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Scottish Games Week unveil the finalists for the inaugural Scottish Games Awards
Scottish Games Week has announced the finalists for the first-ever Scottish Games Awards, ahead of the ceremony at Malmaison, Dundee, on Thursday 27 October. Celebrating the very best of the games industry across the country, the shortlist includes categories such as Best Large-Budget Game, Best Small-Budget Game, Lifetime Achievement and Diversity Champion.
A world-first event, the Scottish Games Awards will truly showcase and reward those currently working in the games industry. The Awards are sure to be a highlight of Scottish Games Week, taking place next week (24 – 27 October) at venues across Scotland. Limited remaining tickets are available now via Citizen Ticket, with More Than Games and the Education Symposium sold out.
The Scottish Games Awards shortlist is as follows:
Art and Animation
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Just Take Your Left (Mehrdad Rezaei)
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Cloudpunk (ION LANDS)
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Train Sim World 2: Island Line 2022 (Rivet Games)
Audio
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SOLAS 128 (Amicable Animal)
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Train Sim World 2: Island Line 2022 (Rivet Games)
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A Bonnie Odyssey (Astrodreamer Studio)
Best Educational Programme
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University of the West of Scotland Games Development Programme
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Robert Burns’ Farm at Ellisland in Minecraft
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Dundee & Angus College: HN Games Development
Best Educator
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Daisy Abbott
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Erin Hughes
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Dr Lynn Love
Best Large-Budget Game
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From the Depths (Brilliant Skies Ltd.)
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Cloudpunk (ION LANDS)
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Island Saver (Stormcloud)
Best Small-Budget Game
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The Black Iris (Jamie Ferguson)
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SOLAS 128 (Amicable Animal)
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The Baby in Yellow (Team Terrible)
Creativity
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SOLAS 128 (Amicable Animal)
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Cloudpunk (ION LANDS)
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Temple of Snek (Aetheric Games)
Diversity Champion
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Joanne Lacey
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Searra Dodds
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Tanya Laird
Lifetime Achievement
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Tanya Laird
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Dave Jones
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Chris Sawyer
Stewart Gilray Award (Community Spirit)
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Malath Abbas
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Colin Macdonald
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Dr Amanda Ford
Technical Achievement
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Monstrum 2 (Team Junkfish)
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A Bonnie Odyssey (Astrodreamer Studio)
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From the Depths (Brilliant Skies Ltd.)
Tools and Technology
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Dislectek
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Murder Mystery Machine
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Kythera AI
A judging panel of industry experts, chaired by Chris Scullion, will now select winners for each category. The panel includes:
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Brian Baird: Technical Director at Bethesda Games Studios Austin
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Joe Donnelly: Feature Writer at GamesRadar+
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Alisdair Gunn: Director at Glasgow City Innovation District
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Steven Hamill: COO at Scottish Edge
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Keza MacDonald: Video Games Editor at The Guardian
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Jim Trinca: Games journalist and video producer
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Jo Twist: CEO of UKIE
Chris Scullion, Features Editor at VGC and author of The N64 Encyclopedia said: “The quality of the nominees in this inaugural Scottish Games Awards is a testament to the level of talent that can be found in all sectors of the Scottish games industry. It was an honour to chair the judging panel for the first ever Awards, and I look forward to it being a catalyst for future celebrations of this thriving industry for years to come.”
Winners will be announced at the Scottish Games Awards at Malmaison, Dundee, on Thursday 27 October.
Brian Baglow, Director of Scottish Games Week and Founder of the Scottish Games Network said: “It has been inspiring to see the whole games awards unfold and take shape. From the call for entries it was clear that the judges were going to have a difficult task given the quality of the people, organisations and games which were received.
Scotland is home to some of the most creative, talented and passionate people creating, teaching, or working in the global games ecosystem. I’m delighted we are able to recognise and celebrate them as part of Scottish Games Week.
I’d like to thank Chris and the judges for all of their hard work and wish all of our finalists the very best of luck. We will see you in Dundee!”
The Scottish Games Awards ceremony is the culmination of Scottish Games Week, a first-of-its-kind suite of events that will take place across Scotland from the 24 – 27 of October. Other events occurring during Scottish Games Week include:
More Than Games – 24 October (Barclays Campus, Glasgow) SOLD OUT
Designed to onboard an audience unfamiliar with the games ecosystem, More Than Games will host an array of speakers to show the uninitiated just how important games are to Scotland’s tech industry. The event will be taking place at the brand new Barclay’s Campus in Glasgow.
Education Symposium – 25 October (CodeBase, Edinburgh) SOLD OUT
A meeting of the minds in academia, the Education Symposium will bring together academics from across Scotland to discuss how important educational institutions are to shape the future generations of game development talent.
SGW Industry Conference – 27 – 28 October (Malmaison, Dundee)
Taking place at the Malmaison in Dundee over the course of two days, the Scottish Games Week Industry Conference will bring together a large host of those currently or previously involved in the industry, from all over the world. Panels, talks and networking will be the focus, bringing together the many game developers, engineers, storytellers and more that Scotland houses.
Scottish Games Week is being delivered by the Scottish Games Network and is supported by the Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund, delivered as part of its Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review (STER) programme. Scottish Games Week is sponsored by Blackadders LLP and Johnston Carmichael.
Latest News
Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: This is a classic “Cross-Sell” play. Meridianbet has already spent seven years building a sports betting database in Belgium. By securing this B+ license, they can now monetize those same users with higher-margin casino products (slots, table games) without needing to acquire new traffic from scratch. With the Belgian casino sector growing at 20% year-over-year, this is a significant revenue unlock for the GMGI portfolio.
