How Games Motivate People

A recent article by Adam Dole (twitter.com/adamdole) talks about how to turn gaming into a source of social change.  Dole argues that companies can adopt game-like mechanisms to satisfy user needs.  "Users" here referring broadly to consumers, customers, clients, etc.  Check out his idea of "Game Changing Benefits" Pin It

Speaker Profile: Sean Murch

Sean produced his first video game, Grid Runner, for Radical Entertainment in 1994.

Prior to working in games, Sean enjoyed a successful career as a writer, producer and development executive in the film and television industry - most notably as Head of Development and Sales for Nelvana Enterprises, a $550M entertainment company focused on children and youth programming. Sean has also worked as a development producer for director Francis Ford Coppola.After shifting permanently to the video game sector, Sean worked at Electronic Arts, where he designed, built and managed a department of over a hundred content creators, tasked with providing character models, textures and rigs for all fifteen of the EA Sports line of products. Sean now holds dual roles as Head of Business Development for independent game developer, Next Level Games and CEO of Playful Entertainment, an independent publishing label based in Vancouver, BC. He is also a founding board member of BC Interactive. 


Sean is one of many industry leaders that will be lending their expertise and knowledge to DIG 2010. Click here to see a complete list of this years speakers!

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Digital Extremes Wins Ontario Chamber Award!

London's own Digital Extremes have won a Business and Export Excellence award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Specifically being awarded the OBAA Royal Bank Award for Small Business, this is yet another example that proves London's digital gaming industry not only competes with sectors within Ontario, but exceeds them. As in previous years, Digital Extremes will have strong presence at this year's DIG conference with president Michael Schmalz confirmed as a speaker along with a number of Digital Extremes projects making their way to the show floor. Be sure to come meet not only Digital Extremes but the rest of London and Canada's gaming industry elite.

Congratulations Digital Extremes!

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Can gaming make a better world?

Jane McGonigal argues that games like World of Warcraft give players the opportunity to save worlds, learn the habits of heroes and experience "epic wins" - an experience that motivates the next generation to tackle tough problems. Check out her TED Talk Pin It

Side Effects Software @ DIG 2010

Dr. Salvini, Side Effects Software

Chief Technology Officer and VP of Canadian Operations for Side Effects Software, Dr. Paul Salvini has joined the DIG 2010 lineup of speakers. Side Effects software has been a global leader in the development of 3D animation and visual effects software.  The company's Houdini software has been used in hundreds of blockbuster films including Terminator Salvation and nine of the past eleven films to receive the Oscar for Visual Effects. Dr. Salvini leads a two-time academy award winning team of computer scientists and mathematicians who are passionate about advancing the art and science of computer graphics.

Sife Effects Software in Terminator franchise

Salvini's session Going Proceduaral: A Better Way to Make Better Games will talk about how Side Effects Software's approach has made it possible for movies to achieve more realistic effects and improve efficiency and the management of digital assets.  Salvini argues that with next generation games on the verge of achieving feature film quality within the game engine, procedural techniques will offer a new way of thinking that could revolutionize the game development process! Check out the DIG 2010 program for more information 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

Dan Rickard Leading Animation Workshop at DIG 2010

Dan Rickard is joining the DIG 2010 line-up to provide delegates with an Animation Workshop.  Dan is an accomplished 3d artist specializing in animation and character design.  He has worked on dozens of games including Batman Arkham City and Arkham Asylum, Borderlands, Army of Two 40th Day, Hulk, Wanted, Blacksite, Sacred 2, and most of the Battlefield series.

Over the past 11 years Dan has worked at every artistic stage of game development with DICE Canada and has also been Art Manager and Animation Lead at Redjade. While freelancing through contract work Dan has recently begun instructing at Fanshawe College where he teaches introductory and advanced 3d Animation and Character Design.  His course focuses on modeling, texturing, and animation.

In his session, Animation Workshop: Character Creation Dan will use game development tools Mudbox, 3ds, and Photoshop for character creation.  Delegates will learn to develop a high poly sculpt, a low poly mesh, map creation and texturing, Lip Sync animation, and full body animation of biped characters interacting in a fight sequence.  The workshop will take place Friday November 19th as part of the DIG 2010 Conference. You can register online for the conference workshop. Pin It