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Exclusive Q&A w/ Alex Petrenko, CEO and Co-Founder of Zibra AI

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  • Could you share some insights into your journey and professional background, highlighting key experiences that led you to initiate Zibra?

My journey in the tech and gaming world began after graduating from the National Aviation University in Kyiv, specialising in management and logistics. Prior to Zibra AI, I held senior business development roles at CoWorking Platforma and Talkable, gaining valuable insights and experience working on business strategies and development dynamics with companies like General Assembly, Y-Combinator and influencers like Steve Wozniak to organise offline events for the tech community and build a separate revenue stream around educational events.

As a passionate gamer and technology enthusiast, I’ve always been interested in new game titles, but as games become more complex, their development has become lengthier. Game developers now require considerably more time and resources to craft immersive and sophisticated gaming experiences that can cater to the ever-growing demands of the player community.

The desire to change this and aid developers of all sizes to create amazing titles and experiences for gamers, led me to create Zibra AI alongside our amazing co-founding team of Vladyslav Zavadskyi and Den Dmytrenko. Earlier this year, with the help of our fantastic team, we succeeded in securing funding from both the inaugural a16z Games SPEEDRUN (the only company to be chosen from Eastern Europe) and from Epic’s MegaGrant program. Witnessing the potential of Generative AI, particularly in streamlining game development and enhancing VFX (Visual Effects) creation, ignited the vision for Zibra AI. Our mission is clear: enabling game developers, VFX artists, and creators to revolutionise their workflows and create exceptional experiences.

 

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  • Delving into Zibra, what sparked the creation of the platform? What were the core founding principles for Zibra?

Being a gamer with a strong interest in emerging technologies, I was always inspired by what these advancements could offer to the gaming world, both behind the scenes on the development side but also the impact to the end-user, the players. Game development, though rewarding, often faces lengthy and challenging development cycles. Recognising the potential of AI to alleviate these hurdles, especially in the realm of asset and VFX creation, sparked the inception of Zibra AI in 2021. Our core founding principles revolve around leveraging Generative AI to simplify the creation of 3D assets and VFX, empowering game developers and artists to enhance their workflows and bring their visions to life with efficiency and creativity.

 

  • Generative AI has the potential to democratise creativity. How is Zibra AI making this technology accessible and user-friendly for a broader audience of content game developers and Visual Effects artists, including those with varying levels of technical expertise?

Zibra AI is dedicated to democratising game development and visual effects through the creation of easy and affordable products. All the solutions with our platform are designed with a user-friendly interface, ensuring accessibility for creators of all skill levels. We’ve placed a strong emphasis on intuitive tools and a seamless user experience, allowing content developers, from beginners to experts, to utilise the power of Generative AI effortlessly. We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure our platform caters to varying technical proficiencies, enabling a diverse audience to embrace AI-generated 3D assets and VFX, ultimately democratising the creative process in the gaming and visual effects spheres.

 

  • Zibra aims to streamline 3D content generation. Could you quantify the success achieved in simplifying and democratising this process? Providing data on user numbers and the time required to create 3D content using the platform would be valuable.

We are thrilled that Zibra AI has recently surpassed 100,000 users, primarily consisting of game developers leveraging our platform for VFX creation. The feedback from our growing community has been overwhelmingly positive, empowering even indie developers to swiftly craft high quality VFX without requiring specific prior expertise. This allows them to test and validate their creative concepts, without any delay. Zibra AI solutions enable easy creation of new immersive experiences and game mechanics based on real-world physics (liquid, smoke & fire). Soon, Zibra AI tools will also make it possible for creators to easily generate in-game assets based on almost any input, whether it be text, video or image references. Our mission is to give game developers of all levels unprecedented amounts of freedom to experiment and customise their games, (using a single prompt) to create the best experience possible for players.

 

  • Looking at the global market, how do you envision Generative AI shaping the future of visual effects and media production, and what role do you foresee Zibra AI playing in this transformative journey?

