Boom Entertainment is a technology company that is fueling the biggest winners in sports betting and online gaming

Boom Entertainment

Cybersecurity stocks enjoyed a strong 2023 off the back of a generative AI boom that has posed new challenges to the industry as a whole. As rapidly advancing artificial intelligence brings fresh problems and solutions for online privacy and safety, could we see cybersecurity stocks emulate the astonishing success of semiconductor firms like Nvidia over the year ahead? Today, online businesses are having to counter increasingly sophisticated threats. that global cyberattacks have grown between 40% to 45% in 2023, with major breaches striking Las Vegas hotel operators MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment as well as genomics and biotech firm 23andMe. Forbes data suggests The , buoyed by advancing technologies like AI, has prompted a widespread increase in cybersecurity spending among businesses. According to Gartner data, worldwide end-user spending on security and risk management is set to in 2024, representing a 14.3% increase over last year. severity of cyberattacks reach $215 billion This heightened emphasis on cybersecurity spending has led some Wall Street analysts to suggest that the industry is next in line for a growth spurt, with generative AI growth helping to pave the way for more sophisticated defensive solutions for leading players. “Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important as enterprises and organizations rely more on technology,” , head of investment advice at Freedom Finance Europe. “The rise in cybercrime has led to an increased demand for cybersecurity products and services, and it is expected that this demand will continue to grow in 2024.” explains Maxim Manturov In 2023, the emergence of generative AI, sparked by OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT, paved the way for a significant market rally that saw semiconductor stocks undergo major market rallies, with Nvidia [NASDAQ: NVDA] stock returning more than 220% over the calendar year. Could the growing need for security solutions push cybersecurity stocks into similar territory over the year ahead? Emulating the 2023 Semiconductor Boom The underlying reason why semiconductor stocks like Nvidia and AMD [NASDAQ: AMD] were so popular in 2023 was that they were quickly identified as the firms best placed to facilitate the widespread adoption of generative AI solutions. Semiconductor manufacturers had the power to produce chips to support Large Language Models for businesses seeking to embrace GenAI, and investors decided to bet big on the revenues that this would bring. As we can see from the iShares Semiconductor ETF [NASDAQ: SOXX], the industry as a whole enjoyed significant growth in 2023 that nearly doubled that of the S&P 500 over the year. With both Nvidia and AMD posting triple-digit gains, it’s clear that investor appetite for generative AI was focused largely on semiconductors. Using the First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF [NASDAQ: CIBR] as an example, we can see that the cybersecurity industry enjoyed strong growth that also outperformed the S&P 500. But could there be room for online security to take center stage in 2024? Security Risks and Opportunities of GenAI Forecasts suggest that generative AI will become omnipresent across enterprises in the future. As much as have reported that they are or will soon be using Large Language Models (LLMs) as part of their operations, with 57% expressing the same intentions. 69% of public sector companies While generative AI adoption is widely regarded as a powerful disruptive force across a vast range of industries, there are also many concerns surrounding the security threats they could pose. The adoption of LLMs raises concerns about the risks of using third-party models and their capabilities in a largely unregulated space. This rapid growth of generative AI is pushing more organizations into ramping up their artificial intelligence initiatives without sufficient guidelines or regulations in place to ensure that both AI and LLMs are safe and ethically sound. While this means that embracing AI at scale could be seen as a threat, it also offers fresh ways for companies to combat cybercrime. With many small businesses and startups incapable of building security teams to counter threats, defensive AI can offer all organizations a to keep cybercriminals at bay. valuable framework “As AI crosses a new threshold, security predictions at scale are becoming more tangible,” , CTO at IBM Security. “Although early security use cases of generative AI focus on the front end, improving security analysts’ productivity, I don’t think we’re far from seeing generative AI deliver a transformative impact on the back end to completely reimagine threat detection and response into threat prediction and protection. suggests Sridhar Muppidi “The technology is there, and the innovations have matured. The cybersecurity industry will soon reach a historic milestone, achieving prediction at scale.” Innovative Cybersecurity to Bring Wall Street Growth As generative AI presents more sophisticated risks to online businesses, cybersecurity firms that embrace artificial intelligence can be best placed to combat threats more effectively and consistently. This will invariably present new opportunities to investors on Wall Street, with leading cybersecurity stocks already working on comprehensively embracing AI solutions. With this in mind, three cybersecurity stocks could be well placed to emulate the success of leading semiconductor firms on Wall Street should investors turn their attention to AI defences in 2024: 1. Fortinet Inc [FTNT] \Fortinet is no stranger to parabolic growth on Wall Street, having made spectacular gains in the wake of the pandemic-driven push towards digital transformation in recent years. The firm has seen much of its growth emerge from the firewall market, which analysts believe has been steadily improving over the second half of 2023. The beauty of Fortinet is that , managing director at Bank of America, believe that the stock is trading at a “significant discount” in comparison to the firm’s bull and bear scenarios, which still implies a 4% upside in a worst-case scenario. analysts led by Tal Liani 2. CrowdStrike [NASDAQ: CRWD] CrowdStrike became one of the most impressive cybersecurity performers in 2023 and is readily embracing generative AI solutions to add further strength in the future. The firm is a leading resource for endpoint security and specializes in antivirus, detection, response, and combatting malware. In May 2023, CrowdStrike , a generative AI security analyst that provides automated detection and response to assist users of all skill levels to identify and stop breaches in a more simplified manner. The LLM will also enable customers to ask questions in dozens of languages to receive more accurate and intuitive responses from the CrowdStrike Falcon platform. introduced Charlotte AI 3. Microsoft [NASDAQ: MSFT] Tech giant Microsoft always has the power to enter industries and become a market leader, and the recent in-roads the firm has been making in cybersecurity could help its stock to become recognized as a prominent force in the sector. Having recently implemented a new AI assistant within the Microsoft Security Copilot platform, Microsoft’s cybersecurity capabilities are continuing to grow thanks to artificial intelligence solutions. In November 2023, what the company termed “the next major step in this industry-defining vision: combining the power of leading solutions in security information and event management (SIEM), extended detection and response (XDR), and generative AI for security into the first unified security operations platform.” Microsoft announced This AI-driven security upgrade for Microsoft Security Copilot further underlines the stock’s position as a key innovator in the field of . cybersecurity Can Cybersecurity Emulate the Semiconductor Boom? The semiconductor industry benefitted from having a strong relationship with generative AI due to its key role in implementing the technology. While the GenAI boom was a rare instance that brought floods of investor optimism and growth to global markets, it’s reasonable to expect cybersecurity to experience growth as the implications of the technology place a greater emphasis on security. Although emulating Nvidia’s significant 2023 rally may prove to be a little on the ambitious side, generative AI will likely ensure that cybersecurity innovators remain more relevant than ever in the future.

