Rogue Star Rescue Out Now On Steam Early Access

I’m certainly a little late on this one, but in the beginning of March a new rogue-lite bullet hell shooter with tower defences was released on Steam. The game, titled Rogue Star Rescue from Windsor-based Chute Apps, is currently in Early Access for the next several months where they look to build upon everything.

“Our galaxy is about to be destroyed. A massive Rogue Star has formed from the cosmos and is on a direct collision path. It threatens to vaporize everything. Leaders from planets around the galaxy have assembled a top team of fighters to stop the Rogue Star at all costs. We are the Team.

The evil aliens from a neighboring galaxy see the Rogue Star as an opportunity to destroy their long time rivals. They learn of the Team and rush to their galaxy to their plans while the Rogue Star inches ever closer.”

You can check out the trailer and original press release below. The game can be picked up on Steam for $17.49 CAD.

Rogue Star Rescue: 2D Roguelite Sci-fi Shooter with Defense Elements. Gameplay Trailer. Available on Steam Early Access http://bit.ly/RSRsteam itch.io Early Access http://bit.ly/RSRitchio Release date: March 8, 2019. The alpha version. Rogue Star Rescue is a fast-paced roguelite bullet hell shooter with tower defense elements.

Rogue Star Rescue is available on Steam Early Access and https://t.co/8XPirZMMnh!

Defend your planet and stop the catastrophic Rogue Star from annihilating everything.

Get your copy here: https://t.co/9J4ZG8QAFohttps://t.co/eL6EnDm5OP pic.twitter.com/ZuSHkvmvrI

— Rogue Star Rescue (@roguestarrescue) March 9, 2019

Rogue Star Rescue, a mix of roguelite and tower defense, is now available on Steam Early Access

Rogue Star Rescue, a fast-paced roguelite bullet hell shooter with tower defense elements, is live on Steam.

Windsor, Canada ― March 8, 2019 ― Today, Chute Apps Inc. released an alpha version of the much anticipated roguelite ― Rogue Star Rescue. The game is now available on Steam and itch.io.

Shoot your way through diverse alien planets while strategically gathering traps and resources for the epic boss fights. Defend your planet and stop the catastrophic Rogue Star from annihilating everything.

The released alpha version features:

• Fully playable with gamepad or keyboard+mouse

• Roguelite procedural levels with 300+ rooms to explore on 2 unique planets

• Play as the main hero of the team

• 10+ enemies and mini-bosses

• 30+ guns and passive items and 15+ different traps

• Use traps to defend against the mini-bosses

• Upgrade your trap strategically with gathered coins

“It’s exhilarating to see that this long dreamed of project is coming to life! We are creating one of the best games in the genre, a game that will be played for years, without getting dull or predictable. With over a hundred endings and fun strategic action, Rogue Star Rescue will not disappoint” — shares the game developer, Carl Chute.

 The game will have large updates every two weeks, introducing new worlds, enemies, items, guns, soundtracks, and many other cool features, both planned and suggested by the players.

 The Rogue Star Rescue team relies heavily on the community for feedback and suggestions and invites the players to join the discussions on their Discord server: https://discord.gg/RGrHmeW

 Purchase the game on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/1023550/Rogue_Star_Rescue/ or itch.io https://chuteapps.itch.io/rogue-star-rescue

About Chute Apps Inc.

Chute Apps Inc. is a game and software development company based in Windsor, Ontario. Established in 2011, the company designs video games, mobile, and web applications. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/roguestarrescue

Rogue Star Rescue Gameplay Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9BxF_Smz0E

The press kit: http://roguestarrescue.com/press/sheet.php?p=rogue_star_rescue

First Episode of Destination Primus Vita Out Now On PC And Mac

The first episode of Epsilon Games' episodic space puzzler Destination Primus Vita is out now on PC and Mac. The studio is made up of former Ubisoft veterans, and Destination Primus Vita is set in 3044 after an apocalyptic alien attack on earth. You'll play as the six-person team headed on a four-year journey to the homework of the alien invaders, the first of six chapters has you playing as Austin.

You can pick up on Steam right here.

Buy the game: https://www.greenmangaming.com/games/destination-primus-vita-episode-1-austin-pc/ Destination Primus Vita is a narrative, first-person and episodic puzzle game set in a science-fiction universe. Follow the adventures of our main six characters: Austin, Hayao, Artemis, BrX, Geny and Coby as they travel across the cosmos to Primus Vita to complete their vital mission: to save life on Earth!

