Village Gamer

Moms and dads who want to share the fun and creativity of their child’s favourite, snow-covered virtual world can now get in on all the icy action with the launch of Club Penguin Game Day! for Wii™.

Based on the environment, characters and storylines of the popular online playground Club Penguin, Club Penguin Game Day! includes a range of single and multi-player sports and performance events designed to challenge and engage every member of the family.

“There are lots of parents who want to experience what their kids have come to know and love about the virtual world of Club Penguin, but it’s easier to gather everyone in the family room than around the computer in the home office,” says Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios. “With Club Penguin Game Day!, we hope to give families new ways to connect, be active and have fun together.”

Club Penguin Game Day! features a collection of 12, all-new Wii exclusive games, including Puffle Paddle, Dance Off and Sumo Smash. Players create and customize a penguin, choose a team color and try to conquer challenges in each of the six zones on the island. The team that takes over the most territory wins.

The game includes innovative ways to connect with the virtual world, allowing players to transfer their penguins, achievements, coins, and exclusive unlockable items to their online accounts. Players can also interact with familiar characters from the virtual world, including Rookie, Aunt Arctic, and Gary the Gadget Guy.

Another feature lets players transfer their customized penguins via their Wii Remote™ to a friend’s Wii for use in game play. Once back on the original console, high scores, coins and customization items earned will merge with the player’s profile.

Kelowna-based Club Penguin launched in 2005 and joined The Walt Disney Company two years later. Today, millions of children and families in more than 190 countries around the world spend time in the popular virtual playground, interacting with friends, exploring, playing games and letting their imaginations soar. Available to play in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, Club Penguin is renowned for its commitment to safe fun.

Club Penguin Game Day! marks Club Penguin’s debut on a video game console, following two successful games for Nintendo DS™. Published by Disney Interactive Studios, Club Penguin Game Day! is rated E for everyone with comic mischief and carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.

THQ Inc. has announced a new addition to its cover Superstars lineup for WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2011, the upcoming release from the renowned simulation-based cornerstone of the company’s WWE videogame portfolio. WWE Hall of Famer and Canada native Bret “Hit Man” Hart®, WWE Superstar and Canada native Edge® and legendary WWE Superstar Undertaker® will be featured on an exclusive limited edition front cover of the videogame throughout Canada for the Xbox® 360 and PlayStation®3. The new artwork will join previously announced regional covers for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, including WWE Superstars John Cena®, Big Show® and The Miz® on the front cover in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India, as well as WWE Superstars Randy Orton®, Undertaker® and Sheamus® on the front cover available throughout Europe. Additional regional covers are expected to be announced later this year.

“Bret Hart, Edge and Undertaker have played instrumental roles in many of WWE’s most memorable moments,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. “WWE has incredible lineage in Canada, and we are pleased to honor these Superstars and our Canadian fans with their own exclusive cover artwork for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011.”

“It is an honor to be featured on the cover of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 and part of a videogame franchise that has become so massive over the years,” said Bret Hart, WWE Hall of Famer. “What really makes this special for me is this cover will be available exclusively in my native country of Canada, and the image captures one of the proudest moments of my career.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Ahead of the October 5th release date for NBA Elite 11, EA Sports has released a playable demo for the latest Burnaby-developed basketball title. The demo already available for download on the Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace for all Xbox LIVE Gold Subscribers. The demo for will be available for PS3 players on the PlayStation®Network on September 22nd, and then available for all Xbox Live Silver Subscribers on September 28th.

In the demo, gamers will get their first chance to try the all-new Hands-On Control system that allows for one-to-one responsiveness and introduces a skill-based shooting system to the basketball videogame genre. Only in NBA Elite 11 will you have the control to pull of exactly the right move at exactly the right time, and hit that buzzer beating shot based on your own skill.

