It’s an extremely busy and exciting time here at nGen, as we enter the next phase toward completion of our new nGen facility. We have just begun construction, and look forward to expanding our office at One St. Paul Street to include state-of-the-art technologies that will allow us to further capitalize on the expansion of the interactive media industry.

Our 1812: Interactive Niagara project is well on the way, and we expect it to be released to tourists this summer. This iPhone game, about the War of 1812, will use simulations, role playing, and strategy to provide tourists, students and others interested in history with a chance to see the impacts of various historic facts and choices on the outcome of this conflict that defines Canadian History.

We have held a number of exciting seminars and networking events, such as our monthly Interactive Media Mashups, which provide those interested in the digital interactive media sector with an evening of mingling, education, and opportunities to get involved in the industry. Our seminars are always at maximum capacity, and so we will be offering some seminar topics again to keep up with the demand. February will feature 2 seminars, Charting Out Intellectual Property Rights in the Knowledge Economy (February 3rd), and Gaming Technology in the Simulation Industry (February 9th). Check out our other upcoming events and RSVP early to reserve your spot!

Our door is always open, and we invite you to get involved in the exciting changes that accompany our new facility. We welcome new ideas relating to the field of interactive media from the community. The new facilities will greatly expand nGen’s capacity for tenants, so please contact me directly to discuss upcoming opportunities to become a tenant - jchesebrough@ngen-niagara.com.

Jeff Chesebrough

Executive Director, nGen

nGen’s 1812: Interactive Niagara project team is preparing to soft launch this April after 14 months in development, and hope to have their virtual tour guide ready for tourists this summer. The iPhone game is based on the War of 1812, and uses simulations, role playing and strategy to provide its users with an opportunity to see the impacts of various historic facts and choices on the outcome of this conflict that defines Canadian history.

Based on prototypes created by students in the Brock University Interactive Arts and Science Program, 1812: Interactive Niagara’s development was led by Kevin Kee, Brock University’s Canada Research Chair in Digital Humanities and Associate Professor.

“The 1812 Project has two components. The first is just an easy walk-around tour, so you can go wherever you want at whatever pace you like, with no specific plan. So it’s for people who are wandering around and who just want to know about the heritage of what’s around them,” explained Kee. “The second component is a guided tour and the tour is like a quest – so we present you with a mystery and you have to solve the mystery as you walk around Niagara-on-the-Lake.”

Thanks to a grant of $54,300 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, nGen was able to hire a game designer, graphic designer, and a team of programmers to work on the 1812: Interactive Niagara hybrid, downloadable reality game. There have been a few challenges presented throughout the game’s development.

“When we started it, we knew that it was a great idea. And we knew that, chances are, other people would also think that using their iPhone and GPS to take a guided tour of the area would be a good idea as well,” said Kee. “But everyone was kind of starting out at the same time, so there was really no blueprint and no plan to know how to go forward. We had to invent it as we went along ... GPS is a funny thing, because there are lots of wonderful claims that have been made about GPS, but it works best for cars. So the re-purpose that we’re applying here presents some technological challenges that we are working to overcome.”

1812: Interactive Niagara will provide a unique opportunity for those interested in history to learn about their surroundings as they experience them. Kee sees the project as a way for people to access history without having to actually conduct research, and instead become educated in a fun and active way.
“People are really interested in history, but they have trouble accessing it. We know that people really like history, but how do they get it? So what we’re doing is, we’re letting people know that history, especially in Niagara, is all around us,” said Kee.

“We’re hoping to promote our heritage and our history by simply showing people what’s there, showing them what they’ve taken for granted because they walk by it and never know the story behind a building, for example. If you walk around Niagara-on-the-lake in the summer, we know people are there for the history but they can’t see it. So that’s what we’re going to change, we’re going to say, ‘Hey, go for a nice walk, and you’re going to learn and enjoy it as you go’.” 

FURI Enterprises

FURI Enterprises just launched their new website at www.furi.ca, and are now excited to be underway with construction of nGen’s major expansion at One St. Paul. Stay tuned for more updates from FURI as they participate in the developments of nGen’s new facility.

Fourgrounds Media Inc.

Fourgrounds is proud to announce that they have experienced an extremely successful and productive year in terms of immense growth, a large milestone for the company which began only one year ago.

Fourgrounds is currently in the process of expanding their online streaming and video services, and they continue to engage Brock University’s departments in various services. They are currently developing a television series, a web series, and continuing to work on the ongoing co-production of a feature film with morro images (both in Canada and Germany) and Circular Records. Fourgrounds has also recently entered the production phase of their online IPTV network.

Fourgrounds Media Inc. has recently finished exercising the full amount of their funding from the Community Adjustment Fund in preparation for nGen’s new facility. Having purchased the necessary equipment and software, Fourgrounds Media has now reached a point where they have become fairly self-sustaining.

Playing a large role in the construction of the new facility at nGen, Fourgrounds Media looks forward to begin seeing progress and look forward to the final eye-catching and state-of-the-art design. Those at Fourground are excited to be able to offer new, high-tech services that will expand their reach as a company.

Fourgrounds will also be undergoing some changes to their website at www.fourgrounds.com, and invites calls to their new toll-free phone line at 1-877-464-FGMI.

Dragonchess Interactive Inc.

Dragonchess Interactive Inc. is currently in the process of completing the xBox 360 ‘Indie Games’ version of Dragon Chess, and preparing for its official release. The Dragonchess team is also working to determine the next platform that the game will be designed for.

morro images Inc.

morro images Inc. successfully kicked off 2010 with this year’s first nGen Interactive Media Mashup, sponsored by TD Canada Trust (www.tdcanadatrust.ca). Over 60 attendees joined us for another great networking event, with participants traveling from as far as Hamilton and Toronto.

nGen's new facility is in its early construction phase, and all technology planned and looked after by morro images is lined up and on schedule. By April 2010, morro will have access to a 16 camera Motion Capture system, a render farm, a high-end VFX suite and a R&D lab with 3D printer and 3D scanner.

morro images also finished VFX and animations for an image film for Willowbank School Of Restorations Arts (www.willowbank.ca), produced by fourgrounds media Inc (www.fourgrounds.com). Currently, morro images is creating On-Air graphics for Brock University's Brock TV The graphics consist of logo trailers, bumpers and more, which will be soon available for viewing at www.brocktv.ca (www.brocktv.ca).

Together with FURI Enterprises (www.furi.ca), morro images is researching and developing interactive content, and making use of WebGL. The first content previews are anticipated to be released early this summer.

We are also very excited that morro images in Germany is making good headway with their first in-house short film production, rendered in stereoscopic full HD. Visit morro images’ Website at www.morroimages.com (www.morroimages.com) and check out the news section for further details.

To keep in touch with morro images and stay on top of the latest breaking news from both continents, become a fan of our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/pages/morro-images-Inc/249108156486?ref=search&sid=100000635838316.3041321923..1) or follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/morroimages). We are looking forward to a very exciting and successful year 2010 for all of us.

We are currently looking to collaborate with those in the community on new projects. If you have an idea for an interactive media project, please contact nGen’s Executive Director, Jeff Chesebrough, for information on how to become involved at nGen - jchesebrough@ngen-niagara.com .

 

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