Global

The competition, in its fifth year, invites professional, hobbyist and student game developers to submit their original game concepts for a chance to win prizes such as a trip to the Tokyo Game Show (for professionals and hobbyists), and a trip to the 2010 Austin Game Developer conference (for students). Other prizes include cash, the latest hardware systems, the newest software packages, and agency engagement packages to help developers market and promote their winning game.

Game developers can submit their concepts for judging in three categories:

* Best Game for a Desktop
* Best Game for a Laptop
* Best Game for a Netbook

Judge’s Choice Awards will also be given for Best Art Design, Best Graphics Performance, Best Sound Design, and Best Character Design.

For the first phase of the competition, developers will be asked to submit their game concept by June 22 2010. The game concept must describe an idea that will make for an incredible game. In addition to the brief description, developers are invited to include screen shots, visuals or videos of the idea — these materials will help provide context for the judges to review and see the complete vision of the game.

Finalists will be selected by July 11 and will have until August 31 to provide detailed game demo abstracts and game executables. From there, the finalist entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges made up of industry experts. The winning game demos will be announced during the Austin Game Developer’s Conference on October 5. Winning demos from Levelup 2009 are also available to play online. Oh and for those interested, Intel is hiring for its Vancouver location.

Montreal – The demo for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction is available now for download to your Xbox 360. Splinter Cell: Conviction, developed by Ubisoft Montreal, opens with our hero Sam Fisher working off the grid trying to solve his daughter’s murder. We find a changed Sam back in Washington, where he must work with old friends he can no longer trust, forced to save a country he no longer serves. Left without any choice, Sam has to defeat both a vast, faceless enemy and the shadows of the past to find out what happened to his daughter – and himself. Splinter Cell: Conviction is scheduled for full release exclusively to the Xbox 360 in April, and is rated M by the ESRB.

Just a few of the key features that gamers can look forward to in this latest Sam Fisher adventure include:

* New level of action: A full arsenal of cutting-edge innovations allow you to outflank foes with the Last Known Position™ system, tag and eliminate enemies using the Mark and Execute™ feature, and much more.
* Blockbuster experience: A unique storytelling style keeps you on the edge of your seat as you navigate the explosive world of a renegade agent where trust is impossible and justice requires you to go above the law.
* A new level of immersion: A revolutionary new graphic direction delivers an utterly seamless gameplay experience that’ll keep you totally engrossed in the story of Sam Fisher.
* Explosive Xbox LIVE play: Brand-new addictive multiplayer modes amp up the dramatic intensity like never before.

Montreal – EA Montreal has released an all-new co-op campaign map pack titled ‘Chapters of Deceit’ on Xbox Live for their award-winning title, Army of Two: The 40th Day. Available immediately on Xbox Live Marketplace (800 MS Points), the map pack will be available on April 1 on the PlayStation Network ($9.99). Army of Two: The 40th Day – Chapters of Deceit puts players back amidst the disaster in Shanghai where they will stumble upon new information that could help end the invasion by Jonah and his 40th Day Initiative army. However, they quickly learn that everyone is out for themselves and no one can be trusted. The lives of this iconic two-man private military team are at risk, forcing players to rely on each other to get out alive.

Originally released in January 2010, Army of Two: The 40th Day boasts a robust playbook of co-op moves. The game features one of the most extensive and varied weapon customization systems ever found in an action/shooter game. Players can mix and match weapon parts and execute strategic two-man tactics that create a one-of-a-kind co-op action experience. Army of Two: The 40th Day is rated “M” by the ESRB and is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the PSP.

Toronto – TransGaming, Inc. has announced that it is working with Google to develop ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine), an Open Source project to provide improved hardware and driver compatibility for the upcoming WebGL™ web graphics standard for systems running Windows®. The ANGLE project aims to achieve this broader compatibility by layering the OpenGL® ES 2.0 API on top of Direct3D®. The result for developers working with the WebGL standard will be a more consistent experience for their applications and a larger potential audience of users.

The API at the base of the WebGL standard, OpenGL ES 2.0, is an industry standard which enjoys broad support on a variety of embedded consumer electronics devices. In addition to enabling a greater range of hardware and driver compatibility for WebGL implementations, TransGaming expects ANGLE to help developers prototype embedded applications on Windows systems, and to provide new options for developers seeking to deploy their products.

TransGaming’s deep expertise and experience with OpenGL, a fundamental building block for the company’s other video gaming enablement products, makes TransGaming the ideal partner to work with Google on making WebGL content work everywhere. “The ANGLE project is a natural extension of TransGaming’s work to help developers enable their content on as many platforms as possible”, commented Gavriel State, Founder & CTO of TransGaming, Inc. “‘Not only does the project increase the range of supportable systems for WebGL, it also provides a bridge that allows developers in other areas, such as the mobile and embedded spaces, to test and deploy their content on Windows.”

Halifax – DHX Media Ltd. is pleased to announce that the hit pre-school children’s series Animal Mechanicals has been licensed in the US by a major broadcaster. Further non-commercial details will be released by both parties in the coming weeks.

“We are thrilled that Animal Mechanicals, produced by DHX Media’s Halifax Film animation studio, has been picked up for broadcast in the US,” said Michael Donovan, DHX CEO. “Penetrating the US market is a big step for this exceptional Canadian educational show for pre-schoolers which is now in its third season on CBC in Canada and has previously been picked up for broadcast in over 100 countries around the world.”

Animal Mechanicals is produced by DHX subsidiary Halifax Film for CBC in Canada, and has previously been licensed to Disney Channels in the UK, France, and Asia, ABC2 in Australia, M-Net in South Africa, Discovery Latin America, EBS in Korea, and Al-Jazeera’s Children Channel in the Middle East by DHX distribution subsidiary DECODE Enterprises.

Animal Mechanicals is an action adventure series for preschoolers that combines fantastical worlds, mythical animals and cool quests. And, best of all, Animal Mechanicals transform! Big as dinosaurs and twice as powerful… meet the Animal Mechanicals: Rex, Unicorn, Komodo, Sasquatch and Mouse. They live and play in a place unlike any other: a colorful “snap-together-take-apart” world. Their world can also transform, just like the Animal Mechanicals. Imagine an incredible interconnecting and interactive play-set! Things are always popping up, changing shape and, most of all, presenting challenges to the Animal Mechanicals. Animal Mechanicals can be seen in Canada on the CBC at 7:30 AM each week day morning.

Toronto – SAW fans can experience the truly terrifying world of Jigsaw firsthand. Come to the Toronto Comic Con March 26-28 at the Direct Energy Centre and experience the opportunity of a life-time – meet SAW star Costas Mandylor (“Hoffman”) and other actors from the SAW horror franchise. Twisted Pictures and Lionsgate are set to release the seventh installment of the SAW franchise in theaters on October 22, 2010, and Maple Pictures will distribute the film in Canada. This SAW event in Toronto will be the first in a yearlong SAW Comic Con Tour that no SAW fan will want to miss. The SAW franchise will be the anchor of the new horror pavilion at Wizard Comic Cons all across North America.

The seventh installment is currently filming in Toronto. Mandylor and other cast members (to be announced shortly) will sign autographs and conduct a special Q&A session. Rare and never-before-seen props from the SAW movies will also be on display.

“Meeting Costas Mandylor and other members of the SAW cast at our Toronto Comic Con gives fans a truly unique experience,” says Gareb Shamus, Wizard Entertainment CEO. “For everyone here to get an up close taste of SAW is incredible. We’re extremely happy that the SAW franchise is providing this rare opportunity to our Wizard Comic Con fans.”

The popular SAW franchise follows the terrifying and blood-soaked trail of “Jigsaw.” This mastermind constructs horrific “games” in which those who do not appreciate their lives and blessings must fight for survival, thereby teaching the value of life. A SAW movie has been released each year since the original’s debut in 2004. SAW is one of the most successful horror movie franchises.

“Fans of the SAW movies will become part of the SAW world at Wizard Comic Con shows in North America over the next year,” says Mark Burg and Oren Koules, Co-Founders of Twisted Pictures, and producers of the SAW movies. “This is a unique chance for all of our loyal supporters to get up-close and personal with their favorite SAW actors.” Fans will have the rare opportunity to take photos with and get autographs of their favorite SAW stars. They can also go to Question and Answer Sessions and see never-before-seen traps and props from the SAW movies. There will also be plenty of surprises at stops on the yearlong Comic Con tour.

Toronto Comic Con brings together fans of comics, horror, toys, collectibles and offers a chance to see actors, writers, artists and the best each industry has to offer.

London – Tom Jenkins, chief strategy officer and executive chairman of Waterloo’s Open Text Corporation, will join “Gearing up for Growth” on Tuesday, March 30, as the morning’s keynote speaker. Speaking to the region’s capacity as a leader in digital media, Jenkins will also share Open Text’s story of success as Canada’s largest software company.

“Gearing up for Growth” is a regional conference on strategies for business growth, and Jenkins will present alongside other prominent business speakers such as Jeremy Gutsche, co-founder of the leading online trend-hunting community, TrendHunter.com, and “Blueprint to a Billion” bestselling author, David Thomson.

“Gearing up for Growth” is designed for Southwestern Ontario-based entrepreneurs, small- to medium-sized

Tom Jenkins

companies, growth-oriented service providers, and aspiring executives. “We’re thrilled to have a business leader with the calibre of Tom Jenkins speaking at ‘Gearing up for Growth’,” says Marilyn Sinclair, CEO and president of TechAlliance, hosts of the conference. “Tom’s dedication to digital media and technology is evident in his pursuit of success, not only for Open Text but also Canada’s broader economy and competitive advantage in the industry.”

“Gearing up for Growth” will take place at the London Convention Centre on Tuesday, March 30, from 7:30am to 4:00pm. Full-day conference passes give attendees the opportunity to attend the Power Breakfast session with Tom Jenkins, followed by a selection of breakout seminars based on six growth-oriented themes. Additional plenary speakers include Gutsche and Thomson, as well as Jim Clemmer, author and founder of the business leadership firm, The Clemmer Group, and Michael Rosenberg, a former actor who has channelled his improvisational acting skills into creative and flexible thinking seminars and books. The event concludes with a networking reception. Full-day passes are $149 for TechAlliance members and $249 for non-members; Power Breakfast-only tickets are $50 for TechAlliance members and $65 for non-members.

