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Robin Hunicke to deliver keynote at first OKRE Development Rooms event of 2022

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World-leading games designer Robin Hunicke, CEO of indie game studio Funomena, is to give the keynote at the first OKRE Development Rooms event of 2022.

Hunicke co-founded the San Francisco-based studio in 2012. Funomena creates experimental games across a variety of platforms, including PC and VR, and has a mission to help people experience their innate playfulness, curiosity and creativity.

The many award-winning titles Hunicke has worked on include Journey, Wattam, and Boom Blox.

Robin is also Professor of Games and Playable Media at UC Santa Cruz where she explores games as a medium of critical, social and expressive artistic practice.

She will give the keynote at OKRE Development Rooms: Preservation Era on Wednesday, January 26th.

OKRE Development Rooms are monthly events taking place on the final Wednesday of every month, bringing entertainment industry creatives together with leading researchers and experts by experience from around the world.

They are produced by the charity OKRE, a global hub for collaboration across the entertainment industry, research and social impact sectors. OKRE’s aim is to expand people’s understanding of the world through opening knowledge across research and entertainment.

The only event series of its kind, OKRE Development Rooms are open to creators working across games, film, audio, social media and television. Each event provides a rich mix of perspectives and cutting-edge research to inspire future projects.

Titles of other OKRE Development Rooms in the 2022 season include Constructing Catastrophe, The Quest for Eternal Life and How to Rewrite Reality.

Booking for each event is free, although places are limited.

The Editorial Committee for the 2022 OKRE Development Rooms has also been announced, including Ambreena Budaly (Adidas Originals), Lizzie Francke (BFI), Des Gayle (Fellow Traveller), Akua Gyamfi (The British Blacklist), Manda Levin (BBC), Fiona McDermott (Channel 4), Jason Phipps (Chalk & Blade) and Chella Ramanan (3-Fold).

Iain Dodgeon, Director of OKRE, said: “Following the success of OKRE Development Rooms in 2021, including our event at Cannes Film Festival, I’m delighted we’ll be staging the OKRE Development Rooms monthly from 2022. Anyone with a passion for creating compelling content knows the value of fresh and unexpected perspectives. Guided by such a talented and passionate Editorial Committee, these are events not to be missed. We have already seen the results of past events come to fruition and I can’t wait to see what this next season of the OKRE Development Rooms inspires.”

Lisa Jamieson, Executive Producer for OKRE Development Rooms said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have the chance to lead this unique event series. OKRE Development Rooms offer an opportunity to bring researchers together with the entertainment industry that can be found nowhere else and I can’t wait to see what stories are shared and collaborations created.”

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SlotMatrix ignites the reels of West Virginia with Wild Extravaganza launch

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SlotMatrix, the world’s largest casino content aggregator, has expanded Wild Extravaganza’s reach in the U.S launching in West Virginia, alongside existing markets, New Jersey and Michigan.  

Wild Extravaganza is a high-energy 5×3 video slot that packs vibrant visuals, dynamic gameplay, and huge win potential in a 10-payline experience. The game pays left to right, right to left, and even from the middle, offering players multiple chances to win on every spin.

The core feature of Wild Extravaganza is its multiplying wilds, which can stack on three of the five reels and can reveal a 2x, 3x, or 7x win multiplier.

Wild Extravaganza is fully supported by EveryMatrix’s suite of advanced engagement tools, including free spins, leaderboards, and tournaments, helping operators drive acquisition and retention in regulated U.S markets.

This U.S release is part of a recent surge of SlotMatrix exclusive games entering the market, including 3 Coin Treasures, Lara Jones Treasures of Egypt 2, and Glorious Diamonds.

EveryMatrix holds licences in key North American markets, including West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Ontario, and powers more than 300 customers globally.

Stephen Orchard, Head of Commercial Operations, SlotMatrix, said: “Wild Extravaganza is all about giving players thrilling, fast-paced action and the chance to land some seriously big wins. We’re excited to bring this experience to West Virginia as we continue our expansion across the U.S.”  

