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Colt Canyon crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ at GameMaker Awards 2021

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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!”

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Alea expands global content offering through partnership with FAZI

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The leading iGaming aggregator Alea has announced a new partnership with FAZI, the internationally recognized gaming provider with more than 30 years of experience delivering casino entertainment across more than 60 markets worldwide.

Through this collaboration, FAZI’s portfolio of nearly 300 games will become available to Alea’s global operator network through a single API integration, supporting the company’s expansion across regulated markets in Latin America, Africa, and Europe.

The agreement brings a selection of FAZI’s best-performing titles to the Alea platform, including Wild Hot 40, Golden Crown, Wild Hot 40 Free Spins, Very Hot 5, and Wild Hot 40 Blow.

“We’re happy to welcome FAZI to the Alea platform,” said Eduard Verdaguer, Partnerships Manager at Alea.

“They have a strong portfolio with games that already perform well in different markets, and we’re looking forward to making their content available to our operators.”

“Alea’s strong operator network makes them a valuable partner in scaling our distribution globally,” said Bojan Mitic, CEO of FAZI.

“This collaboration allows us to reach new markets more efficiently and strengthen our position across key regions.”

The partnership further expands the range of content available through Alea’s aggregation platform, giving operators access to a wider variety of games through a single integration while continuing to simplify distribution across global markets.

Alea

Alea is a leading iGaming aggregator, offering a customizable platform that provides operators worldwide with seamless access to over 23,000 games from 170+ top-tier providers through a single API integration.

Known for its innovative technology, Alea simplifies the integration journey and delivers a flexible, scalable solution designed to enhance game variety, player experience, and operational efficiency.

Alea is highly committed to a security-first infrastructure, ensuring reliability and trust at every level.

In addition to game aggregation, Alea has introduced Alea Pay, an exclusive payment gateway that further optimizes financial transactions.

With a strong focus on security, compliance, and ongoing support, Alea continues to empower operators with cutting-edge tools to thrive in the evolving iGaming market.

The post Alea expands global content offering through partnership with FAZI appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Yaspa appoints US fintech and gaming veteran Justin Fears as US Sales Director

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Yaspa, a leading fintech specialising in payments and identity solutions, today announced the appointment of Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales.

Fears joins the company during a period of rapid international expansion and will lead Yaspa’s strategic commercial growth across North America.

Based out of Yaspa’s Atlanta office, Fears will be responsible for supporting Yaspa’s expansion throughout North America, helping gaming operators modernise payment experiences through real-time bank payments, intelligent transaction solutions, and next-generation payment innovation.

He will work closely with Yaspa’s recently bolstered US and global commercial leadership teams to scale strategic partnerships and market adoption.

Fears brings more than 18 years of specialised experience spanning payments, fintech, SaaS, and AML compliance specific to the gaming industry.

Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for aligning emerging technologies with practical commercial outcomes.

Prior to joining Yaspa, Fears held senior leadership positions at prominent industry organisations including Kinectify, First Data Corporation, Glory Global Solutions, DiTronics Financial Services, NEXGEN Technology, and CASINOMONEY.

Notably, at Kinectify, he played a key role in expanding the adoption of AI-driven AML and KYC solutions purpose-built for the casino industry. Fears is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

James Neville, CEO of Yaspa, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Justin to the team as we accelerate our footprint in the US market.

His deep operational understanding of gaming-focused financial infrastructure, compliance technologies, and enterprise sales leadership makes him an incredible asset.

Justin’s appointment further strengthens our local team and underscores our commitment to helping North American operators lower costs, reduce fraud, and elevate the player experience through open banking.”

Fears said: “I’m excited to join Yaspa at such an important stage in the company’s growth journey.

The combination of open banking, innovative payment solutions, and intelligent transaction data represents a significant opportunity within the US iGaming market, particularly as operators continue to prioritise player experience, fraud reduction, and payment efficiency.

Yaspa has built an innovative platform uniquely positioned to support the evolving needs of regulated operators, and I look forward to helping expand the company’s presence and strategic partnerships across the US.”

In the last 12 months, Yaspa was named winner of the Real-Time Payments Innovation award at the 2025 Payments Awards and one of the CB Insights Top 100 Fintechs, a global ranking that spotlights the most promising and innovative companies shaping the future of financial services.

This comes during a period of sustained growth for Yaspa in the past 18 months and closed a $12m investment round in July, led by Discerning Capital.

This growth has culminated in the opening of its new Atlanta office in the US, as well as the opening of its tech hub in Leeds, UK, in August 2025.

The post Yaspa appoints US fintech and gaming veteran Justin Fears as US Sales Director appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins

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Habanero has launched Nuwa Deluxe, a 5×3 slot themed around Chinese mythology. The game introduces a variable payline system and a progression-style Free Games feature that can unlock a second-tier bonus, according to the supplier.

In the base game, paylines can upgrade at random on any spin, moving from 28 to 38, 58 or 88 active lines. The title also includes expanding Wilds that cover the entire first and third reels.

During Free Games, players collect five element symbols. Completing the set during the round unlocks Super Free Games, where full-reel Wilds are guaranteed on two reels on every spin.

Habanero said Nuwa Deluxe supports its Jackpot Race™ and Buy Feature. The launch follows recent releases Steampunk Plinko and Raiden Shogun.

Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, commented: “Nuwa Deluxe is an exciting new release that boasts a variable payline system to keep engagement high at the base game, while the element collection mechanic in free spins gives players something to work towards beyond simply triggering the bonus.

“The Super Free Games tier is where the action really kicks in with guaranteed full-reel Wilds on every spin. It is another strong addition to our portfolio and one we expect to have a genuine impact with players.”

The post Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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