Vancouver

In Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising you will take command of the Blood Ravens and defend the sector against the Chaos Space Marines of the Black Legion. Purge the chaos filth and hold the chapter together as traitorous forces work from within to try bring down the Blood Ravens.

* New Single Player Missions – Continue your fight against the enemies of the Emperor and use your squads’ wargear, abilities, and experience to battle Chaos in 15 new missions
* New environment and Multiplayer Maps – New ice planet graphics set will increase the visual diversity and adds 7 new PVP maps
* Aspire to Glory – Build your existing squads up to level 30 and unlock even more devastating abilities
* Chaos Corruption Mechanic – New single player mechanic allows you to equip incredibly powerful equipment that corrupts your squad and will guide the story towards or away from the corrupting influence of Chaos
* New Multiplayer Race – Swear loyalty to the Chaos Gods and play as the bloodthirsty Chaos Space Marines in multiplayer battles against both Chaos Rising and Dawn of War II owners
* New Units – New units for the Space Marines, Ork, Eldar, and Tyranid armies in multiplayer.
* 2 New Last Stand Heroes – Face off against the relentless horde as either the Chaos Sorceror or Tyranid Hive Tyrant

Victoria – Nominations are now open for the 2010 VIATec Awards. Nominations close at 4:30pm on Friday March 19th. Recognizing technology companies in the Greater Victoria (BC) area, there are several award categories open:

* Technology Company of the Year
* Emerging Technology Company of the Year
* Product of the Year
* Innovative Excellence
* Online Strategy of the Year
* Executive of the Year
* Employee/Team of the Year
* The Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion
* Environmental Excellence
* VIATeC Member of the Year
* Member’s Choice for Service Provider of the Year
* Employer of the Year Award

The VIATeC Awards Gala will be held on May 13th at the Victoria Conference Centre.

Montreal – Emmy® Award-winning Toon Boom Animation Inc. today announced the upcoming release of Toon Boom Animate 2, a new version that provides professional animators with more power and flexibility for creating traditional, digital, cut-out and Flash-style animation. Toon Boom has listened to the animation community and is now delivering a new Animate version that reflects its requests. Animate is totally dedicated to animators and takes care of their needs from start to finish of their animation projects.

New feature highlights include:

• Fast distribution of character parts to layers
• Easy adjustment of velocity on multiple character parts
• Efficient creation of richer-looking ambiance
• Full-fledged SWF export with effects
• Direct import of scanned drawings (TWAIN)
• Convenient text capability

Key benefits
Whether preferring traditional or digital methods, animators will greatly benefit from Animate 2‘s superior feature set throughout their entire production process.

All-in-one Animation Software
From start to finish, Toon Boom Animate enables you to draw or import scanned drawings, colour, animate, synchronize sound, set camera moves, apply effects and render your projects in the leading output formats. No need to jump between multiple applications to make revisions as with Animate, changes can be implemented in real-time at any time during the production process.

Smart Puppet
Toon Boom Animate brings together the most advanced Flash animation feature set available on the market, all embedded in a flexible environment; symbols, pegs, morphing, hierarchy-based rigging, forward and inverse kinematics as well as advanced lip-sync to name just a few. In addition to its Flash shortcut set, Animate fits so nicely into your friendly circle of Adobe® products and animation techniques that you will feel at home in minutes.

Colour Tune
Toon Boom Animate shines when it comes to colouring and creating animation with a unique look and feel. Animate’s smart Colour ID system, palette management, painting tools using vector, gradient and texture translate into significant time-savings. At any point, changing character colours and fine-tuning colour ambiance is faster than filling up your coffee cup!

True Space
Toon Boom Animate comes with a powerful camera tool that enables you to animate it over time and attach it to an object, creating an impressive depth effect. Flying through your scene adjusting speed in real-time makes you want to dive in your own animated world and enjoy the ride.

Pricing and Availability
Buy Toon Boom Animate 2 now at the special pre-launch price of $549.99 US, valid until March 21, 2010. As of March 8, 2010, all new clients will receive a Toon Boom Animate 1 product code. Their Animate 2 product code will be automatically registered and emailed to them upon product release enabling them to download the software. All new clients will see their Animate 2 purchase listed on the “my products” page once the transaction is completed. All orders requiring shipping will be processed upon product release.

Vancouver – The Olympics are over. Countries are counting their gold, silver and bronze medals. One Olympian is even counting his self-awarded platinum. But the real winner? Technology. From mobile apps to summer tech camps, technology is changing the Vancouver landscape. iD Tech Camps, a Silcon Valley-based youth education company, is opening its doors at UBC this summer.

Smart phone equipped and very well-connected, this year’s Olympic viewer didn’t feel the need to be glued to the TV. Visitors to Vancouver could be seen physically attending the Super G with feet planted in the snow, while simultaneously watching curling from their mobile devices. Even Olympians participated in the social media phenomenon by Tweeting and posting timely updates to Facebook. The 2010 Olympic Games have been dubbed by many the “Social Games.” And for good reason. NBC recently released data showing there were 87 million total mobile page views (coming from NBC’s website and iTunes App) for the Vancouver Games, compared to 52 million views for the Beijing Games.

The propensity toward social media and technology blended with the excitement surrounding Shaun White’s Double McTwist and the stunning victory by the Canadian Hockey Team has caught the eye of people and business new to Vancouver.

“Our young students learn to make video games, they learn to program in C++ or Java, they learn to make iPhone Apps and websites,” said Pete Ingram-Cauchi, CEO of iD Tech Camps. “Vancouver is a great spot for our program. The buzz around the Olympics, the great university system, and the youthful, tech savvy population seem like a compelling match for us.”

“It’s no surprise that the more often kids use iPhone apps and other tech products, the more they think ‘This is pretty cool…how does this work?’,” said Mr. Ingram Cauchi. No stranger to kids and technology, the camp, whose presence is well known in the States, is offering tech courses at the University of British Columbia, and also hosts a Visual Arts Academy at McGill University in Montreal.

With the way things are trending, maybe the next hot new Olympic sport attracting the younger generation will blend both technology and sports. Speed texting, anyone? And now there’s even a summer camp for that.

Established in 1999 in Silicon Valley, iD Tech Camps is family-owned and operated, offering technology courses including Video Game Design, 3D Game Modding, Maya®, Game Development, Programming in C++ and Java, Programming iPhone® Apps, Robotics, Web Design, Flash® Animation, Graphic Arts, Digital Photography and Video Editing. The summer camps consist of week-long day camps and sleep away camps, and multi-week teen academies. Courses are appropriate for beginner to advanced learners. The company teaches the latest technologies from Apple®, Adobe®, Microsoft®, Autodesk®, Sony®, Valve® and more.

Toronto – Fresh TV Inc., the award-winning family entertainment company is excited to announce the simultaneous launch of their first interactive character twitter account – penned by Fin McCloud of the hit animated series Stoked – and their blog, Re:Fresh. In response to fan demand, Fresh TV will launch Fin’s twitter account on the heels of the March 4 Canadian premiere of new episodes of Stoked on TELETOON and will promote the second season premiere in September 2010. With an increasing worldwide audience for Stoked, the twitter account will give fans around the world the opportunity to interact with their favourite animated character.

Fresh TV’s Stoked follows six teens from across Canada who travel to Sunset Island, B.C. for a summer of sun, sea, sand and, most importantly, surf. Working at a luxury resort they find that their plans for an endless summer of surfing might not be all that they hoped when, instead of a surfer’s paradise, they find a tacky tourist resort with rude guests, a run-down staff house and itchy, hideous uniforms. The series airs on TELETOON on Thursdays at 7 pm ET/PT as part of TELETOON’s 3 Hours of Really, Really, Really Awesome.

“We are totally excited to start bringing our characters off the page and into the real world,” said Tom McGillis, Executive Producer, Fresh TV. “Fin has a strong voice and is wildly independent so we’re curious to see where she takes it. Fans, brace yourselves!”

In the coming weeks, Fresh TV will launch a second character Twitter account to continue building an online community. Fans can learn about Stoked and other Fresh TV programming by surfing Fresh TV’s blog, Re:Fresh. The multifaceted, interactive site will give fans the unique opportunity to engage with the creative minds behind such popular series as Stoked, 6teen and Total Drama and new shows coming from Fresh such as their first live action feature, My Babysitter’s a Vampire. From exclusive artwork to weekly entries from the executive producers, viewers will get the ultimate Fresh TV experience.

Vancouver – Lotusland Studios is pleased to announce the release of ‘Truck Modz Build And Drive‘, the interactive 3D truck-building game for kids of all ages!

The premise is simple: build, paint and hit the road with your very own trucks! Truck Modz goes beyond other mix-and-match apps by allowing you to build your ideal vehicle from a huge collection of fronts, backs, and wheels, and then being able to interact with your creation – drive it down the highway and play with your parts – from snow plows to squeaky toys, everything is animated. Everything is triggered by a touch or a swipe – simple enough for even the littlest drivers!

The iPhone and iPod touch are intuitive durable devices that will be many kids first computers. Truck Modz is a an entire pocketful of toy trucks for these computers. Creative, nonaggressive play is the emphasis of the game. The user interface is wordless and simple enough for a child of 18 months to learn. Adults may also enjoy the CB banter, cool sirens and endless combinations of Trucks.

Feature Highlights

· Totally intuitive – easy enough for a toddler to enjoy
· Mix and match parts at any time – the combos are endless!
· Cruise down the highway through an endless ever-changing landscape
· Listen to hilarious trucker banter on the CB radio!
· Shake device to check out your ride from 4 different camera angles
· Rocking soundtrack by Billy Joe Huel

Banff – Just a reminder that the Banff World Television Festival is approaching, and more than 1,500 delegates from 30 countries, the Banff World Television Festival is your chance to build partnerships with international development executives, co-producers, funders, TV and interactive producers, advertising agencies and brands.

Stay ahead of your competition and make global contacts with deal-makers who are actively commissioning new shows, supporting co-productions, and supporting game-changing properties with ad dollars. BANFF is your path to decision makers from nearly every key company in the industry.

