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Mario would earn £32,895 as an Italian plumber – which video game characters would be the richest if they had real-life jobs?

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  • At the top of the rich list is Borderland’s corporate president ‘Handsome Jack’ with an equally handsome salary of £333,043 per year.
  • Super Mario ranks among the lowest earners, taking home £32,895 per year on a typical plumber’s salary in Italy.
  • Pac-Man earns the lowest salary of all characters as a security guard in Japan, bringing in just £15,916 per year.

 

From Super Mario to Lara Croft, have you ever wondered where your favorite video game protagonists and villains would rank in the real-world job market?

Online gaming platform Solitaired looked at some of the world’s most iconic video game characters and calculated how much each would earn if they landed their real-world dream job. They based character earnings on data from salary comparison sites as well as publicly available pay bands to find an average yearly salary for more than 50 video game characters.

 

Video Games’ Highest Earners 

  1. Handsome Jack, Borderlands 2 

At the top spot is Borderland’s narcissistic bad-guy, Handsome Jack, who would take home an eye watering £333,043 per year as a corporate CEO. While Hyperion Corp is fortunately yet to be founded, it seems only fitting that as the fictional president of an intergalactic weapons manufacturer and supplier, Jack would take home such a huge paycheck.

  1. Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid 

In at second place is Metal Gear Solid’s eye-patch sporting Solid Snake, who would take home an impressive salary of £107,517 per year as a Special Forces Soldier for the US Army. Snake, who boasts an impressive military career, was initially inducted into the Green Berets during his teenage years before later joining Big Boss’ special forces unit, FOXHOUND, meaning he would be substantially compensated for his acquired specialist skills.

  1. Albert Wesker, Resident Evil 

In third place is Resident Evil’s Albert Wesker, who would earn a salary of £90,519 per year as a virologist. Having graduated at 17 with a doctorate in Virology, Wesker originally began his training with Umbrella Pharmaceuticals and was later transferred to the Arklay Laboratory as a senior researcher working on the t-Virus project, following the disbanding of his training school.

  1. Alex Mason, Call of Duty 

In fourth place is Call of Duty veteran and fan favorite, Alex Mason. Mason is unlikely to have trouble remembering these numbers, as he stacks up an impressive £82,317 per year as an Intelligence Analyst for the CIA. Mason, who makes his first appearance as the main playable character in Call of Duty: Black Ops, joined the CIA Operation 40 squad in 1958 and continued to carry out several missions for the CIA despite his imprisonment and brainwashing at Vorkuta.

  1. Max Payne, Max Payne 

In fifth place is the titular action avenger Max Payne, who would earn £75,922 per year as a police detective in New York City. Payne began his police career in the 1990s, working for the NYPD as a detective before joining DEA colleague Alex Balder on the Valkyr drug case, following the brutal murder of his wife and daughter in 1998.

 

The 20 Highest Earning Video Game Characters 

 

Rank  Video Game Character  Video Game  Job/Occupation  Yearly Salary (£)  Yearly Salary ($) 
1. Handsome Jack Borderlands 2 CEO £333,043 $432,524
2. Solid Snake Metal Gear Solid Special Forces Soldier £107,517 $139,632
3. Albert Wesker Resident Evil Virologist £90,519 $117,557
4. Alex Mason Call of Duty CIA Operative £82,317 $106,905
5. Max Payne Max Payne NYPD Detective £75,922 $98,600
6. Cole Phelps LA Noire LAPD Detective £71,846 $93,306
7. Gordon Freeman Half-Life Research Associate Scientist £70,145 $91,097
8. Arthur Morgan Red Dead Redemption 2 Bounty Hunter £69,750 $90,585
9. Mortimer Goth The Sims Scientist £69,076 $89,709
10. Isaac Clarke Dead Space Engineer £64,859 $84,232
11. Duke Nukem Duke Nukem CIA Special Agent £62,837 $81,607
12. CJ Johnson Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Entrepreneur £59,626 $77,436
13. Bella Goth The Sims Intelligence Researcher £58,363 $75,796
14. Michael De Santa Grand Theft Auto V Film Producer £54,563 $70,861
15. Leon S Kennedy Resident Evil Police Officer £54,113 $70,276
16. Homer Simpson Simpson’s Hit and Run Nuclear Technician £53,629 $69,648
17. Master Chief Halo Master Chief Petty Officer £53,491 $69,469
18. Doom Slayer Doom Marine’s Master Gunnery Sergeant £53,490 $69,468
19. Sam Fisher Splinter Cell Navy Seal £48,729 $63,284
20. Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine Resident Evil SWAT Team Member £48,158 $62,543

 

 

Video Games’ Lowest Earners 

  1. Pac-Man, Pac-Man 

At the bottom of the list, Pac-Man take the spot as the lowest earner, with a salary of just £15,916 per year as a security guard in Japan – where the character first debuted. While the creators don’t specify that Pac-Man has a job per se, the role seems fitting given the Namco classic shows the yellow sprite navigating through mazes trying to get rid of unwanted ghost intruders.

