Gaming
Games Lift Incubator 2021: Preparing five Teams for the Challenges of the Games Industry
Five up-and-coming game developer teams from Hamburg convinced the awarding committee with their project ideas, pitching their way into the Games Lift Incubator 2021. The incubator program starts on September 9 and aims to prepare the teams for the challenges of developing and marketing their games projects in the international markets – through start-up funding of 15,000 euros per team and an intensive three-month workshop and mentoring program under the guidance of international industry experts. With the support of the Games Lift Network, consisting of experts in marketing, pitching, business development, product development, and PR, the teams will further develop their ideas and concepts for marketable games projects. The teams will be provided with workspaces in the Hamburg co-working location “Code Working Space”. The Games Lift Incubator is organized by Gamecity Hamburg, the location initiative for the games industry, funded by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
A total of 17 teams and solo devs applied to be taken in into the second run of the Games Lift Incubator.
The five participating teams were chosen by the awarding committee, consisting of Anne Beuttenmüller (Director Marketing EMEA Niantic, Inc.), Ole Schaper (CEO & CTO Sviper), Wolf Lang (CEO Super Crowd Entertainment), Margarete Schneider (Project Manager Gamecity Hamburg) and Jens Unrau (Head of Department Media and Digital Economy at Hamburg’s Ministry of Culture and Media).
The five teams and projects in the Games Lift Incubator 2021:
- The Invitation by tool1
- Monstersongs VR by Denise Koch
- PROSPECTOR by Koriol Games
- supernightshift by consider it
- The Treepoids by SUPERNATURAL GAMES
Anne Beuttenmüller, Director Marketing EMEA Niantic, Inc, is impressed with the wide range of projects genres from Hamburg’s developer scene: “It’s great to see the versatility and high quality of this year’s Games Lift participants. The developers and teams bring a great passion for their game ideas and concepts. In the incubator, these five teams now have a unique opportunity to work on their skills and take away valuable tips for their further path into the industry. I am very excited to see the further development of our participants.”
The five projects in detail:
The Invitation is an action-packed multiplayer loot shooter set in a future scenario of Earth in the year 2081. The team tool1 also successfully applied for prototype funding by Gamecity Hamburg.
Monstersongs VR by Denise Koch combines a graphic novel with a playable VR rock musical that takes players into a colorful world full of monsters, puzzles, and music.
In the narrative sci-fi adventure PROSPECTOR by Koriol Games, players uncover the mystery of a planet where masks are essential for survival and the game’s heroes have to build important relationships through a novel dialogue system.
In the mobile game supernightshift, the team consider it turns the city of Hamburg itself into a digital playing field in which the players have to find the best way through the city using different means of transport.
The Treepoids by developer/designer duo SUPERNATURAL GAMES puts nature in the focus of an entertaining strategy adventure, with hand-drawn 2D graphics and lots of colorful characters on a mysterious island.
The workshop, mentoring, and coaching program of the Games Lift Incubator is put together according to the needs of the participating teams. In addition to game development topics, it covers areas such as marketing, founding a company, or project management.
In a public pitch event in December, the participating developers present the progress they have made in the incubator. Following the intensive phase of the program from September to December, the participants are supported for another year with individual coaching sessions and by an international PR agency specializing in indie games. In 2020, five teams went through the first round of the incubator program. The program is aimed at developers and founders who develop digital game ideas in Hamburg.
Among many others, these industry experts have agreed to share their knowledge as coaches and mentors in the Games Lift Network:
Heather Chandler shares her experience from over 25 years in the international games industry, during which she worked as a senior producer on the hit game Fortnite, with the participants of the Games Lift Incubator in a workshop on producing and project management.
Simon Carless – is one of the best-known consultants in the video game industry and deals primarily with marketing and business development. For the Games Lift participants, he will hold the workshop “Perfecting your Game Hook & the 10 commandments of discoverability”.
Further information on the funded projects, the Games Lift Incubator program and the experts involved are available at https://www.gamecity-hamburg.de/incubator/.
More funding opportunities through Gamecity Hamburg
In addition to the Games Lift Incubator, Gamecity Hamburg also supports developers and games companies from Hamburg through its Prototype Funding program. Each year, a total of 400,000 euros are available for games projects from Hamburg, individual projects can be funded with up to 80,000 euros as a non-repayable grant. For the first time, there will be a second round of Prototype Funding in 2021. From August 30, developers, teams, and SMEs from Hamburg are called to apply.
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Amusnet
Amusnet Adds Wet and Wild Fun to Crash Gaming with Hippo Splash
Amusnet is poised to elevate the thrill in the crash game segment with the imminent launch of Hippo Splash – a lively, quick-paced game that merges fun narratives with exhilarating gameplay and a verifiably fair algorithm.
At the core of Hippo Splash is a memorable image: a playful hippo gingerly balancing on a log in the center of a lake. Every action heightens the suspense, every moment raises the stakes… until a single mistake causes the hippo to plunge into the water. That’s the moment players anticipate – and the secret to transforming clever timing into substantial victories.
Created with player enthusiasm as a priority, Hippo Splash allows gamers complete control over their tactics. They have the option to cash out early at 50% for a more secure strategy or remain in the game longer to pursue higher multipliers before the eventual drop. Each round is fast, easy to grasp, and filled with tension, allowing for immediate participation while maintaining high adrenaline.
With its colorful theme, engaging mechanics, and modern crash gameplay, Hippo Splash is poised to appeal to both seasoned crash game fans and newcomers looking for something fun, fast, and rewarding.
Get ready to watch the log, track the multiplier, and decide the perfect moment to cash out – because in Hippo Splash, every step counts, and every splash could send winnings soaring.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply your winnings through the Gambling feature!