Commissioning Editors are already confirmed from industry heavyweights such as Fox, Canwest, Disney, CTV, ABC, A&E, BBC, CBS, MTV and TBS, with many more to come.

Attending Ad Agencies include Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Proximity, Trapeze, Tribal DDB, Dashboard, PHD, 58Ninety and Starcom MediaVest Group, to name a few.

To get a sneak peek at the contacts and connections you will network with at the world’s leading event for Production and Development, check out the Look Who’s Coming section of their website.

Vancouver

“Our mission at EA Partners is to work with the best talent across the game industry, and we are thrilled to extend our expertise to the leading creative developers in downloadable indie games,” said Jamil Moledina, Outreach Director, Business Development at EA Partners. “The team at Klei Entertainment is among the best in the world at developing fun and engaging titles for digital distribution platforms, and Shank is an amazing experience.”

“As an independent development studio, we always focus on creating great, authentic experiences for players. Working with EA Partners expands our distribution and allows us to bring Shank to a much wider audience,” said Jamie Cheng, CEO of Klei Entertainment. “They have been a fantastic partner and their understanding of the space is incredibly exciting.”

Taking place in a stylized, modern-Western setting, Shank tells a classic betrayal story directed through a sophisticated cinematic lens, with addictive action gameplay found in classic 2D side-scrolling games.

EA’s second announced deal today is another exclusive publishing deal, this time with Hothead Games and their newest title DeathSpank, which will be coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade and PlayStation®Network in 2010. Developed under the vision of The Secret of Monkey Island creator and industry icon Ron Gilbert, DeathSpank blends a story filled with Gilbert’s unique humor and wit with classic and addictive action RPG gameplay.

“The team at Hothead Games is a perfect fit for EA Partners. They are a great example of how the EA Partners program continues to emphasize the importance of building strong relationships with the world’s top indie developers,” said Jamil Moledina, Outreach Director, Business Development at EA Partners. “DeathSpank is an engrossingly fun and hysterically funny experience, and we are all excited to have the opportunity to help introduce DeathSpank to gamers across the world.”

Ian Wilkinson, CEO of Hothead Games added, “We are proud of our independence, but are very excited to be working with EA Partners on a title as big as DeathSpank. With EA Partners handling distribution and marketing, Hothead can continue to focus on what we do best, making great games.”

The game casts players in the role of DeathSpank, the Hero to the Downtrodden, a Vanquisher of Evil and Defender of Justice as he fulfills his life-long destiny and searches for a mysterious and magical item only known as “The Artifact”. Along the way he’ll rescue a few Orphans, defeat a local tyrant and tumble headlong into the even deeper mystery surrounding the legendary Thongs of Virtue in an epic adventure game that includes collecting loot, crazy puzzle solving, witty dialogue, collecting loot, over-the-top animations, fun, accessible action combat, and of course, collecting loot.

Hothead Games was also awarded a 2009  Editor’s Choice Award from MacWorld for bringing Jonathan Blow’s Braid (the time-bending Independent Games Festival winner) to the growing audience on the Mac.

“We’re honored to receive an award from a prestigious magazine like Macworld,” said Joel DeYoung, Hothead’s director of game technology and producer on the project. “It is part of our core purpose at Hothead to support indie development and meet the needs and desires of gamers around the world, regardless of platform. We’re excited to see others support our efforts and we will continue to lead in indie game collaboration in 2010 and beyond.”

Aylmer – Ratrod Studio Inc., with the collaboration of pro skateboarder Mike Vallely is proud to present this highly anticipated title Mike V: Do or Die. This skateboard video game is now available worldwide for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The game is rated 4+ (for everyone) and can be purchased now on the Apple App Store.

Mike V: Do or Die focuses on Mike’s path, passions and career. It will feature an overview of his evolution as an individual and his lifelong accomplishments in the history of skateboarding. Players start from the legendary ‘Bones Brigade’ Powell-Peralta era and can improve their skills while gaining experience to unlock exclusive game content including a selection of over one hundred items to choose from. They can customize their character, board, wheels and car.

The game features stunning next generation 3D graphics using the multi-touch capabilities of the iPhone or iPod Touch to simulate an authentic skateboarding experience by using a cutting edge control system to execute over 40 unique tricks ranging from different styles. The players are even able to select their stance and adjust their trucks to fit their riding style.

“This game was built by skateboarders sharing a passion for the sport and targeting skateboard fans from all around the world. We have been working hard to push the limits of what can be done on the iPhone and to deliver a unique and realistic skateboard experience on this mobile platform which can be often very challenging.” Says Pat Toulouse, Executive Producer and President of Ratrod Studio Inc.

Starting off with the basics then learning some new tricks as you play, tricks range from old school impossible to grinds, slides, grabs, plants and manuals. Mike V: Do or Die includes 7 adrenaline-packed skate locations including a Skate Park, Vert Ramp, Warehouse, Roof Tops, Movie Studio, Ditch and a Mall, the game also includes a Free Ride driving mode featuring a massive open city for players to explore.

The game features top brands and affiliates including Element, Powell-Peralta, Von Zipper, Bones, Active Rideshop, Affliction, Powell, FUEL TV and Ferret Music on top of a diversified sound track that includes multiple songs from Revolution Mother’s newest album “Rollin’ with tha Mutha”. Players are also able to use their own iPhone music library.

From skateboard legend to rock star and movie actor, Mike Vallely is known as a pioneer and innovator in the skateboarding world. Discovered by Stacy Peralta (Z-Boys) and Lance Mountain in the 80s, Mike became the first east coast street skater to emerge on the scene and became an overnight sensation. Mike is also the vocalist for the band, Revolution Mother, and is the host of his own TV show called DRIVE on FUEL TV. Recognized and idolized by skateboard enthusiasts around the world, Mike has long been featured in the Tony Hawk video game series published by Activision including their latest, RIDE.

Mike V: Do or Die is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch and can be purchased on the Apple App Store. Ratrod Studio Inc is also planning to bring this exciting new title on the console platforms in the near future.

The game has already been recognized world-wide and nominated at the 2010 International Mobile Gaming Awards for Excellence in Design. This category is for games with an exceptional attention to visual quality.

OTTAWA – Playbrains, an independent game development studio, has announced their upcoming mobile gaming debut with Babo Crash, a fast-paced action puzzler built for iPhone, iPad and Android platforms. Babo Crash starts out simple with familiar gem-swapping match-3 gameplay, rewarding players who create bigger matches – but it ramps up the intensity one level at a time, adding hero characters with special abilities, real-time enemy combat, destructive powerups, chain reactions and evolving objectives.

Rotating the device shifts gravity, adding a strategic element to gameplay. Additionally, tilting the device controls a hero’s special power s, emphasizing tactics and rewarding fast reflexes. Once players guide a bomb to its detonation zone, they’ll instantly clear the stage and enter Overtime, a frantic bonus round where they can rack up huge scores through combo chains and multipliers.

BaboCrash brings frenetic match-three action with tons of genre-bending features:

• Addictive, high tempo match-three puzzle action
• Gorgeous graphics with over-the-top special effects
• Strategically rotate your device to control collapses
• Unleash heroic abilities to destroy tons of gems at once
• Combo/multiplier system – the faster you match, the higher you score
• 21 levels to ramp up the madness
• Leaderboards and Achievements via OpenFeint

Babo Crash is coming to the App Store in March 2010 for $0.99.

Edmonton – Bioware has released another creature bio for the upcoming Dragon Age: Origins expansion chapter, Awakening. Today’s feature creature are The Disciples, a branch of the darkspawn who “are organized despite the death of the archdemon, following the lead of unknown commanders. No civilized person can say where these darkspawn commanders come from, but they think, speak, and act with purpose, which makes them dangerous indeed.”

The Disciples join the ranks of villainous new creatures along with The Children and the Queen of the Blackmarsh. I predict much death for my Dragon Age characters in the future. Dragon Age Origins: Awakening is scheduled for release on Tuesday March 16th and is available for pre-order at video game stores everywhere. The Dragon Age franchise is rated Mature by the ESRB.

Halifax – DHX Media Ltd. has launched its Living Stories storybook apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch by DHX Interactive, DHX Media’s digital and interactive media divison. These animated storybooks will bring new and classic children’s tales to life, with titles to date including King Midas, The Tortoise and the Hare, and the Hans Christian Anderson classic The Princess and the Pea. All three Living Stories apps are available on the iTunes App Store for $1.99.

Anne Loi, Senior VP Finance and Operations of DHX Media said: “This is an ideal marriage of DHX’s production expertise in animation, illustration and storytelling, and our interactive division’s expertise in developing content specifically tailored to these devices. The Living Stories app titles are perfect for kids and parents.”

The Living Stories apps are easy-to-use for kids, allowing preschoolers to read along on their own. Users can read along with full English language audio narration that is accompanied by beautiful illustrations developed specifically for iPhone screens. DHX Media’s Living Stories apps also permit readers to record their own narration, adding their voice to the book to play back again and again.

Toronto – Open Text Corporation, Canada’s largest software company and a global leader in enterprise content management, today announced it will spend $225 million over the next five years on product innovations and related job creation at its Waterloo, Richmond Hill and Ottawa locations. At a press conference this morning, Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sandra Pupatello unveiled a $33.75 million contribution to Open Text’s initiative from the province’s Next Generation of Jobs Fund.

“As a proudly Canadian company, we’re pleased to announce this investment in a long-term growth strategy for our operations in Ontario,” said John Shackleton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Open Text. “One of the drivers for this investment is the digital media sector which offers opportunity for growth and innovation. The provincial government’s support of this initiative is an investment in Ontario’s long-term prosperity and we’re pleased to collaborate in this effort.”

Open Text’s plans will include almost 400 job opportunities at the company’s Ontario offices in Waterloo, Richmond Hill and Ottawa. Innovations driven by new Research and Development (R&D) efforts in green computing, mobile applications and high-performance systems will help Open Text continue its successful track record in the growing ECM market which is expected to have a valuation of $9.3 billion globally by 2014 (Content Management Market Shares Strategies and Forecasts 2008 to 2014 – Winter Green Research).

“This is a strategic investment that anchors Open Text’s operations in the province and furthers Ontario’s reputation as a leader in digital media and information and communications technology. We’re proud to support Open Text’s latest investment that creates high-value jobs for Ontario families,” said Minister Pupatello.

