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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html> <head> <title>Xona Games - About Us </title> <link title="RSS" type="application/rss+xml" rel="alternate" href="/rss.xml" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/main.css" title="Basic Stylesheet" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8"> </head> <body> <div class="page"> <div class="socialicons"> <a href="http://xona.com/rss.xml"><img src="/images/icons/32x32/rss.png" border="0"></a> <a href="https://discord.gg/cXV68sYkPG"><img src="/images/icons/32x32/discord.png" border="0"></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/XonaGames"><img src="/images/icons/32x32/twitter.png" border="0"></a> <a href="http://youtube.com/XonaGames"><img src="/images/icons/32x32/youtube.png" border="0"></a> <a href="http://facebook.com/xonagames"><img src="/images/icons/32x32/facebook.png" border="0"></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xona_Games"><img src="/images/icons/32x32/wikipedia.png" border="0"></a> </div> <div class="header"> <div class="title">  <a href="/"><img src="/images/banners/Xona_Games_logo_9_-_HD_-_1680x215_-_trimmed.png" width="840" height="108" border="0"></a><br> </div> <div class="subtitle">  <a href="/games/">Games</a> 路 <a href="/awards/">Awards</a> 路 <a href="/about/">About</a> 路  <a href="/blog/">Blog</a> 路 <a href="/press/">Press Kit</a> 路 <a href="/contact/">Contact</a> </div> </div>  <div class="main"> <div class="heading">  About Us </div>  <p><a href="../index.html">Xona Games</a> is an <a href="../awards/index.html">award-winning</a> Xbox and PlayStation <a href="../games/index.html">indie game</a> studio, <a href="../2010/04/15.html">co-founded</a> by <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew Doucette</a> and <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason Doucette</a>. We make arcade-style <a href="tagline/index.html">intense retro</a> games and best known for our <a href="../awards/prizes/index.html">$190,000 contest wins</a> and our <a href="../awards/japan/index.html">#1 shmup hits in Japan</a>.</p> <p>Xona Games headquarters is located in <a href="http://igniteatlantic.com/">Ignite Labs</a>, an incubator co-founded by <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> (previously <a href="https://twitter.com/hubyarmouth">The Hub Yarmouth</a>, a co-working space also co-founded by <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a>).</p><p align="center"><strong><img border="0" alt="" src="../images/staff/doucettes-bg_w640.jpg" width="640" height="360" /><br /></strong><a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason Doucette</a> (left) and <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew Doucette</a> (right) of Xona Games.<br />  <a href="../2010/08/25.html">漏2010 John Sherlock</a>.</p> <p><strong>Early History:</strong></p> <p><a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> and <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> have been coding games since they were seven years old, before they owned a computer. Their first personal computer was a <a href="computers/ti994a/index.html">TI-99/4A</a> and second a <a href="computers/tandy1000sx/index.html">Tandy 1000 SX</a>. Starting in early elementary school, they developed a "game code", a formulated and sometimes <a href="philosophy/index.html">philosophical</a> list of do's and don't's by which all of their games abide.</p> <p>Xona Games is the realization of a lifelong passion. </p> <p align="center"><a href="../2010/08/images/w1280/Jason_Doucette_and_Matthew_Doucette_3.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="../2010/08/images/w640/Jason_Doucette_and_Matthew_Doucette_3_small.jpg" width="640" height="426" /></a><br /> <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> (left) and <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> (center) in Xona Games studios.<br /> <a href="../2010/08/25.html">漏2010 John Sherlock</a>.