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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!”
América Latina
Las diferencias locales de Argentina representan tanto un desafío como una oportunidad para el sector del iGaming
El crecimiento del iGaming en Argentina ha posicionado al país como uno de los mercados más dinámicos de América Latina. Sin embargo, detrás de esta expansión existe un desafío que está cobrando cada vez más relevancia para los operadores: adaptarse a un mercado donde cada provincia presenta diferentes requisitos regulatorios, condiciones operativas y dinámicas comerciales.
A diferencia de muchos otros mercados de la región, Argentina no opera bajo un único marco regulatorio. Cada jurisdicción establece sus propios requisitos, procesos de licenciamiento y condiciones de operación, lo que obliga a los operadores a adaptarse constantemente a diferentes realidades dentro de un mismo país.
Para OKTO PAYMENTS, proveedor de infraestructura de pagos y servicios financieros para industrias digitales complejas y reguladas, estas particularidades locales representan tanto un desafío como una oportunidad. A medida que el mercado evoluciona, los operadores deben encontrar formas de escalar de manera eficiente manteniendo la consistencia en entornos operativos cada vez más diversos.
“Durante años, el crecimiento fue el principal objetivo de la industria. Hoy, el desafío radica en cómo escalar eficientemente en un mercado donde cada jurisdicción puede presentar distintos requisitos, expectativas y dinámicas operativas”, señaló André Boesing, gerente general para South LatAm de OKTO PAYMENTS.
A medida que el mercado continúa madurando en las distintas provincias, los operadores enfrentan crecientes exigencias en materia de transparencia, trazabilidad y control operativo. La capacidad de adaptarse a requisitos regulatorios y operativos diversos se está convirtiendo en un factor cada vez más importante para lograr un crecimiento sostenible.
Como resultado, la capacidad de coordinar múltiples proveedores, métodos de pago y procesos operativos se ha vuelto cada vez más estratégica para los operadores que buscan ampliar su presencia en todo el país manteniendo una experiencia de usuario consistente.
“Los usuarios esperan una experiencia simple y fluida independientemente del lugar donde jueguen. Pero detrás de esa experiencia existe una creciente complejidad operativa que los operadores deben gestionar eficientemente a medida que se expanden a diferentes jurisdicciones”, agregó Boesing.
A medida que los operadores amplían sus operaciones en múltiples jurisdicciones, gestionar distintos proveedores de pago, métodos de pago y requisitos operativos se vuelve cada vez más complejo. Capacidades como la orquestación de depósitos y retiros, la gestión de tesorería y liquidez, y los procesos de liquidación eficientes están emergiendo como habilitadores críticos para este crecimiento. Al permitir que los operadores centralicen múltiples conexiones de pago a través de una única capa de infraestructura, mejoren la visibilidad de la liquidez y optimicen los procesos de liquidación, estas capacidades ayudan a reducir la complejidad, fortalecer el control operativo y respaldar una experiencia de usuario fluida en diferentes mercados.
“En muchos casos, la infraestructura pasa desapercibida hasta que algo sale mal. Sin embargo, en mercados altamente fragmentados como Argentina, la capacidad de gestionar múltiples proveedores, mantener la consistencia operativa y adaptarse rápidamente a los requisitos locales puede convertirse en una ventaja competitiva en sí misma. En OKTO PAYMENTS llamamos a esto ‘jugar de una manera diferente’: competir no solo a través de productos y servicios, sino también mediante la resiliencia operativa y la capacidad de adaptación”, explicó Boesing.
Para OKTO PAYMENTS, la evolución del mercado argentino demuestra que el éxito a largo plazo dependerá no solo de atraer usuarios, sino también de la capacidad de operar eficientemente en entornos cada vez más complejos.
“Los operadores mejor posicionados para alcanzar el éxito a largo plazo serán aquellos capaces de combinar crecimiento, control operativo y adaptabilidad. La infraestructura financiera ya no es simplemente una capa de soporte tecnológico; se está convirtiendo en una ventaja estratégica en mercados cada vez más sofisticados”, concluyó Boesing.
OKTO PAYMENTS trabaja con operadores que navegan el escenario multijurisdiccional de Argentina para simplificar las operaciones de pago mediante una única capa de orquestación para depósitos y retiros instantáneos, gestión de tesorería y liquidez.
The post Las diferencias locales de Argentina representan tanto un desafío como una oportunidad para el sector del iGaming appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel
Inspired rolls out Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab
Two new online slot titles go live across the UK and Malta iGaming markets, including a Player Link community mechanic.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. has launched two new online slot titles—Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel
and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab
—now available across the UK and Malta iGaming markets.
The company said Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel combines its Bigger Piggy Bank
series with Player Link
and a “Super Wheel” community feature. The title includes cash collection mechanics, a Free Spins Bonus and shared wheel prizes.
Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings back the Cops ‘n’ Robbers franchise with a 243-ways setup and multiple bonus mechanics. Inspired said the game includes Free Spins, Wheel Bonuses and random reel modifiers, plus optional features including Fortune Bet, Bonus Buy, Fortune Spins and Gamble, and a choice of volatility profiles.
Claire Osborne, Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to evolve proven mechanics and themes that resonate most with players, and these two releases do exactly that. Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel offers a fresh social-style dynamic through Player Link, creating anticipation that builds beyond the individual player experience, while Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings one of our most recognisable game franchises back with more action, features and entertainment. Together, this duo offers operators two distinctive titles that combine proven gameplay with strong engagement potential and broad market appeal. Whether it’s smashing Piggy Banks or cracking safes, these games are built to keep players coming back for more.”
The post Inspired rolls out Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Sportradar flags AI, payments and integrity as World Cup 2026 pressure points in LatAm
Sportradar is positioning the 2026 World Cup (June 11 to July 19, 2026), hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as a major acquisition moment for Latin American sportsbooks—while warning that the expanded tournament format will raise operational and risk demands. In a “World Cup Report 2026,” the company highlights a 48-team field, 104 matches and a “favorable time zone” for Latin American audiences as factors likely to drive spikes in deposits and in-play betting activity.
The report cites the tournament organizer’s projection of approximately 6 billion engagements across traditional TV, streaming, digital platforms, and public screenings, with streaming and mobile consumption expected to represent over 30% of total audience. Sportradar also points to broader consumer intent data it references: around 60% of consumers plan to bet online or via mobile apps during the tournament, including nearly 19% who plan to bet for the first time.
Operationally, Sportradar argues the expanded match schedule increases exposure: “More matches mean more in-play betting windows, greater liability exposure, and higher volatility.” It also frames payments and product depth as differentiators, citing Brazil’s PIX instant payment system as an example of local rails shaping user expectations and internal efficiency, and pointing to growth in Parlays and Bet Builders among its operator partners.
On market context, the report highlights Brazil entering “its first full event cycle under a licensing framework,” stating the regulated market generated R$37 billion (approximately US$ 7.3 billion) in gross gaming revenue in 2025. It adds that Brazil is projected to account for approximately 10% of global betting handle during the tournament.
Sportradar’s recommended strategy centers on three pillars—enhanced betting experience, deeper fan engagement, and “an ecosystem of uncompromising integrity”—with artificial intelligence positioned as the cross-cutting enabler. The company says its Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS AI) analyzes “over 30 billion odds movements” annually from more than 600 operators, and claims modern manipulation trends are concentrated in live betting, stating approximately 89% of cases target in-play markets. It also says that in 2025, “AI drove a 56% increase in detections.”
The post Sportradar flags AI, payments and integrity as World Cup 2026 pressure points in LatAm appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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