Montreal Team Wins ESAC Student Video Game Competition - "Zorya" to be Showcased at E3 2017

TORONTO, June 7, 2017 /CNW/ - The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) announced today that a team from Polytechnique Montréal and Centre NAD has won the association's third annual Student Video Game Competition. Their multiplayer puzzle game Zorya was created by a team comprised of four (4) students from each institution.  The combined team consisted of Lisa Bourgeois, Bianka Chandler Boisvert, Xavier Gamache, Catherine Benoit, Félix Landry, Catherine Acosta, Mackly Férère Antoine and Daryl Barampanze. Representatives from the Zorya team will be travelling to Los Angeles, California to showcase their game at the E3 Expo. E3 is the world's premier trade show for computer and video games and takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Centre from June 13-15, 2017.

"We are very excited to announce Zorya as our Student Video Game Competition winner", said Jayson Hilchie, President & CEO of ESAC. "What better way to celebrate Canada's 150^th anniversary this year than by having a diverse team from Quebec to represent our country at the world's most important video game show", he added. The Zorya team is evenly split amongst male and female developers, and it is also the first game originally developed in French to win ESAC's Student Video Game Competition.

Zorya was first developed for Ubisoft Montreal's 2017 Game Lab Competition. Nineteen teams from 11 Quebec universities participated in the competition, where Zorya secured awards for "Best Creativity & Theme's Integration", "People's Choice Award" and "Best Prototype". Through Ubisoft's Game Lab Competition, $22,000 in scholarships areawarded to winning teams and Ubisoft also guarantees it will grant at least 10 internships or jobs to Competition participants.

"Our Gam Lab Competition was a great opportunity for this team to come together and unveil their tremendous talent. Zorya captivated the judges with its ambiance, grace and technical originality," said Cedric Orvoine, Ubisoft Montreal's Vice President HR & Communications. "We look forward to seeing Zorya represent the future of the Canadian industry at E3 and we are delighted at the international recognition that the game will receive through ESAC's Student Video Game Competition," he added.

"When we started working on Zorya for the Ubisoft competition, we didn't realize how far it would take us. We never thought we'd be receiving a call from ESAC to showcase at E3", said Bianka Chandler Boisvert. "This is such a unique opportunity to connect directly with the industry in which we hope to work after graduation and we couldn't be more grateful", she added.

The ESAC Student Video Game Competition is designed to recognize top video game talent from Canadian academic institutions. The winner will receive an exclusive showcase display and valuable networking opportunities at E3 2017. E3 2016 attracted over 50,000 attendees and with an additional 15,000 consumers in attendance this year, E3 is an excellent opportunity for the students to interact with their peers, learn from industry leaders and see what it takes to become successful in the video game industry.

About Zorya

Zorya is an award winning video game developed for the Concours Universitaire Ubisoft Game Lab Competition 2017 by students at Polytechnique Montréal and NAD School. The multiplayer puzzle game allows players to control a creature named Aysu, who can only survive in the shadows. The second player as Solveig, deity of the day, can change the hour of the day to move the shadows on the ground and protect its partner. For more information on Zorya: https://freaxx.itch.io/zorya 

About E3 Expo

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) is the foremost trade show of the newest trends, products and technologies for the global entertainment software industry. Hosted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the E3 Expo brings together developers, distributers, media and consumers from around the world to experience the future of interactive entertainment.

About ESAC

ESAC is the voice of the Canadian video game industry. ESAC works on behalf of its members to ensure the legal, regulatory and public affairs environment is favourable for the long-term development of Canada's video game industry, which now contributes $3 billion to Canada's GDP. Association members include the nation's leading interactive software developers and publishers including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Capcom, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Canada, Nintendo of Canada, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Other Ocean, Glu Mobile, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Ludia, Silverback Games, Square Enix, Relic Entertainment, Take Two Interactive, Gameloft and Solutions 2 Go.

SOURCE Entertainment Software Association of Canada

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