Village Gamer

Toronto and Vancouver Halo fans, get ready to track The Covenant on August 21, 2010 and then Defend Reach in two separate missions on August 28th in Vancouver or September 4th in Toronto.

Locate the Covenant Advance Invasion Forces in either city to prove you’re ready to fight alongside Noble Team, win instant prizing, and be entered to win an exclusive Halo Reach Xbox bundle pack.

Join the fight and help UNSC track down Covenant by following UNSC_INTEL on Twitter. You’ll receive up-to-the-minute updates from UNSC pertaining to the whereabouts of the Covenant. Twitter followers of UNSC_INTEL will also be entered for the chance to win a Legendary Edition copy of Halo Reach.

In Defend Reach, Covenant have located and attacked UNSC control points. UNSC has planned a strategic assault and needs recruits. Do you have what it takes? Come down to the control point in your city for an event you’ll never forget. Battle Covenant troupes live using state-of-the-art weapons technology and be one of the first Canadians to get a sneak peak of Halo Reach. The event is free to anyone prepared to kick some serious Covenant butt. And for any die-hards out there who have pre-ordered the game, bring proof of purchase for an exclusive VIP experience at the event.

With Microsoft’s announcement of Xbox Live for Windows Phone 7, IUGO is proud to be a launch partner with the upcoming platform. IUGO’s hit physics puzzler Implode XL and rabidly fun 3D tower defense game Zombie Attack! Second Wave are part of the prestigious line up of WP7’s launch titles.

“Early on Microsoft approached us to be a part of the WP7 launch,” explains Sarah Thomson, IUGO’s VP of Business Development. “ From what we had read and seen of the platform along with MS’s aggressive support for developers to bring over their content, we were excited to be a part of it. We believe WP7 is going to be a serious competitor in the smartphone space. The OS has been amazing to work with and implementing Xbox Live features is a brilliant move.”

IUGO now has games on iPhone, BlackBerry and WP7. Android is the next platform users will see IUGO content on. IUGO aims to build content on these specific smartphone platforms. Plans to explore social gaming and cross-platform gaming are also underway for the powerhouse indie studio.

THQ Inc. and Relic Entertainment have announced that there will be a second stand-alone expansion for the genre redefining real time strategy PC game, Warhammer® 40,000®: Dawn of War® II released in the first quarter of 2011.

Jeff Lydell, Producer of Dawn of War II – Retribution commented: “We all love the Blood Ravens here at Relic Entertainment, but there are also a lot of fans of the other races and armies out there so we decided that Retribution should allow the player the freedom to experience the campaign from the perspective they select.”

Taking place ten years after the events in Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising™, Retribution will allow players to choose their perspective with the first multiple-race single player campaign in the Dawn of War II series. The first race to be revealed is the savage Orks, but no matter which race is chosen players will be taken on an epic journey through each story arc, revealing the answers to many questions left open in previous Dawn of War titles. Did Gabriel Angelos and his Space Marines really betray the Blood Ravens? How much of a toll will the constant warring take as the Imperium struggles to retain control in Sub-Sector Aurelia? Will the player help defeat the hostile Alien forces or align with them to overthrow the Imperial forces? As well as the single player campaign, Retribution™ will feature new multiplayer units, maps and an entire new playable faction when it ships.

Today’s eye candy is brought to you by Bioware, who has announced that Dragon Age™2 will be available in stores on March 8 2011, and will feature faster-paced action, striking new art direction and an updated method of storytelling that will allow gamers to experience the rise to power of one of the most important characters in the Dragon Age universe.

“The Dragon Age franchise got off to a tremendous start. With Dragon Age 2, we are building on the outstanding RPG fundamentals the original delivered while taking the franchise in a new direction with faster, more responsive combat that will allow players to think like a general, but fight like a Spartan,” said Mark Darrah, executive producer at BioWare. “We are giving the franchise’s gameplay a shot of adrenaline. We can’t wait to get the game in people’s hands so they can feel the difference.”

Dragon Age 2 thrusts players into the role of Hawke, a refugee who survives the destruction of his homeland and becomes the Champion of Kirkwall. The lore around Hawke’s rise to power is shrouded in myth and rumor and is the driving force behind this all-new story spanning 10 years in the Dragon Age universe timeline. Players will uniquely experience how this legend unfolds by gathering the deadliest of allies, making tough moral choices, amassing fame and fortune, and sealing their place in history.

Bioware has also announced that Mass Effect™ 2 is coming to the Sony PlayStation®3 in January 2011. The PlayStation 3 edition will include the full Mass Effect 2 game and hours of bonus content, making this the perfect introduction to BioWare’s award-winning action RPG franchise.