Could Cybersecurity Stocks Be Next In-Line to Emulate the Success of 2023’s Semiconductor Boom?

সাইবারসিকিউরিটি স্টকগুলি কি 2023 এর সেমিকন্ডাক্টর বুমের সাফল্যকে অনুকরণ করতে পরবর্তী ইন-লাইন হতে পারে?

Könnten Cybersicherheitsaktien als nächstes an den Erfolg des Halbleiterbooms im Jahr 2023 anknüpfen?

¿Podrían las acciones de ciberseguridad ser las próximas en emular el éxito del auge de los semiconductores de 2023?

Les actions de cybersécurité pourraient-elles être les prochaines à imiter le succès du boom des semi-conducteurs de 2023 ?

क्या 2023 के सेमीकंडक्टर बूम की सफलता का अनुकरण करने के लिए साइबर सुरक्षा स्टॉक अगली कतार में हो सकते हैं?

2023 年の半導体ブームの成功を真似るのはサイバーセキュリティ銘柄になる可能性があるでしょうか?

사이버 보안 주식이 2023년 반도체 붐의 성공을 모방할 수 있을까요?

As ações de segurança cibernética poderiam ser as próximas a emular o sucesso do boom de semicondutores de 2023?

Могут ли акции кибербезопасности стать следующими на очереди, чтобы повторить успех полупроводникового бума 2023 года?

Siber Güvenlik Hisseleri 2023'teki Yarı İletken Patlamasının Başarısını Taklit Edecek Sırada Olabilir mi?

Cổ phiếu an ninh mạng có thể trở thành cổ phiếu tiếp theo mô phỏng thành công của sự bùng nổ chất bán dẫn năm 2023 không?

网络安全股票能否效仿 2023 年半导体繁荣的成功？

I don't need to talk too much about the craze behind NFTs -- at least, the ones representing all kinds of digital art being sold, exchanged, and bid online. While the general crypto sentiment is at best tepid (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and most other legacy blockchain cryptocurrencies are down 30-40% from their 2021 all-time highs), NFTs are still raking in the profits. Sure, volumes across the board are tapering off, but new projects and older, established art NFTs are still pilfering views and bids and rising prices everywhere you look. It's No Longer About the Art, If It Ever Was Ignoring the earlier headlines of 2021 about Beeple and Rarible mega-buys and sidestepping the dozens of art galleries and festivals who almost surely have included one roundtable discussion or one exhibit of NFTs, it's arguable to say that the artistic quality of the big NFT buys we're seeing recently does not exactly set the pulse racing. : The Metaflower Super Mega Yacht. Source Opensea Surveying the scene for recent high-priced buys of art, over the past 3 months, we can list out: A Roblox-esque low-resolution 3D boat sold for $650,000 Various 2d cartoon monkeys sold for upwards of $400,000 The first-gen NFT art CryptoPunk, a pixellated... punk caricature, sold for (not really but it counts) half a billion dollars We probably should have seen it coming (when Snoop Dogg enters the scene, why not?), but Eminem's plopping down of $400,000 on a Bored Ape NFT, presumably because it resembles him at an exhausting stretch of imagination, proves that people with money and status are really not any longer about the art. Status, Privilege, Tribe Parting with $400,000 for Eminem wasn't about owning a piece of art that admirers would fawn over on his laptop. A buyer of a Bored Ape joins an exclusive club of celebrity investors who have nothing in common but the willingness to exchange obscene amounts of money for derivative monkey illustrations. What makes this Ape club so prestigious, you ask? The bottom price of an ape: 71 Ether. Even at bargain price Ether now, that's still almost $250,000. And we all are familiar with prestige bearing a price tag, aren't we? If our parents thought wearing a Rolex was a symbol of status, then today, a Twitter handle bearing an Ape tells everyone you have a quarter of a million dollars in disposable income. And it tells everyone, in no uncertain terms, that you're in the same tribe as Eminem, Jimmy Fallon, Post Malone, and Steph Curry. How easy would have been without NFTs to "brush shoulders" with the elite of entertainment? Not very. Of course, in the case of the half-billion dollar CryptoPunk, speculation is rife online on Twitter and Discord (where you'll invariably see all the discussions on NFT sales), is that this was merely a publicity stunt from the actual owner to inflate the value expectations of their NFT. And when you consider that there have been plenty of allegations in the past of NFT trade washing (the same people or entities simply buying and selling to each other to give an illusion of demand through publicly displayed trading volume), it's not hard to believe the lengths people would go to pump their tokens. So NFTs is Not About Art Any Longer. But That's Okay, Right? As you’ve probably gathered by now, the point I'm trying to drive home here is that the beautiful dream of NFTs being a watershed moment in the art revolution isn't really what's driving the crazy ramblings online and wallet-opening impulses behind NFTs. AI randomized art And it's not to say that the beautiful art dream world of NFT is over either. Dozens of actual artists around the world are still finding outlets for visibility and income they simply wouldn't have had without NFTs and marketplaces like OpenSea. Personally, I still get a goosebump or two and a shot of dopamine when I see adorable kids around the world making small fortunes when random anon buys up one of their painting NFTs. And just because I can't wrap my head around spending hard-earned money on virtual bits and bytes doesn't mean anyone else can't. If I pretend that the hype-peddling wealthy crypto people living on Twitter don't sometimes nauseate me, I can appreciate that the NFT art scene is simply the most vibrant digital way of representing status, prestige, and ego. What's on sale here is attitude. A distilled form of capitalism that has never better represented the tribalistic pride of being part of a rich, bored, siphoned mess of a millennial angsty club. And really. There's nothing wrong with that.

