Gaming
Celebrating a Decade of Global Gaming Connections: Pocket Gamer Connects Announces 10th Anniversary Event in San Francisco
Kicking off 2024 with the flagship event in London, Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) is set to continue celebrating its 10th anniversary with a brand-new special event in San Francisco, California, in March 2024. This milestone event marks a decade of connecting the global games industry, with over 750 attendees expected to participate in two days of networking, discovery, pitching, and learning from some of the world’s leading authorities within the games industry.
The Pocket Gamer Connects: San Francisco event will be held at the Hibernia, a prime venue in the heart of the city. This historic venue, a former bank, is known for its unique Neoclassical Revival-style architecture. It is a short walk from the Moscone Conference Center. Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco is a perfect way to kick off conference week in the city, providing a unique experience, expo showcase and specialised talks and panels in an intimate setting.
Starting in the UK in 2014, the Pocket Gamer Connect event series, now under the parent company Enthusiast Gaming, has transformed from its modest origins into a worldwide sensation, organising 45 events globally. It has become the ultimate hub for the mobile games industry, providing a platform for professionals to gather, connect, exchange stories, and celebrate their achievements.
The PGC San Francisco event is expected to attract over 750 attendees, encompassing a diverse range of industry professionals from all over the globe. These include developers, indie developers, creatives, recruitment professionals, C-level executives, marketing professionals, students, investors, publishers, tool providers, technical teams, ad companies, media, ASO practitioners, app marketers, and app advertisers.
The event will provide an exciting opportunity for these professionals to connect, collaborate, and learn about the latest advancements in the gaming industry. The program will delve into AI, virtual reality, Web3, blockchain, and the metaverse while continuing to provide in-depth coverage of all things mobile gaming.
Exciting Collaboration with MeetToMatch
In a powerful partnership with MeetToMatch, Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco 2024 is set to become a hub of industry connections. This collaboration positions PGC San Francisco as the official meeting point for this dynamic networking platform. Every delegate at PGC will receive an all-access pass to the MeetToMatch meeting platform, free and unlimited for five whole days during Pocket Gamers Connects and the following days, which runs the same week as Game Developer Conference 2024. Every year, the MeetToMatch San Francisco Edition provides a convenient way to meet people around the city during this busy week. Getting access to this activity as part of your Pocket Gamer Connects ticket registration makes joining the conference even more advantageous and cost-effective.
PGC has partnered with MeetToMatch to ensure that a ticket to PGC San Francisco includes access to MeetToMatch: The San Francisco Edition beyond the conference. Trusted by hundreds of publishers, investors, and developers, the MeetToMatch messaging and matchmaking platform enables ticket holders to connect with the greatest minds from all game companies around the world.
Operating throughout the week’s conference activities, a ticket to PGC enables you to use the platform to schedule meetings all week at various locations around the city. With a PGC ticket, attendees will also have the privilege to use the PGC meeting zone at the elegant Hibernia venue to conduct their meetings; even non-PGC users of MeetToMatch will be able to join you at our meeting tables.
Pocket Gamer looks forward to welcoming all ticket holders to San Francisco in March 2024 for a one-of-a-kind event. For more information about the 10th-anniversary event of Pocket Gamer Connects in San Francisco, please visit http://www .pgconnects .com/sanfrancisco
Enthusiast Gaming, North America’s leading gaming media and entertainment company, supports a proprietary mix of community sites, content, esports, and gaming assets, with Pocket Gamer reaching some of the largest gaming audiences, reflecting the scale and diversity of the gaming industry.
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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