Latest news with #Worms
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Boss of Worms video game maker exits after rebrand
Shares in London-listed indie video games maker Everplay fell on Friday as it revealed chief executive Steve Bell has left the firm after less than two years in charge. Everplay, which rebranded from Team17 in March, told shareholders a recruitment process has begun after Bell stepped down from the board and his role as CEO with immediate effect. The group, which is behind the iconic Worms video game series, will be led in the interim by non-executive chair Frank Sagnier. Sagnier has almost 30 years' gaming sector experience, having held public, private equity and senior roles with the likes of Codemasters, Electronic Arts, Acclaim Entertainment, and Funcom. Everplay said he will 'ensure the continued execution' of its strategic plan, support the existing executive team and divisional leaders, and provide the board with 'adequate time to recruit the suitable candidate'. Penny Judd will become senior independent director in addition to remaining chair of the audit committee. Sagnier said: 'On behalf of the board I would like to thank Steve for both his commitment and support over the past two years, in particular rebranding the business and supporting the reset of our strategic focus.' Everyplay shares were down 4.3 per cent to 265p in early trading. They have still added around 17 per cent since the start of the year and almost 35 per cent over the last six months. The group said it would update investors on the search for a new CEO 'as and when appropriate', and reiterated forecasts for the year. Sagnier added: 'The business continues to execute on its strategic priorities: to accelerate growth alongside improving profitability, with an elevated focus on first-party IP, our evergreen franchises and improved returns.'
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Nukes Drop ‘Max The Musical Mosquito', And Hit The Road With Free School Shows
This NZ Music Month, there's something in the air and it's not just a mozzie. Say hello to Max the Musical Mosquito, the brand-new song from Aotearoa's favourite ukulele trio The Nukes. It's a catchy, country-swinging, brain-tickling tune about an airplane-obsessed kid who is woken in the middle of the night by a ukulele-playing mosquito, and it's leading the charge on their new kids' EP Creature Feature which will be released on Friday 30 May proudly supported by NZ On Air's Children's Music Fund. You'll find it on digital platforms Spotify, Apple Music etc from May 30, with the video premiering on YouTube the same day. It's also on this month's NZ On Air's New Tracks Kids compilation. Now in their 15th year, The Nukes are a three-piece powerhouse of musical mischief, storytelling and heart. Founding frontman Dave Parker brings sparkle and swagger on vocals and uke, joined by fellow founding member. Ben Collier, the cool, calm, and quietly brilliant force on slide and lead ukulele. And introducing the freshest face on the block, Dave's son Josh (JayP) Parker, who officially joined the band in 2023. Max the Musical Mosquito also comes to life in a gloriously animated music video by Wellington animator Ross Payne, a technicolour, toe-tapping fever dream that's part hoedown, part surreal bedtime story. To celebrate Max, The Nukes are buzzing into schools with free, high-energy workshops, part concert, part jam session, all fun. Kids will learn a few chords and before long they're up strumming along with the band. No music experience needed. The Nukes bring everything they need, songs, sheets, and serious good vibes. It's hands-on, laugh-out-loud learning that leaves kids inspired, noisy, and totally hooked on the uke. ' The idea came to me in the early hours of a warm, rainy night,' says Dave Parker. ' There was a pesky mozzie buzzing around and I was in that half-awake dream state where I thought, is this mosquito just being annoying, or is it actually playing a tune? Suddenly I had this image of a musical mosquito flying in and jamming on the uke, and Max was born.' Whether it's songs about worms (Worms, winner of the 2020 APRA Children's video of the Year), flightless birds, or ukulele-playing insects, The Nukes craft smart, quirky tunes that never talk down to kids and always invite them in. Beloved by audiences of all ages, The Nukes blend vaudeville, folk, swing, pop and country with signature silliness and soul. They've played everywhere from WOMAD and Splore to town halls, classrooms, arts festivals and even the Bluff Oyster Festival and no matter the setting, they leave hearts full and toes tapping.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two Stearns County cities with less than 225 residents didn't have mayoral candidates
When Brian Worms moved to Elrosa, he quickly realized that everyone has a role to play in the community. This past election cycle drove that message home. Elrosa residents were left with a dilemma last fall when they noticed no candidates were listed on their ballots for the mayoral race. That's when former city councilmember Worms stepped up as a write-in candidate. Like in Elrosa, many small towns across Minnesota need people stepping up to take part in city government. Roughly 70% of Minnesota elections went uncontested in 2024, according to Ballotpedia. Worms moved to Elrosa, the Stearns County city of 211 people in 2007, partly because it was a convenient middle ground between his hometown of New Munich and his wife's hometown of Brooten. Shortly after moving to the central Minnesota city, he played his part by being on the city council, but Worms said local government isn't the only place people are needed to make a functioning city. "I like that it's a small town, and someone's got to be there to do some of these things," Worms said. "You need people on the parish council. You need people on the city council. You need people to be on the baseball club. Everything needs someone." Lake Henry, another small city in Stearns County with about 75 residents, encountered a similar issue as Elrosa. In Lake Henry, former Mayor Dan Liebl, who had first served in the 1990s, is also returning as a write-in candidate. These two municipalities' lack of candidates demonstrates what is happening across Minnesota, with many candidates running uncontested. This trend is causing concern for political scientists like University of Minnesota Professor Brigitte Seim, Ph.D., who said lackluster candidate pools are worrisome because democracy starts at the local level. "Having individuals who are engaged in the democratic process is fundamental for a functioning democracy, and a stable democracy," Seim said. "From there, it's also critically important to have local government and government officials that are close to the citizens they serve ... in terms of understanding their directions and policy preferences." Local democratic engagement came to light during a conversation with South Haven Mayor Norm Bodeker, who won reelection unopposed in the Wright County city of about 180 residents. Bodeker told the St. Cloud Times that democracy still plays an important role in small communities through resident feedback. Because of South Haven's size, he said he knows most of the town's residents, and it's not unusual for someone to stop him on the street to ask a question or share their opinion However, Bodeker emphasized that having someone in office who proactively understands the community and its residents is crucial. He said challenges often arise when confusion occurs, and having a personal connection with residents can be invaluable in those situations. South Haven news: New Dollar General store expected to open in South Haven "It takes about 3.2 seconds for news whether it's good or bad to get to everybody," Bodeker said. "So a lot of times not true things pop up and then it circulates, and then you put out fires." Bodeker takes his job seriously, spending time with his constituents. "I'll go to their house, and we'll sit down for two hours to give them the correct information," he said. "One time, I walked out with a bag of salmon. Probably three-quarters of people in town have my card, and they're not afraid to call me if I need to come over and explain something. They want to know what's up." Bodeker also highlighted the challenge of funding utilities and roadway repairs with such a small population to draw taxes from, all while keeping city taxes affordable. He said road repairs are often funded through grants. This challenge is one reason why Liebl returned as mayor of Lake Henry. He said that building up a small community requires a lot of effort, and ensuring things are done correctly without any setbacks makes the extra time the role demands worthwhile. Court hearing: Man gets probation for Sartell McDonald's fight "Somehow we've got to keep our little town going, and it costs money, I hate taxes like most people do," Liebl said. "But, somehow we have to run it as efficiently as possible, even though I think we only (have) 40 households here in town. The population is small, so I guess you try to do what's best." Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@ This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Rural Minnesota mayors push democracy in Elrosa, South Haven, Lake Henry
