Village Gamer

Nintendo Canada invites you to go bananas at the RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre this Saturday, November 20th. Celebrate and capture the excitement at the launch event for one of the most anticipated games of the year, Donkey Kong Country™ Returns for the Nintendo Wii™.

Witness “The Tsunami” Takeru Kobayashi, the king of competitive eating, take on Donkey Kong Country Returns in a banana eating challenge. Donkey Kong fans of all ages will be given the exclusive opportunity to play the new side-scrolling adventure before launch.

Free play begins on the upper level of the mall just outside the Toys R Us store at 1pm and runs until 4pm. The Banana Eating Challenge starts at 3pm sharp.

Seeing as I broke my Grinch streak by posting earlier about the YTV holiday show line-up, here’s a great gift idea from the folks over at Blurb. You can make the best gift ever – one that’s totally original, highly individual, and available at the price you choose by creating your own beautiful, custom bookstore-quality photo book, cookbook, memoir, travel book, or almost any kind of book you want. If you want to know how you can get started, Blurb’s own Amanda Zweerink is hosting two upcoming webinars:

* Tips and tricks on bookmaking to help you start – and finish – your book before gift-giving day rolls around
* The how-to on getting started with Blurb BookSmart® or Bookify™, their new online bookmaking tool

Thursday, November 18, 1:00 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST) — Register
Thursday, December 2, 1:00 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST) — Register

The Toronto Chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada and 3D FLIC (3D Film Innovation Consortium) invite you to 3D for Real: A Stereoscopic 3D Workshop for Documentary Filmmakers, a one-day crash course taking place on November 25th at the NFB Cinema (150 John Street in Toronto). Designed to take you through the practicalities and challenges of this fast-growing sector, this workshop will cover all steps of the production pipeline and is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for directors, producers, DOPs, editors, and aspiring stereographers. The day will include presentations by industry leaders and award-winning documentarians. The workshop, along with hands-on product demos and trend-setting case studies will bring you one step closer to the art & business of good 3D doc making. Tickets for this workshop are $75.00 for Doc Canada members or $100.00 for non-members. The programme schedule includes:

Stereo 3D: an Introduction – Enter the world of stereoscopic 3D with award winning documentary filmmaker York University Professor Ali Kazimi (3D FLIC Lead Filmmaker)

So what’s a Stereographer, anyway? – An interview with John Reeves, stereographer for CBC’s Queen Elizabeth in 3D

Case Study: A Park For All Seasons, Gwaii Haanas National Park – Behind the scenes on the first S-3D episode of this innovative nature series.

Taking up a New Post – Kenneth MacNeil of Creative Post shares the ins-and-outs of the S-3D post-production process.

The Future of 3D: a Panel Discussion – A look at the what’s ahead for S-3D Documentary Production.

Product Demos (throughout the afternoon) – The 3D Camera Company and 3reedom Digital will show off the latest and greatest in 3D Production Rigs.

DOC is offering a special membership promotion at the 3D for Real Workshop: if you sign up for your regular-priced 2011 membership at the event, you can get in at member prices for this event (to qualify for member pricing on the 3D for Real Workshop you must bring a cheque for your membership dues with you to the event).

Finally, speaking of 3D and news that I missed on Friday, there was cause to celebrate another landmark for The Communitech Hub as the new innovative 3D HIVE from Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc. (Christie) was officially commissioned. The equipment was installed in part thanks to $280,000 in funding provided by the Community Adjustment Fund of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, through which $1 billion in funding is being provided across the country over two years to address short-term economic needs of communities impacted by the global recession.

“The Communitech Hub will foster the development of important new digital media products and is expected to create thousands of new jobs in Canada over the next five years,” said Peter Braid, MP Kitchener-Waterloo. “This investment will support entrepreneurship, create jobs and further strengthen this region’s reputation as a centre of innovation.”

Also participating in the celebration was Harold Albrecht, MP Kitchener-Conestoga. The Hub occupies 30,000 square feet of a renovated downtown Kitchener Tannery building and houses start-up companies, small-medium enterprises, and global multi-nationals with the goal of accelerating the pace of development of new ideas and products in the digital media sector. Christie is a founding partner company and has provided advanced visualization tools and integration expertise to help startup companies explore new concepts and advance their programs.