 

  1. Link, Legend of Zelda 

Second from the bottom is Legend of Zelda’s hero and protagonist, Link, who would earn only £19,661 per year as a knight – if the job were to still exist. A knight was paid an average of two shillings per day during the 1200s, which means that Link would take home just over £19k when taking into consideration currency conversions and increases in inflation.

 

  1. Cloud Strife, Final Fantasy VII 

The third lowest earner is Cloud Strife from the Final Fantasy series who would earn £19,964 per year as a Private First-Class Soldier in the US Army. Cloud was unsuccessful in joining SOLDIER, instead becoming a Shinra infantryman, hence justifying the lower pay band for our sword wielding fighter.

 

  1. Desmond Miles, Assassin’s Creed                  

As the fourth lowest earner in the list, Assassin’s Creed’s modern day main character, Desmond Miles, would earn just £21,408 per year as a bartender in New York City. Desmond, who is the descendant of a long line of assassins, used his training to hitchhike to New York City, where he worked as a bartender at Bad Weather before his eventual capture.

 

  1. Ryu, Street Fighter 

At fifth from the bottom is the main character of the Street Fighter series, Ryu, who would bring home just £21,723 as a martial arts instructor in Japan. Ryu made his first appearance in Capcom’s original Street Fighter game in 1987, and while his name roughly translates to ‘plentiful’ in Japanese, the same cannot be said for his expected salary.

 

The 20 Lowest Earning Video Game Characters 

Rank  Video Game Character  Video Game  Job/Occupation  Yearly Salary (£)  Yearly Salary ($) 
1 Pac-Man Pac-Man Security Guard £15,916 $20,670
2 Link Legend of Zelda Knight £19,661 $25,533
3 Cloud Strife Final Fantasy Private First-Class Soldier £19,964 $25,927
4 Desmond Miles Assassin’s Creed Bartender £21,408 $27,802
5 Ryu Street Fighter Martial Arts Instructor £21,723 $28,212
6 Marcus Fenix Gears of War Army Sergeant £24,119 $31,324
7 Don Lothario The Sims Medical Intern £24,784 $32,187
8 Geralt of Rivia The Witcher Pest Controller £24,906 $32,345
9 Niko Bellic Grand Theft Auto IV Taxi Driver £25,521 $33,144
10 Lightning Final Fantasy Security Guard £29,084 $37,771
11 Crash Bandicoot Crash Bandicoot Bodyguard £29,670 $38,533
12 John Marston Red Dead Redemption Rancher £32,770 $42,559
13 Mario Super Mario Bros Plumber £32,895 $42,721
14 Tom Nook Animal Crossing Real Estate Agent £33,812 $43,912
15 Isabelle Animal Crossing Secretary £34,071 $44,248
16 Freddy Fazbear Five Nights at Freddy’s Mascot £35,078 $45,556
17 Captain John ‘Soap’ MacTavish Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Army Sergeant £35,953 $46,692
18 Booker DeWitt Bioshock Infinite Private Investigator £36,000 $46,753
19 Spyro Spyro the Dragon Jeweler £36,516 $47,424
20 Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog Professional Athlete £36,592 $47,522

 

 

Honorable Mentions 

Some character earnings meant that they ranked elsewhere in the list, however some are so iconic that it would be a shame to miss them out entirely. 

Given Super Mario’s Italian heritage, he would earn a salary of £32,895 working as a plumber in Italy, ranking him 41st in the list. Elsewhere in Europe, Tomb Raider’s female lead Lara Croft ranks 27th, earning a salary of £41,998 working as a British archaeologist.

While Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t currently on the job hunt, based on his ability to run at supersonic speeds, it is only fitting that he would earn a salary of £36,592 as a professional athlete. Although he may have to wait a few years before he is eligible to earn, as the creators suggest he is only 15 years old.

