When he’s not working with his Video Game Art and Design students at Holland College, learning manager Chris Sharpley keeps both feet planted firmly in the game development industry. Most recently, he co-presented a session with SEGA Digital Content Producer Ethan Einhorn at an international game development conference in San Francisco, where they discussed their experiences developing a downloadable game for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch.

Sharpley worked on the Super Monkey Ball project last year, when he was art director for Other Ocean, a video game development company with offices in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. SEGA commissioned the game’s development from Other Ocean, and Sharpley oversaw the project's art and design. Super Monkey Ball was an instant success when it hit the market, quickly selling in excess of 300,000 units at $9.99 each in a few short weeks.

“Creating such a high profile game here on Prince Edward Island proves that Atlantic Canada can compete with game developers around the world,” Sharpley said. “The studios in Charlottetown have attracted some very talented and experienced video game artists, programmers and designers to the island, and by working with companies like SEGA and Apple, we are proving that the business of video game development is a valid career choice for anyone.”

SEGA’s Producer for Super Monkey Ball, Ethan Einhorn agreed, noting the high level of proficiency of Sharpley and his staff.

“The first thing consumers tend to comment on when playing Super Monkey Ball is the graphics. The game’s rich, colorful environments set the standard on the device, thanks to Chris Sharpley’s incredible art team.”

Plans are underway to get Einhorn to Prince Edward Island to talk to students in Holland College’s Video Game Art and Design, Fundamental Arts, and Graphic Design programs early next school year.

In this picture: Holland College Video Game Art and Design learning manager Chris Sharpley, left, and SEGA Digital Content Producer Ethan Einhorn discuss the potential market for creating downloadable games for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. Sharpley and Einhorn jointly presented a post mortem of the development of the game Super Monkey Ball at the recent Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.