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The “Spring Festival Festival Festival” in Chengdu has come to an end

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Counsellor stationed abroad calls: Everything is in GoChengdu

CHENGDU, China, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On the night of February 24th, the lanterns in Chengdu were bright and dazzling, with countless Spring Festival activities blooming in various places in Chengdu. The Year of the Dragon came to a close amidst the lively atmosphere of fireworks and excitement, marking a vibrant start to the Chinese people’s 2024. In the midst of this festive tourism atmosphere, how “hot and spicy” is Chengdu?

According to the “Top 10 Hot Cities for Domestic Migration during the 2023 Spring Festival” released by Tencent’s location big data, as well as the “Favorite Cities for Post-00s Travelers” list released by the Qunar travel platform, Chengdu ranked first in both lists. Data from Ctrip also shows that the booking volume of inbound tourist flights during the 2024 Chinese Spring Festival travel season increased by approximately 819%. In addition to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, Chengdu and Harbin have also performed impressively in inbound tourism, becoming popular destinations for foreign tourists.

“Chinese New Year Chengdu Flavor” has also set off another round of climax on the Internet at home and abroad.

Under the theme of “Experience the Sichuan Flavor Chinese New Year in Chengdu,” GoChengdu has meticulously planned and created the “Panda New Year Celebration” global Spring Festival series of events in advance, featuring hashtags such as #Chengdu Celebrations, #Year Of The Dragon, and launching dozens of original bilingual Chinese-style animations, hand-painted posters, New Year greeting videos, “Panda New Year” red envelope covers, and other social and internationally-oriented products. They have engaged in friendly interactions with international sister cities, local government agencies of tourist destinations, tourism organizations, panda fans, and others, continuously attracting domestic and foreign netizens’ attention to tourism in Chengdu, creating a tourism boom in Chengdu in 2024.

Statistics show that during the Spring Festival period, GoChengdu ranked first on both Facebook and X platforms among national central city accounts. The “Panda New Year Celebration” global Spring Festival series of events reached a total overseas audience of over 31 million, with a total of 87,000 interactions. The “Sending Good Luck” celebration event program had nearly 20,000 visits, delivering New Year gifts to nearly 300 fans worldwide.

Integrating “Chengdu flavor” into creative short films

“China Year” ignites overseas social media

As the main venue event trailer for the New Year’s Eve in Chengdu, the animation “Chinese Dragon, Dancing in Chengdu” adopts a combination of hand-drawn and AI synthesized images, based on the real story of the Huanglongxi Fire Dragon Dance, presenting a unique and distinctive dragon lantern dance show. The video has garnered nearly 100,000 views on domestic platforms, with over 8,000 interactions. On the GoChengdu Facebook platform, it has reached 27,000 views and nearly 800,000 impressions, with overseas Chinese commenting, “With the lanterns lit, this is the true taste of Chengdu’s New Year!”

On Lantern Festival day, GoChengdu released the creative short film “Strolling in the December Market Painting,” capturing the festive atmosphere of Lantern Festival in Chengdu. The short film creatively uses VR gaming settings to recreate the prosperous scene of the December market in Song Dynasty Chengdu. The protagonist, Xiao Rong, embarks on a magical journey through the ancient and modern December markets, experiencing the fireworks of Chengdu. After the video was released, overseas netizens commented, “The video is very interesting, I didn’t know Lantern Festival in China is so lively, I want to visit Chengdu.”

From New Year’s Eve to the seventh day of the first lunar month, GoChengdu has consecutively released the “New Year in Chengdu” series of intangible cultural heritage hand-drawn posters on domestic and international platforms for eight days. These posters integrate Chengdu sugar paintings, Daoming bamboo weaving, Qionglai porcelain tire bamboo weaving, Chengdu silver flower silk, and other intangible cultural heritage skills, along with elements of the Year of the Dragon and the Spring Festival. On the GoChengdu Facebook platform, the total reach exceeded 4.7 million, with over 30,000 interactions; on the GoChengdu Photo Wall platform, the total reach exceeded 6.6 million, with 5,000 interactions.

