Latest News
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!”
Latest News
CoinPoker Debuts New App with Rake Free Poker, Signs Abby Merk and Papo MC
Online poker site CoinPoker launched a new software client and mobile app in March 2026 alongside rake-free poker games and the signing of new sponsored players.
Joining the site’s ambassador team – already including some of the top names in poker, such as three-time Triton Series champion Mario Mosböck and WSOP Online main event champion Benjamin ‘Bencb’ Rolle – are Abby Merk and Alejandro ‘Papo MC’ Lococo.
https://x.com/CoinPoker_OFF/status/2030009912424849452
United States pro Abigail ‘Abby Poker’ Merk is an award-winning poker content creator from Chicago, ranked among the top female players in Illinois. With a background in volunteering, tutoring, and mentorship, Abby has also trained women in leadership skills and strategic thinking through the game of poker.
Freestyle rapper Papo MC has over $15 million in live tournament earnings – the #2 ranked player in Argentina behind Nacho Barbero – and a World Series of Poker bracelet.
Other household names of poker, such as Jean-Robert Bellande, Faraz Jaka, Mariano, YoH ViraL, Nik Airball, and Brantzen Wong have also recently announced partnerships with CoinPoker.
https://x.com/mariomosboeck/status/2030247270378020932
Rake-Free Poker Games
Throughout March, CoinPoker is hosting rake-free poker games – players receive all cash game rake and tournament fees back daily, in the form of various promotions. In the first half of the month, players can potentially earn 100% flat rakeback credited to their accounts at 08:00 UTC each day.
In the second half of March, CoinPoker is returning all rake to players in the form of Splash Pot cash drops, CoinRaces leaderboards, and a Level Up Series of tournaments with boosted prizepools and refunded buy-ins – making for free poker tournaments until March 31.
Level Up Series
The Level Up tournament series debuts the site’s new multi-day tournaments and features such as bubble protection, blind rollback, final table deals and more. These events run alongside the site’s regular freerolls and MTTs, with added value in the prizepool and a full rebate on the rake.
That free poker event made headlines on PokerStrategy, and the 100% rakeback promotion was featured on Esports Insider.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/BKGIzgG3_Jo (embedded video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGIzgG3_Jo
Following its new software rollout, CoinPoker has also been rated among the best poker apps by the likes of Card Player Magazine and Gambling Insider and seen record traffic, rivalling the likes of GGPoker with over 7,000 players online for launch day.
The new poker app and desktop client include in-built player stats powered by PokerIntel, new games like PLO6, All in or Fold, and Bomb Pot formats, and new features like EV cashouts, Interactive Emojis, and Throwables at the tables. No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and PLO5 are also available, now with an improved lobby and table interface.
Throughout March, all of its poker games are essentially free to play to debut the new software, and its welcome bonus offer of 150% up to $2000 also returns in April onwards.
About CoinPoker
CoinPoker is an online poker site available for download on Windows, Mac, iOS or Android, alongside an in-browser web client for free poker on mobile.
The platform’s tournaments and cash games are played in stablecoin Tether (USDT). Other major cryptocurrencies are also accepted such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDC, and 25+ countries can also deposit by bank transfer.
Alongside free poker action against real opponents around the world, the site also has an attached crypto casino and sportsbook.
Website: https://coinpoker.com/
Contact
Coinpoker
GR8 Tech
GR8 Tech and Ready to Fight Launch The Champions Club Drop—A Limited 3-Piece Capsule
GR8 Tech and Ready to Fight unveil The Champions Club limited drop, a focused 3-piece capsule that captures the collaboration in its most refined form. Available now, this exclusive release is limited to a single production run with no restock planned.
The Champions Club capsule centers on three essentials: a heavyweight hoodie engineered for comfort and presence, paired with two distinctive tees, each interpreting the collaboration’s visual language in its own way. Together, the trio makes a bold statement—minimal in count, maximal in design intent. Built for movement. Worn with purpose. Recognized instantly.
