Manitoba Featured in PC World

There is an article in PC World that gives a good overview of the present state as well as some of the efforts to grow the emerging Video Game Industry in Manitoba. The article can be found here.

Video Games Live press release

Video Games Live

Presented by Future Shop

Tickets on Sale Now.

Date: Thursday, June 5 Time: 8:00pm

Pre Show Festival in lobby: 5:30pm

Venue: Centennial Concert Hall

Tickets: $35.00 – 65.00 plus fees & GST

Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca or 204.780.3333

www.videogameslive.com

www.keystonemusic.ca

Game on! Video Games Live visits Winnipeg with a new show for 2008 featuring members of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. It’s the power and emotion of a symphony mixed with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and the technology and interactivity of a video game all completely synchronized to amazing cutting edge video screen visuals, state of the art lighting and special on-stage interactive segments with the audience

Video Games Live is a multimedia concert experience featuring the best music and exclusive synchronized video clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present. Performed by top orchestras and choirs, the show combines

video clips and specially designed Laser and light sequences, special FX showcasing over 50 different games in a wide variety of styles. The show has a segment dedicated to the old arcade classics – but there is also modern music and older, more memorable pieces that few have ever heard live.

Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, the creators and producers of the show are actual video game composers and are personally involved in every show. Tommy is the charismatic host and Jack is on stage as the conductor. The video game industry takes this opportunity to help encourage and support the culture and art that the video game world has created.

Video Games Live had a fabulous 2007 selling out venues all over the world, appearing on Spike TV’s Video Games Award Show, opening the LA Live Nokia Theatre and a worldwide recording deal announcement with EMI Classics.

There is a pre-show festival & post show meet and greet (with industry designers, creators, voice actors, performers and special guests) open to all ticket holders – at NO extra cost. Pre-show activities include hands-on game demonstrations, Guitar Hero competition, costume contest and prizes including a draw for a gaming console from Future Shop.

Keystone music with support from Destination Winnipeg is presenting this unique feast for the senses.

As reviewer Leo Cotterell noted, “Nothing could have prepared me for the spectacle…I found myself surrounded by video game characters. These were not paid professionals but enthusiastic fans… I discovered and enjoyed being part of another world for a night.”

For more information, photos or interviews please contact:

Ruth O’Doherty, Publicist, Keystone Music Inc.

403.355.2361 Ruth@KeystoneMusic.ca

Bryan Taylor, Director of Events and Operations, Keystone Music Inc.

403.355.2349 Bryan@KeystoneMusic.ca

Business Plan course for new media companies

On Monday, March 31, 2008, New Media Manitoba presents the first of its kind Business course for new and existing businesses entitled, "New Media Business Plans for Procrastinators." This course will be delivered one evening per week for six weeks and will force you to create a business plan for your company or product.

For more information on the course can be found here. If you are interested in registering, click here. Questions... contact Kevin Hnatiuk at (204) 228-3252 or info@newmediamanitoba.com.

This will be an impressive course to be sure!!!!

Winnipeg Free Press article

Brian Bowman has written an article on the rise of the digital gaming industry. Fortune Cat is noted as a key player with some very encouraging words from Minister Jim Rondeau, Province of Manitoba (Science, Technology, Energy, and Mines). Click here to view the article.

CBC.ca article on Fortune Cat

There is an article posted at CBC.ca as a follow up to our open house event that can be found here. Some of the information was combined from Minister Rondeau's provincial announcements and assumed to be a part of the studio but overall a good article.

GDC or bust!!!

Fortune Cat Games Studio is going to San Francisco from February 18 - 22, 2008 to participate in the Games Developer Conference (GDC). The GDC is the largest interactive digital gaming conference in North America. The expected attendance according to the GDC website is over 16,000 people.

As a part of the "Game on Manitoba" initiative, Fortune Cat will be joining many other Manitoba and Canadian based organizations at the Canada Games Booth (#6619 - North Hall). We hope you take the time to stop by and meet with us.

More information on the GDC can be found at www.gdconf.com.

Smart Award Winners...

Congratulations to Khal Shariff of Project Whitecard (Fortune Cat successful applicant and current studio resident) and Ovide Mercredi (Fortune Cat Board Member). Both are the recipients of Smart Awards from the Smart Partners of Winnipeg group. The awards are to be given out this evening at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

More information on the awards can be found at www.smartwinnipeg.mb.ca.

MANITOBA WELCOMES CANADA'S FIRST INTERACTIVE DIGITAL GAMING BUSINESS INCUBATOR

Manitoba News Release
............................................................
January 24, 2007

PROVINCE WELCOMES CANADA'S FIRST INTERACTIVE DIGITAL GAMING BUSINESS INCUBATOR
- - -
Funding Announced at Opening Of New Fortune Cat Games Studio

The Manitoba government today recognized Canada's first gaming business incubator and outlined support for seven Manitoba companies developing new digital media projects, Science, Technology, Energy and Mines (STEM) Minister Jim Rondeau announced today.

