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Games Lift Incubator 2021: Preparing five Teams for the Challenges of the Games Industry
Five up-and-coming game developer teams from Hamburg convinced the awarding committee with their project ideas, pitching their way into the Games Lift Incubator 2021. The incubator program starts on September 9 and aims to prepare the teams for the challenges of developing and marketing their games projects in the international markets – through start-up funding of 15,000 euros per team and an intensive three-month workshop and mentoring program under the guidance of international industry experts. With the support of the Games Lift Network, consisting of experts in marketing, pitching, business development, product development, and PR, the teams will further develop their ideas and concepts for marketable games projects. The teams will be provided with workspaces in the Hamburg co-working location “Code Working Space”. The Games Lift Incubator is organized by Gamecity Hamburg, the location initiative for the games industry, funded by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
A total of 17 teams and solo devs applied to be taken in into the second run of the Games Lift Incubator.
The five participating teams were chosen by the awarding committee, consisting of Anne Beuttenmüller (Director Marketing EMEA Niantic, Inc.), Ole Schaper (CEO & CTO Sviper), Wolf Lang (CEO Super Crowd Entertainment), Margarete Schneider (Project Manager Gamecity Hamburg) and Jens Unrau (Head of Department Media and Digital Economy at Hamburg’s Ministry of Culture and Media).
The five teams and projects in the Games Lift Incubator 2021:
- The Invitation by tool1
- Monstersongs VR by Denise Koch
- PROSPECTOR by Koriol Games
- supernightshift by consider it
- The Treepoids by SUPERNATURAL GAMES
Anne Beuttenmüller, Director Marketing EMEA Niantic, Inc, is impressed with the wide range of projects genres from Hamburg’s developer scene: “It’s great to see the versatility and high quality of this year’s Games Lift participants. The developers and teams bring a great passion for their game ideas and concepts. In the incubator, these five teams now have a unique opportunity to work on their skills and take away valuable tips for their further path into the industry. I am very excited to see the further development of our participants.”
The five projects in detail:
The Invitation is an action-packed multiplayer loot shooter set in a future scenario of Earth in the year 2081. The team tool1 also successfully applied for prototype funding by Gamecity Hamburg.
Monstersongs VR by Denise Koch combines a graphic novel with a playable VR rock musical that takes players into a colorful world full of monsters, puzzles, and music.
In the narrative sci-fi adventure PROSPECTOR by Koriol Games, players uncover the mystery of a planet where masks are essential for survival and the game’s heroes have to build important relationships through a novel dialogue system.
In the mobile game supernightshift, the team consider it turns the city of Hamburg itself into a digital playing field in which the players have to find the best way through the city using different means of transport.
The Treepoids by developer/designer duo SUPERNATURAL GAMES puts nature in the focus of an entertaining strategy adventure, with hand-drawn 2D graphics and lots of colorful characters on a mysterious island.
The workshop, mentoring, and coaching program of the Games Lift Incubator is put together according to the needs of the participating teams. In addition to game development topics, it covers areas such as marketing, founding a company, or project management.
In a public pitch event in December, the participating developers present the progress they have made in the incubator. Following the intensive phase of the program from September to December, the participants are supported for another year with individual coaching sessions and by an international PR agency specializing in indie games. In 2020, five teams went through the first round of the incubator program. The program is aimed at developers and founders who develop digital game ideas in Hamburg.
Among many others, these industry experts have agreed to share their knowledge as coaches and mentors in the Games Lift Network:
Heather Chandler shares her experience from over 25 years in the international games industry, during which she worked as a senior producer on the hit game Fortnite, with the participants of the Games Lift Incubator in a workshop on producing and project management.
Simon Carless – is one of the best-known consultants in the video game industry and deals primarily with marketing and business development. For the Games Lift participants, he will hold the workshop “Perfecting your Game Hook & the 10 commandments of discoverability”.
Further information on the funded projects, the Games Lift Incubator program and the experts involved are available at https://www.gamecity-hamburg.de/incubator/.