Pokémon’s Pikachu would be perfectly suited to a job as a detective given his latest movie role, earning him £37,282 per year – although considering his element type, he would also make for a great electrician. His trainer and best friend, Ash Ketchum, would just top Pikachu’s earnings, taking home £41,327 as a Research Fellow for Professor Cerise.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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BOS agrees with KV’s/KO’s advertising assessment of “Trisskrapet” in TV4

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The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) agrees with the Swedish Consumer Agency’s (KV) and the Consumer Ombudsman’s (KO) assessment that the daily scratch card commercial “Trisskrapet” in TV4 is an advertising feature, and thus not an editorial feature. BOS welcomes that KO is now ending that part of the process.

If Svenska Spel does not stop the advertising elements, BOS looks forward to KV following up on its earlier call to Svenska Spel to comply with the provisions on advertising identification and broadcaster declaration in section 9 of the Marketing Act and the information obligation in ch. 15. Section 3 of the Gambling Act with information on the 18-year-old age limit and where to turn in case of gambling problems.

– The Swedish gambling market must be characterized by a high level of consumer protection. A cornerstone of good consumer protection is that people are clear about what constitutes gambling advertising, i.e. that they are not tricked into thinking that an advertising feature would instead be an editorial feature. The daily “Trisskrapet” on TV4 has been anything but clear on that point, and we welcome that KO now finally establishes that the features constitute advertising and nothing else, says Gustaf Hoffstedt.

– Now it remains for Svenska Spel to introduce the mandatory consumer protection labelling of Trisskrapet. Since the company has not shown any excessive eagerness to introduce this voluntarily, KO should ensure that this happens as soon as possible. Every day and every “Trisskrapet” that does not contain the mandatory consumer protection label is another lost day for a safe and secure gambling market, Gustaf Hoffstedt concludes.

The post BOS agrees with KV’s/KO’s advertising assessment of “Trisskrapet” in TV4 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Expanse Studios Launches in Bulgaria with Inbet

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Expanse Studios, a leader in online gaming innovation, has secured a Bulgarian iGaming license and is now live on Inbet’s website. This expansion brings Expanse Studios’ popular game offerings including turn-based strategies gamified for iGaming, classic slots, traditional card games and the highly-acclaimed ones like Titan Roulette, Clown Fever Deluxe, Wild Icy Fruits, White Wild Whale and Joker Poker to Bulgarian players.

Diverse Gaming Portfolio Now Available to Bulgarian Players

With the Bulgarian market entry, Expanse Studios introduces a versatile gaming experience to Inbet’s platform. The offerings include a dynamic range of games tailored to diverse player preferences:

  • Turn-based strategy games: Leveraging gamification, these games transform traditional strategy gameplay into engaging iGaming experiences, suitable for both novice and experienced players.
  • Classic slots: Players will enjoy a variety of themed slots that combine traditional gameplay with modern graphics and sound.
  • Traditional card games: A selection of popular card games offer something for every card game enthusiast.
  • Titan Roulette: This standout feature, known for its immersive experience and innovative design, continues to be a favorite among roulette players.

Commitment to Quality and Compliance

Expanse Studios not only cultivates a diverse gaming library but also adheres to stringent regulatory standards to ensure a secure and fair gaming environment. The acquisition of the Bulgarian iGaming license is a testament to Expanse Studios’ commitment to compliance and excellence in the gaming industry.

The partnership between Expanse Studios and Inbet marks a significant milestone in Expanse Studios’ expansion efforts. By combining Expanse Studios’ innovative gaming solutions with Inbet’s established market presence, both entities are set to offer a superior gaming experience to players in Bulgaria and potentially beyond. As Expanse Studios continues to develop and release new games monthly, Bulgarian players can look forward to a continually evolving and enriching gaming landscape.

The post Expanse Studios Launches in Bulgaria with Inbet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Week 17/2024 slot games releases

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is on point with its latest sharply designed game, Golden øks. This Norse-inspired adventure carries on from the popular Axe of Fortune title that hit the market at the turn of the year. Golden øks is set against a 5×3 layout and is brought to life with a powerful soundtrack to heighten the atmosphere.

Endorphina, has announced the release of its brand-new title, Jolly Queen, which will join its portfolio on April 27th. Jolly Queen is a 5-reel, 5-row fruit slot with 50 fixed paylines, introducing players to the lifestyle of the nobles. On top of the aristocratic ambiance, Jolly Queen provides players with Free Games, allowing them to master the reels.

