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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!”
Kick and TikTok stream runs June 11–July 19, covering 15,000 miles and promoting fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK.
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE) and its digital wallet Skrill are sponsoring a 39-day US “In A State” soccer road trip led by creators Woody & Kleiny, with live coverage starting June 11 from Jacksonville. The tour is set to run 15,000 miles and stream 24/7 on Kick and TikTok.
Paysafe said the tour will include creator-led content and in-person activations designed to spotlight payment processing for local merchants—such as bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers—along the route. The company is positioning its merchant acquiring and POS-related offerings alongside Skrill consumer wallet use cases during match-day and fan events.
The trip also includes fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK, with donations directed to the official Woody & Kleiny GoFundMe page. The press release notes prostate cancer is “now the most common cancer in the U.K. and the only major cancer without a screening program.”
“This tour puts Paysafe and Skrill at the heart of the action, powering the moments that matter most,” said Alisa Barber, Chief Marketing Officer at Paysafe. “Woody & Kleiny have an extraordinary ability to turn everyday life into must-watch content and combining that with our technology demonstrates how seamless payments can lift every experience.”
Stops listed include Los Angeles (June 12), Arlington, TX (June 17), Boston (June 23) and East Rutherford, NJ (June 25 and 27), with additional cities planned as the tournament progresses. Paysafe said the livestream will be supported by daily YouTube recaps and short-form social content.
The post Paysafe and Skrill sponsor Woody & Kleiny’s 39-day US soccer road trip livestream appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Paysafe and Skrill get on board with Woody & Kleiny’s Outrageous US Soccer Road Trip: 39 Days, 15,000 Miles, Streamed Live 24/7
Spotlighting business payments and consumer digital wallet experiences for soccer fans, the ‘In A State’ tour brings viral creators together for a live celebration of soccer and fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), a global payments platform, is taking its technology to the heart of America’s biggest soccer summer, fueling a 39-day, 15,000-mile streamed road trip powered by viral creators Woody & Kleiny.
Known as the ‘In A State’ tour, this record-breaking journey streams live on Kick and TikTok from June 11, as Woody & Kleiny tear through major cities including Los Angeles, Arlington, Boston and East Rutherford, engaging soccer fans and shining a spotlight on the businesses that make these places tick. The tour will also raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK, supporting life-saving research, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for men affected by prostate cancer, which is now the most common cancer in the U.K. and the only major cancer without a screening program.
Paysafe is the payments engine sponsoring the tour, putting its processing solutions for businesses and its consumer facing digital wallet, Skrill, center stage. Through 24/7 live streaming, in-person activations and creator-led content, Paysafe’s technology will come to life in the most authentic setting imaginable: the real-world energy of America’s biggest soccer tournament.
Woody & Kleiny have built one of the world’s largest creator communities, reaching more than 50 million followers across online platforms and generating over 45 billion views.
Paysafe Spotlights Local Businesses
Paysafe will spotlight local businesses, including bars, restaurants, hotels, and retailers, across the route. Woody & Kleiny will showcase Paysafe-powered payment solutions for local merchants via live interactions.
As part of its broader commitment to supporting businesses, Paysafe provides integrated payment solutions tailored to the needs of local merchants. This includes POS technology such as payment devices, competitive payment processing offerings, and value-added services designed to help businesses operate more efficiently. Through these activations, Paysafe will demonstrate how its solutions enable businesses to streamline operations, manage peak demand, and deliver seamless payment experiences.
Skrill: The Wallet That Moves at the Speed of the Game
Paysafe’s digital wallet Skrill will be front and center across the entire ‘In A State’ tour. From fan giveaways to real-time digital payments, Skrill will enable fast, secure transactions within high-energy environments. Fans will interact with Skrill through on-the-ground activations, digital rewards, and integrated content moments — proving that a great digital wallet doesn’t just make payments easier, it makes every experience better.
Through these activations, Skrill will play a visible role in powering fan engagement, from rewarding participation to enabling seamless transactions in real time, demonstrating how the digital wallet can enhance every moment of the fan journey.
“This tour puts Paysafe and Skrill at the heart of the action, powering the moments that matter most,” said Alisa Barber, Chief Marketing Officer at Paysafe. “Woody & Kleiny have an extraordinary ability to turn everyday life into must-watch content and combining that with our technology demonstrates how seamless payments can lift every experience.”
The stream will be complemented by daily YouTube recaps, short-form social content, celebrity appearances and real-time fan engagement — reaching audiences across the globe. Paysafe branding will be unmissable throughout: on the tour bus, across activations, and at the center of every major match-day moment.
For Paysafe, this tour shows how world-class payment technology, the right partners and the biggest sporting event of the decade can come together to create something genuinely extraordinary, while also raising vital awareness and funds for prostate cancer. Fans can donate to Prostate Cancer UK via the official Woody & Kleiny GoFundMe page.
Follow, watch and engage with the tour across Woody & Kleiny, Paysafe and Skrill’s social channels.
Tour Route and Key Stops
Woody & Kleiny will travel through major U.S. cities, where soccer fans will be gathering throughout the tournament.
Key stops include:
- Los Angeles (June 12),
- Arlington, TX (June 17),
- Boston (June 23)
- East Rutherford, NJ on June 25 and 27
Other cities as the tournament unfolds.
The post Paysafe and Skrill get on board with Woody & Kleiny’s Outrageous US Soccer Road Trip: 39 Days, 15,000 Miles, Streamed Live 24/7 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Deal covers travel and hospitality packages across BLAST’s event slate, starting with BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
BLAST has signed a one-year partnership with MATCH to develop premium fan travel experiences and related commercial opportunities across BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026. The companies said the work will start immediately, with an initial focus on the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals event in November.
BLAST VP of Destinations and Market Development James Woollard said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
MATCH is best known for hospitality and accommodation programmes at major sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups
from 2010 to 2022, as well as Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grands Prix and ATP tennis tournaments. MATCH Director of UK Events and Business Strategy Richard Parker said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
BLAST said MATCH will also bring its network of clients, sponsors, federations, agents and media partners to support international attendance and partner activation, alongside MATCH’s technology and operational infrastructure. The announcement follows BLAST’s 2025 live events activity, where the organiser said it delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five titles and sold 194,421 tickets.
The post BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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