Gaming
“Racing is Virtual, But it is So Realistic That it Doesn’t Feel That Way”
Romain Grosjean of the R8G eSports team, speaks about the potential of SimRacing and the need for strong partners such as Acer in eSports
How has eSports changed since you first became involved?
It has changed a lot! It all started between me and R8G in 2020 during the COVID lockdown. I was in the F1 Australia paddock when the news came about the first lockdown and the effect it was going to have on the whole world.
I had remembered someone telling me about a fun project, a Sim Racing team and it was actually something I had been considering for a few months. When I was younger I played video games which was fun, but it wasn’t really a passion. But after speaking with more people and doing some research, I realized that Sim Racing is much more than a video game. After further consideration, I figured that lockdown was the perfect opportunity to launch a Sim Racing team to see what we could do and we did it in one week!
Part of why I started a Sim Racing team is to share my experience and to help young people explore the world of motorsport. It’s so expensive to take part in motorsport nowadays and there are so many passionate young people who want to experience what it’s like. It’s an incredible opportunity for them because the sim racers are able to race on a grid with real F1 drivers like Button, Verstappen, Montoya, Leclerc, or myself. It’s mega!
There are no other e-sports like that where you can share real-time experiences with real-life champions. Not only do we have a chance to race together, but we can have a conversation and connect with others – the human side of R8G is amazing. I am interacting every day with the racers through Discord and spending quite a bit of my time there, it’s like another family for me. I try to open up and share details about my career, from races in IndyCar to F1, I even share pictures! We have a lot of fun together.
I’ve found since joining Sim Racing that the competition has evolved and it takes a lot more to win. The level at which racers are playing is improving every month. New teams arrive, and it raises the driving standards big time. Now, in most of the competitions, R8G is on the grid with F1 Teams (Williams, Aston Martin, Ferrari eSports, Mercedes, Alpine, Red Bull), big manufacturers (Porsche, BMW, Ford, and so on), and strong structures (Veloce, Unicorn Of Love, and so on F1 Champion Max Verstappen has now his own team too, and in many races, it’s now Grosjean Team vs Verstappen Team! I don’t think Sim Racing would even have dreamed about that before 2020!
Of course, the lockdown has been a big boost for e-sports. Media and partners became more interested in it, and we all believe there is more to come. Virtual will never replace real, but real and virtual can carry on simultaneously, it’s a great combination. It’s incredible to see that all the biggest motorsport series in the world run now their Virtual series too. On F2, one of the main Sim Racing platforms, there is Formula E, IndyCar, Le Mans, and so on. There is F1 eSports of course as well, and SRO, DTM, ADAC… Motorsport and SimRacing will work for hand in hand to create new Series and new opportunities. In the end, we are all in the same boat, sharing the same values. We just all love racing and cars!
How important are sponsors such as Acer to the future of eSports?
Crucial I have to say. SimRacing has a lot of potentials and we need strong partners like Acer to reach it. In the time of 2 years, thanks to the help of Acer and their strong involvement with my team, we have launched a Junior Team to support the growth of young talent. They’ve evolved from beginners to pros and are being paid for their participation. We even have a female driver-focused programe.
With Acer, we create a lot of content around PC screens, and all the gaming technology. We work closely on many different aspects on the tech side, such as the cooling, the headset, etc. They send us the best equipment to race, and I personally test all their products. We work a lot as well on the skin design and 3D conception. Since 2021, together we run a big competition, the Predator SIM Racing Cup, which is open to all. It’s on Assetto Corsa and every year there are between 3,000 and 5,000 drivers from 24 countries taking part within the EMEA region. It’s a big success but every year we try to make it bigger and more engaging.
I’m also proud to have entered the first electric Sim Racing Championship, WORLD eX, where we race for The Climate. We race under the ACER VERO colors, and the 2022 jackpot that comes from the winning races will go to help Acer Humanity. It’s a big initiative that makes us all proud. Acer is also very keen to engage with fans and the community. There are always a lot of raffles, giveaways, and entertaining video content and we’ve built a very strong community. SimRacing really helps to bring people together.
