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Escape Studios partners with Epic Games and leading European animation schools to deliver world’s largest training programme in Unreal Engine
Mark Flanagan, Education Partner Manager, Epic Games said: “The Summer of Unreal is an incredible opportunity that is open to professionals in animation and VFX all across Europe, and we couldn’t be happier to invite the industry to participate. Escape Studios is a wonderful partner who, along with a number of Europe’s best animation schools, are running this programme, which is set to be the biggest Unreal Engine training that we’ve undertaken to date. We’re excited to help all learners find new ways to tell awesome stories and express their creativity using Unreal Engine.”
Saint Walker, Deputy Dean of Escape Studios, said: “The Summer of Unreal is a fantastic opportunity for animation and 3D CGI professionals across Europe to discover more about the cutting-edge technology on offer with Unreal Engine.
“We’ve worked with top animation companies to create a novel animation-centric way of teaching Unreal Engine, in one of the most ambitious training programmes that Escape Studios has been involved with – our vision of a pan-European festival of learning in Unreal Engine has gained us amazing academic partners in the form of some of the best animation schools in the world. We invite learners across Europe to join us. Make your summer staycation Unreal!”
The Summer of Unreal will be taught online in English and is free-of-charge to professionals working in the animation, motion graphics and VFX industry who want an informal group experience of learning Unreal Engine over the holiday period. The course will feature daily workshops covering all the major aspects of using Unreal Engine interspersed with practice time, teamwork, as well as demonstrations and masterclasses from some of Europe’s premiere companies and artists showing how they use the platform in their work.
Mark Spevick, Escape Studios’ Head of 3D VFX will be the main ‘showrunner’ for the Summer of Unreal. The unique role used in Escapes’ larger courses ensures that tutors get to hear and address the most important questions from the online shop floor through Mark’s advocacy. Mark combines teaching and programme design with senior industry experience, having worked at Peerless Camera, the production house co-owned by Terry Gilliam.
Partner quotes
Timothy Leborgne, Head of Talent & Skills Development, The Animation Workshop/VIA University College
“A course such as Summer of Unreal is very welcome. Whether you look at film, animated series, or games we can all see a growing demand for rapid development and competent animators. And Unreal Engine is one particularly advanced tool and software we can’t avoid as professionals in the future. So, I am excited and happy we bring such a valuable course to professionals in our industry. By partnering with such competent institutions and studios across Europe, we have ensured that the course will deliver the best training.”
Gilbert Kiner, President, ARTFX
“Since its creation in 2004, ARTFX has been dedicated to training students using the latest technology and software. Beyond using this engine for our Games courses, Unreal has also been integrated into the previz pipeline for our VFX programs. We are very happy and proud to have been chosen as the exclusive French partner for this collaborative initiative.”
Felix Balbás, Area Director of Animation & VFX at La Salle-URL
“Unreal Engine is a reality we can’t ignore. No longer only in videogames and recently virtual production, now more than ever the future of any visual content creation and in particular animation and VFX, must take this evolution into account. Not only in previs stage, but also in full production. This is why La Salle-URL’s commitment towards promoting state-of-the-art training along with leader institutions at a European level is reflected in the Summer of Unreal.”
Miljana Jovović, Executive Director, Crater Training Center
“We are happy to join the Summer of Unreal as partners for Southeastern Europe, as we see this project as a great chance to upskill and connect professionals across the continent. We have spent the first part of 2021 educating university professors in Serbia in Unreal Engine so they could implement the newly-gained knowledge to their study programs and introduce the software to their students.”
Katja Schmid, Visual Effects and Post Production Professor, Hochschule der Medien
“Many artists in the industry have been waiting for this course. Now the time has come. At the moment, Unreal is one of the most in-demand tools in the industry. The response to the course announcement has been fantastic. It’s just an amazing opportunity not only to get trained for free but also to be part of a most inspiring community! We are very impressed by this large-scale project and excited to be contributing.”
Gareth Lee, Screen Skills Ireland Manager
“Screen Skills Ireland is hugely excited to be part of the Summer of Unreal. This is a unique opportunity for Irish screen sector professionals to learn about the powerful capabilities of Unreal Engine from industry experts, as well as connect with their peers across Europe.”
BETBY, the premium sportsbook supplier, continues to strengthen its global footprint with the appointment of Juan Pablo Barahona as LATAM Regional Director.
Bringing over 17 years of experience across management, administration, marketing, and sales, Barahona has built a distinguished career within the betting and gaming industry. His expertise extends into the online media sector, technology, and both hardware and software sales, catering to retail, governmental, and e-commerce channels.
Throughout his career, Barahona has successfully navigated the Latin American market, holding key roles at industry-leading organizations such as Entain or Betway Group and technology giants. His wealth of experience and deep market knowledge make him a vital addition to BETBY’s expansion strategy in the region.
In his new role, Barahona will be responsible for driving BETBY’s regional business development, strengthening partnerships, and reinforcing the company’s position as a premier sportsbook supplier in Latin America.
Juan Pablo Barahona, LATAM Regional Director at BETBY, commented: “I am excited to be joining BETBY at such a pivotal moment in the company’s growth journey. The LATAM market presents immense opportunities, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to expand BETBY’s presence and forge strong relationships across the region.”
Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY, said: “Juan Pablo’s extensive industry background and deep understanding of the LATAM market make him a key asset for BETBY. As we continue our global expansion, his leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our presence and delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to our partners in the region.”