The Open Text announcement was made by Tom Jenkins, Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer at Open Text, who has been a champion for digital media and a proponent of advancing Canada’s digital economy through increased talent, technology and creative investment. Open Text’s investment will not only benefit technology innovation and employment, but will also benefit the environment given digital storage reduces or eliminates wasteful printing and storage requirements.

“Our government knows that going forward, the jobs and skills of tomorrow will be different than yesterday’s. Supporting innovative companies like Open Text is part of our government’s plan to create a knowledge economy that future generations can build on – and rely on,” said John Milloy, Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation and MPP for Kitchener-Centre.

Toronto – Get Involved and q media solutions are pleased to announce the launch of DigitalU – the first television/webshorts to examine how the internet and social media is changing the world around us. DigitalU is an eight-part series that looks at transparency, crowdsourcing, privacy and security – with powerful examples that demonstrate how the internet is changing the way we live, work, play, consume and communicate.

DigitalU demystifies social media – from NASA crowdsourcing to map craters on Mars, or businesses like JetBlue twittering to improve the customer experience, DigitalU shows us how the speed and collaborative powers of the internet are transforming our lives. DigitalU covers everything from cautionary tales about the future and security of our personal information, to empowering stories about how the internet is fuelling change at a furious pace.

Every Friday, beginning March 5, at 8:50PM, TVO will premiere a new DigitalU short, featuring interviews with over 25 social media and experts including; Mitch Joel, Twist Image, author and pundit Don Tapscott, Jason Mogus, Communicopia, Meghan Warby, Argyle PR, Beka Economopoulos, Fission Strategy, Craig Heintzman, World Wide Web Foundation, Christopher Berry, Critical Mass, and Sacha Chua, IBM.

Additionally, beginning today, all eight DigitalU shorts will also be available on YouTube in full HD 1080p and audio versions will also be available on iTunes by mid-March.

“This series has been produced as a primer; a digital 101 of sorts,” says Dorothy Engelman, Executive producer, Digital U “With all the buzz about social media, we couldn’t find one series on television or the web that provided a big picture view of what’s spinning all around us. I personally feel overwhelmed by the speed of change and I worried I was out of the loop and missing opportunities. And so DigitalU is our attempt to help people wade through all the terminology, while giving them real world examples that bring the tools to life. We did over 25 interviews and so many great examples and wonderful stories ended up on the ‘cutting room floor’ and so we created 24 podcasts alongside the series for those that want a more in-depth look at what’s going on.”

Vancouver – When comic publisher and artist / writer Jason Thibault began combing the internet for a website that covered all aspects of the crime genre in the form of a pop culture magazine he came up empty. Enter Blunt Force Beating, a site dedicated to the coverage of crime films, novels, comics, television, documentaries and video games.

Says Thibault, “I couldn’t believe that no one had put together a site documenting all of the incredible work being done in the crime genre worldwide. Shows like The Wire, The Shield and Sons of Anarchy have already entered mainstream consciousness not to mention all of the high-quality crime graphic novels such as ‘The Hunter’ being produced in the comics industry right now. I knew something cool could be put together with the right group of people.”

Optimum Wound, a Vancouver-based boutique publisher specializing in dark crime and genre graphic novels,  already had experience both in building a popular online website for creators and publishing crime fiction. When faced with the task of building a new online magazine they enlisted the help of artist and long-time collaborator, Christopher Williams.

“I saw something magical in what Jason was putting forward. A highly-focused site for the crime market was a brilliant idea”, adds Williams. “I immediately got to work helping Optimum Wound organize a killer site. This is a passion project and everyone better hold on tight over the next few years as we build the definitive crime culture magazine. The aim is to make it the go-to source for the culture of bad people doing bad things and the vengeance that may or may not follow.”

“Blunt Force Beating” will review film, video and books both fiction and non-fiction that fall within the crime genre and its darker subgenres. As horror culture is already well documented online this site will be quite focused on the crime genre with few exceptions.

In addition to the North American market there will be a strong emphasis on covering international works. Christopher Williams and Optimum Wound co-owner Richard Serrao are already working closely together to produce a series of reviews and essays. In addition a small group of writers have been solicited to add more material to the site. With this new online crime magazine the internet just got a little more dangerous.

Vancouver

Colourful 3-D graphics, nature sounds and original music bring nature to life on screen where children can join Mr. and Mrs. Bunny as they visit their friends living in The Meadow. With the simple press of a key, your child can guide the animals through the beautiful meadow environment.

“Any parent can tell you that when they’re working on their computer, the little one will come along and want to sit on their lap and press buttons,” said Ken Kavanagh, developer of The Meadow and president of Clicktoy Interactive. “As every key has a function, children are free to interact with the computer without worry.”

With The Meadow, parents and children can explore this charming and peaceful place together, featuring:

* Four detailed scenes
* ClickSafe locks the keyboard, prevents your child from exiting the application
* Stunning graphics and immersion in a virtual nature-walk
* Make up your own stories and imagine together

Available on the PC since 2008 “The Meadow” is now available for the Mac OS. Offered in over 17 languages the game sells for $24.95 and is available now for the Mac or PC.  Village Gamer congratulates Ken Kavanagh and Clicktoy Interactive with this new release – and fully recommends “The Meadow” to anyone who has a toddler and/or pre-schooler in their family.

Vancouver – Vancouver Film School is pleased to present the $30,000 Women in Games Scholarship for the second straight year. This Scholarship covers the full tuition for a female aspiring game designer to attend VFS’s acclaimed one-year Game Design program, named by L.A. Times as a Top 10 school “favoured by industry recruiters”.

With International Women’s Day on March 8 highlighting the achievements of women and the need to create a more equal and rewarding future for girls, the announcement of the Women in Games scholarship is timely. In an industry traditionally dominated by men – around 90%, according to Game Developer Magazine’s 2009 Salary Survey – the scholarship was established as a concerted effort by VFS to encourage greater opportunities for females wishing to pursue Game Design as a career.

Last year, the inaugural scholarship was awarded to Shannon Lee of Toronto, who is just beginning her third term of six in the program at Vancouver Film School.

“The Game Design program at VFS has been a very rewarding and enjoyable experience thus far,” Lee says. “Applying for the scholarship was the best decision I’ve ever made and I’m sure that the next recipient will feel the same.”

Female VFS Game Design graduates have gone on to work successfully in the industry, including Tara Mustapha and Charmie Kim of Microsoft Game Studios, Pamela Livara of Vancouver’s Slant Six, and Melanie Genereux of Longtail Studios in PEI. Full details of this year’s Women in Games scholarship will be announced at the Game Design Expo 2010 being held in Vancouver on April 10-11, 2010.

Vancouver – Ninja Robot Dinosaur has announced its first game: The Ongoing Adventures of Ray Ardent: Science Ninja, an episodic 2D action-platformer where players run, jump, slide and dive their way through dangers that only a man who is a scientist and a ninja can survive.

Doctor Ray Ardent is a man of adventure, a man of the world, but most importantly, he is a man of Science. When the world is threatened by weird and mysterious threats too dangerous for traditional forces, Ray Ardent is the only man who can save the day.

Dr. Ardent charges into battle wearing his Science Gi, the most technologically advanced piece of clothing on the planet, and fights with the support of his elite squad of Science Scouts.

Edmonton – Bioware will be hosting a Dragon Age Awakening live demo and chat session this Friday (March 5) on Xfire at 5:oo P.M. PST. Viewers will be able to follow Lead Designer Ferret Baudoin as he plays through parts of Awakening. According to Bioware Community Co-ordinator Chris Priestly, ” this session will offer unique insight into  the level design and show off some of the new features found in the expansion. Following the live gameplay demo, there will be an interactive chat session where your questions about Awakening will be answered. “

There are also going to be some prizes handed out – 10 PC copies of Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening and 10 copies of the Dragon Age novel The Stolen Throne signed by author David Gaider. (I already have one of those – the copy I bought at our local Chapters outlet was signed – I didn’t even notice until I got home. Score!)

Toronto – Morningstar Entertainment is pleased to announce the signing of a multi-year distribution deal to represent Turbo Dogs in the U.S. DVD market. Produced in association with Scholastic Media by CCI Entertainment, Turbo Dogs is a children’s favorite on the 24-hour qubo network as well as the Saturday morning qubo block that airs on the NBC television network. The series also airs on the Ion TV and Telemundo networks. Based on the book Racer Dogs by award-winning illustrator Bob Kolar, Turbo Dogs brings the unique world of Racertown to life with rich animation and high octane storylines. Geared to kids 4-7 years of age, the show combines laughs, learning and the thrill of the open road.

“We are extremely excited to be ‘teaming up’ with Scholastic Media to maximize this very popular children’s brand in both the U.S. Scholastic’s reputation for quality kids’ content is unparalleled. The Dogs – Dash, Mags, GT, Strut, Stinkbert and Clutch are engine-revving additions to the Morningstar Home Entertainment Catalogue that we are thrilled to be providing to our customers.” said Blair Moody, Vice President of Sales and Development at Morningstar.

“We are thrilled that Turbo Dogs will be available on DVD. Turbo Dogs is a delightful story featuring the hilarious antics of a wacky dog-filled community wild about racing that also delivers valuable life lessons about friendship and fair play” said Leslye Schaefer, SVP Marketing and Consumer Products, Scholastic Media, which is a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company.

During 2010 it is expected that 4-5 bilingual English and Spanish DVDs will be released, each DVD containing eight episodes with the first installment, “Racing With The Team”, due out June 01, 2010.

Toronto - VQ Mileage Tracker™, a new business app for BlackBerry® smartphones that automatically tracks business mileage has been officially launched. This new app will enable employees to save time while also increasing accuracy and accountability for employers and for people who are self-employed.

“VQ Mileage Tracker saves business people time and spares them the frustration and inefficiency of manually tracking their mileage”, says Harris Korn, president of Xpressions Inc., creators of VQ Mileage Tracker and VQ CarFinder. “Most existing mileage tracking apps are what we call ‘digital pencils’, in that they require you to manually key in everything”, adds Korn. “VQ Mileage Tracker does all of this for the user. It automatically notes the date and time, how far you drove, and the address you drove to every time you drive your car, then emails you all this information when you’re ready to submit an expense report”.

