Village Gamer

The Dark Second Chapter to the Epic Science-Fiction Trilogy – Coming Early 2010 for Windows PC and Xbox 360

Edmonton – Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. today officially announced Mass Effect™ 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the multi award-winning 2007 hit, Mass Effect. The Mass Effect trilogy is a masterful science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life forms and mysterious uncharted planets. In this dark second chapter, Saren’s evil army of Geth soldiers has just been defeated, and humans, who are still struggling to make their mark on the galactic stage, are now faced with an even greater peril…

“We’re going to surpass the extraordinary gaming experience we brought our fans in Mass Effect by delivering intensified combat and expanded weapon options as well as increased depth of planet exploration, all while delivering a powerful, emotionally engaging story,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, General Manager and CEO, BioWare and General Manager and Vice President, EA. “Mass Effect 2 is shaping up to be an unforgettable RPG-shooter experience, taking players on a non-stop roller-coaster ride filled with stunning plot twists and no-holds-barred action.”

Mass Effect 2 is coming to PC and the Xbox 360 video game system in Early 2010. To see the exclusive new teaser trailer check out the website here: www.masseffect.com

Canadian game studio strives for something different

Toronto – Untold Entertainment Inc., a Canadian game studio specializing in online casual games for kids, happily announces the development of Kahoots. Kahoots is a challenging game of nonsensical crime and silly intrigue, modelled entirely from plasticine.

The game is set in Londonton, a fictional and foolish vision of London, England. Drawing its inspiration from British board games like Cluedo (AKA “Clue”), and absurdly humorous series like Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The League of Gentlemen, Kahoots immerses the player in sepia-tinged Edwardian (fake) England at the height of a crime wave. As Spotland Pond’s newest detective, the player must track down cabals of criminals, all in pursuit of the evil mastermind behind their reign of (mostly harmless) terror.

A Very Hands-On Approach

Kahoots is being modeled from top to bottom in plasticine. Every character, set and prop is lovingly (and squishingly) hand-crafted by the team at Untold Entertainment. The world of Londonton is being brought to life through careful photography and digital image manipulation, resulting in a seamless (but smudgy) game experience. The creators hope that the game’s clay graphics will set it Read the rest of this entry »

Ottawa – The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women), today announced federal support for a project entitled Supporting Women’s Leadership in the Advanced Technology Sectors. Run by the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, Women in Technology (CATA WIT), the project will encourage more women to consider the advanced technology field, and help those women already working in the field to improve the skills, knowledge and expertise they need for success.

CATA WIT will receive $405,000 over two fiscal years for the project entitled Supporting Women’s Leadership in the Advanced Technology Sectors. It will use mentoring and other tools to help break down barriers facing women. During the project:

• 135 women will participate in development and mentorship workshops on networking
and improved leadership skills;
• 75 women will help identify leading practices for women in the sector;
• 60 women will help develop the tools that support and promote the participation of
women; and
• 25,000 men and women business leaders will increase their knowledge of best practices
with respect to growth-oriented, women-owned firms.

“This industry is growing by leaps and bounds – estimates are that up to 89,000 new information
and communications technology jobs will be created over the next three to five years,” said
Minister Guergis. “There are thousands of women ready to explore and expand the opportunities
available to them in this exciting sector of our economy. Through partnerships with organizations
like CATA WIT, our Government is working to ensure that those women have the tools they need to succeed in this field – for when women prosper, Canada prospers.”

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LOOK OUT WHISTLER – THERE ARE NEW PRODUCERS IN TOWN

Toronto – The Whistler Film Festival presents, in association with Telefilm Canada, the Canadian Film Centre’s GO WEST Project Lab, an intense five-day business and marketplace immersion experience held in Whistler June 21-25, 2009. The CFC GO WEST Project Lab is open only to western-Canada-based producers (from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon) and is intended to advance a producer’s dramatic feature project, facilitate relationships and collaboration on and investment in film projects that have US & international appeal. The deadline application for the Project Lab is April 6th, 2009.

“We are once again excited to showcase the many skills and projects of western-based producers,” said CFC Director of Film & TV Programs, Kathryn Emslie.”The CFC GO WEST Project Lab strives to build strong collaboration between Canadian talent and industry professionals that will create widespread appeal in Canadian and international markets.”

“The CFC GO WEST Project Lab is unique in Canada, providing western-based producers with invaluable project feedback as well as insights into the international marketplace from some of the best in the industry,” says WFF Director Shauna Hardy Mishaw. “We are thrilled to collaborate on this initiative with the Canadian Film Centre.”
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A Good Life for Youth with Disabilities Beyond High School

Toronto – PLAN Institute for Caring Citizenship and TakingITGlobal announced today the launch of a new online community to support young people with disabilities. BeyondGraduation.ca is a facilitated online community focusing on employment and ensuring opportunities for contribution and community engagement beyond high school.

“Beyond Graduation is about providing a safe and comfortable environment for young people to share inspiring stories and plan for a bright future” says Jennifer Corriero, co-Founder and Executive Director of TakingITGlobal. “It provides youth and their families networking tools and resources, enabling access to the available opportunities that can help them reach their goals.”

Community building is an important component of the new social networking site. Connecting members to each other creates a support network of friends who share their experiences. TakingITGlobal used its expertise in managing a global online community for social change to inform the development of BeyondGraduation.ca.