“We look forward to seeing the results of collaboration and mentoring at The Hub which will undoubtedly produce new initiatives in digital media and contribute to long-term success, not only for the vibrant high tech community locally, but for Canada on the international scale,” said Gerry Remers, president and COO, Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc.
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EA Sports™ has announced that there are two new titles available today for the Sports Active franchise, which has become the top rated interactive fitness training title for the Wii (Metacritic.com, November, 2010).

EA Sports Active 2 is now available in North America and will be available worldwide on November 19th. EA Sports Active 2 is a new suite of digital fitness programs available on multiple gaming consoles focusing on improving muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, while providing an intense cardio workout.

Featuring the Total Body Tracking wireless control system that combines a heart rate monitor and motion tracking technology, EA Sports Active 2 provides an effective workout that delivers accurate, measurable results. Additionally, users will now be able to track and share their workout stats, including heart rate on the new EA Sports Active 2 online hub (Internet connection and EA account required).

A recent study conducted by the University of Victoria in British Columbia concludes that EA Sports Active 2 workouts meet recommended exercise guidelines for exercise intensity and caloric expenditure put forth by public health guidelines, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the leading authority on exercise science in North America.

EA Sports commissioned a study of the EA Sports Active 2 Mountain Gravity pre-set workout to determine the efficacy of its product line. The study tested 15 physically active adults between the ages of 23 and 33 to determine the relative exercise intensity and caloric expenditure of EA Sports Active 2. Results of the workout met both the ACSM guidelines for effective physical fitness, which recommend that individuals exercise at an intensity between 64 per cent and 94 per cent of their maximum heart rate or 40 percent to 85 percent of their maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), as well as burn a minimum of 200-300 calories per session, five days per week, in order to maintain proper fitness and to aid in weight control.

“The EA Sports Active 2 Mountain Gravity pre-set workout met public health guidelines for an effective workout,” says Ryan Rhodes, Professor, University of Victoria, Behavioural Medicine Laboratory. “The results indicated that EA SPORTS Active 2, when used on a regular basis as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, can improve fitness and favorably affect body composition.”

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGJjGuC50Gk]

EA Sports Active 2 will feature more than 70 new exercises and fitness activities including exercises not possible before the Total Body Tracking wireless control system. Using heart rate data that is displayed on-screen, users will be able to capture the intensity of their workout, allowing them to optimize their performance and reach their fitness goals more quickly. A new 9-week program provides a fitness roadmap to keep users motivated and on track to achieving their fitness goals. Users will also have the ability to download new workouts and exercises to their online connected PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® systems to keep their workouts fresh and maintain motivation (Internet connection and EA account required).

EA SPORTS Active 2 is available on PlayStation®3, Kinect™ for Xbox 360® and Nintendo Wii™. The title will be available at a later date for the iPhone® and iPod touch®. EA SPORTS Active 2 has been rated “E” by the ESRB and has an MRSP of $99.95.

EA Sports™ has also announced that EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp for the Wii™ is available in retail stores across North America. EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp is a football-based training program that simulates the football drills and conditioning workouts of an NFL training camp. Developed in collaboration with NFL strength and conditioning coaches, users will experience the thrill of competition while challenging friends and family in authentic NFL football drills. EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp with Total Body Tracking includes a heart rate monitor and wireless motion tracking that delivers an accurate, challenging workout with measurable results. Users can also track and share training results via the EA Sports Active online hub.

EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp delivers an authentic NFL experience that is fun and engaging, while providing a challenging workout. It includes over 70 drills and challenges designed to improve strength, power and conditioning, as well as reaction skills, agility and first step quickness – key areas of focus for NFL players. Users can train in the environment of their favorite team, as they step into their stadium and train alongside their favorite players.

EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp provides a fun, competitive experience where users can go head-to-head in multi-player mode in NFL training camp drills such as the QB Window Challenge and Field Goal Challenge. For further challenge, users can get their game on in the NFL Combine 60 Day Challenge, a progressive exercise program that provides total body conditioning. In addition, as part of NFL PLAY 60, the NFL’s commitment to youth health and fitness, kids and families can choose NFL PLAY 60 drills and exercises, specifically designed for them.

EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp joins the EA Sports Active 2 suite of interactive fitness products that focus on improving muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, as well as improving cardio. EA Sports Active 2 is in stores today in North America on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Kinect™ for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Wii.

EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp is rated “E” by the ESRB and has an MRSP of $99.95.

Note – Both titles carry the following disclaimer: “This product is not a medical device and not intended to affect the structure or function of the human body beyond such affects normally associated with general fitness equipment and is not intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease.”

Digital Leisure continues its new release pace with the availability today of 21: Blackjack, a game built exclusively for the Nintendo DSi that lets you take the thrill of the casino on-the-go with a variety of gameplay options to take your skills to the next level. For 200 Wii Points, you can change the payouts, number of decks in play, splitting options and even if the dealer hits on a soft 17, but these are just a few of the many advanced gameplay options. Want to know how well you’ve been playing or how many Blackjack’s have taken you to a winning hand, then check out a full range of player stats available for viewing at any time. Now’s your chance to Hit, Stand or Double Down with 21: Blackjack.

Mood Media Corporation has added PopCap Games‘ multi-million selling casual games Bejeweled, Zuma and Bookworm to its increasingly popular casual games retail program. Under the agreement with PopCap, the games will be sold through Mood Media’s Somerset Entertainment interactive displays, which allow customers to sample the game before purchasing. The overall strategy involves providing multiple entertainment titles and continuing to bring innovation to the shopping experience.

If you haven’t yet played Ray Ardent Science Ninja by Shane Neville, I would have to ask you what you’re waiting for – go play it now over at Armor Games – it’s free – and it uses science, so it’s also educational! Over 211, 000 attempts have been made thus far as gamers take on the persona of ninja scientist Dr. Ray Ardent, battling through dangers and surviving to talk about it – nearly 200 of them have rewarded the game by marking it as a favourite, too. You can also check out a myriad of nerdy t-shirts designed by Shane, and really get your geek on by adding them to your wardrobe.

EA Sports has released a first look video for Fight Night Champion, which will be coming to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2011. EA has declared that Fight Night Champion will set a new standard in sports videogames by delivering the most dynamic simulation fighting experience to date, pushing visual boundaries and redefining the single player journey for the category.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMC2edPXpLs]

Fight Night Champion will break the mold of what is expected in a single-player sports game. Players will be introduced to an entirely new way to step between the ropes and experience the drama, emotion, excitement and tragedy of world championship boxing.

Featuring a refined physics-based animation system that incorporates improved locomotion, punching and stamina mechanics, Fight Night Champion will enable users to move, attack and dodge with the speed and power of the best champions, contenders and pretenders in the world of boxing. In addition, an all-new control scheme, dubbed Full Spectrum Punch Control, will deliver the most realistic punching system ever seen in a simulation fighting game, while still delivering an accessible experience that will make Fight Night Champion the most user-friendly title in the franchise’s history. Fight Night Champion has not yet been rated by the ESRB

RentClick.ca is the first Western Canadian company to offer a free iPhone app that conveniently allows customers to view rental listings for apartments, condos, houses and vacation properties on their mobile device. Renters can quickly view the following information for each listing: monthly rent, available date, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, community name, address, square feet, parking, pets, smoking, area amenities, listing ID number, a detailed property description and the landlord’s contact information. Additionally, Property Management companies can feature their listings under the Property Manager tab.

Customers can easily refine their search in the app by property type, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, area of the city, monthly rent and listing ID number. Customers can also tag listings as their favorites. Currently, the app features Calgary and Edmonton apartments, condos, houses for rent.

Online training solution provider BIS Trainer is preparing to launch the latest version of their proprietary Learning Management System (LMS) in Q1 or 2011. This new release will include system features like the ability to create a master package of courses with one unique certification and reverse course navigation using a chaptering system.

