ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allied Esports today announced that its new live original series PlayTime™ with KittyPlays, hosted by popular streamer, Fortnite caster, content creator and competitive esports player Kristen “KittyPlays” Michaela (@KittyPlays), will debut on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. Pacific with headline guest Ali “Myth” Kabbani (@TSM_Myth).
PlayTime with KittyPlays will be streamed in front of a live studio audience at HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas on Allied Esports’ new Twitch channel, Twitch.tv/alliedesports, and simulcast on Twitch.tv/kittyplays and Twitch.tv/tsm_myth.
Tickets to participate in the live studio audience experience at HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas are free to the public but will require registration. A limited number of ticketholders will have the opportunity to play with Michaela and Kabbani. In addition, a limited number of ticketholders will have the opportunity to meet Michaela after the show. Full information about ticket registration, audience gameplay and the meet-and-greet will be available at hyperxesalv.com/playtime in the coming days.
At just 19 years old, Kabbani is captain of TSM’s Fortnite team and one of the most popular professional esports players and streamers in the world. With 16.6 million total followers across his personal content platforms, including 6.3 million followers on Instagram alone, Kabbani is a social media megastar and a gaming fan favorite.
The first episode of PlayTime with KittyPlays will also feature an interview and gameplay segment with NFL All-Rookie Team player and Cleveland Browns quarterback, Baker Mayfield. In the interview, the NFL’s 2018 No. 1 overall pick talks about how he felt like a nerd for playing video games while growing up, how gaming plays a role in the Browns’ locker room culture, and how the adrenaline rush of a Victory Royale in Fortnite is comparable to throwing a touchdown pass in the NFL. Mayfield also leans on Michaela for coaching tips while playing Fortnite and then turns the lesson on her as he shows the prominent PC gamer how to use an Xbox controller.
Fans can follow @AlliedEsports and @KittyPlays and visit hyperxesalv.com/playtime for the latest news and additional information about the series.
PlayTime with KittyPlays is a new monthly live esports entertainment and variety show that will be streamed in front of a live studio audience at HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas. Episodes will regularly feature:
- Topical, personal, thought-provoking, in-person conversations with top esports influencers or celebrity guests, energized by audience members and stream chat participation;
- Live, high-level gameplay, including “Squad Fills” and challenges with Michaela’s headline guest and lucky audience members chosen at random;
- Live, surprise remote drop-ins by additional influencers and celebrities from their web cams who will play with Michaela and her headline guest on the arena’s two-story LED video screen;
- Michaela’s unique perspective on recent events and issues facing today’s gaming communities;
- Pre-recorded segments showcasing Michaela teaching pro athletes and celebrity gamers how to improve their gaming craft; and
- Pre-recorded video shorts highlighting up-and-coming esports stars.
Led by Michaela’s naturally inclusive and positive personality, PlayTime with KittyPlays will also focus on giving a voice to those in the esports space who have gone unrecognized, who hail from diverse backgrounds, and who have overcome adversity to achieve personal bests in gaming and beyond.
PlayTime with KittyPlays is the first of multiple original content debuts planned for release by Allied Esports this year. As previously announced, Allied Esports and its sister company, the World Poker Tour®, both currently owned by Ourgame Holdings International, will be acquired, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval and the satisfaction of other conditions to closing, by Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BRAC), to form Allied Esports Entertainment.
PlayTime with KittyPlays, which will be produced by Allied Esports with Michaela serving as co-executive producer, will utilize Allied Esports’ multimillion-dollar broadcast studio and arena in the HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas, featuring a two-story LED video wall, two-dozen cameras, wired player comms, and a dedicated control room for game observers called The Observatory, to create an unparalleled live experience and compelling streamed and post-produced content that will be available to viewers following each episode.
Michaela started her career in esports as a Counter-Strike player and began streaming her gameplay on Twitch while attending the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. After seeing success with her broadcasts, Michaela decided to leave school to pursue streaming full time, leading her to the wildly popular game of Fortnite. Since then, Michaela has taken streaming and social media by storm with her focus on positivity, community, and joy in gaming and everyday life. Whether broadcasting games, traveling the world, designing cosplay characters, or simply living a health-conscious life, Michaela’s style and personality play a large part in the creation of her content.