Narrative Sci-Fi Puzzler Destination Primus Vita – Episode 1: Austin Now Available on PC and Mac

MONTREAL, Canada – Aug. 16, 2018 – Destination Primus Vita, the episodic first-person space puzzler adventure crafted by Epsilon Games, a studio consisting of a former Ubisoft executive producer and lead character artist, and published by Green Man Gaming, introduces its first episode today on PC and Mac. The game will release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in the coming months.

In 3044, Crew 121 takes off to Primus Vita to reclaim Earth’s lost water centuries after the aliens known as “The Shatters” stole it. Each member of the six-person crew has a role to play, whether it be a scientist, military operator, or communication expert.

NIM, the A.I. of the interstellar ship Beaufort, designs dreamscapes for each crew member while in cryo-sleep to preserve their mental acuity before the showdown with The Shatters on Primus Vita. These mental reconstructions pull from their personal histories between the crew and integrate tests and puzzles designed to strengthen both their logical and emotional intelligence. Dialogue choices affect the interpersonal relationships of the crew and reveal hidden truths.

Each of Destination Primus Vita’s six episodes unfolds from a different character’s perspective, though each person’s story is intertwined in different ways. Austin Blair, a quantum physicist working to find a way to confront the Shatters, serves as the protagonist of the first episode. Though she never wanted to join this mission, she feels protective of her younger brother, Coby, Crew 121’s lieutenant. Will her fierce sense of familial responsibility be her undoing, or her greatest strength?

“This episode is just the start of our star-spanning sci-fi saga,” says Anne Gibeault, Epsilon Games Creative Lead and author of the tie-in comic. “We’re ready to share this universe with our players and hope they empathize with the threats Crew 121 faces, whether external and alien, or internal and very human.”

Destination Primus Vita - Episode 1: Austin is now available on PC and Mac in English, French, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Russian from Green Man Gaming, Steam and other leading retailers. The “Come into Play” comic, “I’ll soon meet with you” comic, and Episode 1: Austin soundtrack can be purchased separately. The Deluxe Edition containing all of these items at a 10% discount is also available for purchase.

For more information, please visit the official website, follow Primus Vita on Twitter, and like on Facebook.

Assets

Launch Trailer

Screenshots, Logos, GIFS, and Trailer Download

About Epsilon Games

Epsilon Games is a Montreal-based independent studio comprised of industry veterans whose portfolios include award-winning titles such as Myst, Assassin’s Creed, and Far Cry 3. With the desire to develop their own creative ideas, this talented team came together to focus on what has become the three pillars of the studio: storytelling, puzzles and immersion. The team strives to make games that they themselves want to play while also engaging all gamers physically, mentally and emotionally.

About Green Man Gaming

Green Man Gaming Publishing works with independent development studios globally to market their own games and increase the visibility of games in a challenging marketplace. The industry expertise and knowledge of the publishing team provide developers with hands on and collaborative support that includes in-depth market analysis, integrated Marketing and PR campaigns, finishing finance options and global retail strategy.

Greenmangaming.com is an eCommerce store and community platform offering millions of gamers a single destination for all things gaming. With customers in 195 countries, the store stocks a wide catalogue of multi-platform digital games at the best prices and provides the latest game data tracking, reviews and discussions on its community

Game Slice 2018

Last years Game Slice is back - offering developers to show off their unfinished games, and gamers to play and give feedback. It's in London Ontario on May 25th - but check out the FaceBook group for all the details. If you're interested in showcasing your game, you can apply right here.

WORLD'S ONLY INDUSTRY NIGHT FOR PLAYTESTING UNRELEASED GAMES RETURNS FOR THIRD YEAR
Fanshawe College hosts Mikutech's Game Slice downtown on May 25th, 2018

LONDON, ON - January 16th, 2018 --- Mikutech, a London-based software development company specializing in game development, confirmed the return of its third annual Game Slice, an event that will take place at Fanshawe College’s Centre for Digital And Performance Arts (CDPA) in downtown London, Ontario on Friday, May 25th, 2018.

Game Slice is a first of its kind event, that gathers local game industry professionals to provide a sneak preview and gather feedback for unreleased games made in Southwestern Ontario. It's an event made exclusively for game developers, by game developers. it aims to provide constructive feedback for game makers on vertical slices, alphas, betas and release candidates, in a collaborative, exciting and fun atmosphere.

Last year, over 120 professionals from more than 30 game development companies showcased 25 unreleased games. The event was made possible by the support of Big Blue Bubble, Fanshawe College, Robertson Hall, and the Montreal International Gaming Summit, among others.

