gaming
Hutch Expands Team with Three New Senior Hires
London based mobile game development studio Hutch has announced the addition of three new senior hires as it expands its HR, licensing and game development teams. The new joiners bring years of experience that will provide valuable expertise as the studio continues to grow.
Shaun Rutland, CEO and co-founder of Hutch said: “The Hutch team is incredibly ambitious, so we’re constantly looking for fresh, motivated minds to help us reach the next level of our development. Welcoming Charmaine, Damian and April, we are excited to maintain the momentum that not only makes Hutch a great developer, but also levels up our publishing capability and overall work environment.”
Please see full details of each new hire below:
Charmaine St John, Head of People
Charmaine kicked off her diverse, and 20-year long, career in HR at M&C Saatchi, and has since worked across a wide variety of companies and agencies, such as PHD and Fuse. Becoming a vital and trusted advisor throughout her career, Charmaine has been responsible for helping companies achieve Best Company status, and has been recognised with a place on the iList by the IPA for achievements in Diversity & Inclusion.
Charmaine joins Hutch as Head of People. This is a new position designed to support staff development, further build on company culture, and continue to foster an inclusive environment where people are inspired to do their best work.
Damian Hosen, Game Director
With an extensive portfolio of game companies under his belt, including Sony, NaturalMotion and Sumo Digital, Damian has built a highly successful career, and brings more than 25 years of expertise to Hutch. Damian has directed successful AAA and mobile games, alongside managing company wide design departments, working on titles such as LittleBigPlanet3, Until Dawn and more.
Damian joins Hutch as a Game Director for Rebel Racing, where he will use his wealth of experience to manage and expand the player experience, helping Hutch shape the future of racing.
April Huang, Licensing Manager
Starting her career as a teacher in Taiwan, and transitioning into a doctoral researcher in the Department of Languages in Finland, April’s globe-trotting career saw her move to the UK to kickstart her games career with Codemasters. Over a ten-year period, April worked on all major titles in Codemasters and advanced from an initial Research role, to a Senior Licensing Executive role overseeing all F1 titles. She then moved onto a production role bringing her transferable skills to the role of Producer.
April joins Hutch as a Licensing Manager, bringing her prior licensing experience to the team. She will further seek to strengthen Huch’s relationships with licensing partners, such as F1 and the car manufacturers, alongside exploring new partnership opportunities.
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.”
SYNOT Games has announced that more than 140 of its games have now been officially certified in Brazil.
“We are delighted to announce that more than 140 of our games have now been officially certified in Brazil. This significant achievement allows us to expand our reach and introduce a diverse selection of games to this dynamic market. Brazil represents a key opportunity for growth, and we are committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences to the Brazilian audience,” the Company said.
“We are thrilled to introduce our portfolio in Brazil, offering innovative and engaging gameplay that promises to captivate and entertain players,” Martina Krajci, CCO at SYNOT Games, said.
gaming
SPGA Introduces Code of Conduct to Highlight Member Commitment to Compliance and Safety in Social and Promotional Gaming
The Code of Conduct is designed to spotlight the processes and technologies already in place at both SPGA member sites and the majority of social casinos offering promotional sweepstakes, also referred to as social sweeps games.
-
Age verification to limit real money play to users 18 and older
-
Proper identity verification (Know Your Customer or KYC)
-
Location verification of customers
-
AML policies to ensure proper transaction monitoring
ZITRO CELEBRATES THE LAUNCH OF ITS FIRST WAP IN ARGENTINA AT THE HIPÓDROMO DE PALERMO
SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator: Largest Content Hub Certified in Brazil
SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator: Largest Content Hub Certified in Brazil
Digitain has promoted Group Chief Strategy Officer to CEO of Relum
Arizona’s Tribal Gaming Contributions Reach $42.5 Million in Q2 FY2025
SkillOnNet’s Spanish language brand launches in newly regulated Peruvian market
New Slot Game Launch – Lucky Clover from PopOK Gaming!
Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK
Australia’s Government Delays Gambling Ad Ban
Push Gaming embarks on a feature frenzy in Jaguar Drop
-
gaming2 years agoODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory8 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News7 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News6 years ago
Super Bowl LIII: NFL Fans Can Bet on the #1 Sportsbook Review Site Betting-Super-Bowl.com, Providing Free Unbiased and Trusted News, Picks and Predictions
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News6 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
French Senator raises Loot Boxes to France’s Gambling Regulator
-
News7 years ago
Exclusive Interview with Miklos Handa (Founder of the email marketing solutions, “MailMike.net”), speaker at Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018