Chinese cultural attache Zhang Heqing from the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Consul General of China in Osaka, diplomat Ms. Liu Yongfeng, as well as international officials such as the Austrian Consul General in Chengdu and the Chairperson of the Montpellier Foreign Relations Committee, and officials from domestic cities like Fujian, Xinjiang, Guizhou, and Chongqing have praised and shared the posters multiple times. After reposting one of the posters, Cultural Attache Zhang Heqing from the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan called out to GoChengdu, saying, “Follow GoChengdu, and you will learn more about the beauty of China and the flavors of Chengdu!”

Multi-modal display “Bashu Flavor Chinese Year”

“The trend of celebrating the Chinese New Year in Chengdu has become popular

On the eve of the Spring Festival, GoChengdu collaborated with China Global Television Network (CGTN) for a global English live broadcast of the “Shuyan Fu” feast at Dongjiao Memory, which was aired on CGTN’s new media client and overseas social media platforms on February 8th. The live broadcast was streamed on 10 domestic and international platforms including CGTN’s Weibo, Video Number, English client, Facebook, reaching over 150 million viewers. The live broadcast had nearly ten thousand concurrent viewers across various platforms, attracting interactions and comments from netizens in dozens of countries and regions such as the United States, Italy, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the Philippines who praised, “The Hanfu is so beautiful! Such exquisite and elegant traditional customs!” and expressed well wishes for the Spring Festival.

From February 9th to February 17th, GoChengdu set up topics on various social media platforms overseas, continuously releasing images, videos, and content related to Chengdu’s New Year celebrations to keep overseas netizens engaged and interested in Chengdu. Videos such as “One Hundred Thousand People Singing ‘Me and My Motherland’ Together,” “Tianfu New Area Long Screen Light Show,” and “Chengdu New Year’s Eve Event” posted on the GoChengdu Facebook platform collectively garnered over 200,000 views.

Giant panda Huahua takes the lead

Global Celebration of the Chinese New Year

On the eve of the Spring Festival, GoChengdu, featuring the giant panda Hua Hua as its mascot, collaborated with the traditional Chinese New Year activity of “Dragon Dance” to design WeChat red envelope covers with a “Panda New Year” theme. The red envelope covers received widespread acclaim upon their release, prompting netizens to eagerly request more: “I didn’t manage to get one! I really like this design, please release more!” In response to the users’ demands, GoChengdu subsequently launched multiple rounds of red envelope covers, accumulating over 100,000+ reads on their WeChat official account.

Meanwhile, GoChengdu created a special program called “Witness” for the Lunar New Year. They released three episodes titled “Consuls in Chengdu: Excitement in Chengdu in 2024,” “Officials from Japan, South Korea, and Thailand’s National Tourism Bureaus: Experiencing Chinese New Year in Chengdu,” and “New Year Wishes from Foreigners Living in Chengdu.” These videos focused on foreign consuls in Chengdu, officials from tourism bureaus in Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, members of Chengdu-based associations, and university professors who are foreigners living in Chengdu. Using their unique perspectives, they reviewed the development achievements in various fields such as culture, tourism, foreign trade, and education in Chengdu in 2023 and conveyed sincere New Year wishes during this festive season. Currently, the videos have reached a total audience of over 1.27 million and have been viewed by over 40,000 people.

In 2023, Chengdu hosted the World University Games, attracting delegations from 113 countries and regions and over 6,500 athletes to come together in Chengdu for a grand event celebrating youth, unity, and friendship. During the Lunar New Year in the Year of the Dragon, GoChengdu planned and launched the “International University Sports Federation Invites You to Video Call” program. They conducted interviews with officials from the International University Sports Federation and student athletes from around the world, reminiscing about their warm memories of Chengdu and sending heartfelt blessings. The video reached an overseas audience of over 400,000 and had nearly 50,000 views. It resonated with international netizens, and many athletes left comments expressing their longing for Chengdu and gratitude towards the city. Aupal, a student ambassador from Uganda to the International University Sports Federation, sent a message in Chinese pinyin, saying “Xin nian Kua lie” (Happy New Year) and extending his wishes to friends in China across the ocean. President of the International University Sports Federation, René Fasel, sent a private message expressing heartfelt gratitude to Chengdu.

