Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
SPONSOR: Datametrex AI Limited (TSX-V: DM) A revenue generating small cap A.I. company that NATO and Canadian Defence are using to fight fake news & social media threats. The company is working with US Government agencies on Covid19 and Coronavirus fake news and disinformation. The company also obtained the rights to import and sell COVID-19 test kits from South Korea – Click here for more info.
Google acts tough on ‘bad ads’; blocked nearly 1 million advertisers in 2019
Google said since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been closely monitoring advertiser behavior to protect users from ads looking to take advantage of the crisis.
Google said since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been closely monitoring advertiser behavior.
Google on Monday said it disabled and eliminated 2.7 billion ‘bad ads’-more than 5,000 poor ads every minute-in 2019, and banned nearly a million advertisers responsible for policy breaches as part of its efforts to protect consumers from deceptive advertising.
The tech giant also noticed that fake advertisements for in-demand items such as face masks had a dramatic increase in the COVID-19 pandemic that claimed lakhs of life globally.
“Preserving the integrity of the ads on our platforms, as we’re doing during the COVID-19 outbreak, is a continuation of the work we do every day to minimise content that violates our policies and stop malicious actors. We have thousands of people working across our teams to make sure we’re protecting our users and enabling a safe ecosystem for advertisers and publishers…†Google has informed me in a blogpost.
The post, written by Google Vice President of Product Management Advertising Protection and Safety Scott Spencer, noted that in 2019, 2.7 billion bad advertising were blocked and taken out.
“We also suspended nearly 1 million advertiser accounts for policy violations. On the publisher side, we terminated over 1.2 million accounts and removed ads from over 21 million web pages that are part of our publisher network for violating our policies,†the blog said.
It added that terminating accounts-not just removing an individual ad or page-is a particularly effective enforcement tool that Google uses if advertisers or publishers commit egregious policy breaches or have a history of policy breaches.
Google said since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been closely monitoring advertiser behavior to protect users from ads looking to take advantage of the crisis. Google said it has been closely tracking advertiser activity since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak to protect consumers from advertisers that are trying to take advantage of the crisis.
Google noted that there is a dedicated COVID-19 task force operating round the clock that has developed new detection technologies and has also improved existing compliance tools to avoid bad actors.
Tags: AI, bot, CSE, datametrex, fake news Posted in Datametrex AI Limited | Comments Off on #Google acts tough on ‘bad ads’; blocked nearly 1 million advertisers in 2019 – SPONSOR: Datametrex AI Limited $DM.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 1:23 PM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
SPONSOR: BetterU Education Corp. aims to provide access to quality education from around the world. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated ecosystem. betterU / Ottolearn launch FREE COVID-19 mobile resource toolkit to fight the global crisis – Click here for more information.
B2B edtech platform Classplus bags $9m in series A funding
India’s Classplus, an edtech firm that enables offline coaching institutes to take their businesses online, said it has raised US$9 million in a series A round led by early-stage VC firm RTP Global.
India’s Classplus, an edtech firm that enables offline coaching institutes to take their businesses online, said it has raised US$9 million in a series A round led by early-stage VC firm RTP Global.
Existing investors Blume Ventures, Spiral Ventures, Strive, and Sequoia Capital India’s accelerator, Surge, also participated in the round, according to a statement.
Hundreds of thousands of offline tutoring units in India, commonly called coaching centers, act as the primary source of academic support for more than 70 million students taking private lessons in the country every year.
Classplus aims to digitize this market by helping tutors run all their communications, payments, assessments, and learning programs online on their smartphones. AD. Remove this ad space by subscribing. Support independent journalism.
Its mobile-centric solution also acts as a digital distribution platform for educational content and products, enabling tutors to set up ecommerce channels to make video content and online assessments available to students.
The startup said it plans to use the new funds to improve its technology and expand its product offerings. It also looks to bolster its product, engineering, and business teams as well as make strategic hires for some leadership roles to drive its expansion.
According to Mukul Rustagi, the co-founder and CEO of Classplus, India is home to the largest after-school tuition market globally. “As national examinations move online, so must after-school tuition practices […],†he added.
