Go International Group Sdn Bhd and DreamHack enters into partnership to bring youth to worlds largest digital festival

Kuala Lumpur, July 13, 2009 - Go International Group Sdn Bhd has signed a partnership with DreamHack, organiser of the world's largest Local Area Network (LAN) party and computer festival in Sweden.

Under the licensing agreement witnessed by Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) Vice President Creative Multimedia, Encik Kamil Othman, Go International Group will organise a national e-Sport tournament to qualify One Team Malaysia to DreamHack Winter.

Partnership opens up DreamHack Sweden to Malaysian youth this Winter 

Held twice annually in Jonkoping, Sweden, the DreamHack festival is an important computer, gaming and multimedia extravaganza. DreamHack Summer this year hosted 10 electronic sports (e-Sports) tournaments and gave out over 400,000 SEK (approximately RM200,000) in prize money! A paradise for the digital generation, enthusiasts from all over the world flock to DreamHack to play the latest computer games, attend seminars, watch films, perform music, visual arts, and lots more. Incidentally, DreamHack is in the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the largest LAN party with 10,554 computers and 11,060 attendees in 2007 while also providing gamers with a colossal broadband speed of 40 GB/ps.

From left to right: Jasmine Low, David Garpenstahl and wife Galina, Nikki Yeo from Go International Group and Encik Kamil Othman of MDeC.

At the press conference heldat the MSC Cybercentre in Kuala Lumpur today, Encik Kamil Othman said, "By 2010, 25% of the population will be between the ages of 15-25 years old. This is why programmes and tie-ups like these between Go International Group and DreamHack will play a very important part in helping us address the needs of this generation. On that, I congratulate Go International for coming up with innovative partnerships like this, and to David, I hope this is Malaysia calling and welcome more Scandinavians to Malaysia."

David Garpenstahl, the CEO and Chairman of DreamHack Sweden added, "I am very pleased that together with Go International Group, we are now able to bring DreamHack to Malaysia. Since this is the first time ever we will have a DreamHack qualifier in Asia, it makes it even more special for us. We are looking forward to a great and successful co-operation with Go International Group and we are also looking forward to welcoming the Malaysian players to Sweden and the DreamHack Winter festival from 26-29 November."

 
From left to right: Signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur marks a first for an Official DreamHack Asian Qualifier.  

The DreamHack Malaysian Qualifier - Go International E-Sports Cup (GO.esc), under the auspices of the 2^nd annual Independent Youth Festival will kick-off nationally at Rainforest LG, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, on 1 and 2 August 2009, with e-sports competitions planned in select key states. Counter Strike 1.6 gamers are invited to show up either physically or to register online on 1 August 2009. Finalists will battle it out at the GO.esc Grand Finals held in collaboration with Indie Youth Fest from 14-18 October 2009, with the Champion team of five gamers going on to Sweden to compete in the Counter Strike 1.6 (C) Valve category. Other game titles will also be announced on 1 August as negotiations are underway.

Jasmine Low, Managing Director of Go International Group added, "This partnership with DreamHack Sweden is truly an important milestone for us. Our group supports the indie music scene through our community event Doppelganger Open Mic and last year, extended our commitment to e-Sports. We sent a team of six gamers to the Electronic Sports World Cup in Silicon Valley, USA and DoTA Team Kingsurf returned with a Silver Medal. We also created history as the first gamers to have ever met with a Prime Minister.

The gaming industry is worth over USD29 billion. Sending Malaysian youth to compete and attend international events like these plants the seed in nurturing our pool of talents to bring benefit for the growth of Malaysia's multimedia industry."

-Ends.

Media Inquiries:

Jasmine Low
Managing Director
Go International Group Sdn Bhd

Tel: +603 7727 0093
Hp +6017 623 0288
Email: jasminelow@gointernationalgroup.com
 

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FACTSHEET

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Go International Group

• A marketing communications solutions company based in Kuala Lumpur, GO International Group offers products and services to help connect Corporations to their stakeholders and target audiences. It works hard to create opportunities for its Clients to �talk� to their customers. Corporate website: www.gointernationalgroup.com
• Go international Group takes an active role in the empowerment and enrichment of the local community by creating and organising events such as the annual Independent Youth Festival and Electronic Sports World Cup in 2008. It is one of the proponents of the 'independent' arts and music scene through its successful Doppelganger Open Mic Open Stage and Wayang Kata series of events, which offer youth a creative performance platform. Community blog: www.doppelgangerkl.blogspot.com

Dreamhack (Sweden)

• Dreamhack is the world�s largest local area network (LAN)-party and computer gathering where gamers and enthusiasts engage in competition in massive numbers.
• High-speed internet connections provided in the gaming arena during DreamHack allows all participants a surreal environment to participate and enjoy their gaming experience.
• It is held twice annually at the Elmia exhibition centre over a four-day period, once during summer and the other during winter.
• It is held in Sweden where it started off as a small LAN gaming party for 40 in 1994 at a school cafeteria. It has since clinched the title for the largest event of its kind by the Guinness World Records.
• DreamExpo is the new fair for home electronics, games, computers and IT in Sweden. It is held twice a year in conjunction with Dreamhack.
• Dreamhack hosts close to 10,000 people as audience during the summer and the winter edition plays host to more than 15,000 members of the viewing audience alone.
• More than 100,000 viewers watch and follow Dreamhack through the internet.
• Further information: www.dreamhack.se

Independent Youth Festival

• Indie Youth Fest is organised annually by Go International Group to provide a healthy and competitive platform for members of the local youth community to flaunt and exhibit their talent.
• Indie Youth Fest provides an arena where one �Team Malaysia� is selected to represent the nation at international festivals.
• The 2009 season kickstarts on 1^st & 2^nd August at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, followed by a nationwide road show before culminating at 1 Utama once again from 14-18 October 2009.
• The 5-day festival focuses on activities, which are relevant to youth today; and such, is divided into two zones � Digital and Indie.
  • The Indie zone focuses on music, visual arts, comics, video games, and films and youth entrepreneurship.
  • The Digital Zone features a gadget and games expo (Digital Delirium Xpo), an e-Sports tournament (GO.esc // Dreamhack Malaysia Qualifiers) and blogger clinics.
• Go international E-sport Cup (GO.esc) provides Malaysian pro-gamers an opportunity to qualify for major international gaming events such as ESWC (Electronic Sports World Cup) in San Jose, USA in 2008 and Dreamhack Sweden Winter in 2009.
• For more information you may visit the site www.indieyouthfest.com and its the blog  www.indieyouthfest.wordpress.com