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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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Gems of Ra 3 Pots

Evoplay Opens the Portal to Wealth in Gems of Ra 3 Pots

Published

33 minutes ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

evoplay-opens-the-portal-to-wealth-in-gems-of-ra-3-pots

Evoplay, the acclaimed game development studio, has unveiled a sunlit Egyptian tale with the launch of Gems of Ra 3 Pots, its newest slot game where holy riches and celestial enhancements influence every spin.

Nestled among majestic pyramids, Gems of Ra 3 Pots crafts a realm overseen by the deities Anubis, Horus, and Isis, each bestowing distinct abilities that alter the Bonus Game.

Wilds show up on reels two to five, replacing all standard symbols to form winning combinations. They can appear as individual icons or in complete stacks, boosting the likelihood of triggering payouts in the base game.

Central to the experience are four kinds of Bonus symbols: Blue, Red, Green, and Money, each with random values and the chance to activate Mini, Mega, and Super jackpots.

Activating the Bonus Game occurs when landing Blue, Red, or Green symbols with a matching booster. The Extra Wealth enhancer boosts the worth of as many as four Bonus symbols, while Extra Reels introduces a separate independent bonus area, with both grids merging their rewards at the conclusion of the round. The Extra Spins booster enhances the feature to four spins, prolonging the pursuit of treasure even more.

The Bonus Game can be activated with one, two, or all three boosters at the same time. In this feature, only Money Bonus symbols are present, and gathering all 15 spots grants access to the Grand Jackpot.

Featuring win potential exceeding 6,000x, the game combines a traditional Egyptian slot ambiance with a contemporary feature design centered on strategy-focused bonus upgrades.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “Gems of Ra 3 Pots is all about discovery and escalation. We wanted to create a slot that captures the grandeur of Egyptian mythology while giving players meaningful ways to influence the Bonus Game through the different god-powered boosters.

“It’s a title that combines atmosphere, clarity, and strong win potential, offering a fresh take on a theme players continue to love.”

The post Evoplay Opens the Portal to Wealth in Gems of Ra 3 Pots appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

bet365

Peter & Sons Joins bet365 in Strategic Multi‑Market Collaboration

Published

33 minutes ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

peter-&-sons-joins-bet365-in-strategic-multi‑market-collaboration

Maverick game studio Peter & Sons has revealed a significant new collaboration with bet365, a top online gambling operator globally, enhancing its foothold in essential regulated markets around the world.

Peter & Sons’ unique portfolio has now launched with bet365 in the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and various other regulated markets, providing fully localized and compliant experiences customized for players in each region. The launch signifies an important achievement for the studio, emphasizing its dedication to controlled expansion and enduring strategic alliances.

Established in 2019 with a goal to represent the “anti-boring,” Peter & Sons has gained acclaim for striking art direction, engaging narratives, and creative mechanics. Through the integration of exceptional artistry, mathematics, and sound creation, the studio consistently produces top-performing games that shine in competitive markets.

bet365 is internationally acknowledged for its technology-focused platform, strict regulatory adherence, and exceptional player experience. Catering to millions of clients in regulated regions, the operator is recognized for collaborating with top suppliers to improve its varied gaming portfolio.

The partnership is expected to grow further in the upcoming months, with Italy, Brazil, Ontario, Greece, and Sweden already confirmed as new launch markets. This gradual implementation will greatly expand the worldwide availability of Peter & Sons’ content, presenting its distinctive collection to a wider global audience.

Yann Bautista, Commercial Director and Founder at Peter & Sons commented: “Partnering with bet365 represents an important step in our regulated market strategy. bet365’s reputation for technological excellence and compliance aligns perfectly with our long-term vision. We are proud to see our games live across several major jurisdictions and look forward to expanding this collaboration even further.”

Clement Le Scanff, bet365 Head of Gaming Commercial and Operations, said: “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Peter & Sons. This collaboration is testament to our commitment to providing cutting-edge content that enhances the customer experience and delivers engaging, entertaining gameplay.”

The post Peter & Sons Joins bet365 in Strategic Multi‑Market Collaboration appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alina Mihaela Popa Chief Commercial Officer at ICONIC21

ICONIC21 Boosts Romania Operations Through VivaBet Alliance

Published

33 minutes ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

iconic21-boosts-romania-operations-through-vivabet-alliance

ICONIC21 advances its strategic growth in regulated markets through a new collaboration with VivaBet, a rapidly expanding online casino operator in Romania.

By means of this agreement, sought-after supplier ICONIC21 provides a collection of more than 15 live casino games, enhancing VivaBet’s selection with content focused on performance.

VivaBet established a solid presence in the Romanian market by emphasizing a varied casino selection and a user-friendly platform designed for local users. Functioning within Romanian regulations, the brand persists in investing to broaden its content library to stay pertinent in a fiercely competitive landscape.

The inclusion of ICONIC21’s live casino collection helps achieve this goal by presenting contemporary studios, rapid gameplay, and multiplier-driven features that enhance player involvement.

Among the games going live with VivaBet are some of ICONIC21’s strongest performers:

· Gravity Blackjack

· Gravity Roulette

· Multiple variations of Baccarat

The Gravity Series, recognized for its multiplier mechanics integrated into classic formats, introduces an additional dimension to conventional table games. This strategy has reliably produced high engagement metrics in various markets.

Merging traditional casino elements with improved payout opportunities and refined studio aesthetics, the collection meets the desires of Romanian players who are progressively pursuing both recognition and extra thrill.

Commenting on the partnership, Alina Mihaela Popa, Chief Commercial Officer at ICONIC21, said: “Romania is a key regulated market for us, and partnering with VivaBet marks another important step in strengthening our footprint locally. We see strong demand for live content that blends classic gameplay with modern mechanics, particularly within our Gravity Series. Collaborating with an operator that understands its audience and is focused on continuous growth allows us to deliver real value.”

From VivaBet’s side, Matei Secaci, Head of Casino, added: “We are pleased to integrate ICONIC21’s live portfolio into our platform. Expanding our array of games with a provider that is growing quickly and investing in high quality production enables us to further enhance the experience we offer our players. The addition of titles such as Gravity Blackjack and Gravity Roulette brings fresh energy to our live casino section.”

The partnership with VivaBet is a key element of ICONIC21’s wider growth plan in regulated European markets. Through providing adaptable integration, a varied live portfolio, and studio-led innovation, the company remains a dependable partner for operators in search of unique live casino content.

With the increasing demand for interactive, enhanced live games, collaborations like this one strengthen ICONIC21’s dedication to providing scalable, performance-oriented solutions customized to the requirements of each market.

The post ICONIC21 Boosts Romania Operations Through VivaBet Alliance appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.