The new features are built on the specifications of various clients and regulatory bodies to ensure adaptability and security. Master packaging of courses will include checks and balances to confirm each course in succession is completed successfully before the next course can be started. Upon successful completion of all course in the package, the end-users will receive a certificate for from the employer or authorized content owner.

BIS provides custom content development for online training courses. Each course is tailored to achieve specific learning objectives for the client as well delivering key messages that provide employees or learners with information required to improve performance.

Off-the-shelve online courses from BIS clients include WHMIS, First Aid, Oil Sand Orientation, and Winter Driving Fundamentals. Additional off-the-shelf content in development schedule for early 2011 release include hazard assessment, drug and alcohol awareness, incident investigation, workplace harassment and OSHA courses.

Ontario’s Peel District School Board students will find out on November 18 and 19 if 5,000 students can really make a difference when they come together for Leadership Now! at the Powerade Centre. The event features inspirational speakers and live entertainment—all designed to motivate youth to speak up and take action. The conference is part of the Peel board’s Student Leadership for Global Development program which is produced with the support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency.

“Leadership Now! teaches students about global issues and encourages them to become active at school and within their community. It’s an action-packed day to inspire and motivate students to affect change and make a difference,” says Tony Pontes, director of education, Peel District School Board.

The November 18th event is for middle school students. Secondary students will attend the event on November 19th, with both days presenting a similar program that includes keynote presentations from the following presenters:

* Dev Aujla, social entrepreneur, founder of DreamNow
* Sol Guy, Canadian music producer, social activist and host of MTV’s 4REAL

“Leadership NOW! teaches young people about finding their passion and their ability to help themselves and others,” says Guy. “Change does not happen by attending an event, but the inspiration can happen. How to take an action step and then integrate into your life so that giving becomes part of who you are and what you do. In that way you affect yourself in others in ways you could never imagine.”

“Events like Leadership NOW! inspire students to become active citizens,” says Aujla. “Students need to tap into their creative ideas because they have the power to change lives.”

Students will also be entertained by VYbE Dance Company who will perform breaking, pop/wave/tut and fusion acts. VybE has worked with a number of well-known artists and groups like Shaggy and the Toronto Raptors Dance Pack. They have raised money each year for local and international charities such as Hamilton Health Sciences, Art Starts, Free the Children and Evergreen. In addition to speakers, the event will include emcees from Absolute Leadership and live music from Hearts in Stereo.

Budge Studios and Nickelodeon have announced a partnership to develop and publish interactive story book iPhone and iPad applications based on some of the Nick’s most popular shows, including Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. Dora the Explorer recently celebrated its landmark 10th anniversary and still ranks as one of the top preschool shows on TV. SpongeBob SquarePants has been the No. 1 animated program among kids ages 2 to 11 for more than seven consecutive years.

The first of several iPhone and iPad apps to be released through the partnership is Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure, which is based on the TV special. The app will feature a fun holiday-themed story, original songs, and interactive mini-games. It will also teach Spanish, colors, reading and the value of sharing. Both the iPhone and iPad versions of the app are scheduled to launch on December 1, 2010.

“Both Nickelodeon and Budge Studios are dedicated to creating family-friendly products that encourage imagination and education in children, so this partnership was a perfect match,” says Noemie Dupuy, a Partner at Budge Studios. “The captivating personalities of Nickelodeon’s beloved characters, give Budge Studios the inspiration to create highly innovative and entertaining mobile applications that will appeal to a large, diverse range of consumers.”

“This collaboration with Budge Studios is part of our ongoing mission to provide kids and families with entertainment using the most current technology and platforms,” said Steve Youngwood, Executive Vice President for Digital, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids & Family Group. “Kids are embracing the iPhone and iPad as much as their parents and these new apps will allow them to interact with their favorite Nick characters on portable devices they can take almost anywhere.”

Budge Studios also developed MegaBloks Playground, which I have tried out on my iTouch. Being an adult with no toddlers handy to give this game some hands-on experience, I found it very difficult to view this title as a toddler would. MegaBloks Playground is not a game, per se, as there are no points, timers or achievements. It is an app to amuse young children, a purpose for which I think it would be successful.

