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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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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188BET

CyberArena Officially Rebrands from 188BET to taptap

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CyberArena, a global leader in online gaming and interactive entertainment, has announced the official rebranding of its flagship platform from 188BET to taptap, effective July 1, 2025. This marks a bold evolution in the company’s journey, reinforcing its mission to provide modern, secure, and seamless gaming experiences for audiences around the world.

The transition to taptap represents more than a name change it introduces a refreshed brand identity designed to meet the demands of today’s fast-moving, mobile-first users. Combining cutting-edge technology with global design sensibilities, taptap elevates the user experience while preserving the trust, familiarity, and excitement that millions of users have come to expect.

“taptap reflects our forward-thinking approach and our commitment to providing intuitive, high-performance gaming for global players. While the brand is new, the values remain: reliability, innovation, and exceptional entertainment,” said a CyberArena spokesperson.

What’s Changing?

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• New Brand Identity: 188BET is now officially taptap

• Enhanced User Interface: A modern, mobile-first design for faster navigation and improved performance

• Refreshed Look and Feel: Updated visual elements that reflect taptap’s global outlook and digital-first philosophy

What Stays the Same?

• Your Account: All login credentials, balances, and play histories remain fully intact

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• No Registration Needed: Existing users can continue using their accounts as normal

• Full Game Line-Up: All services, promotions, and favorite games are available without interruption

A Comprehensive Global Gaming Experience

• With the launch of taptap, users will continue to enjoy access to a complete portfolio of entertainment, including:

• Sports and Esports Interactive Play

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• Live Gaming and RNG Table Games

• Virtual Sports, Lottery, and Skill-Based Games

• Tournaments, Promotions, and Exclusive Global Campaigns

Whether on desktop or mobile, taptap is engineered to deliver smooth, reliable performance, backed by industry-leading security protocols and 24/7 multilingual customer support.

A Global Vision for the Future of Online Gaming

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CyberArena’s rebrand to taptap is a strategic step forward in shaping the future of digital gaming. Built with scalability and international expansion in mind, the platform combines next-generation usability with a strong foundation of trust, compliance, and responsible entertainment.

“This rebranding represents a renewal of our promise to global users. As taptap, we will push boundaries, embrace innovation, and set new standards for excellence in online gaming,” added the spokesperson.

The post CyberArena Officially Rebrands from 188BET to taptap appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Betsperts Media & Technology Group

Betsperts Media & Technology Group Acquires Fantasy National Golf Club

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Betsperts Media & Technology Group, a leading innovator in sports betting and fantasy sports content, announced the acquisition of Fantasy National Golf Club from SportsHub Games Network. This move significantly enhances Betsperts’ successful Betsperts Golf platform, solidifying its position as a premier destination for golf enthusiasts and bettors.

Fantasy National Golf Club has long been recognized as a cornerstone for golf analytics and data, providing tools and insights to a dedicated community of fantasy golf players and golf bettors. Integrating Fantasy Nationa’s robust data capabilities and loyal user base into Betsperts Golf will create an unparalleled resource for golf content, data, and strategic tools.

“This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for Betsperts Media & Technology Group and our commitment to delivering best-in-class golf content. Fantasy National Golf Club brings an incredible depth of data and a highly engaged community that perfectly complements our vision for our golf strategy. We are excited to integrate their powerful tools and welcome their users, creating an even more comprehensive and indispensable platform for golf fans,” said Reid Rooney, CEO of Betsperts Media & Technology Group.

Renowned media personality Pat Mayo (one of the co-founders of Fantasy National Golf Club) will be joining Betsperts Media & Technology Group. Mayo will play a crucial role in promoting the newly expanded product offering and contributing to the future development of Betsperts’ golf product strategy. His extensive knowledge and influential voice in the golf and fantasy sports communities will be instrumental in driving engagement and innovation.

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“I’ve always been passionate about providing the best possible resources for golf fans, and joining Betsperts at this exciting time is a natural fit. The combination of Betsperts Golf and Fantasy National Golf Club creates a powerhouse of information and tools. I’m thrilled to help shape the future of this product and deliver even more value to the golf community,” said Pat Mayo.

The acquisition underscores Betsperts Media & Technology Group’s aggressive growth strategy across key sports verticals. This deal marks the 5th completed acquisition for Betsperts Group.

“We will continue to look to growth through an aggressive acquisition and roll up strategy,” Rooney said.

Users of both Betsperts Golf and Fantasy National Golf Club can look forward to enhanced features, deeper analytics, and an even more seamless experience.

The post Betsperts Media & Technology Group Acquires Fantasy National Golf Club appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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FanDuel Sports Network

Main Street Sports Group Appoints Jim Keller as EVP of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales

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Main Street Sports Group, owner of FanDuel Sports Network, announced the appointment of Jim Keller as Executive Vice President of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales. In this new role, Keller will lead the entire ad sales portfolio for FanDuel Sports Network, overseeing linear, digital, and programmatic efforts. He will report directly to Eric Ratchman, Chief Revenue Officer of Main Street Sports Group.

Keller brings more than two decades of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and revenue growth across every layer of the media ecosystem, from national networks to digital-first platforms. Most recently serving as Chief Revenue Officer at Fuse Media, Keller previously held executive roles at Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu, and NBC Universal, leading cross-platform sales teams through industry-shifting transformations and high-growth phases. His background includes oversight of digital, streaming, mobile, addressable, and data-driven advertising, as well as advanced monetization strategies across premium content portfolios spanning sports, entertainment, and news.

“Jim is a proven leader with an exceptional track record across linear, streaming, and digital platforms. As FanDuel Sports Network redefines what local sports media can be – more dynamic, more engaging, and more impactful – Jim’s leadership will be key in creating smarter advertising experiences that deliver real value to our brand partners and local fans alike,” said Eric Ratchman, Chief Revenue Officer of Main Street Sports Group.

“There’s nothing more powerful than the connection a fan has with their local team, and FanDuel Sports Network is building a platform that truly honors that connection. From my earliest days as a sports seller at NBC Sports, to leading some of the industry’s most innovative ad strategies, I’ve always believed that the strongest media experiences are rooted in content and community. FanDuel Sports Network’s focus on building relevant, local, multiplatform fan experiences is exactly what the industry and advertisers need right now, and I couldn’t be more excited to help drive the next phase of growth,” said Keller.

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Keller’s deep expertise in building modern ad operations, forging high-impact partnerships, and unlocking value across multiplatform products will be instrumental as FanDuel Sports Network continues to evolve into the future of local sports media. Main Street Sports Group’s continued transformation is rooted in reimagining local sports coverage, not just distributing games, but uniting the brands, features, and experiences fans want, tailored to each market.

The post Main Street Sports Group Appoints Jim Keller as EVP of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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