“Overseas Chengdu Residents: The Most Nostalgic Taste of Chengdu’s New Year” focused on “Chengdu people” living and working abroad. Through video calls, GoChengdu helped them fulfill their New Year wishes and visited the Chengdu they missed the most. In the video, Wang Pingxi, the owner of a Sichuan cuisine restaurant in Japan, expressed her daily longing for her beloved giant pandas. Xiaoyu, a student studying at Nanyang Technological University, yearned to taste her mother’s braised pork trotters in Jiandao Alley. Yilin, a Malaysian student studying in Chengdu, wanted to revisit the current “Internet-famous check-in spot” – the Twin Towers.

Social operation and international marketing

Assist Chengdu in “inbound tourism”

How to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Chengdu? On the Xiaohongshu platform, there are over 1.64 million notes recording the “Chengdu Spring Festival Travel Guide,” inspiring global netizens to explore Chengdu through the internet. On the eve of the Spring Festival, GoChengdu carefully designed the online interactive activity “Unlocking Auspiciousness in the Year of the Dragon,” offering a variety of new Spring blessings to netizens worldwide.

Cultural tourism: Meet the national trend and unlock new dining experiences at the country’s first panoramic immersive Han culture-themed meal show – “Sichuan Banquet”; at the Panda Base, be healed by giant pandas for a whole day; at Wuhou Temple, visit the garden Enjoy the lanterns.

Year of Sports: During the Spring Festival, Chengdu Hot Snow Miracle launches the theme event of the Chengdu Hot Snow Miracle New Year International Ice and Snow Festival, “The Wave of All Nations Welcomes the Spring with Ice and Snow”. One stop check-in with the unique ice and snow culture of the world, a 5000 square meter super large entertainment snow park for the whole family to enjoy, and 6 different levels of ski trails for smooth sailing The rich form of ice and snow experience heats up the Chengdu Spring Festival holiday season; There is also a “2020 Street Dance” annual card that takes you to dance in 2024.

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SOURCE GoChengdu

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NASA Johnson Invites Proposals to Lease Vibration Test Facility

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HOUSTON, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NASA’s Johnson Space Center is seeking proposals for the use of its historic, but underused, Vibration and Acoustic Test Facility. Prospective tenants must submit facility walk-through requests by Monday, Nov. 18.

Final proposals are due by 12 p.m. EST Monday, Dec. 16, and must promote activities that will build, expand, modernize, or operate aerospace-related capabilities at NASA Johnson and help preserve the historic and iconic building through preservation and adaptive reuse.

NASA plans to sign a National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) lease agreement for the facility, also known as Building 49, for a five-year base period and one five-year extension to be negotiated between NASA and the tenant. To request a walk-through, send an email to hq-realestate@mail.nasa.gov

“This historic facility has been used for decades to ensure the success and safety of all human spaceflight missions by putting engineering designs and hardware to the ultimate stress tests,” said NASA Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche. “For more than 60 years, NASA Johnson has been the hub of human space exploration and this agreement will be a vital part of the center’s efforts to develop a robust and durable space economy that refines our understanding of the solar system and space exploration.”

All proposals must adhere to the guidelines detailed in the Agency Announcement for Proposals describing concept plans for development of the property, including any modifications proposed to the building; a statement of financial capability to successfully achieve and sustain operations, demonstrated experience with aerospace-related services or other space-related activities, and a detailed approach to propelling the space economy.

The nine-story building complex has a gross square footage of 62,737 square feet and consists of a north wing measuring 62 feet long, 268 feet wide and 106 feet tall, and a central wing about 64 feet long and 115 feet wide. Building 49 currently houses five laboratories, including the General Vibration Laboratory, Modal Operations Laboratory, Sonic Fatigue Laboratory, Spacecraft Acoustic Laboratory, and Spacecraft Vibration Laboratory. The south administrative portion of the building is not included in the property offered for lease. 

As the home of Mission Control Center for the agency’s human space missions, astronaut training, robotics, human health and space medicine, NASA Johnson leads the way for the human exploration. Leveraging its unique role and location, the center is developing multiple lease agreements, including the recently announced Exploration Park, to sustain its key role in helping the human spaceflight community foster a robust space.

In the coming years, NASA and its academic, commercial, and international partners will see the completion of the International Space Station Program, the commercial development of low Earth orbit, and the first human Artemis campaign missions establishing sustainable human presence on the Moon in preparation for human missions to Mars.

