Recognition of the company and its games. One intriguing accomplishment is every project we have worked on, released or not, has won awards, including our game engines, Xona Games as an incorporation, and its authors. 

 

Contest and Funding Winnings:

• 2010..2022: We have won $190,000 in contests.
• 2009..2019: We have landed $124,000 in funding.

Funding:

• 2019-Jan: $3,200: GDC Alumni All Access Pass (NATI)
• 2019-Jan: $330: GDC Expo Pass (Consulate of Canada Silicon Valley)
• 2018-Jan: $2,400: GDC Alumni All Access Pass (NATI)
• 2018-Jan: $315: GDC Expo Pass (Consulate of Canada Silicon Valley)
• 2015-Oct: $29,000: Financing + Mentoring (Futurpreneur)
• 2014-Jun: $50,000: Business Development Program; Productivity & Business Skills (ACOA)
• 2014-Jun: $13,000: Self Employment Program (Labour and Advanced Education)
• 2014-Jun: PSN: PS4 Development Kits (Sony)
• 2013-Sep: ID@Xbox: Xbox One Development Kits; Top 50 pick for Xbox One indie development (Microsoft)
• 2013-Mar: $22,000: Private Funding
• 2010..2014: BizSpark Startup program: Development Software (Microsoft)
• 2009: $3,000: MIGS VIP "Business Lounge" Pass (NSBI)

Business Development Contests:

• 2018-Jan: $180: GDC Expo Pass (Consulate of Canada Silicon Valley)
• 2013-Oct: $20,000 Grand Prize: Small Business Big Idea Giveaway Contest: #1 in Canada (Rogers)
• 2010-Jan: $100,000 First Place Award Winner: I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition (Innovacorp)

Game Development Contests:

• 2022-Jul: Prize Winner: Intel GameDev Q1 Inspire Contest (Matthew Doucette)
• 2016-Dec: Semi-Finalist: Game Developer World Championships 2016 (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Oct: $850 Third Place: Atlantic Lottery Hackathon.001: Probability and Randomness (Random)
• 2014-Feb: $50,000: Top 10 HTML5 App: Tizen App Challenge (Score Rush: Turbulenz version)
• 2011-Jun: Best in Destructable Terrain: 2011 Halifax Game Jam (Raccontra)
• 2011-May: $1,000 WP7COMP Winner: Highly Commended Entry (Decimaton X2)
• 2010-Sep: Semi-Finalist: 3rd Independent Game Developer's Competition (Duality ZF)
• 2010-May: Finalist: Dream Build Play 2010: #1 in Canada #5 in World (Duality ZF)
• 2009-Sep: Finalist: Dream Build Play 2009: #2 in Canada #7 in World (Duality ZF)

Best Selling Games:

• 2010-Dec: Worldwide: Major Nelson: #10 & #11 Best Selling XBLIGs (Decimation X3 & Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: Japan: Simultaneous #1 and #2 best selling XBLIG (Decimation X3 & Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: 3 Countries: #1 and #2 best seller (Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: 4 Countries: #1 best seller (Decimation X3)

Top Picked Games:

• 2015-Jun: Racketboy: Best Shmups to Get Started (Score Rush & Decimation X series)
• 2013-Oct: Microsoft Japan: Top 3 Xbox LIVE Indie Games (Score Rush)
• 2013-Apr: Bizzaro: Top 15 $1 Xbox LIVE Indie Games (Score Rush)
• 2012-Jan: Indie & Doujin Gamer: Top 10 Console Exclusive Shmups of All Time (Score Rush)
• 2011-Aug: VideoGameConnection: Top 5 Xbox LIVE Indie Game (Score Rush)
• 2011-Jul: OXM: 16 Best Xbox LIVE Indie Games (Decimation X3)
• 2011-Jul: OXM: Top Indie Developers on Xbox LIVE Indie Games
• 2011-Jul: Retro Gamer: Homebrew Hereos: Top 5 Indie Games (Score Rush)
• 2011-Jun: VVGtv: Golden Dude Award for Best Graphics (Score Rush)
• 2011-Jun: Dealspwn:  Xbox LIVE Indie Game of the Week (Decimaton X2)
• 2011-Apr: CVG:  Top 10 Xbox LIVE Indie Games (Decimation X)
• 2011-Feb: Complex: 2nd and 7th of top 25 best Xbox LIVE Indie Games (Decimation X3 & Score Rush)
• 2011-Jan: Pier21: Decimation X3 day (Decimation X3)
• 2011-Jan: XBLIGR: #6 top XBLIG games in 2010 (Decimation X3)
• 2011-Jan: NeoGAF: Gold and bronze XBLIG awards (Decimation X3 & Score Rush)
• 2011-Jan: Gamasutra: 5 best indie games (Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: Joystiq:  2010 Buyer's Guide top pick (Decimation X3)
• 2010-Dec: Dealspwn:  Xbox LIVE Indie Game of the Week (Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: Game Vortex: Top Pick (Score Rush)
• 2010-Nov: Indie Games Winter Uprising: Top 12 (Decimation X3)
• 2010-Nov: IGN: Top IGN.com Pick (Decimation X)
• 2010-Feb: XBLIGR: 4th XBLIG games in 2009 (Decimation X)

Top Rated Games:

• 2024-Apr: Worldwide: PlayStation: 4.74/5 (94.8%) global player rating (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Mar: Worldwide: Metacritic: Top 30 PS4 Game of 2016 (Score Rush Extended)
• 2012-Apr: Worldwide: XBLA & XBLIG Ratings: #1 top rated XBLIG "Shooter" (Score Rush)
• 2012-Apr: Worldwide: XBLA & XBLIG Ratings: #2 top rated XBLIG (Score Rush)
• 2011-Mar: Worldwide: Xbox Indies: 3 of top 7 XBLIG 4-player shmups (Decimation X, Decimation X3 & Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: Japan: Xbox LIVE: Simultaneous 3 of top 5 rated XBLIG (Decimation X, Decimation X3 & Score Rush)
• 2010-Feb: U.S.: Xbox LIVE: #16 top rated XBLIG (Decimation X)
• 2010-Jan: Japan: Xbox LIVE: #6 top rated Xbox 360 "Shooter" (Decimation X)
• 2010-Jan: Japan: Xbox LIVE: #12 top rated Xbox 360 game (Decimation X)
• 2010-Jan: Canada: Xbox LIVE: #3 top rated XBLIG (Decimation X)
• 2010-Jan: Japan: Xbox LIVE: #1 best selling XBLIG (Decimation X)
• 2010-Jan: Japan: Xbox LIVE: #1 top rated XBLIG (Decimation X)  

Top Reviewed Games:

• 2020-Jan: 4.5/5: PlayStation Store (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Oct: 4/5: Nerd Stash (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jul: 8.0: PS Nation (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jul: 8/10: Brass Games (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 4/5: PSNStores (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 80%: Operation Rainfall (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 80%: Digitally Download (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 8/10: NexValley (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 8/10: GameSpew (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 80%: SelectButton (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 90% Masterpiece: The Cube (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 8/10: Flickering Myth (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 81: MetaCritic (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Jun: 8.9: PinGames (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Mar: 4/5: US Gamer (Score Rush Extended)
• 2016-Mar: 5/5: Bullet Heaven EX (Score Rush Extended)
• 2012-Apr: 9.9: XBLA & XBLIG Ratings (Score Rush)
• 2011-Jun: 89%: XXLGaming.com (Score Rush)
• 2011-Mar: 5/5: XBLIG.co (Score Rush)
• 2011-Jan: 9.5/10: The Thoughtful Gamers (Score Rush)
• 2011-Jan: 8.7/10: Lazy Brain (Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: 97%: Game Vortex (Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: 10/10: Spawn Kill (Score Rush)
• 2010-Dec: 9.5: Spawn Kill (Decimation X3)
• 2010-Oct: 9.5: XBLA & XBLIG Ratings (Decimation X)
• 2010-Jan: 8.5: Wasted Seconds (Decimation X)
• Many Decimation X, Decimation X2, Decimation X3, and Score Rush reviews omitted as they were never recorded aside from tweets too far to look back on.