EA Sports™ has developed a new feature called Be A Goalkeeper for FIFA Soccer 11 that will enable fans to experience the thrill of playing as the keeper, and for the first time in a soccer videogame, will place control of all 22 players on the pitch in human hands. The new feature will be available for the PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® when FIFA Soccer 11 is available in stores September 28 in North America and October 1 in Europe and Asia. Chelsea FC and Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr ?ech has been signed as the spokesperson for Be A Goalkeeper and will be featured in advertising, marketing and promotional campaigns.

“The phenomenal growth of online gaming and the desire of our fans to be able to play as the goalie was the driving force behind this innovation for FIFA Soccer 11,” said Kaz Makita, Executive Producer, EA Sports FIFA. “Friends can play alongside each other in their pro clubs with all 11 virtual players on the pitch human controlled. We have finally replicated football in the virtual world.”

Be A Goalkeeper is a completely new way to play—instead of thinking as a player out in the middle of the pitch, you have to think and react as the goalkeeper. Experience the thrill of the one on one battle, making the great save from a free kick, punching balls safely out of danger, the pressure of the corner, and most importantly, keeping a clean sheet. Be A Goalkeeper features three levels of accessibility with varying degrees of AI assistance—assisted, semi-assisted and fully manual. Fans will be able to compete as the goalie in Career Mode and enjoy a 15-year career or create themselves as the goalie in Virtual Pro 2.0 to learn the position, track stats, complete achievements and test themselves against the best players in the virtual world.

With control of the keeper now in human hands FIFA Soccer 11 will deliver an authentic replication of soccer online with 11 vs. 11 Online Team Play that locks people into the role of a single, fixed player the entire game. Now up to 11 friends on different consoles will be able to select and take control of their own individual players on the same team to compete against up to 11 rivals of another team.

Also announced today by EA Sports is the signing of soccer superstar David Beckham as the brand ambassador for EA Sports Active 2. Beckham will act as the franchise spokesperson and will be featured in advertising and retail material across Europe and Australia. EA Sports Active 2 focuses on improving muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, as well as improving cardio; it will combine a heart rate monitor and motion tracking data to deliver a fitness experience that achieves authentic, measurable results. EA Sports Active 2 will be available on Kinect™ for Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3, Wii™, iPhone® and iPod touch® in Europe and Australia on November 19.

“David has always worked hard to stay in excellent shape and has inspired people around the world to make fitness a priority,” says Jens Uwe Intat, Senior Vice President & GM of European Publishing, EA. “We’re excited about this collaboration with David as the high value he places on fitness makes him a perfect fit for EA Sports Active 2. We are looking forward to working with him to motivate people everywhere to get active.”

“EA Sports Active is impressive and includes many elements that I have seen throughout my football career,” says David Beckham. “I’m excited to collaborate with EA SPORTS who have a great track record in developing authentic and credible sports products and games over the years.”

EA Sports Active 2 will ship with the Total Body Tracking system that combines a heart rate monitor and motion tracking data to ensure a workout with accurate tracking and measurable results. Using heart rate data that is displayed on-screen throughout the workout, users will be able to capture the intensity of their workout, allowing them to optimize their performance and reach their fitness goals quicker. Additionally, users will now also be able to track both their workout and heart rate data on the new EA Sports Active 2 online hub, allowing users to track their progress over time and stay motivated. Motion tracking data will provide complete freedom of motion for a deeper workout experience. EA Sports Active 2 will make working out simple, effective and will go with you wherever you are.

A combination of a deep talent pool, strong economy and targeted incentives has helped the Province of Ontario push Canada past the UK as the world’s third largest centre for video-game development talent, trailing only Japan and the United States.

Executives from the Ontario Technology Corridor are attending the Game Developers Conference (GDC Europe 2010) in Cologne this week to show digital entertainment companies that Ontario is the best place in North America to expand or relocate their businesses, making special note of recently announced gaming infrastructure in the Ontario Technology Corridor, including:

– A $107 million dollar digital media centre for Ontario companies called The Communitech Hub: Digital Media and Mobile Accelerator in Kitchener, Ontario (Waterloo Region). Opened earlier this summer, “The Hub” offers 30,000 square feet of space dedicated to the growth of digital media research and commercialization. It represents a $26.4 million investment by the Province of Ontario, with the rest coming from private partners and other levels of government. Last week, Google announced it was taking two floors in The Hub to double its Waterloo Region staff to 140 from the present 70 people.

– The University of Waterloo’s $20 million Stratford Institute for digital media, where the first classes begin this Fall. The Province of Ontario has invested $10 million in the institute, formed to help foster cross-disciplinary and cross sector collaboration in digital media. A further $10 million is being invested by the City of Stratford.

– The Generator At One, a $3 million state-of-the-art digital interactive media production facility in St. Catharines, Ontario. Featuring a Vicon T160 Motion Capture System, the facility is designed to enable entire media projects to be completed from one location. It was funded by the Government of Canada’s Community Adjustment Fund, assisted through the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and is powered by nGen – Niagara’s Interactive Media Generator.

