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The adventure begins: Veloce Racing ready for action as Extreme E sparks into life in Saudi Arabia

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  • London-based squad ready to go wheel-to-wheel with some of the biggest names in global motorsport
  • Inaugural Extreme E season set to kick off with Desert X Prix this weekend 
  • ‘None of us quite know how things are going to play out’, says Jamie Chadwick
  • Stéphane Sarrazin predicts ‘really special’ week both on and off-course

Veloce Racing will embark upon its greatest adventure to-date this weekend (3/4 April), as the time has finally come to get the inaugural Extreme E season underway in the spectacular setting of AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

Having begun life as a sports management agency before transitioning into a hugely successful esports franchise, Veloce is the first organisation in history to bridge the gap between virtual and real-world motorsport in that order, with Veloce Racing launching in September, 2019.

It has been a long road from that moment to the point where the team now finds itself – ready to contest the maiden Extreme E race, the eagerly-anticipated Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. The conditions will be harsh and unforgiving, while the sporting format will be unlike anything our drivers, or indeed the rest of the paddock have experienced before.

As a sport for purpose, Extreme E exists to shine a spotlight on the effects of climate change and human interference in some of the most remote environments on the planet, with the objective of encouraging the watching world to take a stand and adopt steps to drive genuine change.

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With that in mind, ahead of every race weekend, a Legacy Programme will aim to give something back to the local community, in which Veloce Racing drivers Jamie Chadwick and Stéphane Sarrazin will both play a leading role – before climbing into the cockpit of the team’s 400kW (550bhp) ODYSSEY-21 E-SUV for the competitive action. The pair will take it in turns in each race to tame this beast, which is capable of reaching 100km/h from a standing start in just 4.5 seconds and tackling gradients of up to 130 per cent.

Inaugural W Series Champion Chadwick is eager to hit the ground running on her competitive off-road debut. The 22-year-old Williams F1 Development Driver has partaken in an intensive pre-season training programme to get up-to-speed with an entirely new motorsport discipline and a challenge unlike any other she has previously faced.

Experienced French racer Sarrazin, meanwhile, brings with him the benefit of 28 years of experience across myriad racing disciplines – including Le Mans, Formula 1, Formula E and the FIA World Rally Championship – and track surfaces, making the 45-year-old perfectly-placed to venture into unknown territory in the desert.

The action will begin with the qualifying rounds from 09h30 local time (BST +2) on Saturday, 3 April, with the semi-finals and final taking place from 09h30 local time the following day.

With no spectators permitted on-site – in-keeping with Extreme E’s environmental ethos and commitment to minimise its carbon footprint – the racing will be broadcast all around the world on a variety of networks, including ITV, the BBC iPlayer and Red Button application, Sky Sports and BT Sport in the UK, plus the championship’s official website.

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Following the Saudi Arabian curtain-raiser, the 2021 Extreme E season will travel to Dakar, Senegal (29-30 May), Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August), Pará, Brazil (23-24 October) and finally  Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).

Jamie Chadwick, Driver, Veloce Racing, commented: 

“I’m just so excited to start racing in AlUla. This is massively different to anything I’ve done before, but I’ve trained harder than ever and spent a lot of time trying to understand the unique challenges this series will throw at us.

“It gives me a lot of confidence that I’ll be alongside someone as experienced as Stéphane going into an innovative championship like Extreme E with such unprecedented rules and sporting formats.

“I’m hopeful of a strong result straight out-of-the-blocks, but I certainly don’t underestimate the level of competition in the field. I think ultimately, it’s going to come down to who can adapt the quickest and learn how the series works from the word ‘go’ – none of us quite know how things are going to play out!”

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Stéphane Sarrazin, Driver, Veloce Racing, said: 

“What a journey it has been to get to this stage! I think the team are all in really good shape ahead of the first event. We have all done our best to prepare and given the current circumstances around the world, it’s been an amazing effort to get everything organised for this race.

“Jamie and I are both ready for the challenge and excited to go racing! There are so many big motorsport names involved that it’s going to be an extraordinary spectacle – particularly against such a breathtaking backdrop.

“It’s also going to be a really great experience to involve ourselves in the Extreme E Legacy Programmes and leave a lasting positive impact at each of the race locations. That is something that will be really special.”

Ian Davies, Team Manager, Veloce Racing, added: 

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“Finally, it’s race week! We’ve waited a long time to say that in Extreme E, but now it’s here and the whole Veloce Racing team are so eager to get started, including myself!

“Jamie and Stéphane make a great partnership. Between them, they have a huge amount of experience and raw talent, so I’m very confident that we will be in the mix in such a high-calibre and star-studded field.

“AlUla is going to pose its own challenges, logistically and of course when it gets down to the racing. It’s certainly going to be very different to what anyone in Extreme E has done previously, and being such a leap into the unknown, I think everybody has an opportunity to bag a result here so it will be fascinating to watch.”

