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As part of its prototype funding, Gamecity Hamburg supports five games projects in the 2024 funding round with up to 80,000 euros non-repayable funds. As early-stage funding, the funding supports start-ups in Hamburg and helps companies to develop prototypes of digital games.

The awarding committee sees high market potential for all the funded projects. Two of the five funding recipients previously completed Gamecity Hamburg’s Games Lift Incubator. Game developers can apply for the Games Lift Incubator Program 2024 until June 10: gamecity-hamburg.de/incubator/.

Once again, the awarding committee acknowledged the high quality and diversity of the 29 projects submitted this year. Including this sixth funding round since 2020, the development of a total of 31 prototypes has been supported as part of Prototype Funding. The application phase for the next funding round will start in spring 2025.

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“The increased quality of the applications once again made the award committee’s decision challenging. Experienced teams and studios in the process of being founded are working on promising games in Hamburg in equal measure. As part of our funding opportunities, we are very pleased to be able to support five teams that will enrich the diversity of teams and games from Hamburg,” comments Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg and member of the awarding committee.

The funded projects 2024

• Chaos Royale by Monodot – € 80,000
• Map Map – A Game About Maps by Pipapo Games – € 80,000
• The Regreening by Positive Impact Games – € 80,000
• A Most Honorable Bunch by Osmotic Studios – € 72,000
• Melodies by Behind the Stone – € 60,000

Chaos Royale by Monodot

Chaos Royale is a strategic PvP multiplayer game in which players take on hordes of monsters while using all their skills to disrupt and eliminate the competing players in their arenas. The goal is clear: be the last one standing. Monodot is a newly founded studio and successfully completed the Games Lift Incubator in 2023.

Map Map – A Game About Maps by Pipapo Games

Map Map is a cozy exploration game in a colorful 3D world with a unique cartography mechanic. Players explore wondrous landscapes with the goal of finding a legendary lost treasure. In the game, players not only use a map, but create it themselves, explore the island and fulfill tasks for their companions. Pipapo Games successfully completed the Games Lift Incubator in 2023.

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The Regreening by Positive Impact Games

The Regreening is a cozy nature and restoration management game in which players befriend animals and folklore spirits and grow plants to restore the desolate earth. As the last human on the planet, players plant seeds to restore biomes, make friends with other creatures, and bring life back into the world.

A Most Honorable Bunch by Osmotic Studios

In this narrative deduction adventure, players take on the role of different characters who find themselves on an island with a big secret. The characters each have their agenda that they follow and investigate in their own way. The story unfolds gradually through the different characters and events, depending on the decisions made by the players.

Melodies by Behind the Stone

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Melodies is a horror adventure game with side-scrolling mechanics in a 2D look, in which players experience three self-standing horror stories. Introduced by a gloomy organ grinder at a carnival, players gradually take on the roles of the protagonists of the three stories and experience creeping, nightmarish changes in their everyday lives.

All detailed information on the teams and games can be found at: gamecity-hamburg.de

From March 7 to April 8, 29 developers, start-ups, and companies from Hamburg applied for Gamecity Hamburg’s Prototype Funding. In 2024, Gamecity Hamburg introduced a diversity checklist when applying for Prototype Funding, with the answers to this checklist can optionally be used by the awarding committee in the evaluation process.

The 2024 funding recipients were selected by an awarding committee consisting of Hamburg industry experts:

• Nina Müller (VP Publishing & Development Services, Goodgame Studios),
• Jonas Hüsges (Publishing Director, Daedalic Entertainment),
• Valentina Birke (Director Indie Arena Booth / Gamecity Hamburg is part of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH
  Super Crowd Entertainment),
• Jens Unrau (Head of the Media and Digital Economy Department at the Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Media) and Dennis Schoubye (Head of Gamecity Hamburg).

All information on Prototype Funding in Hamburg: www.gamecity-hamburg.de/funding.

The next application phase for prototype funding will start in the spring of 2025. Further funding opportunities through Gamecity Hamburg.

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Each year, the Games Lift Incubator supports five teams, developers and start-ups in the development of digital games and projects. In addition to € 15,000 in start-up funding, the recipients receive a comprehensive coaching and mentoring program with international experts as well as workshops and subsequent individual support. Since 2024, the program has also included a visit to an international industry event.

Teams and developers can currently apply for the Games Lift Incubator until June 10. All information can be found at: www.gamecity-hamburg.de/incubator

 

The post Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding 2024: Hamburg funds five prototypes of digital games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Gaming Newsroom investigates the rise in player demand for online casino sister sites and the opportunities this emerging trend opens up.

PlayOJO has changed the game for online casino in the UK market. When it made its debut in 2017, it made clear it was doing things differently. Positioned as the “fair online casino” it did away with wagering requirements on its bonuses and set a new standard for transparency and trust.

It pioneered a never-before-seen before rewards system with players earning cashback on every spin whether it was a win or not. And this accumulated cashback could be withdrawn at any time without players having to complete a wagering requirement.

