Village Gamer

Quebec City – Beenox Studios, an Activision Publishing, Inc. property today announced that the Quantum of Solace™ video game, based on the eagerly anticipated “Quantum of Solace” and prior “Casino Royale” James Bond films, is now available. Developed under license from EON Productions Ltd and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), the Quantum of Solace video game equips players with the weapons, espionage and hand-to-hand combat skills and overall charm needed to survive the covert lifestyle of legendary 007 secret agent James Bond. Beenox Studios developed the Games for Windows and Wii versions of the game.

“Activision’s Quantum of Solace video game marks the first time players can become the newly re-imagined, dangerous and cunningly efficient James Bond as portrayed by Daniel Craig,” said Rob Kostich, Head of Marketing for Licensed Properties, Activision Publishing. “We’re extremely pleased to release the game day and date with the new movie, so for those of us waiting for the new era in Bond gaming, Quantum of Solace has arrived.”
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Next Chapter in Award-Winning Franchise Features All-New Single-Player Campaigns, Multiplayer Modes and Innovative “Direct-Fire” Feature

Relic Entertainment and THQ Inc. have announced that Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor, the next standalone chapter in the widely acclaimed real-time strategy (RTS) franchise, is currently in development for Windows PC. Featuring three intense campaigns, brand-new multiplayer modes and an innovative “direct-fire” feature that allows even more tactical control during the heat of battle, Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor will immerse players in some of the most historic, tide-turning clashes of World War II. Internally developed by Relic Entertainment, the game is currently scheduled for release in spring 2009.

“Company of Heroes is one of the most critically acclaimed RTS series of all time,” said Peter Matiss, vice president of global brand management, THQ. “With Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor, Relic Entertainment is delivering an all-new, standalone chapter in the franchise and continues to push the boundaries of innovation and quality in the genre.”
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Ultimate Game Card™, the prepaid gift card accepted by more than 200 online multiplayer games, is now available in western Canada at 294 Mac’s Convenience Stores, Inc. By the holiday season, 580 of Mac’s eastern stores will also stock Ultimate Game Card. While there are many prepaid cards targeted to multiplayer games, Ultimate Game Card is the only card accepted by more than 200 games and sold in more than 18,000 major retail stores in Canada and the U.S.

Developed and supported by PayByCash®, a subsidiary of PlaySpan, Inc., these pre-paid cards are available at Mac’s in a $20 denomination. They are redeemable at more than 200 online multiplayer game supported by PayByCash. Ultimate Game Card allows customers to make fast payments for online entertainment without submitting financial information.

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Every Story Ever Written is Just Waiting to Become Reality

Toronto – The Adventure Company, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software, today announced it will publish Inkheart for Nintendo DS™. Based on the feature film adaptation of the best-selling Cornelia Funke novel, Inkheart brings high-quality, beautiful graphics to your DS in the fantastic and lovingly detailed world of Inkheart.

“To launch an adventure game in conjunction with its feature film release is an exciting opportunity for us,” said Brian Gladman, Global Product Manager at The Adventure Company. “Adventure enthusiasts can see the movie and then become a part of the story themselves by playing the game. The story has all the components for a successful transition to a DS game, fantasy, intrigue, exploration, character development and puzzle solving. We can’t wait to put it out there!”

Inkheart is the story of Meggie, a young girl whose father has a secret magical ability; he can bring book characters to life simply by reading the story aloud! It sounds like a wondrous gift, but evil lurks within the pages of a rare children’s fable…

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Toronto – Breakthrough Animation is proud to announce that they have closed a production deal for My Big Big Friend, a new series that will be produced in association with Canadian preschool network Treehouse. Production on fifty-two eleven minute episodes will begin later this year.  The announcement was made today by Kevin Gillis, Ira Levy and Peter Williamson, Executive Producers at Breakthrough Animation.

“We are delighted to be working on My Big Big Friend with a broadcast partner that has an international reputation for quality entertainment,” said Kevin Gillis, executive producer and managing partner, Breakthrough Animation.  “Treehouse has had a tremendously positive effect on our creative development and our international broadcast relationships.  We anticipate that this series will be a major hit in all territories around the world. As our first Canada/Brazil CoProduction we believe 2DLab will be a wonderful partner on the series, bringing a tremendous amount of talent!”

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Toronto – Cookee Corporation, a digital media and marketing company specializing in web development, brand building and networking has announced the official launch of ThotSpot.

ThotSpot sends daily motivational quotes to its subscribers via a short, dynamic email newsletter along with links to other valuable resources. The easy to digest posts are insightful, free and loaded with additional information. The Quote Builder section enables subscribers to contribute to the community by submitting their own classics for others to view.
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Banff – It has been an exciting week for one of Canada’s leading tourism organizations after receiving two awards for excellence in online travel marketing and web initiatives. Brewster Inc., based in Banff Alberta, has been awarded both the Ektron All-Star Best Travel Site Award and 2008 Alberta Pride Alto Award.

Developed by E-cubed Media Synthesis, the Brewster Vacations Canada web site was recognized with the 2008 Ektron All-Star award for the Best Travel Site. The Web site provides an enhanced online experience with a focus on usability, product content and dynamic functionality. The Ektron content management system is the technology behind the website, just one of 20,000 customer implementations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies and countless well-known brands.

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VANCOUVER – Webnames.ca Inc. is pleased to announce today that its Chief Operating Officer, Cybele Negris, has been featured in the recently released book New Pioneers: Stories of 100 BC Women Entrepreneurs.
New Pioneers is a full colour, coffee-table size book celebrating contemporary BC female entrepreneurship and innovation. Women entrepreneurs from 42 communities around the province were chosen to be profiled because they are role models and new pioneers in business. The book was compiled and published by the Women’s Enterprise Centre.
“At Women’s Enterprise Centre, we feel it is not only important to recognize and celebrate our entrepreneurial roots, but also essential to record those accomplishments for the generations to come” said Laurel Douglas,
CEO of the Women’s Enterprise Centre. “It is our hope that this book will build that awareness and encourage, influence, inspire, provide role models and motivate women and girls to consider entrepreneurship.”

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TORONTO – Cookie Jar Entertainment has signed a five-year deal with Toronto-based Kaboose, Inc., one of the largest family-focused new media companies in the world, to revitalize its Mommy & Me brand online and represent the property’s audience to advertisers targeting its prized demographic of moms. The Kaboose-managed site is set to re-launch in early 2009 and will be supported by an extensive offline marketing campaign, including Mommy & Me preschool products sold at retail nationwide, TV advertising, radio promotions, print and direct mail advertising and comprehensive mommy-targeted public relations.

The revamped Mommy & Me website, will join Kaboose’s community of premium mom-focused properties and will feature daily mom-targeted content and activities, a new and improved Playgroup Finder and other valuable tools, local resources and communities led by Kaboose’s network of expert moms.
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Calgoo In-Calendar Marketing™ to Promote Time-sensitive Products and Services through Electronic Calendars

Vancouver – Calgoo announced today the immediate availability of its new product and service, Calgoo In-Calendar-Marketing. In-Calendar Marketing is the concept of promoting time-sensitive products and services via an electronic calendar. This is an entirely new marketing medium and Calgoo In-Calendar Marketing is the first software and services platform that enables other businesses to launch their own campaigns in this medium.

“Marketers are always on the lookout for the ‘new’ and ‘remarkable’ to help differentiate their products and services,” said Andrzej Kowalski, CEO, Calgoo. “Calgoo In-Calendar Marketing is exactly that. It is a new marketing medium that empowers sophisticated marketers with the ability to launch their own in-calendar marketing campaigns.”
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