Gaming
ITV Backed Live Tech Games Enters the US Market with a Bang with New, Competitive Word Game pogl
Following a successful year of national and campaign-specific releases, including a pilot with ITV’s This Morning, Live Tech Games (LTG) has taken its offering global with a new release in the US: the thrilling new word puzzle game pogl. With LTG’s UK success already attracting attention, players have been determined to give themselves a head start before the first live tournament, with over 8,000 players signed up to the pre-game mailing list.
Launching today, [Tuesday 2nd August], pogl pits players head to head in a live tournament, with each player guessing the answer to a simple trivia question and the quickest to find the answer in the word search grid, winning the round and progressing to the next level. The live word game will be available to players three times a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 7pm ET/4pm PT, with the first tournament today [2nd August].
LTG’s aim is to pioneer a new wave of digital entertainment on a global scale; by going international with the launch of pogl, LTG will connect a new audience with the thrill of live, tournament style games. The integrated sponsorship opportunities available on LTG’s games including pogl are unparalleled: brands are positioned at the heart of gameplay in a non-intrusive framework with special sponsored prizes, custom trivia questions, countdown space takeovers and sponsored power ups available.
pogl already has a number of sponsors lined up for its upcoming games, with each sponsor having a one week (thus three game) sponsorship confirmed with unique brand integrations. Sponsors include Pangissimo, size-defying surround sound at home and on the go with lightweight, outdoor-ready portable modular speakers; Emma+Oliver, high-quality modern home furnishings and other beautiful home décor at affordable prices; as well as Rolo Golf, Sweaty Bands, Pro Writing Aid and Tea Drops. LTG’s ambition is to have pogl games sponsored by the biggest brands in the US and with a host of thrilling new live games lined up for the future, pogl is just the beginning for international markets.
2020 saw the launch of Roshambo Live – a competitive rock, paper, scissors game – and LTG’s first success, hitting number three on the App Store Game charts and leading to partnerships and collaborations with renowned brands including ITV, Arsenal Football Club and Tombola. Following the hugely successful launch into the UK market, ITV’s Studio 55 Ventures invested £2.5M into LTG, recognising the potential and capacity for huge success across industries that lay with the impressively young start-up. The UK media giant has collaborated with the founders to develop targeted and creative new games and campaigns to change the way viewers engage digitally.
Samuel Worsley, co-founder and co-CEO of LTG, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of pogl in the US. We have been working hard to develop our international business for months, determined to bring live gaming to a new audience we know will get a huge thrill from playing our games. With such a high demand in the gaming industry it felt like the obvious next step to launch in the US and we are thrilled with the anticipation building up around pogl already on our VIP signup list.”
Much like LTG’s previous digital games, pogl inhabits a simple and easy to grasp concept, blended with fast paced competitiveness and undeniable bursts of adrenaline. Using knowledge, skill or simple love of trivia, players can immerse themselves in the quick action game which is accessible for everyone; from Gen-Z to their grandparents who indulge in a classic word game, anyone can play along and experience the live fun it brings to audiences. In the current climate of mobile entertainment, pogl is arriving at the perfect time; with the huge success of BeReal’s simultaneous push notification, Wordle’s daily puzzle challenge, and TikTok’s bursts of entertainment, pogl will occupy a unique and exciting position that combines the attractions and characteristics of the live mobile space’s current stars. pogl is set to make its mark on the US and bring the thrill of competitive, light-hearted and live rewarded gaming to a new audience.
Samuel Worsley continues: “This is a great opportunity for Live Tech Games. Already growing at a huge rate across the UK, we have so many plans for the future and how pogl could grow, with ambitions to make it a global brand. pogl offers audiences the chance to immerse themselves in a competitive, fun space, whilst also presenting a unique opportunity for brands to engage with consumers and drive retention.”
Gaming
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eSports
CS2 Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 SuperComputer: NaVi to bounce back after Blast Fall Final loss
Final: Natus Vincere (36.5%) to beat Team Vitality (28.1%)
Semifinal 1: Natus Vincere (52.6%) to beat MOUZ (16.3%)
Semifinal 2: Team Vitality (47.7%) to beat G2 Esports (18.7%)
Quarterfinal 1: G2 Esports (39.8%) to beat FaZe Clan (32.8%)
Quarterfinal 2: MOUZ (35.9%) to beat Eternal Fire (24.7%)
Group stage:
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Natus Vincere – 48.7% to finish 1st; 17.0% to finish 2nd; 84.1% to make playoffs
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Team Vitality – 40.8% to finish 1st; 17.4% to finish 2nd; 77.7% to make playoffs
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G2 Esports – 19.3% to finish 1st; 20.4% to finish 2nd; 56.7% to make playoffs
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MOUZ – 14.5% to finish 1st; 21.8% to finish 2nd; 53.0% to make playoffs
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FaZe Clan – 13.9% to finish 1st; 21.0% to finish 2nd; 50.2% to make playoffs
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Eternal Flame – 40.7% to finish 1st; 16.2% to finish 2nd; 40.7% to make playoffs
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Liquid – 16.3% to finish 7-8th; 35.7% to make playoffs
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Virtus.pro – 15.4% to finish 7-8th; 29.9% to make playoffs
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Astralis – 28.9% to finish 9-12th; 31.5% to make playoffs
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The MongolZ – 32.7% to finish 9-12th; 25.4% to make playoffs
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Complexity – 34.3% to finish 9-12th; 21.2% to make playoffs
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Heroic – 26.8% to finish 9-12th; 23.5% to make playoffs
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paiN – 36.5% to finish 13-16th; 21.0% to make playoffs
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FURIA – 36.4% to finish 13-16th; 20.9% to make playoffs
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9z – 44.7% to finish 13-16th; 14.6% to make playoffs
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Imperial – 49.1% to finish 13-16th; 13.9% to make playoffs
It has been quite the run for NaVi despite their loss with back to back grand finals in recent weeks but CSDB.gg’s predictive model suggests there will be no let up for the Ukrainian esports organisation.
