Attention all gamers, developers, and industry experts!
Gear up for a week full of excitement, learning, and innovation as Level Up Showcase and XP Game Developer Summit both take place this month!
Whether you’re an established developer looking to network and gain knowledge from fellow industry experts or just wanna check out the amazing games by the next generation of game developer and fellow Canadian studios, these events have something for everyone!
Level Up Showcase
Date: April 19, 2023
Time: 5pm
What is it?
Level Up Showcase is a FREE event that highlights the exceptional work of Ontario students in game development from a variety of colleges and universities across the province. Spotlighting the talent in game design, animation, and computer graphics while utilizing modern technology from motion sensors to virtual reality, and more!
With over 2,000 attendees each year, it’s the largest showcase of student talent in Ontario! Attracting game enthusiasts, industry leaders, and local media outlets looking to hire the best and the brightest.
This year will feature over 100 games and have 500 student participants!
What are we doing?
Ubisoft Toronto is a proud sponsor, and also an active participant as experts from our studio will be part of the jury that gets to decide who takes home the grand prize! Voting on Best Overall Game, Technical Innovation, and Artistic Achievement, while attendees choose their pick for the People’s Choice Award.
Get ready to immerse yourself in expectational student-made Canadian games and register NOW (Its FREE!)
XP Game Developer Summit
Date: April 20-21, 2023
Time: 10am – 5pm
What is it?
The XP Game Developer Summit is Canada’s top business-to-business conference for video game developers. Providing one-of-a-kind networking opportunities, workshops, and exclusive panels from world-class professionals!
- Meet industry verterans, investors, publishers, studios, and more!
- Grow your knowledge tree by receiving masterclasses and panels from expert leaders
- Play innovative titles until your heart’s content– no quarters needed!
What are we doing?
This year, we’re proud to announce that several Ubisoft Indie Series winners will be present at the event showcasing their unique games. While you’re there be sure to keep an eye out for:
- Rocket Adrift – Grand Prize Winner, 2023 Ubisoft Indie Series
Game designers Sloane Smith, Lindsay Rollins, and Titus McNally formed Rocket Adrift with a mission to tell personal narratives that highlight LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC experiences and depict Canadian culture through an outsider’s lens. Their game, Psychroma, is a narrative-driven side-scroller where you play as a digital medium and confront the past by piecing together the broken memories of a cybernetic house and exorcise the ghosts in the machine. The player is challenged to empathize with the ghosts of the past using unique mechanics to progress.
- Thousand Stars Studio – National Bank Special Prize Winner, 2023 Ubisoft Indie Series
Thousand Stars Studio Inc is a Toronto-based design studio that creates immersive video games and interactive experiences. Co-founded by Sally Luc and Parth Soni in August 2017, the studio aims to create story-driven imaginative games with a multi-cultural approach. In their game, Milkyway VR, the player can take control of godly cheese coated pinchers in this RTS VR experience and work together with the brave Donut Trooper Task Force to build turrets and guide the citizens to safety through the Coco Milk Express.
- Pushing Vertices Inc. – Honourable Mention, 2023 Ubisoft Indie Series
Pushing Vertices Inc focuses on developing relaxing and delightful games for people who do not often see themselves in existing games and aims to create transformative stories that put representation at the forefront. Their game, Roller Girl, is a chill adventure-narrative game set in Ontario in which players can explore the local neighborhood on rollerblades.
- Achimostawinan Games – Grand Prize Winner, 2022 Ubisoft Indie Series
Achimostawinan Games is an Indigenous-owned indie studio with a head office located in Hamilton, Ontario (part of the Between the Lakes Treaty or Treaty No. 3). Achimostawinan is a Cree word that means “tell us a story” and that is what they aim to do at their studio. Their newly launched game, Hill Agency: PURITY/decay, is a detective mystery game where you play as a tough as nails P.I. solving everything from petty crimes to global conspiracies all while exploring the various worlds that make up North America of the future.
- Kitten Cup Studio – National Bank Special Prize Winner, 2020 Ubisoft Indie Series
Kitten Cup Studio, a Toronto-based indie studio, is on a mission to create cozy games, the studio is primarily made up of POC and LGBTQ+ developers. Their game, Pekoe, is a tea-making simulation game about taking the time for self-care and connecting with the things that make one happy.
- Alientrap Games – Grand Prize Winner, 2018 Ubisoft Indie Series
Alientrap Games Inc is a Toronto-based indie studio. Their game, Wytchwood, is a crafting adventure game set in a land of gothic fables and fairytales. As the old witch of the woods, players can explore a strange countryside, collect magic ingredients, brew sorcerous spells, and pass judgement upon a capricious cast of characters. The studio will also be showcasing an unannounced action RPG called Project Dunecrawl
- Falling Squirrel – National Bank Special Prize Winner, 2018 Ubisoft Indie Series
Falling Squirrel specializes in story-driven experiences with the specific goal of pioneering advances in narrative design and blind accessible audio game mechanics. The studio’s first audio-based game, The Vale: Shadow of the Crown, is an action-adventure that utilizes the full potential of 3D audio and haptic controller feedback to deliver visceral gameplay that shatters the barrier between player and character and sets out to breathe new life into medieval combat and provide a truly novel experience for visually impaired and sighted gamers alike.
Be sure to stop by the booths to demo these stunning games and learn more about the talented individuals at these studios.
Network, Learn and Play!
In addition to showcasing indie studios, we are also proud to have some of Ubisoft Toronto’s very own experts speaking at this year’s XP Game Developer Summit. You definitely don’t want to miss out.
Be sure to catch Audio Director Eduardo Vaisman as he talks about the intersection of audio and artificial intelligence at “The Future of Game Audio” panel discussion.
Date: April 20th
Time: 1:30 PM
Register here!
And follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates!
If you’re planning to attend one or both of these events, make sure to come by our booth and say hi!
