FLASHPOINT ACADEMY CONTINUES ITS SUPPORT FOR THE CG SOCIETY HOSTING ANOTHER WELL-ATTENDED WORKSHOP WITH A PRESENTATION BY HEINZ SCHULLER FROM DAY 1

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY STUDENT MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS JOIN COMPETITION IN WORLDWIDE EVENT - GLOBAL GAME JAM 2010 - 48 HOURS OF GAME DEVELOPMENT

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY STUDENTS(ORGANIZED IN 4 TEAMS)JOINED OVER 1000 COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS WORLDWIDE LOCATED AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN MORE THAN 38 COUNTRIES FOR A 48-HOUR MARATHON SESSION OF TEAM GAME DEVELOPMENT.

FLASHPOINT'S TEAMS ASSEMBLED ON OUR LARGE PRODUCTION STAGE AT THE MERCHANDISE MART (JUST DAYS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF OUR PRODUCTION IN ACTION TELEVISION SHOW "AT THE MART") SO THAT ALL 4 TEAMS COULD SHARE THE EXPERIENCE TOGETHER AND FEED OFF OF THE EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIAM OF THE ENTIRE GROUP.

HERE AGAIN, AS IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, FLASHPOINT'S UNIQUE FACILITIES, FACULTY COMMITMENT AND TEAM FLEXIBILITY PERMIT US TO CREATE MEMORABLE AND DISTINCT LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REAL WORLD OF GAME DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO ENTER AND LEAD.

WE WILL ALSO HAVE A SHORT FILM (CREATED BY ANOTHER FLASHPOINT TEAM OF STUDENTS) WHICH WILL DOCUMENT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM GAME DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CHAIR SIMEON PEEBLER APPEAR BELOW:

On Friday, January 29th, Flashpoint Academy students across multiple disciplines came together to join in a worldwide event called the "Global Game Jam 2010" held at universities and game studios around the world (well over 1000 participants are now working in 38 countries! -- these crazy people are known as "jammers"). At Flashpoint's sound stage in Chicago's Merchandise Mart we started a 48-hour marathon to build games according to parameters kept secret from our jammers until the launch of the event at Flashpoint at the start of their 48-hour adventure. Jammers at Flashpoint are working in teams of about ten students to build these games by 3 pm on Sunday local time.

This year the theme is "deception" and jammers must include one or more of the following in their games: a man, a plan or a canal. Key outcomes include providing an intense opportunity for jammers to collaborate and work together in "crunch mode" doing what they love doing...making games. This is not a school assignment and it is not a business-driven game studio console game effort. These jammers are the true artists of the future. This weekend will stay for them for the rest of their lives.

We have a few special guest "judges" for the end of the weekend where we will allow the teams an opportunity to present their games to the judges. Teams will be awarded recognition in different areas, but only one game will get trophies for top honors here.

I started the ball rolling at Flashpoint after we had a student team join in with the wonderful people at DePaul who graciously invited them to be a part of the experience there in January of 2009. We would have been there again this year but we had such high interest here that we had to set up our own location. After months of preparation and the efforts and dedication by a really enthusiastic team of staff and faculty...here we are, starting up day 2. I am honored to be directing our location, but I could not have done it without them -- and without our really amazing students who surprise me from time to time when they finally realize that they have the potential to do anything in the world they want to do.

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY STUDENTS WORKING WITH MICROSOFT ON NEW GAME AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS FOR SURFACE TABLE AND SYSTEM 7 TOUCH TECHNOLOGY

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO EXPAND WORK WITH NEWEST MOTION CAPTURE TECHNOLOGIES IN NEW MO CAP LAB

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY WELCOMES DIANN BURNS (FORMER EVENING NEWS ANCHOR ON BOTH CBS AND ABC IN CHICAGO) FOR TOUR AND NEW PROJECT MEETINGS

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY FILMS INTERVIEWS WITH STUDENTS AND ALUMNI FOR CHICAGO YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA GALA VIDEO

FLASHPOINT ACADEMY FILMS Q&A SESSION WITH PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN AND JOHN ORTIZ AT SUNDANCE/MUSIC BOX SCREENING OF "JACK GOES BOATING"

Jack Goes Boating is a tale of love, betrayal, and friendship set against the backdrop of working-class New York City life. Jack and Connie are two single people who on their own might continue to recede into the anonymous background of the city, but in each other begin to find the courage and desire to pursue their budding relationship. In contrast, the couple who brought them together, Clyde and Lucy, are confronting the unresolved issues in their rocky marriage.

The multifaceted Philip Seymour Hoffman makes his directorial debut demonstrating an assured style and grace, both behind the camera and in front of it. He leads a skilled cast, who waltz through their group scenes in perfect counterpoint, each getting what he or she needs from the other. The writing is fiercely authentic as are the performances. Lyrical and lovely, Jack Goes Boating is an offbeat love story that almost forgets to happen.