The post SlotMatrix ignites the reels of West Virginia with Wild Extravaganza launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Latest News

SlotMatrix ignites the reels of West Virginia with Wild Extravaganza launch

Published

on

slotmatrix-ignites-the-reels-of-west-virginia-with-wild-extravaganza-launch

 

SlotMatrix, the world’s largest casino content aggregator, has expanded Wild Extravaganza’s reach in the U.S launching in West Virginia, alongside existing markets, New Jersey and Michigan.  

Wild Extravaganza is a high-energy 5×3 video slot that packs vibrant visuals, dynamic gameplay, and huge win potential in a 10-payline experience. The game pays left to right, right to left, and even from the middle, offering players multiple chances to win on every spin.

The core feature of Wild Extravaganza is its multiplying wilds, which can stack on three of the five reels and can reveal a 2x, 3x, or 7x win multiplier.

Wild Extravaganza is fully supported by EveryMatrix’s suite of advanced engagement tools, including free spins, leaderboards, and tournaments, helping operators drive acquisition and retention in regulated U.S markets.

This U.S release is part of a recent surge of SlotMatrix exclusive games entering the market, including 3 Coin Treasures, Lara Jones Treasures of Egypt 2, and Glorious Diamonds.

EveryMatrix holds licences in key North American markets, including West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Ontario, and powers more than 300 customers globally.

Stephen Orchard, Head of Commercial Operations, SlotMatrix, said: “Wild Extravaganza is all about giving players thrilling, fast-paced action and the chance to land some seriously big wins. We’re excited to bring this experience to West Virginia as we continue our expansion across the U.S.”  

The post SlotMatrix ignites the reels of West Virginia with Wild Extravaganza launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Bacta commissioned research shows huge support for seaside arcades led by Gen Z

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The findings of independent research conducted by Censuswide among a sample of 2,000 UK Nationally representative respondents aged 16+ shows that Generation Z has fallen in love with the seaside arcades so popular with their grandparents. 

The research reveals that 8 in 10 respondents (81 percent) view seaside arcades as being part of British culture and it is young Brits that are banging the drum for arcades, with 90 percent of 25–34-year-olds backing their importance.

Despite overwhelming public support from Britain’s younger generations, seaside arcades continue to face a perfect storm of challenges from rising energy and staffing costs, plus the threat of increased taxation as suggested by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

72 percent say Government should do more to protect them – with 86 percent of those aged 25-34-years calling for urgent action.

The research findings confirm the central role played by seaside arcades with 72 percent of adults saying they would visit an arcade on a trip to the seaside a figure that rises to 91 percent for 24-34-year-olds.

In terms of providing accessible entertainment 55 percent say that arcades offer great value for money, making them the UK’s most affordable family day out. As a result, 84 percent confirmed they have enjoyed arcades with multiple generations of their family.

The importance of contributions to local economies featured highly in the research paper with 7 in 10 stating that arcades play a key role in regenerating seaside towns, a figure that rises to 85 percent of 18-24-year-olds.

Reflecting on the research findings Joseph Cullis, President of UK trade association, Bacta said: “Britain’s seaside arcades are a vital element of our proud tourism industry, a modern cultural icon, and have been a fun family activity for more than a century.

“It’s brilliant but not surprising to see young people are embracing them with all the enthusiasm of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents before them.

“At Bacta, we’re fighting to protect our seaside arcades from the threats of rising costs and from those who want to tax them out of existence. We hope that local councillors, MPs and the Treasury will heed the wants and needs of the British people and protect these vital institutions.”

Elliot Ball, who co-owns and runs Clacton Pier with his brother Billy, said other attractions would be at risk if arcades were taxed even more.

“I’m the fifth generation of my family – on both sides – involved in amusement arcades so this is a labour of love” he stated.

“But the threat from the government to raise gambling tax would put at risk a traditional family day out to the seaside. Trips here have been making memories for generations, and it’s great that younger people are finding the same safe, harmless fun on the pier that has been raising a smile and lighting up eyes for years and years.

“We’ve bounced back from the pandemic and the rise of staycations helps, but many of Britain’s most beloved seaside attractions will be put at high risk if gambling taxes rise.”

The post Bacta commissioned research shows huge support for seaside arcades led by Gen Z appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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