IO members win big at nextMEDIA Digi Awards The Digi Awards were handed out during nextMEDIA on December 4th and many of IO's members came away winners. Congratulations!

Big Blue Bubble
Best in Mobile Gaming: My Singing Monsters

CBC
Best in Digital News & Current Affairs: CBCnews.ca

Digital Extremes
Most Innovative Digital Media Technology: Evolution Engine
Best in Web Gaming: Warframe

Smokebomb Entertainment
Best in Mobile Applications: Totally Amp'd

TFO
Best in Canadian Culture: TFO.org

Earth Rangers
Best in Community Campaigns: Earth Rangers empowers kids to Bring Back the Wild, Earth Rangers

iThentic / Smiley Guy Studios
Best in Web Series, Fiction: Guidestones,

Blue Ant Media  
Best in Tablet Applications: Aux Magazine for iPad, AUX TV

CW Digital picks up Smokebomb's Backpackers Out of its Los Angeles office, Shaftesbury has announced that CW Digital (CWD), the digital-only studio of The CW Network in the United States, has acquired original digital comedy series Backpackers from the company’s digital media division, Smokebomb Entertainment. As previously announced at MIPCOM 2012, CTV has also ordered the series for deployment across the full suite of CTV and Bell Media digital platforms.
 
“The sale to CW Digital guarantees an exciting North American launch for Backpackers, representing a new opportunity for broadcast and digital media to come together to create content,” said Maggie Murphy, Co-Head, Shaftesbury U.S.

Execution Labs indie gaming incubator now accepting applications Execution Labs is a first-of-its-kind hybrid game incubator and go-to-market accelerator designed to help teams of experienced game developers create and launch their own games and spin out into startup game studios. Teams selected by Execution Labs will get seed funding, shared office space, development tools, and access to a roster of world-class mentors who will provide coaching in areas critical to game development and commercialization, as well as marketing dollars and support in customer acquisition. Canadian-based teams and individuals are invited to apply here for this unique opportunity.

AToMiC Awards submissions are now open The AToMiC Awards spotlight the best in  advertising, technology, media creativity and content and are produced by strategy, Playback and Media in Canada. Click here for more information including categories and how to enter. The deadline is January 31, 2013.

Super Snack Time named Kotaku's Gaming App of the Day

Super Snack Time, the newest game from IO member Little Guy Games, was named Gaming App of the Day on Kotaku. They've also partnered with another IO member, Monster Factory, on a series of four plush toys based on the game's adorable characters.

Complete the CIAIC's Canadian Interactive Industry Profile survey to help measure the impact of the industry The Canadian Interactive Alliance / l'Alliance interactive canadienne and Interactive Ontario are calling on all Canadian interactive digital media companies to participate in the 2012 edition of the Canadian Interactive Industry Profile (CIIP) survey.
 
Since 2006, the Profile has been Canada’s main window into the industry’s continued growth and the only national source for comparative economic data. The Profile is a key tool used by industry and governments at all levels to create and maintain valuable services and support programs as well as to develop new policies and strategies.
 
The survey will take less than 30 minutes to complete and can be found here: http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/nordicity/canadian-interactive-industry-profile-2012/
 
COMPLETE THE SURVEY AND WIN!
Complete the Canadian Interactive Industry Profile survey and your name will be entered into a draw to win the Great Canadian Video Game Bundle including an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 and a selection of top "made in Canada" video games, including: Assassin's Creed 3, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Sound Shapes, Fez, Papo & Yo and more!

X-Summit Wrap-up
© Photo by Jackie Brown www.videocake.tv

Thank you to the delegates, speakers, sponsors, partners and volunteers who helped make this year's X-Summit a huge success! See pictures in the X-Summit Flickr set and find tweets, pictures, videos and resources aggregated on Epilogger.

IO takes part in Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage IO Chair Peter Miller and IO President and CEO Donald Henderson were invited to  appear as witnesses before the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Tuesday, October 30. They are conducting a study on the Canadian software entertainment industry; other groups that appeared include ESA Canada, Alliance Numerique, KPMG and the Writers Guild of Canada.

Read more about the session here (Meeting 44).

Game Pill's Almost Naked Animals featured in Chrome Web Store

The OMDC Presents Music Makes It On December 11, the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) will host Music Makes It - a 3 hour intensive session of one-on-one meetings followed by a networking reception.

Music Makes It will be a forum through which executives from the interactive digital media, technology, advertising, feature film, documentary and television industries will connect with executives from the music industry who own and administer rights to the hottest Canadian music. Participants will explore ways to merge their content, to the creative and commercial benefit of each sector.

Interested parties should apply through the OMDC application portal by Wednesday, November 14.

Canadian Interactive Showcase at X-Summit open to the public

The Canadian Interactive Showcase, presented by the CMF, is a unique session that allows innovative creators to show off their work on the final day of X-Summit. We’re pleased to announce that we have opened the Showcase up to anyone to attend! From thought-controlled computing to a video game that combines digital and physical gaming in a collaborative way, these projects are on the forefront of interactive digital media in Canada. The session is now open to both conference delegates and the industry at large, and free to attend.

