Exclusive: Bountiful pleasures
Exclusive: Bountiful pleasures
Office workers and commuters passing through Singapore's One North Connexis development are looking up from their smart devices as they encounter the island’s first-ever esports arena. Dedicated to PC, console and nostalgic arcade games – not forgetting a soft-tip darts corner – the Bountie Arena is certainly differentiating itself from its neighbouring outlets. The high SPLs, lighting effects and dazzling LED walls all play an integral role in entertaining their devoted and somewhat curious patrons.
Concept Systems Technologies (CST) was awarded the contract to design, supply and install the entertainment technology into the former retail space. Having supplied a large quota of LED screens to other Asian esports arenas, Chinese producer Aoto was selected for the Bountie Arena. ‘We have been supplying Aoto’s technology for several years now so, when the manufacturer was awarded this tender, we provided the owners with a demonstration of a 2m x 3m display in our showroom,’ commented CST general manager, Gerald Fong. CEO Lex Na and chief gaming officer Check Ho had also placed an order for a Norton Audio loudspeaker system and a Martin Professional lighting display.
Facing into the mall, the arena’s stage area sets the tone with a large 5.28m x 2.88m (WxH) 4mm pixel-pitch LED display split into three sections. Comprising 72 480mm x 480mm tiles, the 2K resolution screen at a 3,840Hz refresh rate offers a 160° viewing angle, while the smaller left and right screens depict the teams and player profiles supplementing the action on the main screen. The HDMI inputs from the gaming consoles and PTZ cameras are routed through a Kramer VS44HN 4x4 HDMI matrix video switcher.
Above the stage, 10 Martin Rush PAR1 LED lighting fixtures are programmed from a laptop loaded with Elation Node 2 lighting controller software. Audio sources, including Sennheiser XSW handheld mics, PC audio and CD playback, are fed into a Yamaha MW12 mixer and output through ceiling-suspended Norton Audio L-R i10 speakers and SB112 subwoofers. Powered by EV Q99 and EV Q1212 dual-channel amplifiers, CST has added DSP settings, including delays and EQ, with the addition of a Symetix Jupiter 4 DSP unit.
Beyond the arena, Bountie’s appeal is extended with the addition of 112 gaming desktops. The Jupiter 4 processor has been configured for individual audio zone control in the four private rooms, 20-seat classroom and other facilities hosting mobile, console and arcade games. Powered by an Apart Audio Revamp 4120T amplifier, a network of Mask 4T speakers provide announcements and BGM from a PM7400 MK2 preamp. ‘Naturally, we were honoured to create the audio, video and lighting solution for Singapore’s first esports arena,’ said Fong. ‘Although we have applied the same technology that is applied to our mainstay hospitality, corporate and house of worship applications, it was a refreshing challenge to create something quite unique.’ Lex and Check are happy to show around any interested parties of their new entertainment technology.