CNM Update

FUN Technologies’ foreign affairsToronto-headquartered FUN Technologies plc, a provider of online entertainment for the casual gaming market, has been busy abroad inking new deals with distributors in the United States and Denmark. South of the border, FUN subsidiary SkillJam Technologies Corp. signed a "comprehensive" agreement to create a private-label gaming platform for Waltham MA-based search engine and portal powerhouse Lycos Inc. The "pay-for-play" platform will be developed and maintained by SkillJam, and be hosted at Lycos’ Gamesville.com Web property. Players will be able to choose per-use, subscription, or download transaction options, and will also be able to interact through leader boards, avatars and self-administered "leagues" of gamers. In a media release announcing the deal, FUN Technologies CEO Lorne Abony hailed the "end-to-end" contract as the firm’s "first ‘360-degree solution for skill-based casual gaming." In Europe, meanwhile, FUN and SkillJam EU Ltd. – SkillJam’s European operation – entered into an agreement with TV2 Denmark A/S, that country’s largest commercial TV network and a leading Internet portal operator. Under the terms of the two-year contract, SkillJam EU will create a custom offering for TV2 and integrate it into the broadcaster’s existing gaming channel, "TV2 Spil." Gamers there will be able to compete for cash and other prizes online, and will also be offered subscription and download options. iUpload brings blogging to CTVBurlington ON blogging software firm iUpload is the force behind CTV Inc.’s election blog, the firm recently announced. CTV’s Election 2006 Campaign Connection is an open forum where CTV reporters and staffers, political experts and other bloggers covering the election can interact and post their analyses and predictions; other functions, such as submitting news items and photos, are open to the general public. IUpload’s content management and blogging software powers the site. CNMA revamps websiteThe online presence of the Canadian New Media Awards got a facelift over the holidays. The new site boasts a cleaner, more intuitive look that puts key information such as sponsoring organizations and important dates up front, the CNMA said in a media release. Information on the 2006 edition of the awards will be added to the website in the near future. Chalk enlists aid of US partnerAfter reporting weaker third-quarter 2005 earnings last month (CNM Update, Dec. 14/05), Vancouver-based Chalk Media Corp. said in a media release it has signed a "strategic alliance" with Intelligent Decisions Inc. of Ashburn VA. The agreement will see the US firm gain a stake in Chalk Media – a provider of interactive learning solutions – through a series of performance-based warrants. If Intelligent Decisions helps to secure US$10 million worth of sales for Chalk Media, it will gain up to 6,750,000 warrants, each redeemable for one common share in Chalk Media at US$0.20 per share. Intelligent Decisions was also granted the right to buy up to US$1 million worth of shares in Chalk Media at today’s prices, an option exercisable anytime before September 30, 2007. The agreement expires in two years. Intelligent Decisions is a supplier of e-learning content management software to the US government. Decoder Ring melds old and newToronto’s Decoder Ring Theatre takes us back to the halcyon days of radio with the second installment of its podcast drama series. Based on a play first performed at Toronto’s Fringe Theatre Festival in 2001, "Black Jack Justice" features the adventures of 1930s film noir detective Jack and his sidekick Trixie Dixon. The six-episode run is already underway, but shows will be archived at the Radio Memories Network, http://radiomemories.libsyn.com/rss. FiQ awards celebrate their 20thThe Fédération de l’informatique du Québec, the province’s largest volunteer technology network with 2,600 members, has begun work on the 20th edition of its annual OCTAS awards. The main event will be held at the Centre des congrès de Québec in Quebec City on May 27, and will be presided over by this year’s honorary president, Ubisoft Canada president and general manager Martin Tremblay. Until March 6, members can vote for their top picks in 14 categories including online training and development, project management, multimedia, and business process transformation. More information at http://www.fiq.qc.ca. Digifest 2006 goes ‘Mod’The annual Digifest design and art festival has taken on a ‘Mod’ theme, meaning everything from "modern" to "modified." Until January 31, interested parties across Canada can enter their work under one of three categories: Interactive, Performative and Conceptual. Up to a dozen finalists will be invited to showcase their work at Toronto venues including the Harbourfront Centre, Ontario Science Centre and Design Exchange during the working week of May 10 to 14.

CNM Update

News | 01/12/2006 5:00 am EST

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