Latest News

NSoft story: Passion and motivation behind Virtual Penalty Shootout

Published

4 years ago

October 5, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Virtual Penalty Shootout celebrated its first birthday. Officially, the game was released on September 30, 2020, and instantly captured the attention of both – operators and players.

The expert community has also recognized the uniqueness and the beauty of the game by shortlisting it for the Global Gaming Award 2021 in the category Product Launch of the Year. Recently NSoft received seven nominations for the SBC Awards Latinoamerica 2021. Among others, we are shortlisted in the category Virtual Sports Supplier. The application for this award has leaned heavily on the Virtual Penalty Shootout game.

To celebrate all those milestones, we decided to tell a different story about Virtual Penalty Shootout game. We will not talk about the RNG, betting markets, how-to-play but let people who created the game say a word or two about passion, excitement and dedication.

By Amela Dedić and Biljana Haljevac, Senior 3D Artists/Animators

The team

Great teams and great ideas are all about people and the working atmosphere. We at NSoft’s former 3D Games Team, now 3D Creative Team were lucky to found each and we just can’t start this story without saying thank-you to former and current team members: Jasmin Ličina – Senior 3D artist/Team lead, Dragan Grbavac – Senior 3D artist, Dejan Boras – Senior Unity dev, Zlatko Vukšić – Senior Unity dev, Adnan Mujkić – Unity Dev, Dragan Rezo – Senior 3D Artist, Stojan Cvitković – Senior 3D Artist, Toni Matej Radoš – Senior 3D Artist. In this story, “we” are Biljana Haljevac – Senior 3D Animator and Amela Dedić – Senior 3D Animator. We are the one who will take you behind the scene of Virtual Penalty Shootout.

Our Team’s job is to develop Virtual betting games such as Virtual greyhound and horse races, Motorcycle Speedway, etc.

New Project – Virtual Penalty Shootout

The virtual penalty shootout was the most challenging project we’ve worked on. It allowed us to learn and try new things such as Motion capture. Our first job was to figure out the best way for our small team to make such a big virtual game. The biggest challenge was the animation process. We needed a large number of highly realistic animations, and the best solution for that problem was a Motion Capture system. Our choice was a company from Sweden named Rokoko and their WiFi motion capture suit – The Smartsuit Pro.

After we placed our order for the suit, the waiting time was used to go “back to school” and research making of other elements of the game such as character and venue design and creation, MoCap animation recording and cleanup, new software, and game rules. Our best friends were Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning.

The Arrival- Smartsuit Pro is in the town

The arrival of the Smartsuit Pro was the most joyful occasion. Also, the day when our colleague Toni officially became the resident MoCap test talent.

Since our open office was not suited for a proper MoCap test, our first pick was local park. Awesome place, beautiful weather, but just one problem: electricity was really hard to find. A better-suited place was found for proper test and future motion capture sessions. The Local Futsal field had everything we needed.

MoCap Time!

Following initial tests, we felt confident enough to start official motion capture sessions. The first step was planning and creating MoCap sheets for each motion capture session.

Our motion capture crew was small but efficient: Toni Matej Radoš – Test talent & Talent Manager, Biljana Haljevac – Reference Cameras and Amela Dedić – Rokoko Studio, MoCap Sheet. And our Talents, real-life football players, who without this would not be possible: Fedja Kulenić (goalkeeper) and Ivan Arapović (player).

Since we have only one suit, Goalkeeper and Player animations were recorded separately. Because of that, we had to be very careful during the planning process so the respective animations could match. We were a bit worried about the Goalkeeper’s recording sessions, taking into consideration the nature of football goalkeeping movements. To make everything easier we relocated Goalkeeper’s MoCap sessions to the local Judo club with a soft tatami mat surface. We had 3 recording sessions and each was 3 hours long. That gave us 137 raw animations. We were aware that not every MoCap take will be successful or 100% accurate, we made sure that every take was also recorded with our reference cameras.