MegaBloks Playground features a choice between two characters, a boy and a girl. Your toddler can make their character move around the playground by swiping their finger across the screen, leaving footprints in the sand as their character walks from feature to the next. One drawback to the iTouch version of the game is that the entire playground is not readily visible, which I think detracts a bit from the experience. Obviously this would probably not be an issue with the iPad version (I don’t own an iPad, so I can’t confirm this for certain). The game’s objects are all cleanly drawn and brightly coloured, with the animations running smoothly, which would appeal to toddlers and keep their attention on the game.

The music and sound effects which accompany the game are in no way jarring or irritating, which makes the music especially quite pleasant to listen to. The playground itself is populated with items one would expect to find in a real playground, which means the majority of toddlers would know that by tapping on the slide, swings and teeter-totter would allow their character to interact with them and listen to the unique sound effects assigned to each activity. Characters can also go for a short balloon ride across the playground.

Scattered around the playground are small piles of blocks, which the characters use to build items like airplanes. One drawback, however, is that once the item is assembled, there is no way to interact with it, and it eventually disappears from the screen. I would like to see a few more activities built into the app, which would make it a little more educational, such as perhaps finding a way to build in shape recognition or colour-matching, along with a way for players to make their own creations to interact with. Overall, though, I think this is a well-designed app that will do what it’s intended t0 do – stimulate and amuse sensory perception in toddlers, and I would give it a rating of 4/5.

EA Partners, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. has signed an agreement with independent Montreal developer Trapdoor, to publish Warp™. This unique stealth action game features a top-down sci-fi world with a distinctive art style, addicting levels, hazardous traps and challenging puzzles. The new game will debut on Xbox LIVE® Arcade, PlayStation® Network and PC in Summer 2011.

“Working with EA Partners allows us to expand our distribution to a much larger audience while still being able to retain our creative vision and identity,” said Ken Schachter, Founder of Trapdoor. “As an independent studio we are thrilled with the opportunity to leverage the expertise and talent of EA’s publishing organization to bring our very first game on console to life.”

“One of our goals at EA Partners is to seek out the leading independent developers within the downloadable games market and publish their titles to a wide audience,” said Jamil Moledina, Outreach Director, Business Development at EA Partners. “We are thrilled to add Trapdoor to the EA Partners family and bring this best-in-class sci-fi stealth action title to gamers everywhere.”

EA Sports has released a new video for NBA Jam, which is scheduled for release on November 26th for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii. Titled Politicians, this new video features appearances by several well known American politicians forming a team of Democrats and a team of Republican. Thus far, these two unlockable teams have been announced as being available only on the Wii version of the game.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noNj3koiWxI]

The Democratic team includes President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore.  The Republican team features George Bush, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin and John McCain.

Source Studio is holding a little code hunt contest on their site this week. Galactic Treasure Hunt will give site visitors a to win a free copy of their action title, ProtoGalaxy. Sometime on Friday, November 12, a special code will be hidden somewhere on the Source Studio web site. The first person to find the code and e-mail it to the address provided on the site will win a free copy of ProtoGalaxy, which was launched on Steam in October.

News out of the Nintendo Canada office today is that in honour of the upcoming Nov. 21 launch of Donkey Kong Country™ Returns for the Wii™ console, Nintendo has filed a request with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the pop-culture phrase “It’s on like Donkey Kong.” For those unfamiliar with the term, “It’s on like Donkey Kong” is an old, popular Nintendo phrase that has a number of possible interpretations depending on how it’s used. In addition to Nintendo’s use, it has been used in popular music, television and film over the years, pointing to Donkey Kong’s status as an enduring pop-culture icon and video game superstar.

Donkey Kong™ is one of the oldest and most recognizable video game characters. He has been a pop-culture icon since the launch of his 1981 self-titled arcade game. Donkey Kong again rose to prominence in the 1994 Super NES™ game Donkey Kong Country – one of the games which I used to introduce the CaveChild to the world of video games oh so long ago. DK’s new game, Donkey Kong Country Returns, marks his triumphant return in a new side-scrolling adventure with new challenges amid a beautiful setting. The game features the first simultaneous cooperative game-play mode for the series, with one player controlling Donkey Kong and the other controlling his agile pal, Diddy Kong™. And yes, we have this title on pre-order at our local-ish EB Games outlet.

