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Colt Canyon crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ at GameMaker Awards 2021
The judges have deliberated. Over 33,000 votes have been cast. And we can now reveal that Colt Canyon has been crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ game of the year, at the GameMaker Awards 2021.
Created by German-based developer Retrific, Colt Canyon is a stylish western-themed pixel art shooter combining roguelike elements with real-time combat. The judges were impressed with Colt Canyon’s highly engaging gameplay and heavily pixelated artist style. While in the popular vote, members of the GameMaker and Opera GX communities voted Colt Canyon the clear winner.
The other finalists for ‘Best Game’ included: Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Jet Lancer, Post Void and Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!.
The winner of ‘Most Anticipated’ game is LUNARK, from Canari Games. LUNARK is a 2D cinematic platformer, designed in the vein of ’80s and ’90s classics. The game challenges players to run, jump, hang, climb, roll, and shoot their way through a kaleidoscope of different environments. These include mysterious alien ruins, a flying penitentiary, a high-tech megalopolis, and a majestic forest.
The judges were blown away with how the Canari Games team have pushed the creative limits of cutscenes and pixel art in GameMaker, to create a game that is both visually stunning and great to play. Set for release later this year, LUNARK also made a big impression with the voters – who overwhelmingly crowned it the ‘Most Anticipated’ game of 2021.
The other finalists for ‘Most Anticipated’ game included: NYKRA, Jitsu Squad, APICO and Toodee and Topdee.
The GameMaker Awards, in partnership with SpecialEffect, a charity that uses video games to enhance the lives of those people with physical disabilities, celebrate creativity and innovation in Indie game development, honouring the best games created using GameMaker Studio 2 as well as the Indies and Studios that designed them.
From over 200 entries, only 5 games for each category were selected by an expert panel of industry peers, including GameMaker Studio CTO Russell Kay, Opera GX Product Director Maciej Kocemba, and Into Indie Games Editor Harry Cole.
Russell Kay, CTO, GameMaker Studio, said: “This year’s GameMaker Awards has redefined what we’ve come to expect from the indies and studios that choose GameMaker as their creative engine of choice. Each of the finalists have demonstrated both amazing creativity, plus the technical ability to harness GameMaker’s powerful functionality to design a game that really pushes the boundaries. Given the incredible standard of this year’s entries, I am only glad that the final decision was left in the hands of our loyal GameMaker and Opera GX communities.”
Jonathan Mannshoven of Retrific, said: “Colt Canyon wasn’t a bestseller when it launched last year. It wasn’t free from criticism either. But by working closely with the community, I’ve been able to make many improvements to the game which have helped turn a lot of criticism into positive feedback. Having all that hard work now paying off with Colt Canyon winning ‘Best Game’ at the GameMaker Awards 2021 is an overwhelming and surreal feeling – just incredible!
“GameMaker has always been my engine of choice as it is just so easy to use yet also powerful, enabling me to reach maximum productivity. Which as a solo developer is extremely valuable. Put simply – I wouldn’t be a game developer now if it wasn’t for GameMaker.”
Johan Vinet of Canari Games, added: “LUNARK started as a passion project to create a game in the genre I loved in my youth. Making it a reality became so clear that I decided to quit my job, start my own studio and launch a Kickstarter campaign. Winning the “Most Anticipated Game” award is an incredible recognition from the players and the GameMaker Community, which brings some welcome legitimacy and a massive confidence boost to actually finish the game! Thank you!”
BetVictor
ThrillTech-powered jackpot produces first millionaire as Scottish BetVictor player wins £1.7m
A BetVictor player from Scotland has turned a small 10p jackpot side bet into an incredible £1,744,000 payout.
The lucky customer hit the top-tier Epic jackpot while playing the slot Magnificent Power Spartan, transforming a minimal wager into a life-changing prize.
The win was made possible through The Jackpots, an exclusive in-house jackpot product powered by ThrillTech, a global provider of side-bet jackpot technology for iGaming operators.
ThrillTech’s ThrillPots system was rolled out across the portfolio of gaming brands operated by BVGroup in December last year. The feature allows any qualifying spin to randomly trigger one of four progressive jackpots. In this case, a simple 10p side bet was enough to unlock the seven-figure Epic jackpot.
