Renowned Prince of Persia video game producer helps ProtoLaunch take off in SSM

October 9, 2009 – Ben Mattes, producer from one of the world’s largest video game studios, Ubisoft Montreal, will make a rare appearance in Sault Ste. Marie when he officially kicks off the start of ProtoLaunch on October 16, 2009. The youth gaming initiative that was announced in June will officially launch at a special high school session of ARTIE (Advanced, Research & Technology Innovation Expo) where hundreds of Algoma District secondary school students will be participating. Students will learn about the game development process from Mattes in an exciting and engaging presentation featuring real life examples from Ubisoft. As a producer for Ubisoft Montreal Studios, Mattes is only available for a handful of speaking engagements each year. He recently spoke alongside Steve Jobs at the Apple Inc. “Apple Rock and Roll” event in San Francisco, California.

“We are extremely honoured to have Ben Mattes, one of the video game industry’s most renowned producers, visit Sault Ste. Marie and participate in ProtoLaunch in such a big way,” said Tom Vair, executive producer, SSMIC. “Ben’s presence in northern Ontario at two of our video gaming workshops and the start of ProtoLaunch provides a unique opportunity for participants in the Algoma region. This is really exciting for everybody involved and we’re sure the youth and small and medium sized businesses who participate will learn a lot from his expertise and his engaging presentations.”

While in Sault Ste. Marie, Mattes, who is well known for his work on the Prince of Persia series and Assassin’s Creed II, will be speaking at two workshops; one directed at youth and one directed at local small and medium sized businesses. Significantly, Mattes will host the first ever ProtoLaunch workshop on October 17, 2009 where he will teach high school students how to successfully pitch video game ideas. There is only room for 24 participants in this monumental first ProtoLaunch workshop and registration will be taken on a first come, first serve basis. Registration information will be announced at the ProtoLaunch kick off event. For more information about ProtoLaunch please contact Dwayne.hammond@algomau.ca or 942-7927.

Meanwhile, small and medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to see Mattes present at a free workshop on the morning of October 16, 2009. Here, Mattes will present on the stages and key challenges of game development using real life examples from the popular Prince of Persia series. This workshop takes place at Algoma University, room WW103 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To register for this workshop please contact: mguzzo@ssmic.com or 942-7927 ext. 3130. This workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs is hosted through a contribution from the National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

ProtoLaunch provides a unique system to assist youth in developing work related skills in the video gaming industry. The program received $461, 800 in funding from The OntarioTrillium Foundation and will run for three years in the Algoma district. With ProtoLaunch, high school students will be invited to participate in a series of free video game workshops throughout the year which will be taught by renown gaming professionals such as Ben Mattes. The workshops will lead up to a five week competition during the summer months where participants will be asked to form teams and work together to create a project using the skills they have gained. Students who are selected to participate in the summer competition will also get paid for an exciting summer job experience. A goal of ProtoLaunch is to help stem the flow of youth-out migration by giving local students the opportunity to build valuable skills in the much sought after gaming industry.

Canada has taken a leading role in the video game industry and is the third largest country in terms of game development after only the United States of America and Japan. Canada is also home to the world’s largest video game studio in Ubisoft Montreal, and many Canadian youth enter this rapidly growing industry each year at one of the many successful development studios across the country. ProtoLaunch is the first project of its kind and gives local youth the unique opportunity to gain valuable skills while learning about a career in the video game sector.

To learn more about ProtoLaunch or express interest in participating in the program please contact SSMIC and ask to be placed on the ProtoLaunch email updates list: info@ssmic.com or 942-7927

About guest speaker Ben Mattes:

Ben Mattes is a Producer at Ubisoft Montreal Studios, one of the largest development studios in the world. For four years Ben focused on the Prince of Persia universe, leading the production of The Two Thrones, Rival Swords, as well as 2008’s instalment, “Prince of Persia”. Ready for new challenges he is currently in the very early stages of building a new IP. Prior to joining Ubisoft Ben worked in the wireless gaming space in a variety of production management roles.

As a highly respected industry professional, Ben has been invited to speak at several high caliber industry events including Apple Inc’s recent “Apple Rock and Roll” event in San Francisco, California. We are especially fortunate to have Ben visit Sault Ste. Marie and speak with local youth as he is only available to do a handful of these engagements worldwide each year.

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About ProtoLaunch

ProtoLaunch is a series of hands on, industry led workshops followed by an annual game development competition targeting youth in the community who are interested in a career in video game development. Students selected to participate in the annual game development competition held in the summer months will be paid as part of an exciting summer job experience. ProtoLaunch received $461, 800 funding from The Ontario Trillium Foundation and is run in partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC), Algoma University, Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology, YMCA Employment and Community Services, Anishinabek Information Technology Centre (AITC) and the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre – Algoma.


About Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre

The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre was founded in 1999 and serves as a catalyst for growth in the IT, science and knowledge based sectors in the Algoma District. In 2009, they merged with science enterprise Algoma to combine resources and accomplish their mutual goals of enhanced innovation capacity for both the IT and bioscience sectors. The Innovation Centre works closely with community partners to enhance and improve science and IT sector opportunities.

The Innovation Centre is focused on four core areas: operating a business incubator to encourage the establishment and growth of business start-ups; providing support services to the SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) IT and science community; supporting the establishment and enhancement of advanced research projects in the region and undertaking strategic market development projects such as the highly successful GIS project.

The Innovation Centre operates an award-winning GIS department that has been recognized internationally for its unique community information utility model and advanced work in the health and human services sector.

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
1520 Queen Street East, NW 307
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G4
Telephone: 705-942-7927
http://www.ssmic.com

For More Information Contact:

Mei Ling
Communications Manager
Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
1520 Queen St. E., Rm. NW307
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G4
705-942-7927, Ext. 3122
mling@ssmic.com
www.ssmic.com
www.itssm.com