Season 5 of ESL India Premiership 2020 is here with new inclusion of ‘FIFA20’, ‘Clash of Clans’ and ‘PUBG MOBILE’

India’s leading esports company NODWIN Gaming has today announced the launch of the 5th edition of its flagship tournament – ESL India Premiership 2020. The registration for the seeding cup of the Summer Season begins today, 21 May.

Having successfully completed 4 editions of ESL India Premiership, NODWIN Gaming is adding some zing to this property with changes like the addition of playoffs in between the sub-leagues, seeding cups for the new games and exclusion of Challengers Cup.

PUBG MOBILE, FIFA 20 and Clash of Clans comes in as new additions to the line-up of games, while, Popular FPS CS:GO has been retained. NODWIN’s social interaction post to find out new game title suggestions revealed that the most requested games were PUBG MOBILE and Clash of Clans. The addition of FIFA 20 widens our audience base by incorporating the first console game to the tournament. Clash of Clans, the fast-paced and easy-going strategy game is expected to attract larger participation and viewership. The online phase of the tournament will have two sub leagues – Starter Cups and Master’s League. The broadcast of Masters League will begin on 1 June.

“The Premiership comes in as an ideal getaway for gamers in lockdown. New games and a new format are in place to kick start the season. PUBGM and CoC are certainly two of the biggest communities out there and with FIFA 20 we have made our first step towards making console games an integral part of the Premiership. The lockdown has pulled the shutter on all forms of sports competitions for the rest of the year, leaving esports as the only spectator sport being broadcasted live on a major OTT platform like Hotstar. I believe that the current scenario is a perfect springboard to mass consumption of esports entertainment” said, NODWIN Gaming CEO Sidharth Kedia, Group .

NODWIN Gaming in its efforts to build a complete esports ecosystem for the country has associated with multiple brands in the past. Entering the 5th edition, the Premiership has our valuable partners joining the incredible journey. Continuing the association for the second consecutive year is the luxury automobile manufacturers Mercedes-Benz. OTT platform Disney+Hotstar resumes its journey with the Premiership as the official broadcast partners. Energy drink Red Bull makes a comeback to the Premiership after a short break.

“The presence of active communities of the new games and the need to bring diversity into the league prompted us to renew the line-up of our competitive titles. What’s exciting about having new games on-board is that we get to work with a new bunch of talented players every time. While on the technical side of things, we are now well-versed in remote tournament execution to produce and broadcast seamless esports entertainment for our viewers. We are expecting a phenomenal response for the Summer Season.” said, NODWIN Gaming Chief Operating Officer Gautam Virk.

The registration is free of cost and requires an ESL play account to be created by the user for the titles CS:GO, FIFA20 and Clash of Clans. While PUBG Mobile participants can register through the SoStronk platform. Gamers above 16 can register for PUBG Mobile and CS:GO while the age limit for registration of Clash of Clans and FIFA20 is 13 years and above.

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Tata Motors launches ‘#SafetyFirst Ludo’ to leverage power of gaming in spreading COVID-19 awareness

The Coronavirus lockdown has brought about a fundamental shift in content consumption patterns. With ample time in hand, people are turning to watch movies, shows, and play online games to keep themselves entertained. Amongst all, one game that has seen a tremendous surge in popularity and repeat plays across every age group is Ludo.

 With over 50 million daily active users, this game brings together families and friends in a time when they physically cannot be. The game has also witnessed a huge amount of success among celebrities during this period of lockdown. While everyone understands the rules of Ludo, a closer look at the game reveals that apart from being entertaining and addictive, it is also a perfect metaphor for social distancing.

 Tata Motors, automobile manufacturer, and WATConsult, hybrid digital agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) India, decided to use this symbolism to re-create this unique game. Titled #SafetyFirst Ludo, the new version of the game highlights the necessity to stay indoors and the risks that would befall us if we ventured out without protection.

 The idea stemmed from a simple insight wherein the main goal is to reach your ‘home’ as quickly as possible. As per the rules of the game, when a player ‘touches’ someone (equivalent to an in-game kill), he/she has to go back to the starting point (which is similar to being in quarantine) until the player rolls a six again; and this is the exact representation of what we are currently facing in the fight against COVID-19. This popular game has been re-launched during the lockdown period, aiming to teach Indians to be hygienic and show responsibility in protecting themselves.

Tata Motors head marketing, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit Vivek Srivatsa

Speaking on the game, Tata Motors head  marketing, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit Vivek Srivatsa, said, “In light of the current scenario, digital engagement has taken a completely new shape. With increased consumption of online content, keeping customers entertained yet informed is the way forward. Safety has always been of utmost importance to us, and what better way than to integrate it within a game that is synonymous to all. With the above in mind, we along with our team at WATConsult came up with an ingenious idea of #SafetyFirst Ludo. We aim to bring our community together on this gaming platform while reminding them of the importance of practicing safety first during these times.”

 The game is designed in two playing modes: the Virus Spread mode and the Social Distancing mode. In the ‘Virus Spread mode’, one would get penalised for being too close to another player that is, when the player is right behind or in front of them. But this can be counteracted by choosing to ‘sanitise’. The idea behind ‘Social Distancing mode’ is to avoid the players from being too close to each other under all circumstances. They need to maintain a minimum of one block distance between any two pieces at any given point in time.

WATConsult CEO Heeru Dingra

WATConsult CEO  Heeru Dingra added, “With the lockdown impacting all of us in many different ways, digital engagement is something that is indeed binding us together. Games and television seem to be the major sources of entertainment. Safety being Tata Motors’ utmost priority, we thought of extending the brand’s philosophy uniquely. #SafetyFirst Ludo is the perfect example of what we need right now, a subtle reminder of why we must maintain social distancing, along with a fun and engaging activity to help the lockdown become a little more fun.”