Rustagi, along with co-founder Bhaswat Agarwal, launched Classplus in 2018. Since then, the startup has served over 1 million students across more than 70 Indian cities, with upward of 3,500 coaching centers using its technology.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 12:53 PM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
SPONSOR: PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC. (CSE: PRMO) (OTC: BUGVF) (FSE: 8BV) (DEU: 8BV) (MUN: 8BV) (STU: 8BV) provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate properties. The company also offers fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. Click here for more info.
The Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is impacting society and the overall economy across the world. The impact of this pandemic is growing day by day as well as affecting the supply chain. The COVID-19 crisis is creating uncertainty in the stock market, massive slowing of supply chain, falling business confidence, and increasing panic among the customer segments. The overall effect of the pandemic is impacting the production process of several industries including Life Science, and many more. Trade barriers are further restraining the demand- supply outlook.
As government of different regions have already announced total lockdown and temporarily shutdown of industries, the overall production process being adversely affected; thus, hinder the overall CBD Nutraceuticals Market globally. This report on ‘CBD Nutraceuticals Market’ provides the analysis on impact on Covid-19 on various business segments and country markets. The report also showcase market trends and forecast to 2027, factoring the impact of Covid -19 Situation.
A nutraceutical is a pharmaceutical alternative that claims physiological benefits. Nutraceutical product is a food or fortified food product that not only supplements the diet but also assists in treating or preventing disease (apart from anemia), so it provides medical benefits. A naturally-occurring compound found in plants, cannabidiol (CBD), belongs to a family of compounds called cannabinoids. Examples of nutraceuticals are natural foods, including antioxidants, dietary supplements, fortified dairy products, and citrus fruits, and vitamins, minerals, herbals, milk, and cereals.
The CBD nutraceuticals market is anticipated to grow due to the products as they are more convenient and travel-friendly. However, the presence of alternatives like the herbal nutraceuticals, such as echinacea, and turmeric that have ruled the global nutraceuticals space for a long period, is restraining the market growth. Moreover, the growing demand for hemp protein among athletes, bodybuilders, and the vegan population is expected to drive the market for cannabidiol (CBD) nutraceuticals over the forecast period.
Key Players Influencing the Market:
1. Bluebird Botanicals 2. CV Sciences, Inc. 3. Elixinol LLC 4. Endoca BV 5. Foria Wellness 6. Garden of Life 7. Green Roads 8. Isodiol 9. Medical Marijuana, Inc. 10. MEDTERRA
Market Segmentation:
The CBD nutraceuticals market is segmented on the basis of product type, and sales channel. Based on product type the market is segmented as CBD tinctures, capsules & softgels, CBD gummies, others. On the basis of sales channel the market is categorized as retail stores and online pharmacies.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 11:05 AM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2020 / Mota Ventures Corp. (CSE:MOTA)(FSE:1WZ1)(OTC PINK:PEMTF) (the “Company“) is excited to announce for the month of April, it acquired 17,996 new customers. This represents an increase of 48% compared to April 2019. In April, the Company also experienced strong demand from customers enrolling in a subscription, totaling of 14,091 new subscribers during the month. This represents a new subscriber increase of 78% compared to April 2019.
The Company’s Natures Exclusive brand offers a CBD hemp-oil formulation intended to provide users with the therapeutic benefits that hemp may offer. The hemp oil used in the products is derived from hemp grown and cultivated in the United States. The extraction process is designed to maintain all the beneficial qualities that hemp may offer. Natures Exclusive offers a range of products, which include CBD oil drops, CBD gummies, CBD pain relief cream, CDB skin serum and CBD coffee.
“We continue to see strong consumer demand for our entire range due to our concentrated customer acquisition efforts and by providing compelling products our customers are asking for. Our April new customer acquisition and subscription numbers are continued evidence of the strength of the business. Additionally, I am excited about our recent launch of a CBD hand sanitizer product and anticipate we will see very strong sales through this current quarter,” stated Ryan Hoggan, CEO of the Company.
The Company also announces that it has granted 7,995,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company. The options vest immediately, and are exercisable at a price of $0.30 for a period of 60 months. The options are governed by the terms of the Company’s incentive stock option plan, and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.
About Mota Ventures Corp.