Launch Titles:

• 2011-Aug: Launch Title: Turbulenz (Score Rush)
• 2010-Oct: Launch Title: Windows Phone 7 (Microsoft invitation) (Decimation X2)

Education / Industry Awards:

• 2020-Oct: Xbox MVP Award: Microsoft (Matthew Doucette)
• 2020-May: Xbox MVP Spotlight: Microsoft (Matthew Doucette)
• 2019-Sep: Xbox MVP Award: Microsoft (Matthew Doucette)
• 2018-Oct: Xbox MVP Award: Microsoft (Matthew Doucette)
• 2017-Oct: Xbox MVP Award: Microsoft (Matthew Doucette)
• 2016-Aug: Xbox MVP Award: Microsoft (Matthew Doucette)

Game Conference Booths / Displays:

• 2018-Mar: GDC 2018 San Francisco GDC Play booth (Global Affairs Canada + Heritage Canada)
• 2017-Jun: Jalloo '17 New Brunswick booth (NBCC Miramichi)
• 2016-Jun: Jalloo '16 New Brunswick booth (NBCC Miramichi)
• 2015-Jun: Jalloo '15 New Brunswick booth (NBCC Miramichi)
• 2013-Jun: Jalloo '13 New Brunswick booth (NBCC Miramichi)
• 2013-Mar: GDC 2013 San Francisco GDC Expo booth (NSBI)
• 2012-Mar: GDC 2012 San Francisco GDC Expo booth (NSBI)
• 2011-Mar: GDC 2011 San Francisco GDC Expo booth (NSBI)
• 2010-Jun: Jalloo '10 New Brunswick booth (NBCC Miramichi)
• 2009-Nov: MIGS '09 "Business Lounge" VIP pass (NSBI)

Game Competitions:

• 2016-May: #1 in Halifax Scramble 4's Steel Seraph Tournament (Matthew Doucette)
• 2014-Feb: #1 in Halifax Scramble's Raiden Fighters Jet Tournament (Matthew Doucette)
• 2013-Jun: #1 in Jalloo 2013 BlackBerry Rubik's Cube Competition (Matthew Doucette)
• 2013-Mar: Console Conqueror: #1 in PAX East 2013 Geometry Wars 2 Tournament (Matthew Doucette)
• 2012-Apr: Finalist: #2 in PAX East 2012 Geometry Wars 2 Tournament (Matthew Doucette)
• 2012-Mar: #1 in SHMUP Contest (Matthew Doucette)
• 2012-Mar: #2 in SHMUP Contest (Jason Doucette)

Speed Runs:

• 2013-Mar: Score Rush in 0:10:20 (Jason Doucette and Matthew Doucette)
• 2012-Apr: Super-C in 0:16:28 (Jason Doucette and Matthew Doucette)

No Miss Runs:

• 2016-Jun: Score Rush Extended: Godlike (Jason Doucette)

Guest Speaker:

• 2024-May: Guest Spaker: GDA 2024: "Journeys" Panel (on our unique paths into game development)
• 2022-Jun: Guest Spaker: Futurpreneur/Ignite Labs (on Rural Entrepreneurship)
• 2022-Jun: Guest Spaker: Y-Con 2022 (on Game Development)
• 2019-Jul: Guest Speaker: CEED Juniorpreneur Camp (on Xona Games)
• 2019-Apr: Guest Speaker: An Evening of All Things Game Dev!!: CGX: Canadian Gaming Expo & Jillian Studio Services (post).
• 2019-Jan: Guest Speaker: "So You Want to Start a Business" Panel: NSCC Tech Connect 2019
• 2017-Apr: Guest Speaker: AVRSB@21C Student Innovation Conference (Acadia University): Rural Entrepreneurship Panel.
• 2017-Apr: Keynote Speaker: AVRSB@21C Student Innovation Conference (Acadia University): on Rural Entrepreneurship (tweets: 1,2).
• 2016-Nov: Guest Speaker: Truro Tech Tuesday: on Matthew Doucette (on Xona Games and NSCC Game Development).
• 2016-Nov: Guest Speaker: "Enter the Games Industry" Panel: Hal-Con 2016.
• 2016-Oct: Guest Speaker: Game Development Panel: GameSpace Annapolis Valley 2016.
• 2015-Aug: Guest Speaker: "Break Into Business" children's camp (tweet).
• 2015-Jul: Guest Speaker: "Business is Jammin'": Black Business Initiative.
• 2015-Jun: Keynote Speaker: GameSpace Annapolis Valley 2015.
• 2015-Mar: Keynote Speaker: Bizcraft: Youth Entrepreneurship.
• 2015-Feb: Guest Speaker: 1T First Thursday: on Artificial Intelligence.
• 2014-Jun: Guest Speaker: 1T First Thursday: on Xona Games.
• 2013-Nov: Guest Speaker: Entrepreneurship Seminar: on rural entrepreneurship (Université Sainte-Anne).
• 2011-Oct: Keynote Speaker: Invited to present as keynote speaker at 2011 Export Achievement Awards (Nova Scotia).
• 2011-Sep: Guest Speaker: I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition 2011 (Innovacorp).
• 2010-Mar: Guest Speaker: Innovation Social (Innovacorp, NSCC, Regional Development Authority).
• 2010-Feb: Guest Speaker: Business Over Breakfast: on software pricing (Innovacorp).

Not a full list. Also guest spoke at NSCC Burridge Campus (AMCA program; twice) and NSCC Truro Campus (Game Development program; once) between 2013 and 2015, on Xona Games and rural entrepreneurship. Exact dates unknown.

Podcast:

• 2011-May: Interviewed on Game Industry (Palutena's Army)
• more coming soon...

Easter Egg Features (in Other Games):

• 2015-Aug: Total Miner: Forge [XBLIG]: Score Rush inspired art work.
• 2013-Feb: Serious Sam Double D XXL [XBLA]: Xona Games featured as secret area.
• 2011-Dec: Game Type [XBLIG]: Score Rush featured as fake Game Marketplace content.

Newsworthy Internet Features:

• 2016-Dec: Canada Business Network
• 2014-Jun: Wikipedia
• 2012-Jun: Indie Games (4th feature) (Score Rush)
• 2012-Apr: Indie Games (3rd feature) (Score Rush)
• 2011-Feb: CBC News (along side of The Behemoth!)
• 2011-Jan: thisisxbox.com
• 2010-Dec: Indie Games (2nd feature) (Score Rush)
• 2010-Sep: Nova Scotia Government
• 2010-Aug: Dejobaan Games: Interview (award winning indie studio)
• 2010-Mar: GDC: Interview (2010 San Francisco)
• 2009-Sep:  CBC News (Duality ZF)
• 2009-May: Indie Games (1st feature) (Duality ZF)

TV:

• 2019-Jan: Amazon Prime Video: Strong Side (Score Rush Extended)
• 2014-Feb: Game Code TV
• 2011-Feb: Reviews On The Run (Decimation X3)
• 2009-Sep: CBC TV News

Magazines:

• 2015-Jul: Progress.
• 2014-Mar: OXM (2nd feature) (Decimation X3& Score Rush).
• 2013-Mar: Develop (3rd feature).
• 2011-Jul: Retro Gamer (2nd feature) (Score Rush).
• 2011-Feb: OXM  (1st feature) (Decimation X3).
• 2010-Dec: Famitsu (2nd feature) (Decimation X3 & Score Rush).
• 2010-Nov: Develop (2nd feature).
• 2010-Fall: NSBI (annual report).
• 2010-Apr: Retro Gamer (1st feature).
• 2010-Spring: Open To The World.
• 2010-Mar: Famitsu (1st feature) (Decimation X).
• 2009-Fall: Acadia University.
• 2009-Nov: Develop (1st feature).