Mark Mikulec, Mikutech’s founder and chief technical consultant, said “I'm excited to bring Game Slice to a beautiful facility like Fanshawe's CDPA. Game Slice was created two years ago after hearing people’s surprised comments that London actually had a game development community. As we grow into this new, larger space, I look forward to continuing to raise awareness of our industry alongside one of the province’s best game development schools."

The 2018 edition of Game Slice will feature an improved itinerary, more time for playtesting and feedback on the games and the Industry Choice Award now being judged by a elite group of veteran game developers. More information about the event can be found at http://gameslice.mikutech.com as details are released.

Event Details
Who: Mikutech and Fanshawe College
What: Announced the return of Game Slice for its third year.
Where: Fanshawe College’s Centre for Digital and Performance Arts, 137 Dundas St, London ON
When: Friday May 25th, 2018

Contact for Mikutech: Mark Mikulec, Chief Technical Consultant, 519-636-7019, mark@mikutech.com

Contact for Fanshawe College: Michelle Giroux, Supervisor of the Centre for Digital and Performance Arts, 519-452-4430 x6401, mgiroux@fanshawec.ca
 

About Mikutech: Founded in 2012, Mikutech is a London-based collection of versatile technical consultants and programmers who provide work-for-hire services in software. With an emphasis on games and game-related technologies, Mikutech's strengths in high design and rich media have also been put to work in the specialized fields of education, engineering, e-commerce, and medicine. In recent years, Mikutech has gained a reputation as a harbor of advanced knowledge and proven skill in the burgeoning field of augmented and virtual reality.

About Fanshawe: Fanshawe is a comprehensive college serving the greater London region by providing flexible learning arrangements and experiential education opportunities developed in response to labour market needs.One of Ontario's largest colleges – with four campuses in London, Simcoe, St. Thomas and Woodstock - Fanshawe serves close to half a
million people with a promise to educate, engage, empower and excite.

For more information about Mikutech, please visit our website. Mikutech is also on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Digital Extreme's Warframe Launches New Harrow Warframe, Graphic Overhaul and More

London based developer Digital Extremes have released an update for their popular free-to-play sci-fi ninja shooter Warframe.  Chains of Harrow will provide players a new quest similar to a horror film.

"In response to a disturbing transmission from Palladino, the Red Veil Clan's spiritual medium, Tenno are compelled to investigate a dark, mysteriously abandoned Steel Meridian spacecraft found adrift. Inside the vessel, lights flicker and emergency lights strobe, revealing bodies of dead crew members. All is quiet except for whispers heard echoing throughout the lifeless craft. What does it all mean? Players must uncover the terrifying reality of what happened onboard, how the Red Veil might play a part in it, and more."

Check out below for the trailer, as well as the full Press Release. Warframe can be downloaded on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Harness the power of the Void to bolster allies' defenses and amplify their lethality with the newest Warframe, Harrow. Coming soon! https://www.warframe.com/chains-of-harrow

“NEW WARFRAME UPDATE EMERGES FROM THE DARKNESS WITH PRIEST-LIKE “HARROW”

A Brooding New Warframe with Quest, New Weapons, and Enemies

Set In New Gorgeous Graphic Overhaul “Earth Remastered”

LONDON, ON – June 28, 2017 – Materializing from the smoky darkness, Digital Extremes’ newest Warframe® update “Chains of Harrow” arrives on PC today introducing “Harrow,” a menacing new Warframe who wields priest-style powers and offers a terrifying new, lore-based quest.

With today’s update, the ever-evolving free-to-play action hit, sporting 30 million registered users and counting, also reveals the start of a planned graphical overhaul of the Solar System beginning with Earth. Dubbed “Earth Remastered,” the newly enhanced Earth — powered by Digital Extremes’ proprietary Evolution Engine — turns the formerly good-looking planet into a stunningly lush, beautifully lit, organically structured environment. According to PC Gamer: “The difference is stunning, with some scenes almost looking like an entirely different game.”

