Village Gamer

Following the worldwide success of Naughty Bear for the home console systems, 505 Games and developer Artificial Mind and Movement (A2M) today announce the release of an Apple iPhone/iPod® Touch game featuring everyone’s favourite omni-present and, let’s face it, omni-moody bear.

“In the last six months Naughty Bear has captured the imagination of a very wide fanbase and very quickly become an icon within the gaming world and a beacon for the disenfranchised and the disgruntled everywhere,” said Tim Woodley, Head of Global Brand Management, 505 Games. “With the launch of the iPhone version, Naughty Bear fans can finally, and quite literally, take matters into their own hands.”

“We knew that Naughty Bear was perfect for on-the-go gaming and we have put a lot of time into refining the experience to reflect the new format, controls and objectives,” said David Osborne, creative director at Artificial Mind and Movement.

Naughty Bear for the iPhone ($2.99) delivers an all-new way to take control of the vengeful title role and once again wreak havoc on every stuffing-filled foe that crosses your path. With a unique control system tailored specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch’s touchscreen inputs and a top-down viewpoint, the camera zooms in for up-close-and-not-so-personable signature kill moves which have become the trademark of our hapless bear.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIezoKGypG4]

Following the already established formula of the console versions, the game features a vast array of weapons, objects and scare tactics for gamers to employ to maim, bash and slash their island cohabitants in the quest for ever-important Naughty Points, earned by exacting sweet revenge against any stuffed animal brave—or stupid—enough to cross Naughty’s path.

BC analogue game studio Funleague Inc. has announced the release of its horse card game called “Perfect Stride”. It’s a fun gather-round-the-table experience designed primarily for those who love horses.

Perfect Stride is a horse-themed card game that can be fun and challenging for everyone, but it will hold particularly strong appeal for girls and women. “There are many games out there that are primarily directed towards boys,” said Kay Darby, President of Funleague Inc. “I decided that it was time girls and women, particularly those who love horses, had a game designed with their interests at heart.”

In the game Perfect Stride, players are horse riders who gallop across the countryside toward the finish line over a random course of jumps. The players must combine their skills as riders with their horse’s abilities as they attempt to clear each obstacle. Ribbons are earned along the way and at the end of the race the rider with the most ribbon points wins the game.

In addition to the engaging game play, there’s a lot of visual interest here to satisfy the eyes. Almost 100 unique pieces of art are in the game; each is drawn and painted with an eye for accuracy. “I wanted Perfect Stride to be fanciful, yet still believable and somewhat accurate,” said Kay Darby. “As a horse-lover myself, I always appreciated when horses were portrayed in a thoughtful and informed way.”

While Perfect Stride features a theme that is typically of interest to girls, the design was mindful of others too. “It’s an inclusive game that doesn’t indulge in stereotypes,” Darby explained. “We worked hard to keep the design open and approachable and make it inviting to everyone who would like to enjoy the game.”

In celebration of Mega Bloks’ 25th birthday, MEGA Brands will be launching its first iPhone and iPad application ‘Mega Bloks Playground,” a unique mobile-based toy designed to give younger children a fun and engaging experience developed by

MEGA Brands is proud to bring the realms of children’s toys and digital entertainment together with the release of their first-ever iPhone and iPad application based on its founding product ‘Mega Bloks Playground.’. This intuitive new app will be available October 1st, 2010. The preschool world includes two playable characters, a boy and a girl, who interact with a full set of playground elements, such as swing sets, slides, teeter-totters, playful animals, a lake with a sailboat, and even a hot air balloon. While playing the app, children will be delighted to collect piles of colorful bloks that will ultimately piece together to form new Mega Bloks creations every time!

New Quebec-based Budge Studios, the developer and publisher of the Mega Bloks app, specialize in creating children interactive products for touch devices and tablet computers. Budge Studios goal was to create the ultimate digital playset for preschoolers with the number one preschool construction brand, Mega Bloks.

