New Release From Howling Moon!

Lee Ing's  Howling Moon Games, participants in last years DIG Conference, are proud to release their newest game Bloodline of the Fallen: Anna's Sacrifice. According to the Howling Moon site, Bloodline of the Fallen is a hidden object game. "After the loss of Anna's father, she learns about a dark family secret. Her travels take her around the world trying to reveal clues of an evil cult. Eventually, her dark destiny is revealed. Sacrifices and confrontations are made to fend off the evil that may consume her soul" Featuring 24 levels, multiple mini games and a dark an intriguing storyline, Bloodline of the Fallen: Anna's Sacrifice certainly sounds like a great title to check out. It is available for download here! 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

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