Evoplay has released Candy Craze, a vibrant slot stacked with features and modifiers, including the powerful Gum Drop Multiplier which boosts win potential. Set amidst the backdrop of sumptuous sweets within a cloudy landscape, the 5×5 cascading reels title gives players a sugary rush when the Gum Drop Multiplier activates, revealing a mystery value at the end of each winning spin up to x100, enhancing the chance for wins during the main game and Free Spins.

Yggdrasil, a leading iGaming publisher, has revived the gold rush in a jackpot-filled game that embodies the spirit of old west prospecting in Gold Frontier Jackpots FastPot5™. Fans of lower volatility slots with straightforward mechanics that get fortune seekers right to the heart of the action are tasked with gathering keys to enter the treasure bonus game.

Relax Gaming is offering players some opulence in its latest release Sultan Spins. This high volatility slot sees its gold-trimmed reels set against a sprawling desert metropolis. Players have the chance to rack up riches via an entertaining free spins feature and lucrative local jackpot.

Greentube has introduced its latest title in the popular Diamond Link ™ series, Diamond Link ™: Mighty Dwarves Inc. Set deep in underground mines, this adventurous 5×3 slot is packed with innovative features for ample chance to win across its 25 paylines when players spin the reels adorned with hammers, hard hats and laser symbols.

Get your eyes ready because it’s time to take a trip to the pet centre to meet the ugliest, quirkiest, wildest-looking pets you’ve ever seen in the brand new slot, Fugly Pets, from Stakelogic. Fugly Pets takes players to a banged-up old pet store to explore its collection of weird and charming, downright ugly pets. Meet a scruffy parrot, a catnip crazed kitty, and an unfortunate-looking little dog.

 

 

Load your tackle box, bait your hook and get ready to reel in the catch of the day in Fishin’ The Biggest from Apparat Gaming, the in-demand German software provider’s latest splash hit slot that sees players trawl the sea for free spins and massively multiplied prizes. Played over five reels, three rows and ten fixed paylines, Fishin’ The Biggest is a highly-volatile title with an outdoor angling theme.

Thunderkick has announced the launch of Midas Golden Touch 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed 2019 original. This latest release invites players to rediscover an enchanted realm where everything King Midas touches turns to gold. The 3×5 video slot boasts 15 paylines and showcases Thunderkick’s signature high-quality design and innovative features.

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has served up another classic with its tasty Chef’s Sticky Fruits slot. This latest release from Belatra’s studio  is a vibrant and juicy addition to its renowned catalogue of slots. It’s a 5×4 slot game bursting with colour that’s heightened with an upbeat, retro soundtrack that perfectly captures the essence of fun at the heart of every play.

3 Oaks Gaming has launched 3 China Pots: Hold and Win, the first time the company has integrated the popular 3 Pots mechanic within a Far East-themed title. The latest instalment from 3 Oaks to incorporate the 3 Pots functionality sees players transported to the allure of the Orient, where the Extra, Double and Multi modifiers influence the Bonus Game once activated.

Pragmatic Play has unleashed roaming wild re-spins and random guaranteed wins in Release the Bison. Symbols of the American frontier abound in this 5×4 slot, where hitting four or more rampaging bison triggers the wild re-spin feature, during which all wilds roam the reels to boost win potential.

Blueprint Gaming’s latest slot release tasks players to look for the leprechaun’s pot of gold under the water rather than at the end of the rainbow in Plenty O’ Fish, a 6×4 hybrid of sea creatures and shimmering rewards. Players must look to unlock a tackle box of treasure with a jaunty leprechaun being the key to wins, lurking behind a dynamically coloured underwater background that changes when the bonus game is triggered.

Booming Games has launched its latest sweet sensation to its collection of engaging slot games – Fruit Heaven Hold and Win™. This is a deliciously designed 5×3 slot game with 25 paylines, which promises players an exciting experience full of fantastic fruity features and Stacked Wilds.

Wazdan is multiplying jackpots in the follow-up to its top-performing game Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Gold Edition. Venturing to the depths of the jungle where a black panther rules the reels on a 5×3 gameboard, the new edition provides even larger win potential. With the increased value of the Cash symbols and Cash Infinity™ symbols, there is also a more lucrative Grand Jackpot of 1500x the base bet.

The post Week 17/2024 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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