News Release
The Great Canadian Video Game Competition announces the 10 winning firms to vie for $2 million
Montreal, January 15, 2007 - Ten Canadian game developers have been singled out from nearly 70 submissions to vie for up to $2 million in financing and invaluable industry mentorship as part of Telefilm Canada's Great Canadian Video Game Competition, the Corporation announced today.
The top 10 video game projects were selected by a proven industry jury that comprised Yannis Mallat, CEO, Ubisoft Montreal; Ron Moravek, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Electronic Arts Canada; and Kelly Zmak, President, Radical Entertainment (Vivendi Universal Games Canada).
"The jury's feedback was phenomenal," says Earl Hong Tai, Telefilm Canada's Director of the Western Region. "The level of creativity and enterprise displayed in the winning submissions impressed everyone."
Michel Pradier, Director of French Operations and the Quebec office, adds: "We're excited to see how these winning companies will take their project to the next level. These companies share the Competition's theme of wanting to create, commercialize and conquer. They want nothing more than to see their original content make it to market."
The Great Canadian Video Game Competition, created with the input and support of industry, takes place in three rounds that mirror traditional industry financing. As Round 1 (Innovation) winners, the 10 firms will each receive $50,000 to refine their gaming concepts, develop a visual identity and elaborate a plan to raise private-sector investment. Each winning company will also receive ongoing mentorship from industry veterans with senior experience.
The names of the 10 winning companies (followed by province, project name, platform and select jury comment) are:
• Big Blue Bubble, Ontario, Hobby Shop, console. "I am fast becoming a big Wii fan and Hobby Shop is something that leverages the strengths of this platform." (Moravek)
• Cerebral Vortex Games, Ontario, Ambush! Trivia, PC/Mobile/Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA). "Ambush! Trivia is innovative in the way that it merges the fun of a trivia game and the ability to reach and ambush people anywhere with the XBLA platform." (Mallat)
• Dark Matter Entertainment, Ontario, Vertical Ascent, console. "Even on a well-known platform you can still create a breakthrough with controls. The concept is immediate and intuitive and could be very addictive." (Mallat)
• HB Studios & TPB Productions, Nova Scotia, Trailer Park Boys, console. "This was one of the pitches that made us laugh out loud. Trailer Park Boys was a GREAT pitch." (Zmak)
• Hop To It Productions Inc., Ontario, Create-a-date, online. "Create-a-date is exploring some totally new areas in the gaming industry that we never have seen before." (Mallat)
• Hothead Games Inc., B.C., SWARM!, PC. "I love the character development and the innovative game play in SWARM!. It's highly relevant in terms of trying to clean up the world, without being ultra violent." (Moravek)
• Humagade Ltd., Quebec, Tamano, handheld. "Here is a developer that understands the dual-screen platform. It has the right mechanics and game play and the characters are cool." (Mallat)
• LiveWires Designs Ltd., B.C., Reckless, wireless. "I love the way they take real world technology we take for granted everyday, turn it into your worst nightmare and force you to use that same technology to solve the mystery." (Zmak)
• MindHabits Inc., Quebec, MindHabits Trainer, handheld. "MindHabits Trainer is exciting because it is not only trying to do some brain training, but its also trying to have an impact on your feelings."(Moravek)
• Murmur Inc., Ontario, Echelon, wireless. "Echelon plays to the conspiracy theorist in all of us. It applies to both male and female gamers and, in forcing social interaction, adds a new dynamic." (Zmak)