Of course, Acer also helps us to hire new drivers and develop talents. This type of competition requires investment, it’s like real-life racing, we need to find the best drivers and engineers. Acer has been a strong source of support since day one. We collaborate closely and brainstorm frequently to share ideas to make SIM racing even bigger. They’re more than a partner of R8G, they’re the biggest member.
When it comes to transferable skills that can be carried over from eSports to real-world racing, what do you look for in participants?
Today, we have sim racers able to show in real life how quick and talented they are. And it’s the same with real racers proving their pace in Virtual. It’s what we saw in Le Mans Virtual or VCO Pro Sim, where our line-ups were made of a mix of Pro Sim and Pro Drivers. Last year – and it will likely be the same this year – we had a couple of sim racers showing off their skills in real life.
They were part of an F4 Driving School in France, and they finished P3-P4-P6 from over 60 drivers. In our Junior Team, we have 2x F4 race winners: Barter and Vayron. In England, Gordon Mutch is racing with Praga in GT. Altogether, we work around data and set-ups, exactly as we do in real-life. We spend countless hours fine-tuning the set-up. So for me, Virtual and Real require the same quality of dedication, work, and seriousness, just talent is not enough. You have to be smart and willing to work. The hashtag #wearenotplaying is a testament to this; we are not just playing video games. We drive fast cars in a different way, but it requires putting more than 100 kg on the braking pedals as well.
We drive cars with the force-feedback wheel. SimRacing requires what everything does in real life when you want to succeed and be the best. It’s all about dedication and pushing yourself to the max. I am really impressed with 14-year-old kids putting hundreds of hours into testing and driving on the sim, in order to one day be the best. Indeed the Racing is Virtual, but it is so realistic that it doesn’t feel that way.
Events
Power League Gaming and HUAWEI AppGallery Team Up for AppGallery Gamers Cup x Yalla Ludo Tournament
Power League Gaming has announced its latest account win with HUAWEI AppGallery taking on the role of event and production management partner for the AppGallery Gamers Cup x Yalla Ludo Tournament in Egypt. Held on September 6th at the Westin Cairo Golf Resort and co-sponsored by the Egypt Tourism Authority (ETA) and the Egyptian Esports Federation (EEF), the tournament was a joint initiative between AppGallery—HUAWEI’s official app distribution platform—and Yalla Ludo, the region’s leading mobile board game app. Featuring fierce competition among 32 players and a total prize pool of $20,000 awarded to the top winners, the event aimed to enhance Yalla Ludo’s presence within HUAWEI AppGallery’s expanding app ecosystem.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Power League Gaming’s long-standing partnership with HUAWEI AppGallery, reflecting its commitment to promoting the AppGallery Gamers Cup (AGC). Power League Gaming was exclusively chosen for this project over competitors from Egypt and the UAE, highlighting the agency’s unmatched expertise in the region and its ability to deliver world-class event management solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the gaming industry.
Celebrating the renewed collaboration, Mathew Pickering, CEO of Power League Gaming, said: “We’re thrilled to join forces with HUAWEI AppGallery once again for the AGC x Yalla Ludo tournament. This partnership is more than just an event; it’s a chance for us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming in the MENA region. At Power League Gaming, we’re committed to crafting an unforgettable experience that not only engages participants and viewers but also sets a new standard for event excellence. The tournament turned out a resounding success, enhancing HUAWEI AppGallery’s brand presence and deepening our connection with the gaming community.”
As the chosen event and production management partner, Power League Gaming delivered a comprehensive range of services to ensure a seamless and engaging tournament experience. These services included venue build and design, 3D renders and mock-ups, complete venue audio-visual setup (AV)-LED screens, technical support, complete branding production, all creative design elements and a full broadcast and esports solution, including broadcast asset designs and implementation. Power League Gaming also managed staffing and technical expertise to deliver a flawless event.