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FANDOM DECODES THE TUG-OF-WAR FOR FAN ATTENTION BETWEEN GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES IN 2024 INSIDE ENTERTAINMENT STUDY

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Study Identifies a New Target Audience – The “Switchers” – and Why Dramas Could Be the Next Big Gaming Franchise

 

Forget the gaming vs. entertainment narrative. Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, today released its annual Inside Entertainment study which reveals a nuanced reality: fans crave both immersive gaming worlds AND timeless storytelling across tv and film, NOT one or the other. Leveraging first-party data from Fandom’s extensive platform – 350 million monthly unique visitors, 45 million pages of content and 250k fan-powered wikis – coupled with a global study, Inside Entertainment: The Entertainment & Gaming Tug of War goes beyond industry headlines to:

  • Understand the dynamic coexistence between the gaming and TV/film industries
  • Identify a brand new audience – the “Switchers”
  • Detail why dramas and book adaptations present a huge opportunity to be the next hit video game franchise

“Every industry analysis refers to the battle for fans’ attention across entertainment and gaming but we’ve found that it’s not an either or. In fact, combined, entertainment and gaming experiences strengthen fan connection and deliver incremental engagement,” said Stephanie Fried, CMO of Fandom. “Understanding the interplay between these mediums is key to building authentic and enduring fan experiences; and understanding the value and role of each medium is essential for developing powerful marketing messaging to attract and retain fans.”

Key Findings

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  • 67% of fans are spending the same or more time consuming content or playing video games, but their behavior is shifting:
  • 33% are spending less time on cable or in theaters – and the number one activity they’re switching to is gaming (59%

Switchers’ refers to the audience moving away from watching movies & binging TV shows in their free time to do other activities. Outside of gaming, switchers are also spending time:

On social media (47%), reading (56%) and doing hobbies (37%)
With 56% of the switcher audience spending time reading, it presents an opportunity to re-engage this audience and pull them back into the ecosystem with new content strategies, like book-to-game or book-to-film cross over adaptations

But don’t worry entertainment companies. Just as gaming is the #1 activity for entertainment fans, watching TV and movies is the #1 activity gamers turn to when taking a break from gaming – which means these industries are inevitably intertwined and could benefit from joint endeavors or conquest/win-back strategies

Drama could be #1 untapped genre for gaming companies to explore when looking for their next big hit. Our data uncovers that drama fans who also game gravitate towards genres like:

  • Role-Playing (RPG): 73%
  • Adventure: 72%,
  • Simulation: 62%,
  • Sandbox/Open World: 62%,
  • Puzzle: 60%

Gaming wins on super serving the emotional needs of fans, identifying a niche area streamers & studios should not only be aware of – but double down on:

  • 82% of gamers think video games are more interactive & engaging than movies and TV
  • 59% feel more accomplished when playing a video game
  • 53% like that they have more control in the story when playing video games
  • 45% feel more invested in the storylines in video games

Top 3 Takeaways For Advertisers and Marketers

1. Gaming is a Friend vs. a Foe

  • Despite common misconceptions, there is a true symbiotic relationship between the gaming and entertainment industries – they both serve different emotional needs for fans and can actually complement each other – with the right fan strategy.
  • Therefore, if studios, networks and streaming companies cater to the distinct emotional desires of their specific audiences, they can successfully influence a fan’s choice between mediums and content types and build out a more robust conquest strategy for both retention and acquisition.

2. Sway the Switchers

  • Switchers are the audience entertainment companies should be first and foremost targeting in this “tug of war” to capture fan attention, because switching to watching TV & movies is the first activity gamers engage in after they stop playing.
  • This underscores the importance for entertainment companies to develop strategies that resonate with these “switchers.”

3. Find your Niche

  • With the growing intersection between gaming and entertainment, it’s crucial for studios, networks, and streamers to align on a gaming strategy that drives viewer engagement and retention.
  • While many entertainment companies know they need a focus on gaming to drive their business forward – how and where are often barriers. Developing a gaming-specific fan strategy by finding niche pockets in the vast ecosystem – like targeting drama fans or creating book adaptations – is key for reaching a high affinity target at scale.

For an interview with a Fandom executive to discuss the study in more detail, please contact Rachelle Savoia at [email protected]

Methodology

The 2024 Inside Entertainment study regionally analyzes the dynamics between diverse forms of entertainment based on a survey of 5,500 entertainment and gaming fans aged 13-54 These insights were validated and deepened through Fandom’s proprietary, first-party data from 2024 – more than 350 million monthly unique visitors, 45 million pages of content across 250,000 wikis. This methodology provides a 360-degree view of franchises and fan interest across the entertainment and gaming landscape through the eyes of Fandom.

