Episodes

  • Vanessa Capito shares her inspiring journey from a kindergarten gamer to a passionate advocate for inclusive game development, sparked by classics like Pokémon and Mass Effect. She established the MacEwan Game Developers Club to create a welcoming space for aspiring developers and leveraged internships to build a strong portfolio in the gaming industry. Now at Inflection Games, Vanessa focuses on storytelling and emphasizes the importance of effective communication and problem-solving in her role. The conversation also highlights the value of community and collaboration, particularly through events like the upcoming Alberta Game Jam, which offers exciting opportunities for learning and networking.

    Important Links:

    https://playnightingale.com/

    https://askagamedev.tumblr.com/

    https://gamecampedmonton.com/

    https://itch.io/jam/alberta-game-jam-2024

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1537080/Return/

    [email protected]

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessacapito

    Join the conversation:Send your thoughts via text or voice message to ⁠[email protected]

  • From the realms of tech and media, Catherine Warren discusses her career journey, specifically around esports, including how she helped bring a 24-hour broadcast channel to Canada from the UK, AI in esports and gaming, esports fandom, and strategies and opportunities for cities like Edmonton to become esports hubs.

    Catherine is the founder & CEO of FanTrust, a global digital consultancy dedicated to IP innovation, financing, business development, and monetizing bridges between fans and media rights-holders. She’s the former CEO of the Vancouver Economic Commission and Edmonton Unlimited (formerly Innovate Edmonton & Startup Edmonton).

    Important Links:

    https://linktr.ee/GINXCanada

    UK eSports Network Ginx to Launch 24/7 TV Channel in Canada

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HUD_(TV_program)

    https://www.youtube.com/trends/report/fandom-2024/

    Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism: Mazzucato, Mariana: 9780063046238: Books - Amazon.ca

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceowarren/

    https://fantrust.com/

    Join the conversation:Send your thoughts via text or voice message to ⁠[email protected]

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  • Rosche Rheeder, Delena Martens, and Ricardo Rheeder are the founders of Lucid Rain Studios, a game development studio based in Edmonton, AB, Canada, discuss their journey and the game they are working on called Inferius. The studio was founded in 2021 and has been experiencing growth and opportunities in the indie game community. Rosche, Delena, and Ricardo emphasize the importance of playing the long game and setting realistic goals for their studio. From showcasing their game and finding a support network to building a productive, fun, collaborative, and innovative studio culture and exploring the big influences on their game design journey.

    Inferius is a first-person horror game with deck-building elements, inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy and Lovecraftian themes. The game focuses on psychological and cosmic horror, creating an atmosphere of fear and the unknown. Add Inferious to your Steam wishlist today.

    Important Links:https://store.steampowered.com/app/2470790/Inferius/ https://www.tiktok.com/@lucidrainstudios https://www.instagram.com/lucidrainstudios/https://x.com/lucidraindevhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/lucid-rain-studios/ https://www.youtube.com/@lucidrainstudios/null

    Join the conversation:Send your thoughts via text or voice message to ⁠[email protected]

  • Jesse Sadlowski from Lethbridge School Division discussed the Alberta Esports Championship held at the beginning of May 2024, highlighting the rapid growth of esports in local schools. The event featured 250 students competing in popular games like League of Legends and Super Smash Bros., showcasing the evolution of gaming from casual entertainment to a serious competitive sport. The school division has invested in gaming equipment and created a safe environment for students, with support from organizations like the Alberta Esports Association. Jesse emphasized the increasing involvement of educational institutions in esports, its growing recognition as a legitimate sport, and the importance of in-person events. He expressed enthusiasm for the future of esports in Lethbridge and Alberta, suggesting a promising outlook for the gaming community in the region.

    Important Links:

    https://aec2024.rallyonline.ca/

    https://www.atle.ca/

    https://www.lethsd.ab.ca/

    Join the conversation:

    Send your thoughts via text or voice message to [email protected]

  • Live recording from Game Con Canada 2024, ümay.rest co-founders Sharmin Habib and Ali Habib shared their thoughts after participating as an exhibitor for the three-day event. The Edmonton-based startup hosted a booth where curious attendees could test the wearable eye device. They also hosted a panel discussion on mental health and wellness in gaming and esports featuring industry experts from ergonomics, psychology, game development, and optometry. Despite being affiliated with the company for the duration of the Con, I'm proud to have been one of the lucky customers who took advantage of ordering a unit with the GCC promo!

    Important Links:

    ⁠https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8VXbxjSWd4/⁠

    https://umay.rest/pages/discover-umay-rest

    ümay-hosted panel, coming soon...

    ümay blog post, coming soon...

    *Please note that we experienced some technical difficulties during this on-site recording. The recording has also been enhanced as part of the completion of this episode.