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="left"><strong>Awards:</strong> </p> <p align="left">We have won prestigious awards (<a href="../2010/01/26.html">Innovacorp's $100,000 prize</a>, <a href="../2014/02/23.html">Tizen's $50,000 prize</a>, <a href="../2013/10/29.html">Roger's $20,000 prize</a>) and received worldwide press (<a href="../press/magazine/develop.html">Develop</a>, <a href="../press/magazine/retrogamer.html">Retro Gamer</a>, <a href="../press/magazine/famitsu.html">Famitsu</a>, <a href="../2011/02/11.html">Reviews On The Run</a>, <a href="../press/magazine/oxm.html">Official Xbox Magazine</a>). We have <a href="../awards/prizes/index.html">won over $190,000 in contests</a>.</p> <p align="left">Our games have been rated from #1 in Canada (<a href="../games/dualityzf/index.html">Duality ZF</a> in <a href="../2010/05/04c.html">Dream Build Play 2010</a>) to #1 in Japan (<a href="../2010/01/19.html">Decimation X</a> and <a href="../2010/12/09b.html">Decimation X3</a> on XBLIG), and been top picks across many categories (<a href="../2010/11/01b.html">IGN</a>, <a href="../2011/01/02.html">Famitsu</a>, <a href="../2011/01/03.html">Gamasutra</a>, <a href="../2011/01/20.html">Joystiq</a>).</p> <p align="left"><a href="../games/index.html">Every game we developed</a>, released <a href="../games/dualityzf/index.html">or not</a>, has won <a href="../awards/index.html">awards</a>. </p> <p align="center"><a href="../2010/08/images/w1280/Jason_Doucette_and_Matthew_Doucette_2.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="../2010/08/images/w640/Jason_Doucette_and_Matthew_Doucette_2_small.jpg" width="640" height="426" /></a><br /> <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> (left) and <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> (right) in Xona Games studios.<br /> <a href="../2010/08/25.html">漏2010 John Sherlock</a>.</p> <p><strong>Top Rated Best Sellers:</strong></p> <p>Our games have also become #1 best sellers in multiple countries (<a href="../2010/01/19.html">Decimation X</a>, <a href="../2010/12/10.html">Decimation X3</a>, and <a href="../2010/12/12.html">Score Rush</a>). We have dominated the Japanese market with <a href="../2010/12/12b.html">three of the top five games and two best sellers</a>, simultaneously. We have dominated XBLIG with <a href="../2011/03/25.html">3 of the top 7 four-player shoot 'em ups</a> and out of thousands of developers we are <a href="../2011/04/11.html">1 of 3 studios to produce 3 or more 4+ star rated titles</a>.</p> <p align="center"><a href="../2010/08/images/w1280/Jason_Doucette_and_Matthew_Doucette.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="../2010/08/images/w640/Jason_Doucette_and_Matthew_Doucette_small.jpg" width="640" height="426" /></a><br /> <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> (left) and <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> (right) in Xona Games studios.<br /> <a href="../2010/08/25.html">漏2010 John Sherlock</a>.</p> <p><strong>Miscellanous Accomplishments:</strong></p> <p>Our game engine technology was recognized for technical excellence (<a href="../2010/09/26.html">IndiePub semi-finalist</a>). Microsoft invited our studio to develop a launch title for their Windows Phone 7 launch (<a href="../games/decimationx2/index.html">Decimation X2</a>). We have strong indie ties and were chosen to represent the <a href="../2010/11/30.html">Indie Games Winter Uprising</a>. Our only mobile title <a href="../2011/05/05.html">won a highly commended award in WP7COMP</a>, a Microsoft-supported Windows Phone 7 Competition, and was the only game that placed (the rest were "apps"). Turbulenz, a new online gaming platform, funded us to develop a <a href="../2012/03/12.html">launch title</a> (<a href="../games/scorerush/x360/index.html">Score Rush</a> port) and even turned one of our games into a <a href="../awards/cake/index.html">cake</a>!