14th December 2009

Activision and United Front Officially Announce True Crime

United Front GamesVancouver – It’s time for gamers to take on a new undercover assignment with Activision Publishing, Inc.’s announcement of True Crime® – an all-new open-world game inspired by classic Hollywood and Asian cinema style action thrillers. Built from the ground up by developer United Front Games to look, feel and play like a true Hong Kong action flick, True Crime follows the story of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong’s notorious Triad crime syndicates. The title was revealed exclusively this past Saturday, December 12th during Spike TV’s 7th Annual “Video Game Awards 2009” show.True Crime

As a newly hired thug within the Triad organization, Wei must do whatever it takes to stay undetected and survive, balancing his moral duty as a cop with the objectives of the assignment. In order to ascend the ranks of the underworld, gamers will engage in visceral, fast-paced martial arts combat and explosive gunfights, along with high-octane driving sequences and acrobatic free-running chases as they go deeper and deeper undercover.

“We’ve been waiting for the right story and opportunity to bring True Crime to a new generation of gamers in 2010,” said Maria Stipp, EVP and GM of Owned Properties, Activision Publishing. “United Front Games has the vision to bring this new undercover game experience to life, where fans will play out their own epic Hong Kong action thriller!”

“We’re excited about the opportunity to deliver a complete reboot of the True Crime experience,” said Stephen van der Mescht, Executive Producer at United Front Games. “As our Spike TV VGA reveal trailer shows, we are dedicated to creating both an exceptional open-world gameplay experience through our combat, free-running, shooting and driving mechanics, as well as a rich story with memorable recurring characters. We want players to feel like an undercover cop experiencing the moral dilemmas and life and death situations of the HK underworld.”

Set in Hong Kong, True Crime takes gamers through diverse neighborhoods, ranging from the high class Central HK to the bustling fish markets of Aberdeen and beyond in a wide variety of story missions and sandbox activities. The game also introduces handfuls of intriguing characters for gamers to interact with as they navigate through a truly unique and dangerous city.

Gamers can go undercover and “become one of them” when True Crime arrives in Fall 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Games for Windows®. The game is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

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14th December 2009

BioWare and TransGaming Announce Mac Edition of Dragon Age Origins

BioWare CorpEdmontonBioWare™ and TransGaming, Inc. have announced plans to release Dragon Age™: Origins for the Mac® on December 21. The critically acclaimed, dark fantasy epic will be available to Mac Players as a digital download where they can choose between Transgamingthe Standard or Digital Deluxe version.

The Digital Deluxe version will feature additional content including: a collection of wallpapers, in-game bonus items, the game’s soundtrack and the Warden’s Keep additional content. Warden’s Keep provides players with a new dungeon-exploring adventure, new loot including a set of ancient Grey Warden armor, a chance to gain two of six mysterious new abilities, a new base complete with merchants and a party chest to store their hard-earned items. The Standard and Digital Deluxe versions are available now for pre-order through many popular online digital retailers.

Dragon Age Origins“We are very excited to bring this award-winning title to the Mac community,” commented Vikas Gupta, President and CEO of TransGaming. “Our Cider technology allows us to rapidly enable and deploy high quality titles like Dragon Age, and we are pleased to be delivering this exceptional caliber of gaming to the ever growing Mac gaming community.”

Each version of Dragon Age: Origins for the Mac will also include The Stone Prisoner and the Blood Dragon Armor. The Stone Prisoner gives players access to new environments, items, hours of additional gameplay and the mighty stone golem, Shale, who can become one of the most powerful party members in the game. In addition, players will receive the Blood Dragon Armor, a set of themed armor that gives players additional protection in combat and will be available for use in both Dragon Age: Origins on the Mac and in Mass Effect™ 2 on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC.

In Dragon Age: Origins, players take on the role of a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians. Now, as an evil blight threatens to destroy all life, it is up to players to unite the shattered lands and slay the corrupted dragon known as the Archdemon. To restore peace, players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind. Whether you’re a new or veteran gamer, Dragon Age: Origins reinvents the fantasy experience, combining a great story with raw emotion and brutal action.

