VIRTUAL DISTANCING

VIRTUAL DISTANCES During Lockdown we have lived more online than ever. Post Covid, will we find it’s changed us forever?

High hopes for 2020 were replaced with international panic, economic fears, cancelled events and a sudden spike in the global sales of toilet paper. We ask: what’s next?

Like most of us, the gaming industry had big expectations for 2020, with a jam-packed calendar of events, esports competitions and announcements. However, also like the rest of us, it has had to adapt to working from home, communicating online and reminiscing about what it used to be like having to get dressed before 2pm.

Many crucial events in the gaming calendar, including expos and esports competitions, have been cancelled due to regulations and uncertainties around Covid-19. E3 is the big event of the year for many in the gaming industry – and this year would have been no different. Microsoft had been expected to make a number of key announcements around the imminent launch of Series X later this year. The company has promised that while they cannot offer the usual spectacle, a digital event will take place instead. After the cancelation of E3, as well as uncertainty around other events, Microsoft have stated that all events, both internal and external, until July 2021 will take place “digital first”.

With many developers and manufacturers often choosing to host announcements and conferences alongside E3 (which takes place annually in Los Angeles), there was already some debate among members of the industry as to whether we need such big events. However, the cancellation of E3 2020 hasn’t deterred its organisers, the Entertainment Software Association, who have promised that the 2021 event will be a massive, “reimagined” experience.

Attracting over 370,000 guests in 2019, Gamescom is Europe’s leading gaming trade fair, tailoring to business and leisure visitors alike, with many retailers, developers and insiders attending the five-day event for the invaluable networking opportunities on offer. Gamescom was set to take place in Cologne in August, but due to an imposed ban on large events across Germany, it will now be operating as a digital-only event.

However, Gamescom isn’t a stranger to online streaming. Gamescom: Opening Night Live (which features world premieres and announcements), has been available to live stream since its inception in 2019. Last year’s event accumulated millions of views, with 500,000 viewers from across the globe tuning in simultaneously to watch the announcements as they happened live. Along with events such as E3, Gamescom, and Insomnia 66 (which had been due to take place at the NEC, Birmingham in April), a number of esports’ top leagues have also been affected by Covid-19. While organisers and esports players were probably in a slightly better position than the rest of us to make the move to working from home, many leagues were suspended briefly, in order to switch from LAN (Local Area Network) to online-only play. Though competitions of this type regularly draw large physical audiences, the move to online-only wasn’t too much of a shift for many international viewers, with 495 million people globally estimated to watch esports in 2020.

The popular Overwatch League began its season moving across the US, with teams competing against each other in front of huge audiences. However, the league’s organisers announced that from April, the

For some, gaming has been the perfect antidote to the confusion of Covid-19

remainder of the season would move to online competition and broadcast, without “fan attendance, travel, or unnecessary interpersonal contact”. Riot Games, organisers of the League of Legends Championship Series – the most viewed esports competition in 2019 – also made the decision to continue their series via online-only competition and viewing.

BACK TO NATURE… VIRTUALLY On the other hand, however, there have been several wins for the gaming industry as a result of Covid-19. On the 20th March, just three days before the UK entered lockdown, Nintendo released Animal Crossings: New Horizons, and the company couldn’t have picked a better time. Set to be the most successful Switch game to date, Animal Crossing beat the launch sales of any other game for the platform, other than the combined total of

Pokémon Sword and Shield in 2019. What’s the secret behind the quite unexpected popularity of a game that sees you move to a deserted island to craft furniture and befriend cute fishing rod-welding animals? The charming yet mundane tasks of planting flowers, picking fruit and catching butterflies have made New Horizons the perfect antidote to the relative fear and confusion of the outside world, ideal for whiling away the hours as we all muddle through lockdown.

TWIDDLING YOUR THUMBS Leading game streaming platform Twitch recorded its best quarter to date in the first three months of 2020, surpassing three billion hours watched for the first time ever. The average number of concurrent viewers also reached an all-time high during this quarter, with nearly 1.5 million viewers streaming at any given moment – a 19.5% increase over calendar Q1 in 2019.

With all major sporting events currently postponed due to Covid-19, many sporting bodies have been looking for ways to

keep up fan engagement – thus turning to esports. One of the European countries to go into full lockdown earliest, 20 of Spain’s La Liga teams took to Fifa 20 in March – at the invite of Spanish gaming streamer Ibai Llanos – to take part in a charity tournament, which raised in excess of €140,000 for UNICEF. Over one million total viewers have watched Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio – who ironically had been injured all season – beat Leganes’ Autor Ruibal 4-2 in the final.

