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6th September 2011

Amaya To Provide Regulated Gaming System for Moldova National Lottery

amayaMontreal’s Amaya Gaming Group Inc., an entertainment solutions provider for the regulated gaming industry has been awarded an exclusive, 20-year contract with the National Lottery of Moldova to provide a full range of gaming solutions. Amaya will leverage its innovative technology platform to implement and support national gaming programs including: lottery, video lottery terminals, sports betting, and digital gaming.

The agreement represents a significant milestone as Amaya’s first comprehensive government mandate spanning the complete range of gaming programs and activities. The contract has the potential to generate recurring revenues in excess of $20 million annually.  Implementation is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011.

“We are very pleased to begin a long-term relationship with the National Lottery of Moldova that promises to be fruitful for both parties,” said David Baazov, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amaya Gaming Group.  “Our technology is designed to offer a full range of gaming solutions from a single platform, and we believe our breadth of capabilities was a key reason we were selected, along with our ability to ensure the integrity of the system.  While Moldova is the first customer to formally select us for this wide range of gaming activities, our strategy is to expand our relationships over time with new and existing customers by offering more gaming technologies in their jurisdictions.”

The partnership will provide the National Lottery of Moldova with new sources of revenue, including funds that are currently leaving the country for off-shore gaming activities. One of the features of Amaya’s technology is designed to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of data collected from devices across the gaming network.  The system will enable government authorities to receive real-time, accurate accounting reports that are free of human error, manipulation and/or fraud, while providing the framework for implementing responsible gaming features, including the strict prohibition of underage gaming.

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6th September 2011

Computer Using Educators Conference Next Month

CUEBCComputer Using Educators of BC will be holding their annual fall conference at Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam on October 21st. This conference, which focuses on technology in the classroom, is open to both educators and non-educators.

The conference’s keynote will be presented by North Carolina writer, speaker and instructor David Warlick, and this year’s conference theme is Embracing Emerging Technologies. As of this writing, there are 40 speaker sessions being offered at the conference, including presentations on how to use Blender 3D, Twitter for the Classroom, Supporting Online Learners, Digital Game Development, Digital Storytelling and there are also several sessions on ways to use the internet and technology tools to inspire learning and creativity in today’s students.

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6th September 2011

Web-In Announces First Series of Speakers

webinThe organizers of Web-In, presented by the Canada Media Fund, are proud to announce the first series of speakers who will present their vision of the Web of tomorrw, on October 31st at the Hilton Montréal Bonaventure hotel, as part of MTL DGTL.

Web-In is a one-day event, featuring micro-conferences that aim to drive industry professionals to break new ground and create the Web of the future by encouraging them to be a step ahead of common observation, leave their comfort zone and question their certainties. Take advantage of the Early Bird 30% discount on the regular price by registering online before September 16.

Brief and Inspiring Speakers!

  • Jonathan Bélisle: Ux, Drugs & Rock N’ Roll: From Divergence to Exploration to Convergence
  • Olivier Bruel: La viralité gratuite
  • Alexandre Ekerli: Le Web comme rituel
  • Geoffroi Garon: Le phénomène du «Selftracking» et le concept de «Quantified Self»
  • Luc Gauvreau: Le «Montréalscope»: histoires données au futur
  • Alex Lauzon: L’obsolescence (non planifiée) des logiciels de courriels
  • Laurent Maisonnave: Comment le buzz des médias sociaux rendra enfin sexy votre TV connectée
  • Véronique Marino: Création transmédia: la compréhension de l’autisme est-elle la clef de la réussite?
  • Sébastien Paquet: Le futur est collaboratif et ouvert
  • Patrick Tanguay: Post-numérique et l’Internet des machins

“Web-In will be the perfect opportunity for Web enthusiasts to find inspiration for their next projects,” says François Légaré, Coordinator of the event. “We are proud to welcome close to 20 speakers who are willing to share their vision and passion, in order to push Quebec’s Internet community to excel, and move forward creatively.”