Both iPad and iPhone versions will be released October 1st, 2010. Mega Bloks Playground is $1.99 (iPhone) and $3.99 (iPad) and available worldwide exclusively through the Apple App Store in the Game – kids section. Starting on the day of the launch, the app will be 50% off for 48hours.

Offers.com launched Offers.com Canada earlier this week to help Canadian consumers save time and money. Offers.com Canada is a one-stop resource that brings together the best money-saving offers available for online shoppers in Canada. The site helps consumers save money when shopping online and save time by presenting all the best offers in one well-designed site. Read the rest of this entry »

Wicked Interactive, a leading North American MMO publisher, has announced that World Online Gaming League (WOGL) will organize a special ladder competition this weekend for its popular free-to-play shooter Mission Against Terror (M.A.T.). The competition, celebrating the second explosive week of the game’s open beta, begins today, Friday, September 24 and runs through Sunday, September 26.

“Our community has been instrumental in getting M.A.T. to this point so quickly,” said Stephen Tucker, CEO, World Online Gaming League. “While the game is still in open beta, we expect a fun weekend, with a strong turnout from some of our best players.”

The World Online Gaming League is a leading eSports company dedicated to providing competitive play for gamers around the world. WOGL is based in Florida and covers games such as Combat Arms and Alliance of Valliant Arms. WOGL is continuously expanding to new games and provides its clients with the ultimate in competitive gaming. WOGL also has a streaming media arm named WOGL.TV in which it casts live tournaments utilizing Silverlight Technology.

“We are deeply grateful to the WOGL community for their input,” said Sam Ho, Director, Wicked Interactive. “As we work on implementing it into the next upgrade, we thought we’d up the ante again with a no-holds-barred ladder event to showcase the open beta’s new modes. Kudos to WOGL’s talented tech team for making the ladder a reality.”

The Competition

Format: 5v5
Mode: Bomb Mode
The Payoff: Points rewards to winning teams + other in-game surprises
Ladder on WOGL
Official M.A.T. site

THE SKINNY:

The highlight of the open beta patch is the debut of one of MAT’s most popular game modes, the Phantom Mode. Phantom Mode is a spin-off of the highly popular Bomb Mode. In Phantom Mode, one team plays as the ghosts who are highly translucent figures that are difficult to see but are restricted to melee attacks only, and they’re out to bomb key locations around the world. The other team is identical to that of Bomb Mode–soldiers with anti-Phantom training who are out to drive the ghosts back and save these locations from being bombed. Read the rest of this entry »

Hack em’, stab em’, burn em’ and kill em’! In the new Dead Rising 2 launch trailer, you can watch Chuck Greene do it all to the undead mobs that threaten to destroy Fortune City. On a quest to save his daughter and escape the massive zombie attack, Chuck will use a roll of duct tape and a lot of creativity to make some of the most outrageous weapons you have ever seen! Check it all out in the newest trailer from Capcom Studio Vancouver (formerly Blue Castle Games).

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SB4Lntm4Dc]

Coming to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, Dead Rising 2 launches next week for North America on September 28, 2010.

Ubisoft has announced an exclusive partnership with NIVEA for the Your Shape: Fitness Evolved video game. The partnership brings together NIVEA, developers of the world’s best-selling body-care products, and Ubisoft, to offer a holistic, in-home program for consumers to sculpt their bodies leveraging Kinect™ for Xbox 360®. A NIVEA workout will be included in Ubisoft’s Your Shape: Fitness Evolved when the game launches in November 2010. Two other special workouts, developed in collaboration with NIVEA’s fitness and lifestyle expert Sarah Maxwell, will be available as downloadable content throughout 2011.

“We’re delighted to partner with NIVEA on Your Shape: Fitness Evolved,” says Alain Corre at Ubisoft. “Video games offer the potential to reach diverse audiences and deliver tangible benefits to the consumer, going beyond pure entertainment. Your Shape: Fitness Evolved is an innovative and efficient fitness program for men and women who are looking to get into better shape. The NIVEA workout provides additional values for female players looking for a complete inner and outer beauty experience.”

