gaming
Revita crowned ‘Best Game’, Heartbound ‘Most Anticipated’ and Super Raft Boat ‘Best of GX.games’ in the GameMaker Awards 2022
The judges have deliberated. Over 200 games have been entered with thousands of votes cast. And we can now reveal that Revita has been crowned ‘Best Game’ and Heartbound ‘Most Anticipated’ game of the year, at the GameMaker Awards 2022.
The GameMaker Awards recognize games built in GameMaker which demonstrate excellence in design, creativity, technical ability and of course, awesome gameplay.
This year, the coveted gong for ‘Best Game’ goes to Revita, created by German developer BenStar. Revita is an exciting twin-stick roguelite platformer, where you play as an unnamed child as you ascend an ominous clocktower in pursuit of your lost memories. The game was up against a tough shortlist, which included Sucker for Love: First Date, ElecHead, Grapple Dog and Webbed. However, Revita’s fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping gameplay and incredibly satisfying combat mechanics ultimately won the judges over, which included head of GameMaker Russell Kay, and Opera GX Product Director, Maciej Kocemba.
The ‘Most Anticipated Game’ at this year’s awards went to Heartbound, from US developer, Pirate Software. Heartbound’s unorthodox approach to role playing games tells the story of a boy, his dog, curious secrets, and sanity – all created in a breathtaking pixel art style. However, it was Heartbound’s amazing storytelling which really captured the judges imagination, leaving them hungry for more.
The other finalists of the Most Anticipated Game category were BROK the InvestiGator, Cattails: Wildwood Story, Exophobia and Rusted Moss.
For 2022, the GameMaker Awards introduced the new ‘Best of GX.games’ award category, shining a light on some of the awesome games shared from GameMaker to the GX.games platform. Amongst the host of truly outstanding games competing for this inaugural award, Super Raft Boat was named the winner. An upbeat roguelike set in the flooded world, Super Raft Boat challenges the players to a mad dash over precarious rafts, constantly besieged by enemies, where only the very best of rafters make it to Final Island.
The other games shortlisted for the title of Best of GX.games were All You Can Take, Memorial Pillage, Ogre Chambers and Raven Estate.
Russell Kay, Head of GameMaker, said: “Each year, I’m completely blown away by the incredible standard of the games which enter the GameMaker Awards, from creators and studios pushing the absolute boundaries of GameMaker’s powerful functionality. In judging this year’s awards, we’ve once again been lucky to experience a huge range of awesome games which combine enthralling creative ideas, vivid artistic concepts and highly engaging gameplay to create something truly memorable. But as with last year’s awards, I’m just glad the final decision was left in the hands of our loyal GameMaker and Opera GX communities.”
Ben Kiefer, Lead Developer, BenStar, added: “GameMaker has always been with me since the very start of my gamedev career. Almost everything I know about gamedev, I have learned during the development of Revita. From how much of a difference the lerp function makes to the power of json files. And of course, how important a strong community can be.
“Therefore, it’s immensely humbling that the game that originally made me want to learn gamedev professionally, is the one that’s won the ‘Best Game’ category. I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who gave Revita their vote, when all the shortlisted games would have deserved it just as much! I honestly still can’t believe it.”
Thor, Founder, Pirate Software, commented: “Heartbound is our first major game as an indie studio so it’s awesome to receive this award. Working with GameMaker throughout this has been easy and it allowed us to do everything we wanted to. Without royalties to tie us down it’s been a fantastic financial choice for our studio as well.
“If anyone out there has ever considered making a game, don’t wait for that perfect moment when the planets align. Get out there and start making stuff or you never will. You don’t need any special knowledge or skill to start. Just work on your side project everyday. Join game jams. Make something small and launch it. Get feedback from EVERYONE. Adapt and level up with your experience. You got this.”
ason Gertner, developer, Super Raft Boat, added: “It’s a big honor to receive a GameMaker Award for Super Raft Boat! Super Raft Boat actually came from a game I canceled in 2017. The team for SRB formed around a new jam in 2021, so we took some elements from the original, and reformatted it into a much more understandable and compact experience. Most of the team has been using GameMaker for over 10 years, so it means a lot that so many people enjoyed the game.”
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, is deepening its commitment to mobile game developers through a strategic partnership with Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) in 2025. As the industry leader in Web Shop development and management, with over 500+ Web Shops generating revenue, Xsolla is also leading the way in direct-to-consumer monetization in the video game industry. Xsolla will showcase its latest innovations in mobile game monetization, user acquisition, and cross-platform analytics throughout key global PGC events.