More funding opportunities through Gamecity Hamburg
In addition to the Games Lift Incubator, Gamecity Hamburg also supports developers and games companies from Hamburg through its Prototype Funding program. Each year, a total of 400,000 euros are available for games projects from Hamburg, individual projects can be funded with up to 80,000 euros as a non-repayable grant. For the first time, there will be a second round of Prototype Funding in 2021. From August 30, developers, teams, and SMEs from Hamburg are called to apply.

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Spinmatic launches Pinky Plinko Deluxe
Following the success of its original release, Spinmatic’s Pinky Plinko returns with a beautifully reimagined Deluxe edition. The innovative B2B provider elevates the beloved game with refined mechanics, enhanced visuals and immersive sound design for a high-performing addition to any operator’s content portfolio.
Set during a mythical Japanese matsuri – a spirited festival where the human and spirit worlds briefly collide – the game invites players to join Pinky, a cheerful half-human, half-cat spirit, on a joyful journey through lantern-lit streets and supernatural surprises.
The core mechanic of the game remains the classic Plinko format, but the Deluxe version introduces a completely reworked Hold & Drop system. Players can now choose to release 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 balls at once, with each drop visualised through a fluid, lottery-style counter that enhances anticipation and immersion.
This new edition also offers a more visual and accessible approach to risk levels. The game now makes it easier for players to read the volatility of each session at a glance.
One of the most exciting additions is the introduction of Prize Multipliers – magical glowing bands that appear on the board and double the value of any ball that lands within them. These appear in one zone in the 8-line mode and two zones in the 16-line setup. Each winning drop is accompanied by bespoke visual and audio effects that scale with the prize’s value, creating a celebratory atmosphere that mirrors the game’s festive theme.
To support long-term engagement, a live results tracker has been integrated into the interface, sitting discreetly in the top-left corner. This feature allows players to monitor their recent outcomes and keep track of lucky streaks without disrupting the rhythm of play.
Beyond mechanics, Pinky Plinko Deluxe delivers a complete sensory upgrade. The background art and game board have been redesigned with intricate detail, enhancing the depth and richness of the game’s world. Every element has been refined to evoke the spirit of the festival and elevate the player experience.
The sound design also adapts dynamically, with subtle sparkles for small wins and full-scale fireworks when larger prizes are secured.
The result is an atmospheric and polished experience designed to delight players and perform strongly across a wide range of markets.
The post Spinmatic launches Pinky Plinko Deluxe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Boomerang Partners and AC Milan summarize the results of the first year of strategic partnership
Boomerang Partners, an affiliate marketing agency, is proud to announce that Boomerang and the legendary AC Milan celebrated the first anniversary of their strategic partnership. This collaboration has redefined how brands and clubs engage with fans, partners, and global sports audiences.
Over the past 12 months, this alliance has made significant strides both on and off the field. From global exposure to affiliate program growth, this partnership has become the benchmark for what a meaningful brand-club partnership in iGaming can look like.
During the year of Boomerang’s partnership with AC Milan, Boomerang Partners became one of the best sports affiliate marketing programs in the industry:
- +194% growth in sports traffic across Boomerang’s affiliate ecosystem
- +81% increase in audience interest in sports
- +23% boost in Boomerang brand loyalty
- 30+ exclusive partner campaigns were powered
- 1,000+ media mentions with a total global reach of 320M+
- 1M+ impressions on Boomerang’s platforms from AC Milan-related content
The Boomerang’s partnership with AC Milan has also influenced the brand recognition and prestige of Boomerang Partners. Some of the most prominent achievements and news were:
- Hosting the ceremony of the second annual Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 global affiliate tournament at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium;
- Participation in Boomerang Partners events by AC Milan Legends such as Andrea Pirlo, Serginho, and Massimo Ambrosini;
- More than 200 Boomerang’s partners visited San Siro during the season (the most attended match was the derby between AC Milan and Inter FC on February 2, 2025);
- Over 500 merchandising items were donated to guests and brand partners.
Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, said: “For Boomerang, the collaboration with AC Milan is a top-level achievement. During the year of our partnership, we won three prestigious industry awards: ‘Rising Star in Sports Betting’ (Operator) at the SBC Awards 2024, ‘Best Player Engagement’ at the SiGMA Europe Awards 2024, and ‘Unique Gaming Company of the Year’ at the International Gaming Awards 2025. The Club has shown itself to be an ideal partner, ready to meet our needs in joint projects. We are grateful to AC Milan and its representatives for their professionalism. I’m sure that there are many more bright activities ahead of us that will surprise the sports world and the affiliate marketing industry.”
Boomerang’s partners have also greatly benefited from the brand’s strategic partnership with AC Milan. These include unique promotional and engagement opportunities, cool campaigns and creatives, and, of course, the chance to visit the legendary San Siro stadium in Milan.
For AC Milan, the collaboration with Boomerang is an opportunity to enhance fan engagement across Europe, offering unique experiences that celebrate their shared passion for sports. Fans from all over the world were given access to special giveaways, allowing them to attend the football Club’s matches and meet its legends.
Boomerang and AC Milan have entered their second year of strategic partnership. The parties are confident that their alliance will enable them to achieve numerous successes and solidify their status as one of the most effective partnerships in the industry. Stay tuned.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024, which contributed to an almost 1.5-fold increase in product users.
Boomerang’s portfolio contains 17+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
The post Boomerang Partners and AC Milan summarize the results of the first year of strategic partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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InnoGames Unveils Cozy Coast, a Heartwarming Beach Adventure Featuring Relaxed Gameplay and a Captivating Story
InnoGames, one of Germany’s leading developers and publishers of mobile and browser games, is announcing Cozy Coast, an adventure game that combines an emotional storyline, richly developed characters, and engaging puzzle mechanics based on the popular Merge-2 system. The game will launch later this year on iOS and Android. Pre-registration is already available in selected regions.
With Cozy Coast, the studio highlights its versatility by introducing a new genre to its portfolio, which includes internationally acclaimed strategy games like Forge of Empires, Tribal Wars, and Heroes of History. The game combines a sunny, feel-good atmosphere with diverse entertainment, targeting discerning casual gamers who appreciate relaxing gameplay just as much as an engaging story.
Adventures Featuring Building Mechanics and Puzzle Challenges
In Cozy Coast, players accompany best friends Mia and Elara on a journey across the picturesque Mediterranean island of Calista. For Mia, the island holds treasured memories of a carefree childhood, yet the once idyllic place has somehow lost its charm. Together, the two young women set out on a mission to restore the original beauty of Calista.
Merging items is the central gameplay mechanic in Cozy Coast. By skillfully combining items, players fulfill the wishes of island residents while gathering resources to repair buildings and unlock new areas. Along the way, Mia and Elara encounter other characters and gradually uncover the island’s secrets. With its lovingly crafted environments, Cozy Coast invites players to explore every hidden corner of Calista.
“With Cozy Coast, we’re creating an inviting game world that offers players a break from everyday life while delivering challenging gameplay. For the first time in InnoGames’ history, we’re introducing a title that combines emotional storytelling with strategic merge mechanics. We look forward to welcoming players from around the world to Cozy Coast very soon,” says Christian Reshöft, Chief Product Officer at InnoGames.
Key Features of Cozy Coast
- Merge items: Strategically combine items to create new and higher-value objects
- Restore the seaside promenade: Renovate abandoned buildings to unlock new areas
- Adventure in paradise: Discover hidden places together with your best friend and uncover the secrets of a corporation with questionable intentions
- Characters with personality: Meet fascinating characters. Every encounter comes with a story – sometimes touching, sometimes mysterious, but always full of emotion
- Fresh challenges every day: Participate in daily, weekly, and seasonal events like exploration quests, puzzle collections, and special story-driven missions to receive exciting rewards and enjoy lasting gameplay
- Unwind in a Mediterranean setting: Experience stress-free gameplay paired with a captivating story of friendship, courage, and hope
- Free to play without restrictions: Launching soon worldwide on iOS and Android
Cozy Coast was already launched in selected regions on iOS and Android, with players giving it an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Pre-registration on the App Store and Google Play is now available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More regions to follow soon.
The post InnoGames Unveils Cozy Coast, a Heartwarming Beach Adventure Featuring Relaxed Gameplay and a Captivating Story appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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