Frima Studio

Last updated
Frima Studio
Company type Private
Industry Video games, Animation
Founded2003
Headquarters395, rue Victor Revillon
Quebec City, Quebec
G1K 3M8
Key people
Philippe Bégin, Christian Daigle, Steve Couture
ProductsFATED, Chariot, Nun Attack, Nun Attack: Run & Gun, MaXi, Talent Not Included, A Space Shooter for 2 Bucks!
Number of employees
200
Website frimastudio.com/en/

Frima Studio is a Canadian video game development company founded in 2003 and based in Quebec.

Contents

In 2010, Frima was noted as one of the fastest-growing companies in Canada by Profit. [1]


History

The company was founded in Quebec City in 2003 by Steve Couture, Philippe Bégin, and Christian Daigle amid the dot-com crash. Originally, the name Frima comes from the French word "frimas," which is the layer of frost that forms around windows during winter. This is due to the fact that the studio made its debut in the poorly-insulated apartment that the three founders shared. [2] Frima has notably developed flash games for many famous intellectual properties, including Harry Potter and Looney Tunes.

In 2008, Frima acquired Humagade, a mobile game developer. [3] Shortly after, the studio was merged with the main Frima office. [4]

In 2009, with the opening of a second studio in Matane, Frima had an estimated 265 full-time employees. [5] Later that year, they became the beneficiary of a $2 million joint investment between the company and the Government of Quebec to fund employee training. This resulted in the creation of 147 new jobs over the next three years, and the maintenance of 201 pre‐existing production‐oriented jobs. [6]

In June 2011, the Matane studio was shut down. Frima cited the difficulty of attracting talent to the area as the primary reason. [7] In August of that year, Frima acquired Volta, an animation, concept art and design studio. [8] The division was sold to Keywords Studios for $5.25 million in 2016. Frima stated the profit would allow them to further focus on internal animation. [9] During Frima's ownership, the two collaborated on several projects, such as the 2015 Bionicle relaunch, where Volta handled the animated television series while Frima developed the mobile video game.

In 2014, the company's Quebec City head office moved to the former television studios of TQS owned-and-operated station CFAP-TV in the Saint-Roch neighborhood. By then, Frima had grown to over 350 employees. [10] In April 2015, the company received a $7.5 million investment from Média-Participations and Fonds de solidarité FTQ. [11] The following November, Frima opened an additional studio in Montreal. [12]

On February 22, 2017, the Montreal studio was shuttered as Frima laid off 60 employees. [13] The company's total headcount was reduced to 250. [14] The following April, Couture stepped down as CEO. [15] Daigle replaced him until Martin Carrier was appointed as CEO and president in August 2017. [16]

Softography

Original productions

Console games

YearTitlePlatformDescription
2016Fated PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive First Person narrative adventure VR game revolving around the themes of courage and sacrifice.
Talent Not Included Xbox One, Windows, MacOS A platform game revolving around 3 actors putting on a play.
2014 Chariot PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo Switch A co-op platform game about a princess, her fiance, and a deceased king.
2013Zombie Tycoon 2: Brainhov's Revenge [17] PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Windows A real-time strategy game about zombie warfare.
Nun Attack [18] PlayStation Vita A tactical action game about nuns blasting evil with guns.
2012Lights, Camera, Party! PlayStation 3 A mini-game compilation utilizing PlayStation Move controls.
2010 A Space Shooter for 2 Bucks! PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, Web, PlayStation Vita A classic and simple space shooter game… for 2 bucks.
Young Thor PlayStation Portable Action-adventure game starring Thor when he was a lad.
Widgets OdysseySci-fi side-scrolling platform game.
2009 Zombie Tycoon Real-time strategy zombie game.

Virtual worlds and CMMOs

YearTitlePlatformDescription
2014Lightbringers: Saviors of RaiaWeb, iOS, Android A Mobile 3D Hack and Slash game in the style of Diablo.
2007GalaXseedsWebFree sci-fi based, web MMO.