Supporting Mobile Developers at PGC Events Worldwide
Xsolla will sponsor Pocket Gamer Connects events in 2025, bringing its expertise in direct-to-consumer monetization and engagement strategies to the following locations:
- PGC San Francisco (March 17-18)
- PGC Dubai (May 7-8)
- PGC Barcelona (June 3-4)
- PG Summit Shanghai (July 30)
- Mobile Games Awards at Gamescom (August)
- PGC Helsinki (October 7-8)
Xsolla will engage with developers at each event through thought leadership sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. It will offer data-driven insights and solutions to help mobile developers maximize revenue beyond traditional app stores.
Advancing Web Shop Monetization with AppsFlyer Integration
A key component of Xsolla’s presence at PGC will be its partnership with AppsFlyer, the global leader in mobile measurement and data analytics. Together, they have developed a first-in-the-industry integration that solves cross-platform attribution challenges, giving mobile game developers the tools to:
- Measure Web Shop purchases as in-app events for accurate LTV and ROAS tracking.
- Seamlessly attribute Web Shop revenue to mobile user acquisition, re-engagement, and retention campaigns.
- Optimize ad spending across mobile and Web Shops with real-time analytics, all without requiring coding from developers.
Xsolla’s Web Shop solution has already transformed mobile game monetization, enabling 500+ developers to generate direct-to-consumer sales online while pushing players to pay on their mobile devices. By integrating AppsFlyer’s measurement tools, Xsolla ensures that mobile developers gain a complete, end-to-end understanding of the user journey across platforms, allowing them to make smarter business decisions and improve ROI.
“Xsolla’s Web Shop has revolutionized how mobile game developers monetize online, and our integration with AppsFlyer takes it to the next level,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. “By bridging the data gap between Web Shops and mobile applications, we empower developers with the insights they need to optimize performance, increase revenue, and engage players more effectively. We look forward to engaging directly with the community and hearing from the Pocket Gamer community throughout the year at each event around the world.”
Strengthening the Global Mobile Gaming Ecosystem
Xsolla’s continued investment in mobile game commerce solutions aligns with Pocket Gamer Connects’ mission to support and connect game developers worldwide. With the combined power of Web Shop, AppsFlyer integration, and a direct presence at major industry events, Xsolla is committed to helping mobile game creators navigate monetization challenges and drive sustainable growth.
“Pocket Gamer Connects is the world’s leading event series for mobile game developers (and others) and we’re thrilled to have Xsolla as a key partner in 2025,” said Chris James, CEO at Steel Media, Pocket Gamer’s parent company. “Xsolla’s expertise in mobile commerce, cross-platform engagement, and Web Shop monetization makes them an invaluable resource for developers looking to scale their businesses.”
By partnering with Pocket Gamer Connects, Xsolla ensures mobile developers worldwide can access the latest technology, insights, and business models to thrive in today’s competitive gaming market.
For more information on Xsolla Web Shop and its integration with AppsFlyer, visit: xsolla.blog/xsolla-appsflyer
Join us at Pocket Gamer Connects 2025 to connect, learn, and explore new opportunities in the gaming industry.
The post XSOLLA PARTNERS WITH POCKET GAMER CONNECTS TO EMPOWER MOBILE GAME DEVELOPERS IN 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
gaming
Portside Game Assembly: Studios behind Dead Cells, Dungeon Clawler, Dorfromantik, Blasphemous on board and ticket sales for brunch and party launched
With Portside Game Assembly, Gamecity Hamburg is welcoming studio heads and directors from successful indie game studios on a conference ship and other extraordinary locations in Hamburg on June 27. Benjamin Laulan, Co-Founder of Evil Empire, (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) will give a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative started by the French studio. At the Triple-i Showcase 2024, over 30 “iii games” were announced in 45 minutes, and 150,000 views were achieved on YouTube alone. Further speaker on board is Philomena Schwab, Founder of Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village).
Portside Game Assembly celebrates its premiere as B2B-conference for international indie game leaders on June 27. There will be no direct ticket sales for the conference; instead, a curated list of participants will ensure that only studio heads and decision makers attend the conference on board a ship sailing through the port of Hamburg.
At the same time, the Networking Brunch and the Games Industry Party are open as networking events for interested contacts from the games industry to bring platform holders, publishers, and game companies into contact with the international conference participants. Studio leads from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, France, Spain, Canada, the USA, and Germany are already on board for the conference.
