Village Gamer

Square Enix® interactive entertainment products and Eidos-Montreal are proud to announce that Deus Ex®: Human Revolution™ has “gone gold” and will be available in North American retail stores on August 23, 2011 (according to GameStop Canada). Deus Ex®: Human Revolution is the exciting debut title release for Eidos-Montreal. The game will be available for the PlayStation®3, the Xbox 360®  and Windows® PC, Steam® and OnLive®.

“We couldn’t be more excited that Deus Ex: Human Revolution has gone gold and will soon be in the hands of expectant gamers,” said Stephane D’Astous, general manager of Eidos-Montreal. “As the first release for Eidos-Montreal, it’s impossible to express how extremely proud we are of the final product and all of the hard work that went into its creation.”

The return to one of the most critically acclaimed video game franchises of all time, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an action RPG that offers open-ended, hybrid gameplay.

Telling the story of Adam Jensen, a man cybernetically augmented against his choice who finds himself in the middle of a global conspiracy to which he holds the key, Deus Ex®: Human Revolution is set in a near-future world where humanity is at a turning point.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIqhx9B8HYA]

By offering players the chance to play the game in multiple and vastly different ways, Deus Ex: Human Revolution challenges the foundations of gaming and provides an immersive experience where every choice has a lasting consequence.

OpenText™ has announced delivery of its comprehensive vision for Customer Experience Management that addresses the needs of marketers and the challenges of managing major global brands. To complete this vision, the company has formed an alliance with US-based digital marketing agency VML, bringing together the full range of OpenText Customer Experience Management technologies with VML’s creative and implementation capabilities.

Customer Experience Management (often referred to as CEM or CXM) addresses the key business transformations marketing teams are embarking upon today: embracing a social business strategy, driving customer-centric mobile and online marketing, managing their brands globally, raising customer satisfaction for online service, and delivering tailored customer communications online and offline.

Over the past two years, OpenText has delivered and integrated a robust set of Web content management, semantic search, analytics, media management, social, mobile, portal, campaign management, and customer communication management technologies. As a result of this concerted focus on Customer Experience Management, OpenText now offers the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions that marketers need for rich, interactive campaigns, managing brand consistency and adopting a social business culture that enables the agile, adaptive enterprise.

By joining forces, OpenText and VML give marketers a one-stop option for developing Customer Experience Management solutions spanning both the technical and the creative sides of marketing. The agreement formalizes an already strong working relationship between the two companies – one that already includes many mutual customers, encompassing business development, consulting, development, implementation, technical training and customer support. VML brings impressive credentials as a member of the WPP Group and the proven ability to bridge the worlds of marketing and technology.

“As a marketer, the only way to succeed in the face of rapid and constant change and disruption is to create deep and lasting connections to customers,” said James Latham, Chief Marketing Officer, OpenText. “This requires comprehensive integration of customer information across engagement platforms, portals and mobile, together with cohesive creative concepts. This level of integration is extremely difficult to create and maintain on an ad hoc basis, but without it the customer experience is fractured. We are delivering this today.”

“We share OpenText’s vision of integrating Web, social and mobile together with community and collaboration portals in order to create the type of personalized experience customers expect online,” said Martin Coady, Director of Technical Strategy of VML. “By working more closely with OpenText, we significantly enhance our ability to help some of the world’s top brands develop a digital roadmap to move toward a smoother, more sophisticated and effective relationship with their customers.”

To help organizations design their Customer Experience Management strategies, OpenText recently launched a Customer Experience Management website that features numerous videos and stories of how marketing innovators have applied online technologies to strengthen connections with their customers.  It also features an ongoing conversation fueled by the new blog titled Engage U authored by OpenText experts and guests.  Core subsections include Online Marketing, Global Brand Management and Adaptive Enterprise with Customer Self-Service and Customer Communications Management on the horizon.  Finally to round out its vision, the OpenText Value Engineering team can help customers, analyze, document, and quantify the positive impact to strategic business processes that could result from the

D-BOX Technologies Inc. has signed its first agreement with Paragon Theatres to equip the Paragon Odyssey 15 in Burnsville, Minn. with 32 D-BOX MFX Seats.