This drop continues the creative partnership between GR8 Tech and Oleksandr Usyk’s Ready to Fight platform, rooted in the shared belief that performance is a culture, not a campaign. Every detail—from material selection to finishing—reflects that standard. The Champions Club isn’t for everyone; it’s a badge for those who embrace the mindset and wear it proudly.
The Champions Club Drop is available exclusively online. Once sold out, the capsule closes permanently.
GR8 Tech. Platform for Champions
GR8 Tech is an award-winning provider of high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions, empowering operators to lead and win in competitive markets. Its portfolio includes Crypto Turnkey and Hyper Turnkey solutions, ULTIM8 Sportsbook, Infinite Casino Aggregation, and the proprietary affiliate management platform Aff.Tech.
With a geo-specific approach, practical innovation, and an operator-first mindset, GR8 Tech delivers measurable results quickly and efficiently. Trusted by leading operators worldwide, the company boasts over 100 successful deployments and multiple accolades, including Platform Provider of the Year at the SBC Awards 2025.
The post GR8 Tech and Ready to Fight Launch The Champions Club Drop—A Limited 3-Piece Capsule appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Big Time Gaming
BTG Launches the High-Stakes Thriller, Millionaire Megapots™
Step into the Hot Seat and chase life-changing wins in Millionaire Megapots
, the latest prime-time release from Big Time Gaming.
This isn’t a game for the faint-hearted. Players take centre stage on the studio floor, facing the electrifying reels where every spin could change everything.
The tension ramps up when six or more Coin symbols land anywhere on the reels, triggering the thrilling Hold and Spin feature with three respins to start. Each symbol position becomes its own reel, revealing additional Coins holding prize amounts, multipliers, or coveted Megapots
icons. Every time new Coins land, respins reset to three, keeping the stakes high as the total prize climbs. At the end of the respins, total prizes are multiplied by all revealed multipliers. Collect three matching Megapots
icons to win the corresponding jackpot.
For the ultimate thrill, if every reel position reveals a Coin, the Hold & Win bonus doubles the total prize—delivering a show-stopping finale. The Mini, Midi, and Mega Megapots
, displayed above the reels, showcase dynamic jackpots that change with every spin and can only be won during the Hold and Spin feature.
Inspired by the iconic Hot Seat from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, the Hot Seat Free Spins Gamble replicates the same heart-pounding risk-versus-reward excitement. Players can climb the ladder for up to 50 Free Spins, with unsuccessful gambles risking lost spins. Rungs two and seven act as safety nets, guaranteeing 10 and 20 Free Spins, while classic Lifelines—50:50, Phone a Friend, Ask the Audience—offer support at every stage.
Free Spins are triggered by landing three or more Millionaire Scatters, awarding 10 spins and entry to the Hot Seat Gamble ladder. Each Scatter moves players up the ladder, and during Free Spins, win multipliers start at 1x and increase with every Coin that lands. Additional Scatters extend spins, building tension and potential.
For instant intensity, Bonus Buy offers direct access: Hold and Spin for 65x stake, 12 Free Spins for 125x, or 20 Free Spins for 250x. Power Play, available for 8x stake, guarantees at least 10,000 Megaways
per spin.
With up to 200,704 Megaways
, high volatility, and a maximum win of 91,000x the stake, Millionaire Megapots
delivers the drama, spectacle, and life-changing ambition of the Hot Seat—all powered by BTG’s signature gameplay innovation.
Nik Robinson, Founder and CEO of Big Time Gaming, said:
“With Millionaire Megapots
, we wanted to capture the raw, edge-of-your-seat tension of the Hot Seat. By combining our Megaways
engine with Megapots
and the Hot Seat Free Spins Gamble, players truly feel the heat of the studio floor. It’s all about the big risk, rising stakes, and life-changing reward.”
The post BTG Launches the High-Stakes Thriller, Millionaire Megapots™ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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