Douglas Coupland is playing games with producers Larry Sugar and J.B. Sugar. The author of Generation X, Souvenir of Canada and Everything’s Gone Green is exec producing the adaptation of his game-themed novel JPod with the father and son principals of No Equal Entertainment for CBC and, according to J.B. Sugar, a web component may also be in the works.

The 13 x 60 series delves into the subculture of Vancouver’s video game industry, and is rumored to be based on the experiences of disgruntled staff at Vancouver’s Electronic Arts studio.

J.B. Sugar (The Collector) is tight-lipped about the broader efforts, but concedes that talks are underway. ‘We’re looking at multi-platforming opportunities. This is a natural. We’re working with [Vancouver post-production house] Rainmaker on the series, and ancillary projects are in motion,’ he says.

‘This has been a great collaboration,’ he adds. ‘Douglas has no production experience, but one of the amazing things about him is his adaptability, and he’s involved in every decision.’

Coupland has worked as a screenwriter, writing Everything’s Gone Green specifically for the screen and adapting his book Souvenir of Canada, and he is also writing the forthcoming series Extinction Event. JPod is his first turn as a producer, following a pilot he and the Sugars shot last year.

‘It all came together staggeringly fast,’ says J.B. Sugar. ‘A friend recommended the book last June, and halfway through I got very excited. It has an episodic effect which translates well to TV.’ He called his father, then Coupland, optioned the book, shot the pilot in November, and the Ceeb picked it up in December.

The plan is for JPod to run as an ongoing series.

JPod is shooting until mid-October and is directed by J.B. Sugar, Brad Turner (24), Tim Southam (One Dead Indian), Michael MacLennan (a writer on Godiva’s) and Peter DeLuise (Painkiller Jane) – using exteriors in Vancouver’s techie-hipster Yaletown neighborhood and studio space in Abbotsford, 60 minutes out of town, ‘to take advantage of the tax credits,’ explains Sugar.

The ensemble cast includes David W. Kopp (Freddy vs. Jason), Emilie Ullerup (Sanctuary), Steph Song (Dragon Boys) and Alan Thicke. The series is slated to air on CBC in January.