Animation Cleanup

The entire process of cleanup was done in Maya and Motionbuilder using the HumanIK system. Most of the work was root motion corrections, foot slides, and arms fixes. The final part of the cleanup was merging the animations of Player and Goalkeeper into one take and making sure that the timing fits perfectly for each take.

The ball movement was a mix of keyframed animation and Unity physics.

Visuals & Final Render

Cleanup done. Next: Dressing up. The entire time of animation cleanup our player and goalkeeper rigs were dressed in nothing but their birthday suit. That caused a lot of funny looks from our other coworkers. But fear not! Our 3D artist Dragan Rezo was on the task of dressing them up for their final render.

Visuals & Final Render

Every visual element of the game can be easily changed. Character appearance, jerseys, crowd, banners. All this can be altered according to the client’s requirements. We had a test client request just to see how much time would be needed for all the changes and rendering.

Lions on background video banners
Goalkeeper jersey with leopard pattern and panther head as front logo
Penalty taker with a red jersey and white sun on blue background (Taiwanese flag) as a front logo. Number 88 on the back and name “Tigers” above it
Additional but not requested, all resolve screens translated to mandarin

Final words

Almost nobody was injured during the making of the game. Our Goalkeeper had some bruises from the suit’s sensors, and we almost had a heart attack when our suit had a minor malfunction.

All jokes aside, our small team is very proud to have managed to complete such a large project, learn a bunch of new things in the process, and use Motion capture technology. It was an awesome experience from start to finish.

In the end, we would like you to take a look at our little video presentation of the Motion capture animation process.

Andre Medeiros

Greentube expands Latin American footprint with Brazino777 partnership

Published

19 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

greentube-expands-latin-american-footprint-with-brazino777-partnership

Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, has strengthened its presence in Latin America after partnering with Brazino777, an online casino and sports betting brand known for its player-first experience and fast withdrawals, to roll out a selection of its top-performing titles to the Brazilian market.

Following the agreement, Greentube’s platform is now live with Brazino777 in Brazil, marking an important milestone in the supplier’s regional growth strategy and reinforcing its commitment to delivering market-relevant content in newly regulated jurisdictions.

As part of the collaboration, Brazino777 players can enjoy some of Greentube’s most popular new releases, including Piggy Prizes:Wand of Riches 2, Trinity Treasures Wukong Buy Bonus, and Caichen Triple Blossom.

Alongside these titles, a curated selection of Greentube’s iconic classic games have also been integrated, including Book of Ra deluxe, Diamond Link: Mighty Sevens, and Cash Connection – Golden Sizzling Hot.

These games were selected for their proven performance in regulated markets and their strong appeal to Brazilian players, making them an ideal fit for Brazino777’s growing casino offering.

Now, with Brazil’s regulated online gaming landscape offering fresh opportunities, the collaboration is well positioned to reach new heights as the region continues to thrive.

Greentube’s latest Brazilian partnership further reinforces its strategic focus on Latin America as a key growth market. With a diverse portfolio of innovative slots and well-established fan favourites, the company continues to strengthen its position as a leading supplier worldwide.

Wilson Francisco, Sales and Key Account Manage at Greentube, said: “Our launch with Brazino777 is a major step forward for our strategy in Brazil. Their deep understanding of the local audience, paired with Greentube’s commitment to delivering top-performing, culturally relevant content, is a powerful combination.

“We’re confident that this partnership will elevate the player experience and help set new standards in the market.”

Andre Medeiros, Country Manager for Brazil at Brazino777, said: “Greentube’s portfolio is recognised globally for its quality, performance and player appeal. As a brand rooted in Brazilian culture, Brazino777’s focus is simple: a fun, smooth experience our community can enjoy every day.

“Partnering with Greentube reinforces that promise by expanding the entertainment options available to our players in Brazil.”

The post Greentube expands Latin American footprint with Brazino777 partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

B2B

Yggdrasil strengthens YGG Masters roster with Nordic game provider Lakka Studios

Published

19 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

yggdrasil-strengthens-ygg-masters-roster-with-nordic-game-provider-lakka-studios

Yggdrasil has expanded its standout YGG Masters program with the addition of Nordic independent game studio Lakka Studios, introducing fresh concepts to its premium global content portfolio.