The NFT Art Boom is Not About Art (But There's Nothing Wrong with That)

We have been living through the drastic changes caused by COVID-19 for over a year now, and the results impact our as well as physical health. Due to quarantine, it's hard to stay productive, work normally, and make plans for the future. No wonder that the number of people experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression for the last year, according to a survey by the US Census Bureau. mental wellbeing has increased from 11% to 42% Much of that has been tied to the stress caused by the unpredictability of the world in the last year. People have been compelled to , where they can cheer themselves up (or at least reload when they need to). At this time, when most activities outside the home haven’t been available, connected TV has taken a step forward by offering tons of entertaining content that everyone can access anytime on demand. seek solace in the virtual world CTV as relief during quarantine With CTV, users decide what content they want to watch, when and in what way they want to do so. They control their viewing experience from beginning to end. There is no chance of missing something important because CTV content is loaded, paused, and resumed on demand. Traditional linear TV forces viewers to be in front of their screens at a particular scheduled time, and there is no opportunity to watch the broadcasted content in any other way. Though staying at home during quarantine is usually not difficult, planning a schedule around the shows one wants to watch can still be a hassle. With connected TV, viewers can relax knowing that they can access any content they choose on multiple devices at any time. CTV also offers cost savings. With CTV, you pay only for the content and services you want, instead of paying for a big cable or satellite package which includes all kinds of programming that aren’t relevant to you. This is important during the pandemic when people are trying to tighten their budgets, and high-value, low-cost CTV offers exactly that. But convenience isn’t the only reason why CTV is blossoming these days. People are also attracted to CTV by original content which is available only on certain platforms; it’s so important that companies are on it. If there are TV shows that can be viewed only on one streaming service, or games that can be played only on one gaming platform, people have a very strong reason to adopt that platform to get access to that exclusive entertainment. ready to spend billions of dollars Unique experiences have always been important, but in times when digital media may be the solely available form of entertainment, they are absolutely critical. For example, are motivated by the original content they are able to watch with their subscriptions. And more broad research shows that subscribe to channels and platforms because they want access to videos and games that they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. more than 45% of Disney+ subscribers 47% of viewers Video gaming as a new CTV trend Whereas movies and shows offer a passive viewing experience, games offer interactive entertainment that puts players in control. The participatory experience of gaming is appealing during these stressful times. All of this has led to a in the popularity of gaming among all kinds of people over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. noticeable increase The vast and growing variety of available games can satisfy the need for new experiences. Game developers keep on inventing new game ideas, developing new storylines, and building new material for their previous creations. Moreover, video games can be played across a wide variety of platforms, including CTVs. Even before the pandemic, the video gaming industry was on the rise. Beginning in 2019, the number of gamers in the US has grown and is expected to reach more than 177 million in 2021. The gaming industry’s expansion has reached the CTV environment as well. According to our research, from all the apps published on Roku in 2020, 1.4% account for games — twice as many as in 2019, — and this number only promises to grow. an average of 5.7% a month Thanks to that, there are emerging companies who try to saddle a trend, but because of the sheer newness of the market, not a lot of them are doing so professionally. And that is what we at Playcent Games are trying to change: to broaden the OTT market from mostly TV shows to more divergent content. By capitalizing on our experience in the mobile market, we want to bring to the CTV gaming market a lot more professionally created content. We have every reason to believe that interest in OTT content and games on streaming platforms will rise even more in the new post-COVID world. The shows that, during the crisis, a third of consumers have subscribed to a video gaming service or used a cloud gaming service for the first time. Although 55% of Americans 18 and older believe they could this year, they won’t give up new forms of entertainment: predicts that time spent with CTV will not only maintain its levels but continue to go up. This would mean combining the new habits created during quarantine with old ones, creating an altogether new way of interacting with the world. Deloitte digital media trends survey get back to their normal routines Emarketer analysis And we at see big potential in that. Playcent Games

