Village Gamer

New Media BC’s members celebrated the first Canadian National Digital Media Day by holding their 10th Annual Annual General Meeting at Radical Entertainment’s Terminal Avenue studio.

After a welcome greeting from Radical President Kelly Zmak, New Media BC President Kenton Low opened the AGM with a quick recap of 2007’s events and milestones, along with a look into the future plans and how New Media BC will move our west coast digital media forward. With a growing membership base, a good financial position, an expanding list of programmes and a higher level of political awareness, the future does indeed look bright for the New Media BC Association.

Brief reports were filed in regards to Opportunity Alert, Mobile Muse and The Fusion Forum. NMBC members also received a progress report on the Board’s lobbying efforts with the Provincial and Federal Governments in hopes of improving the economic outlook for the digital media industry in British Columbia. Of course the most exciting announcement of the night was the fact that Vancouver will be home to GDC Canada, which will take place during Vancouver Digital Week in May of 2009.

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Press Release – VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – New Media BC announced today new partnerships and enhanced programming for the second annual Vancouver Digital Week to run May 11-15, 2009 on Granville Island in Vancouver.

Vancouver Digital Week 2009 includes the following events:

• Vancouver International Digital Festival (VIDFEST)
• Game Developers Conference Canada (GDC Canada)
• Convergence 2009 Digital Marketing & Communications Forum
• The International Partnering Forum
• New Media BC’s Digital Media Awards Show and Gala

Vancouver Digital Week is an immersive week of innovative programming and partnership opportunities for the digital media industry that features top minds and deal makers from around the globe. Participants gain access to international business match-making, ‘big picture’ conference sessions on the latest trends and markets in digital media, high-level seminars for creators, designers, and producers, and vibrant networking parties.

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Australia’s Plastic Wax has unveiled their collaboration with leading Vancouver developer Relic to produce the first Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II trailer, which recently debuted. The trailer can be seen now on the official Dawn of War II web site.

“It was our mission to make sure gamers’ first impressions of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II was flawless,” said Owen Hurley, Director of Animations and Cinematics with Relic. “To give fans a taste of where Relic’s latest masterpiece is going, both in terms of action and visuals, we needed an extended cinematic that brought frenzied battles to life unlike anything that has ever been seen before. Plastic Wax delivered big time.”

Trailer Screenshot

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is set in the far distant future. The 41st millennium is a dark, forbidding place, ravaged by thousands of years of conflict. Across this gothic universe huge armies struggle for victory in a battle to the death. Visualizing action on this scale for two and half minutes required a depth of skill and resources rarely found at traditional animation houses.

“Bringing the amazing Warhammer 40,000 universe from Games Workshop to life was a huge honor for our studio,” said Nathan Maddams, Creative Director, Plastic Wax. “This project gave us a unique opportunity to partner with the talented folks at Relic to give gamers the first peek at what will be the premiere RTS game of the year.”

Lighthouse Interactive and developer G5 Software have announced that WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger, their interactive and exhilarating tank simulation game for Windows®, will be available at GamersGate.com and Direct2Drive.com beginning October 17, 2008. Lighthouse aims to wow simulation fans with yet another high quality and genre-defining simulation game.

WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger allows players to experience the power of some of the most advanced tank weaponry of its time, as German and Russian forces battle head on during critical World War 2 campaigns. Its historically accurate representations of environments and vehicles (interiors and exteriors), realistic physics, and Internet and LAN multiplayer gameplay for up to sixteen players, promises to engage simulation fans in true-to-life tank warfare.

GAME SUMMARY

WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger takes place in Belarus during the summer of 1944, in which the Soviet Union launched ‘Operation Bagration’, the Belarusian offensive, against the retreating German Wehrmacht. After Kursk, this was the most significant struggle of the two tank armies that resulted in the complete destruction of the German Army Group Centre and the Soviet recapture of all territories within their 1941 borders.

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September 19, 2008 (Toronto, CANADA): DreamCatcher Games, a leading publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software, today announced they have signed one of the most complete World War II games ever, War Leaders: Clash of Nations for Windows® for release in North America in October, 2008 for a suggested retail price of $39.99USD.