“On the heels of a record-breaking week with the release of Harry Potter, we are delighted to name Paragon as our newest exhibitor,” said President and CEO of D-BOX Technologies, Claude Mc Master.

The Paragon Odyssey 15 will unveil its D-BOX MFX Seats July 29^th, with the recently released epic motion picture, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

“At Paragon we are committed to providing the highest quality entertainment experience utilizing the greatest digital and audio technologies,” said CEO of Paragon Theatres, Michael Whalen. “Now that we offer D-BOX motion technology, our guests will not only see an incredible picture complemented by exceptional sound, but feel the onscreen action directly from their D-BOX seats.”

MaRS Discovery District has announced today that construction of MaRS Centre Phase 2 will proceed. This 20-storey state-of-the-art convergence centre, a substantial expansion of the facility, will enable MaRS to accelerate its role as a catalyst of innovation in the launching and growth of new science and technology businesses. To complete the development of MaRS Centre Phase 2, MaRS is partnering with the Province of Ontario and continuing its strategic relationship with Alexandria, the world’s leading life science developer and owner.

The current MaRS Centre is at full occupancy, and cannot meet the increasing demand for space from both institutional and business tenants. MaRS Centre Phase 2, directly adjacent to the existing facility, will offer tenants co-located technologically advanced laboratory and office space; award-winning communications and information technology capabilities; access to a large multi-function conference centre; and collaboration opportunities with other MaRS tenants and partners across Canada and around the globe.

“The MaRS Centre has been at capacity since it opened six years ago, when we first started working with entrepreneurs building new growth companies. Today the MaRS community has tremendous momentum, and our facility is bursting at the seams! This expansion of the MaRS platform offers a huge opportunity to accelerate that momentum and further strengthen our innovation economy for future generations.”— Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District.

In the heart of downtown Toronto, the MaRS Centre is an architecturally inspiring space that has become the undisputed hub of Toronto’s renowned Discovery District. The MaRS Centre is at the heart of a vibrant and creative urban environment known for its highly skilled and diverse talent pool. Among globally recognized universities, academic teaching hospitals and research institutes and in close proximity to Toronto’s Financial District, business community, and government offices, its location provides a strong, sustainable innovation pipeline.

“Every day, the innovators and entrepreneurs at MaRS work on ideas that will save lives, invent whole new industries and create jobs we can’t even imagine today,” said Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation and MPP for Toronto Centre.  “Our government is proud to help meet the demand for state-of-the-art space that will help bring these projects to life.”

Founded in 2000 and opened in 2005, the MaRS Centre brings companies of all sizes, researchers and innovators from different disciplines, investors, professional service firms, community organizations, and policymakers together in a thriving urban facility. This collaborative, interdisciplinary and cross-industry approach is the cornerstone of the MaRS model.

Phase 2 of the MaRS Centre will double the size of the facility to over 1.5 million sq. ft., making it one of the largest innovation hubs in the world. Today more than 2,300 researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals representing 80+ tenants come to work at MaRS every day. Every year thousands more come to attend seminars, workshops and conferences.  MaRS Centre Phase 2, by more than doubling this vibrant and creative core, will dramatically enhance the capacity of the MaRS community as an innovation engine, creating the jobs of the future economy.

Two prominent tenants have already committed to leasing space in the new building. The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, with its exceptional translational cancer research and commercialization programs, presently in the south tower, will expand into MaRS Centre Phase 2. Public Health Ontario, a central player in public health research and policy and in infectious diseases management, will anchor its provincial network in MaRS Centre Phase 2.

To finance the project, Infrastructure Ontario is providing a fully repayable loan to MaRS, which, with investments by MaRS and the existing investment of Alexandria, will enable MaRS to complete the project. MaRS Centre Phase 2 will be developed and operated by MaRS and has an anticipated completion date of September 2013.

Following recent App Store policy changes imposed by Apple, Kobo has announced that development is underway on an HTML5 eReading web app. With the development of the HTML5 app, Kobo will continue to provide the most optimized experience for iOS users and users on other Kobo platforms.

