Village Gamer

Sault STE. Marie – The annual Future Play Conference on the future of game development has become an event that gets circled on the calendars of the gaming world’s top scholars, students and industry leaders. With 2009 keynote speakers that include games pioneer and guru Don Daglow and Ben Sawyer of Digitalmill, this year promises to be no exception.

With the 2009 Future Play Conference now partnered with the Game Developers Conference® (GDC Canada), there will now be even more opportunities for participants to benefit from influential speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions and valuable networking opportunities.

“I have a high regard for the role of Future Play in the game research and development vista in Canada,” says University of Calgary Professor Jim Parker, a long-time Future Play participant. “I was an early participant in Future Play, since 2004 in fact, when it was still named the Game Technology Conference, and I have been enthusiastic ever since. It has been the home of many innovations, such as the game contest in 2007 and in acting as host for the Canadian Game Studies Association in its early stages.”
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SEGA® Corporation today announced an exclusive partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the official licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to develop Vancouver 2010™ – the Official Video Game of the Olympic Winter Games. The game is being developed by Eurocom Entertainment Software for PC, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Vancouver 2010™ is an authentic simulation of a host of events from the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, focusing on the adrenalin rush that comes from the extreme speed of winter sports. Including the all new challenge mode, it will allow players to immerse themselves in the world’s greatest sporting event like never before.

“Vancouver 2010™ will set a new standard for the Olympic-themed video games genre,” commented Hugh Binns, Director of Eurocom Development Ltd., developers of Vancouver 2010™. “With the innovative first person mode to immerse players even more in the game, an all new challenge mode providing hours of entertainment and stunning high definition graphics, Vancouver 2010™ will be a fantastic experience.”
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Vancouver – 2K Sports has announced that The BIGS™ 2 will be developed by Vancouver studio Blue Castle Games. The sequel to the hit arcade-style Major League Baseball game The BIGS™¸ will be available this summer for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo. Known for its over-the-top style of gameplay, The BIGS 2 focuses on the “big” fast-paced moments in Major League Baseball with new opportunities to go up against MLB legends, more mini-games like Home Run Pinball, and a variety of other thrilling new features.

“Fans have been clamoring for a follow-up to The BIGS since it launched two years ago, so we’re excited to now deliver The BIGS 2,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of development, 2K Sports. “In the spirit of celebrating the most epic moments in Major League Baseball, The BIGS 2 offers a refreshingly fun and unique experience of dramatic walk-off homeruns, miraculous wall catches, acrobatic diving grabs, and many more incredible plays you’d usually see only in a highlight reel.”

Blue Castle Games is also developing Dead Rising 2 for CapCom which has not yet been given a release date.

Vancouver – Tritone is proud to introduce “Javakeys“, the latest advanced feature for its online music education systems. “Javakeys” is a virtual keyboard interface, enhancing the design of Tritone’s e-learning tools, and expanding the interaction between the computer and “Javatrax” – Tritone’s music performance evaluation engine.

Javatrax provides web based performance evaluations for music played into the system via a music keyboard interface. Javatrax threading technology creates three evaluations simultaneously and immediately provides a graphic display of note, timing and expressional errors made. Virtual Performance recordings and evaluations are saved in CourseWatch 2.0 – Tritone’s web based data management system – for later review and playback by both teacher and student. Javatrax is an integral part of the overall Tritone Music Series online education system used to teach such musical elements as note reading, ear training, rhythm, and more.

“Javakeys” was designed as part of a solution to a number of Tritone’s original goals. The Tritone Music Series was designed and is best used with an electronic music keyboard. Ideally every student in every class using our system should have access an electronic keyboard. For distant learning situations or virtual school activities, they should also have one at home. We know this is not always possible and “Javakeys” overcomes the obstacle.

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Application Deadline Extended To March 16 2009

Banff – The Global Writers Apprentice Programme offers emerging Canadian writers with the unprecedented opportunity to gain significant experience by completing a four-week internship in the story department of a prime-time series. The winners will be selected by a three person jury. Successful applicants will be invited to attend the Banff World Television Festival on a full access pass. The program is open to individual writers as well as to established writing teams who have a track record together.

Before attending BANFF, they will work on their series pitches and pitching techniques in one-on-one sessions with the Program Director.

Qualifications

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate an expertise in dramatic screenwriting. Preference will be given to those individuals who have at least a half hour of produced drama.

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AdviceScene.com is the first fully moderated, social networking community linking Lawyers and the Public, providing a free and democratic exchange of legal resources in Canada

Victoria BC – AdviceScene.com launches the first Canadian website delivering free law information from lawyers to the public. AdviceScene.com is a fully moderated, social networking community linking lawyers and the public providing a free and democratic exchange of legal resources in Canada.