COVID and CTV: How the Pandemic Fueled a Boom in VOD

(image source- ) Nintendo The entertainment sector is enormous and lucrative. Consumers spend vast amounts of money on entertainment such as video games, amusement parks, sporting games, social networks, cinema and music concerts. With thanks to innovative technologies, the entertainment sector has seen an increase in VR based entertainment. Although VR does not have the ability to replace all aspects of entertainment completely, it has made the industry more inclusive and immersive for consumers. VR technology has made its way into our homes thanks to technology giants Samsung. With the release of their new phones, they brought out . The Gear VR works seamlessly with Samsung smartphones and brings the world of virtual reality to a broad consumer market at affordable prices. Samsung Gear VR Over the past few years, using VR in entertainment has been experimental. However, we now have a better understanding of how best to use technology. Because of this, we have successfully managed to incorporated it into commercial settings, creating unique user experiences and boasting profitable VR projects to boost the economy. What is VR? VR is the use of computer-generated imagery to create a virtual environment that immerses the user through the use of a headset. It has the ability to along with tracking technology to track the user's motions. create 3D images Although VR in entertainment as mention above is still a relatively new concept, here's a look at some of the various VR options currently available. This new way of incorporating VR is transforming traditional types of entertainment and taking them into new dimensions. Cinema VR technology has the ability to transform the cinema. The film industry, like the industry, is always looking for new ways of re-inventing the wheel, and VR technology offers it that potential. As it is one of the most significant parts of the entertainment industry, the film industry can be quite influential. smartphone With lots of users and people interested in the watching movies, large production filmmakers like Marvel's Studios and Warner Brothers have the potential to change the cinema platform. The concept reaches out to who are eager to try cutting-edge technology. The use of these headsets also helps to attract an audience as VR uses technology that can not be used at home. VR enthusiasts The popularity in multidimensional cinema indicates that consumers are hungry for a more immersive cinematic experience, almost as if they are a part of the movie. Due to a demand in the market, there will need to be further developed. This may be in the form of a new way of storytelling which involves the viewer more. Amusement parks- Derren Browns VR Ghost Train The great joy of an amusement park is that it is specifically designed to give consumers an unusual experience. The rides are made for entertaining, and exciting, which why many thrill-seekers love them. The combination of rides with VR headsets pulls away from traditional amusement. Famous magician Derren Browns VR Ghost Train at London Thorpe Park does precisely that. The ride Combines and live-action to terrify ride goers. VR holograms The VR mimics the user's surroundings in a virtual world but with a ghostly green glow once they place the VR sets on their heads. Through the VR headset users are introduced to a specific storyline and new characters all designed to tease and scare. Using VR in this setting creates a different experience for users. It also works out financial friendly for organisations as they do not have to spend much money on trying to create an atmosphere with props and design. Gaming- VR Mario Kart VR technology in the gaming sector has always been popular. It has taken gaming to new heights allowing users to feel fully immersed into the game they are playing. Usually, the hard wear consists of a VR headset along with accessories which are needed to play the game. VR does well at replicating older beloved games and allowing users to play those games like never before. An excellent example of this is Japanese gaming company Bandai Namco, who launched a Mario Kart VR experience. Each player gets a VR headset, headphones and a pair of hand trackers while sitting in a dummy go-kart as players play the game, the combination of VR headset and dummy go-kart that shakes beneath players creating a truly immersive experience for the player. Raising their hands with the helps the player pick up a virtual object in the game. trackers

