From left: Jeff Chesebrough, Matthew Webb, Martin Danahay

A Thorold High School student has won nGen’s first video game pitch competition, which was judged by fourth year Interactive Arts and Science students from Brock.

Matthew Webb won an iPod Touch for proposing an online combat game called Smash ‘Em Up. The competition was held by the Niagara Interactive Media Generator, a downtown St. Catharines new media business incubator.

The competition resulted from a January seminar called Game Design 101, which was hosted by nGen and presented by Dragonchess Interactive Inc. Professor Martin Danahay asked high school students in attendance to pitch an idea for a new game.

A group of Interactive Arts and Science students chose the winner. Designing video games is taught as part of Brock’s interactive media curriculum.

“I’m delighted to work with nGen to encourage the next generation of game designers in the Niagara Region, who I hope will follow in the footsteps of Denis Dyack, CEO of Silicon Knights, and get a degree from Brock and go on to found their own local video game company,” said Danahay, director of the Interactive Arts and Science program.

nGen hosts monthly seminars on various topics ranging from video game development to tax credits in the digital interactive media sector.

Twelve students from five high schools (Eden, E. L. Crossley, Niagara District, Sir Winston Churchill and Thorold) attended the Game Design 101 seminar.

“We were very pleased with the turnout,” said Jeff Chesebrough, nGen executive director.

Webb was awarded his prize on Feb. 19.

Quick link:
nGen – Niagara Interactive Media Generator