In addition to a having a chance to rewrite history by playing through the 4th quarter of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, the NBA Elite 11 demo will feature modes to help users practice the new Hands-On Control scheme and prepare for the release of NBA Elite 11. These include:

* Tutorial Mode – An interactive tutorial will walk users through the basics of Hands-On Control
* Practice Mode – Like in real life, the more time you spend in the gym the better you will be. In Practice Mode, users will be able to spend as much time as they want practicing Hands-On Control in a virtual gym environment. Have a friend jump on locally and both players can master both the offensive and defensive sides of the Hands-On Control system
* Become Legendary – Start your path to becoming an NBA legend in the demo by creating your character and playing in the Jordan Draft Showcase. Earn XP and carry your character onto the full version of NBA Elite 11 in October. In addition, players who share the demo with friends on Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network will also earn additional XP for their Become Legendary character.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHR7lB9ppr8]

The demo for NBA Elite 11 will also allow users to play the game using a button control scheme, if they so choose. “Like putting in time at the gym, there’s learning curve with Hands-On Control, says David Littman, Creative Director, NBA Elite 11. “But once you feel the difference between Hands-On Control and the traditional button configuration, you’ll understand why we chose the direction we did.” To compare Hands-On Control to the old button configuration, players can switch between the two control schemes in the Lakers-Celtics and Become Legendary portions of the demo by entering the Control Settings section of the Pause menu. Read the rest of this entry »

Edmonton’s Beamdog is happy to announce the availability of great Kalypso games such as Disciples 3, Tropico 3 and Patrician 4.

“I am delighted to form a strategic partnership with Beamdog and look forward to this exciting business development!” says Charlie Barrett Managing Director of Kalypso Media.

“I’ve just started playing Tropico 3 and so far I’m no Fidel. My island people have yet to embrace my doctrine of statue building and banana worship.” rants El Presidente of Beamdog Trent Oster.

Kalypso Media games are available for purchase now, and the offerings on Beamdog’s site includes some free trials.

JoWooD Entertainment, the BVT Group and Toronto’s DreamCatcher Interactive announce details of the planned digital services for ArcaniA – Gothic 4 and therefore react to the needs of the gaming community.

“Digital Rights Management as a module of the digital services has always been a tightrope walk between user friendliness and security of the product. ArcaniA – Gothic 4 is different here” explains Clemens Schneidhofer, JoWooD Entertainment. “With Arcania – Gothic 4 we deliver a high-quality product gamers will enjoy playing for hours. This joy and fun should not be disturbed by intrusive copy protection measures. So SecuROM is the perfect solution for us because it offers the necessary security and at the same time it fulfills our high expectations concerning costumer-friendliness.”

ArcaniA – Gothic 4 can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs and only needs to be activated once via the Internet. To play, which can be done at up to three PCs at a time, neither the original disc nor a constant internet connection is needed. The possibility of an uncomplicated transfer of license between the used PC offers a maximum of flexibility to the customer.

“The implemented digital services will be perfected by a user-friendly Auto Update Feature that informs the gamer pro-actively – without an annoying search – about the availability of a new Update and installs with the permission of the gamer right away” says Sascha Geschwendtner, Product Manager Games Services Sony DADC. “In addition other innovative solutions to increase the usability and the comfort of the game were implemented one of them being the verification of the release date. This feature allows the user to install the game in advance and to start it directly on the release date and therefore helps to avoid unnecessary waiting time to access the game-world.”

The Province of Ontario is helping The Canadian Film Centre, the country’s largest institution for advanced training in film, television and new media, continue its leadership role in developing world-class talent. This training helps Ontarians get jobs in an exciting and growing industry, while giving Ontario’s artists an opportunity to reach a broader audience with their work.

The province is investing $9 million over three years to help expand its acclaimed training programs and further develop Ontario’s screen-based and digital entertainment market. This provincial support builds on a $10 million investment in the film centre announced in 2005, and in 2009, Ontario’s foreign film and television industry contributed $946 million to the provincial economy and The International Indian Film Academy has selected Toronto to be the first North American city to host its annual Weekend and Awards in June 2011.

Growing the creative sector supports the province’s five-year Open Ontario Plan to help seize new global opportunities and turn them into jobs for Ontarians. Two Canadian Film Centre films were selected for the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival: “Champagne” and “How To Rid Your Lover Of A Negative Emotion Caused By You!”

“The Canadian Film Centre has been instrumental in promoting Ontario’s entertainment industry to the world. Our government is proud to support its growth and the key role it plays in developing our cultural industry, which creates thousands of jobs for the province,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture.

