Village Gamer

Canada continues to slip further down the learning curve and is falling behind the international competition in many stages of education and learning, says a new report released by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL). The report, titled What is the Future of Learning in Canada? (PDF), outlines positive developments in each area as well as troublesome trends and makes recommendations for improvement. Read the rest of this entry »

The RBC Royal Bank and Google Small Business Road Show, taking place during small business month in October, provides business owners with the opportunity to learn the strategic importance of getting their business online while receiving hands on experience at a seminar taking place on October 12th beginning at 8:00a.m.

Small business owners will learn: Read the rest of this entry »

The MindShare Learning Report eMagazine and supporting sponsors have officially launched the 4^th Annual MindShare Learning Report™ 21st Century Classroom Video Challenge. The contest challenges Canadian K-12 teachers (from publicly funded schools) to create and upload a 3-5 minute video showcasing their best practices teaching with technology to engage students and enhance learning outcomes.  Submissions will be accepted until midnight EST on Friday, December 16, 2011.

The official announcement of the 2011/12 three “Grand Prize Winners” will be on February 1, 2012. Each winner will receive a classroom technology prize package valued at over $15,000 for their school.

Education software specialist NetSupport has announced updates to two of its core education solutions. The technical landscape within the modern learning environment is continually evolving, offering students an increasingly wide range of inspiring computing opportunities. This presents educators with the challenge of ensuring that classroom technology is effectively managed and maintained, that the learning experience is enhanced through the use of technology, not impacted by students who prefer to ‘experiment’ with the equipment rather than focus on the task in hand. Read the rest of this entry »

As many of you already know, Goldtooth Creative’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution CG Director’s Cut video game trailer has been voted as the top trailer of all time by users at GameTrailers.com. Goldtooth Creative president and creative director Kody Sabourin directed the award-winning trailer.

Responsible for the Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer campaign, Goldtooth contributed four high-resolution CG trailers, 10 game trailers, two TV spots and three viral live-action spots along with 60 minutes of in-game cinematics. Goldtooth Creative’s Paul Furminger also directed the video game’s live-action opening credit sequence. Read the rest of this entry »

Attention Canadian developers: US-based Zoo Entertainment, Inc. subsidiary indiePub has announced its 2012 Independent Propeller Awards video game development competition to be presented during the 2012 South by Southwest (SXSW) ScreenBurn Arcade in Austin, Texas.

indiePub will award $50,000 in total cash prizes including $25,000 to a Grand Prize winner and $5,000 to the winner of each individual category: Best Art, Best Audio, Best Design, Technical Excellence and Mobile Game. The winning games will also be demonstrated March 9 through 11, 2012, in indiePub’s SXSW Interactive ScreenBurn Arcade booth located in the Austin Convention Center. The ScreenBurn Arcade is free and open to the public. Read the rest of this entry »

Fans of Dragon Age™ II can now embark on a gripping new adventure packed with intriguing characters, expansive environments and treacherous enemies in the Mark of the Assassin DLC pack for Dragon Age II. Available for download on Xbox LIVE®, PlayStation®Network, PC and Mac® for $9.99 or 800 Microsoft® and BioWare™ Points, Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin introduces a new party member and playable character named Tallis, voiced and modeled after internet sensation, Felicia Day. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite a quick rise to fame after the Willamette outbreak in the original Dead Rising, Frank West is down on his luck and looking to reclaim his celebrity by competing in the zombie slaying game show “Terror is Reality.” After discovering a nefarious plan that releases zombies into Fortune City, Frank is on the scene to get the scoop and make a name for himself once again in Dead Rising 2: Off The Record. Frank must make his way through the casinos, shops and eateries of Fortune City including the Uranus Zone, a new sci-fi themed Amusement Park with its own unique mini-games and ‘death trap’ rides.
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Electronic Arts Inc. and adidas Originals have announced a one-of-a-kind lifestyle and gaming partnership for Need for Speed™ The Run, which was developed by Black Box at EA Canada. Combining the cultural expertise of both brands, consumers will not only see the iconic adidas Superstar shoes in Need for Speed The Run, but they’ll also be treated with exclusive and limited edition Need for Speed The Run adidas branded apparel which will be available at all adidas Originals stores across the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

Harmony Arcade has released its first iPad title, Toppling Towers, to the iTunes store. Published by Big Fish Games, Toppling Towers is a game that will test your castle smashing skills to the maximum. Players join main characters Knight and Horse on their hilarious quest to repair their bruised egos and defeat the Princess who so wounded their pride. Toppling Towers features a unique blend of arcade and puzzle style game play. Find each castle’s weak spot and use the right combination of weapons to assure victory, or just take the brute force approach and smash everything.

Toppling Towers is free to download and try, with the full version being unlockable from within the game itself for $2.99 (at press time, Big Fish had the game on sale for 50% off). Features of the game include a highly amusing story mode, a wide variety of challenging castles to defeat in a several different environments and powerful runes to upgrade your shot damage.

Toppling Towers is rated 9+ for Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence and is compatible with iPads running iOS 4.2 or later. A Hallowe’en version of Toppling Towers has also been announced, and if you are a purveyor of games on Facebook, you can play Castle Smash beta against your friends.