Radio Interviewed:

• 2016-Jun: CJLS (on Score Rush Extended)
• 2015-Mar: CJLS: Bizcraft: (on youth entrepreneurship )
• 2011-Jan: CBC Radio One (on Xona Games)
• 2009-Sep: CBC Radio One (on Duality ZF)

Interviewed:

• 2023-Aor: Interviewed for: Xbox LIVE Indie Games Documentary (by Robert Boyd of Zeboyd Games)
• 2014-Mar: Interviewed on: Indie Game Development
• 2013-Mar: Interviewed on: Monetization: Pay-Once Vs. Free-To-Play
• 2012-Dec: Interviewed on: Are Games Art?
• 2012-Jan: Interviewed on: Adding Achievements to XBLIG
• 2012-Jan: Interviewed on: Indie Games Spotlight
• 2011-Feb: Interviewed on: Indie Games Countering Sequel-Driven Market (along side of The Behemoth!)
• 2010-Feb: Interviewed on: Software Pricing

Newspaper:

• 2016-Jun: Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• 2013-July: Vanguard (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• 2011-May: Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• 2011-Feb: Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• 2010-May: Vanguard (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• 2010-Jan: Vanguard (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• 2009-Sep: Vanguard (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Government Features:

• 2014-Mar: GDC 2014 San Francisco (Nova Scota booth)
• 2013-Jul: Nova Scotia's ICT 2013 Sector Report
• 2013-Mar: GDC 2013 San Francisco (Nova Scotia booth)
• 2012-Mar: GDC 2012 San Francisco (Nova Scotia booth)
• 2011-Jun: Canada Business (bulletin)
• 2011-Mar: GDC 2011 San Francisco (Nova Scotia booth)
• 2011-Mar: Your Studio Here (Nova Scotia promotion)
• 2010-Sep: Nova Scotia Government  

Misc. Invitations:

• 2013-Sep: ID@Xbox membership (first pick Xbox One indie developer) (Microsoft)
• 2013-Oct: NSGDA membership
• 2011-Aug: Launch Title: Turbulenz (Score Rush)
• 2011-Jan: Are You Smarter Than A CEO? contest judge and case participant  
• 2010-Oct: Launch Title: Windows Phone 7 (Microsoft invitation) (Decimation X2)

Recognition:

• 2010-Nov: Nova Scotia House of Assembly: Congratulated

Coinage:

• 2004-Nov: Coined "Domain Hacks" (Matthew Doucette)

True Fans:

• 2012-Nov: Cake (of Score Rush)
• 2010-Jan: "How I come to be Xona-Infected?"

Museum:

• 2024-Apr: Featured in First-Ever Museum Exhibit on Nova Scotia's Video Game Industry

Physical:

• 2024-SEP: Xona Games Branded Xbox Elite Controller (Series 2)

 

We hope to continue to add to this list with successful future games.

Follow our blog for latest updates, meet the team of two behind Xona Games, read our story, or visit our media resources to feature us.

