"The level of creativity and enterprise displayed in the winning submissions impressed everyone," said Earl Hong Tai, Telefilm Canada's Director of the Western Region.
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, and platform) are:
- Big Blue Bubble, Ontario, Hobby Shop, console;
- Cerebral Vortex Games, Ontario, Ambush! Trivia, PC/Mobile/Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA);
- Dark Matter Entertainment, Ontario, Vertical Ascent, console;
- HB Studios & TPB Productions, Nova Scotia, Trailer Park Boys, console;
- Hop To It Productions Inc., Ontario, Create-a-date, online;
- Hothead Games Inc., B.C., SWARM!, PC
- Humagade Ltd., Quebec, Tamano, handheld
- LiveWires Designs Ltd., B.C., Reckless, wireless;
- MindHabits Inc., Quebec, MindHabits Trainer, handheld; and
- Murmur Inc., Ontario, Echelon, wireless
The Competition received 69 submissions as of the December 15 registration deadline, including 24 from Western Canada, 22 from Ontario, 16 from Quebec and 7 from Atlantic Canada. Submissions from game developer firms included an "executive summary" and filmed "elevator pitch" of their proposed game project.
In March 2007 at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, all of the 10 winning companies will pitch the jurors and four will receive up to $250,000 from Telefilm in Round 2 financing to create a playable prototype. In September, those four companies will compete and one will receive up to $500,000 in matching funds from Telefilm to support the commercialization of its game.
The Competition is made possible through Telefilm Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada New Media Fund and the sponsorship of industry partners Electronic Arts, Radical Entertainment and Ubisoft. More info at www.telefilm.gc.ca/game.
