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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!”
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A Decade in iGaming: From Newcomer to a CMO
Wow, time flies! Can’t believe it’s been ten years since stepping into the exhilarating world of online gambling – a field that initially seemed like a short-term stint quickly turned into a new-found passion.
Moving to Malta, and eventually finding a home in Tallinn, I’ve had the privilege to watch the highs and lows as well as the many progressions and transformations. Today, I am proud to form part of the Mr. Gamble team that is ambitiously expanding into new markets, and pushing the boundaries.
From Customer Support to CMO
My journey in iGaming kicked off in Customer Support at Betsson – a leap from my telecom sales management role back in Finland. While this move puzzled my family and friends alike, it was a necessary step. Over the months and years, I worked my way up through various roles including Affiliate Coordinator, Affiliate Manager and Head of Affiliates, learning the various intricate parts of the industry, while at the same time adapting to new technological changes.
One thing is for sure, the iGaming industry is a fast-paced one, and each role has helped me to thrive and adapt to the various changes. Flexibility is key when working in this industry.
Venturing into Entrepreneurship: My Own Affiliate Business
Following many years of corporate experience, I took the leap to start up my own affiliate business with the aim of creating my own business from scratch. Handling everything from SEO and content strategy to fostering brand partnerships and growth strategies gave me an overall view of the affiliate industry’s many complexities. This entrepreneurial journey instilled insight and resilience, especially in terms of the value of the diverse skill sets found within a team.
By 2023, I joined Mr. Gamble as CMO, bringing my own entrepreneurial experience into this company’s growth strategy. Drawing on my background in SEO, content management and brand development and alongside a knowledgeable team, we have successfully strengthened Mr. Gamble’s presence in established markets, while also setting our sites on new markets.
New Markets and New Possibilities
Since the online gambling industry is continually evolving and expanding, it also brings with it a surge in growth when it comes to new and emerging markets. While we have made huge strides in launching Mr. Gambe USA, we are also eyeing promising regions in Asia, Latin America and Africa, where digital adoption and regulations are evolving creating new opportunities.
As we continue to solidify our presence in the US, these emerging markets represent the next frontier.
An Ever-Changing and Evolving Gambling Industry
Over the past decade, the online gambling industry has quickly evolved from a somewhat fragmented field to a high-powered professional space. Conferences and expos, once informal gatherings have become hubs for talent.
Events such as SiGMA, SBC, iGB, NEXT.io and Hiphter Events today celebrate the progression of iGaming, while highlighting the various advances in technology and market inclusivity.
The shift toward hybrid work in recent years has also paved the way for industry shakeups. While digital operations are convenient, the importance of face-to-face meetings and connections remains. In an industry highly reliant and built on personal relationships, meeting in person strengthens partnerships and opens doors to new opportunities.
A Bright Future for Mr. Gamble
As CMO of Mr. Gamble, I along with the team are committed to expanding our brand’s influence, not only in traditional markets, but also in new and emerging ones. iGaming is constantly evolving and our strategies must evolve too, adapting and driving on the windy road to success. This entails adapting to changes in technology, user behaviour and experience, and most importantly navigating regulatory landscapes.
Of course, Google’s frequent algorithm updates keep us our our toes, pushing us to refine our approach to stay competitive and ever more relent.
Reflecting on the last 10 years, I am energised and optimistic for the future. With a talented team and untapped markets in tow, Mr. Gamble is well-prepared for substantial growth and impact. Here is to the journey ahead and to everyone – mentors, peers, and friends who have been part of this rewarding path. The next decade holds great potential, and I look more than forward to what is yet to come.
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Lucky Jane returns to explore ancient Egypt in 1spin4win’s Lucky Jane in Egypt Win Spins
This game invites players to join the fearless explorer, Lucky Jane, as she guides them through the rich and mysterious world of ancient Egypt in search of big rewards.
In Lucky Jane in Egypt Win Spins, Lucky Jane, the highest-paying symbol in the game, leads players on a treasure-filled journey across the iconic symbols of Egyptian mythology, including the protective eye of Horus, a powerful scarab, the legendary pyramids, and golden Coins. Just three golden Coins are enough to trigger the Bonus Spins round, which is at the heart of the Win Spins mechanic.
During the Bonus Spins, players receive ten free spins where Coins with values ranging from x1 to x100 appear on the 5×3 reels, paying out on any position. The more Coins a player collects, the bigger the potential payout! Players can also uncover the Minipot Coin to win the x100 Minipot or gather 15 Coins to unlock the coveted x1,000 Megapot.
Olga Bogdanova, Art Director at 1spin4win, commented, “With Lucky Jane in Egypt Win Spins, we’ve combined the richness of Egyptian mythology with a new gameplay mechanic that allows players to gather rewards as they go. The Win Spins mechanic works hand in hand with the theme, ensuring that every spin brings players closer to unlocking larger payouts and deeper adventure.”
The post Lucky Jane returns to explore ancient Egypt in 1spin4win’s Lucky Jane in Egypt Win Spins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Eduard Blonk Chief Commercial Officer Sportradar
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SELECTS SPORTRADAR TO TRANSFORM PLAYER TALENT SCOUTING FOR ALL 30 CLUBS
Sportradar today announced a multiyear agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) to offer unparalleled sports performance analysis of amateur baseball prospects, through its Synergy Coaching and Scouting solution, to the league and its 30 Clubs. This new partnership will revolutionize player talent scouting through Sportradar’s advanced, proprietary technology and highlights Sportradar’s commitment to delivering innovative and game-changing solutions to the league.
Under the agreement, MLB and its 30 Clubs will gain access to an unprecedented depth of player analysis and insights with event coverage expanding significantly, from 3,300 to more than 20,000 games – an over 600% increase. This includes college, international, professional partner leagues and leading amateur leagues, such as the MLB Draft League, the Appalachian League and MLB Develops events, and, for the first time, top high school events.
The Synergy Coaching and Scouting solution is uniquely positioned to address the player evaluation needs of MLB as it leverages Sportradar’s expertise ingesting and transforming millions of data points from video into detailed metrics, actionable insights and dynamic visualizations. This, combined with Sportradar’s AI-powered sports performance technology, enables Synergy to provide unparalleled, in-depth analysis of every player, play and game situation, and equips MLB and Club scouts with the information and insights they need to streamline the evaluation process, guide draft decisions and support the development of future MLB players.
“Sportradar’s cutting-edge technology, alongside our reputation as a trusted partner to leading US sports leagues, is driving the transformation of sports performance analysis,” said Eduard Blonk, Chief Commercial Officer, Sportradar. “Through Synergy we are pleased that we are expanding our relationship with MLB, equipping them with the deep data and insights they need to identify the next generation of players. We are eager to continue bringing innovative solutions to MLB.”
“We are excited to expand our relationship with Sportradar and ensure equal access to the Synergy video and data services for all 30 MLB Clubs. This platform has become a key resource for Clubs in the domestic and international scouting process and we look forward to continuing our work with Sportradar in the coming years,” said John D’Angelo, MLB’s Sr. Vice President of Amateur and Medical Operations.
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