Mota Ventures is an established eCommerce, direct to consumer provider of a wide range of CBD products in the United States and Europe. In the United States, the Company sells a CBD hemp-oil formulation derived from hemp grown and formulated in the US through its Nature’s Exclusive brand. Within Europe, its Sativida brand of award winning 100% organic CBD oils and cosmetics are sold throughout Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Mota Ventures is also seeking to acquire additional revenue producing CBD brands and operations in both Europe and North America, with the goal of establishing an international distribution network for CBD products. Low cost production, coupled with international, direct to customer, sales channels will provide the foundation for the success of Mota Ventures.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MOTA VENTURES CORP.
Ryan Hoggan
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President at +604.423.4733 or by email at [email protected] or www.motaventuresco.com
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:07 AM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals is focused on the exploration and development of minerals for the new green economy such as lithium and graphite. Lomiko owns 80% of the high-grade La Loutre graphite Property, Lac Des Iles Graphite Property and the 100% owned Quatre Milles Graphite Property. Lomiko is uniquely poised to supply the growing EV battery market. Click Here For More Information
The study commissioned by DeepGreen examines how we can source the massive amount of mineral resources required for a wholesale move away from fossil fuels with the least amount of damage to the planet.
As calls for a transition to renewable energy and electric transport grow louder in the face of increasing global climate chaos, demand for certain EV battery metals is projected to increase by 11 times the current level by 2050, according to the World Bank, with shortages in nickel, cobalt and copper predicted to emerge as soon as 2025.
The first-of-its-kind LCSA study provides an in-depth comparison of the cradle-to-gate impacts of producing metals from land ores and polymetallic nodules, both sources of the nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese required to build one billion EV batteries. The researchers examine the relative impacts of the extraction, processing and refining of these key base metals on several impact categories, including: greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration, ecosystem services, non-living resources and habitats, biodiversity, human health and economics.
“The purpose of this in-depth research effort is to provide a substantive look into the impacts of different sources of the critical battery metals that make up the bedrock of the clean energy economy†said DeepGreen Chairman and CEO Gerard Barron. “The scale of the green transition is monumental, and the timeline is daunting. For Earth Day’s 50th anniversary let’s go deeper than mere calls for renewable energy and electric transport and have an honest conversation about the resources required to get us there. We believe that polymetallic nodules are an important part of the solution. They contain high concentrations of nickel, cobalt and manganese – they’re effectively an EV battery in a rock.â€
Gerard Barron, DeepGreen Chairman and CEO, added that ocean nodules are a unique resource to consider at a time when society urgently needs a good solution for supplying new virgin metals for the green transition and that extraction of virgin metals – from any source – is by definition not sustainable and generates environmental damage. This means there is a responsibility to understand the benefits – as well as the damages associated with sourcing base metals from nodules.
Polymetallic nodules are made of almost 100 percent usable minerals and contain no toxic levels of deleterious elements, compared to ores mined from the land which have increasingly low yields (often below 1 percent) and often do contain toxic levels of deleterious elements. This means that producing metals from nodules has the potential to generate almost zero solid waste and no toxic tailings, as opposed to terrestrial mining processes which produce billions of tonnes of waste and can leak deadly toxins into soil and water resources.
Based on a relative impact assessment of land ores and ocean nodules, the researchers find that nodule collection and processing can deliver a 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent (C02e) emissions, 94 percent reduction in stored carbon at risk, 90 percent reduction in SOx and NOx emissions, 100 percent less solid waste, 94 percent less land use, 92 percent less forest use and zero child labour, among other benefits.
“Over the last 5 years there has been heightened awareness of the environmental, social and economic impacts of producing metals from land ores†said one of the whitepaper’s lead researchers, marine biologist and ecologist Dr. Steven Katona. “We essentially built on existing lifecycle assessment indicators work for land-based mining and created an apples-to-apples comparison for battery material production from ocean nodules. This unique comparative LCSA enables auto manufacturers, technology companies and policy makers to understand how these different sources of key base metals measure up against each other with regards to their impacts.â€
While the deep seabed is a food-poor environment with limited biomass, uncertainties remain over the nature as well as temporal and spatial scales of impacts from nodule collection on deep-sea wildlife. The study provides the broader context for a deeper, multi-year environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) being conducted by DeepGreen, in what the company says will be the largest integrated seabed-to-surface deep-ocean science programme ever conducted, with over 100 separate studies being undertaken. DeepGreen has partnered with three pacific island states for deep-sea environmental studies, mineral exploration and project development. Through these relationships with the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Kiribati and the Kingdom of Tonga, DeepGreen has exclusive rights under the International Seabed Authority to explore for polymetallic nodules in regions of the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.
