Village Gamer

Village Gamer would like to wish all of our readers a very happy and safe holiday season.

Thank you for sending us your news and for helping to make our first seven months online a success. We look forward to continuing our growth in 2009, along with all of the new and cool games, programmes and innovations developed by Canada’s very talented digital media industry.

All the best to you and yours in 2009 and beyond.

Vancouver – Webnames.ca Inc. is pleased to announce that it has acquired Montreal-based registrar Papa.ca.

Papa.ca was previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Linnk Technologies, a full service web development company. Papa.ca was a CIRA certified registrar only offering .CA domain names.

“We are very excited to be able to service this new customer base,” says Stephen Smith, President of Webnames.ca. “Not only will they have access to Webnames.ca’s unparalleled customer support, but a full-range of domain name extensions and web services that were not offered by their previous registrar.”

With the acquisition of Papa.ca and new services introduced in 2008, including the .ASIA TLD, Webnames Privacy and the upcoming .TEL launch, Webnames.ca is looking forward to expanding on its past successes and remains committed to be the leader in domain name registration and management across Canada and internationally.

Toronto – The public is being invited to play a real time giant video game using BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphones from Rogers Wireless to communicate with the Outdoor Broadcast Network’s massive video board on the Toronto Eaton Centre Media Tower at Yonge?Dundas Square – the first interactive video game promotion of its kind Canada.

The Outdoor Broadcast Network (OBN) secured the exclusive rights (for Dundas Square) to software distributed by Montreal’s iGotcha Media and took the idea to Rogers Wireless through its agencies, MediaCom and Publicis. The “Dial to Play” software has been integrated into the operating system of the 40’ x 30’ video board on the Toronto Eaton Centre Media Tower that overlooks Dundas Square, enabling users of the new Rogers Wireless BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone to interact with the giant video board.
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Ottawa – The Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) is delighted to announce the nominees for the second annual CFTPA Indie Awards to be presented in Ottawa on February 18th, 2009.

The awards were created by the CFTPA to honour the outstanding achievements of Canadian independent producers. The National Jury members are made up of leading industry players including Tecca Crosbie, Michael Donovan, Slawko Klymkiw, Sharon McGowan and Suzette Normandeau. With these 44 nominations, selected from more than 160 entries, the Jury’s task in choosing the winners is formidable.

“Through these awards we recognize the hard work and excellence of Canadian producers,” says Guy Mayson, President and CEO of the CFTPA. “Our industry not only entertains and enlightens, it helps create jobs and contributes to the economic well-being of the country. We are proud to showcase their exceptional work. Congratulations to each nominee.”

The awards ceremony will be hosted by renowned comedienne and writer Cathy Jones—a multi-award winner herself for CODCO and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

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Future Shop sets the Facts Straight Again in Response to Continued Rumour about Closing

Burnaby – A viral email continues to circulate among Canadians saying that Future Shop’s stores are closing and that Future Shop gift cards are not valid — this is not true.

Future Shop is growing and prospering with 139 stores to date and more stores opening next year. Future Shop gift cards never expire and can be used at any of its stores across Canada or online at futureshop.ca.

For the holiday season, Future Shop has hired 6,000 seasonal associates to help serve the 25 million Canadians that come through its doors during November to the week of Boxing Day.

Vancouver – Despite below freezing temperatures this weekend, a sellout crowd gave a rousing Vancouver welcome to powerhouse heavy metal band Dragonforce with guests Power Glove and Turisas on this last performance of their 2008 North American tour.

The all-ages show was opened by Power Glove, a heavy metal group from Boston who have put a whole new spin on video game music. They opened the show with their version of the Tetris theme, levelling up into a high powered set of heavy metal Mario Minor, So Sexy Robotnick and more. Power Glove ended their set with a fantastic rendition of the Power Rangers theme – far better than the original show’s version. This is a band who obviously takes their foray into video games very seriously – right down to the koopa shell shoulder pads – and they put on a seriously rocking show.