Dragon Age: Origins is now available on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 console and will be available on December 21 on The Mac at popular online digital retailers and is rated M by the ESRB.

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14th December 2009

More Awards, Open Source Periphals and Promotional Products

Multiplied Media’s Poynt Local Search application wins in the 2009 Mobile Star Awards

Multiplied MediaCalgaryMultiplied Media Corporation, a provider of mobile local search services, is pleased to announce that its Poynt Local Search application has been named as a winner in the eighth annual Mobile Star Awards™ program, hosted by mobile technology news portal MobileVillage.com. Multiplied Media was recognized in the Navigation or Location Based Services Award in the category for Consumer Applications.

As in past years, the Mobile Star Awards program showcases “best of” entries in dozens of categories covering mobile apps, enterprise mobile software, wireless network products, enterprise success stories, mobile industry visionaries and more. Winners were chosen by subscribers of MobileVillage’s “Go Mobile™” – a free e-newsletter that delivers headlines and links from top mobile technology stories on popular websites such as Cnet, Engadget, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Computerworld and AppScout. “Go Mobile” was launched nearly ten years ago and is now published every three weeks for thousands of readers.

“Poynt was selected by our ‘Go Mobile’ readers as the go-to application on the BlackBerry for location based and navigation services,” said Jon Covington, MobileVillage founder and president. “Real users selected the Poynt app based on real results, not hype. I look forward to watching Poynt evolve onto other platforms in the future, giving more users the opportunity to utilize the great application.”

“We could not be more pleased to have been named a ‘Superstar’ in our category,” said Andrew Osis, CEO, Multiplied Media. “To be recognized as a top consumer application by the MobileVillage is a great honour. The Mobile Star awards brought some stiff competition to the table this year. We would like to thank our development team, Poynt’s loyal users and of course MobileVillage for hosting the awards.”

In addition to MobileVillage, the Sponsors for the 2009 Mobile Star Awards were Clickatell, Funambol, MobileFrame, Nadel Phelan, OnPoint Digital and Syclo.

EpiphanOttawaEpiphan Systems has announced that the new Lecture Recorder presentation recording, archiving, and broadcasting product is now shipping. Featuring integrated audio-in, video-in, as well as DVI/VGA inputs and outputs, Lecture Recorder lets users simultaneously record the audio and video streams of a lecture, presentation, or seminar. And, as it is designed primarily for corporate and educational clients, it’s easy to use and requires no prior knowledge.

Retailing at $2000, the Lecture Recorder also features 32GB of solid state memory and has 5 USB ports for connecting external devices, such as CD/DVD writers, external hard drives, and AMX/Crestron Lecture Recorderinterface units. Being a bit larger than a paperback book, Epiphan Systems’ Lecture Recorder fits easily inside presenters’ podiums or other confined spaces.

Similar to Epiphan Systems’ VGA Recorder Lite, Lecture Recorder has the ability to not only store hours of lectures on board the actual device; it is also able to automatically send the recordings to a central repository server or FTP, or act as a stand-alone server relaying the recordings directly to an online audience.

Unlike similar solutions from other providers, the Lecture Recorder does not require the payment of any maintenance or licensing fees, integrates within an existing LAN network, and works with virtually any external server, making it the ideal recording device to use in lecture or conference environments.

USB DirectToronto – Compact computer technology is the latest and most effective way to transport all of your important files. USB Direct gives you great options in the latest styles of USB memory.

USB Direct is a Canadian supplier of memory storage who offers the best pricing ever on a large selection of Promotional USB memory solutions. Celebrate their grand opening and take advantage of their huge savings. Their prices can’t be beat. You won’t find a better deal anywhere!USB Direct Sample

USB Direct can also customize your memory sticks with your company’s name or logo. Imagine the pride your employees will display as they strut down the halls with their daily work in tiny little canisters or fashionable bracelets. Use them to give out at your local charity event as a way to remember the cause. You can even make them a fabulous way to hand out computerized invitations. The possibilities of use are endless. Everyone is getting into the techno universe.

