David Brochu was the founder of the BLAKKAT web agency. As President and General Manager of the business, he collaborated on a wide range of projects, including Têtes à Claques, the APCHQ, Ubisoft, Oberson Sport, the Office québécois de la langue Française, and many others. David will now take on the mandate of leading Human Equation’s client-management and digital strategy teams. His technical expertise and management skills will be invaluable to Human Equation, and will support the company’s continuing growth, as well as help solidify its position as a leading digital agency.

“Appointing David aligns perfectly with our expansion plans. His expertise in client support and consulting services will allow us to offer a new gamut of services,” said Ms. Lacoste.

Going forward, Human Equation intends to complete strategic acquisitions to help build the agency, and invest in the commercialisation of its cyber-investigation platform Echo Alpha, which was recently presented to Microsoft.com

The financing was made possible through the help of the Business Development Bank of Canada, the Société de développement économique Ville-Marie (SDEVM), and Finalta Capital.

“Certain ingredients are necessary for such a partnership to be successful. Human Equation have demonstrated their ability to apply an effective business plan, as well as proven their means to support growth. In addition, the agency has demonstrated the expertise and experience of its managerial team,” said Mr. Christian Perron, managing director of SDEVM.

Mr. Maxime-Jean Gérin, President and CEO of Finalta Capital, said “Echo Alpha, the cyber-investigations and Big Data management platform, represents a major technological breakthrough with enormous commercial possibilities.”

“These investments will enable us to further support our innovation centre in Montreal, of which we are particularly proud. Certain planned strategic acquisitions will also improve our services, and allow our team to better pursue their goals with our international clientele,” concluded Human Equation president, Mrs. Nathalie Lacoste.

About Human Equation

Human Equation is a centre of innovation and digital marketing, specialising in the development of interactive solutions designed to perfect the business needs of its clients. Employing 40 experts, Human Equation works with over 350 medium and large businesses in seven countries around the world. With an investment of over $1.5-million in scientific research and experimental development, the agency has established itself in several high-tech sectors representing personalised communications, artificial intelligence, cyber investigations, alternate reality gaming, and Gamification.

About Finalta Capital

Finalta Capital CII-ITC offers intermediary financing to innovative, Canadian companies to claim tax credits on refundable investments, including for the funding of scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) and e-business development (CDAE), among others. Finalta Capital assists by accelerating disbursements from four to six months, augmenting liquid assets by 50%, andrelieving burdens through Loan Management Systems, with closure of financing within 15 days. www.finaltacapital.com

With its focus on innovation and support for innovation in Quebec, the event is inspired by the popular TV show “Dragons’ Den” on CBC, in order to showcase the different service assistance programs available to professionals. Three businesses, including Human Equation, will analyze RS & DE specialists to point out what services could support them.

More specifically, Mr. Doyon’s presentation will reveal the evolution of various technologies that lead to Echo Alpha. Subsequently, a fictional study case based on CGI will demonstrate to the  “Dragons” what the platform has to offer.

To learn more about the Echo Alpha corporate cyber-investigation technology, don’t hesitate to visit the platform dedicated page.

Guests will also get the opportunity to hear the directors of Ergorecherche Ins. and Lito Green Motion present.

Montreal, October 3rd 2012 — mandated by Radio Canada to conceive a budgetary game to raise awareness within the population on the difficulties of managing a city, Human Equation has developed, in three months only, the interactive game Supermaire.

In this game, the internet user has the opportunity to become the mayor of his own city.  To go through the different stages of the game, the future mayors have to become more and more popular while juggling with their budgets, facing diverse situations happening in reality.

In terms of graphic design, the team has opted for a simple, fun and intuitive design.  Amusing characters, sound effects, humorous accessories; nothing has been overlooked to ensure that the players enjoy the game. The agile project management used throughout the developing process has also allowed us to conceive, write, program, test and put online the game respecting a tight schedule.  “This project was ideal for this kind of development because the agile approach has allowed us to work upstream while the writing was undergoing” says Nathalie Westphal, Senior Interactive Manager and Agile Coach.

Finally, the progress of the game was a success because of the platform Cumulus, developed by Human Equation.  Cumulus allows players to earn badges while considering a number of defining factors before providing real time results. “The platform can be used in many different contexts and was used in this case to make the game as close to reality as possible and to offer results reflecting the real life of a mayor” concludes Martin Rancourt, Product Manager.

Additional images: informations supplémentaires

In total, gamers invested more than 45,000 hours immersed in the alternate reality game (ARG) created by the young creative web agency.

Through text messages, phone calls, emails and forums, players exchanged with fictional characters and took actions that directly changed the story inspired by the themes of The Secret World.

With its intriguing mix of real-world facts and esoteric references, the alternate reality game received extensive coverage in the top media channels within the video game industry. The game also provoked thousands of conversations on forums and social media sites, in addition to being followed by more than 300 web sites.

