The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) supports the growth of Canada’s video game industry through research, advocacy and promoting awareness of key issues affecting the sector; such as talent development and the future of technology skills in Canada.
As part of its efforts, ESAC annually hosts its Canadian Student Video Game Competition, inviting post-secondary students from across the country to participate and showcase their development skills and demonstrate excellence in three (3) core areas: Originality/Creativity, Artistic Expression and Technical Proficiency. Video games are an important part of today’s society and students from across our country are creating exciting and innovative experiences as part of their post-secondary education.
“As this competition has grown, we have seen an unbelievable increase in the quality and quantity of student submissions, and that was the objective when we launched this initiative in 2014”, stated Jayson Hilchie, President & CEO of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada. “The Canadian video game industry continues to grow and we need to ensure that we do everything we can to encourage students to choose a career in our field. The Student Video Game Competition is just one small way we can reward and recognize those students who have gone above and beyond in their post-secondary development projects.”
The competition, now in its fifth year, received a record number of submissions in 2019. Forty post-secondary teams from twenty-five schools from Newfoundland to British Columbia, submitted their games for our expert panel of judges to play and review.
A team of students representing Université du Québec en Abitibi Témiscamingue (UQAT) and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) teamed up to build the game Cut Loose. Originally built for Ubisoft’s 2019 Game Lab Competition, the project earned Ubisoft’s prize for best artistic direction and production as well as the public choice award.
Ubisoft has a longstanding history of engaging universities and supporting student entry into the video game industry. 2019 marks the ninth edition of their Game Lab Competition.
Cut Loose marks the third consecutive year that a team from Quebec that participated in Ubisoft Game Lab Competition has captured ESAC’s Student Video Game Competition. The team will now travel to Los Angeles, California to showcase their game on the show floor at E3 from June 11 to 13.
This year’s top three games in #SVGC2019 span the country and showcase how Canada’s post-secondary game development programs are producing top-notch talent:
- First Place – Cut Loose, UQAT/UQAM
- Second Place – HOMEBASS, Sheridan College
- Third Place – Team Akimbo, VarchIan, Vancouver Film School
