Asia

Not just a trend: Inclusion of Gamification in education

Published

4 years ago

November 9, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Esports has now become a multi-billion-dollar industry that has advanced in a short span of time, thanks to its growing demand considering its strength to attract people. Moreover, the abundant exposure of digitalisation of almost every format is a way of living for the millennials and Gen Z.

Identifying the popularity of esports, especially among the age-group who are still students, the new-age learning system applied its potential as a powerful, engaging tool to educate and reach students from different stages. The process can enhance students’ engagement levels to what games usually do while improving their particular skills and optimising their learning. This also proves to be a simple medium to create an inclusive and welcoming learning environment and learn in a way which they would enjoy. Education institutions are smartly blending gaming-based learning practices and esports into their curriculum, intending to maximise students’ interest in learning more while excluding any additional burden/pressure on them. The benefits of this learning process go beyond the four walls of the classroom and into the students’ lives.

Game-based elements applied for scoring points, setting a healthy competing environment among the fellow students, rooting teamwork and leadership skills, score tables, assimilating new information, testing their knowledge, and many more, allow students to be surrounded with an atmosphere that helps them with their overall development. But, among all its benefits, the best advantage of this is, it is self-teaching, giving anyone and everyone the access to use it.

Shivam Rao, as the Co-Founder and the COO of Trinity Gaming, India’s top gaming talent management company, and a gaming fanatic himself, keeps a close watch on this new trend. Some of the ways to apply gaming into education are:

1. Including points system for every academic and non-academic objective achieved:
Encouraging students through a point system to upgrade their knowledge and frame it in the best possible way, just like it is done during the offline evaluation system. On the non-academic front, there could be a points system for the students who deliver the task within a set period of time or did exceptionally well constantly.
2. Creating interesting challenges and barriers to level up
This proves to be a great encouragement material as these challenges could be anything ranging from academics to creativity or even logistics.
3. Introducing competitions
Challenging fellow students or the students from other classes is a great way to encourage students. Even teachers can join them through these challenges, forming teams, elevating teachers and students’ relations.
4. Evaluation of the performances
Giving a reality check is also important for the students to better evaluate, identify the problem, and with the support of their mentors, they find the solution to it. This is also the perfect way to identify where their strength lies. The personalised breakdown of one’s performance motivates them to work harder to achieve their goals.
5. Using different methods of ‘PROGRESSION’
The students who successfully achieve the milestone can ‘Level Up’ with rewards like extra playtime or some bonus, or it could be a session on the computers or a chance to be a class perfect for the month and so on and so forth.

Interestingly, the Indian parents and the educational institutions are adapting to this change and are coming to terms with this setup. Especially after the pandemic hit and with schools remaining shut, it was really difficult for parents to balance their professional life while ensuring their kids did not suffer from their education. However, with digital classes and the widespread growth of gamification of learning, the process was smoother.

This format makes students feel that they have the authorship over their learning process; they are not dependent and give them a sense of achievement which boosts their confidence. They are learning in a more relaxed atmosphere, and even if they encounter any failure, which can be easily turned around by simply trying again. Students are often more stress-free in the gaming environment and are not scared to make mistakes; after all, they have not been called out in the middle of the class to encounter any form of embarrassment. Instead, it allows them to uncover an intrinsic motivation to learn more. This also makes learning more measurable through the different progress indicators. Learning becomes more fun for sure, especially when they even get to explore different avatars or characters to study and play virtually at the same time. The learning process has become more than just filling worksheets.

The power of esports has not only amplified in the e-learning settings, but it has also shown some tremendous impact for corporate companies, where gamification has been introduced to train their employees. It triggers powerful human emotions such as happiness, curiosity, excitement, a sense of achievement and accomplishment. Sighting the proven positive results, several sectors are inducing gamification to advance their respective formats and generate marvellous results.

Asia

S8UL signs Team Question Mark roster for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS ahead of EWC 2026

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

s8ul-signs-team-question-mark-roster-for-pubg:-battlegrounds-ahead-of-ewc-2026

The CIS-based EMEA lineup brings past EWC experience and titles including PUBG Global Series 8 as S8UL targets Riyadh qualification.

S8UL has signed the Team Question Mark (QM) roster to represent the organisation in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on PC ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. The deal was announced April 16 from Mumbai as S8UL prepares for the tournament in Riyadh, scheduled for July 21 to 26.

The CIS-based EMEA lineup includes:

captain Roman Zinovev (ADOUZ1E),
Andrey Ionov (Bestoloch),
Mansur Tsimpaev (f1lfirst),
Nikita Odobesku (Molodoct),
and coach Yermek Torebekov (Ermaak).

S8UL said the roster will compete through the qualification pathway for a place in the 24-team event, which has a $2 million prize pool.

S8UL is adding a roster with a proven record in top-tier PUBG competition, including wins at PUBG Continental Series 7 Europe 2022 and PUBG Global Series 8 in 2025. The team has also posted a Top 3 finish at PUBG Global Series 2 in 2023 and a Top 7 finish at PUBG Global Championship 2022. The organisation said the roster has competed at both previous editions of the EWC in 2024 and 2025 and has amassed approximately $713,000 in total prize winnings.

Commenting on the move, Naman Mathur, Co-founder, S8UL said, “Signing the QM roster is a significant step for us as we continue to strengthen our presence in global esports. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is one of the most competitive titles in the world, and this team has consistently proven itself against the very best. At a broader level, this move reflects the direction S8UL is heading in. Over the past year, we have focused on building depth across our rosters and competing consistently at the highest level. As we prepare for the Esports World Cup 2026, we are committed to providing the team with the right support and resources as they aim to make a strong impact in the qualifiers as well as on the global stage.”