Ontario’s fast-growing entertainment and creative cluster produces $15 billion in revenue and over 200,000 jobs, contributing $12.7 billion to the province’s GDP. In addition, gaming and digital media graduates from Ontario colleges and universities have proven to be prized employees at companies like Pixar Animation Studios, Electronic Arts, Walt Disney and Microsoft.

“Our job now is to add to our tremendous home-grown crop of companies and help demonstrate that Ontario is a prime destination in North America for gaming investments,” said Gerry Pisarzowski, Vice President of Business Development for the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, an Ontario Technology Corridor partner.

Ontario’s Media Development Corporation (OMDC) is the central catalyst for the province’s cultural media cluster, and offers the following targeted tax incentives:

– Ontario Intellectual Property Development Fund – refunds 30 per cent of eligible early stage development costs to bring screen-based content properties closer to production
– Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit – refunds 35-40 per cent of production costs
– Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit – 20 per cent of labor costs
– OMDC Interactive Digital Media Fund – up to $150,000 in project production funding. So far in 2010, the OMDC has announced $2.9 million in funding support.

Vancouver’s CounterPath Corporation has announced the worldwide availability of Bria iPhone Edition Version 1.1 for Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Compatible with Apple’s new iOS 4 operating system, Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 is a highly secure, standards-based VoIP softphone that works over both 3G and Wi-Fi networks.

Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 leverages iOS 4 to deliver to Bria users’ their most requested feature: multitasking on the iPhone, freeing them to stay productive while waiting for calls. This freedom is particularly valuable for iPhone users that need to reference other applications while on a call, enhancing the device’s value as a business tool. When Apple releases iOS 4 for the iPad, Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 will immediately and automatically extend its multitasking features to that device.

Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 also features support for up to eight accounts, so users can create a separate account – including a separate number – for each aspect of their life, such as work home or on the move. Bria users now simply log in once to stay connected to all of their accounts throughout their day. Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 also lets users create a separate dialing plan for each account to ensure that each call is placed correctly.

Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 also fully supports older devices running iPhone 3.0 and is ideal for the growing number of SMEs, large enterprises and governments that are deploying iPhones, the iPod touch and iPads for mobile workers, many of whom require full access to their communications services while away from their desk or office. Bria iPhone Edition leverages the iPhone’s native address book and its embedded Bluetooth technology to provide a seamless calling experience while on the move.

“Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 takes Mobile VoIP to the next level by enabling iPhone users to take one or more of their VoIP accounts mobile.” said Todd Carothers, VP Product Management CounterPath. “Now with full multitasking and multi-account support, Bria liberates iOS 4 users by truly un-tethering them from the desktop. Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 is the latest example of CounterPath’s commitment to the burgeoning Mobile VoIP market.”

Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 integrates seamlessly with other CounterPath desktop and convergence solutions, as well as with enterprise and carrier infrastructure equipment from major vendors such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, BroadSoft, Metaswitch, Avaya, Cisco and NEC. Bria iPhone Edition also supports Asterisk-based telephony systems.

Bria iPhone Edition 1.1’s other key features include:

* Full SIP compliance, enabling use with any SIP-compliant server and hundreds of ITSPs that currently offer CounterPath-based services.
o Bria iPhone Edition appears as another endpoint to service providers or PBX equipment, enabling fast, cost-effective deployments.
* Call quality that’s superior to circuit-switched wireline and wireless voice, and based on the G.711, G.729 and GSM codecs.
* An intuitive user interface that provides one-touch access to voicemail, call history, speakerphone and other frequently used telephony features such as 4-digit dialing.
* Support for DTMF, which lets users enter numbers to access an auto attendant.
* Bluetooth support, enabling hands-free calling for convenience, as well as safety while driving (iPhone and iPod touch only).
* Multi-call management options, including the ability to switch between, merge and split calls, all in ways that are already familiar to iPhone users so they can start using these features immediately.
* Signaling and call encryption via TLS and SRTP, enabling enterprise-class security.
* Optional customized branding available for enterprises and telephony providers.

Bria iPhone Edition is the latest CounterPath solution for mobile platforms and its first standalone mobile SIP application. Earlier this year, CounterPath launched Linux, Mac and Windows versions of Bria, all of which received strong approval and endorsement from Internet telephony service providers (ITSPs) and telecom infrastructure vendors. In addition to the Bria-branded version, CounterPath will also be developing customized white-label versions of Bria iPhone Edition for carriers, OEMs and enterprise customers worldwide through its professional services team.

Current Bria iPhone Edition users will be automatically updated to Version 1.1 when the update is available. Bria iPhone Edition 1.1 is sold exclusively through the iTunes Store for $7.99. Customers have the ability to upgrade the client to include G.729 support.