In recent months DeepGreen has continued its push to disrupt the minerals industry and re-shape how critical battery metals are sourced, processed and ultimately recycled, through several key milestones. In October DeepGreen derived its first metal from polymetallic nodules in a processing lab, and in March, the company’s partner Allseas acquired a former drill ship to convert to a polymetallic nodule collecting vessel.
Earlier this month the company announced the acquisition of Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML), giving DeepGreen access to a third seabed contract area in which to explore for battery metals with significantly lower environmental and social impact. As part of its commitment to develop these resources, which are defined as the ‘Common Heritage’ of Humankind, DeepGreen is committed to full transparency, has pledged to share all knowledge generated and is currently involved in a global stakeholder engagement process.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:42 AM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
Received a licence from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis commission to open its first store in Calgary, Alberta
It is anticipated that the store, located at 104-58th Ave, SE, suite 140 Calgary, Alberta and operate as SPDR Cannabis,
Will open in the month of June.
Vaughan, Ontario–(May 5, 2020) – Spyder Cannabis Inc. (TSXV: SPDR) (“Spyder” or the “Company“) and its wholly-owned associated applicants, The Green Spyder Inc. and Spyder Cannabis Subco Inc., is pleased to announce that it has received a licence from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis commission (the “AGLC”) to open its first store in Calgary, Alberta. It is anticipated that the store, located at 104-58th Ave, SE, suite 140 Calgary, Alberta and operate as SPDR Cannabis, will open in the month of June. It will offer a full assortment of cannabis products from licenced producers.
“We are excited to open our first licenced cannabis store in Calgary, Alberta, a province which led the way in the rollout of the Canadian cannabis market. The store is ideally located in a busy hub of commercial retail establishments”, said Daniel Pelchovitz Spyder’s President & CEO. “We very much look forward to bringing the Spyder brand and retail experience focus to Calgary”.
About Spyder Cannabis Inc.
Spyder is a Cannabis, Vape and CBD retailer that operates in jurisdictions where the products are federally legal in both Canada and the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is a retailer involved in the development of three retail business units. The first is the sale of Cannabis products, the second is the sale of CBD in the United States only, the third is the sale of smoking cessation products in Ontario.
Cautionary Statements
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release includes statements containing certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). Forward- looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “continue”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
For more information, please contact:
Spyder Cannabis Inc. Dan Pelchovitz President & Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1.888.504.7737 Email: [email protected]
Tags: Cannabis, CBD, CSE, Hemp, Marijuana, stocks Posted in Spyder Cannabis Inc. | Comments Off on Spyder $SPRD.ca Announces Licence to Open #Cannabis Retail Store in Calgary, Alberta $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $OGI.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:39 AM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
EMPOWER SEES SUBSTANTIAL YEAR-OVER-YEAR PATIENT GROWTH WHILE ROLLING OUT ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND CONTINUES TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT EXPANSION OF COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING
Patient visits in corporate clinics increased by 871% in April 2020 versus the same period in 2019,
Total patient visits of 2,212 in April 2020 compared to 254 in April 2019.
VANCOUVER, BC / May 5, 2020 / EMPOWER CLINICS INC. (CSE:CBDT)(OTCQB:EPWCF)(Frankfurt:8EC) (“Empower” or the “Company“), a vertically integrated life sciences company, is pleased to announce that patient visits in corporate clinics increased by 871% in April 2020 versus the same period in 2019, with total patient visits of 2,212 in April 2020 compared to 254 in April 2019.
The Company is booking new physician appointments for immune boosting services that are leading to naturopathic product sales and the ordering of specialized tests. In addition, the Company has increased orders of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and equipment such as stainless-steel tables, portable air conditioning units, tents and medical supplies to support staff and patients as part of a medical testing protocol in the United States.
