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NSoft story: Passion and motivation behind Virtual Penalty Shootout

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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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Boomerang Partners

The ongoing TIME TO WIN tournament by Boomerang Partners offers affiliates access to rewards connected with AC Milan.

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the-ongoing-time-to-win-tournament-by-boomerang-partners-offers-affiliates-access-to-rewards-connected-with-ac-milan.

The exclusive TIME TO WIN affiliate tournament, organised by Boomerang Partners – an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan – is gaining momentum, with dozens of affiliate teams from across the globe already competing for valuable prizes and once-in-a-lifetime AC Milan experiences.

The Clock Is Ticking

With the tournament closing on March 31, 2026, every day counts. Affiliates who delay risk losing ground to competitors, as points accumulate quickly and unique experiences, including a behind-the-scenes visit to AC Milan’s Milanello Sports Centre powered by Clivet, will not be available after this activation. The call to action is clear: act now, complete tasks, and accumulate points to qualify for prize draws featuring a range of AC Milan-related rewards.

How Affiliates Earn Points

Participants in the TIME TO WIN tournament complete structured tasks across five key segments. Each task earns a fixed number of points:

  • Generate new sports users for Boomerang’s client portfolio (10 points per qualified action)

  • Complete the survey (25 points)

  • Contribute expert commentary (30 points)

  • Showcase creativity via a dedicated social media challenge (25 points)

  • Leave a review on a selected platform (20 points)

As affiliates reach specific point thresholds, they unlock entry to one of five prize draws. Higher scores give access to more draws, creating a competitive and rewarding environment for active participants.

Exclusive AC Milan Experiences Await

The tournament’s prize structure is designed to reward top-performing affiliates with increasingly prestigious AC Milan experiences:

  • 150 points – Entry to the TIME TO WIN Merch Pack draw (3 sets of 5 kits each)

  • 250 points – Entry to the draw for official AC Milan jerseys signed by players (3 sets of 5 jerseys each)

  • 350 points – Entry to the draw for a trip for five to attend AC Milan vs Cagliari

  • 550 points – Entry to the draw for a trip for five to attend AC Milan vs Juventus, including behind-the-scenes access, pre-match tunnel experience, and pitchside viewing of team warm-ups

  • 750 points – The ultimate tier, granting entry to the draw for a trip to AC Milan’s legendary Milanello Sports Centre powered by Clivet. Two prizes are available for five guests each, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access, a tour of the facilities, and the opportunity to witness the Men’s First Team training in action – a truly rare and unforgettable experience.

Affiliates Share Their Experience

Participants are actively sharing their enthusiasm. Sports influencer Firo Orakel said:
“Being part of the TIME TO WIN tournament truly means a lot to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate. The prizes are a strong motivator, and I love being able to share them with my community. I promote the campaign on my Discord server and during my streams to keep momentum going.”

The Rossoneri Hub – Central Platform for Engagement

All tournament activities are coordinated through the Rossoneri Hub, Boomerang Partners’ central platform for AC Milan-related activations. This hub serves as a one-stop destination for affiliates, providing updates, guidance, and resources to maximise performance and engagement.

Strategically Timed During the Peak Sports Season

The tournament’s timing in February–March 2026 is deliberate, coinciding with a peak moment in the football season, including the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds. Boomerang Partners supports affiliates with a detailed guide offering market insights, expected player activity shifts, practical tips, and data-driven strategies to navigate these high-stakes periods effectively. TIME TO WIN is built for moments like this, when the competitive landscape is at its peak.

About Boomerang Partners

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency delivering a wide array of services. As an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, the agency is uniquely positioned to create sports-focused activations that combine strategy, technology, and engagement. In 2024, it launched the Golden Boomerang Awards, a global tournament for affiliate teams, which saw over 400 teams participate in its 2025 second season.

The agency manages 10+ brands across 40+ regulated markets, offering affiliate and entertainment services with personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support. Between 2024–2025, new product launches from partner brands contributed to a nearly 1.5× increase in product users, highlighting Boomerang’s ability to deliver measurable growth through data-driven affiliate campaigns.