Michaela, who primarily plays Fortnite on her stream, is host to one million-plus followers on Twitch and boasts more than a million monthly viewers between Twitch, YouTube and other social media channels. During E3’s 2018 Celebrity Pro-Am event, she paired with actor Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead) and carried the duo to a third-place finish winning $250,000, with her portion donated to her local charity of choice, Kelowna BC SPCA. Most recently she teamed up with FaZe Clan’s Turner “Tfue” Tenney to compete in Korea’s Fortnite Open. Michaela again dominated the competition and together the pair took home a first-place prize of $1,000,000 to be donated to charity.
What started as a part-time hobby to meet like-minded friends has grown into a career that delivers enthusiasm and positivity to Michaela’s audiences, creating real connections around the world and leaving a lasting positive effect on everyone that watches her. Michaela is the founder of Team Kitty, a Twitch-based networking and mentorship team that enhances Michaela’s vision to create a network of female creators focused on upbeat personalities and high-level viewer interaction. Michaela is currently the Head of New Gaming Initiatives for esports organization, Gen.G, with a focus on signing competitive players for its female Fortnite team, as well as sales and building Gen.G’s newly renamed brand.
About Allied Esports
Named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list for 2019, Allied Esports is a premier esports entertainment company with a global network of dedicated esports properties and content production facilities. Its mission is to connect players, streamers and fans via integrated arenas and mobile esports trucks around the world that serve as both gaming battlegrounds and every day content generation hubs. Allied Esports is a subsidiary of Ourgame International (SEHK:899), owner of WPT Enterprises, Inc., the operator of The World Poker Tour®. Ourgame has entered into an agreement with Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BRAC) to combine, once all applicable shareholder and regulatory consents have been obtained, Allied Esports and the World Poker Tour to form Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc.
Through direct operation and affiliate relationships via the Allied Esports Property Network, the first esports venue affiliate program available to partners looking to open new esports facilities around the world, Allied Esports’ locations currently include 11 properties in the top three esports markets across the globe: North America’s HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas; HyperX Esports Truck “Big Meta”; Esports Arena Orange County and Esports Arena Oakland; Europe’s Esports Truck “Big Betty” and Studio in Hamburg, Germany; and China’s Lianmeng Dianjing in Beijing, Lianmeng Dianjing SEG Arena in Shenzhen, Lianmeng Dianjing Tianjin Arena, Lianmeng Dianjing Gui’an Arena and Lianmeng Dianjing LGD Gaming Hangzhou Arena. The Allied Esports Property Network’s 12th property, run by Fortress Esports, is expected to open in Melbourne, Australia in 2019. For more information about Allied Esports and its global network of properties, visit AlliedEsports.gg and follow @AlliedEsports.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to the proposed transaction between Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. and Ourgame International Holdings Limited (the “Proposed Transaction”) and any other statements relating to future results, strategy and plans of Black Ridge and Ourgame (including certain projections and business trends, and statements which may be identified by the use of the words “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “estimated”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “projects”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”). Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of Black Ridge or Ourgame, as the case may be, as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For Ourgame, these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, its revenues and operating performance, general economic conditions, industry trends, legislation or regulatory requirements affecting the business in which it is engaged, management of growth, its business strategy and plans, the result of future financing efforts and its dependence on key personnel. For Black Ridge, factors include, but are not limited to, the successful combination of Black Ridge with Ourgame’s business, amount of redemptions, the ability to retain key personnel and the ability to achieve stockholder and regulatory approvals and to successfully close the Proposed Transaction. Additional information on these and other factors that may cause actual results and Black Ridge’s performance to differ materially is included in Black Ridge’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including but not limited to Black Ridge’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and subsequent Forms 10-Q. Copies may be obtained by contacting Black Ridge or the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Black Ridge undertakes no obligations to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell or purchase, nor the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, nor is it a solicitation of any vote, consent, or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the Proposed Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
Participants in Solicitation
Black Ridge and Ourgame, and their respective directors and executive officers, may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Black Ridge stockholders in respect of the Proposed Transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Black Ridge is set forth in Black Ridge’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Information about the directors and executive officers of Ourgame and more detailed information regarding the identity of all potential participants, and their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Black Ridge’s proxy statement, when available. Investors may obtain additional information about the interests of such participants by reading such proxy statement on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