Download the new Chains of Harrow video, Earth Remastered video, Dual Wielding Video, plus screenshots, and key art here: digitalextremesltd.box.com/s/1x7odrb8sk9e4gc9kccfj2wato5wwpfi
Watch Harrow’s profile video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2HXpeUh2QY&t=4s
With Chains of Harrow, Warframe players (AKA Tenno) will descend into a haunting new quest resembling a horror film. In response to a disturbing transmission from Palladino, the Red Veil Clan’s spiritual medium, Tenno are compelled to investigate a dark, mysteriously abandoned Steel Meridian spacecraft found adrift. Inside the vessel, lights flicker and emergency lights strobe, revealing bodies of dead crew members. All is quiet except for whispers heard echoing throughout the lifeless craft. What does it all mean? Players must uncover the terrifying reality of what happened onboard, how the Red Veil might play a part in it, and more.

Chains of Harrow is loaded with additional content — from new enemies and weapons to new cosmetics, Captura tiles, an Octavia Instrument Pack, and more:

Play as Harrow: Harness the power of the Void to bolster allies’ defenses and amplify their lethality with Lotus’ newest Warrior, Harrow, using four deadly abilities:
Condemn – Cast a wave of energy that chains them where they stand. Each enemy held reinforces Harrow’s shields.
Penance – Sacrifice shields to boost reload, and fire rate while converting damage inflicted on enemies into health for Harrow and nearby allies.
Thurible – Channel Harrow’s energy into the Thurible to generate a buff. The more energy channeled, the longer the buff will last. Once finished, kill enemies to bestow nearby allies with bursts of energy. Headshots produce extra energy.
Covenant – Protect nearby allies with an energy force that absorbs all damage and converts it to a Critical Chance bonus for all those under the Covenant. Headshots are amplified even further.
Take the Quest: A disturbing transmission from Red Veil’s spiritual medium leads to an abandoned Steel Meridian vessel adrift on the outskirts of Earth. Inside, strange whispers echo throughout the lifeless vessel. What force unleashed this evil and how can it be stopped? (The Chains of Harrow Quest will appear in the Codex for those who have completed The War Within and unlocked Mot in the Void.)
Earth Remastered: Experience Earth like never before with the beautifully remastered Earth environments. Clash with Grineer amidst luscious vegetation and envelope your Warframe in the naturalistic lighting and a remastered soundscape. Visit any of the Earth Terrain Missions to experience this stunning overhaul.
New Grineer Enemy: Nox is a new enemy that is part of the Elite Chem Strike Unit. Nox wields a toxin-filled heavy gun that shoots blobs of toxic goo that attach themselves to targets before exploding. Take out these gruesome enemies by shooting their glass helmets and exposing their deteriorating skin. Beware of their final moments, as they explode into a lethal cloud.
New Weapons:
Knell (pistol): Ring the death knell. Every headshot from this scoped pistol increases Critical Chance for a short period.
Scourge (spear): Blast targets with corrosive plasma projectiles, or toss the scepter to inflict nearby enemies with an energy field that amplifies their brain waves to attract bullets.
New Syandana: A “priestly” addition, the Nave Syandana completes Harrow’s iconic look.
And More: Check out the new Captura Tiles (Forest tiles), Octavia’s Anthem-related Instrument Pack (Corpus & Grineer Packs), Glaive and Melee Rework (all melee throwing weapons can be used concurrently with secondary weapons), Alt-Helm, new Riven Mods for Melee Weapons, and more.
Chains of Harrow comes just before the development team hosts Warframe fans from around the world at the second annual TennoCon on Saturday, July 8 in London, Ontario, Canada. Tickets are nearly sold out but still available at Warframe.com/tennocon and for those unable to attend, viewers can tune into twitch.tv/warframe to watch the biggest reveal of the year coming to Warframe during TennoLive starting at 3 pm PST/ 6 pm EST on Saturday, July 8.

Chains of Harrow releases today on PC and will come to console shortly after. Please visit the official Warframe website at www.warframe.com to join the community on PC, Xbox One or PS4 and download the game for free. To keep up with the latest updates from the development team, be sure to follow Warframe on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

ABOUT DIGITAL EXTREMES
Founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, Digital Extremes ranks as one of the world’s top independent video game development studios. Originating with the co-creation of Epic Games’ multi-million unit selling Unreal® franchise including Unreal, Unreal Tournament – and all its iterations – Digital Extremes went on to develop Dark Sector®, BioShock® for the PlayStation®3, the BioShock 2 multi-player campaign, and The Darkness® II. The studio has reached its greatest critical and commercial success with the free-to-play action game, Warframe®, boasting a global community of more than 30 million registered players on PC, PS4™ and Xbox One. For more information about Digital Extremes, visit www.digitalextremes.com. To sign up for Warframe, visit www.warframe.com.”