How VR Technology is Changing the Gaming and Entertainment Sectors

“Entertainment is about taking people away from the regular order of things when there is some chaos, pain, and stress in life.” – Michael Jackson. Since the dawn of humanity, the different forms of activities are performed that delights the wide range of people from toddler to elderly ones. The activities that hold the people’s interest and add pleasure to the life is essentially termed as entertainment, which has evolved from conventional storytelling, listening radio, and watching black and white silent movies to the live music, theatres, online channels, video games and other forms of mass media. With technology progress, what mass media offers is consumed by people like food, forgotten, and then replaced by a new dish. That’s why the world has witnessed a series of transitions in the entertainment space. Virtual reality technology has set a new stage for the world where the click of mouse or pressing of buttons would no longer require to entertain the people, instead, it’s filled with tactile interactions with digital world objects that lets people see, feel, hear, smell, taste and manipulate the digital world. VR- the next frontier of entertainment industry delivers an immersive experience to the people by turning the Sci-Fis into realities at a fast pace. It’s spanning across all areas of entertainment, including gaming, music, theatres, TV channels, parking rides, and pretty more. Different industries leveraging virtual reality to entertain the target users, to evolve the way to communicate with the users, enable remote interactions, and change the way people socialize. Let’s scratch the surface how the entertainment industry is experiencing VR revolution and unfolding new business models with it: • Transforming the way people listen to music The implementation of VR technology in music videos, live performances, and music education has astounded the people who have experienced it. The way back in 2015, when Google and Facebook have enabled the posting of , the immersive video creation gained traction. Listening to the music alongside viewing the videos through VR headset has taken the music video experience to a new level. 360-degree videos Gorillaz’s virtual reality music video for “Saturnz Barz” that’s jam-packed with a unique storyline, eye-catching visuals, and alien monsters is the brilliant example of it, which has generated over 3 million views in just 48 hours. Going beyond music videos, the live music concerts and events are also incorporating the technology to turn the live performance on TV or other forms of media into a shared space with fans. NextVR is one of the VR platforms that allow concert organizers to record the artist performance at the show and enable the users who are not able to attend the concert to enjoy the whole event using VR headset. The users can view the performance of the following artists- Imagine Dragons, Lady Antebellum, and Damian Marley on NextVR platform. It’s another business opportunity to monetize once the music show is over. Coachella festival that has distributed complimentary VR headsets to the fans who bought tickets is another instance of it. The Coachella VR app allows the festival-goers to view the content (performances, interview with the artist, 360-degree festival panoramas) before, during, and after the festival. It has excited the goers and enhanced watching live music show experiences. • VR theatres to create virtual cinematic experiences Who would like to physically go to the movie theatre when they can spare all hassles and expenses by staying at home and streaming a movie right on the couch via Netflix and home VR? Certainly, no one would prefer. But, it has put movie theatre business into trouble and they are dying a slow death as ticket prices are going up and the attendance is going down. This is why leading players has decided to motivate the people to get off the couches and get entertained in the theatres. The people wearing VR headsets on the spinning office-style chair can view the entire movie show in the virtual world devoid of the screen. No matter in which direction the people see, they will be landed into the virtual world of movie scenes. to invest in VR technology Cinemark- the world’s largest movie theatre chains teamed up with SPACES to start offering VR experience at its Century 20 Oakridge, and XD theatre in San Jose, California. The theatre is constantly innovating to take the movie going and entertainment experience to the next level. The theatre is offering immersive and mixed reality adventure experience to the Bay area guest where the players will fight against Skynet that takes place in the Terminator universe. After the show is over, the cinematic video of the experiences is provided to the players that they can take to the home and share with friends on social media. • VR making the games more engaging than before The multimedia boom of the early 1990s leads to the creation of video games (the combination of video and games) that has delighted the generation of that time. But, the interactive element was missing and that has given the space to VR technology in the gaming entertainment industry. VR is adding a new dimension to the gaming industry with its potential to hook up the people with an immersive experience, a new level of interaction, and outstanding content. Pushing the boundaries, most of the computer games are translated into VR format with better interaction and ground-breaking visuals. The first-person VR shooter games, VR racing games, VR horror games, VR adventure games, VR casino games, and VR city building games are the beloved crown jewels of the VR gaming space. Taking a step ahead, the leading companies have released Playstation's PS4 VR for which the catalog of VR games is launched in the market. The growing craze for PS4 consoles in the home certainly surge the VR apps appeal and the users will get stunning and fully immersive experiences. • Location-based VR solutions The location-based entertainment (LBE) is considered as the future of VR that’s transforming the venue into a virtual place where the people are land into a virtual world while standing or sitting in the custom-built environment that’s filled with high-end VR devices (Installed locally or worn as a headset). The various theme, arcades, casinos, mini golf courses, and bowling alleys venues are investing millions of dollars to incorporate LBE in the environment. The VOID is the recognized LBE VR company that has integrated physical objects to make Star Wars IP playable in VR, the truly immersive experience. The people can play and experience the popular LBE VR at different LBE retail locations. Holgate is another LBE VR company that offer multi-player experience with specialized easy-to-support turnkey solutions. The company has mainly shared its install base within the existing business who like to integrate LBE experiences, but it’s getting a lot of traction with great content. SPACES have partnered with Chinese theme park operators to build LBE experiences of higher magnitude, but the details are under wraps. Many other theme parks have implemented VR to amplify the excitement around the rides and increase the foot traffic. The value of VR for LBE is certainly not realized yet at the bigger scale, but it’s a stepping stone for something much bigger. The time will say how the immersive power of technology gain a strong foothold in the location-based entertainment industry and becomes a reality. Wrap up From last few years, the entertainment space is looking for the technology which engages the users to the level that they don’t remember about the world once they are dropped in the entertainment world. That’s where virtual reality rocks that transition the users to a completely new virtual space where they are completely engrossed. Virtual reality is the talk of the town in the entertainment industry that’s going into the mainstream due to its wholly immersive nature. The true absorbing power of the VR technology has led many businesses to innovate with VR and enhance the appeal to critical masses. The integral segments of the entertainment industry, namely music, theatres, location-based environment, and gaming have already started reaping the benefits of VR and expect to carve out new ways to outgrow, outperform, and outdo in the market. Inevitably, VR is here to stay, and it depends on entertainment companies how they leverage the tech to create a major breakthrough in the industry. Let’s wait and watch how the VR apps stand to expectations and beyond.

Towards Realizing The Potential of Virtual Reality in the Entertainment Industry

NFT Gaming, Crypto's Role in AGI, and Web3 Future: A Deep-Dive with Chris Trew of Stratis

