Digital Extremes is a Canadian computer and video game developer founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, best known for its co-creation of Epic Games' highly successful Unreal series of games. Digital Extremes is headquartered in London, Ontario.

History[link]

Founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, Digital Extremes is a Canadian game development studio. Founder James Schmalz began developing games at the age of 12, creating an Ultima clone called Sorcery on an Apple IIe computer. From there, he continued dabbling with game development through his University years at University of Waterloo. Upon graduation, left with a choice between a full-time paid engineering position and the option of self-employed game developer, Schmalz chose the latter and created Epic Pinball, published by then shareware publisher, Epic Megagames. Bolstered from the success of Epic Pinball ^[1] and the rising technology movement in the mid-90's toward realistic 3D graphics, Schmalz officially founded Digital Extremes and the company began co-development with Epic Games on what would become Epic Games' Unreal franchise.^[2]

Unreal was a first-person shooter created in 1998, and was followed up with Unreal Tournament in 1999. Both received many editorial and industry awards including Game of the Year.^[3] Subsequent sequels in the Unreal franchise, included Unreal Championship, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Unreal Tournament 2004. To date, the Unreal series has sold more than 15 million units worldwide across a multitude of gaming platforms including PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Xbox, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Mac and PC. Several of the game's iterations are currently available for download on Steam (software).

After years of working in the same universe with Unreal, Digital Extremes broadened its library and technology with development of its original IP, Dark Sector. A third-person shooter, released in 2008 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, Dark Sector used Digital Extremes' proprietary game engine, the Evolution Engine.

Following Dark Sector, Digital Extremes continued expansion in response to the growth in the industry and the need to stay competitive through the next-generation console transition. In recent years, Digital Extremes has assisted 2K with the PS3 version of blockbuster hit, Bioshock,^[4] as well as developed the multiplayer component of the sequel, Bioshock 2 while simultaneously developing the multiplayer portion of THQ's first-person shooter, Homefront.^[5]

The studio recently finished development on 2K's The Darkness II, based on the popular comic book series of the same name. The Darkness II launched in North America on February 7, 2012 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, and February 10, 2012, worldwide. Currently, Digital Extremes is in development for Paramount Digital Entertainment on the game for the next Star Trek movie.

Employment Environment & Awards[link]

Digital Extremes employment environment has been recognized as one of Canada's Top Employer's for 2010, 2011 and 2012.^[6] Additionally, the company has been recognized as one of Canada's top employers for Young People.^[7] In 2010 and 2011, the Financial Post named Digital Extremes one of the ten best companies to work for in Canada.^[8] On the provincial level, Digital Extremes received the Ontario Small Business Award in 2010.^[9] Digital Extremes was also presented with the Large Business of the Year award in 2011 from the London Chamber of Commerce.^[10] Digital Extremes was also awarded the Excellence in Human Resources award from The London Chamber of Commerce in early 2012.^[11] In 2011, a Quality Assurance tester filed a claim with the Ontario Ministry of Labour for approximately 52 hours of overtime pay, on the basis that this Quality Assurance tester position did not fall under an "Information Technology Professional" exemption from working hour and overtime pay regulations. The Ministry upheld the claim and Digital Extremes complied with its judgment without contest.^[12]

Evolution Engine[link]

The Evolution Engine is Digital Extremes' proprietary engine.^[13] The engine was first used on Dark Sector, and the recently released The Darkness II.^[14] It is currently being used to develop the action/co-op Star Trek game.

Games developed/co-developed[link]

• Solar Winds – PC (1992)
• Epic Pinball – PC (1993)
• Silverball – PC (1993)
• Extreme Pinball – PC (1995)
• Unreal – PC (1998)
• Unreal Tournament – PC (1999), PS2 (2000)
• Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island – PC (2001)
• Unreal Championship – Xbox (2002)
• Unreal Tournament 2003 – PC (2002)
• Unreal Tournament 2004 – PC (2004)
• Pariah – PC/Xbox (2005)
• Warpath – PC/Xbox (2006)
• Dark Sector – PS3/Xbox 360 (2008), PC (2009)
• BioShock – PS3 (2008)
• BioShock 2 - PC/PS3/Xbox 360 (Multiplayer component, 2010)
• Homefront – PC (2011)
• The Darkness II – PC/PS3/Xbox 360 (2012)^[15]
• Star Trek – PC/PS3/Xbox 360 In development
• Warframe – PC In development

See also[link]

• Epic Games
• Unreal series

References[link]

External links[link]

• Digital Extremes, official website

Steven Scott Sinclair (born August 2, 1971 in Victoria, British Columbia) is a former pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.

Sinclair made his major league debut for the Blue Jays on April 25, 1998, against the Chicago White Sox and pitched in 24 games that season. On July 28, 1999, he was traded to the Mariners with Tom Davey in exchange for David Segui.Sinclair currently holds the records for saves by a left handed reliever (15) while play in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Cardenales de Lara.

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

This biographical article relating to a Canadian baseball pitcher is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2011)

Khalil Ramal (b. 1960, Lebanon) is a Canadian politician.

Khalil Ramal was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of London—Fanshawe for the Ontario Liberal Party. He is fluent in English, French, Arabic and Spanish.

Ramal has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a Master of Arts degree in social politics from Lebanese University, and has received further diplomas in accounting and teaching. At the time of the 2003 election, he was pursuing a Ph.D. in social politics.

He arrived in Canada in 1989, after leaving war-ravaged Lebanon, and has worked as a teacher, journalist, and as a counsellor with physical and mentally disabled patients at the Oxford Regional Centre in Woodstock, Ontario. He also runs a small business, and has served as Vice President of the Orchard Farm Distribution Company.

Ramal was elected for London—Fanshawe in the 2003 provincial election, defeating New Democrat Irene Mathyssen and incumbent Progressive Conservative Frank Mazzilli in a close three-way race.

On September 27, 2004, Ramal was named parliamentary assistant to Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

He was defeated in the 2011 provincial election.

Electoral record[link]

External links[link]

• Khalil Ramal's official MPP Site
• Khalil Ramal's Ontario Liberal Party biography
• Ontario Legislative Assembly Parliamentarian History