A Mortician's Tale Coming To Steam This Year - Teaser Trailer

Laundry Bears' narrative death-positive game where you play as mortician will be released on Steam for PC and Mac later this year according to their Twitter. You can add the game to your wishlist right here.

A Mortician's Tale is coming to Steam! Add it to your wishlist here: https://t.co/GUqSxL00Jf #DeathPositive #indiedev

💜Art by @whaojackie 💜 pic.twitter.com/bDNSjkBgGm

— Laundry Bear Games (@laundry_bear) February 22, 2017

We were also given a small teaser which shows off some of the games soundtrack (from Halina Heron), and art style (Jacquelin de Leon) and can be viewed below:

A Mortician's Tale is a narrative-driven death positive video game where you play as a mortician tasked with running a funeral home-preparing the cadavers of the deceased (via embalming or cremation), attending their funerals and consoling their loved ones, and running the business. Coming to PC/Mac for Steam, Itch.io (and others) 2017.

Finally, Laundry Bear will be at GDC next week, so if you happen to be at the conference make sure to say hi to them!

Pssst, we're going to be at @Official_GDC next week! Hit us up if you'd like to talk about A Mortician's Tale / hangout 💜💜💜 https://t.co/3qmS925s0d

— Laundry Bear Games (@laundry_bear) February 22, 2017

Graceful Explosion Machine Coming To Nintendo Switch!

We officially have our first Toronto-developed Nintendo Switch game! This one comes from Vertex Pop, in Gracefull Explosion Machine (GEM). A game we've talked about before.

Skillfully pilot the advanced Graceful Explosion Machine (GEM) fighter while blasting swarms of crystalline enemies with your ludicrously overpowered quad-weapon array! Lost in deep space, you'll shoot, dash and combo your way through jewel-hued alien worlds, fighting to find a way home.

You can check out the game trailer below. GEM is expected to come out this Spring during the Nintendo Switch launch window. While the game is still expected to hit other platforms, the Nintendo Switch will be the debut console for GEM.

Graceful Explosion Machine is coming soon to Nintendo Switch™ http://vertexpop.com/gem

You can also check out the full press release below.

Graceful Explosion Machine Debuts on Nintendo Switch! Action-packed shooter hits Nintendo’s new console during its launch window this Spring!

Toronto, Canada: Vertex Pop, an indie game developer specializing in focused arcade-style games, announced that they’re bringing their dazzlingly intense shoot-em-up, Graceful Explosion Machine, to Nintendo’s latest console, the Nintendo Switch™.

Graceful Explosion Machine has already made waves at the Indie MegaBooth at both PAX East and PAX West in 2016, as well as PlayStation Experience this past December.

“The Nintendo Switch’s responsive controls and beautiful display means you can play Graceful Explosion Machine anywhere”, says Vertex Pop’s founder Mobeen Fikree. “It’s perfect for short, intense sessions on the go or for long high-score runs on the big-screen.

“Graceful Explosion Machine fits perfectly as a premiere indie game in our launch window lineup,” says Nintendo of America Indie Game Manager Kirk Scott. “It reflects the diversity and breadth of the kinds of top-notch games we’re looking for on the Nintendo Switch system.”

For all media inquiries, please e-mail media@vertexpop.com.

• PressKit: http://www.vertexpop.com/presskit/sheet.php?p=graceful_explosion_machine

• Site: http://www.vertexpop.com/gem

• Graceful Explosion Machine Nintendo Switch Announcement Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCiMciOjDC0

About Graceful Explosion Machine: Graceful Explosion Machine (GEM) is a side-scrolling arcade shooter where you blast crystalline enemies with your GEM’s ludicrously overpowered quad-weapon array. Lost in deep space, you’ll shoot, dash and combo your way through neon alien worlds, fighting to find a way home.

About Vertex Pop: Vertex Pop is an independent videogames development company run by Mobeen Fikree. Concerned with elegant design for their minimalistic videogames, they focus primarily on mechanics, game feel and responsive controls. Graceful Explosion Machine is a followup to their cult-favorite, multiplatform arena shooter, WE ARE DOOMED.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.4 billion video games and more than 696 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

Ubisoft Releases 'Watch Dogs 2 - Live Dedsec Hack' Video - Overview For Dedsec R3sistance campaign

Lots of marketing push for Watch Dogs 2, as we'll see the game released this month. Ubisoft have released a Watch Dogs 2 'Live Dedsec Hack" video, which is to give an overview of the Dedsec R3sistance Campaign.