Imagine you want to go for a bike ride. It could be a social ride with friends, a workout to maintain your fitness, or perhaps you’re an elite cyclist aiming to compete with the world’s best. Unfortunately, poor weather, bad road conditions, or time constraints hold you back. So, you take your bike, put it on a specialized equipment known as a smart trainer, connect it to your PC, Apple TV, or smartphone, and launch an application. In just a few seconds, you’re pedaling through a beautiful virtual world alongside friends, experiencing routes you’d never find on real roads. While this might sound like science fiction or even magic to some, it’s a daily routine for millions, and I would like to give you a glimpse of the technology behind it. As a PC/Console game developer and a passionate cyclist, I spent the last two years working on several experimental projects at the intersection of gaming and indoor cycling within the specialized cycling industry. For example, we released a mobile game for cyclists called Hustle City. If any readers have had a chance to play it, I’d be happy to read about your experience in the comments. I’m writing this post to remind myself of how incredible this industry is and to help others discover its magic. Now, let’s dive into the world of gamified cycling! The Journey of Indoor Cycling The Pioneers The first attempt to create gamified indoor cycling came from the video game pioneer Atari. The 80s witnessed the boom of aerobics and video workouts, and video game companies didn’t want to stay behind. So, in 1982, Atari created a prototype of Project Puffer. Here is how Puffer was going to work: a player pedaled the exercise bike, controlling the speed of a character on the screen. The handlebar of the bike had buttons for navigation so that the player could turn and avoid obstacles. The speed control technique was very straightforward: the faster you pedal, the faster your character goes. Games for Puffer didn’t only include bikes but also car racing and even ship navigation. The project had very high hopes and was anticipated by the public. However, Atari was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the game industry’s global crisis and was eventually passed to a new owner. The ambitious project was abandoned, but it remains in the hearts of vintage Atari enthusiasts. The New Beginning The actual rise of gamified indoor cycling occurred only 30 years later, thanks to advances in cycling technology and rising interest in gamified fitness. The pivotal invention that allowed this to happen was the smart trainer. It finally allowed millions of cycling enthusiasts to bring their workouts indoors at a reasonable price. Now, what makes it smart? Basically, it is a stationary indoor bicycle trainer that can also measure the power you produce and dynamically adjust the pedaling difficulty. The first smart trainers with rich user experiences and third-party device compatibility hit the market in the late 2000s. They were created by the hardware companies like Wahoo, Tacx, and Elite. Since then, about 10 million units have been sold. This invention nurtured a niche but large enough market of cycling enthusiasts hungry for more effective and engaging riding experiences. Cycling hardware companies have paved the way for software companies to enter the gamified cycling experience market. Zwift was the pioneer that introduced its open-world MMO in 2014, and it was a great success. Zwift remains the industry leader today, with around 2 million paying users, but many platforms have followed, including MyWhoosh, Virtupro, and Rouvy. Fun fact: now, indoor cycling platforms even become major sponsors of real-world professional cycling events and teams. Challenges on the Road With the growing popularity of gamified workouts, some unsolved problems still keep the industry within the niche of enthusiasts. “Games Are Not for Efficient Workouts” Most cyclists are reluctant to invest in entertainment and don’t want to sacrifice workout efficiency for the sake of fun. At the same time, they often watch Netflix or YouTube while training because they get bored of pedaling in the same spot with the unchanging scenery. It is both a marketing and game design challenge to help gamified cycling overcome the “leisure activity” stigma and develop robust experiences that encourage users to explore an interactive game during their workout. Lack of Interactivity The most significant limitation of current gamified indoor cycling is the lack of interactivity. With the smart trainer as the primary controller, the interactive aspects are mainly limited to physically based movement calculations and the visual representation of avatars. Control in such games is often done by turning the steering wheel to which the phone is attached or using a piece of special steering equipment. This approach has the following downsides: Players have to mount a phone holder on their bike and put something under the front wheel to turn the wheel more comfortably
The handlebar turn control does not feel natural, as in reality, steering only starts by turning the handlebars and continues by tilting the body, and this handlebar turn is only done by a few degrees
Only the turn movement is available because it is too inconvenient to press any buttons on the phone during the game Although new controllers like Zwift Play offer some improvements, they are product-specific and don’t solve the issue universally. Game Availability and Reliability Maintenance announcements in video games are not uncommon, but they are unacceptable in training software. Having to reschedule your workout due to maintenance can be highly annoying. Imagine an athlete who has already put on their cycling kit, filled a water bottle, and set their mind on a training session. Needless to say, the churn rate spikes dramatically whenever the system is unavailable, and it’s even higher if there’s a crash during a workout. Hardware Communication Many companies produce smart trainers and other equipment for indoor cycling, and it’s not uncommon for users to combine different brands in their setup. The problem is that companies sometimes utilize various communication protocols. Even when they claim to follow standard protocols, their implementations may vary. When users may own so many possible combinations of sports equipment, it isn’t easy to ensure reliable communication and seamless compatibility. The Next Big Move After spending some time on the projects in this area, it became evident that additional specialized equipment is required for a truly engaging indoor cycling experience. Ideally, it should be a third-party solution compatible with different equipment, providing different interaction methods. It turned out that such a platform already exists—it’s a VR headset that is almost a perfect fit for indoor cycling. It’s always astonishing when an emerging technology matures so that new applications adopt it. A VR headset not only enables the use of natural movements as input while cycling, but it also comes equipped with all the necessary hardware features for an optimal indoor cycling platform, including: An all-in-one hardware unit, eliminating the need for a separate TV or PC setup


