Village Gamer

At SES Toronto at the Hyatt Regency Toronto, June 13-15, 2011, Incisive Media is featuring “Meet the Experts Roundtable Forum,” giving attendees an opportunity to address their specific questions and share information. In addition to the presentations and panels on search engine optimization (SEO), social media, local, mobile, link building, video optimization, pay-per-click (PPC), usability and more, these two new Meet the Experts Roundtable Forums will be held: Monday, June 13 at 4:30 pm and Tuesday, June 14 at 11:30 am.

For two hours on each day of the conference, SES Toronto attendees will be able to receive a free personal consultation of their websites from SES experts, Bryan Eisenberg, Shari Thurow, Bruce and Krista Neher. These drop-in, interactive express site clinics are open to all attendees on a first-come, first-serve basis. It’s an opportunity to receive free feedback on usability, SEO and all facets of the site, and also to learn from the analysis of other websites.

From now through June 12, marketers can register for SES Toronto to receive a $100 savings.

“We’re always looking for more ways to give attendees the most up-to-date information targeted to their specific marketing and search programs. So we came up with the idea that will allow people to move among discussion groups and interact with their peers and the experts in a very personal way. We’ve scheduled both experts forums at times during the day that we can add a networking element to the mix – Monday with a cocktail reception and Tuesday with a lunch in the expo hall,” said Matt McGowan, Managing Director of Americas for Incisive Media.

“Our Express Clinics have been very popular with attendees. After all, what marketer wouldn’t want to receive free personal consulting from an expert,” continued McGowan. “This year we have specialized clinics providing feedback on conversion, usability, SEO and social media, but other aspects of the website will also be analyzed.”

Now in its eighth year, the SES Toronto conference includes two days of search marketing sessions, vendor exhibitions, and networking events on June 13 and 14, and one day of training on June 15. Many of the sessions are specifically geared towards a Canadian audience.

Toronto’s Uken Games has released Crime, Inc. HD to the iTunes App Store. This free to play game of crime and corruption is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running iOS 3.2 or later. Players of this game will be tasked with building their crime crew, equipping minions with custom weapons and sending them on special assignments designed to fund your crime syndicate.

The goal is to build up your family and destroy your rivals in epic battles as you take down each crime boss one fight at a time, winning bounty to become the ruler of the seedy underside of society. In-game purchases will also help you build your kingdom of crime when you bribe and pay-off others to gain respect. As this game plays in real time, an online connection is required to play the game, which is rated 9+ for the infrequent use of mild realistic violence, and those players with an iPad can play in full screen HD.

Other titles by Uken include Villains, Forces of War,  Dark Galaxy, Age of Legends and TowerUp! Plus.

PROTOTYPE 2 from Radical Entertainment for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon. As the game’s all-new infected protagonist Sgt. James Heller, players will cut a bloody swath through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero (NYZ) as they build up a genetic arsenal of deadly biological weapons and abilities, and hunt and consume their way toward the ultimate goal…to kill Alex Mercer.  PROTOTYPE 2 is not yet rated by the ESRB, but will most likely receive an M rating.

Spider-Man™: Edge of Time – Playing the roles of Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Man: Edge of Time propels gamers on a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled adventure in which the two versions of the heroic web-slinger must urgently work together across time to save each other and prevent a disaster that ultimately leads to the death of Amazing Spider-Man. Against the backdrop of a rich, tightly crafted narrative by acclaimed Marvel veteran Peter David, the game features two individual timelines evolving in parallel and narrative-driven “cause-and-effect” moments, uniquely utilizing “picture-in-picture” moments where the actions of one Spider-Man have immediate effects on the other Spider-Man and his surroundings. The Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and Nintendo 3DS versions are in development at Beenox Studios, while Other Ocean is developing the Nintendo DS version. Spider-Man: Edge of Time has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