“AdviceScene.com is where Canadians go to get legal questions answered,” said Kinney who writes a legal blog in Canada. “I believe that an effective legal system includes an open, transparent and public discussion of how laws affect our lives and how the law may be applied. Democratizing the law system means making the laws we all have to answer to more accessible for everyone.”

Kinney went on to say that having lawyers participate on the site is a key component. Many people search online for legal information that is readily available; though much information is either incorrect or does not apply.

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Former Radical Chief Joins Hothead Crew

Vancouver – Hothead Games announced today the appointment of former Radical Entertainment president and CEO Ian Wilkinson as the company’s new president and CEO, effective immediately. Wilkinson oversaw Radical’s growth from a startup company to an established industry player and ultimately sold the company to Vivendi Games, which merged with Activision last year.

As part of the change, former Hothead Games president and CEO Vlad Ceraldi will become director of game development and Joel DeYoung will move from COO to director of game technology.  “My passion is making great games and my new role will allow me to focus on just that,” commented Ceraldi. “I worked for Ian at Radical and felt that his business leadership would be a huge boon for Hothead. I was very excited when he accepted our invitation to join the team.”

“I have worked with both Joel and Vlad before. We made some fantastic games that were multi-million sellers such as The Simpsons Hit & Run and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction,” stated Wilkinson. “I have already rolled up my sleeves and I am very excited to be back in the industry. I know that together, along with the outstanding team assembled at Hothead with Ron Gilbert and others, we will become one of the great game creators in the world.”

With the highest sales growth in North America, Annex Pro Is Named As The Top Autodesk M+E Dealer in Canada

Vancouver/Las Vegas – At its annual channel partner conference, One Team Conference (OTC), Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) honored Annex Pro for the second year in a row, by inducting them into Platinum Club 2009, an elite group recognized for top sales performance and outstanding customer service in fiscal year 2009.

“The Autodesk Platinum Club comprises a talented group of professionals dedicated to our customers,” said Steve Blum, Autodesk senior vice president of Americas Sales.

Annex Pro, a Vancouver-based value-added reseller, was recognized for having the highest sales growth in North America for Autodesk Media and Entertainment, and also has the highest sales volume in Canada. “There is no team like the Annex Pro team!” said Kerry Corlett, President and founder of Annex Pro. “Without false modesty, I have to say we’ve earned this. Annex Pro works hard towards the success of our customers, and to be recognized in this way by Autodesk is a genuine honor.”
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Calgary – Cambrian House has restructured its leadership to ensure autonomy and focus for its strongest assets: the Chaordix™ crowdsourcing platform and Gwabs™ gaming venture. These businesses are now being managed independently with President Shelley Kuipers leading Cambrian House and the Chaordix venture, and Founder and Board director, Michael Sikorsky leading SundayLABS, the corporation established to commercialize Gwabs. Michael remains a vital evangelist for both ventures.

Cambrian House has also expanded its Board, welcoming Margot Micallef Q.C. who contributes corporate finance and merger and acquisition expertise, and broad business talent. Margot is a shareholder in Cambrian House and also serves on the boards of ENMAX Corporation, Canwest Global Communications Corp, and Vista Broadcast Group Inc. Nick Foster, formerly of OutSpark Games, has also joined as an advisor on commercialization strategy for Gwabs. Allan MacKenzie remains a Board Observer and it is anticipated that Shelley Kuipers will join the Cambrian House Board this summer along side Brian Craig (Chair), Michael Sikorsky (Founder & Director), and Michael Broadfoot (Director).

Toronto – There are some great Animation workshops and events coming up this March at the NFB Mediatheque in Toronto. With a wide variety of activities, there is something for just about everyone, and these events are family funding friendly and educational.

Animation Exploration Screening Programmes

Every day during March Break (March 14-22), join us for two fun-filled programs of animated shorts for the whole family! Admission is $2 per person, or FREE with registration to a March Break animation workshop.

Program A: March 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 AT 2 PM each day
Ruzz & Ben, Emission Admission, My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts, Oh Sure, I Want a Dog, and The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin (approximate running time: 1 hour)

Program B: March 15, 17, 19, 21 at 2 PM each day
Sleeping Betty, Hothouse 5: Square Roots, The Danish Poet, The Owl Who Married a Goose, Getting Started, and Blackfly (approximate running time: 51 min)

March Break Animation Exploration

Do you want to discover the world during March Break? Now you can… during ANIMATION EXPLORATION!

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