Johnson already is leading the commercialization of space with the commercial cargo and crew programs and private astronaut missions to the space station. The center also is supporting the development of commercial space stations in low Earth orbit, and lunar-capable commercial spacesuits and lunar landers that will be provided as services to both NASA and the private sector to accelerate human access to space. Through the development of Exploration Park, the center will broaden the scope of the human spaceflight community that is tackling the many difficult challenges ahead.

Learn more about NASA Johnson’s efforts to collaborate with industry partners:

https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/frontdoor/ 

NASA Johnson Space Center news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to listserv@listserver.jsc.nasa.gov.  In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type “subscribe hsfnews” (no quotes). This will add the email address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list. The system will reply with a confirmation via E-mail of each subscription.  Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail.

 

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SOURCE NASA

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Cabana Partners with Virginia Department of Veterans Services to Provide Comprehensive, Free Mental Health Support for Veterans, Guard/Reserve Members, and Their Families

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RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cabana, a modern mental health provider offering confidential, tech-enabled support, has partnered with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) to provide free, comprehensive mental health resources to Virginia’s veterans, Guard and Reserve members, as well as their spouses and caregivers. This collaboration expands access to Cabana’s digital mental health services, including live peer support groups moderated by Virginia-certified Veteran Peer Specialists.

Originally developed through research and development initiatives with the U.S. Air Force, Cabana’s services are designed to meet the unique needs of military and veteran communities. With this partnership, eligible Virginia users gain full access to Cabana’s digital suite, which includes the full range of virtual, professionally facilitated groups offered by Cabana, as well as dedicated Virginia Veteran peer-led support groups. Participants can connect discreetly on topics such as transitioning to civilian life, managing family relationships, and coping with stress, all within a secure and confidential environment accessible from any device.

David Black, Founder and CEO of Cabana, underscored the mission behind the partnership: “We’re honored to work with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to offer a holistic mental health solution for Virginia’s military-connected community. With Virginia-certified Veteran Peer Specialists and our full array of live support groups, we’re providing a powerful, confidential resource that veterans and military families can rely on, whenever and wherever they need it.”

Key Features of the Partnership:

Comprehensive Access to Support: Virginia veterans, Guard/Reserve members, and their families will have unrestricted access to all live virtual groups available through Cabana, in addition to specialized peer-led groups run by Virginia-certified Veteran Peer Specialists.Support for Families and Caregivers: The initiative includes spouses and caregivers, addressing the unique mental health needs of military-connected families through sessions tailored to issues like family dynamics, stress management, and the transition to civilian life.Confidential and Flexible Access: Cabana’s services are available on mobile and desktop devices, providing Virginia’s veterans and their families with an easily accessible, cost-free solution for mental health support.

This collaboration highlights Cabana’s commitment to supporting the mental well-being of those who serve and their families. By joining forces with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Cabana seeks to strengthen the resilience and wellness of Virginia’s military community.

For more information on the partnership between Cabana and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, please contact:

Nick Armstrong, Ph.D.
Head of Public Sector, Cabana
nick@cabanahealth.org

About Cabana™
Cabana is a leading, modern mental health provider offering confidential, tech-enabled support solutions tailored to the needs of diverse communities. Through live, professionally moderated group sessions, evidence-based content, and adaptable wellness tools, Cabana helps individuals proactively manage their mental health. Our mission is clear: to make mental health care more accessible through technology and human connection.

About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS)

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is a state government agency with more than 50 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. DVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral health, housing, employment, education, and other programs. The agency operates long-term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, dementia/memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; and provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries. It operates the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s tribute to Virginia’s men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.

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SOURCE Cabana

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East Side Games Group Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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Revenue of $21.4M in Q3 2024 and $62.8M Year to DateA-EBITDA of $2.56M in Q3 2024 and $9.2M Year to DatePOWER RANGERS: MIGHTY FORCE launched globally

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 14, 2024 /CNW/ – East Side Games Group (TSX: EAGR) (OTC: EAGRF) (“ESGG” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. All amounts are stated in Canadian dollars on an IFRS basis unless otherwise indicated. Building on the momentum from Q2, the company achieved its first growth quarter of the year, reporting a top-line revenue of $21.4 million, a 4% increase quarter-over-quarter and a 3% increase year-over-year.