Nintendo Canada has a full line-up of holiday titles perfect for giving this season for everyone from the classic gamer looking for nostalgic appeal, social gamers looking for a little friendly competition or adventure seekers looking to explore new worlds Nintendo is sure they will have something for you this holiday season.

BC-based Rusty Axe Games has partnered with UK developer Rigzsoft to create a new value package called The Game Designers Toolkit. TGDT combines The Timeline FX Editor which is a great particle effects creation tool and Dungeon Demon which is a dungeon editing tool for both computer and RPG game designers. TGDT is available for the low price of $49.99 – that’s about $30 off the combined price of both packages!

Dungeon Demon comes with roughly 200 pieces of artwork that you can use in your games royalty free, and there are more low cost art packs available from the Rusty Axe website. Timeline FX comes with a ton of canned particle effects that can be written out directly as bitmaps or imported into games using the tools XML output format. The Dungeon Demon 1.1 release roadmap is now available – Dungeon Demon is sold with a free updates forever policy, and if you are working on a top down 2D game of any kind, you should really take a look as the canned effects and prepackaged artwork alone are going to save you money.

Rogers Communications Inc. today announced it is bringing another of those new digital products that I wish I could afford to the Canadian wireless market. The Dell Streak mobile pocket tablet features a 5-inch display that combines touch screen entertainment, gaming and navigation experiences.

According to recent data by Juniper Research (Tablets & Connected Devices, Opportunities, Strategies & Forecast Scenarios 2010-2015, Juniper Research, 01/11/2010), annual shipments of tablet devices will hit 81 million by 2015. With built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capability and available 3G wireless connectivity, the Dell Streak, while the smallest tablet available in Canada, makes no compromise in delivering a high quality viewing experience. Leveraging the strength of Rogers’ 3G reliable wireless network and joining Rogers’ high definition device lineup for gaming, photos and entertainment, the Dell Streak’s high resolution 5 MP camera and 5-inch multi-touch high quality WVGA display enables full-size web page browsing and integrated Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, street and satellite views.

“The tablet category is changing the way people interact, transact and stay entertained,” says Raj Doshi, Vice President, Mobile Product Management, Rogers Communications Inc. “The Dell Streak represents an innovative offering, giving customers the next-generation experience of a tablet with the portability and connectivity of a smartphone. Rogers is pleased be first to bring the Dell Streak to our customers and further extend our leadership as the carrier with the most Android choices in Canada.”

Designed with the future in mind, the Dell Streak will support over-the-air updates including Android platform upgrades, Adobe Flash 10.1, video chat applications enhancements and other software innovations.

“The Dell Streak does something no other tablet does – it delivers your whole world on a 5-inch screen that easily fits in your pocket. Its unique size will help Rogers’ customers discover new ways to enjoy the web, connect with friends, and navigate their lives..” – Michael Tatelman, Dell vice president and general manager, Dell consumer sales and marketing.

The Dell Streak is available today exclusively through Rogers for $149.99 on any three year voice and data plan, backed by Rogers’ exclusive Handset Protection Guarantee Program in the event a customer’s device becomes lost, stolen or broken.

Think you can be the next big music star? Well now you’ve got all the tools right at your fingertips with Mix Superstar from Digital Leisure. Create, mix and record your own royalty-free musical masterpieces right on your Wii™ system. There are over 1,000 Dance, Hip Hop and Techno loops included across multiple instruments like Drum, Bass, Synth, Guitar and even voice tracks.

Once you’ve got that next hit created, it’s time to show it off. Mix Superstar allows you to export your music creations, and download them to your computer so you can take them on-the-go. You can also use WiiConnect24™ to send those hits to your Wii Friends and even collaborate on mixes!

Also included is full support for both the Logitech® USB Microphone and Wii Speak™ so you can lay down your own vocals on that next hit.

