Village Gamer

Global Game Jam Inc. has announced that Microsoft Studios & Imagine Cup 2013 have extended their leading role within the games industry by becoming GGJ’s Headline Sponsor for 2013. The Global Game Jam™ is the world’s largest game creation event that fosters the development of innovative and experimental game concepts while promoting global collaboration and teamwork. GGJ is a creative incubator for game makers to challenge, innovate and experiment within their craft. GGJ brings together thousands of game development enthusiasts participating through many local jams around the world on a single weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

Nominations opened today for the 4th Annual Canadian Videogame Awards, to be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 20th, 2013. This year’s show, sponsored by Future Shop, will once again celebrate the best and brightest of the Canadian videogame industry. Developers, publishers and industry leaders from across Canada will gather in beautiful Vancouver to recognize the outstanding achievements of 2012.      Read the rest of this entry »

Vancouver’s Interdimensional Games Inc (iDGi) has revealed a brand new Intellectual Property,”Consortium” – that has been years in the making. A Kickstarter Campaign has been started, offering a great deal of detailed information about the project. For the past 3 years, through their Alternate Reality Game (A.R.G.), iDGi has been maintaining and developing the abilities of “iDGi-1,” an artificial satellite put into orbit in 2009 which allows for the exploration of an alternate universe. Read the rest of this entry »

Frima Studio has been named among Canada’s Top 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures in the annual awards hosted by Waterstone Human Capital. Frima was given the award for being one of Canada’s most promising growth companies with a commitment to creating a positive corporate culture for its employees. In 2012 Frima released several original new IPs across multiple platforms including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and Facebook, while continuing their core work for some of the game and entertainment industry’s biggest brands. Read the rest of this entry »

Montreal mobile game developer Gamerizon has seen all eight games in its portfolio reach top download positions in China’s App Store mere hours after running a free promotion. On Wednesday, Chop Chop Ninja™, Chop Chop Caveman™, Chop Chop Soccer™, Chop Chop Runner™, Chop Chop Tennis™, Chop Chop Hockey™, Chop Chop Slicer™ and Chop Chop Kicker™ reached positions #56, 60, 65, 68, 70, 73, 76 and 80 respectively and at the same time on the Top Free Games chart in China. Read the rest of this entry »

In response to the growth of Canada’s video game industry, CDI College is launching the Game Development and Design program at its campus in Toronto. The program is currently is accepting applications for the 72 week program. Upon graduation, students will have assembled an impressive portfolio that showcases their artistic talents and technical abilities. Grads will be able to apply for jobs with game development studios, video game design companies and computer animation studios. Outside of the video game industry, they may also find employment with industrial design firms, software companies, and special effects and post-production studios. Read the rest of this entry »

In development over at Last Pick Productions, iBeg is a mobile game for the iOS and Android platforms that simulates the life of a homeless person living on the streets of Vancouver. Players step into the shoes of a homeless avatar and have to beg for money in order to survive. The game’s creators hope the game will raise awareness of the issue in our city, as well as around the world while providing an avenue for players to support organizations that help the homeless. The game has a projected release window of Spring 2013. Read the rest of this entry »

Montreal-based Execution Labs announced that it is taking applications for its unique incubator for independent game developers. The new venture is a first-of-its-kind hybrid game incubator and go-to-market accelerator designed to help teams of experienced game developers create and launch their own games and spin out into startup game studios. The primary focus is on those who wish to develop mid-core and hard-core games for mobile platforms.

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The AIM Game Development Weekend Intensive is a 2 day course held at the UBC Robson Square campus which teaches students the fundamentals of game development and computer programming using industry standard tools. Over two days, students gain practical skills in computer programming using the C# programming language, and 3D game development using the Unity game engine. Read the rest of this entry »

From Pong to Guitar Hero, the Ontario Science Centre will host Game On 2.0, offering a hands-on exploration of video game history and culture. Visitors will experience more than 60 years of gaming entertainment and technology; from the very first commercial coin-operated game to the latest in virtual reality and 3D gaming. The world’s largest celebration of video games making its first Canadian appearance, Game On 2.0features game design, development, and production including multiplayer games, handheld devices, original concept and character art, and the history’s most influential arcade machines. (On Twitter use #GameOnScience.) Read the rest of this entry »