On October 13th, 7:30pm ET, the hacker group known as DedSec launched a live hack operation on HAUM Electronic Inc.'s smart home demo, located in Toronto, Canada.

Ubisoft Canada selected Canadian fans to participate in the tour of this cutting-edge smart home as a promotional stunt for the upcoming release of Watch Dogs 2.

Unbeknownst to the visitors, this operation was broadcast live on Ubisoft Canada's Facebook & YouTube channels simultaneously and invited viewers to decide how DedSec would hack the smart home.

This was the climax of DedSec's campaign against HAUM in Canada. Check the rest of the campaign on DedSec's Canadian Hub: www.dedsec.haumcanada.com

On October 13th, 7:30pm ET, the hacker group known as DedSec launched a live hack operation on HAUM Electronic Inc.'s smart home demo, located in Toronto, Canada. Ubisoft Canada selected Canadian fans to participate in the tour of this cutting-edge smart home as a promotional stunt for the upcoming release of Watch Dogs 2.

Watch Dogs 2 is out for PlayStation 4, Xbox One on November 15th, and Steam on November 29th. You can check out some further details about Dedsec R3isistance below, and at their website.

About the Dedsec R3sistance Campaign

Last September, Ubisoft launched the Dedsec R3sistance Campaign, inviting Canadians to immerse themselves in the world of WATCH_DOGS 2 and explore its themes of privacy and ultra-connectivity. Fans were encouraged to visit the Dedsec Canada Hub to fight alongside a collective of hackers and participate in weekly missions and hacking challenges that culminated in the ultimate live hacking challenge in Toronto on October 13. During this final part of Dedsec Canada’s mission, a group of fans got a sneak peek of the Show HAUM in-person, while Canadians on the Dedsec Canada Hub were invited to hack it in real time, from the comfort of their own homes.

About USER PROFILED

Ubisoft Canada and VICE Canada partnered to create USER PROFILED, a two-part documentary series exploring themes from WATCH_DOGS 2, such as growing concerns around online user profiling, its implications for user privacy and the increasing threat it poses to Canadians’ civil liberties. Both episodes of USER PROFILED are available here.

 

GameON: Ventures - October 20th-21st

I've been in talks with the gang behind GameON Ventures, and they were nice enough to provide some copy for their event next week. They are on the Events page, but I've copied some more details below:

GameON: Ventures, Interactive Ontario's signature 2-day conference heads to MaRS Discovery District this coming October 20th and 21st.

Games (including mobile, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality) account for $3 billion of the Canadian economy, and while there is lots of event-based support for fans, GOV aims to develop and foster the business side. GameON: Ventures will provide an opportunity to meet and hear from speakers from Ubisoft, King Games (of Candy Crush), and Twitch, as well as business leaders in VC, VR and more. 

This year's keynote speaker is John Romero, widely considered the pioneer of the first-person shooter. An award-winning game designer, level designer and programmer, John's work spans over 130 games including the iconic works Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM and Quake.

We're looking forward to checking out The Interactive Digital Media Expo which will feature Canadian and International companies showcasing cutting-edge interactive products, including video games, virtual and augmented reality, eLearning and more. It will offer the attendees the opportunity to test out awesome new programs and ideas. 

A new Pitch Competition this year will invite 10 international and 10 local entrants —game developers or publishers—to pitch the next big thing in gaming/mobile—winners will receive $10,000 and in-kind support. 

Tickets to this conference are still available at www.gameonventures.io

ROM and Pop Machine Creative's Game Astro-Miners Out Now On PC

Astro-Miners, the game created by Pop Machine Creative Games in partnership with the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), is officially out and can be bought right here for $4.99.

A short trailer for our game, Astro-Miners. Available for Mac and PC, Sept. 2016 @ astrominers.ca

Astro­Miners is a kid­ friendly video game that puts players in the role of an Astro­Miner in the not ­so­ distant future. In this 2D sandbox adventure, the Earth is running out of raw materials and humans have begun mining asteroids for their rich resources. As the Astro­Miner, players navigate the inside of three different types of asteroids in order to collect valuable resources, while also learning about rocks, minerals, and space exploration.

You can check out the full press release here, as well as an article over at BrutalGamer, and follow the game/team on Twitter.

Press Release: Canadian Indie Musicians Contribute to Auto Age: Standoff Mixtape

Friend of the site Jim Squires reached out to me to let me know about the soundtrack and music behind Phantom Compass. The soundtrack will feature Jim Guthrie, TWRP, Skull Fist and more. I've copied the press release below, but make sure to follow them on Twitter and check them out at PAX East if you're there.

