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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.”
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GR8 Tech stepped into SiGMA Central Europe (November 3–6, Rome) and left the ring with the strongest sales performance on record. Fueled by the boxing-themed Platform for Champions experience, the collaboration with Behind The Gloves, and demos of ULTIM8 Sportsbook, the Heavyweight Club energy translated directly into standout sales performance.
Platform for Champions, Proven in the Arena
Over three days, GR8 Tech logged 140 qualified meetings, which included sessions with existing clients that opened new opportunities and first-time conversations with operators and potential clients. The team also closed a deal on day 3 and advanced a high-potential MENA operator to late-stage discussions.
“SiGMA was incredibly successful for GR8 Tech, which confirms we’re on the right track and proves how our Platform for Champions stands out in a crowded field. Our Heavyweight Lounge became the meeting place for operators who want to go deep on strategy, margins, and market moves with purposeful, energetic, outcome-focused conversations,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, Chief Revenue Officer at GR8 Tech.
SiGMA Central Europe showcased the Heavyweight Club philosophy, inspired by GR8 Tech’s partnership with Ready To Fight by Oleksandr Usyk: champions create champions. By pairing athlete-grade preparation with operator-grade technology, GR8 Tech has grown a community of operators aligned by a code: launch first, perform under pressure, and compound advantage through the right partner.
Big Stage Energy from Behind The Gloves Experience
During the three-day conference, over 50 visitors participated in 15-minute pad-work sessions led by Lee McFarland, a British military veteran and iGaming consultant. The short power workouts transformed the GR8 Tech stand into a hub of energy that converted into productive business conversations.
“Performance is something you live, so we built an environment where attendees could experience it. Bringing Behind The Gloves to our booth embodied the discipline and drive we build into our technology,” said Yevhen Krazhan, Chief Sales Officer at GR8 Tech.
GR8 Tech’s team left Rome with disciplined follow-through and a full calendar of next steps. The Lounge and “Behind The Gloves” drove high-quality conversations, and the company will continue to improve the experience for champions at future events.
Ready to fight for greatness? Connect with GR8 Tech and step into the ring.
The post GR8 Tech Delivers Heavyweight Performance at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Booming Games is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its growth journey through a strategic partnership with the leading African operator, SportPesa. This collaboration marks a pivotal step forward in Booming Games’ mission to expand its footprint in the African gaming market.
As a result of this partnership, Booming Games’ high-quality slots are now seamlessly integrated into SportPesa’s platform, enabling players across Africa to access an array of top-performing titles.
Notable games include fan favourites such as ‘Burning Classic’, ‘Gold Gold Gold’, ‘TNT Bonanza’, and ‘Cash Pig’. Additionally, SportPesa’s players will now have access to Booming Games’ diverse portfolio, featuring exciting games like ‘Ronaldinho Spins’, ‘Power of the Vikings’ and ‘Buffalo Hold and Win’.
This collaboration underscores SportPesa’s commitment to growth and innovation, as well as its strategic focus on fostering robust partnerships to achieve new heights in the global gaming industry with partners such as Booming Games.
Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, expressed his enthusiasm: “We’re delighted to continue our expansion in the African betting markets, and SportPesa’s strong and trusted brand will only enhance these possibilities. Our slot offerings are as wide-ranging as they are high quality, providing exceptional entertainment and sustainability for their customers. We believe we can offer real value to African players.”
Paul Wilson, Senior Product Manager at SportPesa, added: “We are very happy with the new partnership with Booming Games. Offering their immersive, dynamic, and vibrant games to our customers in Kenya, Sportpesa Tanzania, and around the globe on our platform is exciting. Booming Games’ titles will be a great addition to our market-leading casino lobby, and I’m sure our customers will enjoy playing them.”
The post Booming Games and SportPesa forge strategic partnership to elevate the African gaming market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SlotMatrix, the world’s largest casino aggregator, is bringing the fire with the launch of Hula Moolah, an explosive new slot from Powderkeg Studios.
Set in a tropical paradise where Tiki gods rule and volcanoes erupt, Hula Moolah turns every spin into a molten-hot chance to win. The game’s centrepiece is the Hold & Spin Feature, ignited when the vibrant Tiki Wilds leap into the volcano.
The wins from the triggering spin become lava that fuels the feature, heating up rewards to new, fiery levels.
Tiki Sacrifices can appear at any time to boost adjacent multipliers and reset the number of spins, creating a chain reaction of escalating rewards. Each sacrifice upgrades nearby Lava Pools, with multipliers rising up to 25x, offering explosive potential with every spin.
The excitement continues with the Free Spin Bonus, where more Tiki Wilds join the reels to increase the odds of triggering Hold & Spin. Landing 3, 4, or 5 Bonus symbols awards up to 12 Free Spins, with retriggers keeping the heat alive.
Hula Moolah is exclusively distributed via SlotMatrix, and as with all SlotMatrix exclusive titles, is enhanced by EveryMatrix’s proprietary gamification tools, including free spins and leaderboards.
The slot can also be seamlessly integrated with EngageSuite, the all-in-one player loyalty solution.
Stephen Orchard, Head of Commercial Operations, SlotMatrix, said: “Powderkeg Studios outdid themselves with this one. Hula Moolah is pure fire. A high-impact game that blends immersive design with thrilling mechanics that deliver real intensity, making this one of our most explosive titles yet.”
Jesper Gawell, COO & CMO, Supremeland Gaming, added: “We are proud to support Powderkeg Studios in bringing Hula Moolah to life exclusively with SlotMatrix. This partnership lets us focus on bold concepts and premium execution. SlotMatrix provides the right tools to turn great games into hits.”
The post SlotMatrix turns up the heat with Powderkeg Studios’ Hula Moolah appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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