Latest News
gamescom 2023: Gamecity Hamburg presents five games at the Indie Arena Booth
Hamburg, August 10: From August 23 to 27, gamescom, the world’s largest trade fair for video games, throws open its doors in Cologne. Through its Road to gamescom program, the location initiative Gamecity Hamburg enables five indie studios from Hamburg to participate in the Indie Arena Booth, the largest collaborative developer booth worldwide. The teams will present their games to gamescom visitors, potential business partners and the press. Numerous other companies from Hamburg will also be present at gamescom to showcase their projects, make contacts and benefit from the trade fair’s unique network of professionals for the further marketing of their game.
“With our “Road to gamescom” program we take five studios to gamescom in order to present their games to publishers, partners and consumers. All games were or are part of our funding programs: the Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding and our Games Lift Incubator,” states Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg”, says Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg. Gamecity Hamburg will feature some of the most promising game projects from Hamburg at its dedicated booth at the Indie Arena Booth in Hall 10.2 in the area F010g – E011g.
Gamecity Hamburg presents these six studios and games at the Indie Arena Booth:
- About Cannons + Sparrows with “About Cannons & Sparrows”: In this physics-based sidescroller with puzzle elements, players take on the role of a small cannon hatched from an egg that rolls through a forest with different platforms and branches, glides on wind streams or catapults itself forward with targeted shots.
- Crumbling Games with “Crumbling”: In this virtual reality game, the controller itself becomes an action figure in the player’s own hands, fighting against a wide variety of toy monsters in lovingly crafted dioramas.
- DrownTown with “Light of Atlantis”: This 2D puzzle metroidvania received the young talent award “Best Prototype” at the Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2023 (German Computer Game Award 2023) and impressed the jury with its clever interpretation of a jump ‘n’ run that embraces the element water. The water influences the movement of your robot as well as the behavior of the enemies, changes the environment and is the dynamic core mechanic of the game. Only by controlling the water to solve puzzles can players discover the secrets of Atlantis.
- Radioactive Dreams with “Turbo Shell”: This fast-paced 2D platformer doesn’t require jumping! Instead, players use a unique movement tool to navigate a brave egg through various levels full of obstacles and traps. By pushing and pulling the egg within a certain radius, a dynamic gameplay experience is achieved in which you should never touch the ground.
- Symmetry Break Studio with Misgiven: In this narrative 2D adventure with science fiction elements, players explore a city shrouded in toxic fog. We all know this situation: Speaking out about some things can be really hard. In this game’s unique dialog system, certain emotional states open up different ways of reacting. Since all the inhabitants wear masks, communication is even more difficult, but it is the key to unraveling this hostile environment.
All projects received funding from Gamecity Hamburg. About Cannons & Sparrows received fundings from the Games Lift Incubator, while Light of Atlantis and Turbo Shell were part of the Prototype Funding. The games Crumbling and Misgiven were able to secure funding from both the Games Lift Incubator and Prototype Funding at various stages of development.
More information and visuals on the games:
Companies from Hamburg showcase at gamescom 2023
Other companies from Hamburg’s games industry will also be at gamescom 2023 to present new releases or take the opportunity to initiate new business partnerships. For example, Daedalic Entertainment will be available for press and business contacts in the B2B area at the “game” booth, and they will present the couch co-op game “Wild Woods” by Octofox Games in the B2C area at the Indie Arena Booth (Wild Woods already received prototype funding from Gamecity Hamburg in 2020).
Even more Hamburg studios will be part of the Indie Arena Booth: Osmotic Studios will be showing the latest version of their game “Closer the Distance”, while Mooneye Studios will be exhibiting “Smushi Come Home”, “Farewell North” and “Lost Ember”. In addition, the Hamburg gaming internet station Rocket Beans TV will accompany gamescom with numerous live broadcasts from its booth in Hall 6.
Gamecity Hamburg: Diverse support programs for Hamburg’s games industry
In addition to programs such as “Road to gamescom 2023”, Gamecity Hamburg, financed by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, boosts the local games industry with other tailor-made support programs: In the Games Lift Incubator, game developers and founders receive intensive coaching and mentoring from international industry experts in addition to financial support. With the Prototype Funding, Gamecity Hamburg supports the development of game prototypes in Hamburg with up to 120,000 euros per project.