“It’s the first time in 10 years that we received hundreds of thank-you letters for an advertising campaign!” says Andrea Doyon, founder of the Human Equation. “The reaction from both our client and the community makes us even more proud to have produced this international project in Montreal, one of the most innovative and creative cities in the world.”

“Despite tight deadlines and the sheer magnitude of the task at hand, the team from Quebec demonstrated originality and a remarkable efficiency,” says Erling Ellingsen, Communications Director at Funcom Oslo.

To get into the game, go to www.funcom.com and type 33 on your keyboard.

Media contact
Caroline Vézina
Communication
514 876-1702 poste : 222
communication@humanequation.co

The team’s mandate was to design a demo microsite, which would allow the clients still unfamiliar with on-line transactions to get acquainted with the Bank’s tools. The objective was to get the users to understand how to manage their account and how to bank on-line in a fast, secure and ecological way, without having to go to a branch office or to an automatic teller machine.

The product designed by the strategic force of HE was carefully thought-out and is a complete tool: the microsite presents about ten video tutorials and allows the users to visualize – step by step – how to make their transactions. However, the key aspect of the project lays in the production of a brief video that portraits a three generations non-conventional family: “We wanted to by-pass the corporate framework often imposed on large companies by using a light and humorous tone, presenting endearing characters with whom the public will empathize.” said Annasara Geva, art director.

René Caron, legend of the Quebec cinema industry, well known for his role in Les Belles Histoires des Pays-d’en-Haut, agreed to play the main character of the French video: a colourful grandfather, fanatic about the new technologies.

Once again, the HE team is proud to present a beautiful Web and video conception, for the benefit of the National Bank.

Visit the website at www.nbcmore.ca/ibs-personal

Media contact

Anne-Marie Champoux
Communications
514-876-1702 ext. 204
amchampoux@humanequation.co

For this update, Human Equation’s creative team totally redesigned the website. Rather than offering a series of articles, it now presents a range of subjects involving current topics.

In addition to easing the browsing capabilities, this new layout allows users to consult more cross-subject content. Moreover, the new visual, which is now more attractive and current, comes along with more intuitive navigation: “The re-classification of the subject matter was a big change, but I am very happy with the results. Working on this project with HE has been a pleasure and gave a second life to the site.” says Stéphanie Plessis-Bélair, Project Manager, Brand Management at National Bank.

The revitalisation of Clearfacts is on-going. In the coming days, clearfacts.ca will feature an updated, dynamic Newsletter and a section featuring its bloggers.

Encompassing more than 1000 articles, the clearfacts.ca website of National Bank educates its visitors about managing personal finances and give advice on consumer habits.

For more information, visit the project or go directly to clearfacts.ca.

For the occasion: Bubbles, hors-d’oeuvres, DJ, and a unique presentation of the Cyberinvestigation by Andrea Doyon, owner and CEO.

Follow the event on our social media for more details and to get exclusive pictures!

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Located in the heart of Pointe-St-Charles the Nordelec building was chosen because of its dynamism in a business field that is rapidly expanding in Montreal. It will allow Human Equation to benefit from an exceptional environment, as it gathers under the same roof a pool of talents and creativity.

Besides offering a suitable workspace for the teams of development, creation, business intelligence, tactics and cyber-investigation, the new base, which is 7.000 square feet big, will offer everyone a favourable atmosphere to inventiveness and teamwork.

Human Equation employees participated in the creation of the Agency, the resultant atmosphere will be the mirror image of both teams and clients, who represent the essence of the daily concerns:

“ We wanted a place where we could collectively think, share, carry out and create. A conference room where transparency is central is located at the very heart of the new office. We also arranged a multi-screen wall to display cyber-investigations. This wall well represents our vision of Web at the service of the business intelligence. Areas for interactivity and brainstorming are set-up for exchanges between teams and clients. Finally, a kitchen near a quiet recreation area is located near the reception: a convivial place for all. This new working environment with a ludic touch is meant to be simple, human and especially fitted for creative geeks.” explains Carmen Ciotola, President.

The Human Equation team is pleased to welcome you at the new Agency.

Human Equation
1751, Richardson St, suite 4.400
Montreal (Quebec) H3K 1G6
www.humanequation.co
* We kept the same telephone number.

The Secret World is a massively multiplayer online gaming platform (MMO) where fanatics have to battle evil forces that aim to cripple the world. The new immersive site let gamers around the world discover never seen before footage from the game, as well as information on the secret societies, locations, monsters and much much more. Created in the new branding platform, it provide full screen immersive experience similar to the new Funcom.com corporate portal.

According to the site’s lead developer, Philippe Bernier, the innovative website offers a higher level of navigation experience that was warmly received by the audience. “Some of them went as far as telling this was the best looking game site they seen!”

Since the media embargo at the San Francisco GDC, many people around the world where waiting for this launch. In the minutes succeeding the site launch, twitter and discussion forum lit up with positive chatter and spread to various blogs and social media.

For more info visit www.thesecretworld.com