As the 20^th studio to join the YGG Masters family, Lakka Studios aligns with Yggdrasil’s vision of elevating the iGaming landscape through innovative, high-quality content from the industry’s most exciting creators.

Steeped in Nordic spirit, Lakka Studios introduces a refreshing blend of clever mechanics, polished visuals, and player-first design. Its approach to light-hearted and engaging gameplay adds a new dimension to the YGG Masters catalogue, enhancing the variety of games available to Yggdrasil’s operator partners and players worldwide.

Lakka Studios will be another early adopter of Yggdrasil’s cutting-edge Game in a Box platform, created to streamline the end-to-end development process, as well as offering a ready-made path to market through its distribution network.

Zoe Bird, Head of Masters at Yggdrasil, at Yggdrasil, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Lakka Studios as the 20^th studio to join our Masters community.

“The studio brings a familiar Nordic identity that complements the broad range of studios within our network. We have every confidence that Lakka Studios will quickly build a devoted following across our global operator partners.”

A spokesperson for Lakka Studios added: “Joining the YGG Masters program marks an exciting step in our journey, and we’re incredibly proud to collaborate with a partner that shares our passion for quality and innovation.

“Yggdrasil’s support and technology provide the ideal foundation for us to bring our creative vision to life.”

The post Yggdrasil strengthens YGG Masters roster with Nordic game provider Lakka Studios appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

Gaming in Finland to launch at ICE 2026

Published

19 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

With Finland’s iGaming re-regulation now firmly on the horizon, Gaming in Europe (Gaming in Holland, Gaming in Spain, Gaming in Germany) will be launching its latest initiative, Gaming in Finland, at ICE Barcelona 2026.

Gaming in Finland will kick off with an evening conference in Barcelona on January 19, 2026, from 18:00 until 22:00.

The event, which is being organized in close collaboration with local stakeholders, will feature networking, tapas and drinks, as well as several highly relevant sessions outlining the opportunities and challenges offered by Finland’s soon-to-be regulated iGaming market.

Confirmed speakers include:

Pekka Ilmivalta, Head of Finnish Office, Nordic Legal
Morten Ronde, Founding Partner, Nordic Legal
Jari Vähänen, Founding Partner, The Finnish Gambling Consultants
Mika Kuismanen, CEO, The Finnish Trade Association for Online Gambling
Josh Hodgson, COO, H2 Gambling Capital
Niklas Bondestam, CEO, Ubetec
Jessica Maier, Co-Founder, EGARA
Paul Foster, CEO, Crucial Compliance

Morten Ronde, Founding Partner at Nordic Legal commented: “Finland’s move to open its gambling market in 2027 creates a rare opportunity for operators and suppliers to enter a newly regulated European market from day one. Our Barcelona event during ICE will combine expert insight on the Finnish framework with high-quality networking for those looking to establish an early presence.”

Gaming in Europe founder Willem van Oort added: “After a long wait, Finland will finally re-regulate its iGaming market in 2026. Looking at other Nordic markets, it is a safe bet that local demand for regulated gambling will be significant. Naturally, operator interest in this market is large. Together with local stakeholders, we hope to provide interested parties with the knowledge and connections to help make their eventual market entry a success.”

Register your interest now

Places at the inaugural Gaming in Finland event are limited. If you are considering attending this event, please register your interest through this link: https://www.gamingin.eu/finland

We will let you know as soon as possible whether we have a seat available for you.

Please note that the Gaming in Finland Evening Conference @ICE will focus foremost on future B2C and B2B license holders.

Join our Gaming in Finland LinkedIn group

In the meantime, feel free to join our Gaming in Finland LinkedIn group, where we will share the latest news and updates on the Finnish market.

Sponsorship opportunities available

Sponsorship and media partnership opportunities are available. Please contact Willem van Oort at [email protected] for more information.

The post Gaming in Finland to launch at ICE 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.