Social and web games

YearTitlePlatformDescription
2012Space Shooter BlitzWeb
2010 Pocket God WebFacebook app based on the popular Bolt franchise for mobile, in association with Bolt.
Rock Paper Sumo WebFacebook application based on the Rock-Paper-Scissors system.
2009 Big Brain Wolf PC, MacPuzzle/point-and-click adventure game, in association with the NeuroActive Program.
2007Widgets OdysseyWebSci-fi side-scrolling platform game.
Jules & HurtubizeWebDystopian side-scrolling platform game.
Ciao BellaPCRomantic simulation game.
Peter Flat's Inflatable AdventuresPCComical 3D platform game.

Smartphone games

YearTitlePlatformDescription
2016Trainers of Kala iOS, Android RTS Mobile Game
Splash Pop
2014Nun Attack Origins: Yuki's Silent QuestPlatformer mobile game
2013Nun Attack: Run & Gun
2012Nun Attack [19] A tactical action game about nuns blasting evil with guns.
Space Shooter Blitz
Cosmo Camp Android, Kindle Fire, iOS Educational app.
2011 A Space Shooter for Free! iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Ouya A classic and simple space shooter game for free!
2009GalaXseeds Tubershooter iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad Casual shooter game linked with the GalaXseeds MMOG.

Animation

YearTitlePlatformDescription
2018L'Agent Jean / Super Agent Jon Le Bon!Television seriesA 15 x 3-minute animated series (with a seven-minute Christmas special) based on a line of books by the same name. Aired as interstitial shorts on TFO, Ici Radio-Canada Télé, and CBC Television, as well as streamed online.
2016MaXiTelevision seriesA 26 x 11-minute animated series, released on television by TFO and as a mobile application.

Development services

Virtual worlds and CMMOs

YearTitleClientPlatformDescription
2015Wanagogo Studio 100 Windows, iOS, Android Subscription-based virtual world for players between 4 and 6 years old.
2012KazaanaPixyKids Windows, iOS, Android
2011Skylanders Universe Activision WebVirtual world where children play different mini-games set in the Skylanders franchise.
Super Zapp!Les Éditions CECWebEducational virtual world where children can learn through different mini-games.
2010LeapWorld LeapFrog WebVirtual world for players between 4 and 6 years old.
2009Littlest Pet Shop Online Electronic Arts/Hasbro Interactive WebThe player manages a virtual pet shop with friends.
2008Tracksters10Vox EntertainmentWebMultiplayer online racing game
Magi-Nation: Battle for the Moonlands Cookie Jar Group (Tribal Nova)WebVirtual world set in a medieval fantasy environment inspired by the animated series of the same name.
2007Build-A-Bearville.com Build-A-Bear Workshop WebVirtual world where the player creates a customized character and plays mini-games.
NÉO Shifters Mega Brands WebFuturistic virtual world featuring multiplayer robot battles.

Social and web games

YearTitleClientPlatformDescription
2014Dream Town Bandai WebThe TamaTown website for the Tamagotchi Friends
2013 Half the Sky Movement: The Game Games for Change Web
2012Yu-Gi-Oh! BAM Konami Web, iOS, Android
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Ninja Turtle Tactics 3DNickelodeonWebBased on the 2012 TV series.
2010DriverVilleDonerWebFacebook app developed in association with Mazda featuring adventures and customizable items.
2009Sara's Super Spa Deluxe Shockwave WebStrategic spa management game
2008Nick Pals Nickelodeon WebSimulation game featuring different Nickelodeon pets.
Go Diego Go! Nick Jr. Channel WebBased on the TV show, an educational adventure game.
2007Avatar Bobble Battles Nickelodeon/Nick ArcadePC, WebCasual real-time strategy game based on the TV franchise.