The Scottish BetVictor customer, who has chosen to remain anonymous, triggered the highest prize tier available—demonstrating that every spin carries the potential for a massive reward. The win has since been fully verified, and the payout is being processed in line with the operator’s standard verification and payment procedures.
Eoin Ryan, Director of Sportsbook & eGaming at BVGroup, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to congratulate our first newly created millionaire.
This life-changing win perfectly showcases how The Jackpots system works, where any qualifying spin can trigger any of the available jackpots, including the Epic pot. We’re excited to deliver many more unforgettable moments for our customers throughout the year.”
Ben Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, added:
“Seeing a 10p side bet turn into a £1.7 million win is exactly the kind of moment we designed ThrillPots to create. From the very beginning, our vision was to provide operators with a jackpot solution that genuinely excites players, where every qualifying spin carries real potential regardless of stake size. This win is a powerful example of that principle in action.
Working with BVGroup to launch The Jackpots across the BetVictor portfolio has been a fantastic collaboration. Their team understands how to integrate jackpot mechanics in a way that enhances the overall player experience while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and player protection.
We’re incredibly proud to see our technology deliver such a life-changing outcome and look forward to powering many more memorable jackpot moments for operators and players worldwide.”
The post ThrillTech-powered jackpot produces first millionaire as Scottish BetVictor player wins £1.7m appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Booming Games
Booming Games’ Trollfufu Bonanza Bursts Onto the Scene
Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has officially released Trollfufu Bonanza, an exciting new slot game with a contemporary flair. The game features a 6×5 reel with Scatter Pays and offers a maximum win potential of 6,500x. Situated in the playful realms of Trollfufu filled with tricky creatures and sweet icons, the game offers an exciting adventure for gamers desiring intense competition.
Trollfufu Bonanza enables players to trigger a stream of victories with each spin, generating continuous thrill. Aligning one or more symbols anywhere on the display activates cascading reels, while players gathering Bonus symbols in the Capsule Machine will activate the Free Spins bonus feature, maintaining the rapid-paced excitement.
To improve the gaming experience, Free Spins may be activated at any time. Random Multipliers, varying between 2x and 100x, add the real enchantment and can enhance payouts on each cascade. Retriggers extend the excitement of Free Spins, while multipliers accumulate to offer significant payout opportunities. By choosing to buy the bonus feature, players can dive directly into the most exciting parts of the game whenever they wish.
Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “We are committed to providing the ultimate gameplay experience, maximising choice and entertainment. We’re confident that players will love this latest edition to the Booming Games family. Watch as cascading wins and massive multipliers turn every spin into a wild, unpredictable adventure. Step into the mischievous world of Trollfufu Bonanza now!”
The post Booming Games’ Trollfufu Bonanza Bursts Onto the Scene appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
B2B iGaming
Logifuture Joins Forces with BetConstruct AI to Expand Virtual Sports
Logifuture, a leading B2B provider of virtual sports and instant gaming solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with BetConstruct AI, a global iGaming platform powering hundreds of operators worldwide. This collaboration integrates Logifuture’s flagship products, Zoom Sports and Simulate, into BetConstruct AI’s platform, significantly expanding access to innovative engagement tools for operators.
Expanding Global Reach
The partnership enables operators to offer next-generation virtual sports and instant betting solutions, enhancing player activity and generating incremental revenue.
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Zoom Sports delivers ultra-realistic virtual football and tennis events in both full-length and turbo formats, offering thousands of daily betting opportunities.
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Simulate allows players to instantly simulate the outcome of betslips, removing waiting times and creating immediate engagement.
These tools extend player retention, increase betting activity beyond live events, and create cross-sell opportunities across the BetConstruct AI network.
Innovation at the Core
Both Logifuture and BetConstruct AI prioritize innovation and product differentiation, helping operators stand out in a highly competitive market.
Niccolò Cassettari, Chief Business Development Officer at Logifuture, commented:
“Partnering with BetConstruct AI is a major step forward. Their global reach makes them the ideal partner to scale Zoom Sports and Simulate worldwide. This collaboration is just the beginning of a long-term partnership to deliver new experiences and stronger operator performance.”
Looking Ahead
The partnership will focus on expanding distribution, delivering new gaming experiences, and introducing innovative products to keep players engaged while helping operators grow revenue worldwide.
The post Logifuture Joins Forces with BetConstruct AI to Expand Virtual Sports appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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