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved will be the most innovative and complete fitness program available this autumn. Taking advantage of Microsoft’s Kinect, controller-free games and entertainment for Xbox 360 tracking capabilities and Ubisoft’s proprietary Player Projection technology, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved puts the player in the centre of the game, offering an immersive and rewarding fitness experience for men and women to stay in shape and reach their personal goals.

“At NIVEA we are very enthusiastic about this new and innovative partnership,” comments Jean-Francois Pascal, Director Global Business Unit Body Care at NIVEA. “With Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, our consumers will be encouraged to combine skin care with fitness in the most innovative and easy way, which will enable them to feel good in their body. For 100 years NIVEA, has been known and trusted by consumers for its skin care expertise and reliable products. NIVEA’s body-shaping products help make the most of your figure by improving the skin’s texture and firmness and reducing the visible signs of cellulite. However, we know that a holistic approach is required for best results: a combination of highly effective body care products, fitness training and a healthy diet. That’s why the integration of the NIVEA Work Your Body Fitness Room in Your Shape: Fitness Evolved completes the offer.”

Moms and dads who want to share the fun and creativity of their child’s favourite, snow-covered virtual world can now get in on all the icy action with the launch of Club Penguin Game Day! for Wii™.

Based on the environment, characters and storylines of the popular online playground Club Penguin, Club Penguin Game Day! includes a range of single and multi-player sports and performance events designed to challenge and engage every member of the family.

“There are lots of parents who want to experience what their kids have come to know and love about the virtual world of Club Penguin, but it’s easier to gather everyone in the family room than around the computer in the home office,” says Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios. “With Club Penguin Game Day!, we hope to give families new ways to connect, be active and have fun together.”

Club Penguin Game Day! features a collection of 12, all-new Wii exclusive games, including Puffle Paddle, Dance Off and Sumo Smash. Players create and customize a penguin, choose a team color and try to conquer challenges in each of the six zones on the island. The team that takes over the most territory wins.

The game includes innovative ways to connect with the virtual world, allowing players to transfer their penguins, achievements, coins, and exclusive unlockable items to their online accounts. Players can also interact with familiar characters from the virtual world, including Rookie, Aunt Arctic, and Gary the Gadget Guy.

Another feature lets players transfer their customized penguins via their Wii Remote™ to a friend’s Wii for use in game play. Once back on the original console, high scores, coins and customization items earned will merge with the player’s profile.

Kelowna-based Club Penguin launched in 2005 and joined The Walt Disney Company two years later. Today, millions of children and families in more than 190 countries around the world spend time in the popular virtual playground, interacting with friends, exploring, playing games and letting their imaginations soar. Available to play in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, Club Penguin is renowned for its commitment to safe fun.

Club Penguin Game Day! marks Club Penguin’s debut on a video game console, following two successful games for Nintendo DS™. Published by Disney Interactive Studios, Club Penguin Game Day! is rated E for everyone with comic mischief and carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.

THQ Inc. has announced a new addition to its cover Superstars lineup for WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2011, the upcoming release from the renowned simulation-based cornerstone of the company’s WWE videogame portfolio. WWE Hall of Famer and Canada native Bret “Hit Man” Hart®, WWE Superstar and Canada native Edge® and legendary WWE Superstar Undertaker® will be featured on an exclusive limited edition front cover of the videogame throughout Canada for the Xbox® 360 and PlayStation®3. The new artwork will join previously announced regional covers for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, including WWE Superstars John Cena®, Big Show® and The Miz® on the front cover in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India, as well as WWE Superstars Randy Orton®, Undertaker® and Sheamus® on the front cover available throughout Europe. Additional regional covers are expected to be announced later this year.

“Bret Hart, Edge and Undertaker have played instrumental roles in many of WWE’s most memorable moments,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. “WWE has incredible lineage in Canada, and we are pleased to honor these Superstars and our Canadian fans with their own exclusive cover artwork for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011.”

