Gaming

Gamecity Hamburg funds three games prototypes with € 159,000 in second funding round 2021

Published

4 years ago

November 18, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In the second funding round in 2021, Gamecity Hamburg supports three promising games projects with a total of 159,000 euros through its Prototype Funding program. The non-repayable grant enables companies and developers based in Hamburg to develop prototypes of their games for the growing global games market. Together with the six projects selected by the awarding committee in the first funding round, Gamecity Hamburg funds nine prototypes with a total of 411,000 euros this year.

Starting March 4, 2022, right after the Hamburg Games Conference, companies and developers can apply again for the next funding round of Gamecity Hamburg’s Prototype Funding. The application phase for the second funding round will start directly after gamescom 2022.

“Both 2021 funding rounds have impressively shown us that there is a great deal of dynamics in the games industry in Hamburg. We were impressed by how diverse the funding applications were – in addition to games of all genres and for all platforms, a serious game, and a home training app convinced the awarding committee with their market potential for the first time in this funding round,” says Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg and member of the awarding committee for prototype funding.

The funded projects of the second funding round 2021

Castle Town by Sviper – 80,000 euros
CR4NKUP by CR4NKUP – 40,000 euros
Mambio by neurodactics – 39,273 euros

In the mobile game Castle Town by Sviper, players can build towns in a medieval setting and optimize supply chains for all the goods they need on a grand scale. Sviper is an indie studio from Hamburg and was able to celebrate its first successes with the debut “Super Spell Heroes”. With Castle Town, Sviper wants to take off further.

CR4NKUP by CR4NKUP is an indoor training game that combines real bike training with a virtual world filled with a large number of fellow players. Through gamification elements such as multiplayer and online tournaments, the free-to-play app is designed to motivate professional athletes and amateur cyclists alike.

Mambio by neurodactics is the first serious game supported by the Hamburg prototype funding. Mambio is an inclusive learning game for elementary school-aged children that playfully promotes the fun of math and aims to make learning arithmetic easier for children with disabilities as well.

A total of eleven start-ups, games companies and solo developers applied for funding in the second funding round 2021 from August 30 to October 16. After an online pitch, the projects were selected by an awarding committee, consisting of Hamburg industry experts Nina Müller (Head of Publishing, Goodgame Studios), Michael Schade (Co-Founder and CEO, ROCKFISH Games), Valentina Birke (Project Manager, Super Crowd Entertainment), Jens Unrau (Head of Department Media and Digital Economy of the Ministry of Culture and Media in Hamburg) and Dennis Schoubye (Head of Gamecity Hamburg).

In addition to a convincing presentation of the project and the team members, the experts evaluated the submitted projects according to further criteria such as promotion of young talent, team, market potential and location effect for Hamburg.

Prototype funding from Gamecity Hamburg

In 2020, the funding program already supported the development of seven prototypes with a total of 430,000 euros.

All information on prototype funding in Hamburg can be found at: www.gamecity-hamburg.de/funding/.

The next application phase for prototype funding 2022 will start directly after the Hamburg Games Conference on March 4, 2022. The application phase for the second funding round in 2022 will start directly after gamescom.

Those who would like to discuss prototype funding and other funding programs for the games industry more intensively are cordially invited to do so on the Gamecity Hamburg Discord server: https://discord.gg/gamecityhamburg.

Further funding opportunities through Gamecity Hamburg

With its support and funding program Games Lift Incubator, Gamecity Hamburg supports five teams per year with up to 15,000 euros and a three-month coaching and mentoring program by experienced, international experts from the games industry.

For the teams participating in the Games Lift Incubator in 2021, the intensive phase of their participation in the program will end on December 2 with the “Games Lift Graduation” event.

Guests can register to participate in the Graduation event via live stream or on-site. Free tickets are available on Eventbrite: https://games-lift-graduation-2021.eventbrite.de/

Gaming

58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”.

Published

1 day ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

58%-of-respondents-like-the“warmy”-archetype-rocket-match-by-rocketplay-became-“-valentine’s-tinder-in-gaming”.

This Valentine’s, RocketPlay tested a playful idea: players who seek thrills in gaming don’t necessarily want intensity in everything — including relationships. Instead of asking users to pick a “perfect partner,” RocketPlay launched Rocket Match, a fast, flirty quiz that matches players with a vibe: Bold, Sunny, Dreamy, or Adventurous.

Early Results Flip the Stereotype

Around 58% of participants matched with the Sunny archetype — defined by warmth, charm, and easy-going fun. The experiment suggests that when it comes to Valentine’s, RocketPlay’s community prefers light-hearted connection over drama or high stakes.

What Rocket Match Is

Rocket Match is a Valentine’s matchmaking quiz built inside the RocketPlay Universe. Players answer five simple, no-wrong-answer questions and instantly discover their match vibe.

The goal: move away from typical Valentine’s content that swings between overly serious romance or clichéd tropes. Rocket Match keeps it flirty, playful, and moment-focused, letting players discover a vibe rather than a label.

The four vibes include:

Bold – confident, high-energy, loves bigger sparks
Sunny – easy-going, playful, social, effortlessly charming
Dreamy – soft, romantic, focused on atmosphere and emotion
Adventurous – playful risk-taker, spontaneous, curious

Community Insights from Rocket Match

The quiz quickly gained traction, with 7,000+ completions, revealing a strong preference: Sunny, the archetype defined by warmth, lightness, and charm.