VQ Mileage Tracker uses the BlackBerry smartphone’s GPS along with in-vehicle Bluetooth® to automatically determine when the user starts and ends a drive. Owners of vehicles without built-in Bluetooth can use VQ Mileage Tracker in semi-automatic mode – they just click on the app when they start driving, then click the app again when they finish their drive. VQ Mileage Tracker does the rest.

When users want to prepare an expense report or travel log, they just start VQ Mileage Tracker and click “Generate Report”. A report is automatically emailed to them that lists the date, time, distance and end address for every time they drove.

“The business community’s response to VQ Mileage Tracker has been exceptional. Salespeople and Field Service staff see this as a great time saver. Management in Sales, Field Services and Finance see VQ Mileage Tracker as an efficient and cost effective tool to increase staff productivity and reporting accuracy. We’re also exploring Enterprise-level licensing opportunities for companies to distribute VQ Mileage Tracker to their staff as a productivity tool.”

A free trial of the full version of VQ Mileage Tracker is being offered as part of the launch of this time-saving app, along with introductory pricing of just $6.99 (regularly $14.99).

VQ Mileage Tracker is currently available on the VQ Mileage Tracker site as well as on BlackBerry App World™, CrackBerry®, GetJar®, Mobireach® and other leading online app stores. VQ Mileage Tracker works on all current model BlackBerry smartphones that have built-in GPS and run on 4.5 OS or higher.

Toronto – Canadians will soon be able to leave their wallets at home thanks to a wireless payment sticker trial launched by EnStream LP, Canada’s leading mobile commerce company. The Zoompass Tag™ is a wireless payment device designed in the form of a sticker that can be attached to a mobile phone. The Zoompass Tag ushers in the future of mobile payments by allowing consumers to tap their phones at checkout to make purchases at retail stores.

In 2009, EnStream launched the revolutionary Zoompass™ mobile application and began offering Canadians the first version of a mobile wallet. Available online and accessible on most mobile phones in Canada, Zoompass already allows users to send money quickly and securely to friends and family.

“The new Zoompass Tag goes even further by allowing Canadians to make their regular store purchases quickly and securely, using only their mobile phone.” said Robin Dua, President of EnStream LP. “All Zoompass users will soon be able to pay for their morning coffee, gas at the pump, and lunch at a fast-food restaurant with a quick tap of their mobile phone.”

By tapping a mobile phone with the Zoompass Tag on a contactless reader at the point-of-sale, payment is automatically drawn from the user’s Zoompass stored value account. Contactless payments remove the need for coins and cash, plus time spent waiting in lines and digging for change. Canadians can look forward to having exact change ready via their mobile phones whenever they need it.

Customer’s financial information is stored on secure servers, not on the mobile phone, so even if the phone is lost or stolen, the customer’s Zoompass account remains secure. Together, the Zoompass Tag and Zoompass application allow consumers to monitor their purchase transactions in real-time.

“Every transaction is logged in the Zoompass application and can be instantly seen on the mobile phone. This is very handy to track purchases and budgets in real-time,” added Dua.

The sleek and appealing sticker measures 43 mm by 33 mm and can be easily affixed to any mobile phone.

“This is the most advanced wireless payment sticker available in the Canadian market today. Our Convego(R) Air Mobile sticker is the only sticker of its kind with a flexible body and a unique shuttle distribution method. It is the only sticker being trialed by the leading Canadian wireless carriers for use on their mobile phones”, said Kim Madore, VP Emerging Technology and Market Development for Giesecke & Devrient, producer of the Zoompass Tag.

The Zoompass Tag can be used at most contactless payment ready locations. Leading retail merchants such as Tim Hortons, McDonalds, Petro Canada and Loblaws will accept payment through the Zoompass Tag as these merchants are rapidly adopting contactless payment terminals in an effort to offer convenience to consumers and save costs.

The trial is offered to select Zoompass clients and is expected to last up to 3 months. The pilot will allow EnStream to evaluate many aspects of the mobile payment experience and shape the way Canadians pay for goods and services in the future.

Toronto – Tax credits are increasingly important during this economic environment. MEUK Corporation, leaders in SR&ED (Scientific Research & Experimental Development) Tax Credit programs are presenting two must-attend featured sessions at IT360 Conference & Expo, April 7, 2010 in Toronto.

The morning session, “3 Steps to Simplifying Your Software Development Projects for Tax Credits,” is presented by David Sabina. To survive in any industry today, one’s business must be innovative and resourceful. Even the slightest improvements to products or processes could be vital to business survival. This course will focus on the SR&ED Tax Credit Program and Software Development eligibility.

“No matter how small one’s business is if there are eligible projects, these businesses may qualify. Attendees will become educated on the subject and learn about a new methodology to simplify the SR&ED process benefiting business models in a great way,” said David Sabina, Director, MEUK Corporation.

The afternoon session, “Advanced Issues – SR&ED Income Tax Cases – Analyzing what is Black vs. White vs. Grey,” is also presented by David Sabina and will illustrate how various technological and financial issues require the use of professional judgment. It will include an overview of recent SR&ED tax cases and related implications for claimants.

“SR&ED has taken a front seat in assisting organizations to significantly upgrade and develop their software development cycles to improve their company’s productivity and ROI. These programs will demystify criteria and access to these funds,” said Bruce Cole, Show Director, IT360 Conference & Expo.

Vancouver – Suite101.com Media Inc., a global content site that provides consumers with trusted and reliable information, announced it will be expanding its use of search engine optimization (SEO) to help its writers and editors build quality content online that is more apt to be found by search results. Suite101 has hired writer and search strategist Aaron Bradley as SEO Director to implement the new tactics and strategies.

The newly created senior position will help the company’s writers and editors benefit from opportunities related to the growing role of search in the creation of articles for Suite101. As Director of SEO, Bradley will be responsible for educating editors about keywords and search terms, and help them to strategically tag stories submitted by Suite101.com’s growing writer base. Suite101 is known as a great source of SEO learning for writers. Bradley intends to expand on this by building better online tools for writers and creating advanced learning opportunities to help them succeed at SEO.

“Making sure well-written articles get found online involves continuous hard work and search engine knowledge,” said Peter Berger, CEO and President of Suite101.com Media Inc. “We know that in order to help our writers get their stories found, we need to increase our expertise in the area of search. Aaron is a respected expert in this area and he’s also a teacher. It’s a huge plus for writers to have an in-house expert resource who can share what they know with our writers and editors, while also making sure our sites are architecturally sound.”

“I look forward to working with the thousands of quality writers that make the Suite101 sites such an important resource for people, and so rightfully attractive to search engines,” said Bradley. “I’m committed to ensuring these great articles are made easy to find by search engines. In concert with this effort, I’m also committed to making sure Suite101 writers receive the maximum exposure and remuneration for their work.”

Bradley began his web-related career in 1995 as a librarian at the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College Library in Toronto, Ontario. Over the next decade Bradley worked as web designer, creating sites such as Infomine.com, an industry-leading mining information portal. In addition, Bradley held roles as Search Engine Marketing Manager at online entertainment site Bodoglife.com, and SEO Manager for online jewelry retail sites Diamond.com and Ice.com (Internet Top 500 Retailer). Bradley also is a regular contributor to the “In-House” SEO column for Search Engine Land. He also pens his own blog at SEO Skeptic, founded Montreal SEO Meetup group.

Toronto

According to the rules, each Team will travel through multiple checkpoints testing their skills against challenges inspired by the video game Xbox® Splinter Cell:  Conviction®.   The Team which most accurately and quickly completes all checkpoint challenges in the shortest period of time (thereby accumulating the highest number of game points) will be declared the winner. The winning Team will then stay another night in Toronto before traveling to Montreal for an overnight stay followed by a private tour of the Ubisoft offices and visit an EB Games or GameStop retail location. Please check the full rules page for more information.

Toronto – Working together with long-time collaborators Fresh TV Inc. and TELETOON Canada Inc., marblemedia has launched Stoked Interactive – to coincide with the March 4 premiere of new episodes of the series and push to the second season premiere in September 2010. With increasing interest in the program, the new site offers a tidal wave of new activities and experiences for fans around the globe. For fans of the French version of the series, teletoon.com has launched a French version of the site.

“We are very pleased with the keen fan interest and increasingly strong web traffic for Stoked Interactive,” said Matt Hornburg, Executive Producer, marblemedia. “Building on the success of the TV series, our team, with TELETOON has built an entertaining and interactive site that extends the surfer culture with what this audience wants – more indie music, added irreverent fun, and a chance to interact with their favourite characters.”

“Stoked Interactive has successfully brought fans out of the winter blues and plunged them into the world of surf and sand,” said Tom McGillis, Executive Producer, Fresh TV. “The site provides endless opportunities for viewers to engage with new and exciting content and the Fresh team is totally stoked with the results!”

Already making a splash are features currently available on Stoked Interactive: a rad character-driven messaging activity, Meet the Groms and Stoked Radio. These features, along with interactive games such as Wipeout’s Wipe Outs, Suitcase Sling and Surf or Sink make Stoked Interactive the ultimate place to live the young surfer ‘Grom’ lifestyle while giving viewers more ways to connect with the iconic characters of their favorite show.

Currently in development are new features that will allow the website to grow through to April 2010, when fans will be introduced to the Rippin’ Remixer (a music video editing module) and Grom Life (a social simulation game where players become an original Grom). These new additions will help fans to discover that a true Grom experience is only a click away.

Stoked Interactive is produced in association with TELETOON Canada inc and with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada and the Canadian Television Fund. This extensive online experience, along with the television series, is available for licensing via Cake Entertainment.

Fresh TV’s Stoked follows six teens from across Canada who travel to Sunset Island, B.C. for a summer of sun, sea, sand and, most importantly, surf. Working at a luxury resort they find that their plans for an endless summer of surfing might not be all that they hoped when, instead of a surfer’s paradise, they find a tacky tourist resort with rude guests, a run-down staff house and itchy, hideous uniforms. The series airs on TELETOON on Thursdays at 7 pm ET/PT as part of TELETOON’s 3 Hours of Really, Really, Really Awesome.