Five Canadian interactive content developers will each present a project or product, followed by a Q&A with the audience of potential investors, partners and peers. The Showcase begins at 4:00pm on Wednesday, November 7th at the Hyatt Regency in Toronto (370 King Street West) and is open to everyone! Come and get a glimpse into the diverse work happening in the Canadian interactive realm and see what X-Summit is all about.

Register for the free Canadian Interactive Showcase at http://x-summitshowcase.eventbrite.com/.

The X-Summit Protégé Programme - presented by cultureONE The X-Summit Protégé Programme - presented by cultureONE

Interactive Ontario is pleased to announce a new program for this year's X-Summit: The Protégé Programme , made possible with the financial assistance of cultureONE, risk management experts for the creative arts industry.

This important initiative is designed to provide a leg-up for those entering the industry. We realize that there is a lot of keen new talent out there just waiting to be discovered and we want to make sure that these people have an opportunity to experience the X-Summit conference as a full participant. The Protégé Program will provide professional development and networking opportunities to talented producers, strategists or other skilled workers in the interactive space who are just starting out.

This is a great opportunity to bring a junior colleague, intern, recent grad, or someone who would not ordinarily have the opportunity to benefit from a focused industry conference. Protégés must be new to the industry - this program is not designed for established professionals.

How it works;

Industry professionals who have already purchased a pass for the X-Summit conference can submit a short (200 word maximum) description about someone they know who would benefit from attending the conference and why they would benefit from the mentorship.

The first deadline for submissions will be midnight on Wednesday, October 31. After the initial applications are reviewed, if there are still spots available, qualified submissions will be approved as they are received.

Additional Rules:

Person making the nomination must have purchased a regular pass for the conference (e.g. not a speaker, sponsor, volunteer, press, or Start-Up pass holder).

Person making the nomination agrees to assist their Protégé in making the most of the networking opportunities at the conference.

iLunch returns with Business Essentials: Exploring the Building Blocks of the Interactive Industry

Interactive Ontario’s popular iLunch series returns this fall for the 11th edition. Each session will tackle a different area of interactive digital media under the theme Business Essentials: Exploring the Building Blocks of the Interactive Industry.

These lunch-and-learn events, happening monthly from November 2012 to March 2013, offer case studies, panel discussions and presentations that will examine successful business practices and strategies. At each iLunch, delegates will learn about the nuts and bolts of various sectors and segments of interactive digital media. They will also have the opportunity for Q & A with the panelists and to network with potential business contacts in an informal setting.

“For those who have ever wondered how deals are structured, which way the money flows, and what a project team looks like, iLunch will provide an understanding of these fundamentals of interactive projects within a variety of specializations,” said Interactive Ontario President & CEO Donald Henderson. Topics include:

• The Business of Working with Brands
• The Business of Freemium
• The Business of Neo-Distribution
• The Business of Getting the Most out of Attending Game Developers Conference

Visit the iLunch page (http://interactiveontario.com/events/ilunch11) for details on each session. The registration fee for each iLunch is $55 ($40 for Interactive Ontario members).

Call for applicants: EDC Research Panel Do you want to have your finger on the pulse of Canadian business? Sign up and take part in EDC’s Online Research Panel.

EDC continues to strive to meet the needs of Canadian businesses in this rapidly changing business environment. To do this, they must better understand your evolving business challenges and what’s driving your international success.

They've developed an online community for you to share your insights and are seeking people to join.

Join Interactive Ontario in Los Angeles February 19 - 22, 2013!

Join Interactive Ontario in Los Angeles February 19 - 22, 2013!

We are looking for companies to present their transmedia properties in a panel discussion about business challenges and successes at a special Interactive Ontario and TransmediaLA Meetup and Networking Reception in Los Angeles, California.

Made possible by the Ontario Media Development Corporation, The Los Angeles Connection project aims to deepen connections and enhance visibility between Ontario and LA interactive businesses. This is the third mission to Los Angeles, and in partnership with CASO (Computer Animation Studios Ontario) and FilmOntario will focus on developing meaningful contacts and business partnerships in the transmedia space.

The four day mission includes a day for self-arranged meetings, the Interactive Ontario and TransmediaLA Meetup and Networking Reception highlighting your company, and 1x1 meetings facilitated by io and LAX partners.  

We will take care of hotel accommodations, provide a space to meet 1x1 with potential partners and reimburse participants up to $200 towards air travel (one person per company). To apply to participate in the LAX transmedia mission please fill out the following information in as much detail as possible. The more clearly you present your mission goals and stories, the better we can ensure that the contacts invited to the event are beneficial to your goals.

Participants will be selected based on the following criteria;

1. Readiness of project for attending mission
2. Clarity of business goals for attending the mission
3. Track record of success in transmedia or related markets
4. Completeness of application
5. Track record of involvement in Ontario's media industry/ community

IMPORTANT: Your company must 1) be an Ontario owned business residing in Ontario and 2) be currently developing a transmedia property or have a record of successful transmedia properties. By submitting this form you are stating that you would be considered eligible under this criteria.

Please note that your privacy is important to us. All submissions are confidential and will only be accessible to key Interactive Ontario staff unless otherwise specified.

Interested companies can apply here by November 16, 2012.

If you have any questions while filling out this form please email LAX Project Coordinator Sarah Drew at sarahd@interactiveontario.com or call Sarah at416 516 0077x 226.

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