[SPEAKER] DIG Speaker: Big Blue Bubble's Damir Slogar, on the Game Industry Yesterday & Tomorrow

 

Name: Damir Slogar

Organization: Big Blue Bubble

Title: CEO

Bio: With over 20 years spent in the game industry and credited for over 40 games across 10 different platforms, Damir is one of the most experienced industry professionals in Canada.

Born in Croatia, Damir started his career in the mid 80's as a programmer creating proprietary games for the MSX and Commodore Amiga. He spent the next couple of years in broadcasting; producing and hosting a live TV show devoted to video games and computer technology.

In 1995, Damir started a video game magazine where he worked as the editor. In 1999, he moved to Canada and continued his professional career as a lead programmer, first in Sandbox Studios, and later in Digital Illusions Canada. In 2004, Damir established Big Blue Bubble, which quickly became one of the best known and highest rated wireless and handheld game developers in North America.

Web site: http: www.bigbluebubble.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=144125

Track Game: Panel, Main Plenary, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

TOPIC: The Video Games Industry in 2013

What’s the near future of mobile? Console? Browser games? Are the monetization strategies working? Is there future for independent AAA developers? 

This panel will explore a range of views about the direction on the video games industry in 2013. Panel members will include a number of experienced game development leaders betting their futures on specific platforms. Listen to their views and share your own during the Q&A.

Track: Game, Main Plenary, 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

TOPIC:  80’s Game Industry – Renaissance or Crash ?

See and experience some of the least-known, most influential, industry-defining games from the 1980’s.

This session will focus on the differences between the North American and European computer and video game industries of the 1980s and today.

Damir Slogar tells how it was in the 80's, and how it will be in 2013. Attend DIG London 2012 for complete access to Damir's sessions, other mavericks and industry pioneers, and VIP networking.

 

Register for the event with Early Bird pricing here, 

NOW until October 31st. 

Don't forget to visit and LIKE our Facebook page for updates and announcements, and follow @DIGLondon for promotions and daily proclamations. 

 

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Video Game Development in London Ontario

Vikas Sharma 

London Ontario is quickly becoming a strong contender in the global development field.

Many people aren’t aware of the remarkable development companies in London Ontario, but they have put London on the map. This post will highlight some of London’s incredible game development companies and in a later post we will cover digital media companies. The companies I will be highlighting are Digital Extremes, Big Blue Bubble, Antic Entertainment, and Big Viking Games.

Digital Extremes:

Digital Extremes (DE) started its journey with a game many of us have played in our leisure time, Epic Pinball. The first time I realized that Epic Pinball was made in London I was proud to know that such a well-known game came from my home town. Digital Extremes is mostly known for Unreal and Unreal Tournament: both legendary games have set a bench-mark for first person shooters. DE also worked on last year’s blockbuster hit Darkness 2, which introduced a brand new graphic style, cell shading, which made the game look almost like a comic book. Digital Extremes is currently working on the much anticipated Star Trek The Game, and are creating an in house free to play game called Warframe. With an ever-growing list of AAA titles DE is solidifying its name in the gaming industry. The diversity of their portfolio makes them an iconic Canadian game developer.

Big Blue Bubble:

Big Blue Bubble’s continued success can be attributed to their radical research and development efforts. The company has created games for all platforms; which no small feat for any developer.  Big Blue Bubble has provided customers many different gameplay styles and has successfully captured gamers from casual to hard-core. Paper Munchers really got me interested in their work. The game’s physics and character design are engaging and entertaining. Big Blue Bubble is very active in supporting the local video game community by speaking and promoting local gaming meet-ups.

Antic Entertainment:

Antic Entertainment makes casual games for hard-core players. Many would think it is difficult to create casual games and still have a hard-core player interested in playing, yet Antic has shown that it is possible game after game. With games like Zombie Misfits, Platoonz, and Junk Wars Antic Entertainment provides the player with a very addictive gaming experience. Zombie Misfits was the first Antic game I played. It’s a tower defense style game with graphics that are above the norm for social games. The gaming experience it created kept me coming back for more. In a time when social media and social games are on the rise, Antic provides a relief for the hard-core player who doesn’t have the time to play console games.

Big Viking Games:

Big Viking Games is Canada's leading social and mobile game development studio who is passionate about creating amazing games that are played and enjoyed by millions of people all over the world.

Founded in 2011, Big Viking Games has quickly gained recognition for its innovative game design. I heard that they are working on some amazing new projects, which will take the social world by surprise. I am really looking forward to the new releases by Big Viking Games, and I know they will turn me into a social player.

London Ontario has a very successful and large gaming community, and the game development companies are assisting in keeping the community strong. They have made it possible for indie developers to gain experience and learn from these large gaming companies. With the support of Digital Extremes, Big Blue Bubble, Antic Entertainment, and Big Viking Games DIG is able to enhance its program year after year. 