The post The ongoing TIME TO WIN tournament by Boomerang Partners offers affiliates access to rewards connected with AC Milan. appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Boomerang Partners

The ongoing TIME TO WIN tournament by Boomerang Partners offers affiliates access to rewards connected with AC Milan.

Published

on

the-ongoing-time-to-win-tournament-by-boomerang-partners-offers-affiliates-access-to-rewards-connected-with-ac-milan.

The exclusive TIME TO WIN affiliate tournament by Boomerang Partners, an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, is gaining momentum. Dozens of affiliate teams worldwide have already joined the race to compete for valuable prizes and unique AC Milan-related experiences.

Don’t miss your chance

The clock is winding down. With the tournament closing on March 31, every day you wait is a point a competitor earns. Competition is intensifying, and access to unique experiences – including a behind-the-scenes visit to AC Milan’s training base, Milanello Sports Centre powered by Clivet – will not be available beyond this activation.

The time to act is now. Participants can access the tournament page, complete the tasks, and accumulate points, securing a place for prize draws featuring AC Milan-related experiences.

How affiliates earn points

The TIME TO WIN tournament participants complete clearly structured tasks across five segments. Each completed task brings a fixed number of points:

  • Generate new sports users for brands within Boomerang’s client portfolio (10 points per qualified action)
  • Take the survey (25 points)
  • Share your insights by contributing expert commentary (30 points)
  • Prove your creativity through a dedicated SMM challenge (25 points)
  • Leave a review on a selected platform (20 points)

As soon as affiliates reach specific point thresholds, they unlock access to prize draws. There are five in total, and the higher the score, the more draws a team qualifies for.

Exclusive AC Milan experiences

By reaching specific point thresholds, affiliate teams will gain access to the corresponding prize draws linked to exclusive AC Milan experiences. The structure is clear:

  • 150 points – qualify for the TIME TO WIN Merch Pack draw (3 sets of 5 kits each)
  • 250 points – enter the draw for official AC Milan jerseys signed by players (3 sets of 5 jerseys each)
  • 350 points – secure a place in the draw for a trip for five persons to attend AC Milan v Cagliari
  • 550 points – become eligible for the draw for a trip for five persons to attend AC Milan v Juventus, including exclusive behind-the-scenes access with pre-match access to the tunnel area, and pitchside viewing of the teams’ warm-up.

The ultimate tier requires 750 points and unlocks access to the draw for an exclusive trip to AC Milan’s legendary training base, Milanello Sports Centre powered by Clivet. Reserved for top-performing teams (2 prizes for 5 guests each), this experience offers behind-the-scenes access to the Club’s inner environment, including a tour of the facilities and the opportunity to see the Men First Team training. This is a rare behind-the-scenes experience offering a unique glimpse into AC Milan’s daily routine.

Affiliate teams participating in the TIME TO WIN tournament actively share positive feedback. For example, sports influencer Firo Orakel highlighted his experience: “Being part of the TIME TO WIN tournament truly means a lot to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate. The prizes are a strong motivator – I want to share them with my community as well, as it gives them a chance to benefit too. I actively support the campaign through my Discord server, where I engage directly with my audience, and I also promote it regularly during my streams to keep the momentum going,” said Firo.

The Rossoneri Hub as the central platform

All activities related to the TIME TO WIN tournament are featured on the Rossoneri Hub portal, the main platform where Boomerang Partners centralizes its AC Milan-related activations. This is a unique web resource that Boomerang Partners launched as an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan.

A strategic moment within the sports season

Boomerang Partners’ decision to hold the TIME TO WIN tournament in February-March 2026 is no coincidence. This period marks one of the peak moments of the sports season, alongside major international competitions and football tournaments, the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds. The company is ready to actively share its sports expertise, including through an exclusive guide which provides affiliates with information on expected shifts in player activity by competition stage, market insights, practical recommendations, and data-driven guidance for navigating the sports peak.