</p> <p align="center"><img border="0" alt="" src="../images/logos/xonagames/16x9/Xona_Games_logo_8_-_HD_-_800x450.png" width="800" height="450" /><br /> Regular Xona Games logo, as featured in <a href="../games/index.html">our games</a> and <a href="http://youtube.com/XonaGames">trailers</a>.</p> <p><strong>Our Style:</strong></p> <p>Our games feature beautiful <a href="https://www.imphenzia.com/music">Imphenzia</a> and hard-rocking <a href="http://dragonasmusic.com/">Dragon Music Productions</a> soundtracks, and are 4-player shoot 'em ups. Expect to see more genres exploited for their true potential in the future, including racing and beat 'em ups. We have only just begun!</p> <p align="center"><img border="0" alt="" src="../images/logos/scorerushextended/score_rush_extended_-_logo_11__with_kanji__-_640x360.png" width="640" height="360" /><br /> <a href="../games/scorerush/ps4/index.html">Score Rush Extended</a> 鎾冪偣 (PS4) title sreen. </p> <p><strong>Government Support:</strong> </p> <p>We have been supported by many levels of the Canadian government, allowing us to attend <a href="conferences/index.html">many international and local game conferences</a>. </p> <ul> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) first supported our attendance to game conferences by sending us to Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) with a "Business Lounge" VIP pass! This is where we first met Valve, Nintendo, and Microsoft. Eventually Innovacorp and NSBI helped send us to our first GDC and Game Connection with a booth on the GDC Expo floor. We have gone to nearly every GDC and PAX East since.</p> <p>NSBI also included us in the Nova Scotian <a href="../2011/03/14b.html">"Your Studio Here" promotions</a> and offered us a GDC Play booth. ACOA has funded our game development ventures, helping us land on PS4, and continue to support us targetting Xbox One and Steam. We have even been <a href="../2010/11/03.html">congratulated by Nova Scotia's House of Assembly</a> and <a href="../2024/04/22.html">showcased in a museum</a>!</p> <p> The New Brunswick government has helped promote our games via Jalloo, a gaming festival hosted by NBCC Miramichi. The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (NATI) has helped fund us with all access GDC passes. The Consulate of Canada Silicon Valley has funded us with GDC Expo passes.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nscc.ca/explorenscc/campuses/truro/">NSCC</a> is now a form of government support, as they help fund our GDC trips.</p> <p align="center"><img border="0" alt="" src="../2015/10/images/screenshotsaturday/Score_Rush_2015-10-10_14-53-12-89_w640.jpg" width="640" height="360" /><br /> <a href="../games/scorerush/ps4/index.html">Score Rush Extended</a> 鎾冪偣 (PS4) boss explosion. </p> <p><strong>Education:</strong></p> <p>We also help others make games, via Xbox forums, our <a href="../blog/index.html">Developer's Blog</a>, <a href="../learn/index.html">our tutorials</a>, Brilliant Labs' <a href="../learn/makerspaces/index.html">Makerspaces</a>, <a href="../learn/kidsmakegames/index.html">Kids Make Games</a>, and via <a href="https://www.nscc.ca/explorenscc/campuses/truro/">NSCC Truro Campus</a>.</p> <p><a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew Doucette</a> was <a href="../2016/08/01.html">awarded the Xbox MVP award</a> for his educational efforts in Xbox development and is a faculty member and faculty chair of the NSCC <a href="https://www.nscc.ca/learning_programs/programs/plandescr.aspx?prg=GAME&pln=GD-NOCONC">Game Development</a> program.