War Leaders: Clash of Nations, developed by Enigma Software is a unique combination of turn-based global management and Real-Time Strategy (RTS) where players will assume the role of one of the seven most important characters of WWII and be granted the power to control and manage all the main aspects of a massive war effort.

“War Leaders: Clash of Nations does a fantastic job of a creating a historical accuracy of WWII,” said Brian Gladman, Global Product Manager at DreamCatcher Games. “Not only does this game provide a full representation of historic and prototype units for each country, but players get to dive right into the roles of real WWII personalities, such as Roosevelt, Mussolini, Hitler, and Churchill.”

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The first annual SPARK Animation Festival was held over the past five days in Vancouver. Organized by our local ACM SIGGRAPH chapter, the event experienced a steady, high attendance and great reviews from those who attended the various panels and screenings.

SPARK’s opening event was an informal question and answer session with Mark Osborne and John Stevenson, co-directors of the Dreamworks animated feature Kung Fu Panda. Through a series of questions led by moderator Glenn Entis, the directors divulged how the film’s artists created animation which not only respected the Chinese culture, it remained true to real-life Kung Fu. In order to help understand the discipline and movement of martial arts, the studio team was led through a grueling five hour instructional session by wushu instructor Eric Chen. Further insight was gained regarding the teamwork, development milestones and philosophies behind Kung Fu Panda were shared with the audience, making it an enjoyable learning experience for all who attended. The panel discussion was followed with a special screening of Kung Fu Panda, which turned out to be a very well-done animation with a simple message – it doesn’t matter who you are, you have it within you to become your own hero.

The entire SPARK Festival was filled with a great mixture of fun, education and social networking. Other

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Through the generous sponsorship of Big Fish Games, a Women In Games International social mixer was held recently in Vancouver – an event I have long hoped for. I have received many invitations in the past to other WIGI events, but was never able to attend as they were always being held at events I wasn’t able to be at. This local event, which was held at the Goldfish Pacific Kitchen in Yaletown, was very well attended. Several of us were invited up to the future home of Big Fish Games Canada for a quick tour and informational session. I am truly envious of that office space – the dark wood beam ceiling and old exposed brick walls make for a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and I am looking forward to seeing how the studio will look once everyone is moved in.

The most exciting news to develop from the social mixer is that WIGI will be increasing their involvement in the Vancouver area, starting with a panel discussion later this fall. The details of the panel are yet to be released, but promises to be an exciting addition to the monthly educational panels hosted in Vancouver, such as those held by our local ACM SIGGRAPH chapter. If you or anyone you know would like to become involved with WIGI, please visit their site for more information.

The 2009 Game Design Expo, hosted by Vancouver Film School, is accepting submissions from game industry professionals wishing to present at Game Design Expo on February 7-8, 2009 in Vancouver, BC.

The sold-out 2008 Expo featured speakers from Bungie, BioWare, Activision, EA, and many more, and garnered unprecedented support from the media and industry. Join the conversation: play a part in your industry’s evolution and the fostering of new talent.

The Game Design Expo organizers are looking for guest speakers with something to say and a desire to share their knowledge. In particular, we welcome talks that fall into the general categories of Pre-Production, Prototyping, and Pitching. If you are interested in becoming a guest speaker at the Game Design Expo, please contact the Event Manager, Shira Gordon at 604-631-3562.

Richmond, British Columbia – September 10, 2008 – Microsoft Corporation’s first Canadian development center officially opened today in Richmond, British Columbia. The Microsoft Canada Development Centre (MCDC) currently employs over 300 of the world’s best software developers who work on over half of Microsoft’s products including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, the Zune Media Player, Windows Mobile, Ad Platform, AD Search, Unified Communications, Exchange Server, Visual Studios, Silverlight and the Xbox 360.

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September 9, 2008. Toronto, Canada: The Adventure Company today announced the worldwide distribution of “Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile” for Windows®. With the continued success of the company’s Agatha Christie titles, the series starts again in a new genre!

Experience a thrilling Hidden Object murder mystery game aboard a paddle steamer making its way down the Nile River. Assume the role of Hercule Poirot as you investigate a savage murder and find hidden clues, interrogate suspects, and much more in Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit, Death on the Nile.

Uncover clues and evidence tied directly to the story, play mini-games along the way to help compile your evidence. When you have enough evidence, question the passengers in the salon and discover the identity of the real murderer!