With a variety of memory that starts at 128MB and goes as high as 16GB and a wide selection of bright colours, you’ll never lose your memory stick again. If you’re scared of breaking them, USB Direct even makes them in a sturdy PVC rubber casing to protect your precious files.  USB Direct also offers some very unique styles like wood, car shapes, look alike pens, bracelets and neck or wrist straps. It’s so easy to match your USB with your personal style.

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14th December 2009

Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands Details From Ubisoft Montreal

UbisoftMontreal – Today Ubisoft Canada announced that Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands™ will ship May 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands Interiorfrom Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the Wii™ system from Nintendo, the Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DS™ systems, and Windows-based PC. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands™ will expand the Prince of Persia universe with a new storyline, the introduction of new characters, and new powers over nature and time. The game takes place between Prince of Persia® The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia Warrior Within™.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ8hccoZ6hQ]

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is the next chapter in the fan-favorite Sands of Time universe. Visiting his brother’s kingdom following his adventure in Azad, the Prince finds the royal palace under Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands Palace Exteriorsiege from a mighty army bent on its destruction. When the decision is made to use the ancient power of the Sand in a desperate gamble to save the kingdom from total annihilation, the Prince will embark on an epic adventure in which he will learn to bear the mantle of true leadership, and discover that great power often comes with a great cost. Game features include:

Classic Gameplay Reinvented: From huge-scale multi-enemy combat to dizzying feats of acrobatic prowess in gigantic environments enhanced by the Prince’s ability to control nature and time, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will push the Prince’s Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands Gate Fortressprodigious abilities to unseen levels.

A Blockbuster Experience: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will offer players unforgettable set pieces made possible by the advanced technology offered by the award-winning Anvil engine. With all-out war at the gates of the kingdom, the Prince’s abilities will be challenged like never before through the course of epic wow moments.

Mastery Over Nature: Wielding powers of nature and time, the Prince will have unparalleled mastery over his environment and his enemies. The Prince will discover that harnessing the forces of nature itself will prove to be a devastating companion to his ability to rewind time.

Return of a Fan-Favorite Franchise: Set between Prince of Persia The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will provide fans a new chapter in the Prince of Persia universe and deepen their understanding of the Sands of Time series.

The versions for Wii™, Nintendo DSi™ and DS™ as well as the PSP® system will feature a different gaming experience from the versions for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system. More details will be unveiled in the near future. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

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14th December 2009

EA Montreal Presents Army of Two The 40th Day Demo

EA GamesMontrealEA Montreal has announced a demo for ARMY OF TWO™: THE 40th DAY will be available as a free download on the PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace on December 17th. The demo will include most of the first level in the game, where the iconic two-man private military team of Salem and Rios find themselves trapped in Shanghai as it falls under attack. Players will experience the focused co-operative action that has made THE 40TH DAY one of next year’s most anticipated games. A demo for the PlayStation® Portable (PSP®) will also be available for free on the PlayStation Network in North America on January 7th and in Europe on January 14th. Army of Two: 40th Day

ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY is the sequel to the 2008 multi-platinum co-op shooter. Players must work as a team to survive relentless enemy assaults and escape the city as it collapses around them. THE 40TH DAY delivers an organic and immersive cooperative adventure with one of the most robust weapon customization systems ever found in a videogame. Players can mix and match weapon parts found in the world and execute strategic two-man tactics that create a one-of-a-kind co-op action experience.

“THE 40TH DAY is non-stop action in an explosive Shanghai. The game has been designed with a focus on co-op gameplay and it has been our goal to refine this core experience in all aspects of the game,” said executive producer Reid Schneider. “The demo will give players the opportunity to experience this evolution and the new co-op moves and tactics available to players at any time in the game.”

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcBUjPaw5m0]

Gamers who pre-order* ARMY OF TWO: THE 40th DAY will have exclusive access to the game’s all-new explosive bonus multi-player mode, ‘Extraction,’ at launch. This mode will be unlocked for all other players one month after the game ships. Extraction Mode pits a team of four players against a series of unique enemy waves as they move from point to point in the ruined city. Players must strategize as a ESRB Rated M for Matureunified team to combat the different forces of the 40th Day Initiative while trying to get out alive.

