Village Gamer

Calgary – Psyko Audio Labs Inc. of Calgary will use a $975,000 investment by AVAC Ltd. to enhance an international marketing campaign to let gamers know how they can buy a set of the revolutionary 3-D-sound headphones that won first place at the world’s largest consumer electronic tradeshow held in Las Vegas in early 2009.

“The Psyko 5.1 headphones deliver precision directional audio through a patent pending technology that provides a sound-surround experience that gamers would call the ‘perfect room,” says James Hildebrandt, Psyko founder, CEO and Head Psyko. “There is absolutely nothing else like them on the market. That’s why our headphones won first place in the headphone category at the Vegas show and were a finalist in the game category. We went to the largest consumer electronics trade show in the world and won two top awards. It is like a rookie going to the World Series and hitting two home runs. Lots of people tested our headphones at the show and that produced a ton of positive reviews and videos on all the major tech web sites. We were already taking orders through our web site, but news of the tradeshow win has attracted a lot of new attention.”

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OpenGL and leading semiconductor companies combine to produce high performance graphics software and hardware for safety-critical markets

Toronto – ALT Software, a worldwide supplier of safety-critical 2D/3D advanced graphics software and development services announced today plans to extend their market leading OpenGL SC (Safety Critical) products to support the MB86298 ‘Ruby’ graphics processor unit (GPU) from Fujitsu Microelectronics, a major supplier of semiconductor products. ALT draws upon its graphics expertise and experience with Top Tier commercial and military avionics customers, to supply DO-178B/EUROCAE 12B certifiable MB86298 ‘Ruby’ solutions specifically for Integrated Modular Avionics applications.

MB86298 ‘Ruby’ is a 90nm CMOS Graphics Processing Unit based on a new chip architecture design. The chip is specified for demanding requirements and delivers optimal performance, low power consumption and targets graphic applications in the high end sector of automotive, avionics and industrial application fields. MB86298 ‘Ruby’ provides high performance 3D-rendering functions in combination with enhanced video capturing. OpenGL ES 2.0 conformity is attained via with its fully programmable unified vertex and fragment shader architecture. State-of-the-art -interfaces to the host and graphic memory provide the necessary bandwidth for the data throughput of future high end graphic applications.
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Montreal – Meridian4 is thrilled to announce that their physics-based hardcore casual game; Obulis will soon appear on Steam for sale to their millions of hard-core gamers.

“Obulis will be a great fit for Steam’s audience of gamers who love a unique and challenging puzzle game. The game has already received rave reviews from the press and it has appeared on many top ten lists in 2008 and we are excited about getting it out to a wider audience.” said Andy Sher, CEO at Meridian4.

Obulis will be available March 19th on Steam and will sell for $9.99.

About Obulis
Based on IonFX’s award-winning mobile game of the same name, Obulis takes things to the next level by fusing highly compelling gameplay with outstanding graphics, music and state of the art physics effects.

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Sault STE. Marie – The annual Future Play Conference on the future of game development has become an event that gets circled on the calendars of the gaming world’s top scholars, students and industry leaders. With 2009 keynote speakers that include games pioneer and guru Don Daglow and Ben Sawyer of Digitalmill, this year promises to be no exception.

With the 2009 Future Play Conference now partnered with the Game Developers Conference® (GDC Canada), there will now be even more opportunities for participants to benefit from influential speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions and valuable networking opportunities.

“I have a high regard for the role of Future Play in the game research and development vista in Canada,” says University of Calgary Professor Jim Parker, a long-time Future Play participant. “I was an early participant in Future Play, since 2004 in fact, when it was still named the Game Technology Conference, and I have been enthusiastic ever since. It has been the home of many innovations, such as the game contest in 2007 and in acting as host for the Canadian Game Studies Association in its early stages.”
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SEGA® Corporation today announced an exclusive partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the official licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to develop Vancouver 2010™ – the Official Video Game of the Olympic Winter Games. The game is being developed by Eurocom Entertainment Software for PC, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Vancouver 2010™ is an authentic simulation of a host of events from the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, focusing on the adrenalin rush that comes from the extreme speed of winter sports. Including the all new challenge mode, it will allow players to immerse themselves in the world’s greatest sporting event like never before.

