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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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Artificial intelligence

Kaizen Gaming rolls out GenAI-powered Betano Trivia across 20 markets

Published

3 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

kaizen-gaming-rolls-out-genai-powered-betano-trivia-across-20-markets

Kaizen Gaming has launched Betano Trivia, a live trivia product it describes as the world’s first fully GenAI-powered live trivia experience. The free-to-play game is now available across the 20 markets where Kaizen Gaming operates.

The product was developed by Kaizen Labs, the company’s innovation incubator. Kaizen Gaming said Betano Trivia uses generative AI to power the avatar presenter, create dynamic trivia content, and generate supporting audiovisual assets, positioning it as a new engagement format inside the Betano brand.

Players are invited to answer questions spanning sports, entertainment and pop culture and compete for prizes, according to the company. Kaizen Gaming also tied the timing of the launch to heightened global football attention, pitching the game as a second-screen-style entertainment layer for fans.

George Kourakos, Director of Innovation at Kaizen Gaming, stated: “Betano Trivia demonstrates how AI can be used to create entirely new forms of entertainment and customer engagement. At Kaizen Gaming we never use technology for its own sake. We have a clear goal to elevate the world-class gaming experience we offer to our customers. What makes this achievement particularly special is that it was developed entirely by our internal teams, combining creativity, engineering excellence and a shared passion for innovation across the board.”

Kaizen Gaming framed the release as part of its broader generative AI push, arguing that internal teams can use the technology to scale new product experiences across multiple regulated markets.

The post Kaizen Gaming rolls out GenAI-powered Betano Trivia across 20 markets appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

ELA Games

ELA Games adds slots portfolio to Fonbet.gr in Greece

Published

4 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

ela-games-adds-slots-portfolio-to-fonbet.gr-in-greece

Deal expands ELA Games’ distribution under its Hellenic Gaming Commission licence, with localized titles now live on Fonbet’s Greek site.

ELA Games has partnered with Fonbet to roll out a selection of its slot titles to Greek players via Fonbet.gr.

The supplier said the integration makes its portfolio available through Fonbet’s Greek-facing operation, including titles such as Piñatas Festival, Flame Fruit Frenzy and Riches Express. The release positions the launch as a lobby expansion for Fonbet and a further distribution step for ELA Games in the market.

ELA Games said the deal builds on its existing presence in Greece, citing its Hellenic Gaming Commission licence. The company also claimed active users in Greece rose 86.3% over the last two quarters, while bet counts increased 201.9% over the same period.

Yaroslav Soloshenko, Business Development Team Lead at ELA Games, said: “Partnering with Fonbet is a brilliant step forward for our brand visibility in Greece. The Greek market means a great deal to us and has been a strong focus for our growth strategy recently. Having our content available on their well-respected platform allows us to showcase the true depth of our portfolio to a dedicated audience. We welcome the opportunity to offer players and partners a full, detailed presentation of the immersive mechanics, unique art styles, and gamified features our team puts into every single release.”

The post ELA Games adds slots portfolio to Fonbet.gr in Greece appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

HIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

hipther-launches-hallo:-the-standard-in-compliance-expertise

A Pioneering Premium Platform Connecting Organizations with Elite Compliance Professionals, Legal Operations Experts, and Trusted Industry Vendors

Europe — HIPTHER proudly announces the launch of HALLO (Highly Aligned Leaders in Legal Operations), a pioneering platform redefining how organizations discover, connect with, and engage compliance expertise.

Embodying the tagline “The Standard in Compliance Expertise,” HALLO combines a premium professional directory, industry intelligence hub, community platform, and visibility ecosystem into a single destination for compliance professionals and the organizations that rely on them.

At a time when regulation is becoming more complex across gaming, fintech, payments, AI, cybersecurity, digital identity, AML, blockchain, and emerging technologies, the need for trusted expertise has never been greater. HALLO addresses that challenge by creating a structured environment where qualified professionals, legal operations specialists, compliance leaders, and service providers can be discovered, evaluated, and engaged with confidence.

Beyond a Directory

HALLO is built as more than a professional directory.

It serves as a dedicated ecosystem for compliance excellence, enabling organizations to identify the right expertise while giving professionals a platform to showcase their experience, achievements, thought leadership, and industry contributions.

Memberships Tailored for Professionals and Organizations

HALLO offers flexible participation options designed to support everyone from independent compliance professionals to large organizations building regulatory, legal, and compliance capabilities.

There is an Individual Professional Membership available as well as an Enterprise Membership for teams and organizations seeking expanded access, visibility, and networking opportunities. All memberships include a 14-day free trial.

Free Expert Profiles, Premium Visibility Opportunities

One of HALLO’s core principles is making compliance expertise discoverable.

Compliance professionals can join HALLO free of charge as Experts, creating publicly visible profiles that showcase their experience, areas of specialization, professional achievements, and industry expertise.

Whether joining as an independent expert, a growing consultancy, or an established enterprise, HALLO provides multiple pathways to build credibility, expand reach, and engage with a highly targeted audience of compliance, legal, regulatory, and operational decision-makers.

Introducing HALLO Resources: A Living Compliance Intelligence Hub

Alongside its directory and community functions, HALLO launches with one of its most powerful features: HALLO Resources.

The Resources section serves as a continuously updated compliance intelligence center featuring more than 17,000 regulatory and compliance-focused articles, bringing together regulatory updates, jurisdictional developments, enforcement news, legal analysis, compliance guidance, and industry intelligence from across the HIPTHER media network.

Designed to support both practitioners and decision-makers, HALLO Resources offers:

Daily updates with continuously refreshed content
Powerful search functionality by topic, jurisdiction, and keyword
Open access with no login required
Coverage spanning gaming, fintech, AI, payments, AML, digital policy, cybersecurity, and regulatory affairs

By combining expert discovery with practical intelligence, HALLO is a daily destination for compliance professionals.

Advertising & Thought Leadership

HALLO also introduces premium visibility opportunities through the Wayseers Booklet, the annual compliance handbook distributed at HIPTHER conferences across Europe.

The publication reaches more than 1,500 professionals across gaming, fintech, AI, compliance, and regulatory sectors, creating a unique opportunity for organizations to showcase expertise, promote services, and contribute thought leadership to the wider compliance community.

Advertising opportunities range from directory listings to half-page, full-page, and double-page placements through Standard, Premium, and Platinum packages.

Furthermore, HALLO serves as a trusted source of compliance expertise for HIPTHER’s media and conference initiatives, creating additional opportunities for members to contribute thought leadership, industry insights, and expert perspectives.

Building the Future of Compliance Collaboration

With regulatory complexity increasing across industries and jurisdictions, HALLO arrives at a critical moment for businesses navigating compliance, governance, risk management, legal operations, and regulatory change.

Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated about HALLO: “Navigating the modern regulatory landscape requires more than just standard legal advice; it demands highly specialized, agile compliance expertise. With the launch of HALLO, we are bridging the critical gap between organizations facing complex global standards and the elite professionals who can guide them through. By combining an active directory with a massive intelligence hub, we are setting a new standard for compliance collaboration and empowering businesses to move forward with absolute confidence.”