ARMY OF TWO: THE 40th DAY will be in stores worldwide on January 13th for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation® Portable (PSP®). The demo available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles is playable via online co-op or in split screen. Army of Two The 40th Day is rated M by the ESRB.

* Please visit Army of Two: The 40th Day for Pre-Order details.

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14th December 2009

Tron Evolution Officially Unveiled after Spike Trailer Debut

Propaganda GamesVancouver – The digital world of TRON is awaiting a new participant. Disney Interactive Studios today announced the development of TRON: Evolution, the video game (ESRB RP). TRON: Evolution is an action-adventure game being created for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. Developed in Vancouver by Disney Interactive’s Propaganda Games, TRON: Evolution is scheduled for release in Holiday 2010 before the Disney Interactive Studios“TRON: Legacy” film arrives in theaters.

Set during the era between the two TRON films, TRON: Evolution conveys the story of significant events within the TRON mythology. The game features an epic adventure across a massive digital world filled with high-mobility disc-based combat and advanced light cycles.

TRON: Evolution is one of the keys to unlocking the TRON mythology. The game’s story takes place before the “TRON: Legacy” events and provides insight into the film’s past. As an integrated entertainment experience, the film will reference elements of the game’s story. Fans will want to play the game to learn more about the TRON mythology seen in the film, but each entertainment experience will stand on its own.

Tron Evolution“We expect TRON: Evolution to be a premier action-focused game that both stands on its own and supplements a major event film,” said Dan Tudge, vice president and general manager, Propaganda Games. “Because Propaganda Games is based in Vancouver, which was the site of the film’s principal photography, we were able to leverage the proximity to continuously collaborate with the filmmakers and ensure authenticity between the two projects.”

“TRON: Legacy” film director Joseph Kosinski consulted on the vision for the debut video game trailer, which includes computer graphics that were created by the same company that will provide the film’s CG animations. Kosinski will advise on the game’s vision during 2010 to ensure accuracy with the film. In addition to directing “TRON: Legacy,” Kosinski is renowned in the video games industry as having directed prolific feature film-quality game trailers for major product releases.

“The collaboration between the video game development studio and the film creators is exceptional,” said Sean Bailey, producer, “TRON: Legacy.” “From the ongoing discussions between the filmmakers and Tron Evolutionthe game developers, TRON: Evolution should enhance and expand the mythology and the world of ‘TRON: Legacy.’”

As part of the connection between the game and film, actress Olivia Wilde stars as Quorra in TRON: Evolution. Wilde’s voice and likeness as Quorra will provide players with another direct link to the film as they discover how earlier events within the world of TRON shape her character’s future.

“TRON is the most revered video game-inspired film property of all time,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “TRON: Evolution, the video game, will enhance the TRON experience for existing fans of the franchise as well as an entirely new audience.”

TRON: Evolution and “TRON: Legacy” are brand new entries in the TRON franchise, updating the unique world for this millennium. The cross-platform franchise being created around the “TRON: Legacy” film will transcend media platforms throughout Disney. The revolutionary 1982 film “TRON” catapulted video games into mainstream consciousness and contributed to the industry’s rapid growth and global success. The original film inspired arcade games and video game releases, making TRON a highly successful multi-format franchise.

“TRON: Legacy” is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of TRON where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous. “TRON: Legacy” is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 17, 2010.

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13th December 2009

Competitions Awards Debuts and Holiday Fun

Inspirado GamesVancouver – A reminder to developers that today is the final day for entering Inspirado Games design Competition Sunshine. Competition Sunshine is an opportunity for the Game Development community to give a voice to individuals passionate about video game design, through a fun and worthwhile game design competition. To enter, participants must make a donation to the Child’s Play Charity of $20 (USD) or more (100% of entry fees go to charity) and conform to the design criteria. Finalists will be judged by a panel of experienced game design professionals – with winners receiving prizes and, of course, bragging rights.