Console games

YearTitleClientPlatformDescription
2021Disciples: Liberation Kalypso Media Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Oddworld: Soulstorm Oddworld Inhabitants Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Re-imagining of the 1998 title Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
2018Illusion: A Tale of the MindGroupe PVP
2017 Carcassonne - Tiles & Tactics Asmodee Windows, Nintendo Switch
Jeopardy! Ubisoft PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Adaptation of the television game show.
2016 Battleship PlayStation 4, Xbox One Adaptation of the board game.
Colt Express Asmodee Windows
2015 Boggle Ubisoft PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Capcom PlayStation Vita One of the Resident Evil installments features the horrific adventure of Claire Redfield and Barry Burton along with each's unique partner; the main developer on Vita portion.
Carmen Sandiego Returns The Learning Company Windows
2010Vector Tower DefenseFun Tank PSP Strategy game where the player defends Earth from alien invaders.
Pet Pad LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Educational game where the player practices handwriting to care for their in-game pet. The game was included with the Leapster Explorer.
2009Desktop Tower Defense THQ Nintendo DS Strategy game where the player has to prevent invaders from crossing the screen.
2009Brainpipe Hands-On Mobile Smartphone, PSN Simple arcade game focusing on eye-hand coordination.
2008Calvin Tucker's Redneck JamboreeZoo Wii Party game featuring mini-games.
2008Lola and Virginia V.2 Play Nintendo DS Mini-games themed around the popular TV show Lola and Virginia.
2007Puppy Luv Spa and Resort Activision/Game Mill Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance Simulation game in which the player takes care of different pets.

Smartphone games

YearTitleClientPlatformDescription
2017 Carcassonne - Tiles & Tactics Asmodee Android, iOS Adaptation of the board game.
2016 Colt Express
Where’s Monsieur Pug? National Film Board of Canada Augmented reality game inspired by the 2014 short Monsieur Pug.
Bionicle: Mask of Control Lego Group Free-to-play adventure game based on the Bionicle media franchise.
Con Man: The GameMonkey Strength ProductionsBusiness simulation game based on the Con Man web-series.
View-Master Masters of the Universe VR Mattel Virtual reality experience developed for the View-Master VR Google Cardboard headset.
2015View-Master Space
Dinotrux DreamWorks Animation Interactive app inspired by the TV show.
DreamWorks Color
Nexo Knights: Merlok 2.0 Lego Group
Code MaxPixcom Productions
Dennis & Gnasher: Blast In Beanotown DC Thomson iOS 3D action game based on Dennis & Gnasher
2014Monster High: Monster Maker Mattel Android, iOS, Kindle Fire Custom toy designer.
2010Greatest Tank Battles Breakthrough Entertainment iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad Real-time strategy game where the player controls a tank inspired by the TV show.
2010Build-A-Bear Workshop App Build-A-Bear Workshop iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad Mobile app with features linking to Build-A-Bear Workshop and their virtual world.
2009Monkey Kick-Off Miniclip iPhone, iPod Touch Kick the coconut as far as possible in this casual game.
2009iBrain FitBrain Center International iPhone, iPod Touch Scientifically-designed brain training through mini-games.
2009Brainpipe Hands-On Mobile iPhone, iPod Touch Simple arcade game focusing on eye-hand coordination.
2009Parade Carnaval de Québec iPhone, iPod Touch Strategy game where the player has to recreate the Carnaval de Québec's parade.
2008Beijing 2008Beijing 2008 iPhone, iPod Touch Mini-games based on the different Olympic events.
2008America's Got TalentPlayer X iPhone, iPod Touch Game in which the player has to match moves to become America's next rising star.
2006Deal or No Deal: Banker's RevengeMoblissMobileCasual game in which the player takes on the role of the Banker.
2005Family Guy: Stewie 2.0Airborne EntertainmentMobileReal-time strategy game based on the popular TV franchise.

Animation and special FX

YearTitleClientPlatformDescription
2018Elliot the Littlest ReindeerAwesometown EntertainmentFeature FilmCG-animation.
Nelly & Simon Mission YetiProductions 10e ave
2013 Dragons 3D Thalie Productions IMAX short filmSpecial effects and CG animation.
2010Qualinet Space OdysseyQualinetTVSpecial effects realized for a TV ad for Qualinet, the leader in cleaning and disaster response.
2008Cranium KabookiiUbisoftWiiAnimated intro for Ubisoft's Cranium Kabookii.
2007WProductions 10e aveTVSeries of animated spots that aired for three seasons on the Télétoon network.

Technologies

Frima has been working with the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. [20] Frima was selected by Adobe as a Molehill pre-release partner. [21]

The SnowStorm Gaming Grid allows the creation of customizable social games and MMOGs.

