Montreal, January 27, 2017 – After countless hours and the evaluation of their games by the jury, Thunder Lotus Games, Norsfell (QC) and Reptoid Games (ON) were crowned winners of the first edition of the Ubisoft Indie Series competition presented by National Bank. The founders of the three studios won $50,000 as well as a wide array of expert services ranging from finance, marketing, communication, the distribution of their games and much more.
“We have received many game projects for the competition and choices were not easy to make. I think this difficulty is a clear statement to the independent Canadian game developers creative genius. But in the end we needed to pick winners. In Quebec, Thunder Lotus Games and Norsfell stood out because of their focus to deliver a clear creative direction and experience that gives a strong coherence to all the elements of their respective game”, declared Mr. Lionel Raynaud, Creative Vice-President at Ubisoft Montreal and judge for the Ubisoft Indie Series.
“I was really impressed by the quality and diversity of the presentations. The Ubisoft Indie Series presented by National Bank is a proof of the stature of Montreal, Toronto and Quebec as a hubs for creativity, innovation and know-how. I’m proud to have been part of this competition as a judge and to have met a new and flourishing generation of game developers”, concluded Mr. Éric Laflamme, Senior Manager-Business Services, Technology Group.
Chainsawesome Games, Clever Plays, Double Stallion, Nine Dots Studio and Papercult won National Bank special prizes which that include access to a financial advisor and a full financial diagnostic of the studio’s business operations. The representatives from Thunder Lotus Games and Norsfell each won a 24h EEB at the Beauce Entrepreneurship School offered in collaboration with National Bank as well as one pass to the NB Camp in April 2017 also offered by National Bank.
About the Ubisoft Indie Series
The Ubisoft Indie Series is an annual competition for independent Canadian video game studios. The winners will get $50,000, mentorship, creative tools, financial as well as marketing services to help them enhance the success of their business and games.
The participants must submit their application file to the members of a jury which is composed of employees from Ubisoft and National Bank. Among all the projects submitted, a maximum of ten will be preselected in each province by the jury. Preselected studios will then be invited to pitch their game in front of the jury and run the chance of winning prizes given at an award ceremony.
The competition is for independent studios composed of at least two, but no more than 50 employees located in Quebec or Ontario. The studios should have previously launched at least one game and should currently be working on a game that will be published on PC, and possibly on other platforms.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2015-16 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,394 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
About National Bank
With $232 billion in assets as at October 31, 2016, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada’s leading integrated financial groups. The Bank has more than 21,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank’s activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