X-Men™ Destiny will let players control the fate of one of three brand-new mutant characters forced to choose between saving humanity or ensuring its destruction.   The game allows players to customize the path, powers and development of their character and to decide their role in the mutant cause alongside, or against, some of Marvel’s greatest X-Men franchise characters.  Gamers will evolve their mutant skills through a unique upgrade system that allows them to choose how they will mix and match the powers from their favorite X-Men and Brotherhood characters, then engage in fast and furious combat against a variety of opponents bent on defending their beliefs.  X-Men Destiny is being developed by Silicon Knights for Xbox 360™, PlayStation®3  and Wii, while Other Ocean is developing the Nintendo DS™ version. This title has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Waterloo’s OpenText™ will be hosting a speaker series in the U.S. that will feature  bestselling authors and thought leaders in digital technology, including Simon Sinek and MIT’s Andrew McAfee, focusing on how companies can become truly social and collaborative organizations.

Called the Purpose-Driven Speaker Series, and set to kick off in July with a wealth of online resources at a just-launched website, the series is inspired by the premise that people can reach higher and achieve more when they have a shared understanding and a common purpose.

Featured speakers include:

• Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why, a bestselling business book subtitled “How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action”
• Andrew McAfee of the MIT Center for Digital Business and author of Enterprise 2.0: New Collaborative Tools for Your Organization’s Toughest Challenges
• John Seely Brown, author of the book A New Learning Culture and Independent Co-Chairman of the Deloitte Center for the Edge
• Michael Edson, Director of Web and New Media Strategy for the Smithsonian Institution

Each will host interactive sessions focusing on the various ways people and organizations can work together more effectively. The sessions will be captured on video and will be available online. While the sessions will be free, space will be limited and pre-registration is encouraged.  Purpose-Driven Speaker Series dates and cities include:

• Simon Sinek, July 11, New York City
• Michael Edson, September 21, Washington, D.C.
• John Seely Brown, October 18, San Francisco
• Andrew McAfee, November 1, Boston

“Companies looking to achieve a truly collaborative environment need to ensure that they – and every member of their organization – have a shared purpose. New technologies can make collaboration and connections within the organization organic and highly effective, but only that sense of purpose can inspire people to truly engage,” said James Latham, Chief Marketing Officer at OpenText. “With this speaker series, we are applying our marketing resources in a way that we believe will bring real value to our customers and inspire them to achieve new levels of success.” Read the rest of this entry »

Fusion informatics has announced the opening of its new office in Canada (in the 905 area code region), where it hopes to benefit from the iPhone application development market boom. The company is also preparing to open other new branches not only in Canada but also in other parts of the world, adding to their branches already open in the USA, UK, Australia and its home country, India.

The company states that their new Canadian office will be handing only Canadian-based customers and will provide services related to software development for mobile devices including Android tablet applications, BlackBerry applications, iPhone and iPad applications and eCommerce website development. The company also stated that it has 10 years of experience and that their teams can work on any challenging project, using their past experience to create unique and useful applications.

The Green Men, the two super fans known as Force and Sully who root for the Vancouver Canucks, aim to spice up Hockey Night in Canada’s upcoming broadcast with their antics. As I mentioned on Thursday, the Green Men were hosting a Fan Rally yesterday at the Robson Square Skating Rink in Vancouver. Just before the Fan Rally, the Green Men announced that they will be making the trip to Boston to watch their beloved Canucks play the Boston Bruins for Games Three and Four of the Stanley Cup finals — thanks to Travelzoo Inc., a global Internet media company.

“In Vancouver and across Canada this spring the Canucks are the big story,” says Sully.  “We’re going to help make Vancouver’s hockey story a little bigger in Boston next week. Our goal is to get some rings on the Canucks’ fingers and we’re not going to sleep until that happens.”

The Green Men have caught the nation’s attention for their fun antics at Canucks games and have even spawned a whole group of imitators.

“I don’t think we’ll be honoured with a Key to the City, but we’re thrilled to be traveling to Boston for both games and look forward to visiting — as only Green Men can,” says Force.  “Lots of people have offered us money but we can’t justify taking any other fans hard earned money. However, when Travelzoo asked us if we were interested in bringing the Green to Beantown ,we were more than stoked.”

