Canada Media Fund Approves Funding For 12 Game Projects

The Canada Media Fund, a private-public group that gives financial assistance to emerging forms of media, announced significant funding for 12 game projects this week, with one company receiving $1 million. The first round of CMF's Experimental Stream, a program designed to help development of commericially-viable digital media content and software applications, gave an average of over $500,000 each to support 12 game projects, including "a pirate-themed geocaching adventure," "the world's first 3D interactive TV series," and a DS sketchpad program. Numerically-named developer 2904802 Canada Inc. led the game grants with $1 million in funding for its Bot Colony project, which the CMF web site says will help players "learn or improve English skills as an integral part of gameplay." The Experimental Stream funding also includes 15 other non-game projects, including many with game-like features. A total of $16.2 million was granted in this first round of funding, with $10.8 million in further funding to be granted in a second round, which is taking applications through November 12. Over 250 applicants submitted projects to be considered for funding in this first round, which was decided based on a jury's assessment of the project's innovation, business plan and distribution strategy.