The AppGallery Gamers Cup x Yalla Ludo Tournament not only celebrates the collaboration between these two dynamic brands but also highlights the growing influence of mobile gaming in the region. With the MENA region’s gaming market value expected to reach $10 billion by 2027*, fueled by the growing number of gamers and the rising popularity of mobile games, the tournament was perfectly positioned to capture the vibrancy of the region’s gaming scene.
Through this partnership with HUAWEI AppGallery, Power League Gaming has delivered a premier gaming event, captivating audiences and further establishing its presence in the competitive gaming market. For more information about Power League Gaming, visit powerleaguegaming.com.
Outright Games, the leading publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, in collaboration with Paramount Game Studios, is excited to reveal the thrilling new gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed. Developed by AHeartfulofGames, this story-driven 3D Brawler/Platformer game will be released on 18th October 2024 and will be available to play on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.
Continuing the story of Paramount Pictures’ 2023 hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, fans of the beloved franchise can get ready to team up with everyone’s favourite heroes in a half shell, taking on missions solo or teaming up with a friend in up to 2-player co-op. The new gameplay trailer showcases the acclaimed 3D-meets-2D art style of the movie and sees players take control of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, each with their unique combat style and unlockable skill tree. It also offers a glimpse at the game’s original storyline, as the pizza-loving crime fighters battle to save New York City from a rising Mewbie threat.
Narrated by fan-favourite character April O’Neil in the style of her captivating ‘O’News Casts, the trailer also showcases all-new original mutants and their difficulty-enhancing mutations, all designed by the film’s lead character designer, Woodrow White. Fans can also get a feel for the expansive New York City environments, from the tops of skyscrapers to down in the sewers, from pizza parlours to a concert led by Bebop and Rocksteady.
Stephanie Malham, Managing Director of Outright Games said, “With 2024 marking the 40th anniversary of this incredible franchise, it has been a pleasure to work with Paramount Games Studio to bring this extraordinary world to life. We hope this new gameplay trailer will whet the appetite of TMNT fans old and new!”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed will be coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on 18th October 2024. The Deluxe and Collector’s Edition physical releases are available to pre-order from specialist retailers now.
Gosu Academy, a leading provider of esports coaching and education, has announced its expansion into the UAE. The company’s entry into the region comes at an opportune time, as the gaming industry is poised to contribute over $1 billion to Dubai’s GDP by 2033, with an estimated 30,000 jobs to be created.
The announcement further aligns with Gosu Academy’s mission to empower individuals through exceptional education in gaming and esports, supporting the UAE’s ambition to become a global esports hub. Established by seasoned professionals with over twenty years of expertise, Gosu Academy started its journey in the United States and Europe before expanding to Asia.
Gosu Academy is expanding into the UAE to take advantage of the nation’s dynamic gaming community and its progressive esports initiatives, having already established a footprint in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. Having trained more than 14,000 students globally, the academy’s expansion to the UAE marks a pivotal step in its global growth strategy.
F. Javier Bernal, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Gosu Academy said, “This market presents tremendous opportunities, and we are eager to enhance the region’s fast-developing esports landscape. In line with the Dubai government’s focus on this sector and the vision of the Dubai Program for Gaming (DPG) 2033, which aims to create jobs and bolster innovation, we strongly believe that Gosu Academy, through our expertise, can contribute significantly to this initiative. At the same time, Abu Dhabi’s ambitious project to build an Esports Island reflects its distinct approach, focusing on creating a dedicated hub for global esports events and immersive gaming experiences. We aspire to cultivate a new wave of gaming and esports experts in the UAE, establishing the nation as a frontier in this sector, with both Abu Dhabi and Dubai playing complementary roles in driving the future of esports.”
Braeden Plein, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Gosu Academy, remarked, “Our mission is to redefine the future of gaming and esports by equipping individuals with essential skills and knowledge for success. DPG 2033, which aims to generate 30,000 jobs in this sector, resonates deeply with our objectives. We are dedicated to advancing this vision and providing our best support in achieving the economic target of USD 1 billion in the Gaming industry by nurturing outstanding talent and providing meaningful employment opportunities within the industry.”
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