High-quality audio input and output


Engaging visual capabilities


Robust Bluetooth connectivity for external hardware support Of course, some challenges exist, such as reduced ventilation, sweating, and limited battery life. However, based on my experience, these issues are manageable and don’t affect my enthusiasm for the notion that the future of gamified indoor cycling lies in VR. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Imagine you want to go for a bike ride. It could be a social ride with friends, a workout to maintain your fitness, or perhaps you’re an elite cyclist aiming to compete with the world’s best. Unfortunately, poor weather, bad road conditions, or time constraints hold you back. So, you take your bike, put it on a specialized equipment known as a smart trainer, connect it to your PC, Apple TV, or smartphone, and launch an application. In just a few seconds, you’re pedaling through a beautiful virtual world alongside friends, experiencing routes you’d never find on real roads. While this might sound like science fiction or even magic to some, it’s a daily routine for millions, and I would like to give you a glimpse of the technology behind it. As a PC/Console game developer and a passionate cyclist, I spent the last two years working on several experimental projects at the intersection of gaming and indoor cycling within the specialized cycling industry. For example, we released a mobile game for cyclists called Hustle City. If any readers have had a chance to play it, I’d be happy to read about your experience in the comments. I’m writing this post to remind myself of how incredible this industry is and to help others discover its magic. Now, let’s dive into the world of gamified cycling! The Journey of Indoor Cycling The Pioneers The first attempt to create gamified indoor cycling came from the video game pioneer Atari. The 80s witnessed the boom of aerobics and video workouts, and video game companies didn’t want to stay behind. So, in 1982, Atari created a prototype of Project Puffer. Here is how Puffer was going to work: a player pedaled the exercise bike, controlling the speed of a character on the screen. The handlebar of the bike had buttons for navigation so that the player could turn and avoid obstacles. The speed control technique was very straightforward: the faster you pedal, the faster your character goes. Games for Puffer didn’t only include bikes but also car racing and even ship navigation. The project had very high hopes and was anticipated by the public. However, Atari was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the game industry’s global crisis and was eventually passed to a new owner. The ambitious project was abandoned, but it remains in the hearts of vintage Atari enthusiasts. The New Beginning The New Beginning The actual rise of gamified indoor cycling occurred only 30 years later, thanks to advances in cycling technology and rising interest in gamified fitness. The pivotal invention that allowed this to happen was the smart trainer. It finally allowed millions of cycling enthusiasts to bring their workouts indoors at a reasonable price. Now, what makes it smart? Basically, it is a stationary indoor bicycle trainer that can also measure the power you produce and dynamically adjust the pedaling difficulty. The first smart trainers with rich user experiences and third-party device compatibility hit the market in the late 2000s. They were created by the hardware companies like Wahoo, Tacx, and Elite. Since then, about 10 million units have been sold. This invention nurtured a niche but large enough market of cycling enthusiasts hungry for more effective and engaging riding experiences. Cycling hardware companies have paved the way for software companies to enter the gamified cycling experience market. Zwift was the pioneer that introduced its open-world MMO in 2014, and it was a great success. Zwift remains the industry leader today, with around 2 million paying users, but many platforms have followed, including MyWhoosh, Virtupro, and Rouvy. Fun fact: now, indoor cycling platforms even become major sponsors of real-world professional cycling events and teams. Challenges on the Road With the growing popularity of gamified workouts, some unsolved problems still keep the industry within the niche of enthusiasts. “Games Are Not for Efficient Workouts” Most cyclists are reluctant to invest in entertainment and don’t want to sacrifice workout efficiency for the sake of fun. At the same time, they often watch Netflix or YouTube while training because they get bored of pedaling in the same spot with the unchanging scenery. Netflix YouTube It is both a marketing and game design challenge to help gamified cycling overcome the “leisure activity” stigma and develop robust experiences that encourage users to explore an interactive game during their workout. Lack of Interactivity The most significant limitation of current gamified indoor cycling is the lack of interactivity. With the smart trainer as the primary controller, the interactive aspects are mainly limited to physically based movement calculations and the visual representation of avatars. Control in such games is often done by turning the steering wheel to which the phone is attached or using a piece of special steering equipment. This approach has the following downsides: This approach has the following downsides: Players have to mount a phone holder on their bike and put something under the front wheel to turn the wheel more comfortably The handlebar turn control does not feel natural, as in reality, steering only starts by turning the handlebars and continues by tilting the body, and this handlebar turn is only done by a few degrees Only the turn movement is available because it is too inconvenient to press any buttons on the phone during the game Players have to mount a phone holder on their bike and put something under the front wheel to turn the wheel more comfortably The handlebar turn control does not feel natural, as in reality, steering only starts by turning the handlebars and continues by tilting the body, and this handlebar turn is only done by a few degrees Only the turn movement is available because it is too inconvenient to press any buttons on the phone during the game Although new controllers like Zwift Play offer some improvements, they are product-specific and don’t solve the issue universally. Game Availability and Reliability Maintenance announcements in video games are not uncommon, but they are unacceptable in training software. Having to reschedule your workout due to maintenance can be highly annoying. Imagine an athlete who has already put on their cycling kit, filled a water bottle, and set their mind on a training session. Needless to say, the churn rate spikes dramatically whenever the system is unavailable, and it’s even higher if there’s a crash during a workout. Hardware Communication Many companies produce smart trainers and other equipment for indoor cycling, and it’s not uncommon for users to combine different brands in their setup. The problem is that companies sometimes utilize various communication protocols. Even when they claim to follow standard protocols, their implementations may vary. When users may own so many possible combinations of sports equipment, it isn’t easy to ensure reliable communication and seamless compatibility. The Next Big Move After spending some time on the projects in this area, it became evident that additional specialized equipment is required for a truly engaging indoor cycling experience. Ideally, it should be a third-party solution compatible with different equipment, providing different interaction methods. It turned out that such a platform already exists—it’s a VR headset that is almost a perfect fit for indoor cycling. It’s always astonishing when an emerging technology matures so that new applications adopt it. A VR headset not only enables the use of natural movements as input while cycling, but it also comes equipped with all the necessary hardware features for an optimal indoor cycling platform, including: An all-in-one hardware unit, eliminating the need for a separate TV or PC setup High-quality audio input and output Engaging visual capabilities Robust Bluetooth connectivity for external hardware support An all-in-one hardware unit, eliminating the need for a separate TV or PC setup An all-in-one hardware unit, eliminating the need for a separate TV or PC setup High-quality audio input and output High-quality audio input and output Engaging visual capabilities Engaging visual capabilities Robust Bluetooth connectivity for external hardware support Robust Bluetooth connectivity for external hardware support Of course, some challenges exist, such as reduced ventilation, sweating, and limited battery life. However, based on my experience, these issues are manageable and don’t affect my enthusiasm for the notion that the future of gamified indoor cycling lies in VR. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!