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

Looking to give your mix a unique flare? Over a dozen new music loop packs will be releasing via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play™ to enhance your music creation experience. Thousands of additional loops from packs like Rock, Pop, Latin, House and even World.

Visit mixsuperstar.com to hear what you’ll be able to create with Mix Superstar, available today in North America exclusively on WiiWare for only 500 Wii Points™.

Toronto’s DreamCatcher Games and its parent company JoWooD Group announce the launch of the official website for SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny, which will be available on November 30th for $19.99USD.

SpellForce 2 opens four years after the Shaper’s defeat through the use of Archfire. During that time scientists, dragons and inventors have tried to find to counter the mysterious deterioration of the portals – in vain. The portal network has now totally collapsed and the islands are cut off from one another. The dragons and the Shaikan act as the only connection between the races, but even their resources are limited.

Now, with the nations isolated from one another, a new nameless enemy strikes. Eo is completely at the mercy of the attackers ascending from demonic depths. In the midst of this chaos a new hero appears. To discover his destiny our hero must acquire new skills and do battle with enemies new and old. But wherever he goes – the Nameless always seem to be a step ahead, and futile battles break out in which the hero holds the destiny of all of Eo in his hands.

SpellForce 2 Features:

* An all new campaign that fits into the SpellForce series and enriches the world of SpellForce, including favourite characters and quests.
* An all new race of demonic enemies are also playable in multiplayer mode, featuring new units and structures.
* Ride into battle on a fierce dragon and use new spells and effects to enhance your tactical possibilities.
* Innovative new Role-Playing-Strategy Genre.
* Click’n’Fight and Quick-Action-Buttons: The revolutionary control system guarantees instant action, and a wealth of unique tactical possibilities at your fingertips.
* Easy Skill tree system that allows individual character development.
* Enjoy a highly detailed and living fantasy world that adapts to the actions of the player: Fight monsters, gather items, adventure, trade and collect mighty artifacts to use for your battles.
* 5 different fractions: Lead The Realm, The Clans, The Pact, the Shaikan and the Nameless to victory, with 12 very different units consisting of infantry, cavalry and flyers.
* 10 different races: heroic humans, powerful elves, strong dwarves, barbaric trolls,battle-tested orcs, destructive barbarians, powerful dark elves, unbreakable gargoyles, malicious shadows and mean demonic powers.

GameON: Finance 2011 will return to the Design Exchange on January 20 and 21, 2011, and the Kick-off rate of $489.00 is available now through November 15th 2010. Early Bird Tickets go on sale from November 16th through December 15th, with a price of $559.00. Once the Early Bird rate expires, ticket prices will go up to $699.00 if you purchase online, or $874.00 if you want and buy them at the conference. Interactive Ontario members will save an additional 30% off all ticket prices. See the event site for details.

GameON: Finance is Canada’s top business forum for the interactive entertainment industry connecting developers, innovators, investors and industry leaders. Delegates will gather in downtown Toronto for two days of keynotes, case-studies, lectures and panel discussions which will provide insight on topics such as:

* Emerging opportunities in game project financing
* The bottom line on equity investments
* Dealmaking across transmedia platforms
* Tips and tricks to optimize public finance opportunities

GameON: Finance’s 2011 Advisory Board members are: David Crow (Influitive), Jason Della Rocca (Perimeter Partners), Vikas Gupta (TransGaming Technologies), Marc Jackson (Seahorn Capital Group), Sean Kauppinen (International Digital Entertainment Agency), Jim Laird (Bedlam Games), Wanda Meloni (M2 Research), Ray Sharma (XMG Studio), Scott Steinberg (TechSavvy Global), John Sutyak (DDM) and Dean Takahashi (GamesBeat).

To compliment the release of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Ubisoft has launched Your Shape Centre, a website which works in tandem with the game, offering a truly personal online gym centre.