 

Notes and Details:

• We have been 100% self-funded. All of our business funding has been earned by winning competitive contests that had cash value prizes.  
• Here is how we calculated we were a top 50 indie games studio picked by Microsoft's ID@Xbox program: It is calculated from a primay list of 28 indie studios Microsoft announced, plus the additional 16 indie studios that Ska Studios discovered (of which we are one), which totals 44 indie studios, plus our internal and private knowledge of when we are receiving our two free development kits from Microsoft compared to others we know of. We are likely in the top 30 out of known studios to us, and considering that unknown studios to us may be ranked before us, we have calculated a guess we are in the top 50 to be fair. To be clear, to the knowledge available to us, we are in the top 30 indie studios to have received free development kits from ID@Xbox. This is not an accurate science as Microsoft does not reveal much information on other indie studios. Read "Don't Forget, Xona Games is in ID@Xbox too!" for more information.
• Innovacorp is a Nova Scotia crown corporation that manages an early-stage venture capital fund.
• Rogers is a public Canadian communications company. Their "Small Business Big Idea Giveaway Contest" was nation-wide, so we placed 1st in Canada.
• Université Sainte-Anne is the only French-language post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, Canada.
• Business Over Breakfast is a series of discussions featuring a variety of subject matter experts and entrepreneurs. The events bring together Innovacorp clients from across Nova Scotia, business professionals, industry representatives, students and other key stakeholders.
• "Shmup" stands for shoot 'em up, also known as 2D shooters and STGs, as well as side-scrolling shooters and overhead shooters.
• WP7COMP was not a gaming contest, and Decimaton X2 was the only game to place; The rest of the winners were apps.
• In the "Top Rated" listing, "overall" is defined by all AAA retail, XBLA, and XBLIG games combined; The "overall" rankings include not just indie games but all Xbox 360 games.
• In the "Top Rated" listing, " shooter" is a defined Xbox genre and category, which includes both  first person shooters (FPS) and shoot 'em ups (shmup), despite them being distinctly different genres; We would have placed even higher without the inclusion of FPS's.
• The Behemoth is one of the coolest and most successful indie game studios, best known for Castle Crashers. It is a honor to be featured along side of them.
• Xbox LIVE Indie Games (XBLIG) is Microsoft's initiative to support independent game development and allow indie game studios to publish to consoles. The Xbox 360 is the only console, up to the seventh generation (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii), that allows independent game publishing.
• Xbox LIVE Arcade (XBLA) is Microsoft default digital distribution channel for Xbox 360 games, requiring a publishing contract with Microsoft.
• Dream.Build.Play is Microsoft's international Xbox game development contest which also promotes XNA Game Studio, the tools used to make XBLIG games.
• • In Dream Build Play 2009 we competed against 350 games from 100 countries, placing 7th worldwide and 2nd in Canada.
  • In Dream Build Play 2010 we competed against 350 games from 110 countries, placing 5th worldwide and 1st in Canada.
• Indie Games: The Weblog (indiegames.com) is the #1 worldwide indie game website.
• The "Internet Features" listing showcases only major features. By 2010, Duality ZF had been featured over 200 times on the internet and we stopped counting.
• Magazines details:
• • Famitsu is the #1 Japanese gaming magazine.
  • Develop is the #2 worldwide game development magazine.
  • OXM is the Official Xbox Magazine. Some of our features are in print, the actual magazine, and some of them are on the web, the online version of the magazine. This explains the discrepancy between various counts of how many times we've been featured in OXM.
• Newspaper details:
• • The Vanguard is our hometown Yarmouth newspaper.
  • The Chronicle Herald is largest newspaper in Nova Scotia.
• NSGDA is the Nova Scotia Game Developer Association.
• GDC is the world's first and largest game developers conference.
• The ID@Xbox program will eventually accept all developers, however Xona Games was accepted in the first selection and given free Xbox One development kits.
• The GDC Expo Pass in January 2018 from the Consulate of Canada Silicon Valley was awarded to the first 50 game companies in Canada to register on the Canada GDC Platform. So, even this was a contest we won.
• The GDC Play booth is funded mainly by Global Affairs Canada, with some support coming from Heritage Canada.
• GDA is GameDev Atlantic, Atlantic Canada's first game developer conference.

That is all.