Pedaling Towards the Future: The Gamified Indoor Cycling Landscape

Let's start with a short pre-history. CryptoPunks was created in 2017 by software developers Matt Hall and John Watkinson as a side project of their software development company Larva Labs. The duo was inspired by 8-bit pixel art from the 1980s and aimed to create a unique digital collectible that combined this nostalgic aesthetic with new blockchain technology. An unusual approach, right? At the time, Ethereum had recently introduced the ERC-20 token standard, which enabled the creation of custom tokens on its blockchain. However, this standard was not suitable for unique digital assets like the pixel art characters Hall and Watkinson envisioned. As a result, the two developers came up with the ERC-721 token standard, a new protocol that would allow for the creation and tracking of non-fungible tokens. The original CryptoPunks collection consists of 10,000 unique, algorithmically generated 24x24 pixel art characters. Each Punk has a combination of distinct features such as different accessories, hairstyles, and facial expressions, making every character a one-of-a-kind digital collectible. The Punks were designed to represent a diverse range of archetypes, including zombies, aliens, and apes, among others. Initially, these digital art pieces were offered almost for free, with anyone holding an Ethereum wallet able to claim up to ten Punks. This decision contributed to the rapid spread and adoption of CryptoPunks, fostering a dedicated community of enthusiasts and collectors. Also, this collection on Ethereum caused a boom in other blockchains. Faster, with cheaper transactions. Why do Blockchains Embrace Non-Fungible Tokens? First, it helped open up new opportunities for NFT artists, creators, and collectors by offering a decentralized and transparent way to create, buy and sell digital assets, and blockchains. By issuing NFTs, blockchains can enter a growing market, spurring real-sector adoption and interest in their platforms. Secondly, NFTs have proven to be a catalyst for innovation in the blockchain space, inspiring developers to create a wide range of decentralized applications (dApps) and platforms. The versatile nature of NFTs allows them to be applied to a variety of use cases, including art, gaming, virtual reality, and more. By issuing NFTs, blockchains can encourage creativity and experimentation, spurring new projects and use cases that harness the potential of decentralized technologies. Thirdly, one of the most attractive aspects of NFTs is the concept of digital ownership and scarcity. Blockchain technology allows the creation of unique, verifiable digital assets that cannot be duplicated or counterfeited. This feature has made NFTs particularly attractive to collectors, who can now own and trade digital assets with confidence in their authenticity and provenance. By issuing NFTs, blockchains can capitalize on this digital property demand and scarcity, creating new revenue streams and growth opportunities. As the NFT market develops, interoperability and cross-network collaboration becomes increasingly important. Many blockchains are currently issuing NFTs to improve connectivity between platforms, allowing users to seamlessly transfer and trade digital assets across different networks. This increased interoperability helps drive adoption and liquidity in the NFT market, making it more accessible and attractive to a wider audience. Also, do not forget about NFT cross-bridges, which help them transfer their art objects to other blockchains, with more reliable infrastructure and low-cost transactions on the network. New Art Collection - Venom-Punks.com Venom Punks is a distinctive collection of NFTs that draws inspiration from the iconic CryptoPunks while incorporating their unique style at the same time. Consisting of a limited number of algorithmically generated unique digital characters, each Venom Punk boasts a variety of features, accessories, and attributes ensuring no two punks are the same. Designed with the advanced capabilities of the Venom blockchain, the Venom Punks collection aims to push the boundaries of digital art and collectibles in the UAE. Each Punk is a testament to the pioneering spirit of the project, demonstrating how the power of zero-level blockchain technology can elevate the NFT space. The collection released by these artists has several unique use cases and utilities. Namely, each participant can win a bonus: If you mint the “Anonymous” punk number 666 (in a green mask), the project team undertakes to buy back the punk for $10,000 after the end of the mint of the entire collection; Mint punks: 66, 777, 111, 6666, 777, 7777, which will be redeemed at the request of the owner for $1000 (20x) after the end of the mint collection. Each buyer of 3+ NFTs will take part in a decentralized competition within which they can receive a cashback of 100% after the mint is finished. There are punks of top influencers in the collection. At their mint, there will be a surprise from the team. About Venom Blockchain The Venom blockchain is an innovative layer-zero blockchain solution, launched on March 18, 2024, and designed to provide an infinitely-scalable architecture with 100k transactions per second and average transaction fee lower than $0.0002 on which any entity can build a customized, decentralized workchain. This groundbreaking technology offers a flexible and scalable foundation for the development of various decentralized applications and projects. By providing a layer-zero solution, the Venom blockchain aims to overcome the limitations of traditional layer-one blockchain platforms, such as scalability issues and network congestion. Its infinitely scalable architecture allows for the seamless integration of multiple workchains, which can be customized according to the specific needs of each entity. This enables the development of diverse decentralized applications and projects while ensuring high levels of security, performance, and interoperability. Recently, to invest in Web3, GameFi projects, services, and technologies such as NFT Art. Venom Ventures Fund has allocated $1 billion What should we expect from it? As the pioneers of the NFT revolution, CryptoPunks have left an indelible mark on the digital art and collectibles space. Their continued popularity and influence show no signs of slowing down. In the future, we can expect CryptoPunks to maintain their status as iconic digital assets while inspiring new developments in the NFT market. At the same time, we see a lot of interest in large blockchains such as Ethereum, Polkadot, Venom, and even Bitcoin. The value of rare and sought-after CryptoPunks is likely to remain high, as collectors continue to appreciate their historical significance and rarity. We may see more record-breaking sales, as the market for digital art and collectibles matures and gains wider recognition. Secondly, CryptoPunks will continue to inspire new projects and artistic endeavors, as artists and developers look to build on the success of the pioneering NFT collection. We can expect to see more innovative and diverse digital art projects, pushing the boundaries of creative expression and blockchain technology. Finally, the growing interest in NFTs, fueled in part by CryptoPunks, may lead to increased mainstream adoption of blockchain technology, as more people come to appreciate the value and potential of decentralized digital assets. This could pave the way for new use cases and applications of blockchain technology in various industries, including art, entertainment, and beyond. In conclusion, the future of CryptoPunks looks promising, as they continue to inspire and influence the rapidly evolving NFT landscape. As a cultural phenomenon, their legacy will be felt for years to come, shaping the future of digital art and collectibles in ways we have yet to imagine. Conclusion CryptoPunks have revolutionized the art world by introducing a new trend in digital art and collectibles through the use of non-fungible tokens. As pioneers in the field of NFTs, they have captured the imagination of artists, collectors, and enthusiasts, challenging traditional notions of art, property, and value. After all, as we remember, the first still cost several thousand dollars, because they are unique and were the first of their kind. As we look to the future, the legacy of CryptoPunks will continue to influence the digital art world, paving the way for new opportunities and exciting developments in blockchain technology and beyond. football cards

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