Is it wrong to be intelligent AND beautiful? If you're out of shape and stupid - then yes! Fortunately for all of us, our guest presenter falls into the former category and can school us all on the do's and don'ts of Web 2.0 Social Media. Rule #1: Don't refer to people as out of shape and stupid...
It's been quite a year and we have plenty to celebrate. Our industry had the opportunity to partner on some amazing events over the past 12-months and the opportunities to grow business has never been stronger (recession, what recession?). People I've spoken with in the Manitoba Digital Media sectors are upbeat; our markets are expanding, there is plenty of work to go after, and new companies, web applications, and iPhone apps are popping up all over the province. This has been an awesome year to be a new media entrepreneur. What better way to celebrate your success than with all the folks that make this industry great?
Wow! Hot on the heels of a our iPhone SDK demo we are going to show you one of the most efficient ways to get your development team up and running with Scrum Agile Project Management. You must register in advance to attend this event.
Steve Demeter developed the iPhone puzzle game Trism as a side project, and now he's quit his day job. Why? Because he's generated $250,000 in profits since he began selling the $4.99 game on iTunes and that's after Apple took a 30% cut of total sales. In a story closer to home, one of our own Winnipeg developers, Dan Messing, earned $15,000 in revenue for his 4 in a Row game on iTunes, and that was just during the FIRST MONTH. I've personally never seen a faster way for the Manitoba new media community to profit from a platform than the Apple iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK). With over 10-million iPhones (not including the iPod Touch) sold in the past year, the quickest way to make yourself a boatload of cash is to get on the iPhone Software Development Bandwagon. On Tuesday, October 21, 2008, we will have you at the word, "iPhone."
On Saturday, September 27, 2008, we are hosting a special event beginning at 9 am, at Polo Park Silver City Cinemas. Kert Gartner from Frantic Films will begin the morning demonstrating how Frantic put together some of the key visual fx sequences from "Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D," followed by a private screening of the entire film for all of you! Kert’s presentation will demonstrate some of the before and after shots of the film with visual fx as well as go into some of the software magic he uses to make images pop off the screen with 3d glasses. This demonstration will be of particular interest to anyone interested in Eyeon Fusion software, or if you are keen on becoming a visual fx artist.
On Thursday, September 25, 2008, New Media Manitoba, OnScreen Manitoba, the Graphic Designers of Canada, Flash in the Peg, and The International Game Developers Association bring you the first ever, “National Digital Media Day!”
We've been working with the Department of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines (STEM), to update the Manitoba Interactive Digitial Media Fund (MIDMF), and announce a new media labour tax credit in Manitoba. You will DEFINITELY want to attend this event to hear what funding opportunities are available for you and your company. I can tell you that Minister Rondeau and his team at STEM have been working pretty hard to offer two nationally competitive incentives that could bring the same kind of notoriety to Manitoba that the local film and television industry has seen the past few years. Personally, I am excited about any programs that will help grow our own new media rock stars!
Roll up your sleeves because we're looking for someone that can do more than just look good in a suit (you need to know how to brew a mean cup o' joe too).
New Media Manitoba (NMM), is a non-profit association of professionals that advocate and provide focused training, support and guidance to new media businesses and developers. Since 2000, NMM has operated as an environment for people seeking to make connections and collaborate on digital interactive projects. Ongoing training events include internet application development, convergence media workshops, new media workflow, visual effects, new media business education, and video game training.
Over the past year New Media Manitoba has expanded its mandate to actively increase Manitoba’s digital media influence locally and abroad. NMM is seeking a Business Liaison Officer that can assist with this positive industry growth on a full-time basis.
Qualified Candidates must possess:
• minimum 5-years recent experience working in the new media sector
• background in writing successful funding proposals and working with provincial and national funding bodies
• acumen in promotions and fundraising activities
• experience developing and adhering to an operations budget
• a history of successful projects that involved working with teams and stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will also have:
• a business degree from an accredited educational institution
• an arsenal of tools for measuring the outcome of an activity or project
• the ability to thrive independently and as a team
• computer skills that go beyond standard Office applications
• experience with governance models and working with non-profit advisory groups
• exceptional speaking skills and the ability to manage public relations
• the competence to relate to and manage challenges between diverse groups
• enthusiasm that rivals Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is a 1-year renewable contract position and compensation is commensurate with experience starting at $47,000. If you are qualified for this role and have an uncanny passion for helping to grow Manitoba's New Media sector, please email a pdf of your resumé or CV in strict confidence to jobs@newmediamanitoba.com.
The cutoff date for applications is Thursday, August 28, 2008, at 6 pm. We sincerely appreciate all applications but will only be contacting those with whom we are interviewing directly.