Vancouver – Building on the success of the HootSuite iPhone® App, the popular social media dashboard today launched a new version for Android™ – Google’s open mobile platform – as well as an updated iPhone version featuring Facebook integration.

HootSuite – primarily known as a Twitter tool for professionals – helps marketers, support desks and collaborative teams use the popular micro-update tool to outreach to audiences, track conversations, and strategically publish messages. With the new mobile versions, professionals can stay connected to their promotional campaigns from virtually anywhere and all users can also choose a Lite version available free on both platforms.

With the release, Android customers will enjoy the same tools as iPhone users, including:

* Managing multiple Twitter accounts
* Creating streams for #tags and searches
* Scheduling messages for the future
* Adding followers to lists and accounts
* Explanations for trending topics
* Sharing photos and shortening URLs

The full-featured versions for Android and iPhone allow unlimited Twitter accounts plus on-board, click-through statistics tracking whereas the Lite versions – available for no cost – are limited to three Twitter accounts.

HootSuite Mobile Overview

* HootSuite for Android – $1.99 from Adroid Marketplace – includes stats and unlimited accounts
* HootSuite for Android Lite – free from Android Marketplace – limited to 3 accounts
* HootSuite for iPhone – $1.99 from Apple App Store – includes stats and unlimited accounts
* HootSuite for iPhone Lite – free from Apple App Store – limited to 3 accounts

The updated full iPhone App (to be released within days) features the highly requested additions of Facebook integration and landscape view. Existing customers who purchased the app will receive a update at no cost.

Both platforms are tightly integrated with the web version so current HootSuite users can quickly import accounts with help from a powerful wizard allowing them to sync workflow from desktop to handheld and not miss any messages.

Calgary – MoboVivo has recently had several new iPhone apps for the iTunes store approved. MoboVivo enables content producers and broadcasters to market, transform, and distribute video for mobile, web, and television.

“Broadcasters and content producers want their audiences to spend more time with their TV shows,” said Trevor Doerksen, CEO of MoboVivo. “MoboVivo’s mobile apps solve monetization, distribution and marketing challenges for a TV industry faced by requirements for alternative-to-broadcast distribution.”

The apps are of part MoboVivo’s myScreen strategy to include mobile devices, like the iPhone and new iPad allowing users greater access to their favourite television programs. The apps allow commercial-free viewing over 3G and wifi networks. They also allow users to shift screens from an iPhone to computer or other mobile phone or device by using MoboVivo myScreens product.The apps are accessed and installed with a couple of clicks to your iPhone or iPod Touch. Several new apps for travel, workouts, cooking and entertainment are currently available in the App Store.

Halifax – DHX Media Ltd, a leading independent international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content is pleased to announce that the hit children’s television series Martha Speaks, which airs on PBS KIDS in the US and TVO, Knowledge Network, and SCN in Canada, will soon be available on DVD in stores and online in the US and Canada. On March 9th, PBS KIDS and Paramount Home Entertainment will release the first DVD, titled Martha Says it With Flowers. The DVD will consist of 8 episodes of the first season of the critically acclaimed series, along with extras including colouring pages for children and an information feature for parents. Martha Speaks is co-produced by Studio B Productions, a DHX Media subsidiary, and WGBH Boston.

Vancouver

Exclusive in-game development models and images from Disney Interactive Studios’ upcoming video game TRON: Evolution are part of an interactive touch screen exhibit in BC Canada Pavilion during the Winter Games, through February 28.

The province of British Columbia is hosting the BC Canada Pavilion on the fourth floor of the Vancouver Art Gallery. As part of the province’s celebration site at Robson Square, the Pavilion features state-of-the-art exhibits and interactive displays showcasing the best of British Columbia innovation and culture. The exhibit expects to host more than 250,000 visitors from Canada and throughout the world.

Propaganda Games, located in downtown Vancouver, employs more than 200 professionals between two teams. The studio is currently developing two major video games — TRON: Evolution and Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned. Both games are scheduled to be released for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

“Propaganda Games is poised to deliver two of the industry’s prominent video games,” said Dan Tudge, vice president and general manager, Propaganda Games. “As part of Vancouver’s flourishing video games development industry, Propaganda Games has tapped into the enormous talent pool and represents Disney’s commitment to the community.”

TRON: Evolution is the highly anticipated video game slated for Holiday 2010. TRON: Evolution is the key to unlocking the TRON mythology as the game’s story takes place before the “TRON: Legacy” film, which will be released in theaters December 17, 2010.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned is an open-world action role playing game within the Pirates of the Caribbean world. The game is an original story set before the events of the films.

Montreal – Bingo Derby for Facebook is a true multiplayer game of chance that bingo buffs will enjoy as much as horse race enthusiasts. The goal is to bet your virtual money – at the right moment – on bingo cards whose rates change over the course of the round. Inspired as well by pachinko, a very popular game in Japan, Bingo Derby definitely has multiple facets to discover.

Bingo Derby becomes even more fun when you play with your Facebook friends. Encourage them to make risky bets… or have the last laugh by cashing in on a big bet!

The game is developed by C.A. Mobile, a Japanese company that specializes in the mobile industry and media integration. In order to break into the North American video game market, this Japanese company formed a partnership with ODD1 to help them launch a beta version of Bingo Derby, as well as to offer customer service and technical support.

This C.A.Mobile/ODD1 partnership will allow for the establishment of a long-term exploitation plan for Bingo Derby. Numerous updates are already planned, always aiming to adapt the game as best as possible to the North American market.

UK – BAFTA today announced the nominations for the GAME British Academy Video Games Awards. This year 40 different games have been recognized and together they represent some of the most popular, innovative and cutting-edge creativity in today’s gaming industry.

Assassin’s Creed II was nominated in six categories: Action, Artistic Achievement, Best Game, Game play, Story and Original Score. FIFA 10 was also nominated for Best Game as well as for Sports Game and Use of Online. Dragon Age: Origins was nominated in the Story category.

There is a Canadian connection in the Ones To Watch Award, which is presented in partnership with the Dare to Be competition. Terrace, BC 3D artist Murray Sinclair is part of the international team who worked on nominated student game Colour-Coded.

Toronto – The National Film Board of Canada and Warner Home Video present a new live-action/animated adaptation of Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life based on the book by Maurice Sendak. A film by the creators of the Oscar-nominated short Madame Tutli-Putli, Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, features the voices of Meryl Streep and Forest Whitaker. Produced by Spike Jonze, Vincent Landay and Marcy Page.

Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life will be featured as an exclusive short on the Where the Wild Things Are Warner Home Video Blu-ray out March 2. On February 28, the film will have its world premiere at the Festival International du Film pour Enfants de Montréal (Montreal Children’s International Film Festival) followed by a special presentation with the directors and the puppeteers. The NFB will distribute a DVD scheduled for summer 2010.

Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life tells the story of Jennie, who once had everything. She had two bowls to eat from, two pillows, and for cold weather a red wool sweater. She even had a master who loved her. But Jennie didn’t care. In the middle of the night she packed everything she had in a black leather bag with gold buckles and looked out of her favourite window for the last time. Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life follows Jennie’s surreal, suspenseful and unexpectedly moving journey to gain new experiences and realize her dream of becoming the star of the World Mother Goose Theatre.

Since 1997 Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski have formed the artistic partnership called Clyde Henry Productions. The pair have created award-winning films, ads, illustrations, comics, and music videos. Their first professional film, Madame Tutli-Putli, produced by Marcy Page for the National Film Board of Canada, received international acclaim – over 50 awards to date, among them the Best Short Film and Rail d’or prizes at the Cannes International Film Festival and an Academy Award Nomination in 2007. Lavis and Szczerbowski are currently working with the NFB and Silo Corporation on a feature film project entitled The White Circus co-produced by Lago Film (Germany) and Apple Film Production (Poland). In 2008 The White Circus was selected for development by the Sundance Film Institute’s screenwriting lab.

Montreal – Zebbo.com today announced the launch of its new payment solution introducing carrier billing using mobile platforms. The Zebbo application can be used to pay for downloads of applications, digital content and services purchased on mobile smart-phones. With this solution, the self funded startup provides a quick, simple and secure solution for Mobile developers to monetize their applications.

“The Zebbo team noticed the lack of a straight-forward mobile payment method in the market,” said Malik Yacoubi CEO of Zebbo.com. “The Zebbo solution now offers an easy, fast and convenient check-out to pay for your mobile apps and other services purchased on a mobile phone. The purchase simply gets billed on the users’ carrier bill”.

With a red-hot market churning out thousands of new applications and consumers relying on these apps to guide them through their daily lives, Zebbo.com is offering an efficient one-step carrier payment platform. The Zebbo solution offers developers a higher conversion for paid app downloads by offering consumers a simple process. Zebbo offers direct carrier billing that replaces complicated multi-step third party billing that can deter users from purchasing apps.

Zebbo works on all smart-phones and services the three major mobile platforms iPhone, Blackberry and Android. Zebbo is also integrating with Amazon Payments and more traditional payment methods like, credit and prepaid cards which will be available shortly. Integration of a virtual currency platform is expected soon after.

Zebbo covers USA, Canada and 21 European countries. Pay-outs can be found on the Zebbo.com website. Merchants have constant access to the Zebbo.com web portal which tracks activity, payout totals, number of users and much more.

Toronto – EnStream LP has announced the launch of the Zoompass™ mobile application for Android powered phones, now available for free download on Android Market™ and at zoompass.mobi. According to Robin Dua, President of EnStream, the Android launch re-affirms the vision that all Canadians will eventually use Zoompass as their mobile wallet, irrespective of their mobile phone of choice.

“We are thrilled with how quickly Zoompass is being adopted by Canadians. Canadians take their phones with them wherever they go, and many of them share the Zoompass vision of merging their wallet with their mobile phone to simplify daily transactions. We are proud to offer Zoompass application support for leading mobile platforms including BlackBerry, iPhone, and now Android.”

In 2009, EnStream launched the revolutionary Zoompass mobile application and began offering Canadians the first version of a mobile wallet. Zoompass already allows users to send money quickly and securely to friends and family and takes advantage of the newest technologies of Android powered phones to provide an outstanding user experience. With the ability to run applications simultaneously, friends can now “Zoom” each other without having to close other applications.