Canadian Indie Musicians Contribute to Auto Age: Standoff Mixtape

Phantom Compass Reveals the Masterful Music Acts Behind the Tunes of Auto Age

Toronto, Canada – 22 April 2016 – When the pedal is to the metal, few things matter quite as much as the soundtrack driving your four-wheeled engine of destruction. Phantom Compass, developers of the upcoming car combat game Auto Age: Standoff, have assembled some of Canada’s deadliest indie artists for a mixtape maximized for motorized mayhem.

“Auto Age embodies a retro future where the 1980s never died,” said game director Tony Walsh. “Before the days of iTunes playlists and streaming music services, kids had just one outlet for customizing their listening sessions: a handcrafted mixtape. We’re recreating that vibe with some of Canada’s coolest retro-inspired indie musicians.”

Each killer vehicle is equipped with a customizable in-game mixtape starring  synth-funk electronic stylings of TWRP, the retro-tinged synthwave sound of 20SIX Hundred, the heavy-rocking metal of Skull Fist, and the tech-noir outrun melodies of Stilz.

"As fellow Canadians who dig rad tunes and bad ass video games, it is a great feeling to be a part of Auto Age,” said Skull Fist guitarist Zach Slaughter. “The graphics rule, the premise rules, the game rules, and even the soundtrack rules!"

In addition to its in-game mixtape, Auto Age: Standoff includes original soundtrack music from Toronto’s own Jim Guthrie. Previous to his work on Auto Age, Guthrie has lent his considerable talents to notable Canadian indie games like Sound Shapes, Below, and Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery. Guthrie is also the artist responsible for the soundtrack to Indie Game: The Movie.

“Jim is an absolute legend in the indie games music scene, not to mention the Canadian music scene at large,” said Ericka Evans, Head of Production at Phantom Compass. “We’re honoured to be working not only with Jim but with the great Canadian mixtape musicians.. What better project to meet at the crossroads of Canadian indie music and Canadian indie games than one that literally puts you behind the wheel?”

Auto Age: Standoff is a game of car combat and multiplayer strategy that is coming to Steam later this year. You can add Auto Age: Standoff to your Steam Wishlist starting today. For more information, please visit phantomcompass.com/autoagestandoff, as well as the game's Steam page at http://store.steampowered.com/app/458680.

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

• Jim Guthrie is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter. In addition to creating original compositions for video games, film, and television, Jim has released several solo albums including 2003’s Juno-nominated ‘Now, More Than Ever’ and 2013’s critically-acclaimed ‘Takes Time’.  To learn more and listen, please visit jimguthrie.org.

• TWRP are an elite squad of rockstars from the future, the 1980s, and currently Toronto. The band has gained an international following after the release of their animated music video 'The Hit' which has surpassed 1 million views. To listen, visit twrplive.com.

• Skull Fist are a heavy metal group formed in 2006 by Toronto-based guitarist Zach Slaughter. Following a 2006 demo and 2010 EP, the band has released two full albums: 2011’s ‘Head of the Pack’ and and 2014’s Juno-nominated ‘Chasing the Dream’. To listen, please visit youtube.com/user/SkullFistOfficial.

• 20SIX Hundred has been producing music for a number of years, composing horror scores for micro budget thrillers and most recently venturing into the realm of retro-tinged synthwave. Originally from Southern Ontario, 20SIX Hundred now calls Vancouver home. To listen, please visit 20sixhundred.bandcamp.com.

• Stilz has produced for hip hop artists throughout Western Canada for many years. Starting out as a DJ in the late 90's, these days he has become known for his solo instrumental releases. For listening samples, please visit stilz.bandcamp.com.

ABOUT PHANTOM COMPASS

Based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Phantom Compass is best known for its 2014 pinball-meets-RPG title ‘Rollers of the Realm’ for PC, PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. The studio’s latest title, ‘Auto Age: Standoff,’ has been in development for over a year and will be released on Steam this fall. For more information, visit phantomcompass.com.

Auto Age: Standoff was produced with the financial assistance of the Canada Media Fund and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier de FACTOR, du gouvernement du Canada, et des radiodiffuseurs privés du Canada.

[Press Release] Mark Media Gets A New Director, CG and Visual Effects - Yvan Pinard

Mark Media have announced they've brought on Yvan Pinard as their new Director, CG and Visual Effects. He'll be leading the 3D artists and directing their CG animation pipeline. Mark Media is working on a series of CG animated shorts for their upcoming mobile game Shuyan the Kung Fu Princess.  Congrats on the new position Yvan, and be sure to check out the full Press Release below!