“As well as being deal experts, the team at Travelzoo Canada are huge Canucks fans. So when we heard that The Green Men might need help getting to the final, we just had to help out and find a deal that would get them there to support Canada’s team” said Lara Barlow, Country Manager for Travelzoo Canada. “Hockey and sports fans everywhere love to travel and support their teams abroad. So, it’s a great fit for our brand.”

In honour of the Vancouver Green Men, Travelzoo Canada will be giving out a phenomenal trip for two to anyone who is a member or signs up to be a member at Travelzoo.

Hockey Fever may have overtaken BC, but Red Bull Racing is ready to continue a phenomenal season at the Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal on June 10-12, 2011, with an exclusive weapon to dominate the weekend, the Red Bull Racing: Montreal Invasion App, delivering Formula One enthusiasts and Red Bull Racing fans everything they need to know about the sport and the teams, as well as an interactive urban guide on how to party in style in Montreal, the Red Bull way. The new Red Bull Racing: Montreal Invasion app is now available as a free download from the Apple App Store, all you need is an iPhone or iPod. It is rated 4+ and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. The App requires iOS 4.0 or later to run.

Featuring exclusive information about the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso teams, the Red Bull Racing: Montreal Invasion app offers unique content and drivers’ insights about each and all sections along the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, practice sessions, and their journey in Montreal. The exciting world of Formula One is now at your fingertips and accessible anywhere! Stories beyond the ordinary—from interviews with the 2010 World Champ Sebastian Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber, to feedback from the team’s principal Christian Horner and RBR CTO Adrian Newey. All while they prep for the 7^th race of the 2011 season in front of more than 300,000 spectators—making the app the perfect guide for an exciting F1 experience.

Download the app to learn about every bar, every restaurant, every night that gives you a true taste of Montreal, the Red Bull way. Keen to go for a bite or a drink with a certain vibe, the right crowd, close to your hotel, and without a dress code? Whatever it is, the app will tell you where it’s at!

Red Bull Racing: Montreal Invasion app users will access unique content such as breathtaking videos and exclusive insights from the drivers throughout race week. With feedback, comments, and photos delivered live from the paddocks, the app users will feel like if they were in the pits with the teams. Formula One enthusiasts will also get live results of the Grand Prix du Canada at their fingertips. Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel give you track insights and you can check-in to flag your presence at the race.

Highlights of the Red Bull Racing: Montreal Invasion App:

• Valuable daily insights on the city’s trendiest bars, restaurants, hotels, shops, sport facilities, and spas.
• Augmented reality to find where to eat, where to party, where to sleep, where to shop, and where to hang out with your friends in Montreal.
• Live results from the Grand Prix du Canada and details about the drivers and the all-new RB7.
• Check-in option to flag your presence at the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
• Daily exclusive insights from the drivers.
• Integration to Facebook and Twitter live feeds to take the pulse of the buzz as it happens.
• Available in English and French.

Exclusive Contest: Win a pit tour on opening day!
Download the app for a chance to win a PIT TOUR with Red Bull Racing on opening day! The winner and his friend will get access to the pits at the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Make sure you download the app before Tuesday, June 7 11:59 p.m. EDT to enter the contest.

Skills/Compétences Canada, a not-for-profit organization that actively promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies, announced today the results of the 17^th Skills Canada National Competition, which took place June 1-4, 2011 in Québec.  The national Competition brought together over 500 competitors, 3,000 delegates and over 150 industry Sponsors and Partners.

The Skills Canada National Competition is the only national, Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology event of its kind for young students and apprentices in the country. The two-day competition took place at the Centre de Foires, ExpoCité where 40 different events were showcased in six major trades and technology categories: transportation, construction, manufacturing, information and technology, service and employment.

“Industries that depend on skilled trade workers are key drivers of our economy and contribute over 50% of Canada’s GDP,” said Shaun Thorson, Executive Director, Skills/Compétences Canada. “The Skills Canada National Competition is a unique event that helps showcase and raise awareness for the broad range of opportunities to be found in the trades, while demonstrating the depth of talent within the skills movement in Canada.”