Multipliers
The game starts with a multiplier set at 1x and rises gradually and can go up to a max coefficient of 1,000,000.
Multiplier can potentially crash at 1x, ending the game round.
50% Cash Out
Players can cash out 50% of their bet during the game round and continue playing with the remaining 50%.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Amusnet Adds Wet and Wild Fun to Crash Gaming with Hippo Splash appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
155.io
155.io Breaks the Mold Again, Introducing the CCTV Game Genre via Rush Hour
155.io, the live content studio transforming real-world games, has launched CCTV.Game, an innovative genre created entirely from live CCTV footage collected worldwide. The category debuts with its inaugural title, Rush Hour. The live game operates around the clock to convert real-life traffic into immediate viewing and wagering entertainment.
The CCTV Game signifies a new path for 155.io, broadening its chaos-oriented philosophy into completely live, real-world settings. Created using numerous live CCTV feeds from around the globe, the game transforms everyday activities into quick, engaging, and immediately bettable entertainment.
Running nonstop, Rush Hour enables players to wager on straightforward, distinct results during rounds lasting under a minute – such as the number of cars that cross a junction or the quantity that turns left or right within a specified timeframe. Each round is dynamic, spontaneous, and influenced by the organic rhythms of the world, instead of standard RNG methods.
Rush Hour’s live recordings feature diverse locations such as Sydney, Swindon, Arizona, and Taipei, as well as landmarks like Patong Beach in Thailand and Abbey Road in London. From everyday crossroads to landmark locations, the entire world transforms into the game board. Crafted for mobile devices, Rush Hour is immediately comprehensible and genuinely engaging, providing a much-needed option to conventional casino formats. CCTV Game embodies 155.io’s fundamental philosophy: chaotic reality, straightforward games, and entertainment designed primarily for mobile.
The launch enhances 155.io’s attraction to the upcoming player generation, merging live-stream culture with instant betting features.
CCTV Game and Rush Hour can now be accessed via Hub88 or through direct integration.
Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, commented: “Rush Hour is the first expression of our CCTV Game genre – think Big Brother blended with Polymarket. It’s completely live, and the world is now our studio. CCTV.game takes real-world chaos and turns it into something instantly playable and genuinely entertaining – this is content the next generation will queue up to try.”
He added: “Once you realise the entire world can be a live game feed, there are no boundaries. Live traffic content is just the start – from live wildlife to iconic sporting locations – we’re only just setting off on our journey of what real-world chaos entertainment can be.”
The post 155.io Breaks the Mold Again, Introducing the CCTV Game Genre via Rush Hour appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Chicken X & Friends
Million Games Launches Chicken X & Friends Today Following Strong ICE Reception
Million Games announces today the official launch of Chicken X & Friends, its real-time multiplayer crash game and the highly anticipated sequel to the award-nominated hit Chicken X.
Following a successful showcase at ICE 2026, where the game attracted strong interest and positive feedback from operators, partners, and industry professionals, Chicken X & Friends is now live and available to play.
Set across a chaotic multi-lane highway, Chicken X & Friends brings Jack Chicken back into action—this time in a shared, unlimited multiplayer environment. Unlike traditional crash games, gameplay never pauses. There are no waiting rounds or session start times. Players can jump in instantly and start playing at any moment.
Multiplayer Crash Gameplay, Evolved
Chicken X & Friends introduces unlimited, real-time multiplayer gameplay to the crash genre. Players are visible live on screen as they navigate traffic lanes, build multipliers, and decide when to cash out before the crash.
“This launch marks an important step for us,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games. “Chicken X & Friends builds on everything players loved about the original, but adds a social layer that fundamentally changes how crash games feel. Seeing other players make decisions in real time adds tension, strategy, and excitement—and that was very clear from the feedback we received at ICE.”
Player Choice, Progression, and Personalisation
Gameplay takes place across multiple traffic lanes, each offering a distinct risk-and-reward profile. Slower lanes provide steadier multiplier growth with lighter traffic, while faster lanes increase volatility with denser traffic and quicker multiplier escalation.
Players actively choose how and where to play—staying safe, pushing into danger, or switching lanes as conditions change. Safe zones offer a brief pause from traffic, but staying too long triggers an automatic cash-out, ensuring the pace remains high and the pressure stays on.
As players progress, they unlock levels and cosmetic customisations, including different skins and hats for Jack Chicken. These visual rewards allow players to stand out on the road and showcase their experience and performance without affecting gameplay balance.
Movement is fast and intuitive, controlled through taps or directional inputs, allowing players to react instantly as traffic patterns evolve.
Social, Competitive, and Always On
In public playgrounds, up to ten players appear live on screen. Each player is represented by Jack Chicken, while competitors appear as pigeons, creating instant visual awareness of who is still in the race. The leading player is highlighted with a unique “king” skin and a visible live multiplier.
Live leaderboards track top performances over the past hour and 24 hours, encouraging repeat play and competition. Players can also choose to play solo or create private rooms with friends, offering flexibility without compromising the core gameplay experience.
Now Live and Available
Chicken X & Friends is launching today and can be played now on the Million Games website. Operators and partners interested in integrating the game or learning more about distribution opportunities are encouraged to get in touch with the Million Games team.
“This game represents something genuinely new for our industry,” added Thomas Nimstad. “We’re pushing beyond familiar formats to create experiences that players haven’t seen before. Unlimited gameplay, visible multiplayer tension, and shared decision-making open up a new direction for crash games—and that’s exactly the kind of innovation we want Million Games to be known for.”
The post Million Games Launches Chicken X & Friends Today Following Strong ICE Reception appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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