The Company has also been identified by Amazon Business as needing access to critical supplies and as such, the Company has been awarded access to the Amazon COVID-19 SUPPLIES portal, which provides access to essential products for organizations participating in the fight against Coronavirus.
“The performance results from April are truly outstanding and given the operational changes the team have made as a result of Coronavirus, I am immensely proud of their efforts” said Steven McAuley, Chairman & CEO of Empower. “We are starting to see strong diversification in the revenue model for our clinics that will help us grow not only patient count, but revenue per patient, total revenue and perhaps more importantly, create revenue diversity to reduce concentration risk for the business model.”
ABOUT EMPOWER
Empower is a vertically integrated health & wellness brand with a network of corporate and franchised health & wellness clinics in the U.S. The Company is building its first hemp-derived CBD extraction facility and produces its proprietary line of cannabidiol (CBD) based products. The Company is a leading multi-state operator of a network of physician-staffed wellness clinics, focused on helping patients improve and protect their health, through innovative physician recommended treatment options. The Company has commenced activity on how to connect its significant data, to the potential of the efficacy of alternative treatment options related to hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) therapies, psilocybin and other psychedelic plant-based treatment options. The Company now offers COVID-19 testing options in the United States and physician-based consultations, to address COVID-19 concerns.
Investors: Dustin Klein SVP, Business Development [email protected] 720-352-1398
For French inquiries: Remy Scalabrini, Maricom Inc., E: [email protected], T: (888) 585-MARI
DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (collectively “forward looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws.All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements can frequently be identified by words such as “plans”, “continues”, “expects”, “projects”, “intends”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the Company’s expected timing of filing of its Annual Filings, the Company’s intention to create psilocybin and psychedelics divisions, that market research on advancements in psilocybin and psychedelics in North America and globally will create greater shareholder value, the Company’s intention to open a hemp-based CBD extraction facility, the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders as a result of the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; the effectiveness of the extraction technology; the expected benefits for Empower’s patient base and customers; the benefits of CBD based products; the effect of the approval of the Farm Bill; the growth of the Company’s patient list and that the Company will be positioned to be a market-leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2019 and beyond; the ability of the Company to complete or execute phases One, Two, Three or Four as noted above, and Psychedelic substances remain illegal in most countries, so please reference your local laws in relation to medical or recreational use. Such statements are only projections, are based on assumptions known to management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including; that the Company may not open a hemp-based CBD extraction facility; that legislative changes may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and product development; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate financing to pursue its business plan; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; failure to obtain any necessary approvals in connection with the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; and other factors beyond the Company’s control. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable laws.
SOURCE: Empower Clinics Inc.
Tags: CBD, covid19, CSE, Hemp, Marijuana Posted in Empower Clinics Inc. | Comments Off on Empower Clinics $CBDT.ca Announces April 2020 Patient Growth of 871% and Orders Additional Supplies for #Covid19 Testing $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $OGI.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:35 AM on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
If you don’t know what Augmented Reality (AR) is, this quote from Apple CEO Tim Cook is all the motivation you need to get up to speed:
“AR Will play an important role in how we use technology in the future – and promises to be as influential in our society as the smart phoneâ€
 AR is essentially a technology that lays digital images and graphics over the real world.   As the name implies, Imagine AR (IP:CSE) is an Augmented Reality Company that enables businesses to create their own mobile phone AR campaigns with no programming or technology experience. More than just lip service, the Company recently signed a 5-year $300,000 deal with SlapItOn to provide AR for athletes and celebrities to engage fans. SlapItOn is owned by elite athletes including the likes of Troy Aikman, Mike Modano and Johnny Damon. Founder & CEO Mike Vanderjagt stated: Â
“ImagineARTM is the most advanced augmented reality mobile platform in the marketplace today. By integrating ImagineARTM with hi-tech vinyl decals, we will be launching our new SlapItOn Interactive product line featuring social media leaders in sports & entertainment globally.”
If Athletes know a winner when they see one, Imagine AR (IP:CSE) is the Augmented Reality company that allows small cap investors to participate in the growth of the space, which IP says is projected to grow ~ 2,000% in the next 4 years …. that is not a typo!
