Gaming events are becoming increasingly popular not only in the world but also in Montenegro, and this year the celebration of Mimosa Day will not be without the fastest growing industry. Namely, the first days of March will be marked by the popular simulation and one of the most popular MOBA games, and a panel discussion will be held during the Mimoza Gaming Fest. This event is organized by Gamers Life under the auspices of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, and on March 1st, a tournament in the FC25 game will be held, while the next day the teams will show their skills in playing the DOTA 2 title. Prizes have been provided for the best, and the prize fund is 500 euros.
"Interest in the tournaments is extremely good, as shown by the number of teams and individuals who have already registered. Although tournaments have not been organized often on the coast so far, an increasing number of young people (and older ones too) are showing a desire to try their hand at competing on the virtual field. We have over 50 registered participants for the FIFA tournament, while at least eight teams are expected for Dota 2. We are also prepared for a larger number of interested parties, because we have provided enough equipment and space for everyone in the Gaming Center at 1 Mića Vavića Street," says the director of Mimoza Gaming Fest Milan Lalic, and adds that the FC25 tournament will take place on four consoles simultaneously in order to successfully hold it in one day.
"All of this was provided by the Gaming Center from Novi, as one of the organizers and partners in the project," notes Lalić.
There haven't been many tournaments on the coast so far, so this is in a way a pioneering attempt in Herceg Novi to organize such an event. Given that there are still prejudices against e-sports, the team behind this event has made an effort to present the event in the right way in order to gain support from the Municipality of Herceg Novi.
"At first, it was necessary to present and bring closer the idea of what e-sports encompasses and how much potential it has for promoting tourism, attracting young people and developing the local community. However, after a detailed presentation including examples of successful events in other cities and countries, we received full support. An important argument was that the 'Mimoza Game Fest' fits into the overall celebration of Mimosa Day, enriching it with modern and attractive content for young people and tourists. Also, our many years of experience in organizing similar tournaments and continuous presence on the gaming scene instilled additional confidence, which significantly contributed to the positive decision of the leaders of the HN Municipality," said Lalić, who is sure that organizing tournaments more often will strengthen the gaming scene.
"More frequent tournaments provide an opportunity for players to regularly compete, progress and connect with each other. Holding more events throughout the year creates a community that exchanges experiences and becomes more visible to the wider public. This can inspire new generations to get involved, as well as potential sponsors and investors to support development. In the long run, more tournaments mean better preparation of players for international competitions and a greater number of professionals from Montenegro," Vijesti's interlocutor is sure.
In addition to the tournament on the first day of the festival, a panel discussion will be held from 10 am at the Play restaurant in Igalo on the topic of "Esports and career opportunities". Panel discussions are slowly but surely becoming an inevitable part of almost every gaming event, because it is important that the public is introduced to the possibilities of gaming in this way in order to gain a complete picture of what this branch of the industry has to offer.
"During the panel, among other things, we will present the perspectives of the development of the gaming industry in Montenegro and beyond. We will also talk about specific career paths in e-sports and ways in which the local community can get involved," reveals Lalić, who will be one of the speakers at the panel, along with e-sports veteran and gaming review author Vladimir Roganović.
"There will be more guests from the gaming, sports and e-sports sectors on the panel, who will present their perspectives. The goal of this meeting is to emphasize that gaming is not just entertainment, but also a growing industry that offers numerous opportunities for professional development," adds Lalić.
Montenegro, despite the fact that numerous tournaments have been organized in recent years and that we have e-sportsmen and there are not many professional players in world competitions. However, we have great opportunities to make Montenegro a great gaming destination and so far Bar has proven to be a leader in this idea. Lalić believes that it is important to recognize the potential of gaming as soon as possible, which can certainly affect tourism and the economy of our country.
"It is very important to highlight and utilize the potential of the gaming industry as soon as possible. Regional and international tournaments attract not only gamers, but also their followers, teams, sponsors and fans from other countries. This directly affects tourism (accommodation, catering, cultural tours) and therefore brings additional benefits to the local economy. Montenegro, with its natural beauty and already developed tourist brand, can use gaming events to further strengthen its image and offer, especially in periods outside the classic summer season. An additional advantage of Herceg Novi is its proximity to Tivat Airport, as well as Dubrovnik Airport, so participants and visitors can easily come from different parts of the world. Bar is a leader in this idea, but we believe that other cities will join in, especially after the successful experiences from Herceg Novi," concludes Lalić.
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