Detailed background information on Hamburg as a games location and on the Gamecity Hamburg location initiative:
All information about Gamecity Hamburg and our activities can also be found on our website https://www.gamecity-hamburg.de/.
FreezeNova
10-15% Of Gamers In Florida Show Signs Of Gaming Addiction: Here Are 10 Signs Your Kid Is Suffering From It (And How You Can Help)
Recent studies indicate that 10-15% of young gamers in Florida exhibit signs of gaming addiction. These findings underscore the need for early identification of symptoms to prevent negative impacts on children’s mental and physical health. Gaming addiction, if not dealt with, can lead to poor academic performance, social withdrawal, and even health problems.
Marin Cristian-Ovidiu, CEO of FreezeNova, discusses key indicators of gaming addiction and offers practical advice for parents.
Recognizing Early Signs
“Early recognition of gaming addiction is crucial in preventing long-term negative outcomes,” Marin explains. The following signs can help parents identify if their child might be developing an addiction:
Exhaustion and Irritability
Constant tiredness and grumpiness during the day could indicate late-night gaming sessions interfering with sleep.
Gaming Obsession
If gaming dominates your child’s thoughts and conversations, and they plan their day around it while neglecting other responsibilities, it could be a sign of addiction.
Decline in Academic Performance and Lost Interests
A noticeable decline in academic performance or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities may suggest your child is prioritizing gaming over more important tasks.
Emotional Volatility
Extreme emotional reactions to in-game outcomes, such as uncontrolled anger, known as ‘Gamer Rage’, or intense celebrations, could indicate an unhealthy attachment to gaming.
Physical Strain
Signs of repetitive strain injuries like ‘Gamer’s Thumb’ or ‘Nintendo Neck’ from prolonged screen time are warning signals.
Neglecting Basic Needs
If your child is neglecting basic needs like eating, sleeping, or hygiene to keep playing, gaming has likely taken an unhealthy control over their life.
Creating a Supportive Environment
While video games can be a great source of entertainment and connection, around 70% of people with signs of gaming addiction also experience social disorders. Marin recommends a few tips for building a supportive and open environment for your child.
Teamwork and Setting Boundaries
“Parents and children should work together to create a healthy gaming environment. Gaming addiction requires a holistic approach,” Marin advises. Start by setting clear boundaries on gaming time to ensure there’s room for schoolwork, chores, and quality family time.
Revisit activities your child once loved, like football practice or exploring new hobbies together. It’s vital for your child to take breaks from screens, so create a balanced daily routine that includes homework, chores, exercise and just some gaming time. This allows your child to enjoy their games without neglecting other aspects of their life.
Open Communication
Maintain open communication. Discuss the games your child enjoys and any concerns you might have. By understanding their world, you can work together to find solutions.
Remember, you’re not alone. If you feel overwhelmed, seek professional help from specialists in gaming addiction. Marin concludes, “By working as a team, setting clear boundaries, and fostering open communication, we can help your child develop a healthy relationship with gaming and thrive in all areas of life.”
Latest News
Week 51/2024 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
PG Soft has released its epic samurai saga, Geisha’s Revenge. Set among Japan’s opulent teahouses, the game follows leading light Ayane on her quest to seek justice for her family by the ruthless samurai. Geisha’s Revenge is a video slot presented within a framework that has five reels, the first of which has five rows and the next four have six rows.
3…2…1… Get ready for blastoff in Wild Moonsters, the latest intergalactic slot adventure from in-demand studio, Silverback Gaming. Players go on a cosmic thrill tide as they navigate a hexagon game grid to create stellar clusters of 4+ matching symbols to form wins. They also need to keep their eyes out for the Wild symbol, which shoots excitement, and big win potential, into the stratosphere.
TaDa Gaming has released its latest slot game, Lucky Jaguar. With three rows, three reels and five fixed play lines, this fast gameplay slot delivers wild bonuses and multiplier bonuses alongside the TaDa Extra Bets and Lock and Respin features. The wealth of the Aztec empire is waiting in Lucky Jaguar in both the main game and the bonus game, which can trigger randomly at any time to deliver the Lock and Respin feature.