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4th September 2011

Wired Woman Celebrates 15 Years

wired womanThe BC Chapter of Wired Woman will be holding a 15th Anniversary party on September 22nd at the Jewel Ballroom on West 8th in Vancouver. The doors open at 6pm for an evening of networking, door prizes, hors d’oeurves and drink tickets.

The Early Bird ticket price of $20.00 per person is in effect until September 8th. After September 8th, tickets are $25.00 for members and $30.00 for non-members. Membership in Wired Woman is free, so sign up today and save money on tickets for all future Wired Woman events, including the Anniversary Party.

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4th September 2011

Game Design Expo 2012 Dates Announced

Game Design ExpoVancouver Film School has announced the dates for the 2012 version of its annual Game Design Expo. Day One of the expo, known as Industry Day, will be held at the Vancouver International Film Centre on Seymour on January 21st. Industry Day is filled with speaker and panel presentations in the theatre, with displays and networking opportunities held in the lobby area.

Day Two of the Expo will be hosted at the new VFS Game Design Campus at 88 East Pender on January 22nd, where those interested in attending VFS as a student can speak with instructors and admissions counselors as well as participate in hands-on workshops or try out some student-developed games.

The Games Design Expo has also put out a Call For Speakers and Panels. Deadline for submissions is October 16, 2011. If you or your company are interested in becoming an event sponsor, please see the information on the Expo’s Sponsor page.

 

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2nd September 2011

Directors Guild of Canada celebrates Canadian Talent At TIFF

directors guild of canadaThe Directors Guild of Canada is delighted to join TIFF 2011 in celebrating Canadian cinema. The over 30 feature films and close to 50 short films selected for screenings at TIFF 2011 represent 16 DGC director members nationally.

Among the hundreds of international films selected for screenings at TIFF 2011 are several outstanding Canadian films created by guild members from across the country. The work of DGC members appears in multiple TIFF programmes including:

  • Contemporary World Cinema
  • Special Presentation
  • Canada First
  • Galas

“It fills me with a great sense of pride and optimism about this country’s film, television and digital media industry when I see the quality of work and the commitment of its creators,” said Gerry Barr, National Executive Director & CEO, “TIFF is a great way for the DGC to highlight its mission to advance member interests as a creative and labour force and as an advocate on behalf of our industry.”

DGC president Sturla Gunnarsson has been invited to sit on TIFF’s prestigious Canadian feature film jury this year, “I look forward to the opportunity to screen the best of this year’s Canadian cinema.  As a filmmaker, I understand the challenges and think of every film that gets made as a kind of miracle, and will approach the process with the respect it demands.”

In anticipation of the myriad of exciting screenings at TIFF, DGC’s publication, Montage hits the stands today, featuring in-depth interviews with Canadian directors whose films will premiere at TIFF, including Sarah Polley (dir. Take this Waltz); Leonard Farlinger (dir. I’m Yours) and Ingrid Veninger (dir. i am a good person/i am a bad person).  This issue of Montage also presents interviews, editorials and in depth reports on a variety of timely topics of interest to Members, the industry as well as those interested in learning more about this country’s cultural landscape.

 

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2nd September 2011

Enderby Entertainment Wraps Principal Photography

enderby entertainmentEnderby Entertainment has just completed principal photography in British Columbia on its new paranormal thriller titled, “No Tell Motel.” The film, produced by Enderby’s Rick Dugdale and directed by Brett Donowho, is slated under Enderby’s horror division, Tony-Seven Films, and continues the company’s ongoing schedule of film projects. Soon to follow will be “Stranded” and “Heartbreak Hill,” among others. The producer-director duo most recently worked together on “Silver Falls,” now in post-production.

“It’s been quite the homecoming for us to bring a film back to the Okanagan Valley,” said Dugdale, who hails from the area. “We’ve attempted to shoot here before with no success, but in this case we found the locations we needed. We were able to test the waters for production infrastructure with our horror division Tony-Seven Films and I would say the answer is, yes, we can make a film here.”