IP is not a one trick pony either. They started commercializing their mobile Augmented Reality Platform long before this deal with SlapItOn. Clients include:
NBA Sacramento Kings
Mall Of America
AT&T Shape
Basketball Hall Of Fame
….. more
As a result, ImagineAR is now well positioned to further commercialize and capitalize on massive demand for Augmented Reality If our interview with CEO Alen Paul Silverrstieen is any indication, it sounds like the Company’s growth is all but assured in 2020.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:02 PM on Monday, May 4th, 2020
SPONSOR: Imagine AR Inc. (IP:CSE) (IPNFF:OTCQB) is an Augmented Reality platform that allows businesses to easily launch AR campaigns. Clients Include: NBA Sacramento Kings, Mall of America, AT&T Shape and The Basketball Hall of Fame. Learn More.
Elon Musk talks Tesla cars playing augmented reality games while driving
In a new Twitter comment, Elon Musk talks about possibly developing a game for Tesla cars using augmented reality game while driving… or Minecraft.
For the last two years, Tesla has been devoting some resources to integrate video games into its user experience.
It plans to do more of that in the future, as Musk says that Tesla’s goal is to increase owners’ happiness and make the ownership experience more fun
They started with a few games, like Asteroids and Pole Position, but Musk said that it was only the beginning of the automaker’s venture into games inside its vehicles.
They want to add more Atari games to the emulator, but Musk has also made it clear they plan to add other games from other companies as well.
It sounds like Musk would like game developers to find ways to run an online multiplayer version of the popular world builder game Minecraft on Tesla’s onboard computer.
The CEO secured a few responses from software engineers regarding that.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:50 PM on Monday, May 4th, 2020
SPONSOR: Esports Entertainment Group(GMBL:NASDAQ) – Millions of people from around the world tune in to watch teams of video game players compete with each other. In first quarter 2020, YouTube reported 1.1 billion hours watched, an increase of 13% when compared to fourth quarter 2019. Wagering on Esports is projected to hit $23 BILLION this year although that number will likely be eclipsed due to the recent pandemic. Esports Entertainment Group is the next generation online gambling company designed for the purpose of facilitating as much of this wagering as possible. LEARN MORE.
How NBA 2K And Esports Are Filling Voids Left By The Coronavirus Outbreak
On a Saturday night at downtown Manhattan’s Terminal 5, the atmosphere resembles that of a primetime awards show
Flashing bulbs and cameramen line a red carpet, straining for shots of luminaries as they walk by
A line of spectators waits to be granted entry to an event promised to feature celebrities, musical guests and the best in the world at their craft being recognized
Only this isn’t the Oscar’s, Emmy’s or Grammy’s. It’s the 2020 NBA 2K League Draft.
The evening has all the makings of the big leagues. The venue, one that’s featured performances from the likes of Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg in recent years, sets the stage; players who spend most of their lives in relative anonymity are, for tonight, transformed into full-on celebrities.
“There are more than 50 million players who play 2K in some way, shape or form,†said Brendan Donohue, NBA 2K League Managing Director. “We’re ending up with the top 100 players in the world, so we want to make that player feels like he got to the highest mountaintop.â€
Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis announces the first pick on behalf of Wizards gaming. Former New York star Allan Houston selects for Knicks gaming. It’s a watershed moment of sorts for NBA 2K and even esports as an industry, a sign of how far a once-niche pursuit has come in just a few short years and a clear notice served that this world isn’t going anywhere.
And within just a few weeks, it will be shattered by a worldwide crisis – replaced by a wholly different reality, one shedding a completely new light on the relevance and importance of gaming in our modern world.
On an early April afternoon, Ronnie Singh is sitting alone in his bedroom. Singh – better known in the gaming world as Ronnie 2K, Director of Influencer Marketing for NBA 2K and the franchise’s wildly popular public face, boasting over a million Twitter followers – is handling commentary and organization duties for a one-on-one tournament being played remotely between 16 NBA players, broadcast on ESPN.
He’s alone, as are each of the tournament’s participants, due to the coronavirus outbreak that’s swept the world in the weeks since he and other big names in the 2K realm convened on Terminal 5.
Scheduled 2K League play, the bulk of which is typically run at a central studio location in New York, was shut down. Players, like their NBA counterparts, began sequestering at home.