This competition is intended to give individuals in the gaming community an opportunity to showcase their talent. A profile will be written about the winner (with their permission) and published online for all to see. Please note that all Intellectual Property Rights (copyright) of the submitted design concept will remain the sole property of the entrant – and who knows – entrants may get their game developed!

Spike 2009 VGAEveryone at Village Gamer would like to extend their congratulations to the dev teams at Ubisoft Montreal, EA Canada and Bioware for their wins at last night’s Spike Video Game Awards. Assassin’s Creed 2 was chosen as the Best Action Adventure Game for 2009, while NHL 10 was chosen as the Best Team Sports Game for 2009, and Dragon Age: Origins won two categories – Best PC Game of the Year and Best RPG of the Year. We kept our fingers crossed for Assassin’s Creed 2 in the Game of the Year category, but Uncharted 2 stole it away.

Also impressive were the Canadian-made game trailer debuts aired during the Awards show, and we’re now looking forward to getting our hands on United Front Games’ True Crime, Ubisoft Montreal’s Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands and Propaganda Games’ Tron Evolution. An impressive show of our great Canadian talent in front of the world.

Speaking of awards (on a much smaller scale), I’d like to remind everyone to get those nominations in for our Readers’ Choice Canadian Video Game Awards. Nominations close on December 31st – you don’t need to sign up to nominate and there are no nomination fees, but don’t assume that someone else has already nominated your favourite titles, studios and characters.

This Friday is the Holiday Gathering event for Vancouver Interactive Night Out. We invite you to join us for some holiday fun and socializing in the back room at Yagger’s (433 West Pender Street Vancouver) starting at 6:30pm. You can RSVP on either Facebook or LinkedIn. We have a little special something planned and we need an estimate on numbers, so please let us know if you’ll be attending.

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12th December 2009

Federal Government Grants Support Funds For Third ORIC

ORICPenticton -Earlier today, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway announced that a third ORIC location will receive funding support from the Federal Government’s Community Adjustment Fund programme in the amount of $170 000.00. Since its inception in August 2005, the not-for-profit organization ORIC has supported the job creation of over 45 high-paying jobs, has currently 5 high-tech companies in its incubators and has already graduated one successful company RFind Systems.

The focus of the new incubator in Penticton will be on Clean Energy Technologies and Wireless start-ups, emphasizing ORIC’s relationship with the National Research Council’s Radio Observatory (NRC-DRAO) and Okanagan College’s new Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation, which is currently under construction. ORIC’s headquarters and first incubator is located at NRC’s Radio Observatory south of Penticton and its second incubator of 15,000 sq.ft. is located in downtown Kelowna.

“The Okanagan Research & Innovation Centre ORIC is very pleased to receive financial support of $170,000 from the Federal Government under the Community Adjustment Fund program to create a technology business incubator in Penticton. This will be our third incubator in the Okanagan Valley and it will be instrumental to the growth of the South Okanagan’s high-tech community”, says Peter Haubrich, President and Founder of ORIC. “Investing in incubators has proven to generate a $30 economic benefit for the region for every dollar spent according to the National Business Incubation Association NBIA, which has 1,900 members in over 60 countries”.

“Our Government, through the Community Adjustment Fund, is providing a timely, targeted stimulus to western Canadian communities, helping reduce the impacts of the global recession,” said Stockwell Day. “This project will help create jobs and maintain employment in the Okanagan Valley.”

“Business incubation is about transforming ideas into business success and accelerating skills acquisition, creating new high-tech jobs and sustainable economic value across the Okanagan, while stimulating new businesses in high growth sectors of the economy, attracting new investment, developing business capacity, and even attracting skilled people to the area” Added David Arsenault – Penticton’s Economic Development Officer.

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11th December 2009

New Titles, Contests And Jobs

Hothead GamesVancouver – A whole new audience of gamers will be able to unwrap Braid soon! Hothead Games proudly announced today that Jonathan Blow’s beloved indie title will arrive in the European PlayStation®Network on Dec. 17 for only €9.99, offering current and soon-to-be PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system owners a little extra holiday cheer this season.

