Arctic Game Lab Tag Archive

Arrowhead Game Studios founders invest in the new gaming catalyst: Mind Detonator

July 8, 2021• Videogames

Building the next generation of gaming developers in rural areas

Sweden – July 8, 2021 – The founders of Arrowhead Game Studios, which is also the team behind one of the world’s biggest international game successes Magicka, is now investing in the company Mind Detonator who’s business concept is to capture talent at a very early stage and build the next generation of gaming developers far from the big cities.

“Mind Detonator is a fantastic initiative that gives us a chance to give back and create an opportunity for more people to be part of a journey equally as fantastic as our own. I really wish there was something similar when we started our business”, says Johan Pilestedt, CEO and founder of Arrowhead.

Johan Pilestedt, CEO and founder of Arrowhead

Mind Detonator is a unique investment in gaming companies in the early stages. It is a combination of local support, local investors and international gaming developers that help each other to create the best conditions for game developers to succeed.

Quality of life and full focus on the game

Mind Detonator has an ambition to open Game Villages in different countries’ rural areas to offer financing for developer teams starting in the Nordic region. They offer opportunities for them to build their games full time, without traditional incubator requirements to learn how to run a business at the same time. Now, the entire working day can be spent creating the game – and in their spare time, teams can recharge and find new energy in the Arctic environment.

“Mind Detonator breaks new ground. In our work to build the Arctic Game Lab, we have looked a lot at incubators and other initiatives to promote growth among gaming developers and come up with our unique solution. We and our partners have found a way forward where the teams we bring in receive basic funding that gives them development time during a full year, housing, studio and the possibility of additional financing after one year combined with the fact that during this time we also take functions in the teams. We believe that this, combined with our and Arrowhead’s network, can lead to game productions that find their audience.” says Lars Lindblom, CEO and founder of Mind Detonator.

Lars Lindblom, CEO and founder of Mind Detonator

In October 2021, our first Game Village in the city of Jörn in northern Sweden opens. An investment that is influenced by the demands of the new age with anti-urbanization and sustainability with a local train station and bus commuting to the ski resort not far away. There in Jörn, five teams with up to five people each will start their journey. It is, however, still possible to apply. In the long run, Mind Detonator aims to open more Game Villages, in other countries, and make at least 15 investments per year.

“Our first step will be to bring in talent and teams from the Nordics to validate the concept, and second step will be to aim for more Game Villages in more countries to be able to help international gaming teams regardless of country” says gaming veteran Michael Stenmark who is now actively working to find talent for Mind Detonator’s first investments.

About Arrowhead Game Studios

Arrowhead was formed in 2009 in Skellefteå by students at Luleå University of Technology in connection with their production of the game Magicka. This game was released in 2011 by Paradox Interactive and is today one of the world’s most downloaded games on PC. In 2012, the entire Arrowhead moved to Stockholm, where they have around 80 employees and have carried out a number of major game productions such as Gauntlet and Helldivers, etc. 

Learn more at http://www.arrowheadgamestudios.com

About Mind Detonator

Mind Detonator is a game catalyst that operates outside the major cities. It is an initiative to complement the gaming industry and broaden it and show the possibilities with smaller towns where there are good chances for a good life with a high quality of life and low costs, which provides the opportunity for a focused game production with high quality.

Read more at minddetonator.com or follow us on

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/minddetonator

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mind-Detonator-107950974879832

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minddetonator.se/

About Arctic Game Lab

Arctic Game Lab is an organization that works to create a strategic platform for the gaming industry in northern Sweden. Arctic Game Lab works with business development, investment support, creating gaming training, gaming events and creating a strong gaming community. They create opportunities for gaming studios to grow and give individuals an opportunity to become part of the gaming industry. Arctic Game Lab is a collaboration between the municipalities of Umeå, Skellefteå, Piteå, Luleå and Boden. Within the region, there are about 70 gaming companies, about 400 people working in the gaming industry and 14 gaming educations at both university and YH level.

Arctic Game Lab is now northern Europe’s fastest growing gaming cluster. For more information, visit http://arcticgamelab.com/

For press material, assets and pictures press HERE

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Spelldust to be released for iOS and Android worldwide on June 22!

