15 February 2024

PRESS RELEASE – From March 15th to the 24th, a whole bunch of activities will take place during the 3rd edition of Sherbrooke Video Game Week (Semaine sherbrookoise du jeu vidéo), an industry initiative led by Sherbrooke Innopole, with the support of La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec (Québec video gaming guild).

The Video Game Week aims to showcase the dynamism of the local ecosystem and to support development of the video gaming and techno-creative arts sector as a booming industry of the key Quantum and Information Technologies sector in Sherbrooke.

In fact, last year saw several young studios get a boost in Sherbrooke, as three of them released demo versions of games and two of them launched games – Misstic Studio came out with Sunrise’s Order at the end of 2023 and Lucid Dreams Studio foresees releasing its highly anticipated new game BIOMORPH in March 2024. Academic training opportunities have expanded with the opening of the all new campus of the École des arts numériques, de l’animation et du design NAD-UQAC, in the heart of downtown Sherbrooke.

The programming for this 3rd edition of the Sherbrooke Video Game Week is particularly plentiful, with a variety of activities for students, professionals and creators as well as for video game enthusiasts, and the general public.

“The 2024 edition differs from previous years by the increase in the variety and quantity of events presented, with renowned speakers as well, said Marc-Henri Faure, Director, Business services, Quantum and Information Technologies at Sherbrooke Innopole. We are delighted that the people in the industry are brimming with enthusiasm and pride to host the Game Week! This testifies to both the remarkable effervescence which emanates from the video gaming community in Sherbrooke and its growing notoriety. It is a very positive sign regarding the positioning of Sherbrooke within the Québec video game scene, and even beyond.”

On the programme

Talks, open houses, playtest night, popularization activities, high-spirited events, etc.: there will be numerous opportunities to make discoveries, have fun and network throughout the entire Sherbrooke Video Game Week 2024.

The week will start off with Game Jam Sherbrooke, a creative hackathon that takes place over 48 hours during which participants have to design a game or video game from A to Z.

For video game enthusiasts, Sherbogue playtest night will offer the chance to test out games that are in development from several Québec video game studios, all in a friendly atmosphere.

Three talks will be specifically tailored to video game programmers and creators, but open to game enthusiasts as well. Subjects will include the most recent technologies, tricks of the trade and entrepreneurship in video game.

The Apéros jeux Sherbrooke evening (formerly Gaming Drinks Sherbrooke) – an initiative supported by Sherbrooke Innopole – will host the Montréal studio Red Barrels, that will talk about, among other things, Outlast Trials, the most recent title in its famous Outlast horror game series; as well as the IVADO institute, which will discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) particularly on the health and creative industries sectors. The NAD-UQAC school in Sherbrooke will present an evening of talks exploring how the constraints of production can drive inspiration, thus redefining the limits of creation. Bishop’s University will host a double conference showcasing video game research, first on virtual heritage, then on machine learning in video games.

ICI Radio-Canada Première‘s Les années lumière programme has selected Sherbrooke to record a Bar des sciences segment on video games in collaboration with Bistro Brain.

Students from high school through university among others are invited – on line or in person – to a scientific café organized by the Pour ne pas dormir debout (to not doze off) project to discuss screen time and sleep. SYNTHÈSE – Pôle Image Québec will be meeting with high school students and young adults seeking to change trades to talk about the training and career opportunities in digital creation.

La Console qui Console will be hosting the 10th edition of their weekend of lively activities. Last year, 1,500 people attended in person at the Centre de foires de Sherbrooke, with as many connecting on line, all for the benefit of the charities Leucan Estrie and CHAS (Centre hébergement alternatif de Sherbrooke).

For detailed programme information about the Sherbrooke Video Game Week, see https://bit.ly/SSJV2024 (French).

For more information regarding Sherbrooke Video Game Week, visit www.sherbrooke-innopole.com/en/gaming/.

About Sherbrooke Innopole
Sherbrooke Innopole is the paramunicipal economic development organization for the industrial and high-value-added services sector. Its mission is to accelerate the development of companies from the five key sectors – Advanced Manufacturing, Cleantech, Quantum and Information Technologies, Life Sciences and Micro-Nanotechnologies – and ensure that Sherbrooke has an attractive and innovative business environment. It is mainly financed by the City of Sherbrooke through the Bureau de coordination du développement économique. 

Source: Sherbrooke Innopole