“Vancouver 2010™ will set a new standard for the Olympic-themed video games genre,” commented Hugh Binns, Director of Eurocom Development Ltd., developers of Vancouver 2010™. “With the innovative first person mode to immerse players even more in the game, an all new challenge mode providing hours of entertainment and stunning high definition graphics, Vancouver 2010™ will be a fantastic experience.”
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Vancouver – 2K Sports has announced that The BIGS™ 2 will be developed by Vancouver studio Blue Castle Games. The sequel to the hit arcade-style Major League Baseball game The BIGS™¸ will be available this summer for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo. Known for its over-the-top style of gameplay, The BIGS 2 focuses on the “big” fast-paced moments in Major League Baseball with new opportunities to go up against MLB legends, more mini-games like Home Run Pinball, and a variety of other thrilling new features.

“Fans have been clamoring for a follow-up to The BIGS since it launched two years ago, so we’re excited to now deliver The BIGS 2,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of development, 2K Sports. “In the spirit of celebrating the most epic moments in Major League Baseball, The BIGS 2 offers a refreshingly fun and unique experience of dramatic walk-off homeruns, miraculous wall catches, acrobatic diving grabs, and many more incredible plays you’d usually see only in a highlight reel.”

Blue Castle Games is also developing Dead Rising 2 for CapCom which has not yet been given a release date.

Vancouver – Tritone is proud to introduce “Javakeys“, the latest advanced feature for its online music education systems. “Javakeys” is a virtual keyboard interface, enhancing the design of Tritone’s e-learning tools, and expanding the interaction between the computer and “Javatrax” – Tritone’s music performance evaluation engine.

Javatrax provides web based performance evaluations for music played into the system via a music keyboard interface. Javatrax threading technology creates three evaluations simultaneously and immediately provides a graphic display of note, timing and expressional errors made. Virtual Performance recordings and evaluations are saved in CourseWatch 2.0 – Tritone’s web based data management system – for later review and playback by both teacher and student. Javatrax is an integral part of the overall Tritone Music Series online education system used to teach such musical elements as note reading, ear training, rhythm, and more.

“Javakeys” was designed as part of a solution to a number of Tritone’s original goals. The Tritone Music Series was designed and is best used with an electronic music keyboard. Ideally every student in every class using our system should have access an electronic keyboard. For distant learning situations or virtual school activities, they should also have one at home. We know this is not always possible and “Javakeys” overcomes the obstacle.

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Application Deadline Extended To March 16 2009

Banff – The Global Writers Apprentice Programme offers emerging Canadian writers with the unprecedented opportunity to gain significant experience by completing a four-week internship in the story department of a prime-time series. The winners will be selected by a three person jury. Successful applicants will be invited to attend the Banff World Television Festival on a full access pass. The program is open to individual writers as well as to established writing teams who have a track record together.

Before attending BANFF, they will work on their series pitches and pitching techniques in one-on-one sessions with the Program Director.

Qualifications

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate an expertise in dramatic screenwriting. Preference will be given to those individuals who have at least a half hour of produced drama.

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AdviceScene.com is the first fully moderated, social networking community linking Lawyers and the Public, providing a free and democratic exchange of legal resources in Canada

Victoria BC – AdviceScene.com launches the first Canadian website delivering free law information from lawyers to the public. AdviceScene.com is a fully moderated, social networking community linking lawyers and the public providing a free and democratic exchange of legal resources in Canada.

“AdviceScene.com is where Canadians go to get legal questions answered,” said Kinney who writes a legal blog in Canada. “I believe that an effective legal system includes an open, transparent and public discussion of how laws affect our lives and how the law may be applied. Democratizing the law system means making the laws we all have to answer to more accessible for everyone.”

Kinney went on to say that having lawyers participate on the site is a key component. Many people search online for legal information that is readily available; though much information is either incorrect or does not apply.

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