On Tuesday, August 19, 2008, @ 7 pm, in Winnipeg’s Psych Health Centre, NMM will feature a presentation from, “Cogmation Robotics,” on how they developed their very own robot from scratch, and transitioned it into an application for serious games and the military. Since developing their first custom robot and software, Cogmation Robotics has attracted a series of Angel Investors and international attention. On Tuesday they will discuss three core components to their business model including:
Wow, it was only a few months ago that we hosted the very first Winnipeg DemoCamp at the King's Head to resounding feedback! Now we are BACK with, "DemoCamp Winnipeg Part Deux," returning to the 2nd Floor of the King's Head on Tuesday, July 29/08, with our featured presentations at 7 pm. Come earlier if you want to grab some food and drinks or just chill out with the cool kids. :) We are hoping to keep DemoCamps running as a separate stream in addition to our regular monthly training. There are so many top-notch developers here in town that we feel it can sustain itself on a regular basis!
Bryce Kushnier, aka vitaminsforyou, is back and he's packin' more heat! Two years ago Bryce came to Winnipeg to talk about live digital performance culture using his vocals and a laptop on stage. This year he is back, ready to show off new instruments and a full band that will rawk the Winnipeg Jazz Fest.
We've just returned from the most significant Search Engine Optimization conference in the world, "Search Engine Strategies New York," and our eyes are wide open. Over the course of several days we had the opportunity to interview companies like Yahoo, Bruce Clay, and Compete, as well as industry stars like Matt Bailey from SiteLogic, Jason Calacanis from Mahalo, and Jeffrey Eisenberg from Future Now to discover the best ways to improve Search Engine Rankings through organic, and paid search strategies. We received some great advice for getting your site optimized the way the search Gods (Google, Yahoo, and MSN) want from you, as well as some interesting ways to pay your way to the top with some "unique" business models.
On Monday, March 31, 2008, New Media Manitoba presents the first of its kind Business course for new and existing businesses entitled, "New Media Business Plans for Procrastinators." This course will be delivered one evening per week for six weeks and will force you to create a business plan for your company or product.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2008, New Media Manitoba presents, "Puttting the 'pal' in Drupal," at the Psych Health Centre on Bannatyne. The meeting begins at 7 pm and you must register in advance to secure your seat. There is no charge for admission and the event is open to the entire new media community.
On Thursday, February 28, 2008, come out for a buffet of hot eats and meet Sue Biely as she tells us how to get your Digital Short Content into a Global Marketplace. Sue is one of Canada's definitive voices on creating short content for internet distribution and she has been kind enough to join us for an entire morning to explain how you or your client can get into the burgeoning online video market.
On January 29, 2008, NMM presents, "Manitoba does MacWorld," at the Psych Health Centre on Bannatyne. The presentation runs from 7 pm - 9 pm. There is no charge but you must pre-register if you plan to attend. All are welcome.
New Media Manitoba (NMM) is proud to launch NewMediaManitoba.tv!
NewMediaManitoba.tv is a media-rich website dedicated to growing the skills and expertise of the Manitoba interactive labour force and for anyone interested in new media development. Over the past few years New Media Manitoba has attended several technology expos featuring the most current interactive technology and web startup companies. When we attend an expo we bring a camera crew so that we can share what we've learned with everyone back home. Today we are happy to share these episodes with you as podcasts and 720p downloadable files. Content is divided into focussed, 5-minute episodes, that span a range of new media topics.
To start, we have begun uploading segments from MacWorld 2007, the 2007 Worldwide Game Developers Conference, and DemoFall 2007. These episodes represent a variety of training topics that include: how to develop video games, visual fx software, what to look for in a digital investment partner, developing for XBox Live Arcade, business plan software, and how to start your own Web 2.0 company. All the training videos are divided into different channels that you can subscribe to individually or as a complete package. These episodes are also available on iTunes in the Podcast section of the store.
With the support of several volunteers over the years, most notably long-time NMM member Lloyd Hannesson (website creator/ podcaster ninja) and Ian McCausland (videographer and photographer exceptionalle), we have been able to post these videos online for you. The one thing we ask is, if the videos make an impact on you in any way; financially, business-wise, personally, professionally, etc., that you share your story with us. We want to keep producing great new media training here in Manitoba and your feedback (positive or constructive) helps guide us.
Over the next couple of weeks you'll see additional content posted from our previous expo-adventures AND be sure to tune in during the week of January 14-18, 2008, as we post several NEW highlights from MacWorld Expo 2008! Ian McCausland and I are returning to MacWorld to show you all the influential technology that you don't always find anywhere else. We'll post several of these videos online from the Expo floor followed by the remainder of videos at, "Manitoba does MacWorld" hosted live on January 29, 2008. Stay tuned for more info on this event.
Check out NewMediaManitoba.tv daily for new content and don't forget to send us an email to tell us what you think!