It was certainly an adjustment for Singh, who by his own admission hadn’t gone more than 10 days without traveling in four years. His efforts shifted to a support role, both for his staff and for the many players around the NBA with whom he’s developed close relationships over the years. He also took advantage of a rare chance to log a few more hours on the 2K sticks and connect with the community.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 05: Dwyane Wade (L) and Ronnie 2K attend the NBA 2K20: Welcome … [+] Getty Images for NBA 2K20
Quickly, though, his days were busied by helping fill society’s live competition void, starting with the ESPN collaboration.
“We had a responsibility to provide entertainment where there was a massive vacuum,†Singh said in a phone interview.
Some broadcast clunkiness aside (to be expected for such a unique first-time event), the tournament’s success was pretty undeniable. It was the single highest-viewed esports program in ESPN’s history, an early indicator of the public’s appetite for this sort of thing while traditional sports are shut down.
Secondarily, it was a chance to answer a question Singh and the folks at 2K have long debated: Who is really the best NBA player at the game? Competing schedules would normally keep such a dedicated competition from happening – dominant eventual champ Devin Booker and others might not have even been available to play otherwise.
“I think people really appreciated watching these guys get their competitive juices flowing in a game they love,†Singh said. “I think it was really well-received.â€
So well, in fact, that there’s real interest in a sequel before long. Ronnie isn’t giving away any details, but keep an eye out – and in typical 2K style, expect a fresh format to keep fans on their toes.
NBA 2K League is set to begin play remotely Tuesday night, another big bridge for the sport to cross. It’s been no small undertaking, one facing similar challenges to the formation of the ESPN collaboration.
“A lot is going to be different about this season,†said Donohue. “We normally play most of our games in our New York studio. This year we’re going to be going to 23 different studios – teams will be playing from their homes or studios in their respective markets.
“We’ll be doing a broadcast right at those locations. They’ll be with their teammates – they’ve been living together for the last several months.â€
The league is prepared to play remotely for as long as needed to ensure safety, Donohue says. At least six weeks are scheduled for now.
A contestant toggles a game controller during day one of the NBA 2k League (NBA2KL) professional … [+]
The difficulties of the shift have also offered opportunities to innovate. Instead of a single location in New York as the league’s hub, a virtual studio has been set up to serve every market playing. Play-by-play commentators will be located in several cities, but everything will feed into one centralized broadcast that can toggle between games.
There are tweaks abound for the tactical diehards out there as well. Based on feedback from players and team GMs, the league has expanded positional player “archetypes†– each of the five positions on the floor (point guard, shooting guard, etc.) now has eight such archetypes rather than five, opening up previously-unexplored strategic gold mines.
Twenty-three is the high-water mark for teams in the league in its third season, with a unique addition this year: The Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai will join, the first team outside North America to do so.
Who are the favorites?
“I think the T-Wolves, after winning last year, will come back strong,†Singh says. “The Blazers are always very strong.
“Celtics gaming, they have one of the best players in the league in Fab, they’re always going to be dangerous. There’s a lot of parity in the league for what I believe is the first time, so I’m fascinated to see the action when it kicks off.â€
A distinct pride in their work is evident when speaking to Singh or others involved with NBA 2K. Between buy-in from the NBA superstars who define its identity and many of the franchise’s grassroots efforts, more than just a video game tropes don’t sound contrived.
Take a recent partnership with musical entity UnitedMasters to collaborate on the NBA 2K20 soundtrack. Up-and-coming artists from around the world were asked to submit tracks for consideration, with ten actually added to the game to help launch their creators.
“One thing we’ve done that’s different than a lot of other video game brands is adapted to the culture of basketball,†Singh said.
Now, though, the stakes are different. 2K League was already well on its way, with over a million unique viewers for last season’s finals, but no one expected this. As corny as it may sound to some outsiders, those involved feel a real sense of the gravity of it all: A pursuit that for so long has struggled for mainstream acceptance is finally discovering it right as our definitions of normal collapse.
“I’ll tell you what: I’m in my 30s, and just like everyone else in my generation I’ve had to defend our playing video games,†Singh says. “Now it’s an aspirational career.â€
For many, at least right now, it might be even more than that.
Google said since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been closely monitoring advertiser behavior.