Leo He, COO of Toronto-based television, film and digital media company Mark Media, is pleased to announce the appointment of Yvan Pinard to the new role of Director, CG and Visual Effects in Mark Media’s Toronto studio.

Pinard will be responsible for leading and building Mark’s team of 3D artists and directing the studio’s CG animation pipeline, in addition, he will be producing of a series of CG animated shorts for Shuyan, an upcoming kung-fu action game property.

Motivated by the idea of working on 3D production since the age of 15, Pinard is a skilled and creative leader in 3D and visual effects production, with leadership and a human approach that give each team member the chance to excel during completion of a project.

After graduating in 2001 in 3D Animation and Visual Effects for Film and Television from NAD Centre in Montreal, he worked on several film productions as a compositing artist, leading him to successfully managing a team of 3D artists at SHED, an award-winning post-production studio specializing in motion design and visual effects in commercial production, for eight years before moving to Mark Media in Toronto.

“Yvan brings the experience and attention to quality that Mark Media needs as the studio matures and expands into feature films and high-end commercial and VFX production,”  says Leo He, COO of Mark Media.

 

Pinard’s production credits include:

 

Films (Compositor):

Extreme Ops, Book of Eve, Far Side of the Moon, The Blue Butterfly,

Stay, Cursed, The Fountain, The Legend of Secret Pass

 

Film (Post-Production Director):

Beauty and the Beast

 

Documentary (Post-Production Director):

The DNA of GSP

 

TV commercials (Post-Production Director):

Bell, IGA, Adidas, Rogers, Videotron, Burger King, Loto Québec, LaPresse+, Ford, Subway, Dell, Rona, and more

 

Corporate (Post-Production Director):

Bombardier

-30-

About Mark Media

Mark Media is an exciting new film, television and digital media production company based in Toronto that combines culture and technology to create media properties that entertain, inspire and educate across platforms.

With expertise in kids, factual, feature film and digital gaming, Mark produces culturally rich and engaging cross-media content for global audiences of all ages.

Re-imagining digital storytelling and education. Learn more at markmedia.co (Twitter @markmediaco)

Developer Mark Media Adds Laurinda Shaver as Creative Digital Kids Producer

Mark Media released a press release last week announcing they have brought on Laruinda Shaver to help out with Miaomiao, their iOS apps and TV shows that help teach Chinese and English to preschool children.  Check out the full Press Release below, I've also added a trailer for one of their apps.

Fun new iOS app for kids! In this fun, interactive story, join Miaomiao and her friends on an adventure to find the stolen dumplings and save Chinese New Year. Narrated text with lots of interactivity, great mini-games and opportunities to learn simple Mandarin vocabulary.

"Mark Media Adds Laurinda Shaver as Creative Digital Kids Producer

TORONTO – June 15, 2015 – Digital media prodco, Mark Media, is pleased to welcome Laurinda Shaver, former Digital Strategist at Pearson Canada, to the team as Creative Digital Kids Producer. Having managed digital media and television projects at major networks such as CBC, YTV, and Rogers TV, including FIFA World Cup, Sochi Olympics and over 550 hours of original Canadian children’s programming, Shaver will lead the development and production of kids’ digital media products including apps, online content, and other interactive learning experiences. “Laurinda brings a breadth of experience spanning digital media, television, and educational spaces,” said Mark Media CEO Jason Loftus. “It’s the perfect mix for our growing studio that works across these platforms. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Laurinda to our team.” Shaver’s role will start with a focus on Mark Media’s preschool property Miaomiao, a collection of iOS apps and CG-animated TV episodes that aim to teach Chinese and English language skills to children through friendship and play. “I am really excited to join this talented team of artists, animators and programmers,” said Shaver. “It is thrilling to work with a company that shares my passion for storytelling and love of the digital medium.” She and the Miaomiao digital team are working on the upcoming iOS app release Fun with Colors, an ocean-themed interactive experience teaching color themes in both English and Mandarin. In addition, the Mark Media team is simultaneously completing post-production on 30 x 7 minutes of its CG animated series Miaomiao, distributed globally by Brain Power Studio. For more information about Mark Media or Miaomiao, please contact Julia Tobin at juliat@markmedia.co, or visit the websites markmedia.co and learnwithmiaomiao.com. Follow @markmediaco and @miaomiaolearn on Twitter for the latest news and updates."