized the growing importance and benefits of crossover technologies that originated during game development, with players even beginning to experience a blending of the real and online worlds, in a sort of “hyper-digital reality.”

“The gaming industry is not one that develops in isolation. Since its inception, the industry has always been mutually driven and symbiotically developed with cutting-edge technologies, and have accumulated a series of unique technical capabilities,” said Ma – or, more accurately, Ma’s high-fidelity digital double built using homegrown next-gen technology from Tencent’s NExT Studios, which delivered his message to the online crowd. “Along with the continuous progress of technology and the deepening of our understanding, games will play a more-important role in both economic development and social life, creating even greater technological breakthroughs and richer value.”

New Games Announced

Tencent Games gave updates on 26 games, including eagerly awaited titles such as League of Legends Esports Manager, Return to Empire, Code: To Jin Yong, and cloud gaming technology solutions START ENGINE along with its first demo EVOLUTION.

They included an announcement that League of Legends Esports Manager, the official mobile game of League of Legends tournament, will start an open beta test in the Chinese Mainland market in July.

Return to Empire – a strategy-based mobile game developed for the Chinese market by TiMi Studio Group in partnership with Xbox Game Studios. It integrates the classic elements from the Age of Empires IP and expands gameplay with a greater degree of freedom across 625 square kilometers of the 3D battlefield.

The armies on the battlefield can be created and matched freely, while strategies can be adjusted at any time to provide an intuitive imagination of the battlefield. Return to Empire reimagines the classic siege battles on both offense and defense, with a rapidly changing battlefield raising the challenge for players. This allows players to go beyond traditional strategy, and exploit the tactical potential of each and every situation.

Code: To Jin Yong, is being developed by LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS, uses the Unreal Engine 5. It is adapted from the acclaimed series of martial arts (“wuxia”) novels by famed novelist Jin Yong and authorized by Ming Ho Publications. As the first Unreal Engine 5 open-world game starring the legendary heroes of the Jin Yong wuxia world, Code: To Jin Yong will be released to players around the world in the near future. Players can look forward to freely exploring the vast and grand world of martial arts.

With the power of Unreal Engine 5, classic characters in Jin Yong’s masterpiece, such as Yang Guo, Qiao Feng, Linghu Chong and more, will come to digital life. At the same time, the engine enables developers to recreate spectacular martial arts techniques through engine’s underlying physics system. The game also utilizes photogrammetry technology to provide immersive experience. “Jin Yong Wuxia Landmarks” project will see more partners joining in the future, digitizing martial arts landmarks and pushing development capabilities and continuing to promote the culture of martial arts.

Tencent Games also dangled new information about cloud-game technology, with START ENGINE offering EVOLUTION, a demo of its native cloud game technology. In the demo, players are brought back to the era of dinosaurs in a movie-level, real-time interactive scene with ultra-fine rendered dinosaurs and dense woods. Native cloud-game technology organically supports synchronization for multiple players.

The START ENGINE team is focused on the development of native cloud game technology and offering a brand-new game experience to the end users. START ENGINE is looking forward to working with global game studios, indie developers and film industry creators to explore more possibilities and embark on a journey to a full-real world together.

Game Technologies Empowered Projects

Also at the conference, Tencent Games demonstrated how it has applied game-related technology to other areas, such as scientific research, culture heritage, and industrial applications.

Culture Heritage

Tencent Games has assisted in the protection and restoration by building the digital Great Wall of China, the Library Cave of Dunhuang and the Beijing Central Axis through the use of game technologies including Programmed Content Generation technology (PCG), Physics-based Rendering Technology (PBR), Cloud gaming, Virtual avatars and other game technologies, allowing the transformation of the heritage into vivid stories, allowing public to better understand the history and culture behind in a compelling way.

Industry

BaoSteel Co., Ltd., Tencent Games and Tencent Cloud have cooperated to apply Real-time Cloud Rendering, Motion Capture, Reality-Virtuality Interaction, AR/VR and other game technologies to create the digital twin of the Baosteel 1580 hot rolling mill, and to build a holographical glasses-free 3D full-fidelity digital factory. In the digitalization of steel industry, for the comprehensive data collation, management and analysis, and real-time simulation and interaction, this partnership integrates Tencent’s game technologies into different scenarios in the steel manufacturing process for the first time, to improve the manufacturing efficiency and make steel manufacturing smarter, more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Tencent is also working with China Southern Airlines’ subsidiary, Zhuhai Flight Training Center, to develop and build China’s first Full Flight Simulator (FFS). The jointly built visual system will use graphics rendering and physical simulation technologies from games. Using real-time simulation technology widely used in games, Tencent can quickly build remarkably life-like and constantly changing virtual environments.

Scientific Research

Tencent Games also announce it will join the Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters (CATCH) program initiated by the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics. The CATCH program will harness Tencent Games’ industry-leading AI technology: multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithm empowering more than 100 satellites to intelligently and collaboratively observe the Extreme Universe, where matter exist in the extreme condition.

The intellectual action generation and real-time physical simulation technology that powers Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) in games will also be utilized to make robots smarter while working around humans. The technology will improve the autonomous decision-making ability of robots to adapt to different situations. The breakthroughs will help pave the way for future real-world applications, such as elderly care and other people-oriented services.