The Youth Media Alliance announced the winners of the 2023 Awards of Excellence and we are thrilled to share the AMAZING news that Xavier Riddle Museum Maker took home the Award of Excellence for Best Gaming or Interactive Experience. A huge congratulations to our 9 Story Interactive team, and our partners at PBS KIDS and Relish Studios on this wonderful recognition.
The YMA Awards of Excellence were announced during a live gala at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio, hosted with style and wit by Anisha Joshi and Mercedes Gaztambide from CBC’s Street Cents, and directed by Aidan Cosgrave. The event was attended by over 200 industry professionals, joining together to celebrate the best talent, passion and creativity of Canadian children’s and youth production professionals. Xavier Riddle Museum Maker was nominated for the Award of Excellence for Best Gaming or Interactive Experience this April, alongside fellow game nominees Rosie’s Rules – Slime Store produced again by our 9 Story Interactive team with PBS KIDS and Curious Media, Woodland Pawball (CBC Kids) and TVO Arts Interactive (Friends & Enemies). On hand to accept the award on behalf of our 9 Story Interactive team was Brown Bag Films – Toronto, Creative Director, Cory Bobiak.
In Xavier Riddle Museum Maker, players get to create exhibits for real-life historical figures, who are known for doing great things that have never been done before. Players are sent on curious missions to locate hidden artifacts that are connected to a particular historical “pioneer” or “changemaker”, who are placed throughout the many rooms of the museum. Once an artifact is found, one must bring it back to the historical figure’s room to create and complete a fantastic museum exhibit!
Xavier Riddle Museum Maker is based on the animated adventure-comedy Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, inspired by Brad Meltzer and Chris Eliopoulos’ best-selling kids book series, Ordinary People Change the World. The show follows the adventures of Xavier, Yadina, and Brad, as they travel back in time to meet famous heroes of the past and learn how to be their own heroes of the present! Museum Maker features many of the same pioneers and changemakers that appear throughout the series.
A huge congratulations to all this year’s YMA honorees, and of course to all of our brilliant 9 Story and Brown Bag Films nominated productions and games, which included Rosie’s Rules nominated for ‘Best Program, Animation (Preschool, Ages 3-5), Rosie’s Rules: Slime Store nominated for ‘Best Best Gaming or Interactive Experience,’ and Wild Kratts nominated for ‘Best Program, Animation (Ages 6+).’
For a full list of the 2023 YMA Awards winners click here.