Village Gamer

Registration is now open for the next momovan, which is on Monday April 4th at the Granville Island Brewery.

Destiny Media Technologies, Inc. has announced a new online service available to label customers to automatically extract hidden tracking information which had previously been embedded into a song distributed by Play MPE®.

When labels discover an unauthorized copy of a song which they had previously given distribution rights to, they are able to use the system to find the identity of the person that made the copy, by extracting Destiny’s proprietary watermark information.

Supporting batch processing and centralized reporting across an organization, the solution allows analysis of a large number of digital files. The new system was developed to support a detection server farm, so that an unlimited number of marks could be detected in parallel, handling many songs and label requests concurrently.

The online service features an upgraded ability to instantly detect watermarks in songs that have been cropped or padded with silence. Complex heuristics analyze the signal characteristics of the audio file to identify the locations of synchronization points, from over two million possible combinations, in a mere fraction of a second. Destiny’s solution is able to defeat a number of techniques used to circumvent other watermarking technologies. The mark survives compression to extremely low bit rates, conversion into other formats, digital filtering and analog formats, such as an on air radio broadcast.

The solution is integrated with a global anti piracy web crawler operated by the IFPI, so that the source of illegally distributed content can instantly be identified to Destiny’s servers, so the responsible party can be held accountable.

Patents are outstanding in the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and China. The US provisional patent, originally filed in October 2006, is expected to be examined by the US Patent and Trademark Office in June of 2011.

iBwave has launched iBwave Unity 2.0, the latest version of its in-building networks management platform. This latest release of the iBwave Unity platform includes improved data mining capabilities, a slew of new pre-built and customizable reports, upgraded user dashboards, advanced Google Earth capabilities, increased collaboration functionalities, stricter security/access controls and an enhanced user interface.

“The proliferation of smart-phones and tablets and the addition of thousands of new wireless data applications targeting mobile users have created significant growth for the in-building market,” says Mario Bouchard, President and CEO at iBwave. “Wireless operators worldwide are accelerating the deployment of indoor networks to offload their congested outdoor macro networks and provide additional data capacity to their mobile community.”

Targeting wireless operators, system integrators and large OEMs, iBwave Unity securely stores and archives in-building network projects on a centralized web-based server enabling collaboration between the various players within the wireless ecosystem, regardless of their geographical location. Once stored in iBwave Unity, advanced data mining capabilities convert raw project related information into actual business intelligence and KPIs allowing for proactive, knowledge-driven decisions. With iBwave Unity, wireless operators can store an unlimited number of network projects in one centralized location ensuring these in-building networks will be managed throughout their entire lifecycle.

iBwaveUnity 2.0 allows wireless operators and the wireless ecosystem to:

* Gain control over indoor network assets where over 70 % of data traffic occurs
* Obtain holistic view of in-building initiatives, expenses, and roll-outs
* Better plan for future CAPEX intensive technology upgrades
* Realize operational efficiencies by increasing productivity and reducing project costs
* Accelerate project delivery and time to market
* Extract business intelligence from in-building deployments
* Create a collaborative approach throughout the entire ecosystem

“It was essential that we offer the wireless ecosystem an advanced platform that allows them to better manage their in-building network assets, where most traffic occurs, and help them to achieve returns on the enormous infrastructure investments they’ve had to make over the years,” says Mr. Bouchard.

Since its inception in 2003, iBwave’s market leading Design suite has helped engineering teams, primarily RF engineers, better plan and design in-building networks. The iBwave Unity platform compliments this by focusing primarily on the operational aspects of in-building networks to help reduce network downtime and potential revenue losses. For Operation departments, iBwave Unity is an intelligent platform that will manage in-building assets throughout the entire lifecycle by helping take control of these assets, increase operational efficiencies, and better plan for the future.

The Canada Media Fund and Telefilm have made the following applications available for download:

To download the forms that are available, simply go to the “Create” section of the CMF Site and then choose the Convergent Funding or Experimental Funding links.

Programs are listed in the left column; click on the desired program and select “Guidelines & Application”. The application form is in the right column under “Downloads”.

To apply for funding on e-Telefilm, please visit the Telefilm site.

Starting today, March 28th and running until April 11th, Montreal software publisher Strategy First Inc will donate 20% of all titles sales from its online store to the Red Cross in an effort are to help with the Japan Relief Plan. Anyone who purchases one of the other over 300 titles available on the website will directly help the Red Cross provide relief to the victims in Japan.