Alex Martin, PR Lead at RocketPlay, said:

“What we liked most about Rocket Match is how clearly it captured the mood people actually want on Valentine’s. It wasn’t about labels or big statements — it was about light energy, easy chemistry, and a feel-good kind of connection. That’s the vibe we try to build across the brand: simple to join, fun in the moment, and positive without the drama.”

Why It Matters

Rocket Match was more than a Valentine’s gimmick. It offered a snapshot of what RocketPlay’s community enjoys most: light energy, playful interaction, and feel-good connections. By turning a pop-culture moment into a small experiment, RocketPlay gained insight into player preferences, informing how the brand continues to design engaging, fun, and positive experiences.

The post 58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”. appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gaming

58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”.

Published

1 day ago

February 17, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

This Valentine’s, RocketPlay tested a simple idea: people who come to iGaming for thrill don’t necessarily want the same intensity in everything — including relationships. Instead of asking players to choose a “perfect partner,” we launched Rocket Match, a fast, playful quiz that matches players with a vibe — bold, sweet, dreamy, or adventurous.

Early results flipped the stereotype. Around 58% of participants matched with the same vibe — built around warmth, charm, and easy fun — suggesting that when it comes to Valentine’s, our community prefers light-hearted connection over drama or risk.

What Rocket Match is

Rocket Match is a Valentine’s matchmaking quiz built as a small cosmic adventure inside the gaming RocketPlay Universe. Players answer 5 light questions — no right or wrong answers — and instantly unlock a Rocket Match that compliments themself. The idea was simple: Valentine’s content online often swings between two extremes — overly serious romance or pure cliché. Rocket Match was created to do something different: keep it flirty, keep it playful, and let players discover a vibe that feels like a moment, not a label.

There were 4 vibes to match with:
Bold — confident, high-energy, loves a bigger spark and bolder choices.
Sunny — easy-going, lighthearted, funny, good communicator
Dreamy — softer, romantic, drawn to atmosphere and emotion.
Adventurous — playful risk-taker energy; spontaneous, curious, and always up for something new.

The lightweight Valentine’s experiment quickly gained traction, with 7,000+ players completing the quiz. The unexpected value came after: the answers revealed a clear preference in what players wanted Valentine’s to feel like — and that insight became the story.

Across responses, around 58% of participants landed on the same Rocket Match vibe — the “sunny” archetype. It’s defined by warmth, lightness, and easy charm: playful, social, and effortless to be around.

What it says about RocketPlay’s community

Rocket Match offered a clear read on the kind of Valentine’s energy players gravitate toward — and it’s lighter than the usual “high-stakes romance” stereotype. As Alex Martin, PR Lead, puts it: “What we liked most about Rocket Match is how clearly it captured the mood people actually want on Valentine’s. It wasn’t about labels or big statements — it was about light energy, easy chemistry, and a feel-good kind of connection. That’s the vibe we try to build across the brand: simple to join, fun in the moment, and positive without the drama.”

What started as a fun Valentine’s experiment quickly became a snapshot of what the community enjoys most: light energy, easy chemistry, and feel-good connection. Valentine’s was simply the right moment to test a playful, pop-culture format — and see what kind of “match” people gravitate toward.

The post 58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”. appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

CEO of GGBET UA Serhii Mishchenko

GGBET UA kicks off the “Keep it GG” promotional campaign

Published

2 days ago

February 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

ggbet-ua-kicks-off-the-“keep-it-gg”-promotional-campaign

A leading gaming brand in Ukraine has launched a collection of ads featuring the tagline “Keep it GG” as part of an extensive communications initiative. The videos are currently being broadcast on Ukrainian TV, online platforms, and the brand’s social media accounts.

“GG” (Good Game) started in video game culture, yet its significance has far surpassed the literal meaning of “well played.” Currently, it symbolizes a worldwide sign of honor and gratitude for the feelings exchanged following a match, no matter the outcome. This concept served as the basis for GGBET UA’s latest marketing campaign. The video series embodies a unique GG atmosphere: rather than using a conventional voiceover, it incorporates complete audio tracks; the narrative features both literal and metaphorical allusions to sports and esports terms, alongside in-game and casino aspects; and prominent Ukrainian footballers are among the main characters.

“Every game, every match, every tournament is a moment that brings people together. For us, it’s important that every interaction with GGBET gives users that good game feeling — an experience that outlives the result and leaves vivid emotions behind, just like after watching a match,” comments CEO of GGBET UA, Serhii Mishchenko.

Going beyond the traditional view of GG also signifies a more profound implication — the brand’s strategic focus. The international brand, which has concentrated on esports for several years and attained significant success in esports betting and collaborations, is now adopting best practices to enhance traditional sports in regional markets. GGBET UA showcases a wider strategy for Good Game via collaborations (FC Dynamo Kyiv, FC Polissya, and the Ukrainian Basketball Federation), by organizing its own events and special projects, including initiatives that blend sports with esports, like the Match of LeGGends: Derby showmatch on the server featuring esports athletes and football players.

The brand’s creative team collaborated with a Ukrainian advertising agency and a Ukrainian production company to develop the commercials. GGBET UA made this choice to assist the local creative sector amid the war.

The post GGBET UA kicks off the “Keep it GG” promotional campaign appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.