 Tata Motors was the first Indian manufacturer to make a 5-star safety rated car for India certified by Global NCAP and #SafetyFirst has always been one of their core values. In this time of need, this campaign manifests the same values, globally.

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‘Muppets Now’ will premiere 31 July on Disney+

Disney+ announced the new original series Muppets Now will premiere 31 July on the service. The first season of the series will consist of six episodes and will also feature guest stars.

The synopsis for the new show reads: In the six-episode season, Scooter rushes to make his delivery deadlines and upload the brand-new Muppet series for streaming. They are due now, and he’ll need to navigate whatever obstacles, distractions, and complications the rest of the Muppet gang throws at him.

A press release for the series teases “surprising special guest stars” joining in on the fun for a return to “the kind of startling silliness and heartfelt fun that first made [the Muppets] famous.”

Muppets Now is Disney’s first new use of Jim Henson’s iconic characters since the short-lived ABC mockumentary. The Muppets was canceled in 2016. Disney, in September, canceled plans to release a Muppets scripted comedy series that was being developed by Frozen star Josh Gad and Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis.

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Improve your kids’ vocabulary with animated kids series, ‘Big Words Small Stories’

Ottawa-based animation studio Big Jump Entertainment along with co-production partners, Moody Street Kids of Australia and Telegael of Ireland, have commenced production on season one of a fun new vocabulary-focused animated kids’ series, entitled Big Words Small Stories.

“The enthusiasm for the show continues to be tremendous and contagious, having garnered commissions from TVO kids, SRC, TFO and Knowledge Network in Canada alone,” noted Big Jump Entertainment president Rick Morrison.

The animated series will focus on small stories that will enlighten kids to the meaning of ‘big’ words through funny and delightfully clever storytelling. The five minute each episode revolves around four kids and their anthropomorphic pets. Every episode brings a big word into these kids’ lives by a hard-working Sprinkle Fairy and her staff, the candy-like Sprinklers. Children within the story and the audience at home, walk away with their vocabularies a little bit bigger and a whole lot sillier.

“At Telegael, our key focus is to create content for young audiences that empowers and entertains in equal measure. Big Words Small Stories is a show that will truly fuel imaginations and ignite a love of reading and vocabulary for years to come,” Telegael CEO Paul Cummins stated to media.

Big Words Small Stories consists of 65 five-minute episodes, and is based on the popular books created and authored by Judith Henderson, illustrated by T.L. McBeth and published by Kids Can Press.

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Alan Menken to compose music for Skydance Animation’s ‘Spellbound’

Composer and lyricist Alan Menken, eight-time Oscar winner, is set to pen the music and score to Skydance Animation’s upcoming musical fantasy Spellbound. He is joined by celebrated lyricist and frequent collaborator Glenn Slater (Tangled) and lauded music producer Chris Montan (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen).

Menken, known for his award-winning work on animated favorites The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Enchanted and Tangled. His work also includes the onstage musicals Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Carol, A Bronx Tale and Sister Act as well as adaptations of his film work such as Newsies.

Directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek, Shark Tale) and written by Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin (Mulan) and Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King), Spellbound follows a young girl who must break the spell that has split her kingdom in two.

Skydance Animation’s upcoming feature slate also includes Luck, directed by Peggy Holmes (The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning) and Pookoo (working title), written and directed by Nathan Greno (Tangled). In addition, Skydance Animation has a slate of soon-to-be-announced high-end television series in various stages of development.

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Maharashtra CM seeks action plan on limited resumption of VFX work and Film shooting

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has asked the entertainment industry to prepare an action plan on the limited resumption of film shooting and post-production activities.

Fresh off the heels of the plea sent by FWICE Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on Tuesday appealing to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow the resumption of post-production work, Thackeray recently asked the entertainment industry to prepare an action plan on the limited resumption of film shooting and post-production activities.


Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday asked the entertainment industry to prepare an action plan on limited resumption of film shooting and post-production activities by adhering to social distancing norms amidst the coronavirus-induced lockdown.


Since the plea emphasised on the exigencies of the the current times with respect to the livelihoods of thousands of technicians and daily wage works who have been hit the hardest by the nationwide shutdown, CM’s response might prove to be a source of relief in the turmoil-stricken filmistan.

Uddhav Thackeray: Follow Goa model to fight corona, Maharashtra CM ...However, Thackeray ruled out reopening of cinema halls, leading many production houses to release their content directly on OTT platforms. “The government would consider an action plan on how shooting and post-production activities can be resumed in a limited way by adhering to social distancing and other norms,” Thackeray told a group of representatives of the entertainment industry, especially from the Marathi theatre, television and cinema.

The pressing demands of the industry also included safeguarding the business of single-screen theatres, helping poor music composers, and GST waivers on film production, given the economic difficulty that the entire country is reeling under.  Production of about 70 Hindi and 40 Marathi films, 10 web series had been stalled because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the livelihood of more than three lakh workers and technicians.

“We have allowed industries, trade and shops to open by taking all the precautions. Commercial activities have also started in the state barring the containment zones,” an official statement quoted Thackeray as saying on the occasion. Thackeray said his government would consider providing rent concessions to production houses which have their sets built in the Film City.


Alluding to the demand of producers to allow resumption of shootings and post-production work, the CM said the demand can be considered in “non-red” zones in the state.


“However, care will have to be taken to ensure that locations for shooting a film are not situated in the containment zones and that the number of people on the sets and their hygiene is taken care of. For editing studios, guidelines will have to be issued regarding space and air conditioning system, he said.

The CM also asked the state Culture department and producers to check if some shootings can take place before the start of the monsoon, the statement said.

 

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