Roman Zinovev aka ADOUZ1E added, “Becoming part of S8UL is a big opportunity for us as a team. As a team, we’ve always believed in our ability to compete with the best in the world, and having the backing of a global organisation allows us to push even further. With the Esports World Cup coming up, we’re focused on working through the qualifiers and making sure we deliver performances that match our potential.,”

S8UL said the announcement follows its selection as a Club Partner by the Esports Foundation (EF), placing it among 40 global organisations. The organisation has also listed 13 titles it plans to enter for EWC 2026, including PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, Apex Legends, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, EA Sports FC, FATAL Fury, Fortnite, Honor of Kings, MOBA Legends 5V5, Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, and Trackmania.

Relevant data as follows:

S8UL Esports: https://s8ul.gg/ Official organisation site for roster and announcement verification.
PUBG Esports (PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competitive updates): https://pubgesports.com/ Authoritative source for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS esports circuits, event results, and qualifiers.
Esports World Cup (official site): https://esportsworldcup.com/ Event organiser site for EWC 2026 schedule, formats, and prize pool confirmation.

The post S8UL signs Team Question Mark roster for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS ahead of EWC 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Akshat Rathee

Manish Agarwal Joins NODWIN Gaming Board as Non-Executive Director

Published

2 weeks ago

April 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

manish-agarwal-joins-nodwin-gaming-board-as-non-executive-director

NODWIN Gaming, a leading esports and youth entertainment company, announced the appointment of Manish Agarwal to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. An executive who played a key role in scaling and taking public India’s only listed gaming company, Manish brings deep experience in public market readiness, governance and institutional growth as NODWIN accelerates preparations for a potential public listing. Notably, he has been associated with NODWIN since its early days leading Nazara Technology’s investment into the company, bringing a long-term perspective on the company’s evolution, strategy and category leadership.

Manish is a successful entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, currently Co-founder of KGeN (Kratos Gamer Network) – a verified human distribution network organizing micro-communities across the Global South to power engagement, commerce. KGeN is backed by leading global investors including Accel and Prosus, with its most recent private round valuing the company at approximately $500 million.

He is also the Founder of Humyn Labs, which works with frontier technology companies to transform signals from real-world communities into structured human intelligence systems for AI.

As a Non-Executive Director, Manish will work closely with the Board and leadership team to strengthen governance, strategic oversigh, and long-term value creation as the company scales across markets and builds institutional depth aligned with public market expectations.

Manish Agarwal, Co-Founder of KGeN & Humyn Labs, said: “Having seen NODWIN’s journey from its early stages to becoming a leading force in youth culture and gaming, it’s been exciting to watch its evolution. As the company now prepares for its next phase, including its path towards public markets, I look forward to contributing to building a globally relevant and institutionally strong platform.”

Akshat Rathee, Managing Director and Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, said: “Manish has been a long-time partner in NODWIN’s journey, from leading Nazara Technologies’ investment into the company to now joining our Board at a crucial inflection point. He is the leader who took Nazara public and created immense shareholder value, and brings that same mindset as we prepare for our own public market journey. Manish brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial vision and public market experience that is incredibly valuable at this stage of our journey. We are confident his strategic guidance will play an important role as we advance our pre-IPO round and continue creating long-term value for our stakeholders. We are delighted to welcome him to the Board at this important stage.”

NODWIN Gaming has been steadily expanding its footprint across gaming, creator ecosystems and youth culture, building a diversified platform spanning content, commerce and experiences. The company continues to invest in strengthening its institutional capabilities, governance frameworks and global presence as it prepares for its next chapter.

This appointment is part of a broader set of strategic moves by NODWIN Gaming as it prepares for its next phase of growth. Earlier this month, the company brought back Sidharth Kedia to lead strategy, capital planning and M&A, reinforcing its focus on disciplined growth and shareholder value creation.

Alongside bringing Arnd Benninghoff onto the Board and kicking off a $100 million pre-IPO fundraise, these moves reflect a deliberate effort to strengthen leadership, governance and strategic depth as NODWIN moves closer to the public markets. After posting a strong INR 524 Cr in FY25, the result of a consistent 50%+ CAGR since 2018, the company has already eclipsed that milestone. In the first three quarters of FY26 alone, revenue reached INR 530.3 Cr while maintaining EBITDA-positive operations, signaling a record-breaking year ahead.

The post Manish Agarwal Joins NODWIN Gaming Board as Non-Executive Director appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

appointments

Golden Whale names Jaime Ocampo Managing Director, Asia

Published

2 weeks ago

April 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

golden-whale-names-jaime-ocampo-managing-director,-asia

Former Kochava, DeNA and EA executive to lead Asia-Pacific commercial growth and regional strategy.

Golden Whale has appointed Jaime Ocampo as Managing Director, Asia, as the company pushes deeper into the Asia-Pacific iGaming market.

Ocampo will lead commercial growth and regional strategy across the region, with a focus on supporting operators adopting “continuously learning models” for decisioning across engagement and incentives, the company said.

He brings more than 20 years of experience across digital technology, gaming and data-driven growth, and has held senior roles at Kochava, DeNA, Funstage GmbH and Electronic Arts.

Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale, said: “Asia is a strategically important region for us, with a diverse and fast-moving market. Jaime brings a rare combination of experience across gaming, data and commercial strategy, which aligns closely with how we support operators today. His understanding of both the operational challenges and the underlying data opportunities makes him ideally positioned to lead our expansion in the region.”

Jaime Ocampo, Managing Director, Asia at Golden Whale, added: “The opportunity in Asia is significant, particularly as operators look to move beyond traditional campaign structures and adopt more adaptive, data-driven approaches to player engagement. Golden Whale’s technology is built to support that transition, and I am looking forward to working closely with partners across the region to help unlock new levels of performance and efficiency.”

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