The post BETBY EXPANDS LATAM PRESENCE WITH APPOINTMENT OF JUAN PABLO BARAHONA AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Shoot first, ask questions never! Nolimit City rides straight into the lawless frontier in Dead, Dead or Deader, a no-nonsense, bullet-riddled slot where the only rule is: shoot ‘til it stops moving… then shoot again! This slot keeps the familiarity of Nolimit City’s catalogue but changes things up with its art style and humoristic quirks. Following the latest releases like xWays Hoarder 2, Tombstone Slaughter and Duck Hunters, this slot is looking to shoot up the charts.
Dead, Dead or Deader as the name implies is filled with some bloody good xMechanics that make the west deadlier than it already is with the likes of xNudge®, xBet®, and xGod™:
xNudge®: Always nudge to the top or bottom, boosting the multiplier by +1 with every nudge. After nudging to full visibility, the stacked xNudge® Wild gets hanged which awards a respin where the xNudge® Wild remains on the reels for one spin. When the respin is over the xNudge® Wild can get a neck snap which doubles the multiplier value and makes it stick for another spin. This can happen until the xNudge® multiplier reaches 999x or the dreaded Dropout, where the guy falls down and no more respins are awarded.
xBet®: Guaranteed a Scatter Symbol on the second reel
1 Spin 1 xNudge® Wild xBet®: Guaranteed 1 xNudge® Wild on any of the middle 3 reels
1 Spin 3 xNudge® Wilds xBet®: Guaranteed 3 xNudge® Wilds on any of the middle 3 reels
It wouldn’t be the west without the Wild Symbols. If a Wild lands on the reels it will have a 1x multiplier but if more Wilds drop to the right, they will have a multiplier of 2x and so on until a maximum of 5x
When landing 2 Scatter Symbols in the base game, they transform into wilds with multipliers. Landing 3 Scatter Symbols in the base game, will trigger 12 Dead Spins where xNudge® Wilds always stick for at least one additional spin and the xNudge® multiplier gets doubled immediately before the next spins starts. Landing a Scatter on reel 5 will upgrade Dead Spins to Deader Spins and award +2 Spins
Landing 4 Bonus Symbols in the base game, will trigger 12 Deader Spins with the same features as Dead Spins, however the xNudge® Wild multiplier gets tripled instead of doubled.
xGod® is back! Landing a stacked Casket Symbol on any reel will trigger a maximum payout of 19,349x the base bet. Duck Hunters is rated as “Extremely Volatile” delivering the thrilling high-stakes gameplay that Nolimit City fans know and love.
Per Lindheimer, Head of Product at Nolimit City, said: “Aaaaand we’re back in the West! This gritty rendition – where being dead just isn’t enough – showcases xNudge® in all its glory. The Deadlock feature is one of those mechanics you either love or hate, but when it hits… it hits big. Another wild ride we can’t wait for players to experience.”
‘Dead, Dead Or Deader’ will be available to all Nolimit City partners on February 25th, 2025.
The post Nolimit City stops the talking and shoots instead in Dead, Dead or Deader appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading provider of B2B gaming content, systems, and solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of Big Big Horsey Fortune™, an equine-themed slot game, focused on players online and in retail settings ahead of the highly anticipated horse-racing season.
An evolution of Big Horsey Fortune™, this latest release joins Inspired’s growing omni-channel portfolio, blending the excitement of Inspired’s much-loved Big Big gameplay mechanics with new features for enhanced player engagement. At the heart of the game is the dynamic Match 3 Bonus entry system, where players unlock unlimited free spins by matching three Bonus Symbols. The Big Winner mechanic raises the stakes with an initial prize of up to 100x the stake, while the game’s innovative Punter’s Hand feature can descend at random, lifting a reel to reveal a hidden bonus symbol for added thrills and greater winning potential. A new bonus trail mechanic further enhances gameplay, allowing players to collect upgrade symbols that boost all Big Winner values on the screen and unlock progressively higher multipliers.
For a customisable experience, Big Big Horsey Fortune™ includes additional gameplay features designed to heighten anticipation and maximise payout potential. Online and retail versions both feature Fortune Spins for a streamlined high-win format featuring only the highest paying symbols and a Gamble option, where players can risk their base game wins for cash prizes or direct entry into the bonus round.
The online version also includes Fortune Bet, providing an increased chance of triggering the bonus round, and where regulation permits, Bonus Buy, which allows players instant access to the bonus game. With colourful horse-racing graphics, fast-paced action, and medium volatility, Big Big Horsey Fortune delivers an electrifying experience designed to appeal to casual casino players and horse-racing enthusiasts alike.
Richard Terry, UK Market Product Director, said, “We are proud and excited to be launching Big Big Horsey Fortune to our B3 retail estates. As part of our commitment to delivering market leading seasonal games, we have combined our player-favourite ‘Big Big Fishing Fortune’ title with a classic ‘Day at the Races’ theme – just in time for the biggest events in the UK horse racing calendar, Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Grand National, setting our customers and players up for an exciting Spring experience.”
Claire Osborne, VP of Interactive at Inspired, said, “With its fun gameplay, crisp horse-racing graphics, and availability across both digital and retail platforms, Big Big Horsey Fortune is set to be a standout hit. It has been designed to maximise engagement during the peak horse-racing season and deliver a thrilling ride that operators won’t want to miss.”
Big Big Horsey Fortune™ is the latest addition to Inspired’s growing portfolio of high-performing seasonal slots content, reaffirming its reputation as a leading provider of innovative and engaging gaming experiences across multiple platforms.
The post Inspired Launches Big Big Horsey Fortune Across Online & Retail appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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