· Track your workouts and set yourself fitness challenges
· Compete and compare your progress with friends
· Set yourself fitness challenges
· Get advice from other players and fitness experts to help you reach your fitness goals
· Share your fitness achievements on your Facebook or Twitter

To help organizations meet expanding requirements for archiving, eDiscovery and regulatory compliance, Waterloo’s Open Text will embed Oracle technology to deliver a new set of enterprise content solutions. Read the rest of this entry »

IUGO Mobile Entertainment and Capcom Mobile are proud to launch Lil’ Pirates, a free-to-play social game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This marks both IUGO and Capcom’s entry into the mobile social gaming space. Lil’ Pirates is launching with Facebook Connect, allowing players to invite, hire and interact with their Facebook friends as part of their pirate crew.

“The launch of Lil’ Pirates begins IUGO’s entrance into the dynamic space of mobile social games,” states IUGO’s VP of Business Development, Sarah Thomson. “This space is something we as a company have been thinking about, preparing for and watching for a long time. Lil’ Pirates builds upon what other companies have pioneered in social games for the iPhone. We believe IUGO has evolved the gameplay to create a compelling experience that is uniquely IUGO. Our partnership with Capcom is exciting and we’re thrilled to have Lil’ Pirates published under such a prestigious brand.”

Lil’ Pirates features hundreds of items to customize both users’ ships and avatars. Mini games, gifting, ship battles and jobs for crew members offers a robust experience balanced by a “pick-up-and-play” simplicitiy in game design. Lil’ Pirates was created by IUGO and owned by Capcom Mobile. Lil’ Pirates is available and free to download on the App Store now.

Avast ya scallywags! Drop anchor and prepare to be boarded. There be Lil’ Pirates in these waters!

Amass your perfect crew and craft the finest ship as you set sail for adventure and plunder as the captain of your own pirate vessel. From a modest beginning you’ll transform your ship into an object of fear and envy and amass a fortune fit for a king.

Features:

* Customize your ship as you see fit from a ghostly galleon to a pink gilded princes to a multi-mast ship of destruction.

* Assemble a crew with diverse skills and dress and equip them as you please with more than 100 items.

* Recruit friends to the pirate life through Facebook and share the adventure.

* Exchange volleys of cannon fire in ship-to-ship combat.

* Bury booty on Treasure Island to increase its worth or plunder a friend’s buried loot.

* Direct your crew to go on missions and amass more treasure!

Electronic Arts Inc. and Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced a distribution agreement that will catapult an upcoming Paramount property into the hands of gamers worldwide. Rango The Video Game is an action-adventure title inspired by the upcoming animated feature film starring the voice of Johnny Depp.

In development at Artificial Mind & Movement, Rango The Video Game invites players to continue on Rango’s wild journey through new adventures inspired by the movie. The game is set in the Old West town of ‘Dirt’ where players romp through a gritty, pint-sized, Wild West filled with wild rides, off-color characters and frantic shoot-outs. Rango is Paramount Pictures’ first full-length animated feature film; both the film and the video game will be released in March 2011.

“We are thrilled to be working with Paramount and the upcoming release of the video game version of its first animated feature,” said Sinjin Bain, Vice President of EA Partners at Electronic Arts. “Rango is a one-of-a-kind character that we know kids will love. We’re excited to give families worldwide the opportunity to take the humor and fun from the big screen into their living rooms.”

“We are pleased to team up with EA to deliver an exciting, action-packed adventure game that captures the spirit of the film and puts the fate of Dirt in players’ hands,” said Tom Lesinski, President of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “We’ve added exciting twists and turns in the video game that will challenge players of all levels on their adventures as Rango.”

Rango The Video Game will be available on console platforms including the PlayStation®3, Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ in March 2011. Rango The Video Game has not been rated by the ESRB.

Sales of EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer franchise titles has surpassed 100 million units lifetime during the launch of FIFA Soccer 11, according to EA internal sales data. The best-selling sports videogame franchise in the world, now in its 18th year, sold a record-breaking 2.6 million copies in the first five days after launching FIFA Soccer 11 to become the fastest selling sports videogame of all time. Counting the first four weeks of sales, FIFA Soccer 11 sales are up 20% versus last year on a comparable basis with sell-in approaching 8 million units. Read the rest of this entry »