Kobo is dedicated to an open-platform experience and believes that consumers should have the freedom to read on any device, at anytime, anyplace in the world. With the new HTML5 web app, Kobo remains committed to open solutions and extends eReading capabilities to a platform that can be quickly enhanced and updated with the latest eReading features and functionality. Kobo’s HTML5 app will not replace the company’s existing apps, but extend its read-across-any-device strategy to reach a broader set of users and add additional value for their current customer base.

Over the past weeks, Kobo has worked with Apple to create a solution that would benefit the iOS eReading community within Apple’s new App Store guidelines. Unfortunately, Apple has mandated that Kobo, along with all eBook retailers, substantially change the eReading experience for consumers by removing in-app access to the Kobo store.

Even after modification, Kobo’s hugely popular and heavily downloaded eReading iOS apps continue to offer powerful features in the new 4.5.1 version, from the Reading Life social platform to the app’s industry leading reading experience. Kobo users can continue to use the Kobo app to read existing books in their library, purchase new books from Kobo using any popular web browser and shop from Kobo’s selection of over 2.4 million eBooks – latest New York Times bestsellers, new releases and more. Any books purchased on Kobo.com are automatically updated in the iPhone or iPad Kobo app.

This change does not affect Kobo’s other free eReading apps, all of which retain the integrated eReading and in-app Kobo Store access. Kobo’s move to provide an HTML5 web app will offer additional convenience to consumers and deliver a rich and seamless experience to Kobo app users across platforms, including Android, RIM and HP WebOS.

“Kobo believes in providing an open platform for users, and our HTML5 development will support the company’s current app strategy to reach a broader base of users worldwide,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo. “HTML5 allows us to add more features and update our popular Reading Life social experience far more quickly, providing an agile method to deliver advanced enhancements to consumers without limitation.”

Kobo continues to innovate, and the HTML5 app development will let Kobo users enjoy the best eReading experience worldwide, allowing consumers to read, browse, shop and share on dedicated eReaders, smartphones, tablets, netbooks, laptops and desktop computers. Kobo’s HTML5 web-based app will continue to offer the company’s popular, industry-leading features to readers around the world, as well as quick and easy access to Kobo’s massive eBook store of over 2.4 million titles. Kobo expects to launch the new HTML5 web app later this year.

Big Blue Bubble Inc. has announced that Burn the Rope will be setting Nintendo’s WiiWare service ablaze this month. Players can not only enjoy burning rope on their mobile devices, now they can do it from the comfort of their living room. Just sit back on the couch and play Burn the Rope on the big screen with high resolution graphics, unique motion controls, and all the fiery fun of the original game.

For the uninitiated, Burn the Rope is a challenging game where you try to burn as much rope as you can in each level. However, as always, there is a catch to solving these puzzles. The fire only burns upwards, leaving you to rotate the level to keep your flame alive – or at least try to. As you progress through the levels, you’ll encounter different bugs crawling along the rope, each with their own unique reactions to the flame. For example, the ant changes the color of the flame so you can burn the corresponding colored ropes, and the spider shoots out a web bridge so you can access parts of the level that you could not before. Burn the Rope is incredibly fun – and highly addictive – for players of any age.

Features:

• Over 100 different levels
• Incredibly fun and addictive
• Beautiful high resolution graphics and fire effects
• Easy to learn, hard to master
• Fun for the whole family

Burn The Rope will be available for 1000 Wii Points in the North American store on July 28^th and the European release will follow shortly after. Burn the Rope is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, with Mild Cartoon Violence.

EA Sports has released a first look video for the upcoming NBA Jam On Fire Edition, currently in development at EA Canada. NBA JAM: On Fire Edition will change the way players play this iconic franchise. All your favorite moves, spins and dunks are still available but now the game includes a host of gameplay improvements.

