Bountie Arena brings esports, gaming and darts to one-north

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Note: This article was first published on 2 August 2019.

Bountie Arena has opened its doors at Fusionopolis, the innovation hub of Singapore. Occupying a space of 6,600 square feet, it aims to position itself as a one-stop gaming, lifestyle, and esports venue equipped with top-of-the-line facilities.

The centrepiece of attention is the 13-meter-wide, high-resolution 144Hz LED display for tournaments and events. Check Ho, Chief Gaming Officer of Bountie Arena, says that they want to provide the right infrastructure and educational opportunities.

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Nearby is the main gaming area. There are 60 high-spec gaming computers from ASUS ROG here, each station coming with its own gaming chair, accessories, and plenty of aisle space. Most of the PCs are arranged in rows of five to accommodate the typical esports team size, with local fibre broadband provider MyRepublic delivering the fast internet speeds required.

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A peek into one of the four VIP gaming rooms. These are designed for pro teams and co-curricular activity clubs to formulate strategies and conduct their own training. Each room is equipped with five high-end gaming PCs.

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Class is in session. There’s an area with presentation equipment that doubles as a 20-seater classroom. You might find yourself here for a crash course on Autodesk 3ds Max or learning the ropes in streaming, for example. Bountie Arena aims to work with both technology brands and private institutions to provide a diverse set of value-added knowledge and skills.

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Gamers get hungry too. Away from the stage area is a mini kitchen that can serve up food, coffee and even bubble tea from their in-house brand, Bountea. Those feeling adventurous can soon try out a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine that offers 165 different flavor combinations!

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Channelling the spirit of LAN cafes, instant noodles line the walls opposite the kitchen. This isn’t your regular steaming cup of noodles, though; it’s a gourmet instant noodle cafe. The wall serves as a menu and instant noodle leader board, with less popular flavours getting the boot over time.

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For a change of pace, you can head into the lounge featuring a PlayStation 4, two sets of Nintendo Switch and one accompanying set of Nintendo Labo (a toys-to-life concept using cardboard).

Visitors should also check out the ATARI Pong machine and the two Pandora’s Box arcade machines for some retro-gaming goodness. To get the blood going, there are also plans to open an adult ball pit in early August.

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Rounding it off are soft-tipped electronic dart boards by Phoenixdarts, located next to the food and drinks. With the flashy LED carpets (a first in Singapore), this feels like a chill hangout spot you might find in a bar. Sans the alcohol, of course.

Bountie Arena is above one-north MRT at One Fusionopolis Way, #B1-06/07/08. It opens from 11am to 12am daily, with a promotional launch price of $1/hour (first two months only).

- Reporting by Neo Wei Song