G2 will also be looking to build more momentum in preparation for Majors season with NiKo on a quest to finally get over the line this year to win his first major title. Hopefully Rio won’t have to see a repeat of his reaction in the semifinals at BLAST Premier Fall Final 2024 where he punched a hole in a table after losing out to Team Vitality in a key moment.
However, the hosts of Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 may want to lockdown any nearby furniture and reinforce their desks if G2 are set for disappointment at the semifinals stage as predicted by the CSDB.gg SuperComputer.
A victory in Rio could be even more consequential for how the end of the year shapes up for the leading teams on the circuit. The Valve Global rankings have both teams close at the very top (NaVi at 1988 and G2 at 1953) meaning a win for either team could hand them a key advantage when it comes to who enters the Majors as top seed.
Back-to-back wins in T1 events for G2, should they prosper in Rio, would set the Berlin-based team on an incredible trajectory going into the winter months.
Meanwhile, Brazilian hopes for glory look slight according to the CSDB.gg SuperComputer with FURIA, the team co-owned by Neymar, having only been given a 20.9% chance of even making the playoffs.
They are the leading contenders to make an impact for the home crowd but there are other teams flying the flag for Brazil with paiN and Imperial also set to give it their best to give local fans something to cheer on.
In terms of forecasted matchups of note, G2 and FaZe Clan could offer up a fascinating encounter in the quarterfinals should both teams qualify, with each organisation rated as having a strong chance of making the semis with little to separate them should they meet.
How was the CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer created?
The CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer is a predictive model created using world ranking points, team quality ratings and performance trends. An element of randomness is also included in the model to avoid the best teams and players always winning, to reflect the fact that upsets can happen.
Every tournament is simulated 1,000 times with the results aggregated into a percentage rating of the chances teams or players have to achieve the predicted result.
Gaming
NASCAR launches persistent world on Roblox where players can become racing tycoons
NASCAR is once again taking the virtual racing world by storm, this time with the launch of “NASCAR Tycoon” on Roblox created by Dubit.
Building on the success of its previous “NASCAR Speed Hub,” this new experience promises to deliver an even more immersive and interactive NASCAR world.
Developed in partnership with the renowned metaverse studio Dubit, “NASCAR Tycoon” allows players to dive deep into the management and racing aspects of NASCAR, offering a unique blend of strategy and high-speed thrills in a distinctly Roblox-native way.
Players will have the opportunity to jump in the driver’s seat of cars styled after NASCAR’s Next Gen Cup Series vehicles, competing against each other and managing teams in thrilling races. Earning fame and fortune as they build their virtual tycoon, players can make passive income while they play. As players progress in “NASCAR Tycoon,” they will unlock exclusive perks such as building their own NASCAR racing teams, expanding their garages, collecting new cars, accessing customizations and attracting sponsors.
The launch comes hot on the heels of recent Fortnite activations and follows the debut of NASCAR in Jailbreak and NASCAR Speed Hub last year – a virtual environment built by Dubit, for players to race around tracks linked to real-world races.
“We’re thrilled to launch ‘NASCAR Tycoon’ on Roblox, developed in partnership with Dubit, marking a key milestone in our ongoing efforts to authentically engage with the Roblox community,” said Nick Rend, VP of Interactive and Emerging Platforms at NASCAR. “This initiative is about more than reaching new audiences; it’s about deepening our connection on a platform where we see tremendous potential. By blending the excitement of NASCAR with the interactive and dynamic environment of Roblox, we’re enhancing traditional fandom in ways that are engaging, fun, and distinctly forward-looking.”
With over 300 million monthly active users, Roblox is ripe with opportunities for sporting organisations like NASCAR and offers a chance to engage with audiences in an immersive and interactive environment.
Andrew Douthwaite, Chief Commercial Officer at Dubit, shares his excitement: “We’re thrilled to bring the next phase of NASCAR to life on Roblox, building on the success of previous activations. NASCAR Tycoon allows Roblox players to experience the excitement of NASCAR racing like never before, blending the strategic elements of team management with the adrenaline-pumping action on the track. It has been a true joy working with such a forward-thinking, iconic sports brand in NASCAR, and we look forward to continuing to push the boundaries together”
Dubit has created Roblox activations, virtual merchandise ranges and experiences for global brands including Unilever, Samsung, Reckitt, Kraft, H&M and adidas.
“NASCAR Tycoon” is now available on Roblox.
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