Finnish Viking metal group Turisas was second to take the stage. Dressed in full battle regalia from furs to warpaint, Turisas took the audience through a journey of Viking legend in a way I’m sure the Vikings of times long gone never foresaw – and I’m sure Boney M never envisioned Rasputin becoming a heavy metal anthem, either. This band never stopped moving and neither did the

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The Canadian Interactive Alliance/L’Alliance interactive canadienne (CIAIC) is looking to build a complete profile of Canada’s interactive media industry, including all companies in Canada that work in or service the interactive media industry, either completely or partially.

The 2008 Canadian Interactive Industry Profile (CIIP) will assist the CIAIC in strengthening the Canadian interactive industry by increasing investment and partnering opportunities and improving the business climate for interactive media. Since the interactive industry is not routinely tracked by government agencies such as Statistics Canada, it is up to the industry to produce a comprehensive economic and operational profile to present to relevant decision makers.

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New Partnership Provides Unified Login Access and a Unified Monetary System for Players of Wicked Interactive and G4BOX Games

Toronto – Wicked Interactive, and G4BOX, both North American MMO Publishers, announced today that Wicked Interactive’s SUBA Games platform, will now host G4BOX MMORPG, Metin2, and its upcoming online FPS, Cross Fire.

The new partnership will result in numerous benefits for both SUBA Games and G4BOX players. A new unified login system will allow Cross Fire and Metin2 players to access all SUBA Games properties, including ACE Online, Priston Tale, and the upcoming Priston Tale 2: The Second Enigma, with their current G4BOX logins. Likewise, SUBA Games players will gain access to Metin2, and the exclusive closed beta of Cross Fire. Additionally, G4BOX games and SUBA Games properties now share a unified currency and community space. While the games have merged onto one platform, G4BOX and Wicked Interactive remain separate corporate entities.

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Toronto – The National Film Board of Canada is delighted to have two titles plus a co-production with Hamilton Mehta Productions, as part of Canada’s Top Ten list of best films in 2008. Luc Bourdon’s feature documentary The Memories of Angels, Theodore Ushev’s animated short Drux Flux and Deepa Mehta’s feature Heaven on Earth were selected. The list was announced on December 16, 2008 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group.

Established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group, Canada’s Top Ten celebrates and promotes contemporary Canadian cinema and is intended to raise public awareness of Canadian achievements. A 10-member national panel of filmmakers, programmers, journalists and industry professionals vote on the best Canadian films of the year, which can include features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental films.

Documentary, poetry and essay rolled into one, The Memories of Angels is a singular lesson in Montreal history with its famous figures, symbolic places and ordinary citizens. Luc Bourdon has created a virtuoso mosaic of stockshots and clips from 120 NFB films to present Montreal of the ’50s and ’60s. Without a commentary, the film moves from the red light district to Jean Drapeau, the Jacques-Cartier market, department stores downtown, textile factories and the construction of Place Ville-Marie. We meet Geneviève Bujold, Oscar Peterson, Monique Mercure and Igor Stravinsky. We hear Raymond Lévesque, Jean Drapeau and René Lecavalier.

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One of CBC’s #1 Rated Preschool Shows in October

Toronto – Kids’ CBC has renewed Cookie Jar Entertainment’s popular series, “Busytown Mysteries (Hurray For Huckle!)” and will begin airing season two in 2009. Inspired by the classic works of best-selling children’s author, Richard Scarry, “Busytown Mysteries (Hurray For Huckle!)” was one of the two top-rated preschool series on CBC’s weekday morning lineup for the month of October. “We’re delighted by the overwhelming response from viewers to ‘Busytown Mysteries (Hurray For Huckle!).’ The show’s success is a testament to Richard Scarry’s timeless work, coupled with the creativity of our talented production team,” said Jennifer Picherack, Cookie Jar Entertainment’s VP Distribution/Sales Operations. “Kids’ CBC is one of the leading broadcasters for children’s television, and it is very gratifying to provide them and their viewers with bright, entertaining and distinctive programming.” “Busytown Mysteries (Hurray For Huckle!)” blends humor and learning by following the lives of six unforgettable characters who try to solve everyday life mysteries in Busytown.