Village Gamer

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) today issued Commissioner’s Guidance to clarify three issues related to the Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada (the Code). The Commissioner’s Guidance, which stems from the Code, applies to payment card network operators (PCNOs) that operate in Canada and their participants, including independent sales organizations (ISOs) and other service providers (e.g. processing, terminal leasing). Read the rest of this entry »

Chicago-based Reliance Games (formerly known as Jump Games), part of Reliance Entertainment Digital, and Montreal’s Behaviour Interactive, have announced a strategic alliance to develop and to co-publish mobile games based on upcoming, high-profile feature films. Behaviour specializes in adapting both emerging and well-known film and television properties to games; the studio’s main pillars are design, quality, and, in today’s world of constant connectivity, socialization. Reliance and Behaviour plan to announce the two film-based mobile games in development by Spring 2013. Read the rest of this entry »

KnexxLocal, a Toronto-based technology startup, has launched Instamonial, a free iOS application designed to help local businesses market themselves online. Instamonial allows local businesses to snap photos of their work using the app’s camera feature. The user then sends an email to the customer directly from the app with the attached photos, requesting feedback on the work. Once reviewed, the photo is posted to the business’ website and distributed via social media channels along with the real-time customer review. Read the rest of this entry »

MaRS Discovery District is pleased to announce the appointment of Elaine Campbell, President of AstraZeneca Canada Inc. and Elyse Allan, President and CEO, GE Canada to its Board of Directors. The MaRS Board of Directors is chaired by Gordon M. Nixon, President and CEO of RBC. MaRS founder Dr. John Evans serves as the board’s Chair Emeritus. Read the rest of this entry »

Canada’s mid-sized companies, a key motor of the economy, saw their numbers decline by 17% – 9,370 to 7,814 – from 2006 to 2010, according to a new study (PDF link) by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Hardest hit was the manufacturing sector, which saw over half its mid-sized firms vanish between 2001 and 2010 from 2,807 to 1,381. BDC undertook the study to fill an important research gap on mid-sized firms. The study is based on Statistics Canada data and supported by survey results from market research firm Harris/Decima. The study is one of three that the BDC plans to release this year on economic issues of importance to Canadians. Read the rest of this entry »

Espial^® Group Inc., an on-demand TV software and solutions, has announced that Wi-LAN Inc. and Espial, both of which are headquartered in Ottawa, have entered into an agreement that will see WiLAN assist Espial in licensing certain of Espial’s patents related to video-over-IP technology. Read the rest of this entry »

After reviewing more than 150 applications from schools seeking upgrades to their technology, Future Shop is pleased to announce grant recipients for this year’s Future Generation Tech Lab program. The 2013 program is gifting nearly $250,000 in total grants to the 12 deserving schools across Canada for classes and programs focused on students in Grade 9-12. These schools submitted applications in November and December 2012 and were judged based on the impact of the technology on student learning potential. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) announced today that five more Ontario digital media innovation centres have been added to the CDMN’s cross-Canada network. The additional ‘nodes’ on the network include: The Accelerator Centre Waterloo; Innovation Factory Hamilton; NORCAT Sudbury; NWO Innovation Thunder Bay; and WEtech Alliance Windsor. Along with the addition in December, 2012 of Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre and Tech South East (Moncton, N.B.), this brings the number of nodes located coast-to-coast on the CDMN network to 21. Read the rest of this entry »

Videology, a global digital advertising platform and solutions provider with a location in Toronto, recently released its 4^th quarter findings on the video advertising market in Canada based on an analysis of 77 million impressions delivered via its platform from October to December 2012. Among the findings, Videology found that Canada continues to lead its global business in terms of cross-device video advertising. The share of video ad impressions placed on mobile and connected TV in the 4^th quarter amounted to 26%, with the remainder placed online. Comparatively, the US and the UK placed 8% and 5% of their ads on mobile and connected TV, respectively. Read the rest of this entry »

UrtheCast and Discovery’s Science Channel have announced an exclusive partnership to bring viewers the world’s first high-definition video of Earth, streamed in near real time, from the International Space Station (ISS) as it orbits over 200 miles above Earth. The programming will be developed once UrtheCast’s HD cameras are installed on the ISS and video streaming begins. Read the rest of this entry »