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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

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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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Sweet Fortune Megaways: A Sweet Slot with Free Spins and Expanding, Multiplying Wilds

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MGA Games has announced the launch of its new slot, Sweet Fortune Megaways, in the .com markets on August 25th. This game transports players to Sugarland, a magical universe made of sweets and candy. Set in the city of Candyville, where chocolate rivers and caramel streets create a unique atmosphere, the title features the Megaways mechanic and promises a memorable experience.

The gameplay is full of surprises. Players can enter a majestic candy palace through the Free Spins screen, where prizes multiply and a mini game is activated inside the Grand Prize Hall. This combination of mechanics, setting, and interactive elements has been designed to maximize user engagement.

Among its main innovations are random multiplying Wilds (x2, x3), expanding Wilds, and the Megaways structure, which allows for thousands of possible combinations with each spin. Additionally, this marks the first time MGA Games has embraced a candy-themed slot, aligning with the most popular trends in the gaming and entertainment sectors.

The game will also be available in Spain starting September 1st under the name Dulce Fortuna Megaways, and in Portugal beginning October 27th under the title Doce Fortuna Megaways. With this launch, MGA Games continues its international expansion strategy, offering localized, high-performance products for online casino operators.

The post Sweet Fortune Megaways: A Sweet Slot with Free Spins and Expanding, Multiplying Wilds appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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ELA Games at SBC Lisbon: New Games, Market Growth, and Awards Night

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The ELA Games team is attending the event to demonstrate new developments

ELA Games, a dynamic game development studio, announces its attendance at SBC Lisbon, set to take place at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & Meo Arena from 16 – 18 September.

Attending the event will be:

  • Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director
  • Oleksii Shulhin, Head of ELA Games
  • Yaroslav Soloshenko, Team Lead Business Development Manager
  • Petr Vonarshenko, Business Development Manager
  • Sadaf Ali, Senior Account Manager

SBC Lisbon is a key annual gathering in the online gaming and betting industry, welcoming over 30,000 delegates to experience innovations, cutting-edge products, and networking opportunities. The ELA Games team will take the global stage to connect with partners, demonstrate its casino-and-player-centric development approach, and reveal new roadmap developments.

At the event, ELA Games will highlight its diverse portfolio, including recent hits from the Winpot series (Joker Winpot, Zeus Winpot, Rabbit Winpot Deluxe), visually rich classics like Juicy Crystal and Flame Fruits Frenzy, and innovative new releases such as Shoot Happens. The team will also preview upcoming titles and discuss recent expansions into important growing markets like Denmark, Sweden, Greece, and more.

Adding to the studio’s momentum, the SBC Awards have nominated ELA Games in the “Innovation in Casino Entertainment (Supplier)” category. The award ceremony will take place on September 18 for a night celebrating excellence and forward-thinking solutions. This shortlisting highlights ELA Games’ ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of online gaming and create new experiences for both operators and players.

Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented, “We’re always excited to attend SBC events as they’re one of the biggest gatherings of the year where we’re able to see many of our partners and make new meaningful connections. This year, ELA Games has plenty to show the world, as we’ve made numerous additions to our portfolio, developed new mechanics, and pushed ourselves creatively. The team is looking forward to sharing all we’ve been up to, and equally excited to attend the award ceremony!”

ELA Games invites all attendees to visit Stand B350 to chat with the team, explore creative solutions to bolster your content library, and find new ways to engage your player base.

📅 Dates: 16–18 September

📍 Location: Stand B350, Feira Internacional de Lisboa & Meo Arena

Book a meeting to secure a spot!

The post ELA Games at SBC Lisbon: New Games, Market Growth, and Awards Night appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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EGT Digital’s games are available to Bangbet’s customers in Tanzania

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EGT Digital and Bangbet have once again strengthened their collaboration. After the impressive results in Kenya and Nigeria, the customers of the popular operator in Tanzania can now enjoy the Bulgarian provider’s gaming content. Players are able to choose among more than 150 in-house developed slot titles, the crash game xRide, as well as the jackpot bestsellers Bell Link, High Cash, Clover Chance, Single Progressive Jackpot, and Gods & Kings Link.

I am very happy that our games are already live in another key market for Bangbet,” commented Zsuzsanna Zeibig, Sales Manager for Africa at EGT Digital. “By extending our reach to Tanzania, one of East Africa’s fastest-growing iGaming markets, we expand our brand visibility and further strengthen our strategic position on the continent. Each new step with Bangbet confirms our role as a trusted partner and supports our long-term growth ambitions to reach more players across Sub-Saharan Africa.

David Kabue Gichuhi, Director of Bangbet, also expressed his satisfaction with the partnership: “EGT Digital’s gaming products continue to demonstrate remarkable performance in all markets where we have integrated them to date, becoming our clients’ absolute favorites. The strong results in Kenya and Nigeria gave us the confidence to bring their content to Tanzania as well, and we are already seeing the same positive impact. This partnership is an important part of our business strategy and we look forward to introducing EGT Digital’s portfolio to players in Ghana and Uganda in the coming months.”

The post EGT Digital’s games are available to Bangbet’s customers in Tanzania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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