ANIQ & Games Croatia at Meet & Build Gaming Conference in Belgium!
ANIQ Celebrates CEEGA 2024
This past weekend, the Central & Eastern European Game Awards (CEEGA) gathered the best game developers from the region to celebrate innovation, artistry, and technological advancements in gaming. The event, held on October 26th, brought together industry professionals, creatives, and fans at a highly anticipated ceremony showcasing the region’s best talents across various categories. The event, which was streamed live, can still be watched on YouTube here. Croatia stood out this year with significant nominations, led by Croteam’s The Talos Principle 2 and ANIQ’s Swing By. The Talos Principle 2, a philosophical science-fiction puzzle game by renowned Croatian studio Croteam, dominated the nominations, securing spots in categories such as Best Game, Visual Art, Design, Technology, Audio, and Narrative. ANIQ, representing Croatia in the mobile game category, was proud to see its latest project, Swing By, nominated for Best Mobile Game, alongside the top contenders in the mobile gaming sector. The highlight of the evening came with The Talos Principle 2 winning the Best Game award a crowning achievement of the night and a win in the Design category. ANIQ’s Swing By was one of the four finalists in the highly competitive Best Mobile Game category, and we are incredibly proud to announce that the award came down to a single vote between Swing By and Raccoon Mania. This close outcome is a testament to the immense support and recognition Swing By has received for its innovative approach to mobile gaming, placing us alongside the region’s finest in game development. A special new segment at CEEGA 2024 was the “Code the Rights” awards, organized in partnership with Amnesty International. This category celebrated games that champion social justice and human rights. The award for Best Game in this category went to Baldur’s Gate 3, with a Special Award given to This War of Mine, a game that has consistently highlighted the hardships of war on civilians and impacted players with its humanitarian narrative. CEEGA 2024 once again demonstrated the creative potential and international appeal of Central and Eastern European developers, bringing visibility to the games and stories from this culturally rich and diverse region. ANIQ extends congratulations to all nominees and winners, especially Croteam, whose achievements highlights Croatia’s growing game development community and inspire developers across the country. As ANIQ, we are proud to have contributed to Croatia’s success on this international stage with Swing By and are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of gaming.
We were at the Game Changer conference
On Thursday, October 10th, the Game Changer conference took place in Zagreb, gathering leading experts from the video game industry. The conference featured representatives from various companies, developers, and content creators who shared their insights on current trends and the industry’s future. Our CEO, Dominik Cvetkovski, and writer Domagoj Crnković participated in two panels, discussing key topics related to marketing and gamification in video games and education. We were honored to participate in such a prestigious conference, where prominent figures from the Croatian gaming industry, such as Andrej Levenski, Mario Čelan, Darijan Kosić, and many others were present. Dominik Cvetkovski participated in the panel MARKETING ELEMENTS IN VIDEO GAMES: DEVELOPER PERSPECTIVES AND MODELS, alongside Ilija Petrušić (Lion Game Lion), Ante Medić (Infinity Games), and Igor Belan (HCL.hr). The discussion focused on monetization models, in-game advertising, and balancing commercial interests with the quality of the player experience. Cvetkovski shared experiences from developing the game Haystack Chronicles, designed for neurodivergent players, highlighting the importance of adjusting marketing elements to preserve the authenticity of the player experience. On another panel, titled GAMIFICATION PRINCIPLES TRANSFORMING EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, Domagoj Crnković discussed how video games can connect different age groups and serve as a tool for developing cognitive and social skills. Alongside Tonka Delić (Stemi), Ivan Tadić (Fantastic Esports), and Filip Šoć (Adria Esports Federation), the panel explored the potential of gamification and esports in education and how new technologies such as VR, AR, and blockchain can enhance educational methods. This event provided an opportunity for knowledge exchange and fostered new partnerships that will contribute to further growth and strengthening of the regional gaming scene.