Some of the available titles featured are, Dangerous Waters, Flat Out Ultimate Carnage, Jagged Alliance, Space Empires, Disciples, Darkness Within 2, TRAINZ, Making History II, Rise of Flight: Iron Cross Edition along with casual titles Cradle of Rome, Air Port Control Simulator and many more.

“For generations Japan has contributed and shaped the Video Game industry. We would like to do our part in giving back to a country and its people who have given us some of the greatest games of all time.” Says Strategy First Director Emanuel Wall, “By offering both Hardcore and Casual games we are hoping that we can offer games for everyone in the family in return for their generous donation.”

With your support the Red Cross can continue to provide life-saving medical care, shelter, supplies and most importantly – hope, to earthquake and tsunami survivors.

Along with Hard Core Strategy, and Casual Games other genres include, Simulation, Arcade Action, Racing, RPG, Adventure, Grand Strategy, and Train Simulator. All titles are available for your donation. The needs are great but you can make a difference. All funds raised will go to support the Red Cross.

Note: the Canada Media Fund has extended the first closing date for the Aboriginal Program – Production to April 4th 2011.

Reminder: Round 2 of Battle of The Apps is open for submissions until April 15th 2011.
Reminder: Microsoft Blue Sky Innovation Excellence Awards are open for submissions until April 25th 2011.

Game Production Studios has a new title on the WP7 Marketplace. Crescer is a unique Windows Phone 7 game challenges you to become the best gardener in the mobile world. Use your green thumb skills to grow the perfect plant across eight different environments while purchasing tools, upgrading your plants, earning money and expanding your bounty with new plants. Bloom supremacy is not as simple as tossing a seed in the ground and hoping for the best though, because Mother Nature is not feeling overly co-operative. You must use an assortment of tools and gardening secrets to protect your plant from all manner of environmental hazards which range from weather fronts and bug infestations to volcanic eruptions.

If you manage to make your blooms flourish, and unlock all of the game’s regular achievements, you will unlock an arcade style bonus level, where you play as Sunny “The Sunflower” and defend The Moon against evil bug invaders.

Bar Star HD time management game from Ottawa dev studio Glitchsoft has expanded to the Mac App Store. Released last summer to iTunes for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, Bar Star HD puts players in the action packed role of a new bar owner, mixing high fashion drinks, serving celebrity guests, and stylizing their bar with upgrades and improvements.

Bar Star HD is a true pick-up and play game that features stunning full screen graphics, intuitive controls, and super addictive gameplay featuring dynamic player characters, Chase and Artie, a brother and sister who need your help transforming their run down bar into the best upscale lounge. They earn valuable tips as they mix, serve, and upgrade their way through 50 exciting levels. Tips are then used to hire new staff including bouncers and DJs, as well as to improve the style of their bar including drink selection, the dance floor, and decor. Players will experience up to 16 different customers plus 4 celebrity guests who will visit their bar, and like any entertainment and service venue, players need to impress the clientele in order to earn the maximum amount of tips.

Bar Star HD for the Mac features:

* 50 exciting levels including a Zombie Takeover
* 16 unique customers and 4 guest stars
* Mix and pour all types of delicious drinks
* Upgrades for you’re bar including a dance floor, disco ball, plants, and drinks
* Grow your staff
* Serve customers different types of draft beer, wines and mixed cocktails
* Earn points to enhance your bartending skills
* True HD graphics
* Multiple player profiles, time attack Mode and replayable missions

Netflix, Inc. and Paramount Pictures (Viacom Inc.) have reached a new multi-year licensing agreement, adding hundreds of new movie titles, including the exclusive subscription television rights to all first-run films, for Canadian Netflix members to watch instantly on their computers and TVs.

Netflix members in Canada can enjoy theatrical hits from Paramount in the coming months starting with “The Last Airbender” and Marvel’s “Iron Man 2.” The five year agreement will add over 350 new movies available to watch instantly from Netflix in Canada, including epics like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Titanic,” and “Defiance,” great comedies like “Zoolander” and “Wayne’s World,” and beloved classics like “The African Queen,” “Sabrina” (1954) and “Terms of Endearment.”

Monster Math Squad, a new CG animated series for kids has been announced by DHX Media Ltd. The series will star loveable monsters who help children develop formative math-related skills. The preschool show has been commissioned by CBC and SRC in Canada and will be produced by DHX Media’s Halifax-based studio, further boosting DHX’s library of standout preschool properties.