Generative AI holds immense potential in shaping the future of visual effects and media production. As the technology advances, we foresee a future where Generative AI seamlessly integrates with creative workflows, significantly accelerating content creation and enhancing the overall quality of visual effects. Zibra AI aims to be at the forefront of this transformation, empowering artists and developers with efficient AI-powered solutions that enhance their capabilities and artistic visions. Our role is to continually innovate, ensuring our platform remains aligned with the evolving needs of the industry, ultimately contributing to a future where creativity and technology harmoniously coexist. We are not trying to replace human jobs but instead empower those and maintain a community who help each other and create more amazing gaming experiences.

 

  • Please elaborate on the standout features of Zibra powered by AI, which captivate users and developers in the realm of 3D content creation.

One of our primary platform offerings is Zibra Effects. A powerful AI-assisted solution to create dynamic smoke, fire, liquid, and clothing Visual Effects for games. All Zibra Effects products are equipped with a unique AI-layer that speeds up object prototyping and accelerates the performance of the simulation itself. What sets Zibra Effects apart is its ability to provide real-time interactivity, enhancing the immersivity. It’s a low-code tool that drastically simplifies the complex process of VFX creation, saving developers significant time. Additionally, we offer a free version of Zibra Effects for users to explore and experiment with, allowing them to experience firsthand the transformative capabilities of AI-assisted tools.

 

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  • Data privacy and ethical AI use are growing concerns. How does Zibra AI ensure responsible use of Generative AI and maintain a strong commitment to data security and user privacy in your products and services?

At Zibra AI, data privacy and ethical AI usage are paramount. Our platform only uses proprietary models and data sources to build our features. We are committed to not creating or using an open source model that scrapes the internet and users’ data. We remain committed to transparent communication with our community and ensuring that our technology is harnessed responsibly and ethically, respecting both user privacy and societal norms.

 

  • Are there upcoming features within the Zibra pipeline that you can share with us, offering a glimpse into the platform’s evolving capabilities?

This autumn we’ll be announcing an important step forward for file compression of visual effects (ZibraVDB). This tool will allow something that was previously close to impossible to achieve – having volumetric/3D VFX in games. VFX will look much more realistic, whilst the significant compression of file sizes (up to 100x smaller than the current standard) allows for a wider use of high-fidelity VFX within different environments and across platforms previously unable to compute such large files. It’s a huge milestone in our mission to continually evolve and empower creators with cutting-edge tools and capabilities.

 

  • Can you showcase some instances of 3D content generated using Zibra, underlining its prowess in empowering creators?

Absolutely. Creators regularly share their works within our Discord community, showcasing how our solutions can be applied in various use cases. One notable instance was a simulation involving a pool cleaning scenario, where the water physics generated were lauded as even superior to those in renowned games like Starfield. Additionally, we’ve seen impressive 3D AR/VR reconstructions that underscore the prowess of Zibra AI in empowering creators to realise their visions in the virtual world. Our community loves to share their first hand experiences using Zibra Effects. For example, game developer Lee Vermeulen’s social media videos earlier this year, showcasing Zibra Effects real-time liquid, smoke and fire simulations in AR have gone viral!

 

  • Lastly, reflecting on your role as the Co-founder and CEO of Zibra AI, what advice or insights would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs trying to get into the fields of AI and Gaming?

You need to embrace your passion for AI and/or gaming and stay relentlessly curious and up-to-date as both are ever-evolving fields. Much like the journey of a lifelong learner, remember that success often emerges from a foundation of persistence. Above all, stay true to your vision and persevere through challenges. Entrepreneurship and building a product/company should be an exciting journey. Try to keep this front of mind and enjoy the process through all the ups and downs.

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Huge Jackpot at King Billy Casino: C$3,658,306!

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Boyd Interactive

Play’n GO announces landmark partnership with Resorts Digital Gaming

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Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced its latest US operator partnership, with Resorts Digital Gaming, in the state of New Jersey.

Resorts Digital Gaming was acquired by Boyd Interactive in September 2024, and this announcement sees the group’s players on the www.resortscasino.com and www.mohegansuncasino.com brands in New Jersey gain access to a multitude of classic Play’n GO game titles, such as the legendary Book of Dead, Rise of Merlin, and Rise of Olympus.