In a similar vein, after all UK football leagues were postponed, Leighton Orient brought together 128 teams worldwide for Fifa Ultimate Quaren-Team. Fixtures were drawn in an FA Cup-esque manner, and teams took part in a total of seven rounds of knockout-style competition, with English team Wolves beating Dutch team FC Groningen in the final.

Formula 1 have also taken to the virtual race track during its postponement. A number of Grand Prix have now been competed over F1 2019, including Bahrain and Australia. A host of current and former F1, F2 and Formula E drivers, test drivers, as well as stars from sports and entertainment have been competing in both qualifying and final races. Renault’s test driver Guanyu Zhou won the 14-lap race in virtual Bahrain, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was victorious in the 29-lap Australian Grand Prix. Due to popular demand, this is now scheduled to continue until Formula 1 can resume.

With highly influential sports professionals picking up controllers and heading to streaming platforms to compete, there is bound to be a two-way benefit. Opening the eyes of many traditional sports fans, this increased exposure to esports may lead to a lasting rise in competition viewership.

Like all of us, gaming will feel the lasting seismic change brought about by Covid-19. However, while developers, event organisers and esports stars have had to adapt like the rest of us, many consumers have turned to gaming, searching for entertainment, escapism and – in unusually trying times – just a bit of fun.

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PERFECT ATTACH

BIG SOUNDS, LITTLE LISTENERS Kids need audio products that are going to protect their hearing, while looking cool and sounding great

With their little ears still developing, we need to be conscious about the loud noises children are subjected to – now easy with these fun and kid-approved audio products

Unlike many audio products on the market, those designed especially for children are often volume-limiting, and so only emit a max of 85 decibels - the safe volume level as recommended by the WHO. This helps protect kids’ developing ears, as noise-induced hearing loss can impair the learning of language skills, as well as cause young children to struggle more in school.

LISTENING ON THE GO Built for little ears, the JR300BT headphones from JBL promise top JBL sound quality –limited to that maximum of 85dB. Designed to appeal to kiddies, these comfy headphones come in fun colours, such as pink, teal and bright blue. The long-lasting rechargeable battery (up to 12 hours playtime) and easy to operate Bluetooth connectivity makes setup and use childfriendly. A connection range of 15m means little ones can wander about the house, and away from devices, while still listening to their favourite songs. The JBL JR300 wired headphones are also a great option. Connecting via a 3.5mm jack, these are perfect plug-and-go listening.

Philips’ kids Wireless Headphones are perfect to entertain the little ones while promising piece of mind to their parents. Volume limiting and built to withstand drops or falls, the soft ear cups and headband are strong and flexible. Compact folding means these headphones are easy to store or travel with, while 20 hours of playback means kids’ can listen for a few days between charges. LED panels and stickers make it simple for kids to personalise their listening experience.

The JBL JR POP lets kids enjoy their favourite music with a portable, playground-ready

Exposing children to music can help to learn sounds and words, build motor skills and practice self-expression

Bluetooth speaker. Perfect for listening on the go, the JR POP has five hours of music playback per charge, a compact size for little hands, and strap that lets kids attach it to their backpacks. Streaming audio from a range of smart devices is kid-friendly with Bluetooth connectivity. This speaker features built-in multicolour light mode, designed to make listening to music interactive and fun.

SHARING IS CARING The fun and colourful Mini Mover 20 Kids Party Speaker from KitSound is ready for all the rough and tumble of playtime or even an impromptu dance party. Waterproof to IP67 rating, this speaker is perfect for when the kids head outside or are splashing about by the pool. Equipped with Bluetooth, the Mini Mover 20 also has a Micro SD card slot, letting parents pick the songs their kids listen to, without need for acccess to a smart device. When it’s bedtime, the glowing light at the bottom helps create a peaceful ambience. Limited to 80db (at 50cm away), it’s safe for little ears.

Cute, fun and compact, the KitSound Boogie Buddy Whale Portable Bluetooth Speaker is great for kids who want a cute and quirky way to take music on the go and share their favourite tunes. With three hours playback time and recharging in just a couple of hours, the Boogie Buddy is excellent heading off on a picnic or for a trip at the beach.

Evidence shows that exposing children to music during their development can help them learn sounds and words, build motor skills and practice self-expression. By stocking an enticing range of audio tech for the kids, retailers can find themselves marching to the sound of their own drum.