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Speaker Profile: Bryce Hunter

Bryce Hunter is a producer at the game developer Big Blue Bubble Inc., where he currently specializes in the casual, social and mobile gaming spaces. In 2008, Bryce graduated at the top of his class with majors in both highly competitive business and sociology programs at the University of Western Ontario. It was at UWO that he focused his passion for technology while mentoring professors on the benefits of implementing technology into their daily lectures.

Through the collaborative effort of Bryce and the incredibly talented team at Big Blue Bubble, he is proud to be responsible for designing, producing, and fostering the product life of numerous titles including M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender (PC), iCarly: iDream in Toons (PC), and Home Sweet Home (Wii). Bryce currently lives in London, Ontario with his beautiful wife, Sarah. Pin It

Speaker Profile: Claudette Critchley

Claudette Critchley graduated at the top of her class in university and obtained both her Computer Science and Education degrees. After university, she taught Computer Science at a private college and quickly advanced to the position of Regional Education Manager. 

Although she had a great passion for education, she found that programming gave her even greater professional satisfaction. In 2000, she left her teaching career to pursue a career in video game development at Sandbox Studios/Digital Illusions. During her time there, her knowledge of gaming and the industry grew as she took on the role of programmer/lead programmer on several of their hit titles.

Her versatility and continued drive for excellence led her to co-found Big Blue Bubble in 2004. As COO, she has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the company. Claudette will be on hand at his years conference to lend her unique insight into both the business and education sides of the gaming industry, along with joining the rest of the Big Blue Bubble team in showcasing some of their latest and greatest creations. 

Here's an interview our good friends at Games Day Podcast put together to give you a better idea of what Claudette and Big Blue Bubble do in the gaming industry. Enjoy!

Interview with Claudette Critchley from Big Blue Bubble from gamesdaypodcast on Vimeo.

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London kicking a$$ in digital media content

London companies Voices.com and Big Blue Bubble are finalists in the Canadian New Media Awards (CNMA).  CNMA acknowledges and celebrates the accomplishments of Canada's most successful digital media companies.

Voices.com is a finalist in the Digital Media Technology of the Year  category that recognizes Canadian technology that will most radically change the media landscape.  Voices.com has created technology that allows producers, casting directors, and businesses to negotiate directly with the voice over talent without an agency intercession.  The Voices.com marketplace enables people to post a job, and then receive responses based on their specific project requirements.

Big Blue Bubble is a finalist in two categories!  Best Mobile Application  category for it's game  Thumpies  and the game's demonstration of excellent functionality, innovation, audience reach and frequency, and its excellent use of capabilities of the mobile medium.  Best Web-Based Game category acknowledges innovative games that are playable in a web browser.

Both finalists will be joining us at DIG 2010 as speakers!  Look forward to hearing from Canada's best! Pin It

Big Blue Bubble Thumps the Competition

Game developer Big Blue Bubble won the Mobile Entertainment of the Year award of the Mobile Content Awards in Seoul, Korea. 

BBB's lovable Thumpie!

Facing some stiff competition from more than 110 companies in 15 countries, their game Thumpies bounced to the top spot.  Thumpies is a unique rhythm-based music game for players of all ages.  By correctly matching the beat of bouncing Thumpies the player progresses through a song.  Unlike typical rhythm based games, Thumpies uses the mechanic of bouncing in time instead of just a series of notes.  The quirky art design of Thumpies is accompanied by a unique musical score composed by award winning industry veteran David Kerr.  You can watch the Tumpies in Action on You Tube, or check out their iPad trailer or visit www.Thumpies.com

With over 50 high profile games in its portfolio, Big Blue Bubble Inc. is one of Canada's leading video game developers.  Each of the company's three divisions (iPhone, Console, and Casual) is dedicated to making the best possible games by combining innovative designers with top artistic and industry leading programmers. Big Blue Bubble is a London based company.  Founder and CEO Damir Slogar will present at DIG 2010.  Maybe he'll give us some insight on developing games to thump out the competition! Pin It

London Gaming Industry in the London Free Press

The city of London has committed to adding $5-million to a bid for a state-or-the-art Digital Gaming Center of Excellence to be built in London's downtown core. London's Digital Extremes, Big Blue Bubble, Fanshawe College, Research Western, LEDC, TechAlliance, and WORLDiscoveries are working together on the application for the Centre of Excellence

Where most people think of digital gaming as strictly a means of entertainment for youth, this Centre would harness the cutting edge technology developed by gaming industry companies, including those in the city of London, to train essential services like doctors and firefighters in a "realistic and risk-free" virtual environment. This is a perfect example of one of the many sectors the gaming industry can benefit in the future and it is excellent to see London's business and education  at the forefront of the trend. Experts asked to comment on the story, Michael Katchabaw of the University of Western Ontario and Michael Schmalz of London's Digital Extremes, both of whom attended last years DIG Conference. Be sure to check out the full story here! Pin It