The Competition featured 40 different assigned projects created by industry and education representatives of the Skills/Compétences Canada National Technical Committee. Competitors were evaluated by independent judges from the respective industry sectors, who based their decisions on industry standards and established work practices, including such criteria as quality of work, safety, cleanliness, skill level and creativity.

“An event like the Skills Canada National Competition gives me great encouragement about the future of skilled trades and technology careers in Canada. I am so proud of the caliber of projects showcased at this event, and I look forward to continuing to support unique programs and competitions that promote skilled trades to young people.” said Mike Holmes, Canada’s Most Trusted Contractor and host and creator of Holmes on Homes™, who was but one of the numerous special guests and dignitaries attracted by the event. Read the rest of this entry »

After dropping the Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Fund from that province’s budget in 2010, the province’s government has introduced a new Commercialization Support for Business Program to assist with the supporting of product and process commercialization and business development in all sectors and all regions of the province. The Commercialization Support for Business Program will help entrepreneurs every step of the way at every stage of the business lifecycle.

Commercialization Support for Business includes:

1. Concept Development (Max up to $25,000) – from concept to prototype development
2. Product Development (Max up to $40,000) – pre-commercialization activities like feasibility or engineering analyses, trial production and test marketing
3. Product Commercialization (Max up to $200,000) – moving from prototype to market-ready product.
4. Market Development (Max $30,000) – materials and activities needed to enter new markets successfully
5. Certification Assistance (Max $15,000) – obtaining plant or product certification
6. Intellectual Property (Max $25,000) – securing intellectual property rights for the product or process

Entrepreneurs can access the Program by calling their Manitoba government Industry Consultant and/or Business Development Specialist or by visiting any of the Manitoba Business Gateways, a GO Centre or the Canada/Manitoba Service Centre.

Contact information for Manitoba industry consultants and business development specialists can be found at the following locations:

• Innovation, Energy and Mines:
  • Knowledge Enterprises Branch
  • Energy Division

• Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade:
  • Industry Consultants
  • Manitoba Trade – Contact Us (en anglais seulement)

• Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives –
  • GO Offices and Centres

Hothead Games has made an exclusive Canadian launch of its latest iPhone title Kard Combat, and the developer is asking for your feedback before the game goes to a global release. Available as a free download, Kard Combat is Open Feint enabled, and offers In-App purchases to expand the game’s play as well as a multi-player mode.

According the game’s official site, The Kard is an elite order of wealthy magi. Collectively, they use their immense power to rule over the Forbidden Kingdom from the Black Tower. However, every thousand years there is a shift and they each vie for control of the Tower in a battle of cards and magic.

Players can choose from either a quick duel or a full campaign in Tower Mode. In Tower Mode, each battle takes place on a successive floor of the Black Tower. It is the player’s goal to ascend the Tower floor by floor, ultimately defeating Master Mage Harkus. Only in his defeat can players realize their destiny and determine the fate of the people for the next millennium.

Tower Mode battles often have unique win conditions and special Kards in play that can drastically alter the strategy that players need to employ to defeat their opponent. The deck is made up of over 100 hand-crafted cards and there are four mage-types, each with their own special powers, from which to choose.

According to the game’s site, Kard Combat has a lot of the depth of a collectable card game but without the massive time and money investments that they typically require. At its heart, Kard Combat is a strategy game where players learn how to use the Kards they are dealt at the beginning of a duel most effectively.

It’s much more of a game of skill than chance, though. Players will often be able to choose their reward for winning a battle in Tower Mode, including Kards that will then become part of their deck. While not a traditional CCG, there is collection involved. Each mage has their own set of unique Kards for you to collect as you fight your way up each floor of the Tower. These unique Kards open up very different strategies to the player.

Check out the game’s site where you can learn more about Kard Kombat and look at more of the game’s awesome artwork. Kard Kombat is rated 12+ for the following:

• Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
• Frequent/Intense Horror/Fear Themes
• Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.