Players will explore the human condition and manipulate time with our hero Tim in the lush, painterly world of Braid. An Independent Games Festival winner, this puzzle-platformer takes you from a house in the city on a journey through a seriesBraid of worlds to solve puzzles and rescue the princess. In each world, you have a different power to affect the way time behaves, including the ability to rewind, create parallel realities and utilize time dilation to overcome the many obstacles in your path. There is no filler in this game; every puzzle shows you something new and interesting about the game world.

Key Features:

Non-traditional platforming: You can never die and never lose, but challenge is always present and focused on solving puzzles, rather than forcing you to play and replay tricky jumps.
• Puzzle-rich environment. Travel through a series of worlds, searching for puzzle pieces and solving puzzles by manipulating time: rewinding, creating parallel universes and setting up pockets of dilated time. The game play is always fresh and new and the puzzles inspire new ways of thinking.
Aesthetic design: A painterly art style and lush, organic soundtrack complement the unique game play.
Nonlinear story: A nonlinear fiction links the various worlds and provides real-world metaphors for your time manipulations; act out these themes at your own pace, exploring playful “what if” universes.
Forgiving game play: The game doesn’t force you to solve puzzles in order to proceed. If you can’t figure something out, just play onward and return to that puzzle later.

Complex GamesWinnipegComplex Games Inc. is proud to announce their first self-published game for the iPhone and iTouch.  Skipping Stones is currently in production and will be soon be available for sale on the iTunes store. Slated for a mid-December 2009 release date, Skipping Stones is a casual recreational game that you can play on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

“Skipping Stones is going to make a splash on the iPhone”, said Noah Decter-Jackson Co-founder and Project Director at Complex Games, “the game combines relaxing gameplay mechanics that simulate actually skipping stones across the water in several beautiful settings. Skipping Stones will instantly appeal because of its lush environments and enjoyable music. Players can just relax or challenge themselves and their friends to make the longest skip!”

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53VLZBXMuVM]

Walk down to the beach and toss your cares away with the simple motion controls, or compete against other players online to make the most skips. Skipping Stones offers the gamer several beautiful landscapes, three different challenge modes and the ability to compete online against other players via Open Feint.

Stir Fry GamesGuelph – Independent game developer Stir Fry Games is proud to announce the Windows version of SFG Soccer is now available online. SFG Soccer is the arcade-style indoor soccer game whose short game times, easy-to-learn controls, and fast-paced gameplay have made SFG Soccerit a smash hit on the Xbox Live Indie Games platform. In it’s first month on Xbox Live, the game has already been featured in the Top Rated, Top Downloads, and the Top IGN.com Picks lists. SFG Soccer is currently one of the top-rated games on the service, with a 4-star rating in the United States, and an astounding 4 1/2 star rating in the United Kingdom.

The game has an extensive multi-season 64-team career mode, complete with a custom team & player editors, playoffs and an RPG-style skill improvement system. The Windows version also includes new features requested by fans including individual player stats, higher difficulty settings, league leaders, and the ability to edit and share your league easily using external programs such as Microsoft Excel.

Light Switch StudiosVancouver – A team of Art Institute Vancouver students have published their latest game on the web. Light Switch Studios is proud to announce their single player PC 2D side-scrolling platform title Fotagogos, which will officially release on FotagogosDecember 15th. Gamers will play through the game as Phil, a young miner who is sent out by his family to gather the light crystals they need to survive. As Phil gathers the light crystals using his special light-switching helmet, he used one of three colours to help him defeat the enemies and find his way through the dark caverns. Phil can use the powers of Red, Green or Blue light to speed through dangerous territory while Green light will help Phil leap to high ledges. Making use of the Blue light will help Phil defy gravity and float to a safe landing. Fotagogos is a tool-based game which the team built from the ground up, and they have included level editing tools for players to mod and expand their game experience.

Swim RecruitingVancouverSwim Recruiting has posted the following career position for a Technical Lead in PHP Games at a Vancouver development studio:

• High level technical direction and low level coding participation
• Entrepreneurial, growing, and action-packed environment
• Lead a talented and experienced development team

Do you have strong leadership skills combined with expert knowledge of the LAMP stack and software development best practices at both the architectural and code level?