"We know a big part of Manitoba's economic future will be the development of cutting-edge technology," said Rondeau. "The digital media industry in Manitoba has already established its importance to our economy with more than 230 digital media companies in operation in the province, a growth rate of 1,850 per cent during the past three years."

Digital media companies receiving $138,612 in assistance under the Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Fund include:

- White Magic Robotics Inc. - $20,000 for market research and development of a robotic game prototype.

- Nihilonaut Productions Inc. - $40,000 for market research and development of an alternative reality game prototype and six-episode Internet protocol television (IPTV) series.

- Les Production Rivard - $20,000 for market research and development of a prototype for an interactive website for preschool children, daycares and their educators.

- Project Whitecard - $20,000 for market research and development of a prototype for an in classroom lunar simulation of the Apollo mission and a colonization learning module.

- Tomkorp Computer Solutions - $11,000 in financial assistance for market research and development of a real-time puzzle game prototype.

- Animiki See Productions and Distribution Inc. - $19,312 for market research and development of a multi-platform initiative.

- Lateral Thinking Inc. - $8,300 for product development and market funding for a 3D platform game for PCs.

Rondeau made the announcement at the official opening of Winnipeg's Fortune Cat Games Studio, Canada's first interactive digital gaming business incubator.

An incubator is a facility designed to encourage entrepreneurship and minimize obstacles to new business formation and development, particularly for high-technology firms, by housing a number of budding enterprises that share an array of services such as rent and business counselling. The companies involved with Fortune Cat will also have national and international gaming experts to mentor them in the development of their products.

"Fortune Cat Games Studio provides successful applicants with training opportunities that will enhance their knowledge base and skill set," said Rondeau. "The studio works closely with game developers to help them prepare their project for production and game publication. I congratulate them on the opening of their studio."

"These are exciting times for the new media and emerging interactive gaming industry," said Michael Boyd, executive director of Fortune Cat Games Studio. "We are thrilled to be an important part of the provincial strategy for growth in the sector and very thankful for the funding and support we receive from STEM. The three young gaming companies presently in the studio - Complex Games, Project Whitecard and Tomkorp - will be the first wave of new and successful organizations as a result of the province's vision and faith in Fortune Cat."

Manitoba's $300,000 Interactive Digital Media Fund provides assistance with production, professional development and marketing. It also provides non-repayable advances to support activities and initiatives that contribute to the development of interactive digital media in Manitoba.

Video game and new media developers may also apply for the Manitoba New Media Production grant which provides eligible companies with grant assistance equal to 45 per cent of the eligible Manitoba labour costs directly attributable to the development of an eligible new media product.

"Manitoba is working hard to help develop and support an active industry," said Rondeau. "Investing in the digital media sector translates into keeping highly-skilled labour in Manitoba."

More information about the new media digital industry in Manitoba is available at:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/stem/knowledge/digital_media.html

More information on Fortune Cat is available at http://www.fortunecatgames.ca/objectives.shtml

Do Video Games Help Kids Learn?

Do Video Games Help Kids Learn?
UWinnipeg first in Canada to share learning from $50-million in US research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JANUARY 16, 2008
WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation are hosting a two-day learning event Jan. 24-25, 2008, that includes workshops for faculty, staff and students, demonstrations by a team of educational experts and a free public forum on groundbreaking research into Digital Media and Learning. This is the first time the MacArthur Foundation will present its innovative research in Canada, exploring the revolution in learning in today’s digital world.

“The University of Winnipeg’s Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre is a successful and concrete example of utilizing digital media in the learning process, a field the MacArthur Foundation has researched, invested in and pioneered over the last five years,” said UWinnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, who is the only Canadian member of the MacArthur Foundation Board of Directors. “Having an organization of the caliber of the MacArthur Foundation coming to our campus to discuss and share its research is an honour and an incredible opportunity for our students, faculty, staff and community.”

Keynote speakers include Sasha Barab of Indiana University, Nichole Pinkard, Director of Technology at the University of Chicago’s Center for Urban School and Constance M. Yowell, Director of Education in the MacArthur Foundation's Program on Human and Community Development.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Naniece Ibrahim, Marketing & Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7130, E: n.ibrahim@uwinnipeg.ca
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/release-080116

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The Studio is busy...

Fortune Cat Games Studio has been busy of late. Flashman Studios (Vancouver / San Francisco) was just in Winnipeg to conduct an assessment on the teams. It was a great experience for all. This week, we have our open house event on January 24th as well as the MacArthur Foundation Events at the University of Winnipeg. More information on the latter after the two day meetings.