The NorthStar Dashboard is a set of data-tracking tools used to monitor key metrics linked to an online application.

The IceField 3D Engine allows the creation of in-browser 3D experiences using hardware acceleration.

The IceWave 2D Platform is used to easily and seamlessly deploy a project on multiple platforms.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirque du Soleil</span> Canadian contemporary circus company

Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, Montreal, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 16 June 1984 by former street performers Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix.

TVA is a Canadian French-language terrestrial television network, owned by Groupe TVA, a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quebecor</span> Canadian media and telecom conglomerate

Quebecor Inc. is a Canadian diversified media and telecommunications company serving Québec based in Montreal. It was spelled Quebecor in both English and French until May 2012, when shareholders voted to add the acute accent, Québecor, in French only.

<i>Le Journal de Montréal</i> Daily tabloid newspaper published in Canada

Le Journal de Montréal is a daily French-language tabloid newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has the largest circulation of any newspaper in Quebec and is also the largest French-language daily newspaper in North America. Established by Pierre Péladeau in 1964, it is owned by Quebecor Media, and is hence a sister publication of TVA flagship CFTM-DT. It is also Canada's largest tabloid newspaper. Its head office is located on 4545 Frontenac Street in Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Canal Nouvelles</span> Canadian French-language news channel

Le Canal Nouvelles (LCN) is a Canadian French language discretionary service 24-hour headline news channel owned by Groupe TVA, a division of Québecor. Its broadcasting headquarters are located in Montreal, Quebec. The channel, operated and programmed by the TVA Nouvelles division, was launched on September 8, 1997.

Quebecor Media Inc. is a Canadian media conglomerate that owns a wide array of media outlets, as well as an internet service provider.

<i>Le Soleil</i> (Quebec) French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Canada

Le Soleil is a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Quebec. It was founded on December 28, 1896, and is published in compact format since April 2006. It is distributed mainly in Quebec City; however, it is also for sale at newsstands in Ottawa, Montreal, New Brunswick and some places in Florida, where many Quebecers spend the winter. It is owned by Groupe Capitales Médias.

<i>Le Journal de Québec</i> Canadian French-language daily newspaper

Le Journal de Québec is a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Printed in tabloid format, it has the highest circulation for a Quebec City newspaper, with its closest competitor being Le Soleil.

Transcontinental Inc., operating as TC Transcontinental, is a Montreal-based packaging, commercial printing and specialty media company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre Karl Péladeau</span> Canadian politician

Pierre Karl Péladeau, also known by his initials PKP, is a Canadian businessman, billionaire and former politician. He was also the MNA for Saint-Jérôme. Péladeau is the president and CEO of Quebecor Inc. He used to own Sun Media Corporation. Péladeau is seen as a "strong Quebec nationalist" and an influential businessman in Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CJPX-FM</span> Radio station in Montreal

CJPX-FM is a French-language Canadian radio station located in Montreal, Quebec. Owned and operated by Leclerc Communication, it broadcasts using an omnidirectional antenna on Mount Royal with an effective radiated power of 8,700 watts.

CJBR-DT, virtual channel 2.1, branded on-air as ICI Est du Québec, is an Ici Radio-Canada Télé owned-and-operated station licensed to Rimouski, Quebec, Canada. The station is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CJBR-DT's studios are located on Boulevard René-Lepage Est on Quebec Route 132 in Rimouski, and its transmitter is located on Chemin du Pic Champlain in Saint-Fabien.

Christian Langlois is a Canadian film and creative director based in Montreal, Quebec. He has directed several short films, video content, series, commercials, music videos and immersive multimedia installations. He studied at Université du Québec à Montréal in communications programs, photography, cinema, art video and new digital media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Meute</span> Québecois nationalist movement

La Meute is a Québécois nationalist pressure group and identitarian movement fighting against illegal immigration and radical Islam. The group was founded in September 2015 in Quebec by two former Canadian Armed Forces members, Éric Venne and Patrick Beaudry. Neither are members of the group anymore. In 2018 the goal of La Meute was to prevent the Quebec Liberal Party from winning the 2018 Quebec general election. La Meute does not plan to become a political party, but rather "to become large enough and organized enough to constitute a force that can't be ignored".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVA Sports</span> Canadian sports network

TVA Sports is a Canadian French-language sports specialty channel owned by the Groupe TVA, a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media. The channel is a general-interest sports network, and the first major competitor to RDS, the only other French-language sports channel in the country.