NBA JAM: On Fire Edition brings you even more to this basketball arcade classic.  Enhanced gameplay, ground breaking artificial intelligence and exciting online features continue to bring countless hours of enjoyment to this over-the-top experience.  The game will be available via digital download from Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network this October.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTwJ6mb3_Sk]

• Enhanced Gameplay — In addition to vast improvements to the core experience and more variety across the board, NBA JAM: On Fire Edition will include a Tag Mode where gamers can swamp players on the fly, Team Fire – the ability to ignite your entire team and Razzle Dazzle – special style moves that allow players to creatively express themselves in the midst of gameplay.
• Using the groundbreaking AI system from the Fight Night series, NBA JAM: On Fire Edition will feature more organic play giving gamers a less robotic and more real gameplay experience.  AI behavior will be based on Archetypes – Big Man, Forward, All-Rounder, Shooting Guard and Point Guard.  In addition, at any given time gamers have the option of playing against their own AI for the ultimate challenge.
• He’s Back!  – Boomshakalaka!  Legendary Tim Kitzrow is back and bringing more unforgettable calls for NBA JAM: On Fire Edition!

Microsoft has announced the availability of OneNote Mobile 1.2 for iPhone – and it’s free to download for a limited time. This latest version of OneNote Mobile introduces the new search, sharing, and customization capabilities that users have been asking for. Microsoft has also made the OneNote iPhone app available in five additional markets worldwide today: Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Here are some of the new features and improvements in OneNote Mobile 1.2 for iPhone:

• Search — retrieve important information quickly within text in your notebooks, sections, and pages.
• Pin recent notes — keep your favorite notes at the top of the Recently Viewed list.
• Sync shared notebooks — sync notebooks that others have shared with you on Windows Live SkyDrive.
• Choose which notebooks sync to your phone — save bandwidth by excluding less important notebooks.
• Set the image size for photos — choose between faster syncing or higher quality images.

Those of you who are using a previous version of OneNote Mobile on your iPhone willl notice a new color scheme in this version, giving the app a lighter look than before. Microsoft has also updated the OneNote Mobile 1.2 Help page with the newest information about the app. To visit this Help page directly from inside of the OneNote Mobile app on your iPhone, tap Settings, tap Help and Support, and then tap the first link that appears on the screen.

Ubisoft® has introduced Assassin’s Creed Embers, a new computer-generated animated short movie that will ship when Assassin’s Creed® Revelations hits store shelves on November 15th. Assassin’s Creed Embers expands on the final chapter of the life of master assassin Ezio Auditore and a journey that has spanned more than four decades.

The animated short, developed by UbiWorkshop, will be available with the Assassin’s Creed Revelations Signature Edition at GameStop for pre-order, and for download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and on PlayStation®Network.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRaI7ros2nI]

iSkin has redesigned its solo series of cases to look, work and fit even better while adding a new special edition to its iPhone 4 product line-up. To start, the classic solo for iPhone 4 is the case that merges slim-fit design, bold colors and precision fit to provide top of the class protection. This harmony produces an attractive yet, subtle appearance that provides the necessary shock absorption, comfortable grip and moisture resistance you’d expect from an iSkin soft case.

However, if you’re the technoista looking to express your inner love of fashion, the solo FX Special Edition (SE) for iPhone 4 arrives with all the goodness of the classic solo but with prêt-a-porter attitude. Its overall matte appearance is dressed only with a fun, spirited pattern that shimmers with designer flare and is sure to make an impression.

If you prefer the finer things in life and advanced design, the solo vu for iPhone 4 will satisfy your hi-tech desires, yet provide sophistication that’s anything but standard. Featuring a hybrid hard/soft material composition, integrated dock port cover and a surprisingly slim profile, the solo vu is the expression of elegance refined with art-deco accents and tuxedo lines as its defining clear shield reveals the iPhone 4 it so gracefully protects.

Each solo model clearly has their own diverse personality, but they all share many of the same advanced features such as: an iSkin-exclusive flash guard design that eliminates “glare” while taking photos in dark environments, protected home and volume buttons, tactile grip, precision cuts for speakers and earphone ports, exclusive Microban^® antimicrobial protection and the use of materials that are free of phthalates, making the solo series the ideal companion for the your beloved iPhone 4.

The classic solo retails at 29.99 (USD) and comes in Carbon (translucent black), Cosmo (translucent pink), Vive (translucent purple), and Bondi (translucent marine blue). The solo FX SE retails for 34.99 (USD) and comes in Carbon (translucent black), Cosmo (translucent pink), Vive (translucent purple), and Bondi (translucent marine blue). The solo vu retails for 39.99 (USD) and comes in Onyx (black), Merlot (red), and Velvet (purple).