Abios: Mapping competitive advantages in esports
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Albin Niva Printz, Data Scientist at Abios, explores the data from maps in popular esports games to find out if there are some inherent disadvantages of starting in certain locations in games. Moreover, he discusses how this data can be useful for different stakeholders.
All online video games are hosted on servers. The servers interpret every data point such as the map, equipped items, and kills. This goes from the surrounding environment in the game down to the smallest player movement. Knowing all of these granular data points gives the power to see different patterns — especially if you know what to look for.
Most esports games, and video games in general, are played on maps that set the premise, limits and boundaries of the game. Some of these are bigger than others, such as Battle Royale maps like Fortnite, whereas titles like League of Legends or CS:GO have smaller maps. These arenas are supposed to make the gameplay fun while enabling the use of different strategies and synergies.
When maps are designed for competitive games, many might think that they are similar to board games like chess, in the way that both sides are created equal and should have the same chance of winning. However, just like in chess, they don’t. In chess, there is something called the first mover’s advantage, which sees the white side win 52-56 per cent of the time versus black.
Even though it’s a small difference, competitively it could have a huge impact. This could be factored into esports as well when calculating the probabilities of different teams winning.
Blue side advantage
In League of Legends, the map is rectangle-shaped and sliced into two pieces
Michael Johnson, son of Ernie Johnson, dies at 33
Rival TV networks showed their respect and affection Saturday night for Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson.
ESPN and Fox aired primetime tributes to Johnson’s son Michael, who died Friday at the age of 33 after a lifelong struggle with muscular dystrophy. ESPN’s Chris Fowler spoke over a video montage during the network’s broadcast of the Penn State-Ohio State football game. Fox Sports’ Kevin Burkhardt did likewise during the pregame show for Game 4 of the World Series.
MORE: Ernie Johnson’s emotional TV segment before ‘The Match 2’ gets strong reaction from viewers
“Our family is so grateful for your kindness and compassion,” Johnson wrote in a quote tweet of the Fox video.
Ernie Johnson used the word “miraculous” to describe his son’s life when he wrote on Instagram that Michael had died. Many MD sufferers don’t live past their teens.
In August, Ernie Johnson told his son’s story to the Alabama football team. Video of it went viral on social media. He held up Michael — who was born in Romania and adopted by Johnson and his wife, Cheryl, as a toddler in 1991 — as a reminder that “there’s value in everybody.”
In one of the most emotional parts of his speech, Ernie Johnson recounted how Michael inspired his Georgia high school, Mill Creek, through basketball and his trademark phrase, “Love you, too.”
The boys team’s coach, Phil Bollier, wanted Michael to be a part of the program he was building from scratch after speaking with him in a special needs class. Bollier explained why to Ernie and Cheryl.
“So (Bollier) could teach his team two things: maximum effort — for Michael to move any muscle in his body takes everything he’s got — and he said, ‘I wanted to teach my team having a heart for
World Series Special: 5 Watches and Accessories Inspired by Baseball | WatchTime
The 2021 World Series is in full swing as America’s Pastime takes its place at the top of the United States’ national sports pyramid at the end of October. Tapping into baseball’s historical mystique as well as the star power of its greatest players, several watchmakers have produced timepieces that celebrate this uniquely American game. Here are four watches (and one really cool watch-adjacent accessory) that speak to baseball’s enduring appeal.
The Oris Roberto Clemente Limited Edition pays homage to legendary Pittsburgh Pirates player and renowned humanitarian Roberto Clemente. Its white dial with black-and-gold accents is inspired by Clemente’s Pirates uniform colors, and its 40-mm stainless steel case with screw-in security crown has a solid engraved caseback with a relief image of the Hall of Famer along with the watch’s limited edition number out of 3,000 pieces inspired by Clemente’s historic achievement as the first Latino player with 3,000 hits. Equipped with the automatic Caliber 754, which powers a GMT function, the watch is mounted on a brown leather strap with double stitching similar to that used on baseballs. More details here.
