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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

Published

5 years ago

July 23, 2021

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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Fairplay Exchange

Fairplay Fares: Racegoers get off to a winning start as Fairplay Exchange cover train fares for journey to Cheltenham Festival

Published

53 seconds ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

fairplay-fares:-racegoers-get-off-to-a-winning-start-as-fairplay-exchange-cover-train-fares-for-journey-to-cheltenham-festival

Fast-growing UK betting operator Fairplay Exchange helped racing fans start the Cheltenham Festival in style.

As eager punters from London poured into Paddington Station to make their way to Gloucestershire for day one of the Festival, Fairplay Exchange offered lucky travellers the chance to enter a quiz and have their rail fare covered in free bets.

Fans were put to the test by Sky Racing presenter Callum Halliwell, a familiar face to the racing community. Those who aced the quiz received the cost of their train fare as a free bet from Fairplay Exchange, giving them an extra boost ahead of a week packed with racing action.

Even participants who didn’t win the fare-back prize walked away with a free bet, reinforcing Fairplay Exchange’s commitment to giving back to fans and enhancing the overall Festival experience.

Lawrence Stoker, Chief Operating Officer at Fairplay, said:

“The Cheltenham Festival is the highlight of the year for many racegoers. The excitement starts the moment you board the train at Paddington, and we wanted to make that journey even more enjoyable.

Whether you’re a die-hard racing fan or a casual day-tripper, we hope our campaign added some extra fun to the morning commute and even gave you a little working capital for the week ahead.”

Fairplay Exchange’s mission is simple: revolutionise how people wager, collect, and distribute funds on social bets.

In today’s cashless, tech-driven world, social bets often rely on carrying cash or coordinating bank transfers. Whether it’s a round of golf, a game of pool in the pub, or challenging friends online, the Fairplay app provides a seamless way to hold, distribute, and payout funds safely and instantly.

The post Fairplay Fares: Racegoers get off to a winning start as Fairplay Exchange cover train fares for journey to Cheltenham Festival appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance™

Inspired Brings Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance to Online, Mobile and Retail Markets

Published

1 hour ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

inspired-brings-golden-horsey-winner-grand-chance-to-online,-mobile-and-retail-markets

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. is thrilled to unveil the debut of Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance in the UK and Maltese iGaming markets as well as in UK B3/CAT C retail.

Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance races onto the reels as a progression of the acclaimed slot, Golden Winner Grand Chance, fusing the franchise’s successful, record-setting mechanics with an energetic horse racing motif. It provides participants with a new, seasonal adventure that’s filled with significant winning possibilities and dynamic gameplay for top-tier omni-channel gaming enjoyment.

Participants can take part via various bonus entry options, such as Free Spins, Gold Bar Stack, Gamble, Fortune Spins offered in both retail and interactive formats, along with Fortune Bet and Bonus Buy in the interactive version. Collector Jockeys, paired with the advanced Grand Chance mechanic, creates multipliers and uncovers pot prizes for thrilling, nail-biting moments. Unexpected reel modifiers and adjustable volatility in the interactive format guarantee that each spin brings thrill and suspense, providing both online and brick-and-mortar operators with a flexible and captivating game suitable for a wide range of players, just in time for the eagerly awaited UK horse-racing season.

Dave Johnston, Head of Inspired’s Bell-Fruit Game Studio, said: “Golden Winner Grand Chance has been a fan favourite for both online players and retail audiences, so bringing it to life with a horse racing twist felt like the perfect next step. It is a playful, fast-paced slot, that’s full of fun, winning moments, precisely what players love, and we can’t wait to see them enjoy this seasonal spin on what has become, a classic favourite.”

The post Inspired Brings Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance to Online, Mobile and Retail Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Abby Merk

CoinPoker Debuts New App with Rake Free Poker, Signs Abby Merk and Papo MC

Published

1 hour ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

coinpoker-debuts-new-app-with-rake-free-poker,-signs-abby-merk-and-papo-mc

Online poker platform CoinPoker rolled out a new software client and mobile app in March 2026, alongside rake-free poker games and new additions to its sponsored player roster.

Joining CoinPoker’s ambassador team—already featuring top poker names 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.

Abby Merk, known as Abigail ‘Abby Poker’, is a top-ranked professional from Chicago and an award-winning poker content creator. She brings extensive experience in mentoring and leadership, having trained women in strategic thinking through poker.
Papo MC, a freestyle rapper and live tournament star, has over $15 million in earnings, ranks #2 in Argentina behind Nacho Barbero, and holds a World Series of Poker bracelet.

Other notable poker names recently partnering with CoinPoker include Jean-Robert Bellande, Faraz Jaka, Mariano, YoH ViraL, Nik Airball, and Brantzen Wong.

Rake-Free Poker Games

Throughout March, CoinPoker is hosting rake-free poker action, returning all cash game rake and tournament fees to players daily.

First half of March: Players can earn 100% flat rakeback, credited at 08:00 UTC each day.
Second half of March: All rake is returned via Splash Pot cash drops, CoinRaces leaderboards, and the Level Up Series tournaments, featuring boosted prize pools and refunded buy-ins—effectively offering free poker tournaments through March 31.

Level Up Series

The Level Up tournament series introduces CoinPoker’s new multi-day tournaments with features such as bubble protection, blind rollback, and final table deals. Running alongside regular freerolls and MTTs, the series offers extra prize value plus full rake rebates.

The promotion gained coverage on PokerStrategy, while the 100% rakeback offer was highlighted by Esports Insider.

New Software and App Features

Following the software and app launch, CoinPoker has been recognized among the top poker apps by Card Player Magazine and Gambling Insider, recording launch-day traffic of over 7,000 players online—rivaling GGPoker.

The new desktop and mobile clients feature:

In-built player stats powered by PokerIntel
New poker formats including PLO6, All-in or Fold, and Bomb Pot
Enhanced features like EV cashouts, Interactive Emojis, and Throwables
Improved lobby and table interface for No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and PLO5

Throughout March, all games are effectively free to play, with the platform’s welcome bonus of 150% up to $2,000 returning from April onward.

About CoinPoker

CoinPoker is an online poker platform available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and a web browser client for mobile.

All poker games are played in Tether (USDT), with additional crypto support including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC.
Players in 25+ countries can also deposit via bank transfer.
The site also features a crypto casino and sportsbook alongside poker against real opponents worldwide.