Grand opening of

FORTUNE CAT Games Studio

Date: Thursday, January 24, 2008

Location: 201 – 62 Albert Street

We open our doors to friends, colleagues, and stakeholders to celebrate the opening of Canada’s first Interactive Digital Gaming Business Incubator. Come see a preview of the projects being worked on in the studio by Complex Games, Project Whitecard, and Tomkorp.

FORTUNE CAT Games Studio’s mandate is to provide incubation and support to successful applicants whose focus is on the development and commercialization of interactive gaming software to be sold in the Interactive Video Game Industry.

Greetings

See photos of Minister Jim Rondeau's talk in Hong Kong at http://web.mac.com/jarueda/iWeb/Site/Rondeau.html I provided Mike Boyd of Fortune Cat with a DVD of Minister Rondeau's talk in Hong Kong for those of you interested. His talk was about the video games industry in Manitoba and Manitoba's global competitiveness. If anyone is interested in learning more about opportunities in Hong Kong please drop me a line (jobs, partners, outsourcing, training).

Game on.

Best regards,
J.A. Rueda

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Pong in 2007

By J.A. Rueda

Why is so much technology in new consoles not used to provide fun to the player? Fun can be based on simple concepts enabled by simple electronics such as Mr. Ralph Baer's Odissey and Mr. Nolan Bushnell's Pong, vintage 1966 and 1972 respectively.

A few days ago, I discovered a Pong type game for the Nintendo Wii as part of the Wii Play game. This game reminded me of one of the universal principles of design, the Law of Economy (Ockham’s Razor): Simple is Better. Brain Age for the Nintendo DS is another example of the application of the same universal principle of design.

Many games have great art and great stories, but with so much computer power available to the designer, it seems that often the emphasis is in the art and story, not on fun.

Mr. Raph Koster (Sony Online Entertainment, EverQuest) reminded me that “real fun comes from challenges that are always at the margin of our ability” in his book Theory of Fun. I found that a 2007 version of the 1972 Pong played with the Wii controller provides such challenge and it is fun.

Why are some video games so frustrating? I'll ponder this question while I play some more "Pong" on the Wii...

Serious Games in Manitoba

ICTAM Event Calendar
Wednesday, 7th March 2007 at 9:00am
Location: Delta Hotel, 350 St. Mary Avenue, Winnipeg
RSVP: By March 5, 2007 to Nancy at (204) 233-2902 or nancyz@shaw.ca

Title: Serious Gaming

Description:
Presentation: Serious Gaming
You are invited to a presentation on Serious Games by Joe Biglin, co-founder of Breakaway Games Ltd and an information session on government procurement in the United States by Carrie Coogan representing FedSources. C.J. Scott, Trade Commissioner at The Canadian Embassy in Washington will talk about the Trade Commissioner Service, the core services they offer free of charge for Canadian business, and how they can fit with Manitoba companies' market strategy. C.J. will also give a market overview for the area and highlight opportunities for Canadian ICT companies.

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Which came first, the film or the video game?

Check the panel discussion on this topic at the NSI FilmExchange Calendar.

March 3, 2007
9:30 to 11:00 a.m., The Club Room
The Fort Garry Hotel
222 Broadway
Winnipeg

Panelists include Victor Lucas (Electric Playground), Brooke Burgess (Budget Monks) and Shane Neville (Relic Entertainment)

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"Why Games in Manitoba?" Conference in the news

By Jose A. Rueda

Fortune Cat Games Studio and the Virtual Reality Centre presented the "Why Games in Manitoba?" Conference at the Industrial Technology Centre on February 27, 2007 hosted by the Hon. Jim Rondeau, Manitoba Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines.

The objectives of this conference were:
- to raise the profile of the games industry and its potential in Manitoba, and
- to provide senior decision makers with ideas about applications in sectors other than entertainment.

This conference was organized by volunteers to provide senior decision-makers with valuable information about key aspects of the games industry and stimulate ideas about the potential of this industry in Manitoba.

Manitoba has a lot of talent applicable to this industry and fabulous facilities for advanced interactive applications and simulation such as the Virtual Reality Centre.

The program included demonstrations of well-known commercial games and two Made in Manitoba educational games.

So What? What can we learn from this conference and why games in Manitoba?