The Pennsylvania Series 801 “Baseball in Enamel,” launched in 2014 by Lancaster, PA-based RGM Watch Company, takes its cues from a rare 1892 American Waltham Watch Co. pocketwatch with a special baseball-themed enamel dial that Watch Company founder Roland Murphy discovered while touring the National Watch and Clock Museum. After a three-year search, Murphy found an expert craftsman to re-create the grand feu enamel dial, depicting miniature baseball players at the hour positions, for a wristwatch. Behind that masterfully executed enamel dial is RGM’s in-house Caliber 801 movement, with classically shaped bridges, polished and blued steel components, and an array of hand-finishes and decorations. The polished steel case, with its Keystone-shaped winding crown,
Vote for UH esports as nation’s best
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa esports program is one of the top 10 best collegiate esports programs in the nation, and it could become No. 1 with the help from the community. The public can vote for UH Mānoa on the Esports Awards website until November 10. The winner, which will be determined by an esports panel of experts (75%) and public vote (25%), will be announced at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas on November 20. UH Mānoa esports representatives have also been invited to attend the in-person ceremony.
UH Mānoa was nominated by its peers across the country as one of 10 finalists for the award. The program has experienced its best year since it began in 2019, earning national recognition for several of its teams, including winning its first collegiate tournament competing in the game Valorant; and becoming the first higher education institution to host Overwatch League regular season tournaments, playoffs and grand finals.
“This past year has really shown that if we can put the resources and Hawaiʻi community behind it, we can really make an impact and showcase that Hawaiʻi esports is not just here to participate but we’re here to do good things for our students,” said Kevin Nguyen, UH Mānoa esports program assistant and spring 2019 communications graduate.
UH Mānoa esports accomplishments
The Valorant team won UH Mānoa’s first ever collegiate title in any esports game. In October 2021, UH won the National Association of Collegiate Esports StarLeague in Valorant championship, going undefeated in the bracket tournament.
The UH Mānoa Overwatch team was crowned champions of United Gaming Clans season 14 (first team championship win in an amateur contest). Teams in League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League are building on strong seasons
Make your busy lifestyle healthy – News
Anushé Ramzi, Head of Marketing and Communications FreshToHome
30×30 Dubai Fitness Challenge is in sight. Are you ready?
By Muhammad Ali Bandial
With the Dubai Fitness Challenge starting on October 29, now’s the perfect time to chalk out your fitness goals and come up with a nutrition programme to support your health ambitions.
Anushé Ramzi, Head of Marketing and Communications at FreshToHome, a leading UAE e-grocery, on what eating habits can lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Here are some tips to boost your 30×30 fitness plan with healthy food choices:
1. Eat real food
Eating wholesome, home-cooked food is one of the main ways to be healthy. Unprocessed food, free of additives, fillers, sweeteners, flavourings, and colourants, can provide essential nutrients and energy while supporting a healthy weight.
You can cook your favourite recipes at home with FreshToHome’s fresh, never-frozen, chemical-free, preservative-free, and antibiotic-residue-free chicken, meat, and seafood.
2. Get high-quality protein
For high-quality protein and healthy fats, you can consume more fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel, which are loaded with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids and various other nutrients. People who regularly eat these types of fish have a lower risk for several health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, mental health concerns, and inflammatory conditions. FreshToHome offers plenty of freshly caught chemical-free fatty fish options for you to choose from.
3. Spice it up!
Anti-inflammatory spices such as fresh ginger, chilli, garlic and turmeric are wonderful for stimulating the immune system and reducing harmful and excessive inflammation. Add these spices in generous quantities to your cooking and you will not only enjoy delicious, fragrant foods but also get health benefits.
Rainbow Immunity Box – Dh 20 (all FreshToHome boxes are recycled)
4. Consume more vegetables
Add the cruciferous vegetables,