Edinburgh Interactive Festival Market Report
January 12, 2010
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival (EIF) is a high-level games industry conference which takes place annually. In 2009 Interactive Ontario (IO) and one of its member companies – Capybara Games – attended the festival to explore opportunities for Ontario games companies, establish connections, and to promote the Ontario interactive media industry.
Interactive Ontario's Ian Kelso (GamesIndustryBiz)
January 6, 2010
Here, president and CEO Ian Kelso discusses some of the recent successes of Interactive Ontario, and also shares his views on the growth of the wider videogame business, how to foster a community of business and creative talent, and why convergence with traditional film companies is the future of the interactive market.
Canadian digital gaming industry on a roll with new companies, jobs
An independent 2009 games sector census reveals a thriving industry in Canada with new development studios and job opportunities. The U.S. games industry, meanwhile, has shown marginal growth since 2008. The U.S. game industry has managed to hang on through 2009, an industry census report released this month by Game Developer Research (GDR) indicates. Full Story
January 5, 2010
From ITBusiness CanadaAn independent 2009 games sector census reveals a thriving industry in Canada with new development studios and job opportunities. The U.S. games industry, meanwhile, has shown marginal growth since 2008. The U.S. game industry has managed to hang on through 2009, an industry census report released this month by Game Developer Research (GDR) indicates. Full Story
Google unleashes mobile phone
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – It's official: Google Inc. will sell its own mobile phone in an effort to protect its online advertising empire as people increasingly surf the Web on handsets instead of personal computers.
January 5, 2010
From The Toronto StarMOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – It's official: Google Inc. will sell its own mobile phone in an effort to protect its online advertising empire as people increasingly surf the Web on handsets instead of personal computers.
The phone announced Tuesday had been widely anticipated since Google handed out the device, called the Nexus One, to its own employees three weeks ago. (full story)
IO MEMBER, DIGITAL LEISURE, BREATHES NEW FIRE IN TO CLASSIC ARCADE GAME DRAGON’S LAIR
Recently partnering with EA Mobile, Dragon’s Lair was launched on to Apple’s AppStore with great fanfare and excitement. Within 48 hours of launch, Dragon’s Lair firmly planted itself in the Top 10 of all paid Apps, and by mid-week was the number 2 top grossing app. Following up on this success, Digital Leisure today launched Dragon’s Lair on Nintendo’s DSiWare™ service.
January 4, 2010
GORMLEY, Ontario, Canada – December 21, 2009 – Digital Leisure Inc. a leading developer and publisher of interactive video-based titles and console games, is thrilled to announce that arcade classic Dragon’s Lair is slicing up the handheld gaming market.Recently partnering with EA Mobile, Dragon’s Lair was launched on to Apple’s AppStore with great fanfare and excitement. Within 48 hours of launch, Dragon’s Lair firmly planted itself in the Top 10 of all paid Apps, and by mid-week was the number 2 top grossing app. Following up on this success, Digital Leisure today launched Dragon’s Lair on Nintendo’s DSiWare™ service.
Registration is Open for INplay, taking place May 18 & 19, 2010 in Toronto
December 18, 2009
Dec 17, 2009 (Toronto) – Interactive Ontario today announced that registration is now open for INplay 2010. This two-day conference, taking place at the Liberty Grand in Toronto, is designed to bring creators of kids interactive properties and developers together to explore inspiring ideas for the future.
Cerebral Vortex Games and Psi Pi Group Release iPrioritize for iPhone/iPod Touch
December 16, 2009
Thorold, ON – December 16, 2009 – Cerebral Vortex Games, a Thorold, Ontario-based developer of casual games, and Psi Pi Group Limited are pleased to announce that i-Prioritize, a handy personal organization app, is now available for download on the iTunes App Store.
Launch of New Intellectual Property Development Fund
December 10, 2009
We are delighted to inform you that Minister Carroll today announced the launch of the new Intellectual Property Development Fund. We know you have looked forward to this with great anticipation. Attached, please find the news release and backgrounder on the IP Development Fund. As well, detailed guidelines and FAQ’s about the IP Development Fund are now available on OMDC’s website www.omdc.on.ca.
