News

Ten independent video-game creators have been selected to advance to the playoffs in Telefilm Canada's "great Canadian video game competition," with each receiving up to $50,000 to further develop their concepts and create a business plan.

The competition, designed to bring fresh ideas to the Canadian video game industry, attracted almost 70 submissions from small players who dream of making it big.

"The goals of the competition are to elevate the profile of Canadian-owned gaming companies and help grow the industry," said Telefilm Canada, a federal cultural agency with the mandate to develop and promote the Canadian audiovisual industry.

Details of the pitches made by the winning entries were kept under wraps — the ultimate goal is to produce one of the games for the commercial market, and the developers do not want to tip their hands, said competition organizer Danielle Michael.

However, she said, the concepts were "awesome" and were designed for a variety of platforms, including dual screen hand-held systems, personal computers and consoles, including features that allow users to play with other gamers online.

"One of the projects uses cellphones and email and handhelds ... using a lot of different technologies that we use in normal life, and you're attempting to solve a mystery using those technologies," she said.

The judges are looking for innovation, both in terms of the fun factor and how well the game developers adapt their creations to their chosen platforms. In the next round of competition, they must also present business plans for attracting investors and taking their games to market, Ms. Michael said.

Four of the original 10 that make the shortlist in March will be given up to $250,000 — and advice from industry leaders — to develop playable prototypes. The winning company, to be announced in September, will receive up to $500,000 in matching funds from Telefilm "to support the commercialization of its game," the agency said.

"Telefilm Canada is convinced that Canada has the talent and potential to be a world player in the $20-billion video game market. While the country is already a key international hub for game development, challenges exist for independent game developers to bring original content to market in the multiplatform environment," the agency said.

The competitors named in Monday's announcement were selected by Yannis Mallat, chief executive officer of Ubisoft Montreal, Ron Moravek, vice-president and chief operating officer of Electronic Arts Canada and Kelly Zmak, president of Radical Entertainment.

Here is a list of the winning companies, the names of their games, their platforms and select comments from the judges:

• Big Blue Bubble of Ontario, with a game called Hobby Shop (console). "I am fast becoming a big Wii fan and Hobby Shop is something that leverages the strengths of this platform," Mr. Moravek said.
• Dark Matter Entertainment of Ontario, with a game called 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," Mr. Mallat said.
• Cerebral Vortex Games, of Ontario, with a game called Ambush! Trivia (PC, mobile, Xbox Live Arcade). "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," Mr. Mallat said.
• HB Studios & TPB Productions of Nova Scotia, with a game called Trailer Park Boys (console). "This was one of the pitches that made us laugh out loud. Trailer Park Boys was a GREAT pitch," wrote Mr. Zmak.
• Hop To It Productions Inc. of Ontario, with a game called Create-a-date (online). "Create-a-date is exploring some totally new areas in the gaming industry that we never have seen before," Mr. Mallat said.
• Hothead Games Inc. of British Columbia, with a game called 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." Mr. Moravek said.
• Humagade Ltd. of Quebec, with a game called 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," Mr. Mallat said.
• LiveWires Designs Ltd. of B.C. with a game called 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." Mr. Zmak said.
• MindHabits Inc. of Quebec, with a game called MindHabits Trainer (handheld). "MindHabits Trainer is exciting because it is not only trying to do some brain training, but it's also trying to have an impact on your feelings," Mr. Moravek said.
• Murmer Inc. of Ontario, with a game called 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," Mr. Zmak said.