A media-savy ensemble of high profile Canadians has banded together behind a social networking game that allows game players to re-create themselves as tycoons, moguls and celebrity stars.

Social Game Universe, a social games innovator based in Toronto, announced today that it has begun beta testing its first applications on Facebook: Hollywood Tycoon and Avastar.

It’s no coincidence that two games that let players build dream studios and become stars have been made possible by real-life media moguls. Investors in Social Game Universe include Michael Cohl and son Eli (who is to be married in Florida this coming weekend); Clive Smith, co-founder of legendary animation studio Nelvana; Slaight Communications’ Gary Slaight; former Yale Prof., behavioral finance virtuoso and founder of Zero Footprint and Algorithmics Ron Dembo; former Universal Music Canada CFO Bruce Hooey; and media visionary Moses Znaimer, co-founder of Citytv/MuchMusic and creator of Zoomer Media.

About Social Game Universe

Social Game Universe is a Toronto-based social games innovator founded in 2009 by veteran entrepreneur Nathon Gunn and backed by powerhouse media visionaries including Eli Cohl, Michael Cohl, Clive Smith and Moses Znaimer with two Facebook applications in beta: Hollywood Tycoon and Avastar and many more in production.

About Nathon Gunn

Nathon Gunn, was previously the CEO of Bitcasters, which was instrumental in the success of major initiatives at some of the world’s largest media companies. Nathon helped to found Citytv Interactive and Miramax New Media, created Bitcast.com, ran campaign Internet strategy for the former Prime Minister of Canada and has created games played hundreds of millions of times.

Follow on Twitter @socialgameuniv

http://apps.facebook.com/avastar/

http://apps.facebook.com/hollywoodtycoon/