- This industry can employ many people in high paying jobs in Manitoba.
- Video games require cross disciplinary teams with talented individuals and we have a lot of talent in Manitoba in many areas such as music, engineering, architecture, history, geography, energy, mines, culture, arts, education, medicine.
- Young people want jobs in something digital and in games in particular. They are not looking forward to spending 15 years in training and education after high school to eventually get a job in a Manitoba high-tech company, for example, that may or may not be there when they graduate or that may only last a few years because the company may run out of funding. Young people want jobs now and they want good salaries and a challenge (not a retail sales job).
- Young people and their parents crowd the digital media program booths at open houses in local educational institutions. Other programs receive comparatively little attention.
- Young people know how to reach young people, not advertising companies or tv stations because the generation has changed. Young people spend less time watching tv than generations before since tv became a mass market medium.
- Jobs in the games industry have generally speaking low barriers of entry. Talent is number one.
- These jobs can truly be done from anywhere in the world and for clients or companies anywhere. For example, a 14-year old from a farm in Alberta sold a game with the assistance from an agent for a very large sum.
- Some of these jobs can be done over weekends and pay very well.
- It is very difficult to enter the games industry in the main stream, so a place like Manitoba can carve many niches in areas such as the ones demonstrated at the conference (casual pedagogical game, transportation, medical simulation, education and training of youth, culture, teamwork development).
- Manitoba needs to help enthusiastic talented young enterpreneurs become successful professionals in this industry. It is very difficult to make a good living in this industry as a developer unless the develper has a day job and develops games for pure fun.
- In summary, the games industry is a solution of the economic problem that governments and communities are going to face with the young digital generation.
- Status quo: people will continue to leave and not enroll in our postsecondary institutions for their education. Many parents talk about their teens interested in cool high paying jobs in other jurisdictions. The economic cost of this can be measured in billions.

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Manitoba announces support for new media projects

Manitoba Government News Release

Three Manitoba companies have been awarded a total of $140,000 in funding to assist in producing, developing and marketing their new media projects, Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau announced today.

"The Manitoba government is a strong supporter of the digital media sector because it is cutting edge technology," said Rondeau. "We want this young and vibrant industry to grow so young people educated in this field will want to live, work and invest in their home province."

Rondeau made the announcement at a one-day event focusing on digital gaming technologies and developments within the industry.

Digital media companies receiving assistance under the Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Fund include:

cafesonique.com - awarded $70,000 in financial assistance for the development of an animated 3-D online website for musicians, music industry players and music lovers worldwide;

Complex Games - awarded $60,000 in financial assistance for the development of three video games focusing on the action, adventure and strategy genres; and

First Voice Multi-media Inc. - awarded $10,000 in financial assistance for the development of an interactive web-based DVD on the people, history and culture of the Métis.

The $300,000 Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Fund provides assistance with production, professional development and marketing.It also provides non-repayable advances to support activities and initiatives that contribute to the development of interactive digital media in Manitoba.

Video game and new media developers may also apply for the Manitoba New Media Production Grantwhich provides eligible companies with grant assistance equal to 45 per cent of the eligible Manitoba labour costs directly attributable to the development of an eligible new media product.

To be eligible for this grant, new media companies must apply for a registration certificate in advance of production to help raise interim funding.A final grant cheque is issued after the entire project is completed and a final copy of the production is available.

"Manitoba can be a leader in digital media product development if the industry is supported," said Rondeau."Our government is working hard to ensure new media developers in this province have the tools they will need to be successful."

There are more than 230 digital media companies in Manitoba with demonstrated expertise in 2-Dand 3-D computer animation, web development, visual effects, CD-ROM and software development, and music and sound processing.The video game industry in Manitoba has grown 1,850 per cent during the last two years, putting Manitoba fourth in Canada after British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.

More information about the new media digital industry is available at at the Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Home Page

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Video game playing surgeons score higher on skills test

You want your surgeon to be a gamer!

Surgeons who have played a lot of video games appear to perform better in key proceedures. For more information see the article on the CBC web site

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International Game Developers Association opens a chapter in Winnipeg!

Written By Thomas Rab
From the International Game Developers Association-Winnipeg web site

The Winnipeg IGDA Chapter kicked open its doors for the first time on February 6th, 2007. The Inaugural Meeting was a blast, Josiah Pisciotta of Chronic Logic LLC was there to start things off with a talk on indie game development. Also speaking during the evening were Doug McCartney (STEM), Kristine Seier (CTT) and Dr. Jose Rueda (Fortune Cat Games Studio), with each bringing focus on different opportunities available to developers in Winnipeg. Others such as Randy Dueck and Stefan Isfeld (OgreForce), Kenley Kristofferson (Dragonfly Toys) and Oleg Kononov (U of M's CSSA President) attended the event. The night ended with some schmoozing and boozing!

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See a video of Made in Manitoba games. (25 MB)

Learn more about at www.igda.org/winnipeg/

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New Markets for Information and Communications Technology, games included!

By Jose A. Rueda

See my article about new markets for information and communications technologies, games included!

Join the Information and Communications Technologies Association of Manitoba (ICTAM) to participate in knowledge industries activities.

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