Enderby’s busy slate will continue through the end of the year with “Stranded,” shooting this fall in the Los Angeles area with Daniel Petrie, Jr. directing and Dugdale producing. Petrie just completed filming on ABC’s “Combat Hospital” and Dugdale is fresh off “No Tell Motel” and “Cherry,” which features James Franco, Heather Graham and Dev Patel.

The screenplay for “No Tell Motel” was written by T.J. Cimfel and tells the story of five friends abandoned at a motel who find they share the same dark secrets as the tortured souls who died there. The film stars Angel McCord (“Sacred,” “Chemistry), newcomers Chalie Howes, Johnny Hawkes, Andrew MacFarlane and Chelsey Reist.

The script won “Best of Horror” in the 2010 Chicago Screenwriters Network Contest, and was a winner in the Script Savvy Contest, 2010. The screenplay for “Stranded” was written by Rachel Long and Brian Pittman, who also wrote Enderby’s “Silver Falls” with Cam Cannon, as well as the upcoming Rob Cohen-helmed film “1950.”

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2nd September 2011

Dog Pile Gets A Pirate Challenge

skymodoJust in time for the Labor Day Weekend developers JoshOClock and ArtWitz Design (working under the SkyModo label) have released a brand new version of their critically acclaimed and highly praised “Dog Pile” title, updating the game on its entire range of platforms for the Apple iPhone®, Apple iPod touch®, Apple iPad® and Android. In celebration of the extended holiday weekend, the game is currently available as a free download, but only for a limited period of time.

This new and improved version of “Dog Pile” features 12 brand new levels in a unique Pirates Theme called dog pile-pirates“Pirates Challenge”, much harder than previous stages, and primarily aimed at more experienced players. The update also includes two new objects, Cannons and Breakable Crates with the dogs uttering things like “Walk the plank you scurvy Dog”!

“Dog Pile” is a hilarious and cute match-3 spinoff, featuring the best gameplay components from all genres. Throughout a series of ingenious and brilliantly designed levels, your fat puppy falls from the top of the screen into what can best be described as a pinball-style environment! Incorporating realistic physics you must “touch, swipe and tilt” to aid your furry little friend match up with his buddies at the bottom of the screen before time runs out. The sound effects and music add so much to the game you just feel like cranking up the volume full blast, and the cutesy and adorable graphics begs you for just “one-more-go” like a dog begging for a bone. As you become better at the game, and you rank up points and dog bone biscuits, you have the option to go shopping, upgrading your dog pack to feature awesome accessories such as cool eye wear and hats!

“Dog Pile” is ideal to anyone, regardless of age, and its multiple stages with plenty of levels will keep you snapping at anyone trying to stop you from completing the game!

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2nd September 2011

Uniserve Now Accepting Users for Its Free Uniserve Cloud Beta Offering

uniserveUniserve Communications Corp. has announced that it is now accepting users for its Free Uniserve Cloud Beta offering. Targeted at anyone who runs a computer for a server, the Uniserve Cloud Beta will give users two free months of access to one of the top public cloud platforms in Canada on the Uniserve Cloud, powered by US-based Joyent Software. Uniserve’s Free Beta offer is scheduled to run until November, but could go longer depending on demand.

“Whether you’re a web app developer or a Python or Ruby coder, our 1 GB SmartMachine is ideal for anyone looking for an application platform,” said Bruce Sanderson, Uniserve President. “By leveraging Joyent’s six plus years in the Cloud computing space we’re able to deliver an easy to use, fast, and reliable Cloud solution that is hosted in Canada. A highly optimized, virtual compute container with guaranteed resources, our SmartMachines allow users to experience burstability, elasticity, and speed not normally found from other providers.”

Uniserve hopes to spread the word about their new Cloud offering with their Free Beta trial, stating that “we’re very excited by our Cloud product. We know we are using the best Cloud platform in Canada which is why we are looking for users who want to take the Uniserve Cloud for a free test drive. We know once you do, you’ll be hooked.”