</p> <p align="center"><img border="0" alt="" src="../2015/10/images/screenshotsaturday/Score_Rush_2015-10-10_14-59-27-90_w640.jpg" width="640" height="360" /><br /> <a href="../games/scorerush/ps4/index.html">Score Rush Extended</a> 鎾冪偣 (PS4) 4-player co-operative gameplay. </p> <p><strong>Platforms:</strong></p> <p>We have developed for many game platforms:</p> <ul> <li>Xbox 360 - Xbox LIVE Indie Games (XBLIG): <a href="../games/decimationx/index.html">Decimation X</a>, <a href="../games/decimationx3/index.html">Decimation X3</a>, <a href="../games/scorerush/x360/index.html">Score Rush</a>. </li> <li>mobile - Windows Phone 7: <a href="../games/decimationx2/index.html">Decimation X2</a> </li> <li> browser - HTML5: <a href="../games/scorerush/x360/index.html">Score Rush</a> </li> <li> Xbox 360 - Xbox LIVE Arcade (XBLA): <a href="../games/dualityzf/index.html">Duality ZF</a> </li> <li>PlayStation 4: <a href="../games/scorerush/ps4/index.html">Score Rush Extended</a> </li> <li>Windows PC: <a href="../games/infiniteammo/index.html">Infinite Ammo</a>, <a href="../games/exploration/index.html">The Exploration Thereof...</a>, and other <a href="../labs/games/index.html">game prototypes</a>. </li> </ul> <p>In the future we plan to develop for more game platforms:</p> <ul> <li>Xbox One </li> <li>Windows PC - Steam </li> <li> Nintendo Wii -WiiWare </li> <li>Nintendo Switch </li> <li>AppStore - iPhone/iPad </li> <li>Android </li> </ul> <p align="center"><img border="0" alt="" src="../2016/03/images/screenshotsaturday/Score-Rush-2016-01-14-12-31-34-53_w640.jpg" width="640" height="360" /><br /> <a href="../games/scorerush/ps4/index.html">Score Rush Extended</a> 鎾冪偣 (PS4) 4-player Dual Play -- each player controls 2 fighters. </p> <p><strong>Current Day:</strong></p> <p> To see what we are currently working on, visit <a href="../blog/index.html">our developer's blog</a>. Come <a href="conferences/index.html">meet us at conferences</a>! Also check out <a href="friends/index.html">our friends</a> who have all done amazing things in the indie gaming industry! </p> <p><strong>Interviews:</strong></p> <p>A couple interviews captured on video:</p> <p align="center"> <iframe height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NgDvf1xnFok" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> interviewed by Game Code TV (<a href="../2014/03/04.html">blog entry</a>).</p> <p align="center"><iframe title="YouTube video player" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7KtqxFRioe8" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe><br /> <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> at GDC 2012 (<a href="../2013/01/08.html">blog entry</a>).</p> <p align="center"> <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ChF8o28_c1o" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe><br /> <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> on the "Are You Smarter Than A CEO?" contest (<a href="../2011/01/27.html">blog entry</a>).</p> <p align="center"><iframe title="YouTube video player" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TbHsH8lr8fI" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe><br /> <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> (left) and <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> (right) at GDC 2010 (<a href="../2010/03/16.html">blog entry</a>). </p> <p align="center"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l6i0rtaoxBE" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe><br /> Xona Games winning $100,000 (<a href="../2010/02/20.html">blog entry</a>). </p> <p align="center"> <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XqcrKunPKFs" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe><br /> Xona Games on CBC TV News (<a href="../2009/09/24.html">blog entry</a>). </p><p> </p> <p><strong>As Gamers:</strong></p> <p>We are also avid gamers. We have both beat the R-Type, Raiden, and Raiden II arcades. My <a href="../2012/06/16.html">old notes</a> show that we both beat 1943: The Battle of Midway arcade together. We can complete NES versions of Contra and <a href="../2012/04/06.html">Super-C</a> with one life, twice over. We are huge shoot'em up fans, as you may know. <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> has beat <a href="https://www.trueachievements.com/gamer/HugeJuge/games?complete=1&titletype=Game">19+ Xbox LIVE games</a> and can beat the OutRun arcade. <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> has beat 70 NES games, <a href="../2015/07/30.html">135+ Xbox LIVE games</a>, and <a href="../2012/06/16.html">many other games</a>, as well as competed and placed <a href="../2013/03/23.html">first</a> and second in PAX East's Geometry Wars 2 contest (in 2013 and 2012). </p> <p align="center"> <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FmD73uoRyWU" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe><br /> <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> playing Pacifism in Geometry Wars 2, scoring 600 million / 705 worldwide rank.