“We applaud the government for recognizing the cultural and economic contribution the Canadian Film Centre makes to the province and are grateful for their continued partnership. This investment will help our talent excel at creating innovative content for global audiences,” said Slawko Klymkiw, Executive Director of the Canadian Film Centre.

Electronic Arts Inc. and Hothead Games™ have unleashed the T-rated DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue (T.O.V.), making it available first for the PlayStation®Network on September 21 for $14.99. Those of us who are Xbox LIVE® Arcade users will have to wait until September 22, when we can grab the expansion for 1200 Microsoft Points.

The follow-up to last summer’s award-winning, chart-topping action RPG, DeathSpank: T.O.V. is a fresh new adventure where players hack, slash and shoot their way through mission after mission, in search of the six mystical thongs that are corrupting the universe. Gamers who download DeathSpank: T.O.V. in its first week (see below) will also receive two pieces of free downloadable content, the Snowy Mountain Dungeon, which adds another layer of gameplay and Sidekick Tankko, a cute-and-cuddly ogre who is available as a playable co-op character.

“We took all of the things that people loved about DeathSpank and amped it up a hundred times more,” said Vlad Ceraldi, Director of Game Development at Hothead Games. “DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue is a bigger, deeper, funnier and longer experience. We’ve added more crazy weapons, more areas to explore, more enemies and more thongs!”

DeathSpank: T.O.V. puts players in the mighty boots of DeathSpank in his quest to destroy the six mystical thongs which have corrupted those who wear them, and thus the universe. Players will travel through war-torn country sides, outer space and even the North Pole in an epic battle against an Evil Santa, collecting tons of loot along the way. DeathSpank T.O.V. also includes a local co-op mode, allowing a second player to help in the search for the thongs with either of his two trusty sidekicks, Sparkles the Wizard or Ninjatastic Steve.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iNxpujdHyY]

Owners of DeathSpank: T.O.V. on Xbox Live Arcade will be able to download both the Snowy Mountain Dungeon and Sidekick Tankko DLC for free from September 22 – 28. After that time period is over, the Snowy Mountain Dungeon will be available for 240 Microsoft Points and Sidekick Tankko will be available for 80 Microsoft Points.

Owners of DeathSpank: T.O.V. on PlayStation Network will receive both pieces of DLC when downloading the main game on PSN from September 20 – 27 (or September 22 – 28 depending on when the game is available in certain regions). After that time period is over, the Snowy Mountain Dungeon will be available for $2.99 and Sidekick Tankko will be available for $0.99.

Congratulations to development studio Digital Extremes who has been named as a winner of The Ontario Business Achievement Awards Royal Bank Award for Small Business. Digital Extremes is one of a dozen Ontario companies who have been named provincial winners of The Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAA) and the Ontario Global Traders Awards (OGTA) by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

“These outstanding award winners exemplify business excellence through innovation, export diversity, entrepreneurial spirit and an understanding that the best investment is in their people,” says Len Crispino, President & CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “This is the award winners’ opportunity to step into the spotlight to celebrate success, not only for themselves but, for Ontario.”

Square Enix revealed today that a new premium-quality action figure based on the central character from the Eidos Montreal game Deus Ex: Human Revolution™, Adam Jensen will be the latest addition to the Play Arts® -KAI- series, and will feature newly-augmented Adam Jensen and even more.

“The Square Enix Merchandise Division is dedicated to creating collectible action figures that combine high production value and excellent articulation,” said Kanji Tashiro, Merchandise Director of Square Enix, Inc. “The DEUS EX series has captivated fans across the globe since the first game was released, and we are thrilled and pleased to be making action figures for its latest entry. The game’s truly unique style and visually striking technology provides us with a perfect opportunity to do what we do best: craft a high-quality product that brings to life a vibrant universe.”

For those on the career hunt, Eidos Montreal has several positions open, including that for a Brand Manager.