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It was revolutionary stuff that helped to catapult PlayOJO into the top tier of casino brands in the UK, a position it has maintained ever since.

It’s no surprise that players have been searching for online casinos that offer a similar experience to PlayOJO, and this has led to the online casino sister sites phenomenon.

Sister sites are simply online casinos powered by the same platform as another brand. So, in the case of PlayOJO, players are looking for other SkillOnNet brands to play at. This is because these sites offer the same core experience as OJO but with a different theme and bonus offer.

Martyn Hannah, Managing Director of Comparasino, the online casino comparison site for UK players, says demand for sister sites is high and rising as new brands hit the market.

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“PlayOJO kick-started the sister sites revolution but since then we have seen players searching for other brands and their related sites including L&L Europe’s All British Casino and BetVictor’s white label casino brands including Heart Bingo.

“These players have had a great experience with the parent brand and want to try a sibling site they know will meet their expectations but with enough differences to keep the experience exciting and fresh.

“PlayOJO might have been the catalyst for this, but even with relatively new brands such as Jammy Monkey we are seeing players search for its sister sites.”

The demand for casino sister sites is undoubtedly beneficial to the platform providers behind these brands as they can attract players to the casinos across their network. SkillOnNet, for example, powers more than 30 brands in regulated markets across the world.

The challenge for each brand is to deliver a similar player experience but one that is sufficiently different for it to stand out from the parent brand and its other sister sites.

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The obvious way operators do this is to come up with unique themes and designs – L&L Europe’s brands cover everything from a pub-themed casino (aptly named Pub Casino) to one that takes players into the depths of the Arctic (Yeti Casino).

Beyond this, operators often come up with their own welcome offers as this is a strong value proposition over their rivals.

But while it’s important for brands to be different, Comparasino.com’s Hannah says the key to a successful online casino sister site is actually in the similarities between them.

“The whole notion behind sister sites is that players are looking for a new online casino that offers a similar experience to one they are already playing at, and this is why operators need to ensure the core player experience is the same.

“This means stocking the lobby with the same slots, casino, table, bingo, instant win, crash and live dealer titles while ensuring the cashier offers the same payment methods. If the parent site offers small deposits, the sister site must too. If the parent delivers fast payouts, the sister site must match it.”

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If operators can strike the balance between offering a similar experience to the parent brand while also providing a little magic of their own, they can absolutely tap into the demand for sister site casinos and leverage the popularity of the parent brand.

For new online casinos, there’s an opportunity to become the parent brand if they are able to set the standard for others to follow as PlayOJO did.

Ultimately, the sister sites trend remains relatively untapped by operators and platform providers but with thousands of related searches each month it’s one they absolutely should look to explore.

“Let’s not forget that players searching for sister sites are highly likely to convert if they can find brands that offer enough of the same as the parent but also a few USPs of their own,” Hannah says.

“For me, I would do this through no wagering bonuses and instant payouts as Comparasino data shows these are key factors players consider when deciding where to play.”

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So, there you have it. Online casino sister sites – the player trend you probably didn’t know existed but definitely should look to tap into.

The L&G esports team founded by Alona Shevtsova got four prize-winning places this month. Team’s sponsor — Sends company — plans to increase investments

CS:GO professionals — L&G team — got prizes in four championships this month. Starting May with 2nd place in the United21 competition, this young team continued the month with 1st place at the Dragon Esport Cup, 3rd at ROG Spring Cup 2024 and 3rd at Comic Con Baltics 2024. Simultaneously, the team continues its participation in ESEA Main S49.

“Following recent team changes, we’ve dedicated significant time to training and building strong relationships. I believe we now have the strongest L&G squad to date. Our current success is a great motivator, and we’re eager to achieve even more this year,” commented Kyryl «marat2k» Samsoniuk, captain of L&G Esports.

L&G esports team, one of the top five Ukrainian teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, has extended its sponsorship contract with Smartflow Payments Limited this spring. Sends is the trade name of Smartflow Payments Limited. The company’s founders always support sports initiatives and young teams with a particular interest in esports.

“I see tremendous potential in esports. This field is evolving rapidly, much like the fintech industry once did. As the world increasingly shifts online, we are opting for digital solutions more than ever before. This is why our company wholeheartedly supports, promotes, and cheers for the L&G team,” commented Alona Shevtsova, owner of the Sends Company.

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The L&G team began competing in top tournaments and almost immediately reached the Advanced division of the ESEA League Europe competition. The team also participated in and took prizes in European tournaments such as the SCL League, WhiteBit Crypto Open, Phoenix League, and local competitions. The team players are marat2k, r0ublE, kr1vda, kL1o, OneUn1que, rji (coach).

Smartflow Payments Limited is an innovative private limited company based in England and Wales. It offers financial solutions such as Internet acquiring and multicurrency business accounts, currency exchange and card issuance.

It is worth mentioning that the L&G team created its merch items, which are available for order worldwide. For more information about the team, visit the L&G Instagram page, Twitch, or Telegram Channel.