Play’n GO entered New Jersey in September 2022, shortly after first launching in the US via the state of West Virginia in July of that year. It has since seen its games live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and most recently, Connecticut.

Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented “New Jersey has been of crucial importance to our US operations for over two years now, so it is with great pleasure that we make this announcement in conjunction with Resorts Digital Gaming.

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“The company joins together two instantly recognizable operator brands, and the addition of Play’n GO’s games will be of enormous mutual benefit. We confidently describe ourselves as the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, and partnerships like this one are of great importance to us in establishing that idea. We’re excited to see this partnership flourish.”

Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer at Boyd Interactive, added “The whole Resorts Digital Gaming team is excited to bring Play’n GO games to our players. Play’n GO is one of the world’s leading iGaming brands, and we’re confident that our players are as excited as we are to see those Play’n GO titles on both www.resortscasino.com and www.mohegansuncasino.com.”

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Exclusive Q&A w/ Radek Pšurný, CEO at Match Hype

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Match Hype has just won two industry competitions. Talk us through your product.

Match Hype brings engagement from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram into the sportsbook. Our technology automatically turns raw sports data into short videos full of sports and betting insights. We have the capacity to create up to a million videos daily in more than 30 languages. We also provide hosting and streaming of the videos, and we track everything in the video thanks to our own player. The high level of video experience and the scale make us unique in the market, and we believe that this innovation is extremely needed in the industry—and the judges in the competitions probably agree with us.

 

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What technologies are you leveraging to deliver such a cutting-edge tool/product?

We have more than six years’ experience in developing dynamic video solutions for clients like Microsoft, HBO, and SAP, and a decade in high-end video production for similarly well-known clients. Match Hype is the essence of this. We have developed our own robust cloud infrastructure that enables us to work on a huge scale. We can also leverage the integration of third-party solutions that help us make the video content rich and engaging. The AI boom came at the right time to help us make the experience for the viewer even better.

 

Who is Match Hype aimed at?

We focus mostly on sportsbook operators, where we think we can bring the biggest value. But we also have clients on the affiliate and media side. Our “competition” at the moment are creative professionals who are able to create one video at a time. To cover hundreds or thousands of events daily, you need huge manpower. With Match Hype, you don’t need that—it’s all automated. Anybody who appreciates this level of efficiency will benefit.

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The end users are any sports fans who enjoy engaging videos. So basically everybody.

 

Has this industry been slow to embrace video content and unlock the potential it offers? If so, why?

It’s hard for us to talk about the whole industry, as we haven’t been part of it for that long. But iGaming feels like a conservative industry where only truly meaningful innovations make it. Fingers crossed for Match Hype being one of them. We are confident because of our track record in other industries, and mostly thanks to the results of our dynamic videos that are already used by significant igaming industry players.

 

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What makes video content so effective at customer acquisition? How can Match Hype be used in this regard?

People just love video content. In the last review, TikTok said that the average user spends around 90 minutes a day on their platform. Platforms like Spotify used to be music and podcasts only; now they are full of videos. You just can’t ignore that. Video killed the radio star, and a static sportsbook is next to die.

 

And what about retention? How can it be used to keep players engaged and coming back for more?

Imagine that a 30-second video gives you the exact insights to help you make a betting decision without spending dozens of minutes on different resources to gather all the information. People don’t want to read anymore. This is probably an even bigger strength of Match Hype than user acquisition.

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What can we expect from Match Hype in the coming months?

We will establish Match Hype as an industry standard for dynamic video content. We’ll bring many more sports like tennis, basketball horse racing and. We are preparing real-time video use cases—for example, half-time updates in football—and new distribution channels like integration directly into streams. The potential is huge. Stay tuned.

 

Any final thoughts?

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For the last year, we have talked with literally hundreds of iGaming experts, investors, and executives. Almost every one of them sees fan engagement as a huge topic in the upcoming months and years. And video will definitely play a key part in it.

Video says more than a thousand words. Give it a go—watch one of our 30-second videos and see for yourself.

The post Exclusive Q&A w/ Radek Pšurný, CEO at Match Hype appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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