Ludia and FremantleMedia Enterprises have launched The Price Is Right HD for iPad® on the App Store. Now iPad users can “COME ON DOWN!” to an unparalleled The Price Is Right experience, enhanced with stunning new HD graphics and incorporating Multi-Touch game play. Incorporating all the familiar elements of the beloved TV game show, The Price Is Right HD for iPad puts players in Contestant’s Row to bid on items in order to earn a shot at playing popular pricing games, try their luck at spinning The Big Wheel, and experience the winner-takes-all tension of the Showcase.

“The Price Is Right is one of Ludia’s most successful titles across platforms, and we are thrilled to now bring it to iPad owners in HD,” said Alex Thabet, Founder and CEO of Ludia Inc. “Game show fans can now enjoy immersive and engaging The Price Is Right fun anywhere, thanks to the iPad’s advanced capabilities.”

The Price Is Right HD features:

* Eye-popping HD graphics designed and optimized for the iPad.
* Two game modes: single player and multiplayer.
* Favorite pricing games to play including Plinko, Cliff Hangers, Punch-a-Bunch & many more.
* Authentic stages, Big Wheel, and other game elements combine with familiar music and Rich Fields as announcer to create a true-to-show experience.
* Customizable 3D player avatars: choose hairstyles, clothing, accessories and more.
* Unlock bonus items as a reward for progress in the game.

Astral Media Inc. has launched a campaign that celebrates its contributions to Canadian culture. The two TV messages were conceived by Bos and depict what the film, television and music industries would look like without such crucial financing. Both situations use humor to offset an otherwise very serious issue.

The campaign premiered last week at the opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival, which Astral is a proud sponsor. One of the two trailers was showcased during the Opening Night Gala Presentation of Score: A Hockey Musical, one of 19 Astral supported Canadian Films selected for the 2010 Festival. Other movies include gala presentations of Barney’s Version, A Beginners Guide to Endings, and the Bang Bang Club; and a special presentation of Trigger. Both messages are now airing on Astral’s pay-television and specialty services.

For over 25 years now, Astral has played a leading role in providing private funding for Canadian culture. This dedication to the vitality of our communities and to the arts industry has allowed for ambitious television and film projects to see the light of day, and for now popular musical notes to take flight. Every year, through its pay and specialty TV channels, radio stations and The Harold Greenberg Fund, Astral invests over $170 million in Canadian culture.

“We are fortunate to live in a dynamic, inclusive and creative culture. This unique point of view needs to be nourished and celebrated. We take much pride in the fact that Astral’s investments help great projects come to life, contribute to a creative product of quality, and support the talented artists and artisans behind these projects,” said Derev Antikacioglu, Corporate Marketing Director at Astral.

Astral continues to be the country’s largest private investor in Canadian feature film, funding the development and production of homegrown film and television projects. In the world of music, Astral has worked closely with partners to develop and launch over 20 projects to support Canadian singers, songwriters and performers.

Canadian publisher Wicked Interactive has announced that after an explosively successful closed beta, which Beta Gratis awarded an 8/10 for its gameplay, the free-to-play, online first-person shooter Mission Against Terror (M.A.T.) begins open beta on Sunday, September 19 at 3:00pm EDT sharp.

The open beta, hosted by Wicked Interactive’s SUBA Games platform, will allow gamers to be the first in North America to experience this exciting new title, which has been updated and enhanced thanks to the helpful input of everyone who participated in the closed beta, which ends this week.

“We have been working with Wicked Interactive from the beginning on M.A.T. Their team and dedication to make this game competitive is top-notch,” said Stephen Tucker, CEO, World Online Gaming League (WOGL). “The game has been well-received by our community. We look forward to moving into competition with M.A.T as we turn the corner to open beta.”

“The M.A.T. closed beta community did a wonderful job,” added Sam Ho, Director of Wicked Interactive. “For gamers that did not get a beta key, the wait is finally over! We welcome all gamers out there to join us in enjoying the new modes, new maps and other goodies we’ve added.” Read the rest of this entry »

Interactive entertainment company Ludia and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) have announced that Press Your Luck HD for iPad is now available for $4.99 in the App Store. The game brings an unparalleled Press Your Luck experience to iPad owners, enhanced with stunning new HD graphics and incorporating Multi-Touch game play.

