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Colt Canyon crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ at GameMaker Awards 2021
The judges have deliberated. Over 33,000 votes have been cast. And we can now reveal that Colt Canyon has been crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ game of the year, at the GameMaker Awards 2021.
Created by German-based developer Retrific, Colt Canyon is a stylish western-themed pixel art shooter combining roguelike elements with real-time combat. The judges were impressed with Colt Canyon’s highly engaging gameplay and heavily pixelated artist style. While in the popular vote, members of the GameMaker and Opera GX communities voted Colt Canyon the clear winner.
The other finalists for ‘Best Game’ included: Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Jet Lancer, Post Void and Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!.
The winner of ‘Most Anticipated’ game is LUNARK, from Canari Games. LUNARK is a 2D cinematic platformer, designed in the vein of ’80s and ’90s classics. The game challenges players to run, jump, hang, climb, roll, and shoot their way through a kaleidoscope of different environments. These include mysterious alien ruins, a flying penitentiary, a high-tech megalopolis, and a majestic forest.
The judges were blown away with how the Canari Games team have pushed the creative limits of cutscenes and pixel art in GameMaker, to create a game that is both visually stunning and great to play. Set for release later this year, LUNARK also made a big impression with the voters – who overwhelmingly crowned it the ‘Most Anticipated’ game of 2021.
The other finalists for ‘Most Anticipated’ game included: NYKRA, Jitsu Squad, APICO and Toodee and Topdee.
The GameMaker Awards, in partnership with SpecialEffect, a charity that uses video games to enhance the lives of those people with physical disabilities, celebrate creativity and innovation in Indie game development, honouring the best games created using GameMaker Studio 2 as well as the Indies and Studios that designed them.
From over 200 entries, only 5 games for each category were selected by an expert panel of industry peers, including GameMaker Studio CTO Russell Kay, Opera GX Product Director Maciej Kocemba, and Into Indie Games Editor Harry Cole.
Russell Kay, CTO, GameMaker Studio, said: “This year’s GameMaker Awards has redefined what we’ve come to expect from the indies and studios that choose GameMaker as their creative engine of choice. Each of the finalists have demonstrated both amazing creativity, plus the technical ability to harness GameMaker’s powerful functionality to design a game that really pushes the boundaries. Given the incredible standard of this year’s entries, I am only glad that the final decision was left in the hands of our loyal GameMaker and Opera GX communities.”
Jonathan Mannshoven of Retrific, said: “Colt Canyon wasn’t a bestseller when it launched last year. It wasn’t free from criticism either. But by working closely with the community, I’ve been able to make many improvements to the game which have helped turn a lot of criticism into positive feedback. Having all that hard work now paying off with Colt Canyon winning ‘Best Game’ at the GameMaker Awards 2021 is an overwhelming and surreal feeling – just incredible!
“GameMaker has always been my engine of choice as it is just so easy to use yet also powerful, enabling me to reach maximum productivity. Which as a solo developer is extremely valuable. Put simply – I wouldn’t be a game developer now if it wasn’t for GameMaker.”
Johan Vinet of Canari Games, added: “LUNARK started as a passion project to create a game in the genre I loved in my youth. Making it a reality became so clear that I decided to quit my job, start my own studio and launch a Kickstarter campaign. Winning the “Most Anticipated Game” award is an incredible recognition from the players and the GameMaker Community, which brings some welcome legitimacy and a massive confidence boost to actually finish the game! Thank you!”
Gaming Corps unveils industry veteran Adam Pentecost as new Director of Customer Success as it lays out its plans for growth in 2025.
Gaming Corps, a publicly listed game studio based in Sweden, is proud to announce the appointment of Adam Pentecost as their new Director of Customer Success. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Adam provides a proven track of helping established providers achieve growth.
Adam has been in the iGaming industry for 11 years, working in key roles for respected providers like 1X2 Network, iSoftbet, Play’n Go, IGT, and Hacksaw Gaming. In three jobs, he held Head of Commercial Account Management roles, managing a global workforce across the UK, Asia, Romania, Sweden, and Malta and reporting directly to C-suite level management and board members.
His time in the industry has seen him amass a wealth of experience in many key areas, including regulated and emerging markets, aggregation distribution, and crypto and streaming operations. He also had a deep knowledge of the constantly evolving North American landscape. These qualities will be valuable assets to Gaming Corps as they continue their global expansion strategy throughout 2025.
Adam will hit the ground running in his new role as he will be responsible for driving revenue and maximising the business performance across the board. During his first few months, he will analyse the status of key relationships, ensuring they are reaching their full potential while also formulating a strategy that will benefit the company’s rapidly growing ecosystem.