A Vancouver ‘home grown’ organization based in funky Gastown is on the lookout for an experienced and knowledgeable Technical Lead to direct and lead a professional, fun, and dynamic software team. This team will develop and enhance new and existing games for social network platforms such as Facebook and iPhone applications.

Working closely with the Studio Producer and Creative Director, you will be charged with establishing high level technical direction and supervision as well as ‘rolling up the sleeves’ and developing code. You will lead and motivate the team to release up to 8 multiple titles on various platforms per year. As well as excellent communication and documentation skills, you must have expert LAMP stack skills and knowledge combined with the ability to direct, lead and motivate a small group of open-source developers. You will also be highly competent at setting up and establishing development policies, frameworks, and best practices to ensure a fast paced, action packed, rapid prototyping, iterative model in a social and collaborative team orientated environment.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate the following:

• Expert proficiency (7+ years) in all areas of LAMP development at the architecture and code level
• Flash/flex development skills and solid Unix based tools and system administration skills
• Experience setting up and establishing software development frameworks, policies, and best practices
• Be a natural leader and manager with the skills and track record to motivate and grow the development team
• Passion for a wide variety of Gaming technologies and methodologies
• Graduation from a four year college or university, a degree from a recognized design school, or two to four years of related experience and training.

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a modern, fast paced, innovative, fun and dynamic development team working on some of the latest games and applications with bleeding-edge open source technologies – apply by sending your resume to Brian Thompson at Swim Recruiting.

Blue Castle GamesVancouverBlue Castle Games has the following career positions open for local candidates:

Rendering Software Engineer
Senior Technical Artist
Senior or Franchise Project Manager
Producer
Environment Artist (Contract & Full Time) – DEAD RISING 2 (new listing)
Contract Compliance/Online/Gameplay QA Tester (6 months) – DEAD RISING 2
Lead Level Designer
Online Software Engineer

Please visit their Careers page for more details.

Pareto LogicVictoria – Most people are careful to shred their financial documents and keep a careful hold on their personal paperwork, but what about online and on their PCs? With the ever-present threat of spyware and identity theft, ensuring that personal details remain safe should be a top priority for all computer users. The latest version of ParetoLogic’s Privacy Controls software aims to make this task easier, and a lot more thorough.

Every action taken on a PC is recorded. Downloaded programs, visited websites, opened files, entered passwords and even instant messages are locked deep in a computer’s memory. A clever hacker who Privacy Controlsinfiltrates a computer may copy online banking information for illegal transactions, steal personal data for identity theft, hijack email accounts for spamming, or snoop on the user’s private life.

Norman Eldridge, Technical Product Manager at ParetoLogic, said that “even with security software protecting against malware, people need to consider other methods that their personal data may be compromised: selling their used PC, having their computer stolen, or even being spied on by people who share their system.”

The latest web browsers have responded to this threat with new privacy options and ‘stealth’ modes. Internet Explorer 8’s InPrivate mode, for example, stores only the cookies and temporarily internet files required to browse normally, and then deletes these files automatically. However, Mr. Eldridge explained that this is not enough. “To fully erase your private details and history, you need to overwrite the data. Otherwise it is recoverable.” Privacy Control’s shred functionality does just that, overwriting browsing history, application history, and user-selected files. This permanently destroys the data, which cannot be restored, even with highly developed data recovery tools.

The most recent version of Privacy Controls upgrades these shred features, enhancing the scanning process to clean personal information from the latest programs. The expansion also adds support for the new 32-bit Windows 7 operating system. “A new operating system does not necessarily provide new security for personal information. If anything, the latest OS has more ways for your data to be recorded,” said Mr. Eldridge. Along with support for Windows 7 32-bit, Privacy Controls also supports Windows Vista and XP.

LogoBeeMontreal – In the spirit of the season, LogoBee proudly announces its fourth annual Logo Design Makeover. Any charity or non-profit organization may enter the contest, and submissions must be received by January 1, 2010.