In Press Your Luck HD, players assume the role of one of the three contestants competing to win by answering a series of trivia questions correctly, to earn “spins” on the Big Board of cash and prizes. Whichever player ends the game with the highest earnings wins, while successfully avoiding the dreaded ‘Whammy’ or risking the loss of all winnings.

“Ludia is thrilled to expand our iPad offering on the App Store with another classic game show in HD, starring the famously mischievous Whammy character,” said Alex Thabet, Founder and CEO of Ludia Inc. “Press Your Luck HD brings all the humor and family entertainment of the TV show straight to the screens of iPad owners across North America.”

Press Your Luck HD features:

* Two game modes: single player and multiplayer.
* Hundreds of trivia questions and game play punctuated by dozens of hilarious ‘Whammy’ animations.
* Authentic graphics, stages, Big Board, and other game elements combined with familiar music and sound effects to create a true-to-show game experience.
* Customizable 3D player avatars: choose hairstyles, clothing, accessories and more.
* Unlock bonus items as a reward for progress in the game.

“We are pleased that the millions of Press Your Luck television game show fans will now be able to enjoy their very own Press Your Luck HD game experience, thanks to thrilling devices like the iPad,” added Olivier Delfosse, Director of Interactive for program licensor FME. “

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that a fully playable demo of EA Sports™ FIFA Soccer 11 is available to download beginning today for the PlayStation®3, for the Xbox 360® Xbox Live Gold Members from Xbox Live Marketplace and for PC. Xbox Live Silver Members will have access to the demo beginning September 23.

Play as Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Olympique Lyonnais and experience how FIFA Soccer 11 reinvents player authenticity–on and off the ball–with all-new Personality+. Individual abilities are now reflected in-game, allowing clear differentiation for every player on the pitch. Plus, experience true freedom in man-to-man interactions with 360° Fight for Possession that transforms physical play from lateral jostling to full 360° collisions and new Pro Passing, where pass accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability on the control pad, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch. The FIFA Soccer 11 demo features an exhibition match with 3 minute halves in Real Madrid’s home stadium, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and users will be able to upload created in-game videos to EA SPORTS Football World. Fans who go to Facebook® to play EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars and complete achievements will receive exclusive access to Arsenal and Emirates Stadium to play in the FIFA Soccer 11 demo.

EA SPORTS today also unveiled its global lineup of international stars that will adorn FIFA Soccer 11 packaging and be integrated into marketing and advertising campaigns around the world. FIFA Soccer 11 will be localized into 18 languages and available in 51 countries. Led by the 28-year-old Brazilian, Kaka, the 17 global superstars hail from 15 countries, represent 14 different teams and play in 9 international leagues, an ideal match for the World’s best-selling* sports videogame. With 2 FIFA World Cup™ titles, 5 Champions League titles, 32 national championships and 1 European title, EA SPORTS presents the strongest team of cover athletes it has ever assembled for its FIFA Soccer franchise.

“It is a great honor to unite so many exceptional players on the FIFA Soccer 11 team of cover athletes,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President of Soccer, EA SPORTS. “This mix of superstars from all over the world, each with their own unique style and passion for the game, and their different kind of amazing playing styles perfectly represents what FIFA Soccer 11 stands for – a true authentic and global game of unprecedented quality.”

Capcom and Blue Castle Games have made two big announcements at the Tokyo Game Show. The biggest news of course was the formal acquisition of Blue Castle Games by Capcom, with the studio becoming Capcom Games Studio Vancouver. Speaking at Capcom’s TGS press conference, Blue Castle president Rob Barrett stated that “We’re really honoured that Inafune sees such potential in us, and we take this responsibility very seriously.”

Also announced at the press conference was the next downloadable content expansion for the Dead Rising franchise. Complimenting Dead Rising 2™: Case Zero, Dead Rising 2: Case West will extend the Dead Rising 2 experience by delivering brand new content and the return of a familiar face. Available exclusively on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment system following the release of Dead Rising 2™, Dead Rising 2: Case West will see Frank West team up with Chuck Greene for some serious co-op action. In co-op mode, Xbox LIVE®Gold members will see the two protagonists delve deeper into the reasons behind the Fortune City outbreak and provide further links to the Willamette incident.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy5JQy4HHTg]