The company’s adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $2.56 million, representing a 12% margin and marking the eighth consecutive profitable quarter above $2.5 million. East Side Games Group continues to demonstrate strong performance metrics across its core portfolio, with an average daily user count (DAU) of 236,000, a stickiness rate of 24%, and an average revenue per daily active user (ARPDAU) of $0.99.

“Our focus on profitability within our existing portfolio has paid off, and we are excited to further enhance our user acquisition strategies,” said Jason Bailey, CEO of East Side Games Group. “With $8.3 million in cash—our highest balance since Q2 2022—we are well-positioned to invest in our future game launches and bolster our share buyback program.”

One of the key drivers of growth this quarter was the launch of POWER RANGERS: MIGHTY FORCE in August, which quickly garnered nearly 30,000 daily active users and demonstrated impressive return on advertising spend (ROAS) figures.

In Q3, the company also enhanced its revenue generation through innovative strategies. The introduction of bi-monthly season passes for popular titles like Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money and Cheech and Chong: Bud Farm resulted in a remarkable 40% increase in season pass revenue.

In a major collaboration, East Side Games Group partnered with BBC and Paramount to create the Intergalactic Friendship Day crossover event between Star Trek Lower Decks: The Badgey Directive and Doctor Who: Lost in Time, generating substantial organic traffic and setting new ARPDAU records.

Looking forward to Q4, East Side Games Group is excited to introduce team-based cooperative and competitive play features into titles such as Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money and RuPaul’s Drag Race Superstar, anticipating a significant boost in player engagement and monetization.

Moreover, the company is preparing to launch Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money on the Epic Games Store, expanding its reach in a new mobile marketplace with favorable revenue-sharing terms. This is a very exciting opportunity, only being afforded to a few game studios.

Finally, East Side Games Group is thrilled to announce our upcoming title, RuPaul’s Drag Race Match Queen, developed in partnership with Funkitron and World of Wonder. Slated for a 2025 release, this hybrid match-3 game combines beloved gameplay elements with captivating fashion and character features, catering to the passionate fanbase of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Mike Edwards will be stepping down from the ESGG Board of Directors to focus on other pursuits, effective immediately. ESGG thanks him for his invaluable guidance over the past 12 years and is currently in discussions with several highly qualified candidates for his replacement.

Three Months Ended Sep 30, 2024 Financial highlights

For the quarter ended September 30th, 2024, revenue was $21.4M.Q3 2024 a-EBITDA of $2.56M and 12% a-EBITDA margin.Cashflow for the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 increased by $700k, ending at $8.3M.Daily Active Users in Q3 were 236k, with an ARPDAU of $0.99On November 14, 2023, the Company announced a renewal of its Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”) authorizing the Company to purchase 4,076,819 of its shares. Through September 30, 2024, the Company purchased 1,540,719 shares at an average price of $0.76. The company continues to buy back stock as restrictions allow.

Certain information provided in this news release is extracted from the consolidated financial statements (the “Financial Statements”) and Management’s Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”) of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and should be read in conjunction with them. It is only in the context of the fulsome information and disclosures contained in the Financial Statements and MD&A that an investor can properly analyze this information. The Financial Statements and MD&A can be found under the Company’s profile on SEDAR and EDGAR.

Earnings Call Video

ESGG will release its third-quarter 2024 financial results and business outlook on its investor relations website https://eastsidegamesgroup.com/investors/financial-information on Thursday, November 14th, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

ABOUT EAST SIDE GAMES GROUP

East Side Games Group is a leading free-to-play mobile game group, creating engaging games that produce enduring player loyalty. Our studio groups entrepreneurial culture is anchored in creativity, execution, and growth through licensing of our proprietary Game Kit software platform that enables professional game developers to greatly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of game creation in addition to organic growth through a diverse portfolio of original and licensed IP mobile games that include: The Office: Somehow We Manage, Star Trek: Lower Decks – The Badgey Directive, Bud Farm Idle Tycoon, Doctor Who: Lost in Time, RuPaul’s Drag Race Superstar, AEW: Rise to The Top, Cheech and Chong Bud Farm, and Trailer Park Boys: Grea$y Money.

We are headquartered in Vancouver, Canada and our games are available worldwide on the App Store and Google Play. Additional information about the Company continues to be available under its legal name, East Side Games Group Inc., at www.sedar.com.

Forward-looking Information

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the proposed transactions described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including factors beyond the Company’s control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.

SOURCE East Side Games Group Inc.

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