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Vancouver – The March 22 launch of the Pokémon™ Platinum Version video game for the Nintendo DS™ system is almost upon us, and Pokémon fans are already buzzing with anticipation. This new game in the storied franchise brings a host of new features, including the mysterious new Distortion world, never-before-seen forms of powerful Pokémon, exciting online games in the all-new Wi-Fi Plaza and strategic battles that are the hallmark of the main Pokémon game series.

“Some of the world’s most faithful fans are Pokémon enthusiasts,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version, the two previous releases in the core Pokémon series, have sold over 5.3 million copies in North America. With Pokémon Platinum Version, fans will be excited to see Giratina in its Origin Forme and lots of other fun and new experiences.”

It has been over a decade since the Pokémon series launched in Canada and close to 2 million Pokémon video games have been sold here. Since their debut, Pokémon video games have become one of the top three video game licenses in Canada, along with NHL licensed video games and Mario™ himself. But the devotion Canadians have for the franchise extends beyond video games; along with the Pokémon Trading Card game and licensed products including clothing and figurines, fans can also enjoy the Pokémon animated TV series and a host of movies.
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Toronto – Equipped with an amazing array of gadgets, including a mallet-wielding robot arm and spring-loaded shoes, the world’s first bionic detective, Inspector Gadget™ has crash landed onto Apple iPhone and iPod touch devices and is available from the AppStore for $5.99.

Inspector Gadget makes its iPhone debut with a little help from Namco Bandai Networks Europe, who developed the game in conjunction with Cookie Jar Entertainment, the producer of the hit cartoon series. The game is being published internationally for Apple iPhone and iPod touch devices by Namco Networks America, a publisher and developer of mobile games and entertainment for mass-market casual gamers.

Using various gadgets and gizmos, players help guide the world’s most absent-minded detective battle against the evil Dr. Claw in a classic platform action game. Players guide the Inspector in his mission across six action packed levels and six mini-games. The game features both Story mode and Quick Play mode, which allows players to play previously unlocked levels.
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Vancouver – British Columbia-based performer Janyse Jaud voices Marvel Comics character ‘Hela’ in the new Lionsgate/Marvel animated DVD’s “Hulk Vs Thor”, and ‘Lady Deathstrike’ in “Hulk Vs Wolverine”.

Hela, daughter of ‘Loki’ and ruler of the mythical worlds of ‘Hel’/’Niffieheim’, first appeared in Marvel Comics “Journey Into Mystery” #102, (March 1964) as a 7 ft. tall beauty, weighing 500 lbs with green eyes and grey hair. By the decree of ‘Odin’, ruler of the ‘Asgard’ gods, Hela was crowned absolute ruler of the spirits of the dead.

‘Yuriko Oyama’, aka Lady Deathstrike, created by Dennis O’Neil/Larry Hama and developed by writers Bill Mantlo/Chris Claremont, received her original ‘cyborg’ look courtesy artist Barry “Conan” Windsor-Smith. Debuting in “Daredevil” #197 as Yuriko and as Deathstrike in “Alpha Flight” #33, Lady Deathstrike’s father ‘Lord Dark Wind’ created the ‘adamantium’ process that was forced onto ‘Wolverine’. The villain ‘Spiral’ then bonded adamantium to Lady Deathstrike’s frame, with additional cyber-genetic enhancements.

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Burnaby – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today that tennis legend John McEnroe will headline a roster of some of the sport’s all-time greats to be featured in EA SPORTS™ Grand Slam® Tennis. An enigmatic personality both on and off the court, McEnroe will make his videogame debut in EA’s new tennis franchise. The game is being developed under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Vancouver, B.C. It will be available first for the Wii™ and ships to North American retailers on June 16th, 2009.

“It’s great that EA SPORTS has embraced tennis into its family of games. I think it’s a solid sign the sport is thriving and I hope it will continue to generate more interest and excitement in tennis,” said McEnroe. “Having Wimbledon exclusive to this game is huge because Wimbledon is such a special tournament, for the entire sport of tennis and for me personally.”

One of the greatest tennis players of all-time, McEnroe won seven Grand Slams, including three at Wimbledon, and amassed 77 singles titles. He stopped playing singles on the main ATP tour at the end of 1992 but has remained heavily involved in tennis, playing on seniors tours and providing television commentary for a number of networks at the Grand Slams. McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. Off the court, he hosted his own talk show and written an autobiography, titled “You Cannot Be Serious”, a phrase he made famous through his on-court outbursts during his career.

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Ottawa – In 1999, David Skoll founded a one-man Linux consulting shop and called it Roaring Penguin Software.  In 2002, David left his solo consulting practice behind and decided to concentrate his company’s efforts exclusively on solving the then relatively new problem of spam.  Roaring Penguin was re-focused with a vision of a world without spam.  Ten years later spam is still here, but Roaring Penguin’s customers wouldn’t know it.  Since 1999, Roaring Penguin has achieved consistent revenue growth to become a small, privately held, profitable, software development company based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

“I am truly humbled by this anniversary,” said David Skoll, President and CTO of Roaring Penguin Software.  “I set out ten years ago to promote Linux as a solution to the networking and computing needs of businesses and government agencies in Ottawa.  Shortly after I started I decided to take on the problem of spam.  It has been ten great years of both personal and professional growth.  I want to say thank you to the many friends of Roaring Penguin who have helped us on our way with advice and encouragement.  I want to say thank you to all the employees, both past and present, who have helped me to achieve my dream.  And most of all, I want to thank our customers who have helped us design the best anti-spam solutions in the world.”
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