You’re in a room full of angry cats at a veterinary clinic, trying to get them back into their cages, without getting scratched to pieces. There are several other tasks you need to complete as well.
Okay, so maybe this room is virtual. Still, this situation is not for the faint of heart. This is one of the scenarios envisioned for Feline Frenzy, an educational video game designed by Bow Valley College faculty members Kerry Sharples and Dan Barnfield as a potential learning tool.
The pair’s pitch is an award-winning one, having placed second in Bow Valley College’s Indie Ignition Accelerator boss level Pitch Competition.
It’s the culmination of a 12-week program that helps digital creatives advance their games and businesses and ignites the gaming and esports industries in Alberta.
“I was most impressed by the resiliency and courage of our participants. They demonstrated agility, which is key to entrepreneurial success. There is so much passion and opportunity in Calgary’s creative industries, and we’re thrilled to see these businesses take off,” says Ryan Coutts, Digital Entertainment Accelerator Lead, Bow Valley College.
Esteemed industry judges heard the pitches on November 20th at Platform Calgary. After deliberation and consideration, Indie Ignition has awarded the seed money prizes to the top three contenders in esports and game development.
Shadi Hanna, of the Alberta Scholastic Esports League, walks away with some extra money that will help get his and business partner Andrew Tran’s idea off the ground.
“I think the biggest gap in the esports industry is a lack of focus on sustainable programming. Sports and entertainment thrive at home and in our communities. Scholastic esports has the potential to create lifelong fans, and I’m super excited to be a part of that process,” says Hanna.
Supported in part by the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), Bow Valley College’s Digital Entertainment Nexus accelerator program is led by experts in game development, esports, marketing, and legal fields. They provide mentorship and advice, helping participants tighten their focus and identify what they don’t yet know.
The next cohort of Indie Ignition, with intakes for film and animation, game development, and esports is currently taking applications and is set to begin early next year.
Jenn MacDonald is an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder with tons of experience supporting startups and community. She is currently running a business focused on supporting mental health for entrepreneurs. She's been involved in the ecosystem for many years and has a BBA in innovation and entrepreneurship, with a Master’s in economic development and innovation.
Jessica Medeiros is the founder and CEO of Femme Gaming, an organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for female and female identifying individuals, within gaming and esports. She has done a tremendous amount of advocacy and speaking as well as organized many great events with some big partners, including BMO and the Toronto Raptors.
Branden Sloane is the founder and CEO of Zugalu Entertainment, a Calgary based game development company that has been releasing games since 2014. Their current title Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown just recently entered early access after receiving CMF funding and a publishing deal with PlaySide.
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