June 8, 2021• Videogames

Skellefteå, Sweden – June 8, 2021 – Swedish developer Grand Pike with support from Arctic Game Lab is proud to announce the release of their game Spelldust, to be launched worldwide for iOS and Android phones in the last half of June. The game experienced a soft launch in a few territories in April which enabled the developers to create an early start for a community that gave a lot of feedback. This feedback will now be honored to a large extent for further improvements when it releases in the rest of the world on June 22.

Spelldust is a real time strategy game with a Wizard Theme. Players engage in intense PVP-duels using preselected spell cards in what can be described as a mix of Hearthstone & Clash Royale. Spelldust use card mechanics and combinations from traditional card games, but is played in a mobile friendly real-time format.

“We are really excited about launching Spelldust and thrilled to show the world what we been working on for the last couple of years.”, says Daniel Öhgren, CEO at Grand Pike, “We have developed Spelldust for gamers, and we want to include our players in helping us improve the game in the future.”

Watch the brandnew teaser at: https://youtu.be/azFHQ9VLu0Y

Please find assets here: https://prnordic.box.com/s/wvscnzznr2jn7biqtr72x3ee4c3midfa

For more information, visit:

Homepage: https://www.grandpike.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spelldustgame

Twitter: https://twitter.com/spelldustgame

About Grand Pike:

Grand Pike is a mobile games studio in Skellefteå, north of Sweden. Their mission is to develop games with high player value and bring their love for games to their products. They are currently working on their first game called Spelldust while expanding their studio. For more information, visit: https://www.grandpike.com

About Artic Game Lab:

Arctic Game Lab is an organization that is working to create a strategic platform for the game industry in northern Sweden; with business development, investment support, game educations and events to build a strong games community. They are creating an opportunity for studios to grow and give individuals the chance to enter the industry.

Arctic Game Lab is a collaboration between the municipalities Umeå, Skellefteå, Piteå, Luleå and Boden. In this area there are about 70 game companies and studios, about 400 professionals working in this industry and 14 game educations at university and higher vocational educations. Arctic Game Lab is now northern Europe’s fastest growing game cluster. For more information visit arcticgamelab.com

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Mad Skills Motocross 3 will be released globally today

May 25, 2021• Videogames

The racing sequel continues one of the world’s most successful motocross gaming franchises

Umeå, Sweden, May 25, 2021 — Swedish game developer Turborilla AB has announced the global release of Mad Skills Motocross 3, available now for free download on the App Store and Google Play. The highly anticipated mobile game is next in a franchise that has seen more than 55 million installs on iOS and Android devices.

Mad Skills Motocross 3 improves upon its predecessors with vastly improved 3D art, new online championship and multiplayer events, more realistic bikes with upgradeable parts, bike sounds that were recorded on a real motocross track, and a massive selection of customization options. Motorcycle physics in the game were upgraded to be even more responsive and to include “whips,” a kind of aerial maneuver that is often considered the ultimate display of style in motocross racing. The physics were dialed in with the help of a beta team composed mostly of actual motocross racers. 

The Mad Skills Motocross franchise has risen to prominence partially because of its strong reputation in real-life motocross and action sports. Although in many ways it’s an arcade-style side-scrolling racing game, the game features elements of physics realism that strongly appeal to motocross racers and enthusiasts.

“If you’re looking for the best mobile motocross game there is, just get Mad Skills Motocross 3,” said Justin Cooper, a professional racer who recently won the 250 West Supercross championship in the United States. Cooper is also one of the best Mad Skills Motocross 2 players in the world, having qualified for the game’s World Championship event in Stockholm in 2017. He was one of only twelve players in the world to do so.

The game’s May 25 release was announced with a trailer that some reviewers have referred to as the best video game trailer ever made. The trailer was produced by Denmark-based IMOV Studios.

“We’re so excited to finally release Mad Skills Motocross 3,” said Turborilla CEO Mattias Wiking. “The Mad Skills Motocross franchise is the cornerstone of our company, and I think this is the best game we’ve ever made. We can’t wait to gather feedback from our players and begin the journey of expanding the game with new ideas and content through the coming years.”

