TORONTO – Toronto-based mobile game producer SilverBirch announced Tuesday that it has been approved for a "six figure" production grant by the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.
The money will go towards the development and distribution of the upcoming Ice Planet mobile game (on Bell Mobility, we’re guessing). The game is based on a new Canadian science fiction television series (which will air on CHUM Television’s Space in the fall) and video game enterprise, starring Michael Ironside, which is currently in production and scheduled for release later in the year.
A joint production of SpaceWorks GameCo Inc., a division of SpaceWorks Entertainment Inc. (Canada), and PlayG, a division of P&P Multimedia (France), the TV series will be distributed by CHUM International. SilverBirch secured the global mobile content rights to the Ice Planet brand in April 2006 and is planning to release the game into world markets concurrent with the launch of the TV series, says the company.
"This is an important milestone for SilverBirch and certainly a strong endorsement of our Ice Planet game initiatives", said CEO Kevin Birch. "Having the Bell Fund finance nearly seventy five percent of our project costs further ensures that this game will be up to our expected standards of quality and innovation, with the greatest worldwide market penetration possible… and we are excited about being in full control of the distribution efforts and owning a significant share of the ongoing revenues."