  • GameCon Canada, the country's largest gaming convention, is making Edmonton its home for the next three years after a successful inaugural event in 2023, down in Calgary. The brainchild of Maybel Consulting–Marc Belisle & Chris Meilleur–during the pandemic, this massive convention features a wide array of gaming experiences like video games, board games, AR/VR, and tabletop RPGs with a focus on community building through partnerships with local organizations. After receiving bids from multiple cities, Edmonton won the rights to host GameCon's immersive gaming paradise that aims to showcase the industry, provide opportunities for local talent and businesses, and implement health/wellness initiatives - all while continuously improving based on community feedback. We’ll see you at Game Con! Plus, have the chance to get a hug for your eyes and mind with ümay.rest. GLHF

    Important Links:

    https://gameconcanada.com/

    https://www.tixr.com/groups/gameconcanada/events/game-con-canada-powered-by-telus-82766

    https://GCC2024.expofp.com?umay

    https://umay.rest/pages/discover-umay-rest

    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/good-enough9

    Join the conversation:

    Send your thoughts via text or voice message to [email protected]

  • As we explore the esports program at Vimy Ridge Academy, we talk to their Esports Director, Travis Bouchard. He shares his first interaction with video games and how his passion for gaming led him to start the program. Travis explains the process of gaining buy-in from decision-makers, students, and parents, highlighting the importance of trust and open-mindedness. He emphasizes the benefits of the program, including building a community, developing communication skills, promoting physical fitness, and exploring various career opportunities in the esports industry. #VIMYPROUD

    Important Links:https://vimyridge.epsb.ca/programs/esports/

    https://www.esportcanada.org/about-ed-edu

    Join the conversation:

    Send your thoughts via text or voice message to [email protected]

  • This installment features Allyson Cikor, an Environment Art Outsource Manager for the Coalition Studio, and she shares her journey in the gaming industry. She discusses her early experiences with games and her passion for game development. Allyson also talks about her indie VR game studio that she co-founded with her husband, the challenges of funding in the gaming industry, and the rise of indie studios. She highlights community's importance and involvement with the Lethbridge Game Developers Guild. We also explore the differences and opportunities in game development, gaming, and esports, the passion and community of esports, the development of the esports program at Lethbridge College, overcoming resistance to esports in education, the landscape of esports programs in post-secondary education, and the significance of the High Level Innovation Conference in Lethbridge.Important Links:📧 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyson-cikor-b6654b108/ https://www.gearsofwar.com/neverfightalone/https://discord.gg/Ec7jZB8WHa https://lethbridgecollege.ca/programs-and-courses/virtual-and-augmented-realityhttps://highlevelinnovation.com/ https://playnightingale.com/

    Join the conversation:

    Send your thoughts via text or voice message to [email protected]

  • Class has begun and Shadi “Zedi” Hanna shares how his experiences and passion for video games led him to a sustainable career in esports. From his time navigating college to landing his most recent gig as an instructor for the Esports Business Management program at Bow Valley College in Calgary.

    Important Links

    Esports Business Management | Bow Valley College

    Events Calendar — ALBERTA ESPORTS ASSOCIATION

    Alberta Esports Championship 2024 | About

    High Level Innovation Conference - Tech, Tourism, and Gaming Tickets, Fri, 3 May 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

    Connect with Shadi

    Email: [email protected]

    Linkedin: Shadi Hanna - Bow Valley College | LinkedIn

    Join the conversation:

    Send your thoughts via text or voice message to [email protected]

  • The game is set with a fresh sheet of ice as Ben “uninsta1l” Thomson, clutches his controller as he awaits for puck drop at another EA SPORTS NHL World Championship. He’s repped an Oilers jersey for the past three seasons but will wear some new threads as he reps the Florida Panthers for 2024.

    Please sit back and enjoy the game as we chat about his competitive journey, buy-in from his parents, growing the local CHEL scene, and where he hopes to land as he continues to build his career. #LetsGoOilers

    Special thanks to Nate Thomson.

    Good Talk!

    Connect with uninsta1l

    https://www.twitch.tv/uninsta1l (Twitch)

    https://twitter.com/uninsta1l (X/Twitter)

    Join the conversation

    Send your thoughts via text or voice message to [email protected]

  • The return of esports events was bestowed upon Edmonton City Council on Feb. 7, 2024, with a report prepared by City Administration that consisted of different actions identified in the Alberta Esports Strategy that would fall under municipal control and within its existing budget. It was noted that careful consideration was made based on existing budgets, resources, mandates, and city council priorities for the report’s creation.The discussion was a mix of what was and what wasn’t included in the report. The opposition primarily being, a lack of community engagement outside of the municipal agencies. In this episode, I discuss things that stood out to me from the conversation between council, administration, and guest speakers on this agenda item.Watch the Council Mtg Discussions24.02.07 - YEGCC Exec Committee Mtg | https://tinyurl.com/ysxnv8r423.04.04 - YEGCC Mtg | https://tinyurl.com/3sxde4yz Report Links:Alberta Esports Expo Summary Report 2023 | https://tinyurl.com/3ukcjxtfActions Within Municipal Influence | https://tinyurl.com/2wjj79raPossible Expansion of Roles | https://tinyurl.com/53cnepvv Gaming Initiatives and Future | https://tinyurl.com/3dt4fjjy Game Con Canada | https://tinyurl.com/4fmvkfc5 CoE Esports Events Presentation | https://tinyurl.com/yj5ff652

    Join the conversation:

    Send your thoughts via text or voice message to [email protected]

  • Welcome one and all, as we embark on what is sure to be a memorable and informative journey. Adventure awaits dear friends, but before we begin talking to these passionate and insightful individuals, allow me to set the stage. Only then, can we begin. executive producersCK “CKD” DhaliwalKen "sharktankone" BautistaTristan "Ravanos11" Hamproduced byCory "Sellarcast" Sellarmusic byEnvatocover art byCanvahosted byCory "Sellarcast" Sellar