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2nd September 2011

Catching Up With Ezio and Revelations

ubisoft canadaUbisoft has announced that the Assassin’s Creed Revelations multiplayer beta is now available for download on the Playstation®Network, exclusively for PlayStation®Plus members and Playstation®3 Uplay members, and will be playable from September 3rd 10am, closing on the evening of September 11th. Players can preload to take the proverbial leap of faith into the action the moment the beta starts, on September 3.ACR Ultimate Edition

The multiplayer beta offers access to nine characters (The Sentinel, The Vanguard, The Guardian, The Vizier, The Thespian, The Deacon, The Bombardier, The Trickster and The Champion), three maps (Knight’s Hospital, Antioch, Constantinople) and four playable modes (Wanted, Manhunt, Deathmatch, and Artifact Assault), which are only a sample of the final multiplayer content.

In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary Altaïr on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path – one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

Assassin’s Creed® Revelations will be available on November 15, 2011, with European and Australian gamers once again being offered special editions not available in Canada or the United States, and it’s the one edition which contains the Assassin’s Creed Encyclopedia. Well – one version of the Encyclopedia, because true to Ubisoft’s way, there are two editions of the book – a white version and a black version. The black version is the one included with the Animus Edition bundle, and does not include “Cartes Blanche” – a section that features Assassin’s Creed artwork by other professional artists or game fans. The only place to get the white version of the encyclopedia, which does include “Cartes Blanche”  is through UbiWorkShop, where it is available for pre-order, with a list price of $34.95USD.

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Here, according to the Assassin’s Creed wiki, are all of the editions to be available, but the Ultimate Edition Bundle isn’t (as of this writing) even listed on the GameStop.ca site, and neither is the Collector’s Edition. In all honesty, the way Ubisoft has these editions broken down really doesn’t make a lot of sense, but many things the developer/publisher does don’t always make a lot of sense, so I suppose having these multiple editions shouldn’t either.

Special Edition

  • A copy of the Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Game
  • Game soundtrack
  • Two multiplayer characters (The Crusader and the Ottoman Doctor)
  • Turkish Assassin Armour

Signature Edition – This edition can only be obtained by pre-ordering Assassin’s Creed: Revelations from Gamestop.

  • A copy of the Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Game
  • Bonus single player map, Vlad the Impaler’s Prison
  • Weapon capacity upgrades – possibly the same ones listed in the Animus Edition?
  • A multiplayer character, The Ottoman Jester
  • A DVD of the Assassin’s Creed: Embers short animated movie
  • Game soundtrack

Ultimate Bundle Edition – this edition can only be obtained from Gamestop.

  • Signature Edition of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
  • Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood da Vinci’s Flying Machine replica
  • Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood 7-inch Ezio Collectable

Collector’s Edition

  • A copy of the Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Game
  • Collectable casing
  • 50-page artbook
  • A DVD of the animated short film Assassin’s Creed: Embers
  • Original soundtrack
  • Bonus single player map, Vlad the Impaler’s Prison
  • Two multiplayer characters (The Crusader and The Ottoman Jester)

Templar Collector Edition– only available from OpenGames Italia.

  • A copy of the Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Game
  • Collectable casing
  • 50-page artbook
  • A DVD of the animated short film Assassin’s Creed: Embers
  • Original soundtrack
  • Bonus single player map, Vlad the Impaler’s Prison
  • Two multiplayer characters (The Crusader and the Ottoman Jester)
  • 8.5″ Statue/Figurine of Ezio Auditore

Animus Edition – available only in Europe and Australia

  • A copy of the Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Game
  • Assassin’s Creed: The Encyclopedia
  • A DVD of the animated short film Assassin’s Creed: Embers
  • Game soundtrack
  • Bonus single player map, Vlad the Impaler’s Prison
  • Two multiplayer characters (The Crusader and The Ottoman Jester)
  • The Armor of Brutus outfit from AC: Brotherhood
  • Capacity upgrades for the Pistol, Hand-held bombs, and Crossbow
  • One exclusive customization item
  • ‘Ezio in Altaïr’s outfit’ multiplayer skin. (Only when pre-ordered at certain stores.)
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