ICONIC21, the in-demand provider of live content, continues to push boundaries with the addition of slots to its growing game portfolio. The provider’s slot games will combine classic mechanics, engaging narratives and fun characters offering players an interactive experience throughout. The first slot titles to go live will be Solar Sands, Vitamin Joy, Tortuga Fortune and Juicy Coins: Hold & Win with ICONIC21 planning to launch one slot per month in 2025. The slots are high volatility ones, with max wins ranging from x300 to x36,000. Wild & Scatter Symbols, Hold & Win, Bonus Rounds, Multipliers and Free Spins ensure the games have a fluid, entertaining gameplay.
BGaming takes the concept of the ever-popular premium rubber duck stores and swings open the doors to its own slot version in Lucky Ducky X-Mas Edition. This quacky festive title features the popular MergeUp™(patent pending) mechanic with nine levels, Free Spins with multipliers up to x128, and both the Buy Bonus and Chance x2 buttons.
Evoplay has launched Sea of Wealth, an underwater adventure combining engaging visuals and innovative features. The game features a 3×3 reel layout with symbols inspired by marine life and hidden treasures. Poseidon serves as the Wild symbol, while his Trident activates the Bonus Game when paired with Bonus symbols. With Trident Magic, Poseidon’s Trident collects values from Bonus symbols, while Trident Shot can trigger a transformation of random symbols on reels 1 or 3 into Bonus symbols, increasing the likelihood of activating the Bonus Game.
Nolimit City returns to the most profitable sweatshop in the business in Outsourced: Payday. Workers have been replaced by claws who never call in sick! This Labs-branded slot takes the Outsourced theme to the next level. This is yet another experimental game that changes the way players enjoy Nolimit City’s slots.
Battle the beast and claim untold riches in Jolly Roger Wild Kraken! This high-seas pirate expedition takes players deep into the Kraken’s lair, where treasures await those brave enough to face the fury of the legendary Wild Kraken. Play’n GO’s latest release brings back Captain Red Roger in an all-new nautical escapade. Having braved countless dangers in search of treasure, Roger now sets his sights on Kraken Deeps – a perilous archipelago shrouded in mystery and riches.
PopOK Gaming announced the launch of Papai Noel da Fortuna, the latest holiday-themed slot game. Just in time for the season of joy, this exciting release captures the magic of Christmas and New Year with festive fun, dazzling rewards, and immersive gameplay. Step into a winter wonderland where Santa Claus himself takes center stage, filling the reels with sparkling ornaments, golden bells, and overflowing gift bags. With Papai Noel da Fortuna, every spin is a celebration of holiday cheer and fortune.
ELA Games, a modern and trailblazing game development studio, announces the release of its latest game, Wealth of Legends. The slot aims to attract players of various audiences with its unique format, exciting graphics and captivating features. The 5×5 game pays all ways, giving players plenty of opportunities to win during the base game, keeping the playing experience engaging. Landing a coin symbol in the special zone triggers the Hold & Win feature, which begins three free re-spins. Collect special jackpot coins for a lucrative win!
The post Week 51/2024 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Stakelogic Secures License to the newly regulated Danish market
Industry-leading provider secures license to provide slots and live content in Denmark
Award-winning casino content provider Stakelogic has obtained a license from the Danish Gambling Authority, Spillemyndigheden, to provide its gaming content in Denmark.
The license will allow Stakelogic to bring its premium portfolio of online casino slots and live dealer content to the Danish market, including recent releases like Fire and Gold Cluster Breaker, Super Wheel Game Show, Trident of Legends, and The Watcher.
Stakelogic is able to partner up with leading Danish operators, establishing itself as a must-have provider in the country. The move further highlights Stakelogic’s commitment to strengthening its position in the European market and exploring new and exciting regulated markets.
The license also further cements the company’s presence in the Scandinavian markets, having secured a license from the Swedish authority, Spelinspektionen, in 2023 and establishing itself as a popular provider among Swedish players.
Denmark is one of Europe’s fastest-growing markets, with a strong focus on customer care and responsible gambling. Stakelogic is proud to have met all the requirements needed to obtain the license, highlighting its commitment to providing players with the best and safest gaming experiences.
Stephan van den Oetelaar, CEO at Stakelogic, said: “Denmark is one of the fastest growing markets in Europe, and we are proud to have achieved a license to the newly regulated market.
We are grateful to Spillemyndigheden for their support in us and we are excited to take our next steps into the market.”
The post Stakelogic Secures License to the newly regulated Danish market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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