TIME TO WIN was built for moments like this – when the sports calendar is at its peak. Join now and compete for unique AC Milan experiences.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The agency’s client portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

The post The ongoing TIME TO WIN tournament by Boomerang Partners offers affiliates access to rewards connected with AC Milan. appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

The ongoing TIME TO WIN tournament by Boomerang Partners offers affiliates access to rewards connected with AC Milan.

Published

on

The exclusive TIME TO WIN affiliate tournament by Boomerang Partners, an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, is gaining momentum. Dozens of affiliate teams worldwide have already joined the race to compete for valuable prizes and unique AC Milan-related experiences.

Don’t miss your chance

The clock is winding down. With the tournament closing on March 31, every day you wait is a point a competitor earns. Competition is intensifying, and access to unique experiences – including a behind-the-scenes visit to AC Milan’s training base, Milanello Sports Centre powered by Clivet – will not be available beyond this activation.

The time to act is now. Participants can access the tournament page, complete the tasks, and accumulate points, securing a place for prize draws featuring AC Milan-related experiences.

How affiliates earn points

The TIME TO WIN tournament participants complete clearly structured tasks across five segments. Each completed task brings a fixed number of points:

  • Generate new sports users for brands within Boomerang’s client portfolio (10 points per qualified action)
  • Take the survey (25 points)
  • Share your insights by contributing expert commentary (30 points)
  • Prove your creativity through a dedicated SMM challenge (25 points)
  • Leave a review on a selected platform (20 points)

As soon as affiliates reach specific point thresholds, they unlock access to prize draws. There are five in total, and the higher the score, the more draws a team qualifies for.

Exclusive AC Milan experiences

By reaching specific point thresholds, affiliate teams will gain access to the corresponding prize draws linked to exclusive AC Milan experiences. The structure is clear:

  • 150 points – qualify for the TIME TO WIN Merch Pack draw (3 sets of 5 kits each)
  • 250 points – enter the draw for official AC Milan jerseys signed by players (3 sets of 5 jerseys each)
  • 350 points – secure a place in the draw for a trip for five persons to attend AC Milan v Cagliari
  • 550 points – become eligible for the draw for a trip for five persons to attend AC Milan v Juventus, including exclusive behind-the-scenes access with pre-match access to the tunnel area, and pitchside viewing of the teams’ warm-up.

The ultimate tier requires 750 points and unlocks access to the draw for an exclusive trip to AC Milan’s legendary training base, Milanello Sports Centre powered by Clivet. Reserved for top-performing teams (2 prizes for 5 guests each), this experience offers behind-the-scenes access to the Club’s inner environment, including a tour of the facilities and the opportunity to see the Men First Team training. This is a rare behind-the-scenes experience offering a unique glimpse into AC Milan’s daily routine.

Affiliate teams participating in the TIME TO WIN tournament actively share positive feedback. For example, sports influencer Firo Orakel highlighted his experience: “Being part of the TIME TO WIN tournament truly means a lot to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate. The prizes are a strong motivator – I want to share them with my community as well, as it gives them a chance to benefit too. I actively support the campaign through my Discord server, where I engage directly with my audience, and I also promote it regularly during my streams to keep the momentum going,” said Firo.

The Rossoneri Hub as the central platform

All activities related to the TIME TO WIN tournament are featured on the Rossoneri Hub portal, the main platform where Boomerang Partners centralizes its AC Milan-related activations. This is a unique web resource that Boomerang Partners launched as an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan.

A strategic moment within the sports season

Boomerang Partners’ decision to hold the TIME TO WIN tournament in February-March 2026 is no coincidence. This period marks one of the peak moments of the sports season, alongside major international competitions and football tournaments, the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds. The company is ready to actively share its sports expertise, including through an exclusive guide which provides affiliates with information on expected shifts in player activity by competition stage, market insights, practical recommendations, and data-driven guidance for navigating the sports peak.

TIME TO WIN was built for moments like this – when the sports calendar is at its peak. Join now and compete for unique AC Milan experiences.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The agency’s client portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

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