Download Mad Skills Motocross 3 for free now here: https://mad.mx/3ftpJ0H

New gameplay video: https://youtu.be/4VO6a9b_QXA

Please find the media kit with all assets here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1-NFM8lOqSssLWnki041XsSKUSYShAPvN

About Turborilla

Turborilla (www.turborilla.com) is an independent game developer founded in 2006 by Tobias Andersson. Their mission is to work hard to bring joy into the gaming world and turn passion into industry-leading action-sports games. They specialize in combining elements of physics realism with classic arcade-style gameplay to create addicting and fun player experiences that appeal to both action sports enthusiasts and casual gamers. Their office is located in Umeå, Sweden, and is always open to anyone who wants to come by and talk about mobile games. Well, at least it will be when the world opens back up.

About Arctic Game Lab

Arctic Game Lab is an organization that is working to create a strategic platform for the game industry in northern Sweden; with business development, investment support, game educations and events to build a strong games community. They are creating an opportunity for studios to grow and give individuals the chance to enter the industry.

Arctic Game Lab is a collaboration between the municipalities Umeå, Skellefteå, Piteå, Luleå and Boden. In this area there are about 70 game companies and studios, about 400 professionals working in this industry and 14 game educations at university and higher vocational educations. Arctic Game Lab is now northern Europe’s fastest growing game cluster. For more information visit arcticgamelab.com

 

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Mad Skills Motocross 3 release date announced with mind-blowing trailer

May 11, 2021• Videogames

The highly anticipated mobile racing sequel will be available for free download on iOS and Android on May 25

Umeå, Sweden, May 11, 2021 – Swedish game developer Turborilla AB has announced the May 25 release of Mad Skills Motocross 3 with an absolutely wild animated trailer: https://youtu.be/cpWVn0UdT90

The highly addicting side-scrolling racing sequel is next up in a franchise that has seen more than 55 million mobile downloads and has become a part of the culture of global action sports. The new release carries on the franchise’s tradition of featuring the best racing physics on the market, but improves the player experience with significantly upgraded 3D graphics, regularly scheduled online championship events, realistic bikes with upgradeable parts, and infinitely more rider and motorcycle customization options.

“We’ve been working on this game for a long time, consulting with gamers and real motocross racers along the way, and we’re really proud of the game we’re about to release,” said Turborilla CEO Mattias Wiking. “We think it’s an upgrade on our previous games in every way, but at the same time, we see the release as a starting point in a long journey. We’ll continue listening to player feedback and updating Mad Skills Motocross 3 with more content for years to come.”

Mad Skills Motocross 3, which is being launched with support from Arctic Game Lab, will be released with hundreds of expertly designed tracks, engaging player challenges, and soon after launch, clan-style teams that will take social gameplay in the franchise to another level. Customization options will include both real-life and fantasy brands, satisfying motocross enthusiasts and casual players alike.

To be reminded of Mad Skills Motocross 3’s May 25 release, follow the game’s social media accounts and sign up for the Turborilla email list:

Instagram: @madskillsmx

Twitter: @madskillsmx

Facebook: @madskillsmotocross

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Turborilla

Email sign-up: http://www.turborilla.com/newsletter

Website: www.turborilla.com

Please find assets right here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1-NFM8lOqSssLWnki041XsSKUSYShAPvN

About Turborilla

Turborilla (www.turborilla.com) is an independent game developer founded in 2006 by Tobias Andersson. Their mission is to work hard to bring joy into the gaming world and turn passion into industry-leading action-sports games. They specialize in combining elements of physics realism with classic arcade-style gameplay to create addicting and fun player experiences that appeal to both action sports enthusiasts and casual gamers. Their office is located in Umeå, Sweden, and is always open to anyone who wants to come by and talk about mobile games. Well, at least it will be when the world opens back up.

About Arctic Game Lab

Arctic Game Lab is an organization that is working to create a strategic platform for the game industry in northern Sweden; with business development, investment support, game educations and events to build a strong games community. They are creating an opportunity for studios to grow and give individuals the chance to enter the industry.

Arctic Game Lab is a collaboration between the municipalities Umeå, Skellefteå, Piteå, Luleå and Boden. In this area there are about 70 game companies and studios, about 400 professionals working in this industry and 14 game educations at university and higher vocational educations. Arctic Game Lab is now northern Europe’s fastest growing game cluster. For more information visit arcticgamelab.com

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