Details on Vortex 2008 will be announced during the event March 25 at Arts and Letters Club. Follow these links for Registration & Information or the Press Release.
2007's Vortex Competition was a huge success culminating with the Vortex Finals, held at the IAOD with the Closing Party and Awards Ceremony held at Monsoon Restaurant. The organizers were most grateful for the support from the IAOD, including the use of their incredible TV Studio that held the event and the Television Program's students who provided coverage of the proceedings.
The Finals Judges were:
Mark Montgomery, Telus
Nick Patsiopoulos, Yahoo! Canada
Emanuel Wall, Strategy First and Turner Game Tap
George Chastain, Jr, for DreamCatcher Games
Marc Saltzman, Technology Expert, TV & Radio host
Speeches were made at the Awards Ceremony by:
Bill Marshall, Founder and Executive Director, McLuhan International Festival of the Future who thanked the numerous partners, supporters and individuals without whom Vortex would not have happened - see partners page
Kim Gibson, Ontario Media Development Corporation, who applauded the Vortex program & voiced OMDC's support of the Ontario videogame industry
Jonathan Freedman, Rogers Wireless on behalf of International Academy of Design & Technology, who reitterated the IAOD's committment to fostering the education of the videogame sector, while offering thanks to the organizers on behalf of the Academy.
Sari Ruda, Co-Founder, MIFF who introduced the award presenters
Each platform winner was presented a Certificate of Accomplishment, an Xbox 360 Console, a Forza Racing Game and supply of Red Rain Energy Drink by:
Mobile Award presented by Mark Montgomery, Telus
Internet Award presented by Nick Patsiopoulos, Yahoo! Canada
PC Award presented by Emanuel Wall, Strategy First and Turner Game Tap
Console Award presented by George Chastain, Jr, for DreamCatcher Games
The Grand Prize Award of $2,500 for the most innovative game and a Certificate of Accomplishment was presented by:
Vikas Gupta from Transgaming Technologies Inc. - who has been a dedicated Supporter of Vortex throughout, a mentor to the winners and a Corporate Sponsor of the Vortex Competition
The Winner of the Vortex 2007 Videogame Competition was:
Joe Pirotta and his team at WASD Gameworks Inc. with their game 'Attrition'. Congratulations!
Special Thanks to the Mentors:
Mobile:
Jason Azevedo, Silverbirch
Kris Piotrowski, Capybara Games
Mark Montgomery, Telus
Internet:
Kirsty Cook, Yahoo! Canada
Vikas Gupta, Transgaming Technologies Inc.
PC:
Trevor Fencott, Groove Games
Warren Currell, Sherpa Games
Console:
Josh Druckman, Dark Matter Entertainment
Vikas Gupta, Transgaming Technologies