South Shore Furniture is a Canadian furniture manufacturer. It sells ready-to-assemble furniture and fully assembled furniture in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Mira Falardeau is a French Canadian historian, professor, and author of comic strips. Falardeau has devoted works to Québec animated films, Québec comic strips and caricatures in Québec, focusing on visual humour in all its forms. She taught as a professor of cinema and communication at Laval University and the University of Ottawa. Falardeau has also curated exhibitions in the visual arts and operated a small publishing house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Cordée</span>

La Cordée is a Montreal-based chain of outdoor recreation and sports stores established in 1953. The company is the property of two non profit organizations and all its non-reinvested profits are administered by La Fondation scoute La Cordée.

Fugueuse is a French-Canadian television drama series which premiered on January 8, 2018, on TVA. The series stars Ludivine Reding as Fanny Couture, a teenage girl from a middle-class family, who is methodically manipulated into a world of prostitution by a network of human traffickers. The plot continues four years later in Season 2, which premiered on January 6, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qub Radio</span> Canadian French-language radio station

Qub Radio is a Canadian French-language internet talk radio station operated by Quebecor subsidiary Groupe TVA, primarily from studios in Montreal, which launched on October 4, 2018. Qub, a discretionary television channel serving as an audiovisual simulcast of the radio service, launched on January 11, 2024 on Quebecor-owned Vidéotron and certain other providers, repurposing the channel licence previously used by Yoopa.

References

  1. "PROFIT 100 ranking reveals 20 of Canada's fastest-growing companies hail from". Profit (Press release). Toronto: Rogers Sports & Media. CNW Group. June 2, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  2. "Frima Studio: des jeux créés à Québec qui dépassent les frontières". Le Soleil (in Canadian French). 2009-09-06. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  3. "History". humagade.com. Frima Studio. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. Therrien, Yves (December 24, 2009). "Jeu vidéo: explosion du nombre d'emplois à Québec". Le Soleil (in French). Groupe Capitales Médias. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  5. Leduc, Gilbert (June 19, 2009). "Frima choisit Matane". Le Soleil (in French). Groupe Capitales Médias. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  6. "Geeky Pleasures". juliasherred.com.
  7. "Gaspésie : Frima ferme définitivement son studio de Matane". Ici.Radio-Canada.ca (in French). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 17, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  8. "Frima Studio achète Volta". Ici.Radio-Canada.ca (in French). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 11, 2011.
  9. "Frima Studio vend sa division Volta". Ici.Radio-Canada.ca (in French). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. July 29, 2016.
  10. Couture, Pierre (June 25, 2014). "Des nouveaux studios pour Frima". Le Journal de Montréal (in French). Quebecor . Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  11. "7,5 millions $ pour Frima". TVA Nouvelles (in French). Quebecor. April 8, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  12. Décarie, Jean-Philippe (November 17, 2015). "Frima fait le saut de la capitale à la Métropole". La Presse (in French). Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  13. Bernard, Sophie (February 25, 2017). "Coupures de 60 postes chez Frima : Christian Daigle fait le point". Lien Multimedia (in French). Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  14. Leduc, Gilbert (February 22, 2017). "Frima coupe une soixantaine de postes". Le Soleil (in French). Groupe Capitales Médias. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  15. "Steve Couture quitte Frima". Le Soleil (in French). Groupe Capitales Médias. April 11, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  16. Pinto, Jordan (August 17, 2017). "Martin Carrier named president, CEO at Frima". Playback . Brunico Communications . Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  17. "Zombie Tycoon 2: Brainhov's Revenge Review". Archived from the original on 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  18. "Holy Guns! Nun Attack Coming to PS Vita Tomorrow". 18 March 2013.
  19. "Nun Attack Review".
  20. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2011-03-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2011-03-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)