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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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Booming Games

Booming Games launches Henhouse Hustle: Hold and Win

Published

2 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-launches-henhouse-hustle:-hold-and-win

New farm-themed slot adds Free Spins, Hold and Win, and optional bonus buys priced at 75x and 150x the bet.

Booming Games has launched Henhouse Hustle: Hold and Win, a new farmyard-themed slot featuring a Free Spins mechanic and a Hold and Win bonus. The supplier said the game runs on a 5×3 grid with 20 paylines and offers a maximum win potential of 6,000x.

In the base game, Golden Eggs are stored in a Collection Pot. Free Spins trigger when three Golden Eggs land on the middle reels, with their cash value moved above the reels at the start of the round. Booming Games said that cash value is awarded each time a Golden Egg lands during the feature.

During Free Spins, Boost symbols can increase Egg prizes to the next prize level from one to five times, while an Extra Spins symbol can award between one and five additional spins. The company said Boost symbols can increase to Prize Pot values of 10x-1000x, awarding Mini, Minor, Major and Grand prizes.

The Hold and Win round triggers with five or more Eggs and starts with three respins, with Egg symbols held in place and the respin counter resetting when additional Eggs land. The Grand Prize is awarded when all positions on the grid are filled with Eggs. The release also states that triggering with five or more eggs including three golden eggs activates a Combo Bonus, awarding both Hold and Win and Free Spins in a Super Bonus Round.

Booming Games said players can purchase either the Bonus or the Combo Bonus for 75x and 150x the bet amount respectively, which is guaranteed to trigger the Hold and Win feature. A Boost+ option can also be activated in the base game, increasing the bet amount by 1.25x and increasing the chance of triggering bonus features.

Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “Packed with a host of innovative new features which offer fast-paced, high stakes gameplay, Henhouse Hustle: Hold and Win is the latest example of Booming Games’ market-leading capabilities. The Fox acts as the antagonist, stealing Golden Eggs and adding a real sense of theatre to the game, which we’re confident will be a hit among players.”

The post Booming Games launches Henhouse Hustle: Hold and Win appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Amusnet

Amusnet Releases its Latest Cascading Slot, Crime King 1000

Published

2 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

amusnet-releases-its-latest-cascading-slot,-crime-king-1000

Amusnet has released its latest cascading slot Crime King 1000, which transports players into the heart of a gripping underworld inspired by classic mafia stories, hidden fortunes and high-stakes ambition. In this city of secrets, only the boldest are destined to build an empire.

Played across 6 cascading reels, the game features an engaging Match 8+ mechanic, where the matching symbols disappear after every successful combination, making room for new symbols to fall into place. This dynamic gameplay creates opportunities for consecutive cascades, keeping the action flowing and the anticipation high throughout every round.

At the centre of the experience is the Progressive Multiplier feature. As valuable multiplier symbols are collected, four distinct multiplier tiers – green, blue, purple and red – come into play, each offering increasingly powerful values. The highest tier can reach an impressive 1000x, adding a dramatic boost to both the base game and the Free Spins feature as multiple multipliers combine during cascading sequences.

The pressure intensifies when four Scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels, unlocking 15 Free Spins and opening the door to even greater multiplier opportunities. The feature can also be retriggered, extending the action and allowing players to stay in the heart of the underworld even longer.

For those unwilling to wait, the Buy Bonus feature offers immediate access to the Free Spins experience, providing a fast track to the game’s most exciting moments.

With its cinematic crime-inspired atmosphere, cascading gameplay and powerful multiplier mechanics, Crime King 1000 delivers a bold adventure where every cascade strengthens the player’s influence and every decision brings the player one step closer to ruling the city. In this world, reputation is everything – and only the true king of crime will claim the throne.

Cascades & Match 8

The winning symbols disappear, allowing new symbols to drop into their place, potentially triggering additional wins from a single spin. A winning configuration consists of 8 or more identical symbols anywhere on the reels.

Free Spins

15 Free Spins are triggered by landing at least 4 Scatter Symbols at any position across the reels. The feature can be retriggered by landing another 3 Scatter symbols during Free Spins.

Progressive Multiplier

Available both in the Base game and Free Spins mode. There are four colours of multiplier gems, as follows:

Green Multiplier symbol – 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x

Blue Multiplier symbol – 10x, 12x, 15x, 20x

Purple Multiplier symbol – 25x, 50x

Red Multiplier symbol – 100x, 250x, 500x, 1000x

If several multipliers appear after the cascading sequence ends, their values are added together.

Buy Free Spins

Enables the player to purchase 15 Free Spins at the price of 100x the total bet.

The post Amusnet Releases its Latest Cascading Slot, Crime King 1000 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betsson

Betsson and Sliema Wanderers FC Sign Landmark MOU for Long-term Partnership

Published

2 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

betsson-and-sliema-wanderers-fc-sign-landmark-mou-for-long-term-partnership

Betsson and Sliema Wanderers FC have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining their intention to establish a landmark long-term partnership, reinforcing Betsson’s long-standing contribution to Maltese sport and the local community.

Under the proposed partnership, Betsson is expected to become Sliema Wanderers’ front-of-shirt sponsor and will support the club’s continued investment in its sporting operations and facilities. The parties will now work towards finalising the full partnership agreement.

The partnership would see Sliema Wanderers join Betsson’s international football portfolio, alongside leading clubs including Inter, Club Brugge, Boca Juniors and Atlético Nacional.

The MOU reflects a shared commitment to the long-term development of Sliema Wanderers and the club’s ambition to strengthen its sporting infrastructure, enhance its competitive position and establish a more sustainable operating model for the future.

Sliema Wanderers is one of a limited number of Maltese football clubs that owns premises which can be developed and commercialised to generate recurring revenue. The club intends to continue investing in its facilities and creating additional revenue streams to support its long-term sporting ambitions.

Jesper Svensson, CEO at Betsson Group, said: “Betsson has been part of Malta for over 20 years, and we are proud to deepen our long-standing commitment to the local sporting community.

“This proposed partnership goes well beyond the traditional sponsorship model. We are supporting a club with a clear vision for its future, including stronger sporting facilities and a sustainable model that can support its continued development.

“Sliema Wanderers has demonstrated ambition and a genuine commitment to long-term progress. These are values that strongly resonate with Betsson, and we look forward to working with the club and bring its vision to life.”

The proposed partnership builds on the work undertaken by the club’s new committee, which has focused on strengthening the club’s financial foundations and investing in its sporting infrastructure.

Walter Arciola, President of Sliema Wanderers FC, said: “The signing of this MOU represents an important vote of confidence in the long-term vision we have established for Sliema Wanderers.

“Our objective is not simply to achieve success on the pitch. We want to build an institution that is financially sustainable, supported by high-quality facilities and positioned to compete successfully over the long term.

“Betsson has understood and embraced that vision from the outset. We are delighted to take this important first step towards a long-term partnership and look forward to working together to support the future development of Sliema Wanderers.”

The announcement comes as Sliema Wanderers continues to strengthen its sporting project ahead of the upcoming season. During the event, the club also presented Malta international Teddy Teuma as its latest signing, following the recent arrivals of fellow Malta internationals Alexander Satariano and Henry Bonello. The three signings further reflect the club’s ambition to combine immediate sporting progress with a sustainable long-term development strategy.

The post Betsson and Sliema Wanderers FC Sign Landmark MOU for Long-term Partnership appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.