Ontario Invests $1 Million in Game Developers

(andPOP) - The president of the Ontario Media Development Corporation has announced that it will invest CAD $1 million in the development of two video game prototypes.

London based developer Digital Extremes and St. Catharines based developer Silicon Knights, developer of the upcoming Too Human, will use the extra resources to create prototypes for their video game concepts enabling them to showcase their ideas and attract financing from publishers to create final, market-ready video games.

"Digital Extremes is honoured to have been chosen to participate in the Video Game Prototype Initiative," said Michael Schmalz, Chief Financial Officer, Digital Extremes. "We feel that programs such as the VGPI will enable Ontario game developers to take more financial and creative control over major game development projects and help ensure the benefits of these projects stay in Ontario. We look forward to collaborating with the OMDC on this and hopefully other projects in the future."

"We believe that Ontario, and Niagara in particular, is an excellent place for a company to thrive, and, with the OMDC's funding through the Video Game Prototype Initiative, it clearly shows that the Ontario government is on the same page," said Denis Dyack, President and founder of Silicon Knights. "Ontario's best natural resource is our people, and with all the great universities and colleges in Ontario, there?s an abundance of bright and creative talent. Most of Silicon Knights' team are graduates of Ontario colleges and universities, and our team members are the best and brightest in their fields. This grant will encourage this great talent to stay within Ontario."

Both the Digital Extremes and Silicon Knights games are third-person action games geared towards next generation consoles and PC. The Silicon Knights game is expected to be completed in 2010.