The Full Story
Meridianbet, the sports betting and gaming operator owned by Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has successfully expanded its regulatory footprint in Europe by securing a B+ online gaming license in Belgium.
The new license (B+ 4016) authorizes the company to launch a comprehensive online casino platform—featuring slots, table games, and automated live games—starting in January 2026. This move significantly broadens the operator’s capabilities in the country, complementing its existing sports betting operations which have been active in the Belgian market for seven years.
Targeting the Largest Market Segment The strategic rationale behind the license is clear: Casino is now the dominant force in Belgian gambling. According to the Belgian Gaming Commission, the online casino vertical generated €455 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in 2023, representing a 20.2% year-over-year increase.
By entering this vertical, Meridianbet gains access to the largest and fastest-growing segment of a market that generated a total of €944.6 million last year.
Tech-First Entry Meridianbet plans to deploy its proprietary AI Casino Recommender technology for the Belgian launch. This system analyzes player behavior and preferences in real-time to deliver personalized game suggestions, a crucial differentiator in a highly concentrated market where just ten operators account for 94% of all online wagers.
Regulatory Context Belgium is known for having one of Europe’s strictest regulatory frameworks, characterized by rigorous compliance standards and player protection protocols. Securing this license validates Meridianbet’s operational standards and deepens its foothold in a “mature” market that is notoriously difficult for new entrants to penetrate.
The post Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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LinkDataMedia Drops ‘Startup’ Look with Major 5th Anniversary Rebrand
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: In the iGaming affiliate space, the five-year mark is a critical survival threshold. Many media startups fade away before reaching it. LinkDataMedia’s decision to rebrand now is a classic “graduation” signal. By shedding their startup skin for a more corporate, “blue-chip” aesthetic (the stability-focused blue triangle), they are telling operators and partners that they are no longer just an affiliate project, but a stable infrastructure partner ready for larger commercial deals.
The Full Story
LinkDataMedia, the parent company behind the popular affiliate portal Gamblers Connect, has announced a comprehensive corporate rebrand to coincide with its fifth anniversary.
The overhaul includes a completely refreshed brand identity, a redesigned logo, and a fully revamped website, all of which are now live. The move is described by the company not as a mere cosmetic update, but as a strategic pivot designed to distance the business from its “startup roots” and reflect its current status as an established player in the competitive iGaming media landscape.
Visualizing Maturity The new visual language features a modernized blue triangular logo, a shape chosen to represent “stability and forward momentum.” The digital user experience has also been streamlined, offering partners a cleaner interface that aligns better with the company’s matured operational capabilities.
Management Commentary Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder and CEO of LinkDataMedia, commented on the significance of hitting the half-decade milestone in such a volatile industry:
“Surviving the first five years in business takes more than luck. It takes belief, resilience, and the right people around you. This milestone, and the rebrand, reflect exactly that.”
Implementation The new branding has already been deployed across the main corporate website and is currently being rolled out across LinkDataMedia’s social media channels and internal communication platforms. As the company enters its sixth year, the refreshed identity aims to set the stage for a new phase of expansion and innovation.
The post LinkDataMedia Drops ‘Startup’ Look with Major 5th Anniversary Rebrand appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Latest News
Win Systems to Debut New ‘Gold Club Colors’ and WIGOS Upgrades at ICE Barcelona
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: As ICE makes its historic move to Barcelona, established tech providers like Win Systems are under pressure to bring their “A-game” to the larger venue. The focus here isn’t just on cabinets; it’s the ecosystem. By highlighting WIGOS (their CMS) alongside WIN PAY, Win Systems is positioning itself as an infrastructure partner, not just a hardware supplier. The debut of the Gold Club Colors roulette specifically targets the growing demand for visually customizable electronic table games (ETGs).
The Full Story
Win Systems, the global provider of technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, has confirmed its product roadmap for ICE Barcelona 2026, the sector’s most significant international event taking place from January 19 to 21.
Exhibiting at Stand 3M30 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, the company will leverage the new venue to showcase a broad portfolio designed to cover the entire casino floor—from management systems to the gaming floor itself.
Systems and Fintech At the core of the showcase is WIGOS, the company’s flagship Casino Management System (CMS). WIGOS is widely recognized for connecting thousands of machines across multiple countries, and the Barcelona display will focus on advanced tools that streamline daily operations and optimize player retention.
Complementing the CMS, Win Systems will present WIN PAY, its secure transaction platform. As cashless and seamless payment solutions become standard requirements for operators, WIN PAY offers the necessary efficiency and security controls for modern gaming environments.
Hardware: Roulette and Slots On the hardware side, Win Systems is refreshing its electronic table game offering with the new Gold Club Colors electronic roulette. The Gold Club line has long been a staple in the company’s portfolio, known for its compact footprint and reliability; the “Colors” iteration promises to maximize visual impact on the floor.
Alongside the roulette, the company will display its latest slot hardware, including the Sublime and Rhapsody cabinets. These units are designed to house the company’s extensive game library, which has been adapted to suit diverse market profiles from Europe to Latin America.
Strategic Goals Win Systems aims to use the three-day event to reinforce its 30-year legacy in the industry. The company described its participation as a commitment to “continuous innovation,” inviting operators and regulators to explore how their integrated solutions can improve in-room performance.
The post Win Systems to Debut New ‘Gold Club Colors’ and WIGOS Upgrades at ICE Barcelona appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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