Social Game Universe lands Visionary Investors and Launches Ground-breaking Social Games
December 10, 2009
TORONTO, ON – Thursday, December 10, 2009 – Social Game Universe, a social games innovator based in Toronto, announced today that thousands of players have begun beta testing its first applications on Facebook: Hollywood Tycoon (single player version rated 4/5 stars by Jayisgames.com and called one of the best casual tycoon games available) and Avastar (a finalist for Most Innovative Online Game at the Canadian New Media Awards).
Cultural Human Resources Council releases Report on the Effect of the Recession on Canada's Culture Sector
December 2, 2009
"The global recession is expected to reduce revenues for cultural enterprises by approximately $3.1 billion in 2009". This is one of the findings of "The Effect of the Global Economic Recession on Canada's Creative Economy in 2009", a report prepared by The Conference Board of Canada for the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) that measures the impact of the current recession on the cultural sector.
CALL FOR ENTRIES - Canada at Game Connection
Telefilm Canada through the Canada New Media Fund (CNMF) Presents Canada at Game Connection AMERICA GDC (San Francisco) 2010 Offer. Application deadline for this event : January 7, 2010
December 1, 2009
San Francisco, United States, March 8 to 10, 2010, (New Media) Telefilm Canada through the Canada New Media Fund (CNMF) Presents Canada at Game Connection AMERICA GDC (San Francisco) 2010 Offer. Application deadline for this event : January 7, 2010
OMDC Launches Online Research Library
December 1, 2009
Ontario Media Development Corporation announces the launch of its Online Research Library –a publicly-accessible, fully-searchable digital database of research studies on cultural media industries.
Member News - Interactive TV Company Building a Mystery Online
November 30, 2009
Xenophile Media is launching an online mystery adventure in tandem with the current broadcast of the TV Ontario documentary series Empire of the Word. The four-part TV documentary series, produced by Toronto's Nomad Films, explores the history of the written word. As an online accompaniment, Toronto-based Xenophile Media has produced an interactive mystery game promoting freedom of expression through the written word. Full Story
GDC Europe / Gamescom / GDC Austin Report
Over the next year I will be attending many of the Game Developer Conferences that take place around the world. The conferences are the world’s largest professionals-only game industry event presenting keynote addresses, lectures, panels, discussions, and sessions.
For the purpose of this article I will be focusing on two of the more recent conferences: GDC Europe and GDC Austin.
November 24, 2009
by Darko Milivojevic, VP, Industry Development, Interactive OntarioOver the next year I will be attending many of the Game Developer Conferences that take place around the world. The conferences are the world’s largest professionals-only game industry event presenting keynote addresses, lectures, panels, discussions, and sessions.
For the purpose of this article I will be focusing on two of the more recent conferences: GDC Europe and GDC Austin.
Develop Magazine CANADA SPECIAL: Bedlam Games
Established by a group of former Rockstar Toronto employees and boutique studio Groove Media in 2005, Bedlam Games is staffed by a team of veterans that have worked at a variety of Canadian studios, including those owned by Ubisoft and EA. Although the team waited until 2007 to become a separate legal entity from Groove in 2007, the team has seen first hand Ontario’s expansion as a major player in the Canadian games industry. Full Story
November 24, 2009
Develop Magazine takes a look at IO member, Bedlam Games.Established by a group of former Rockstar Toronto employees and boutique studio Groove Media in 2005, Bedlam Games is staffed by a team of veterans that have worked at a variety of Canadian studios, including those owned by Ubisoft and EA. Although the team waited until 2007 to become a separate legal entity from Groove in 2007, the team has seen first hand Ontario’s expansion as a major player in the Canadian games industry. Full Story
IO's Image Sponsor for 2010
Deadlines
IO Events
Ontario Events
WIFT-T Feature Film Writing Program: Part Two and the WIFT-T Women Writers Workshop
Sep 21 - 05 2010
Ryerson Student Centre, Room SCC 310, 63 Gould Street
Canadian Events
International Events
Ontario Multimedia Mission to France and Italy 2010
Oct 24 - 29 2010