“It is an honor to be featured on the cover of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 and part of a videogame franchise that has become so massive over the years,” said Bret Hart, WWE Hall of Famer. “What really makes this special for me is this cover will be available exclusively in my native country of Canada, and the image captures one of the proudest moments of my career.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Ahead of the October 5th release date for NBA Elite 11, EA Sports has released a playable demo for the latest Burnaby-developed basketball title. The demo already available for download on the Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace for all Xbox LIVE Gold Subscribers. The demo for will be available for PS3 players on the PlayStation®Network on September 22nd, and then available for all Xbox Live Silver Subscribers on September 28th.

In the demo, gamers will get their first chance to try the all-new Hands-On Control system that allows for one-to-one responsiveness and introduces a skill-based shooting system to the basketball videogame genre. Only in NBA Elite 11 will you have the control to pull of exactly the right move at exactly the right time, and hit that buzzer beating shot based on your own skill.

In addition to a having a chance to rewrite history by playing through the 4th quarter of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, the NBA Elite 11 demo will feature modes to help users practice the new Hands-On Control scheme and prepare for the release of NBA Elite 11. These include:

* Tutorial Mode – An interactive tutorial will walk users through the basics of Hands-On Control
* Practice Mode – Like in real life, the more time you spend in the gym the better you will be. In Practice Mode, users will be able to spend as much time as they want practicing Hands-On Control in a virtual gym environment. Have a friend jump on locally and both players can master both the offensive and defensive sides of the Hands-On Control system
* Become Legendary – Start your path to becoming an NBA legend in the demo by creating your character and playing in the Jordan Draft Showcase. Earn XP and carry your character onto the full version of NBA Elite 11 in October. In addition, players who share the demo with friends on Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network will also earn additional XP for their Become Legendary character.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHR7lB9ppr8]

The demo for NBA Elite 11 will also allow users to play the game using a button control scheme, if they so choose. “Like putting in time at the gym, there’s learning curve with Hands-On Control, says David Littman, Creative Director, NBA Elite 11. “But once you feel the difference between Hands-On Control and the traditional button configuration, you’ll understand why we chose the direction we did.” To compare Hands-On Control to the old button configuration, players can switch between the two control schemes in the Lakers-Celtics and Become Legendary portions of the demo by entering the Control Settings section of the Pause menu. Read the rest of this entry »

Edmonton’s Beamdog is happy to announce the availability of great Kalypso games such as Disciples 3, Tropico 3 and Patrician 4.

“I am delighted to form a strategic partnership with Beamdog and look forward to this exciting business development!” says Charlie Barrett Managing Director of Kalypso Media.

“I’ve just started playing Tropico 3 and so far I’m no Fidel. My island people have yet to embrace my doctrine of statue building and banana worship.” rants El Presidente of Beamdog Trent Oster.

Kalypso Media games are available for purchase now, and the offerings on Beamdog’s site includes some free trials.

JoWooD Entertainment, the BVT Group and Toronto’s DreamCatcher Interactive announce details of the planned digital services for ArcaniA – Gothic 4 and therefore react to the needs of the gaming community.

“Digital Rights Management as a module of the digital services has always been a tightrope walk between user friendliness and security of the product. ArcaniA – Gothic 4 is different here” explains Clemens Schneidhofer, JoWooD Entertainment. “With Arcania – Gothic 4 we deliver a high-quality product gamers will enjoy playing for hours. This joy and fun should not be disturbed by intrusive copy protection measures. So SecuROM is the perfect solution for us because it offers the necessary security and at the same time it fulfills our high expectations concerning costumer-friendliness.”

ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet. To play, which can be done at up to three PCs at a time, neither the original disc nor a constant internet connection is needed. The possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC offers a maximum of flexibility to the customer.