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BOLDPLAY TITLES DEBUT ON MARATHONBET

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Over 50 innovative titles have been added to the popular online betting platform’s casino game line-up.

Boldplay, the renowned developer of premium online casino content and innovative casino software solutions, has announced that it has formed a new partnership with Marathonbet that will see its full suite of 100+ titles added to the operator’s casino game line-up, with 50+ of those games available now.

As a result of the deal, games from Boldplay’s state-of-the-art slot selection and range of virtual scratch cards have already been added to Marathonbet’s lobbies, but the provider will also be offering table games, virtual bingo and keno releases on the platform going forward.

Marathonbet is currently licensed by both the government of Curaçao and the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation in Spain, with a further internet gaming concession from the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) also enabling it to provide services to Italian players.

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As such, the collaboration will now enable Boldplay to offer its titles to audiences in a wide range of global markets, many of whom will not previously have seen the signature range of Boldplay jackpots and engaging free spin features that have made the provider such a huge hit with fans.

Of the Boldplay games now available on Marathonbet, a standout highlight is the MMA themed Brute Force, which offers a choice of two hard-hitting bonuses and currently ranks as one of the studio’s most successful slots to date.
Speaking on the new partnership with Marathonbet, Boldplay Commercial Director Gary Francis said: “We’re very happy to have teamed up with Marathonbet in a move that will see our cutting edge game collection reach new audiences in a number of important markets around the world.

“With a wide range of Boldplay slots, scratch cards, table games and bingo and keno releases now available on the platform, our line-up already has something for everyone and will continue to get even stronger as we announce new releases in 2024. We hope that Marathonbet customers enjoy all that we have to offer and look forward to seeing how our games perform on the platform.”

 

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BMM INNOVATION GROUP TO SHOWCASE COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MASTER CHOCTAW ARTIST DG SMALLING AT INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION (IGA) TRADE SHOW APRIL 10-11

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The Company to Unveil Original Artwork Focused on BMM’s Mission to Protect Tribal Gaming and All Who Play

BMM Innovation Group (“BIG”, “BIG Group”, or the “Company”), a technology conglomerate providing world-class services and cutting-edge solutions to the global gaming industry through BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training, today announced a collaboration with internationally acclaimed Choctaw Nation Master Artist DG Smalling celebrating BMM Innovation Group’s relationship with Tribal suppliers, regulators, and operators. The artwork will be showcased at the IGA tradeshow April 10-11 at the Anaheim Convention Center in BIG’s Booth No. 628.

Smalling is best known for his single-line, continuous drawing technique in which his pen never leaves the paper until the image is complete. The piece he created with BIG is called ‘Hand to Hand’, representing the vital relationship between the BIG Group and Tribal gaming. Smalling will be giving away signed reprints of the piece from 2-4 pm on Wednesday, April 10 in BIG’s Booth No. 628.

BIG’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Martin Storm said, “We are honored to be able to work with such an internationally celebrated and recognized Tribal artist, DG Smalling, to create artwork that reflects our deep roots in Tribal gaming and the importance of the BIG companies in protecting Tribal gaming and all who play through best-in-class product testing and certification, cybersecurity protection solutions, and compliance-grade training.

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Smalling said, “I was excited to create this piece for the BMM Innovation Group. This artwork depicts the role of BMM as an agency of quality control to protect Tribal sovereignty from outside intervention; the intersection of Tribal nations, Indian Gaming, and BMM as a day-to-day presence securing Indian Gaming integrity, and thereby, its sovereignty.”

Prior to his collaboration with BIG, Smalling had already made a name for himself in the gaming industry. In 2022, he achieved the distinction of being the first artist to fully collaborate with a slot machine manufacturer when he teamed up with Incredible Technologies to launch Class II slot games showcasing his art. In addition, Smalling has played a key role in spearheading a number of corporate-indigenous partnerships with leading companies like Amazon, Gary Platt Manufacturing, Emser Tile Native Narrative Series, and APMEX. Smalling holds the distinction of being authorized by the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma — through statute — to create on their behalf.

Smalling’s art and honors include the Department of the Interior’s Operation Lady Justice; featured artist at Epcot Disney World: State of Oklahoma Centennial Show in 2007; Grand Palais “Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture á l’Eau” in Paris in 2011; and National Museum of the American Indian “Choctaw Codetalkers Celebration” in Washington, DC in 2012. In addition, Smalling has been commissioned to paint several portraits, including U.S. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, U.S. Congressman Tom Cole, and Sir Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the UK, among many other notable dignitaries. Some of Smalling’s notable commissions include APMEX Coins’ Asian Zodiac Series: Year of the Dragon (2024) ; APMEX Coins’ Grand Buffalo (2023); and Lady Justice of California Proclamation (2020). For more information, visit dgsmalling.ai.

 

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