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NSoft story: Passion and motivation behind Virtual Penalty Shootout
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
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.
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.
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Best Platform Provider
SoftGamings Wins “Best Platform Provider” Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome
Reading Time: < 1 minute
SoftGamings has been awarded the Best Platform Provider at the SiGMA Central Europe 2025 ceremony held in Rome. The award recognizes the company’s outstanding achievements in platform development, technical excellence, and continuous contribution to the growth of the global iGaming industry.
The recognition highlights SoftGamings’ commitment to delivering robust, scalable, and feature-rich platform solutions that empower operators to build successful online casino and sportsbook businesses. Through its unified API, the company offers seamless access to more than 300 licensed game providers, 150+ payment systems, and complete licensing and compliance support across multiple jurisdictions.
The SiGMA Awards are among the most respected distinctions in the gaming industry, celebrating innovation and quality among the leading companies worldwide.
Winning in the Platform Provider category underlines SoftGamings’ role as a trusted technology partner for operators looking to launch and scale their projects efficiently.
SoftGamings continues to set industry standards with its forward-looking approach, reliable infrastructure, and dedication to supporting clients through every stage of their iGaming journey.
The post SoftGamings Wins “Best Platform Provider” Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
2026 iGaming Trends Report
Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe
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SOFTSWISS, a global tech leader in iGaming solutions, has wrapped up a remarkable showcase at SiGMA Central Europe 2025. From the launch of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report to the live-built Alfa Romeo 4C handover, the company once again demonstrated why it stands as the industry’s leading technology provider and creative pioneer.
One of the main highlights of the event was the official release of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report. The fourth edition offers a data-driven overview of the macro- and microtrends shaping the future of iGaming – from the industrialisation of AI to regulatory shifts, cybersecurity evolution, and the rise of brand trust.
To mark the launch, SOFTSWISS hosted the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon, a four-hour live event featuring global thought leaders. In the opening panel discussion, Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, Heathcliff Farrugia, COO of SiGMA, and Pierre Lindh, CEO of NEXT.io, arranged the ‘Ultimate Forecast Duel,’ exploring which trends will define the industry’s next chapter.
Another key moment was the Alfa Romeo 4C gifting, organised to celebrate the launch of the 100th brand powered by SOFTSWISS software in 2025. The sports car, assembled live during the expo at the SOFTSWISS stand, became a symbol of the company’s engineering precision and team spirit.
During a special ceremony, Ivan Montik handed over the keys to one of SOFTSWISS’ valued partners, Lottu, represented by Hugo Baungartner, Chief Business Officer, marking another milestone in a long-standing partnership based on trust and shared success.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 36,700 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
AC Sparta Praha
AC Sparta Praha Becomes the Second Club Globally to Receive the Access Champions Certificate
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The certification recognises AC Sparta Praha and Betano’s joint efforts in turning the epet ARENA into a more accessible stadium and creating inclusive matchday experiences for all fans.
AC Sparta Praha has received the Access Champions certificate from AccessibAll, the international organisation that evaluates accessibility standards in football stadiums. Betano, AC Sparta Praha’s main sponsor, played a key role in this distinction by funding the initial accessibility report that guided the club’s improvements and helped shape its long-term inclusion strategy. This recognition makes AC Sparta Praha one of only two clubs in the world that have earned this award, following Atlético Madrid.
Before the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha and Betano representatives received the Access Champions certificate from the international organisation AccessibAll. The certificate recognises excellence in accessibility for fans with disabilities.
As part of the event, AC Sparta Praha and Betano presented a cheque for 500.000 CK to the non-profit organisation Znakovárna z. s., which provides Czech Sign Language interpreting for the club. Starting with the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha, Betano and Znakovárna will begin a long-term cooperation on creating and regularly publishing pre-match programme videos interpreted into Czech Sign Language for every home game of the first team.
“The AccessibAll award confirms that we are on the right path. We focus on concrete steps that bring immediate benefits to our fans. We thank Betano for their support and cooperation — without it, many of these measures would not have been implemented to the extent and quality they are today. Our vision is for every fan, regardless of their needs, to feel comfortable and safe at our stadium,” said AC Sparta Praha’s CSR Manager, Irena Smetanová.
“We are glad that, together with AC Sparta Praha, we are making the football experience accessible to all fans with disabilities. We rely on practical solutions that truly make a difference in the stadium — from navigation beacons to expanded barrier-free areas and enhanced matchday services. Our ambition is for every fan to fully enjoy the game,” added Adam Srb, Marketing Manager for Betano in the Czech Republic.
In recent seasons, AC Sparta Praha, together with Betano, has implemented a number of improvements to enhance accessibility at the epet ARENA for fans with disabilities. The stadium has been equipped with audio navigation beacons for visually impaired fans. Wheelchair platforms have been expanded, with increased capacity for visiting wheelchair-using fans. The club has also adapted its digital environment to be clear and user-friendly for fans with specific needs. Since autumn, regular stadium tours have been held — for blind and visually impaired fans in odd months, and for deaf fans in even months. For blind supporters, the club provides audio descriptive commentary through individual receivers in cooperation with Livesport. The pre-match programme on the big screens now includes subtitles, and a summary of the programme is interpreted into sign language.
The Access Champions programme comprehensively assesses clubs. It covers stadium infrastructure, fan and community engagement, digital accessibility, matchday services for home and away fans with disabilities, as well as leadership and awareness in the field of inclusion.
“Access Champions certification was created with the real needs of fans in mind. We evaluate how a club thinks about accessibility, how it implements it in practice, and how it maintains high standards throughout the season. AC Sparta Praha has demonstrated a systematic and consistent approach across all areas — from infrastructure to matchday services and community engagement. This award confirms that accessibility is part of the club’s culture,” said AccessibAll CEO Olivier Jarosz.
AC Sparta Praha and Betano will continue to develop their cooperation with community organisations and international partners, expand the use of sign-language interpreting and closed captioning, continuously improve the digital environment, and strengthen matchday services. The goal is to make accessibility a permanent standard of the club environment.
The post AC Sparta Praha Becomes the Second Club Globally to Receive the Access Champions Certificate appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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