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Looking for the coolest site on the Internet? Sorry can’t help you.

But this one’s OK: www.canadiangeekspeak.com

Canadian success waddles onto DS

By David Wylie

Canwest News Service

The march of Canada’s colourful penguins has continued all the way to the top of video game sales charts.

The journey to the release of Disney Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force for the Nintendo DS is a fairy tale success story.

In 2005, three Kelowna, B.C., residents decided to launch a virtual world in which penguins are used to represent community members. All were parents who wanted a safe place online where their kids could interact with others.

Word of Club Penguin spread quickly, gathering millions of users before the popular site caught the eye of Walt Disney Co.

Captivated by Club Penguin’s ability to attract and retain users, Disney bought the icy online paradise – designed for kids aged six to 14 – in 2007 for $350 million US.

Now, 18 months later, Club Penguin’s success continues to snowball with the newly released DS game, which is currently one of the best-selling North American titles for the hand-held console.

Call of Juarez prequel set in Civil War

Ubisoft just announced it’s going to publish a prequel to Call of Juarez.

The game, titled Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, will be set in part during the Civil War, which is definitely different from the usual settings.

Here’s what Ubisoft Canada general manager Olivier Ernst said in a statement: “Call of Juarez was well received by gamers and critics. We’re confident this new collaboration with Techland will bring an even bigger and better adventure to fans of shooters and the lawless Wild West.”

Ubisoft said Bound in Blood will transport players from “a ravaged Civil War-era Georgia to the Aztec ruins of Mexico.”

Sony’s Smackdown

Is Sony tired of demands for a price cut?

I had an interesting news release from Sony waiting in my inbox this week.

Interesting is a word I use when I mean something more than interesting; this media release was more accurately an attempted smackdown.

The last paragraph of the news release sent Thursday pretty much sums it up: “So as PS3 continues to evolve without the need for additional parts or expenses, expect the competition to continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up with the Jones’.”

Just can’t get enough

Games I currently can’t stop playing:

• Fable 2 — I have a hard time putting this one down. It’s been a long time since I picked up and RPG-type game, and I’ve forgotten how enveloping they can be.
• NHL 09 — Still can’t get over how much playing this game is like watching a hockey game. I want to try out a match with 12 players total.
• Halo 3 — Feels like this game has been out forever now, but it’s still fun to pop online for a few matches.

Canadian company acquires largest game studio in South America

Wanako Games made the Xbox Live Arcade title Assault Heroes 2.

Canada’s biggest independent game developer has gobbled up a Chilean game studio that specializes in titles for Microsoft.

Montreal-based Artificial Mind and Movement made the announcement late Thursday that it had acquired Wanako Games, which is the first and largest game studio in South America.

It changes hands from Activision Blizzard. Details of the deal were not released.

“The acquisition of Wanako Games is an opportunity to work with an experienced, motivated team, and to add successful downloadable games to our portfolio, including Assault Heroes 2 and 3D Ultra Mini Golf 2,” said Remi Racine, A2M’s president and CEO.

Racine said the addition of downloadable content has been part of the company’s growth strategy.

“We couldn’t miss this opportunity to provide A2M with a strong foot hold in the downloadable space and access to a great talent pool,” he added.

The company said it will now be able to expand its offering across Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network.

A2M specializes in family games, such as Happy Feet, Ant Bully and Spider Man: Friend or Foe.

“The complementarities of our titles, target markets and technologies, combined with our understanding of the licence-based development, are paving the way to a solid alliance between the studios,” said Tiburcio de la Carcova, head of Wanako Studio. “In addition, we have developed relationships with prestigious universities and art schools in Chile, which will bring new approaches and favor exchange between the two cities.”

Never mind choosing good or evil, Fable 2 is making me a procrastinator

Actually not really. But I am having trouble putting the game down so I can pop other games into my Xbox for review. Not that Shaun White Snowboarding isn’t a frolicking good time – it’s fun and has been given a bum rap by some of the other reviewers (Gamespot). It’s just that Fable 2 is addictive; a hero’s gotta woo his future wife, get married, have some kids, find some treasure, slay some bad guys, learn some spells… you get the idea.

You’re in the Movies: review

You’re in the Movies will make you feel like a star . . . but not the Hollywood kind, more like those who appear in horribly scripted B-movies.

Yet that’s part of the charm in this unique game, which hit stores Tuesday. In fact, that’s how the title is being pitched.

Scene It? a smash hit

Trivia time: What movie is this quote from?

“You kids today with your loud music, and Dan Fogelberg, Zima, Hula Hoops, and your Pac Man video games.”

1. Tommy Boy

2. Gone in 60 Seconds

3. Man of La Manch

4. BASEketball

Scene It? Box Office Smash is the benchmark for movie trivia video games. This game is just plain fun. And even for those who don’t know that the answer to the above question is number 4, the Xbox 360 title is still a riot.

Ms. Pacman eating up video game world

When Marcie McIndoe found herself on maternity leave during a snowy Ontario winter, she turned to the world of video games for fun and friendship.

“Gaming has provided a major social outlet for me,” she says. “I was on maternity leave all winter. And when there are feet of snow outside, to be able to turn on the Xbox and laugh with friends is such a joy, and a necessary one.” McIndoe, 33, is no longer considered an anomaly in what was once a testosterone-dominated digital world. About half of those who play who play video games are female, according to recent surveys in both Canada and the U.S.