Village Gamer

Electronic Arts Inc. and Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced a distribution agreement that will catapult an upcoming Paramount property into the hands of gamers worldwide. Rango The Video Game is an action-adventure title inspired by the upcoming animated feature film starring the voice of Johnny Depp.

In development at Artificial Mind & Movement, Rango The Video Game invites players to continue on Rango’s wild journey through new adventures inspired by the movie. The game is set in the Old West town of ‘Dirt’ where players romp through a gritty, pint-sized, Wild West filled with wild rides, off-color characters and frantic shoot-outs. Rango is Paramount Pictures’ first full-length animated feature film; both the film and the video game will be released in March 2011.

“We are thrilled to be working with Paramount and the upcoming release of the video game version of its first animated feature,” said Sinjin Bain, Vice President of EA Partners at Electronic Arts. “Rango is a one-of-a-kind character that we know kids will love. We’re excited to give families worldwide the opportunity to take the humor and fun from the big screen into their living rooms.”

“We are pleased to team up with EA to deliver an exciting, action-packed adventure game that captures the spirit of the film and puts the fate of Dirt in players’ hands,” said Tom Lesinski, President of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “We’ve added exciting twists and turns in the video game that will challenge players of all levels on their adventures as Rango.”

Rango The Video Game will be available on console platforms including the PlayStation®3, Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ in March 2011. Rango The Video Game has not been rated by the ESRB.

Sales of EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer franchise titles has surpassed 100 million units lifetime during the launch of FIFA Soccer 11, according to EA internal sales data. The best-selling sports videogame franchise in the world, now in its 18th year, sold a record-breaking 2.6 million copies in the first five days after launching FIFA Soccer 11 to become the fastest selling sports videogame of all time. Counting the first four weeks of sales, FIFA Soccer 11 sales are up 20% versus last year on a comparable basis with sell-in approaching 8 million units.

Now, one of the franchise’s most popular online modes—FIFA 11 Ultimate Team—is available for the first time ever for free (restrictions and conditions apply. Please see back of pack for details). FIFA 11 Ultimate Team can be downloaded through the main menu in FIFA Soccer 11 with one click on any connected PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system.

“Few videogame franchises ever reach the 100 million units mark and we have millions of fans around the world to thank for helping us to this milestone,” said Matt Bilbey, vice president of football, EA SPORTS. “It is a wonderful tribute to all of these fans playing FIFA 11 that our most popular and played DLC is available today for the first time ever for free.”

FIFA 11 Ultimate Team challenges gamers to build a squad of the world’s best football stars by earning, buying, selling and even trading players with other Ultimate Team gamers around the world. They can strategically craft squads to get the best chemistry and team rating, and then take them onto the pitch to compete in online and single-player tournaments which are updated weekly.

FIFA 11 Ultimate Team delivers a number of major changes as requested by gamers. Gamers can now pit their ultimate team directly against their friends’ best squads in Play A Friend online matches—the No. 1 requested new feature. Plus, when away from their consoles gamers can engage in the full auction and trading system on the web through an enhanced Ultimate Team web app which links directly to the FIFA 11 Ultimate Team console experience.

Localized into 18 languages and available in 51 countries, FIFA Soccer 11 is available for the PlayStation®3, Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii™, PC, Nintendo DS™, PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), iPhone® and iPod® touch.

DesignThinkers, Canada’s largest annual design conference, invites creative professionals to add fuel to the design discussion fire. Presented by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario (RGD), DesignThinkers 2010 will be held November 11-12 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Note: Online Registration is now closed, if you don’t yet have tickets, they will be available at the door.

“This year’s DesignThinkers underscores how explosive advancements in media and technology are impacting life, commerce and culture,” says Lionel Gadoury R.G.D., president of RGD. “The graphic design profession is at the epicenter and Toronto is the place to be November 11 and 12.”

Speaker lineup includes:

* Angus Hyland (London) – partner at Pentagram, clients include BBC, Nokia and Renault
* Chris Chapman (Orlando) – Art Director, Disney Design Group
* Dmitri Siegel (Philadelphia) – Executive Director of Marketing, Urban Outfitters
* Don Lindsay (Waterloo) – Vice President of User Experience, RIM
* Emily Oberman and Bonnie Siegler (New York) – firm’s work includes titles for SNL, 30 Rock logo, redesign of Newsweek
* Jonathan Barnbrook (London) – one of Britain’s most well-known graphic designers, recognized for collaborations with Damian Hirst and David Bowie
* Marian Bantjes (Vancouver) – typographer, designer, artist, writer, clients include Saks Fifth Avenue, Random House and New York Times.
* Paul Lavoie (Amsterdam) – Co-founder, TAXI, clients include BMW/MINI, WestJet, and TELUS
* Scott Dadich (San Francisco) – Creative Director, WIRED magazine
* Scott Thomas (Chicago) – Design Director, Obama Presidential Campaign
* Tony Davidson (London) – Executive Creative Director, Wieden + Kennedy, projects include Nike’s ‘Run London’ and Honda’s ‘Power of Dreams’

DesignThinkers attracts over 1,500 participants across North America including creative directors, designers, marketing and advertising executives, educators and students. Attendees come to be inspired and informed, to hone their communications and business strategies and to connect with colleagues.

DesignThinkers features an exhibitor gallery of industry suppliers that include: Carbon Computing, Cascades, Creative Niche Inc., Crescent, Crestock, Colour Innovations, Design Edge, Domtar, Flash Reproductions, Masterfile, Microsoft Office: Mac, Resource Integrated, Sappi, Somerset Graphics Co. Ltd., Smallbox, Specialties Graphic Finishers Ltd. and SupremeX.