BRANDS
AUTHOR Andrew Hayward @ahaywa
3D Trophy Factory A new vision for innovative, bespoke esports trophies t’s only natural that esports takes cues from traditional sports, building off of established processes and norms while adapting elements to this modern, electronic world. However, esports need not be tethered to traditional methods when there are exciting and innovative new methods and options, which can better represent the dynamic nature of competitive gaming.
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One such example is trophies. While many esports tournaments have riffed off of the classic glossy metal cups and saucers seen in traditional sports, we’re seeing a greater push to award more charismatic and original designs -- ones that better represent the game in question, the publisher, the sponsor(s), or all of the above. Belgian company 3D Trophy Factory is one of the companies leading the charge on that front, embracing techniques such as 3D printing and laser cutting to bring fresh designs to life. Formed in 2012, 3D Trophy Factory has worked across a number of industries, creating bespoke trophies for competitions, companies, and employee recognition purposes--but its esports work has significantly ramped up of late. The company’s work has been seen in a number of high-profile events. One key example is for the most recent ESL Pro League season for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. While previous ESL Pro League seasons featured a more traditional-looking cup design, ESL sought to present a trophy that better aligned with its recent rebranding effort. The result strikes a distinctive silhouette, a swirl of gold and black adorned with the league branding. Another standout example is for the GLL Grand Slam: PUBG Classic for PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, which spotlights the potential to utilise in-game assets to produce a trophy unlike
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Riot Games Premier Tour