”With many recent announcements of popular Android powered phones launching in Canada, EnStream is excited to be able to offer Android users the full suite of Zoompass functionality.” said Dua.

With Zoompass, clients can import existing contacts directly from their address book, load and transfer money directly from their bank account or credit card, check account balances and view transaction history – all within one easy-to-use application. Zoompass makes it easy to send and receive money. Many are using Zoompass to safely and conveniently do things like split a lunch bill, request sports team fees, collect money for a group gift or pay a housekeeper, babysitter or dog-walker.

Village Gamer is Proud to Be Canadian

GO CANADA GO!

Edmonton – A Smartphone as an x-ray machine? “There’s an app for that.” This phrase is starting to become as commonplace as saying “hello” when answering the phone. According to Gartner Research, Smartphone consumers are estimated to spend more than $6 billion and download over 4.5 billion mobile applications this year. With the mounting popularity of this phenomenon, AppBoy launched an easy-to-use, revolutionary social network that aims at connecting mobile app developers and users.

“AppBoy was developed to help developers get their apps discovered and to help users navigate through the thousands of available apps to find the ones they like,” says Thorren Koopmans, Director of Operations for AppBoy.

With more than 100,000 apps on the market, it’s difficult for app entrepreneurs to stand out. AppBoy gives app developers of multiple platforms (Android, iPhone, Palm and Blackberry) an opportunity to easily showcase their work and market their creations to mobile app lovers. Through personal developer profile pages created on the site, developers can share their ideas and even create their own app store. Apps sold through the social network also earn the developer a share of the profits.

AppBoy also has a lot to offer for those who aren’t building their own apps. Any user with ideas that are useful, smart or just plain entertaining can submit them to the website. Visitors to the social network have the ability to vote and comment on submissions. If the ideas generate enough votes, AppBoy rewards the user $250 and creates the app.

“We already have a great value proposition for both developers and end users, but we’re just getting started. There are big updates coming that are going to make AppBoy that much better.”

AppBoy has partnered with Best Buy Mobile as its sole provider of mobile apps for all platforms. In Oct. 2009, Mashable selected AppBoy as the “Spark of Genius” startup of the week. AppBoy has also been featured on “Click,” the BBC’s flagship technology program. Since launching, hundreds of app ideas have been submitted. The winning idea will be selected later this month.

Toronto – Portfolio Entertainment Inc. has unveiled its inaugural “In Toon With Tweens” animation contest, an initiative designed to encourage creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking by throwing the doors open to new voices within the global animation community. Portfolio Entertainment invites animators and creators with serious comedy chops to submit their original projects – television or multiplatform – for a chance at $10,000 CDN in cash as part of Option and Development Agreements. The call for submissions officially opens today, entries must be received by June 15, 2010 and winners will be notified on September 15, 2010. The contest was announced today by Portfolio Entertainment’s Co-Founders & Presidents, Lisa Olfman and Joy Rosen.

The challenge is to find original comedy submissions that are fresh, surprising and utterly new for kids 8 to 12 years old. A first prize of $7,500 CDN will be awarded as part of a two-year Option and Development Agreement and a second prize of $2,500 CDN as part of a one-year Option and Development Agreement will go to the runner up.

“Our approach at Portfolio is to break the mold with each new project we develop,” said Lisa Olfman, Co-Founder and President of the company. “What better way to nurture emerging talent and encourage established talent to be fearless, than by throwing open our doors with this animation initiative.”

Through “In Toon With Tweens,” the top 15 finalists, as selected by Portfolio Entertainment, will also gain unprecedented exposure to industry decision-makers in kids’ television and new media. The distinguished panel of Judges will be comprised of Portfolio Entertainment executives, broadcasters and prominent industry veterans who will be announced in the coming weeks.

Eligibility requirements include some professional industry experience. Complete guidelines and instructions for submission can be found online. Winning entries will be selected by the panel of Judges based on the most entertaining, innovative and bold concepts.

Vancouver – Slant Six Games‘ latest SOCOM title is slated to hit stores and the PSN tomorrow. Developed exclusively for the PSP, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 was created with the support of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command.

Continuing to build on the legacy of the critically-acclaimed and hugely popular Fireteam Bravo series, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 has players lead a 4-man fireteam of U.S. Navy SEALs in an action-packed military hunt for weapons of mass destruction and an ex-KGB agent. Not only as the SEAL Commander will you be supported by 3 AI teammates executing the very latest SOCOM team-based tactical, stealth and action maneuvers, but you can easily bring your friends online by playing in a new 4-player co-op mode throughout the single player campaign in both Ad Hoc and Infrastructure, a first on the PSP.

The game’s storyline features Alexander Gozorov, a man who does not want to be found. An ex-KGB agent with ties to the Russian mafia, he has killed everyone who has been sent to find him. Gozorov is believed to have information on a major imminent attack against western interests. Time is running out and your 4-man team of U.S Navy SEALs is sent in to track him down.

As a Team focused game, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 allows new ways for players to interact, expanding on the team orientated, authentic, military action that the SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo franchise is famous for.

Other game features include:

* Console-like control with intelligent use of cover.
* Strong contemporary narrative supported by cutting edge presentation.
* Cooperative play in Ad Hoc and Infrastructure modes allows for 2-4 player co-ops which include co-op orders, quick join and spectator system.
* Competitive multiplayer for 2-16 players via Ad Hoc and Infrastructure modes.
* Unlock gear and weapons, earn medals and ribbons as you complete objectives, either offline or by teaming up on-line.
* Communicate with teammates via voice chat.
* Continue the action – SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 has an almost limitless combination of custom missions, gear, weapons and difficulty settings.

It is important to note that certain limitations apply to Wi-Fi connectivity, and gamers are asked to check the game’s manual for details. Player is responsible for Wi-Fi fees, and an internet connection and Memory Stock Duo™ may be required.

Edmonton – Dragon Age: Origins players who want to learn more about Bioware’s 2009 blockbuster might want to check out the Dragon Age: Origins Tome of Knowledge. This online wiki resource contains an amazing and continually expanding library of everything Dragon Age. While the wiki is not currently open for players and the public community to participate, this is something that is being considered for the future.

BioWare is also working again with Penny Arcade wizards Gabe and Tycho to create a new comic based on Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening! A six part comic, part one is now live on the new Awakening website. One new comic will be revealed each week, leading up to the launch of Awakening.

Toronto – A reminder that the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) is looking for video footage and images from Ontario-based video game development companies to include in an Ontario Video Game Industry Promotional Reel that is being created for the upcoming Game Developers Conference in San Francisco from March 9-13, 2010.

If your company would like to submit material for consideration for the reel please let us know by sending an email to the OMDC by 9:00 am on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Companies that have expressed an interest in participating will be contacted with specifications and directions on where to send their material once these details have been confirmed. While the due date for materials is to be determined it is anticipate that clips will be required no later than end of day on February 18, 2010. Companies will also be required to sign an agreement by this date that provides OMDC with the right to use the material supplied in the reel.

Ottawa – CATAAlliance has announced that nominations are now open for two innovation awards which will be presented on May 19th, 2010 in Ottawa at the CATAAlliance’s Annual Innovation Awards Gala Dinner, a 25 year tradition of recognizing outstanding technological innovation and corporate leadership in expanding the frontiers of Canada’s advanced technology industries. Appropriately, this year’s theme is “The Future is Mobile!” CTV Host, Paul Brent will be returning as the guest MC and moderator of a stellar Mobility Panel of High Tech business leaders focusing on the keys to world class success.

The Outstanding Product Achievement Award recognizes excellence in the Content and Applications Mobility Industry. The Award is named after one of world’s leading telecommunications firms, Ericsson. Presented to a Canadian organization for an outstanding technology engineering development which has resulted in the production of a world-class Mobility product or family of products, the winning product will have proven itself in operation and its design and market success will have enhanced Canada’s international reputation for innovation and excellence.  Finalists and award recipients will be chosen by a selection committee comprising experts drawn from the CATAAlliance Governing Council and Ericsson Canada.

The Peter Brojde Award for Canada’s Next Generation Executive Leadership recognizes the executive leadership of an individual who has had a major impact on the creation, success and/or transformation of their enterprise. Candidates will typically hold senior positions such as CEO, CFO, COO, President or Vice-President. The winner will be representative of Canada’s next generation of Innovation Nation business leaders.

Mobile World Congress – Microsoft has unveiled their Windows Phone 7 Series, and developer opportunities abound.  According to the Windows blog, the platform will bring together Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music and video experience to phones.

“Today, I’m proud to introduce Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation of Windows Phones,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “In a crowded market filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience. Windows Phone 7 Series marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people’s lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences.”

A new platform is going to need new Apps – a great opportunity for our Canadian mobile developers for this new platform, which is supposed to be available on Windows phones later this year. Maybe by then I’ll be able to justify owning a smartphone that is separate from the dumbphone I have to use for my paying job. Having to use a “Mike” phone can be so inconvenient at times – and yes, I know there is a Blackberry which is made for the “Mike” network – however, its performance is less than exemplary, including non-user-friendly text functions. Can’t anyone come up with a better smartphone for that network?

Vancouver

“All of us at marblemedia are excited and honoured to be a part of Canadian history,” said Mark Bishop, Co-Founder and Executive Producer of marblemedia. “We want to thank CODE for allowing marblemedia to go global at the Winter Games!”

Two of marblemedia’s kids properties, This is Daniel Cook-Figure Skating; and This is Emily Yeung-Learning Ballet (co-produced with Sinking Ship Productions) and two films from the marblemedia anthology series The Art of Seduction – Electric Chairs and On Fire (co-produced with the National Film Board and Bravo!FACT) have been selected to be featured on towering high-definition screens at the Vancouver and Whistler Celebration Sites during the 2010 Olympic Games.

Calgary – Digital Alberta invites you to come learn about Google at an event which will take place on the evening of February 23 at Mount Royal University. Come and meet some Canadian googlers at this exciting event where they will discuss some of the technical challenges faced at Google, with highlights from 3 areas of focus at Google Waterloo: Ads, ChromeOS and Mobile.

Digital Alberta also invites you to diversify and go global. Aiming to assist Alberta companies in exploring and expanding the market opportunities in the Greater China region, the Ministry of International and Intergovernmental Relations (IIR) of the Government of Alberta is pleased to present the Greater China: ICT Symposium.