“The implemented digital services will be perfected by a user-friendly Auto Update Feature that informs the gamer pro-actively – without an annoying search – about the availability of a new Update and installs with the permission of the gamer right away” says Sascha Geschwendtner, Product Manager Games Services Sony DADC. “In addition other innovative solutions to increase the usability and the comfort of the game were implemented one of them being the verification of the release date. This feature allows the user to install the game in advance and to start it directly on the release date and therefore helps to avoid unnecessary waiting time to access the game-world.”

The Province of Ontario is helping The Canadian Film Centre, the country’s largest institution for advanced training in film, television and new media, continue its leadership role in developing world-class talent. This training helps Ontarians get jobs in an exciting and growing industry, while giving Ontario’s artists an opportunity to reach a broader audience with their work.

The province is investing $9 million over three years to help expand its acclaimed training programs and further develop Ontario’s screen-based and digital entertainment market. This provincial support builds on a $10 million investment in the film centre announced in 2005, and in 2009, Ontario’s foreign film and television industry contributed $946 million to the provincial economy and The International Indian Film Academy has selected Toronto to be the first North American city to host its annual Weekend and Awards in June 2011.

Growing the creative sector supports the province’s five-year Open Ontario Plan to help seize new global opportunities and turn them into jobs for Ontarians. Two Canadian Film Centre films were selected for the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival: “Champagne” and “How To Rid Your Lover Of A Negative Emotion Caused By You!”

“The Canadian Film Centre has been instrumental in promoting Ontario’s entertainment industry to the world. Our government is proud to support its growth and the key role it plays in developing our cultural industry, which creates thousands of jobs for the province,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture.

“We applaud the government for recognizing the cultural and economic contribution the Canadian Film Centre makes to the province and are grateful for their continued partnership. This investment will help our talent excel at creating innovative content for global audiences,” said Slawko Klymkiw, Executive Director of the Canadian Film Centre.

Electronic Arts Inc. and Hothead Games™ have unleashed the T-rated DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue (T.O.V.), making it available first for the PlayStation®Network on September 21 for $14.99. Those of us who are Xbox LIVE® Arcade users will have to wait until September 22, when we can grab the expansion for 1200 Microsoft Points.

The follow-up to last summer’s award-winning, chart-topping action RPG, DeathSpank: T.O.V. is a fresh new adventure where players hack, slash and shoot their way through mission after mission, in search of the six mystical thongs that are corrupting the universe. Gamers who download DeathSpank: T.O.V. in its first week (see below) will also receive two pieces of free downloadable content, the Snowy Mountain Dungeon, which adds another layer of gameplay and Sidekick Tankko, a cute-and-cuddly ogre who is available as a playable co-op character.

“We took all of the things that people loved about DeathSpank and amped it up a hundred times more,” said Vlad Ceraldi, Director of Game Development at Hothead Games. “DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue is a bigger, deeper, funnier and longer experience. We’ve added more crazy weapons, more areas to explore, more enemies and more thongs!”

DeathSpank: T.O.V. puts players in the mighty boots of DeathSpank in his quest to destroy the six mystical thongs which have corrupted those who wear them, and thus the universe. Players will travel through war-torn country sides, outer space and even the North Pole in an epic battle against an Evil Santa, collecting tons of loot along the way. DeathSpank T.O.V. also includes a local co-op mode, allowing a second player to help in the search for the thongs with either of his two trusty sidekicks, Sparkles the Wizard or Ninjatastic Steve.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iNxpujdHyY]

Owners of DeathSpank: T.O.V. on Xbox Live Arcade will be able to download both the Snowy Mountain Dungeon and Sidekick Tankko DLC for free from September 22 – 28. After that time period is over, the Snowy Mountain Dungeon will be available for 240 Microsoft Points and Sidekick Tankko will be available for 80 Microsoft Points.

Owners of DeathSpank: T.O.V. on PlayStation Network will receive both pieces of DLC when downloading the main game on PSN from September 20 – 27 (or September 22 – 28 depending on when the game is available in certain regions). After that time period is over, the Snowy Mountain Dungeon will be available for $2.99 and Sidekick Tankko will be available for $0.99.