</p> <p align="left"> Unrecorded, in Pacifism, Matthew obtained a peak rank of #553 worldwide out of about 300,000 players and separately a peak score of 890 million points.</p> <p align="center"> <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z09iKojU6ME" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe><br /> <a href="../staff/matt/index.html">Matthew</a> (left; blue) and <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> (right; red) beating Super-C in 17 minutes at PAX East 2012 (<a href="../2012/04/06.html">blog entry</a>).</p> <p align="center"> <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EUTQ4iZmo9I" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe><br /> <a href="../staff/jason/index.html">Jason</a> getting the Cardiogram achievement (Score an overall AAA in Heart Attack Mode) in OutRun Online Arcade. </p> <p> </p><p>Some Xbox LIVE records on video:</p> <ul> <li>Ballistic - <a href="https://youtu.be/xTpQxczYovQ?t=7">#1 in World</a> - Division </li> <li>Ballistic - <a href="https://youtu.be/YgJB7TIHypo?t=12">#1 in World</a> - Entropy </li> <li>Ballistic - <a href="https://youtu.be/smoLf6__FIU?t=20">#5 in World</a> - Focus </li> <li>Ballistic - <a href="https://youtu.be/I41GNNMvGWA">#3 in World</a> - Waves </li> <li>Geometry Wars 2 - <a href="https://youtu.be/FmD73uoRyWU">#705 in World</a> - Pacifism </li> <li>Geometry Wars 2 - <a href="https://youtu.be/wykSdCPzRnc">#956 in World</a> - Deadline </li> <li>Geometry Wars 2 - <a href="https://youtu.be/87-mxruxczc">#1,249 in World</a> - Waves </li> <li>Geometry Wars 3 -<a href="https://youtu.be/lpiKnhRhh_U?t=2719">#3 in World</a> - Ultimate - #3 Futurism </li> <li>Geometry Wars 3 - <a href="https://youtu.be/PGomcVWL2Wc?t=8">#7 in World</a> - Hardcore - #14 The Scream </li> <li>Geometry Wars 3 - <a href="https://youtu.be/0cdV28k4-2Y?t=3264">#26 in Word</a> - Ultimate - #23 Redclaw </li> <li>Geometry Wars 3 - <a href="https://youtu.be/49rvNQcsN9s?t=1545">#82 in World</a> - Adventure - #49 Super Sequence </li> <li>Geometry Wars 3 - <a href="https://youtu.be/bfvNBzP21zU?t=266">#177 in World</a> - Hardcore - #6 Barrel Roll </li> <li>Ghost Pilots - <a href="https://youtu.be/UZnTygdWJyA?t=1272">#7 in World</a> - Hi Score Mode </li> <li>Polychromatic - <a href="https://youtu.be/eaK3dEfR9Oc">#5 in World</a> - One-Life </li> <li>Polychromatic - <a href="https://youtu.be/-7hH8P7FZZ0">#7 in World</a> - Timed </li> <li>Polychromatic - <a href="https://youtu.be/sycG6ASRluU">#19 in World</a> - Endless </li> <li>Revolver360 - <a href="https://youtu.be/QF9p0GdDFgU">#52 in World</a> - Infinite Range Mode </li> <li>Riddled Corpses EX - <a href="https://youtu.be/JRjA4Tfq-70?t=28">#5 in World</a> - Survival </li> <li>Super Destronaut DX - <a href="https://youtu.be/91AhQwxD0L4?t=4011">#7 in World</a> - Classic Mode </li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Brief History:</strong></p> <p><em> </em> Before Xona Games, we founded <a href="../tags/tech/index.html">Xonatech</a>, a technology blog that morphed into our <a href="../blog/index.html">Developer's Blog</a>, and developed <a href="../apps/index.html">Windows freeware and web apps</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>That is all.</p> </div>  <div class="footer"> © <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">  </script> <a href="http://xona.com/">Xona Games Inc.</a> All Rights Reserved </div>  </div>   <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-767921-1"; urchinTracker(); </script>  </body> </html>