With market access and distribution at an all-time high and a dramatically expanded product roadmap emphasising innovation, Gaming Corps’ appointment of Adam Pentecost is perfectly timed to build on this momentum.
Adam Pentecost, Director of Customer Success, said: “I am excited to join Gaming Corps at such a pivotal time in their journey. It has some incredibly ambitious expansion plans, and I am eager to roll up my sleeves and help make them a reality.
“With over a decade’s worth of experience behind me, I am well aware of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The team and I share a vision of what we can achieve, and I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues at Gaming Corps to help take the company to new heights.”
Alex Lorimer, Gaming Corps COO, said: “Adam’s extensive experience and proven track record make him the perfect match for Gaming Corps’ plans for 2025 and beyond. He is a respected figure within the industry, and he will be able to leverage his extensive network of contacts and industry expertise to help accelerate growth across the board. Adam is the latest piece in a collaborative jigsaw that continues to solidify our position as a leading game studio.”
The post Adam Pentecost Joins Gaming Corps as Director of Customer Success appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ADG
Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commissioner, Joe Pennington, Retiring After 24 Years of Service
After serving over 24 years as a Commissioner on the Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (“MMA”) Commission, Joe Pennington presided over his final commission meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Pennington was appointed to the Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission in 2001 by Governor Jane Hull and served under the next four administrations of Janet Napolitano, Jan Brewer, Doug Ducey, and Katie Hobbs.
During his tenure, Commissioner Pennington played a key role in strengthening safety protocols for fighters and reinforcing Arizona’s position as a leader in combat sports regulation. He is most proud of the Commission’s commitment to combatant safety, exemplified by the adoption of the concussion protocol and testing, the passage of 581679, the Boxing/MMA Omnibus Bill, in 2024, and the adoption of rules for Boxing, MMA, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Tough Man competitions. Last fall, the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission was recognized as “Commission of the Year” at the North American Boxing Federation Awards Banquet for its regulatory efforts.
“It has been a pleasure to work alongside Commissioner Pennington over the last few years,” said Danny Vella, Executive Director of ADG’s Boxing and MMA Division. “I am grateful for his nearly two and a half decades of dedicated service and commitment to enhancing combat sports regulation in Arizona. I wish Mr. Pennington the best in his retirement and look forward to the continued impact of his tremendous contributions.”
“On behalf of the Arizona Department of Gaming, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Commissioner Joe Pennington for his unwavering dedication and service to the Boxing & Mixed Martial Arts community in Arizona,” said Director Jackie Johnson, ADG. “Through multiple administrations, his commitment to integrity, fairness, and the growth of combat sports has left a lasting impact on the industry and the state. We thank him for his years of leadership and public service.”
Serving in his final commission meeting, Commissioner Pennington was presented a commendation from Executive Director Vella on behalf of Governor Katie Hobbs, receiving well wishes from several attendees of the Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, The Department and its staff wish Mr. Pennington a joyous and adventurous retirement, and we are forever grateful for his 24 years of service to combat sports safety and regulation in Arizona.
The post Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commissioner, Joe Pennington, Retiring After 24 Years of Service appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Continent 8 Technologies, the leading provider of global managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity solutions to the iGaming and online sports betting industry, has launched its data center and managed and professional services in Missouri.
Following the approval of Missouri Amendment 2 on November 5, 2024, the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) is preparing the state for the launch of its regulated online sports betting market, scheduled for December 1, 2025. Continent 8’s first-to-market strategic approach provides Missouri online sports betting operators and suppliers with immediate access to Continent 8’s data center, along with a full suite of best-in-class services that facilitate the rapid deployment of secure, resilient, zero-compromise gaming platforms.
The US continues to be a strategic market for Continent 8, as it remains not only the fastest growing, but only end-to-end solutions provider for the gaming industry in the nation. Continent 8 possesses requisite regulatory licenses, certifications, approvals, and registrations across more than 30 states, including Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and now Missouri. The most recent EGR Power US Rankings underscores Continent 8’s position as the premier service provider in the industry, servicing and supporting 95% of the listed operators.
Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder of Continent 8 Technologies, said: “The approval of Missouri Amendment 2 highlights the continuous growth of the regulated and highly competitive US online sports betting market. We are thrilled to already be engaged with numerous customers and actively preparing their environments for the soon-to-open market.
“Our approach, anchored in regulatory compliance, ensures that gaming operators and suppliers are equipped with market-ready solutions to swiftly establish state-compliant, secure and uncompromising infrastructures, while providing ample time to optimize their platforms well in advance of the state’s launch date.”
The post Continent 8 Technologies Launches its Data Center in Missouri appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Adam Pentecost Joins Gaming Corps as Director of Customer Success
Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commissioner, Joe Pennington, Retiring After 24 Years of Service
Continent 8 Technologies Launches its Data Center in Missouri
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