Portside Game Assembly is set to be a platform for decision makers and studio leads to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and face the challenges of the games industry through collaboration.
As the first announced talk of the conference, Benjamin Laulan (Co-Founder of Evil Empire) will present a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative and how to create your own announcement space and talk directly to your audience when you can’t really relate to other existing showcases. In addition, Philomena Schwab (Founder of Stray Fawn Studio & Publishing) will give a short talk about ways for game idea validation.
The program of the Portside Game Assembly will consist of keynotes, short talks, and roundtables.
Selection of already confirmed participants:
- Evil Empire (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) / France
- Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village) / Switzerland
- The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous I & II) / Spain
- Toukana Interactive (Dorfromantik)/ Germany
- Ghostship Publishing (Deep Rock Galactic) / Denmark
- Landfall Games (Content Warning, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator) / Sweden
- Chasing Carrots (Halls of Torment) / Germany
- Foulball Hangover (Hydroneer) / UK
- Siege Camp (Foxhole) / Canada
The post Portside Game Assembly: Studios behind Dead Cells, Dungeon Clawler, Dorfromantik, Blasphemous on board and ticket sales for brunch and party launched appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Fourth Star, the cutting-edge virtual reality immersive media streaming platform, is officially available to the public. This innovative platform transforms traditional entertainment by enabling users to seamlessly watch standard 2D, 180 and 360 immersive media content and movies. Fourth Star redefines how audiences engage with immersive storytelling, offering an unparalleled first-person centric perspective on entertainment.
“Fourth Star is more than just a platform – it’s a revolution in entertainment,” said Greg Simon, Co-Founder & CEO of Fourth Star. “We’ve created an immersive experience where users can not only consume content but also actively participate in it. Our vision is to transform how people experience media content and movies in a way that has never been done before.”
A New Era of Interactive Entertainment
The largest immersive media streaming platform available on Sidequest, users can explore nearly forty unique environments, interact with AI-driven crew, and experience entertainment in an entirely new way. Fourth Star offers a groundbreaking approach to digital engagement, whether socializing in the Cafe, customizing avatars in private Apartments or Ships, or stepping directly into a movie’s storyline.
“The combination of VR, AI, and blockchain in Fourth Star sets a new standard for immersive entertainment,” said Craig Wiltshire, CTO of Fourth Star. “Our vision is to seamlessly integrate all three technologies into the user experience. We are redefining the entertainment experience from passive observation to active creation.”
Built for Content Partners
Fourth Star is a self-serve platform designed for content partners of all sizes, from individual creators to blockbuster studios. Content partners can set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing their work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience. The Creator Portal empowers partners to distribute and profit from their immersive media with ease, making Fourth Star a truly open and accessible metaverse for digital entertainment.
Key Features of Fourth Star
- VR Streaming Platform – Users can access nearly forty environments and own their own luxury apartments and ships all equipped with an immersive media streaming entertainment hub.
- Social & Customization – Connect with others in dynamic social hubs, personalize your avatar, and invite your friends to your own luxury apartment and ship.
- Player Portal – Users can access the web-based marketplace to explore content, invite friends,
- Creator Portal – Set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing your work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience.
- Blockchain Integration – The FSTR token, built on the Polygon blockchain, powers the ecosystem, providing secure transactions and exclusive rewards.
- AI-Powered Companions – Coming soon
FSTR: The Utility Token Powering Fourth Star
FSTR serves as the primary ecosystem currency within the Fourth Star platform, enabling users to purchase Apartments, Ships, AI Companions, and exclusive content. Token holders benefit from:
- VIP Access – Exclusive events, early screenings, and red carpet experiences.
- Discounts – 25% savings on in-app purchases (IAPs) and entertainment content.
A New Paradigm in Entertainment
Fourth Star is designed to deliver the future of entertainment through merging cinematic storytelling with interactive gaming, offering:
- A seamless transition from passive to interactive experiences.
- A thriving community for players, creators, and investors.
- Advanced AI integration for interactive AI characters.
- Don’t just watch the star in the movie, become the star.
Availability and Access
Fourth Star is now live and available for users worldwide on Sidequest. Whether you’re an explorer, content creator large to small, storyteller, or entertainment enthusiast, Fourth Star provides an immersive space to experience digital entertainment like never before.
The post Fourth Star Launches Immersive Media Streaming Platform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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