LogoBee holds the Logo Design Makeover annually as a way of giving back to the community. By reducing overhead costs such as logo design and branding, these organizations can focus funds on the important services they offer. Having a previous logo or brand development is not necessary to enter. Depending on each winning group’s preferences, the LogoBee designers can refine an existing logo, or they can start from scratch. Each winning participant receives custom logo design from logobee.com, as well as professional stationery design complete with letterhead, envelope, and business cards. Contest submission is free.

LogoBee held its first Logo Design Makeover contest in 2005, welcoming any charities and non-profit organizations to enter. LogoBee adds two grand prizes to the contest, among other changes this year. The grand prize winners will receive a BundleBee package from Logobee.com for the deeply discounted price of $500. The package, normally priced at $1199, includes professional logo design, stationery design, and website design. In addition, LogoBee will randomly select 10 entries to receive a Golden package, which includes custom logo design with tailor-made stationery design included. Each Golden package will be offered for the nominal rate of $100, originally priced at $425.

Donating professional design services to charities and non-profit organizations is one important way that LogoBee feels it is important to give back to the community. LogoBee will announce the winners January 8, 2010, and notify the winners via email.

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10th December 2009

Advances in Immersive Game Technology Abound

News from Skillz Systems, AMD, Intel and D-Box

QuickStickzHalifax – It’s that time of year, where thousands of enthusiasts head to the cold rinks to enjoy the sport of Hockey! Helping hockey players of all ages train their stick-handling skills, Halifax based Skillz Systems launched an interactive video game, called QuickStickz.

Hockey players can use any hockey stick, a computer and Internet access to play QuickStickz virtually anywhere and at anytime. The system includes cameras to track a custom ball and then feeds that Jacob Burke, age 12, improves his stickhandling skills with his head up, on the new QuickStickz productinformation to the training software on the player’s computer.

“What we’ve done is taken kids’ love of hockey and their love of video gaming and combined the two,” says Dean Dachyshyn, Skillz Systems Chief Operating Officer.

QuickStickz which launched just over a week ago, has been in beta testing over the past 2 years. Young eager hockey players across Nova Scotia were able to test and play the video game providing feedback, which was incorporated into the official product.

Endorsed by Buffalo Sabres assistant coach James Patrick and Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett, QuickStickz is poised to be the next generation training device. “We are looking forward to setting the hockey world on its ear with this revolutionary new training,” Dachyshyn says. Skillz Systems is a past participant and winner in the InnovaCorp I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition.

Dragon Age OriginsEdmontonBioWare re-invented the fantasy role-playing genre with its recent release of Dragon Age: Origins. With game patches issued days after the title’s debut, BioWare delivers full support for the visually striking AMD innovation, ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology. ATI Radeon graphics now give Dragon Age: Origins players the ultimate visual experience as they see more of this vivid in-game world, and at higher resolution. 1

* BioWare issued patches on Nov. 6 and Nov. 17, 2009 to fully enable Dragon Age: Origins on ATI Eyefinity technology, ensuring that gamers have access to ultra-widescreen resolutions for the ultimate visual experience.
* Experience even more of the fantasy world of Ferelden in Dragon Age: Origins by viewing it with an ultra-wide, three display configuration using ATI Eyefinity technology, allowing for a maximum resolution of 7680 x 1600.
* ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology allows seamless enablement of the biggest game environments available today. Gamers can arrange one to three displays using the ATI Radeon™ HD 5970, ATI Radeon™ HD 5870, ATI Radeon™ HD 5850, ATI Radeon™ HD 5770 or ATI Radeon™ HD 5750 graphics cards.2

“BioWare has made ATI Eyefinity compatibility a priority, and it speaks strongly to their belief in what AMDATI Eyefinity technology brings to the gaming experience,” said Neal Robison, director, ISV Relationship Management at AMD. “BioWare is known for creating rich, immersive gaming experiences, and it is clear that they appreciate how ATI Eyefinity technology found on the latest ATI Radeon cards, can help further enrich the experience for gamers.”

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