The Symposium will connect Alberta participants directly with key industry players from the region. Speakers from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will provide first-hand local market intelligence and share their business insights at the Symposium. Those companies interested in meeting with speakers, please register by contacting Constance Leung or Julia Mah.

Event Dates and Locations:

9 March 2010: Calgary – McDougall Centre, 455 – 6 Street S.W.
10 March 2010: Edmonton – Sutton Place, 10235 101 Street
Time: 08:00 – 14:30 each day

Montreal – Daydream Nation, a Telefilm-supported feature film currently in production in B.C., is the first Canadian film to break into the top ten movies on Vancouver-based MovieSet.com, a movie web site providing fans with daily news and content from films in various stages of production. Daydream Nation received great exposure on MovieSet, helping it achieve the number one spot by garnering more views than any movie ever featured on the site. MovieSet also benefited from Telefilm’s support through the Canada New Media Fund.

“MovieSet is a great tool for film producers, especially as we know how much social media campaigns are now playing an important role in our distribution and promotion strategies – basically getting the word out about films way before their theatrical release,” says Christine Haebler, producer for Daydream Nation at B.C.-based Screen Siren. “MovieSet allowed Daydream Nation to provide a behind-the-scene look at the shoot and production, something fans everywhere can appreciate. For us, it means an earlier buzz that can spread across social media networks and reach our audience efficiently.”

“There is tremendous potential in social media tools and the web when it comes to promoting Canadian films,” stated Earl Hong Tai, Telefilm Canada’s Western Regional Director, Business Development. “We want to support the industry’s adoption of online marketing tools – whether it’s MovieSet or other tools – as we believe it will help produce convincing box-office results. It is very exciting to see B.C.’s Daydream Nation achieve this success on an online platform this early in the production process; it highlights the effectiveness of social marketing as part of a solid promotional campaign.”

Daydream Nation, a provocative yet humorous romance about a rural community shaken by the arrival of an acerbic teenage girl, stars Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Defendor), Josh Lucas (Poseidon), Reece Thompson (Provinces of Night), Rachel Blanchard (Adoration, Where the Truth Lies) and Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day). Written and directed by Mike Goldbach, the film is produced by Christine Haebler and Trish Dolman for Screen Siren in Vancouver (Year of the Carnivore), and Simone Urdl and Jennifer Weiss for The Film Farm in Toronto (Away from Her, Redacted), and executive producer Cameron Lamb. Daydream Nation is co-financed by Telefilm Canada and TriStar Film Finance and distributed in Canada by E1 Entertainment.

Toronto

“It is an honour to receive accolades from such an esteemed group of industry peers,” said Tom McGillis, President, Fresh TV Inc. “I would like to especially thank our amazing team at Fresh TV as these awards embody the team’s continued dedication to creating quality, engaging shows.”

Stoked is an animated situational comedy about teens who come together one summer to work at world renowned Surfer’s Paradise Resort, home of the best surfing in the country. For twelve weeks they will spend their first summer away from home, work hard, and most importantly, have the opportunity to surf on their days off.

The series (26 x 30’) broadcasts Monday-Friday on Cartoon Network in the US and on TELETOON in Canada.

Edmonton – Bioware has released several new screenshots for the upcoming Dragon Age: Origins expansion chapter Awakening. These new images focus on Vigil’s Keep in Amaranthine, which had previously served as the base of operations for the Howe family and their troops. .

Amaranthine was the first of the Fereldan arlings to fall to the Orlesian occupation. As the port city burned, its ruling family, the Howes, fled to the countryside to wage a guerrilla war against the invaders that lasted for generations. No matter how enormous of a bounty the Orlesians promised, they could not rid themselves of the wily Howes and their ever-growing number of sympathizers.

The Howes chose the ancient fortress of Vigil’s Keep as their primary base of operations, hiding the entire rebellion within the vast complex of storage rooms and caves beneath “The Vigil” — right underneath the noses of their oppressors. When the Orlesians were finally ousted, it was at Vigil’s Keep that the flag of Amaranthine was first raised again, amidst cheers of victory. Vigil’s Keep became the new home of the Howes. Following the downfall of the Howes in Origins, Vigil’s Keep and arling of Amaranthine came under the control of the Grey Wardens. If you want to learn more about the rise and fall of the Howes, you’ll have to pick up a copy of Dragon Age: Origins, because I’m not saying anything about how they betrayed their allies and friends.

Bioware has also released a short trailer to introduce of one of the new party NPCs you will meet when you play Dragon Age Awakening, Anders. According to the video’s description, many mages chafe under the Chantrys control, and Anders is no exception. Its a lucky thing that Anders despises blood mages as much as the Chantry does, else he might have been executed as a suspected maleficaru.

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening will be available for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC on March 16, 2010. And yes – I have already placed my pre-order. Dragons, magic, spies, blood and gore – too much goodness to miss.

Ottawa – W!LDBRAIN, the award-winning entertainment company and one of the world’s foremost producers of animation, has entered into a partnership with Fuel Industries, the Ottawa-based digital agency and producer of popular interactive brands, including AllGirlArcade.com, to develop television, motion picture, direct-to-consumer platforms and consumer products utilizing the existing popularity of Fuel Industries’ entertainment properties.

“Fuel has a great body of characters and stories with limitless creative possibilities,” said Michael Polis, CEO, Wildbrain. “As a company, we will strategically integrate the proven Fuel Industries branded properties and characters into our studio’s content and distribution businesses. Under this agreement, we are looking at a number of properties that have the potential to become sustainable franchises and growth drivers on a number of media platforms,” he continued.

“Our development deal with W!LDBRAIN, combined with their successful portfolio of world-class animation and family entertainment, is a major step in our company’s efforts to realize the full potential of our

interactive properties,” said Mike Burns, CEO of Fuel Industries. “As a digital agency expanding into an original content creator, we are confident that our expertise in building audiences for brands will continue to generate success for our own IP.”

Current Fuel Entertainment properties in development and/or production at Wildbrain include:

AllGirlArcade.com – A rapidly-expanding tween girl gaming portal and virtual world (Spark City) based on Fuel’s ‘Clik Stars’ property. The property is currently one of the web’s fastest growing girl’s portals, and includes a vibrant social network and a host of original web and mobile games based on the colorful characters.

Fairies and Dragons – A property for kids 6-10 that appeals to both girls and boys through the unique combination of four fairies and their elemental dragon friends into a magical storyline that has already captured hearts across Europe as the world’s first Digital McDonald’s Happy MealTM.

Sideway – A property for teenage boys that captures the art, passion and individuality of the underground graffiti culture that lives within today’s urban youth. Sideway follows the adventures of Noz, a rebellious New York youth, and his mysterious journey through the wacked out realm of Sideway, a two-dimensional world that exists solely on the city’s walls.

Tetsurai – Set in an alternate industrial future of hissing steam and clanking iron, Tetsurai is an engrossing property for teen boys that combines television, an MMO, an arcade fighter and a role-playing game in a dark, sci-fi package.

Charlottetown

The somewhat bizarre premise of feuding Pseudo-Peruvian brothers, llama shearing and canons make for a truly unique tailor-made experience for the iPhone. Bight CEO Stuart Duncan says “There were times when even we thought, is this too weird? Will people get the sense of humour? I think it’s fair to say that given the great response we’ve been getting that people really love the game.”

To support the launch of Fleeced! two of Bight’s other popular games, Puzzlings and Kill All Bugs will be available for free during the launch window. Fleeced! Shear Terror is available for $3.99 USD from today.

Vancouver – Emily Carr University of Art + Design and DigiBC present Disney Stories and Games – Making Technological Innovation a Reality, a public lecture by Newton Lee and Krystina Madej.

NUS Hollywood Lab co-founder, Newton Lee will speak on the process of creating some of his most successful projects, from his work as a software engineer at Media Station, which was contracted by Disney to develop their fist CD-ROM games in the early 1990s, to his work as a technical architect and senior producer at Disney for many successful online projects. He will also present the work he’s undertaken to develop a sustainable research environment where academia and business can collaborate: his work with ACM’s online Computers in Entertainment Magazine, the Hollywood Lab, the Institute for Education, Research and Scholarships, and other new technology initiatives.

Adjunct professor at SFU SIAT, Krystina Madej, will introduce Lee and speak on Disney’s innovative use of story in new media since the early 1900s. Lee and Madej are currently collaborating on a book that presents Disney stories in new media. This event is free and is open to the general public.

Calgary – A reminder that Digital Alberta and Telefilm Canada are presenting Financing Your Digital Vision on January 26th, at a cost of only $150.00 (+GST) per person. One of the highlights of this session will be the Entrepreneur Panel including industry experts Ken Bautista, Seek Your Own Proof; Michael Sikorsky, Robots and Pencils; Trevor Doerkson, MoboVivo; and Ron Thiele, XPAN Interactive, who will also present on Bootstrapping. Also recently confirmed as presenters are: Luke Azevedo, Calgary Economic Development; Earl Hong Tai, Telefilm Canada; Henry Kutarna, Alberta Deal Generator.

Montreal - Pierre Proulx, CEO of Alliance Digital, has announced the appointment of Ms. Sylvianne Pilon  as Director of Alliance Game, the position which was left vacant by the departure of Alain Lachapelle. Ms. Pilon will be responsible for developing new strategies for Alliance Game, to lead the industry through marketing activities and networking, along with the organization and management of the International Game Summit Montreal ( MIGS).

During the announcement, Pierre Proulx said he was “pleased to have the broad expertise and network of contacts Ms. Pilon has in the gaming industry and in a broader context also for interactive entertainment. Her doctoral thesis on the genesis and development of game clusters in Montreal, Los Angeles and Lyon according to an analysis in economic geography and anthropology, along with her experience as co-founder and president of Alliance America, a firm specializing in business relationships and trade missions between Quebec and Chile, are just some examples of her achievements. In addition, her work with the SIJM09 team as Deputy Director of Alliance Gaming and Head of Business only confirms that Ms. Pilon is a powerful addition to the permanent team.”

For her part, Ms. Pilon welcomes the new challenges. “My achievements and my great desire to work for and with the Quebec video game industry, will allow me to confront these challenges headlong and thus provide outstanding service to our members.”