Village Gamer

London – Digital Extremes and 2k Games will be celebrating the launch of BioShock 2 with a party to be held at the Digital Extremes studio this coming Wednesday February 10. The Digital Extremes development team is responsible for the multi-player components of this highly anticipated sequel to the 2007 (PC and Xbox 360 versions) BioShock.

The Multiplayer mode in BioShock 2 provides a rich prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject for Sinclair Solutions, a premier provider of Plasmids and Tonics in the underwater city of Rapture that was first explored in the original BioShock. Players will need to use all the elements of the BioShock toolset to survive as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a unique multiplayer experience that can only be found in Rapture.

BioShock 2 was developed in partnership by 2K Marin, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes for PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows-based PCs. BioShock 2 is rated M by the ESRB.

Vancouver – The BCTIA has released an updated version of their PDF PODIUM directory. With over 140 profiled companies, PODIUM illustrates the talent and ingenuity that makes British Columbia a great place to live, work, study and invest. During the games, the BCTIA meeting concierge will help you connect with companies featured in PODIUM. To set up a meeting, simply send your request to the BCTIA and their immediate response team will take care of the rest! The BCTIA also reminds local companies that there is still time to participate. Please click the PODIUM link above to find out more information on how your company can get involved.

Calgary – Digital Alberta has announced the program for their February SHAKER event on February 16.  Join Alberta industry leaders Jennifer Aubin, Steve Shatford and Marc Wachmann for a panel discussion of issues related to team management at technology companies: “building great teams at digital media companies”.  Questions to be pondered will include: What are the best practices to get the right people on board? How do you build and develop successful teams within digital media?

February’s SHAKER event will take place at the Seven Restolounge in Calgary from 5-7pm. Tickets are free for Digital Alberta members and $15.00 for non-members. Please contact Rene Smid to register for this event.

Digital Alberta and the Banff New Media Institute are also partnering again to offer a workshop designed to teach the basics of producing and distributing short-length videos and how to use short-form video as a marketing technique in social media and on mobile platforms. In the course of this two and a half day workshop, participants will be shown low-cost multi-media tools and techniques and best practices for capturing customer attention and loyalty via video on social media and mobile platforms through discussions, examples and case studies. Please see the event page for more information on this seminar, which will be held March 3 – 7 at the Banff New Media Institute.

Vancouver – Just a reminder that VX2010 hits full steam on February 8 with BC Media Day and continues to build momentum throughout the Winter Olympics.

Toronto – TransGaming, Inc. (TSX VENTURE:TNG) has been named as one of the TSX Venture 50, a ranking of strong performers listed on TSX Venture Exchange. TSX Venture 50 is comprised of 10 emerging companies in five industry sectors that have been identified as leaders in Canada’s public venture market.

“This past year was an incredible and exciting year for TransGaming and we are thrilled to have our success recognized with our inclusion in the 2010 TSX Venture 50,” remarked Vikas Gupta, President & CEO of TransGaming Inc. “2010 represents an important inflection point for TransGaming and being named to the prestigious TSX Venture 50 is a wonderful way to commence this next chapter in the company’s evolution”.

The 2010 TSX Venture 50 were selected based on four equally weighted criteria that include return on investment, trading, analyst coverage and market capitalization growth in Cleantech, Diversified Industries, Mining, Oil & Gas and Technology and Life Sciences sectors.

“We are pleased to celebrate the 2010 TSX Venture 50,” said John McCoach, President, TSX Venture Exchange. “These outstanding companies are proven leaders in their respective sectors and we are proud to have them listed on TSX Venture Exchange. We wish them all continued success.”

Mississauga – GTA company MindShare Learning, a leading provider of strategic marketing solutions to the EdTech industry, has partnered with San Diego based Tech4Learning Inc. to win a bid to provide student-centered rich media Frames 4 software to all publicly funded schools in Ontario.

“Frames 4 provides teachers and students with 21st century learning tools to enhance student learning,” says Robert Martellacci, president, MindShare Learning.”

The Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee (OSAPAC) recommended Frames 4 for use by all teachers and students in K-12 classrooms across the province.

“With the Ministry of Education’s licensing of Tech4Learning’s Frames 4 software, two of OSAPAC’s licensing mandates were met. The committee sought to recommend software that would address multimedia authoring and stop motion animation for students in Grades K-12. Frames 4 presents students with an intuitive desktop interface with a great deal of authoring power packaged into the product. The power of the product is immediately evident when you see the export options that are available from the “Make” menu. Students can export their productions as podcasts, content for the web, a presentation or to Adobe Flash format for further embedding and content creation. With all of this flexibility, students will be able to create high impact media for a variety of purposes. The OSAPAC Committee is excited by the licensing of this product and look forward to this product taking the province by storm.” Doug Peterson, OSAPAC Committee Member & Greater Essex County District School Board, Computers in the Classroom Consultant.

“Tech4Learning is thrilled that Frames 4 has been selected by OSAPAC for use for K-12 in the province of Ontario. Tech4Learning is committed to making Frames 4 a success for students and teachers across the province.” David Wagner, CEO, Tech4Learning, Inc.