“We all know that preschoolers love to learn,” says Kim Wilson, Creative Head for Children’s and Youth Programming at CBC, “so taking a concept like early numeracy and pairing it with a fantastic monster world of fun is a winning combination. DHX has a history of creating wonderful user-focused programs of the highest quality so we are thrilled. ”

D-BOX Technologies Inc. will be expanding its presence in Chicago, Florida and Utah with the addition of four more theatre locations installing D-BOX motion technology seating. In Utah, the newly expanded Megaplex 17 at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi and the brand new Megaplex 14 at Legacy Crossing in Centerville will each be equipped with 30 D-BOX MFX Seats that offer moviegoers access to a completely immersive movie experience. Meanwhile, over in the Chicago area, the Rosemont 18 theatre will soon feature 36 D-BOX MFX Seats while the Parisian 20 theatre in West Palm Beach FL will install a total of 30 seats, both scheduled to be unveiled in the coming months. Additionally, Muvico Entertainment’s Thousand Oaks movie theatre in California, which introduced D-BOX in February, is preparing to install an additional 12 D-BOX MFX Seats to keep up with the demand.

Intertainment Media Inc.’s social media translation interface Ortsbo has seen a 47% growth in User Engagement Minutes since the end of February, growing from 82.3 Million minutes to 121.3 Million minutes of total engagement. Other key indicators have also grown substantially with active monthly unique users, month over month, now at 8.6 Million, a 37% increase since the end of February. In the past week, Ortsbo has generated over 10.8 Million minutes of User Engagement, 6.4 Million Page Views, 3.1 Million Online Sessions and 2.2 Million Unique Users. Ortsbo, at just over 9 months since launch is at the same levels achieved by Facebook in its first 29 months.

With over 79% of Ortsbo users coming direct to www.ortsbo.com and www.ortsboqq.com, Ortsbo continues to experience strong viral growth as the vast majority of users are coming direct to the web sites, not using search engines or third party referrals. If you’ve never heard of Ortsbo, it supports global communications with instant translation capability, real time multi- lingual social media chat and instant Twitter translation allowing users to communicate with family, friends and colleagues around the world. Ortsbo provides users with the ability to break down language and cultural barriers through its easy to use, language centric interface. User demographics have continued to favor the BRIC countries with China remaining the number 1 usage country for Ortsbo followed by Brazil, the US, South Korea, Canada, Taiwan, Germany, Argentina, Russia and India. Ortsbo’s Top 10 user countries have a combined population of over 3.4 Billion people.

Capcom® has offiically announced that Resident Evil®: Operation Raccoon City, is in development at Vancouver’s Slant Six Games for the PlayStation®3, Xbox 360® and PC with a scheduled Winter 2011 release. In addition it was also confirmed that the forthcoming Nintendo 3DS™ title, Resident Evil®: The Mercenaries 3D,will ship with a playable demo of Resident Evil® Revelations.

Since the launch of the first title 15 years ago the Resident Evil® series has enjoyed phenomenal success, selling over 45 million units worldwide to date. This latest offering will take the series in a completely new direction and offer a style of gameplay yet to be seen from the franchise.

Resident Evil Outbreak Zone

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City delivers a true third person team based shooter experience set within the dark and sinister Resident Evil universe and a reinterpretation of the events depicted in Resident Evil® 2 and Resident Evil® 3. The setting of the Resident Evil universe not only provides a rich backdrop to the action but delivers a unique and thrilling triple threat battle. Zombies and Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.W’s) add to the mix as players not only compete against an opposing squad but also tackle this third unpredictable element, creating a brand new style of gameplay and breaking the conventions of traditional team based shooters.

It is September 1998 and the action centers once more on the ill-fated Raccoon City and the horrific consequences of the deadly T-virus outbreak from the Umbrella facility. With a cover up required, Umbrella orders an elite team into Raccoon City to destroy all evidence of the outbreak and eliminate any survivors. Hearing of this plan, the US Government dispatches its own special forces to uncover any evidence that exposes the cause of the viral infection and Umbrella’s actions. Players take on the role of an Umbrella Security Services soldier (U.S.S.), competing alone or in four player co-op in a battle against all the competing forces at play in Raccoon City.

Expect the return of original Resident Evil enemies, iconic landmarks such as the Raccoon City Police Department and fan favorite characters, including Leon S. Kennedy, who as a rookie police officer in Raccoon City is on your hit list to eliminate. Players will experience a retelling of classic moments from past titles Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 and watch the events unfolding from the menacing perspective of the Umbrella Security Service, giving fans the chance to rewrite the history of the Raccoon City outbreak. Read the rest of this entry »