According to a KPMG study carried out in August 2020 for Montréal International, employment in Montreal has increased over the past 10 years by an average of 8% per year in video games and 28% in visual effects, making Montreal one of the world’s top 10 centres for digital creativity. This agreement will raise awareness and show the 400 digital arts students at NAD-UQAC that they can now integrate haptics into their designs of unique and fun experiences for future advertising, games, films and TV series.
“The NAD-UQAC trains over 400 students annually in computer-generated imagery and interactive media. The video game industry will no longer have to train students in haptics as they will already have been taught and trained in university,”
Sébastien Mailhot, President and CEO of D-BOX.
“Haptics is becoming more popular, and studios will be seeking expertise in high-fidelity haptics. As a result, the NAD-UQAC will be well positioned to place its students and stand out in the market.”
Robin Tremblay, professor and co-founder, has had the chance to test the tool developed by D‑BOX since its arrival at the school. In fact, some popular student productions, such as Atmosphère, and recent mock advertisements, such as Lumière by Venus and Maneki-neko, were coded to provide a more immersive viewing experience.
“At NAD-UQAC, we are constantly looking for new learning experiences for our students in line with technological advances and the present and future needs of companies in our ecosystem,”
Suzanne Guèvremont, Director of NAD-UQAC.
“This partnership, which has been under discussion for some time, is taking shape thanks to the willingness of D-BOX and our professors Yan Breuleux, Jocelyn Benoit and Louis-Philippe Rondeau to invest in this democratization of haptic technology. We are very confident that it will lead to interesting innovations,” said Christian Beauchesne, Director, Corporate Services, R&D, Partnerships of NAD-UQAC.
This is just the beginning for D-BOX in the world of creating and developing talent, and this long-term commitment highlights D-BOX’s ambition to fit in with the craze for using IE “Gaming Engine” authoring tools and our strategic collaboration with AudioKinetic.
About NAD-UQAC
Founded in 1992 and located in Montreal, the School of Digital Arts, Animation and Design of the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi is a training, research and development establishment in 3D animation, visual effects, design and arts, which has trained, over the last 26 years, thousands of 3D animators who are working today in the fields of cinema, television and video games in reputable companies around the world. The association between the NAD School and UQAC, which goes back to 2008, allows more than 460 students annually to access a range of university study programs that are unique in Quebec. Visit the website: nad.ca.
ABOUT D-BOX
D-BOX creates and redefines realistic, immersive entertainment experiences by moving the body and sparking the imagination through effects: motion, vibration and texture. D-BOX has collaborated with some of the best companies in the world to deliver new ways to enhance great stories. Whether it’s movies, video games, music, relaxation, virtual reality applications, themed entertainment or professional simulation, D-BOX creates a feeling of presence that makes life resonate like never before. D-BOX Technologies Inc. (TSX: DBO) is headquartered in Montreal with offices in Los Angeles, USA and Beijing, China. Visit D-BOX.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
TECHNOLOGIES D-BOX INC.
Stéphane Vidal
Vice President, Marketing and Communication
450 442-3003, ext. 373
svidal@d-box.com
David Montpetit
Chief Financial Officer
450 442-3003, ext. 296
dmontpetit@d-box.com
NAD-UQAC
Sarah Esteves
Information Agent
sesteves@nad.ca
