Winnipeg, Manitoba – A new training and
work experience program will help Manitoba’s video game creators
advance to the next level in the global video games industry. The
Winnipeg Partnership Agreement is providing $350,000 towards the
3-year Fortune Cat Games Studio incubator.
Scott Smith, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade for
Manitoba, Rod Bruinooge, MP for Winnipeg South and Gord Steeves,
City of Winnipeg Councillor, made the announcement today.
“Manitoba’s interactive digital media sector is strong
and we’ve committed to supporting its growth with the creation
of a cluster of excellence for interactive media by 2007,”
said Smith. “The Fortune Cat Games Studio incubator is an
excellent example of the strategic partnerships necessary to make
this happen and we’re pleased to be part of it.”
“Some of Manitoba’s most talented and educated people
are in the digital media industry and it’s important that
they have the opportunity to expand their skills here in the province,”
said Bruinooge. “The economic activity generated from this
project will result in new intellectual property controlled by Canadians,
new technologies, exciting knowledge-economy jobs, and new spin-off
companies here in Manitoba.”
“The Fortune Cat Games Studio incubator will ensure that
Winnipeg has the workforce to support this growing industry, and
will help keep highly skilled jobs in this city,” said Steeves.
“I am very pleased that, through the Winnipeg Partnership
Agreement, the City of Winnipeg is supporting this project.”
Fortune Cat Games Studio is a not-for-profit organization that
is working to build on Manitoba’s expertise and competitive
advantages in the global video games industry. The 3-year project
involves establishing an incubator studio that will house up to
three video game project teams of three to five people during each
year of operation. Each team will produce a video game prototype
that will be marketed to video game publishers and each team will
form a video games company.
The Fortune Cat Games Studio incubator will collaborate closely
with various strategic partners in Manitoba and around the world,
including the Winnipeg Game Developers Guild, the National Screen
Institute-Canada, Red River College, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce,
Junior Achievement, The Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Association,
MindSet, Autodesk, Sherpa Games, and the Neogames Centre of Games
Business Research & Development in Finland, among others. In
March 2006, Telefilm Canada provided the seed funding to Fortune
Cat Games Studio incubator as part of their program to build capacity
in the new media industry.
“Fortune Cat Games Studio will provide participants with
an artistic and technical skills development opportunity while fostering
business development skills,” said Dr. Jose A. Rueda, Chair
of Fortune Cat Games Studio. “Participants will gain new skills
and work experience, thanks to the involvement of electronic gaming
and media experts. The experience and skills of the participants
skills will also be directly transferable to many other exciting
traditional and knowledge industries including film, television,
engineering, medical imaging, architecture, simulation, graphic
art, web development, and many others.” For more information
consult the Web site www.fortunecatgames.ca.
Red River College recently announced a one-year advanced 3D Animation
Training diploma for September 2006. The program has been identified
as central to skill development.
Funding for the Fortune Cat Video Games incubator comes from Component
IV of the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement. This component is designed
to strengthen Winnipeg’s innovation system by supporting projects
that increase the awareness, capacity and use of new technologies.
Component IV will also build necessary infrastructure to promote
growth in knowledge-based sectors such as aerospace, life sciences
and alternative energy.
The Winnipeg Partnership Agreement was signed in May 2004 and represents
a five-year, $75-million commitment by the governments of Canada,
Manitoba and Winnipeg to strengthen city neighbourhoods, promote
economic development and enable Aboriginal citizens to fully enjoy
Winnipeg’s economic and social opportunities. Interested parties
are encouraged to consult the Web site www.winnipegpartnership.mb.ca
for program details.
For additional information, contact:
Jacquie Sippola
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (204) 983-0280
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Brad Salyn
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor
City of Winnipeg
(204) 986-4003
Graham Gork
Communications Coordinator
Communications Services
Manitoba
(204) 945-5795
