CNM Short Takes

NAD games program now offered in EnglishThe National Animation & Design Centre in Montreal is now offering its Design and 3D Animation for Game Design course in English. To date, 366 graduates have graduated from the program. The first English session will begin in January 2006. In other NAD news, the school is upgrading its equipment this summer, including with new 64-bit double process PC workstations. "Updating our lab to higer technology standards will most certainly raise the image quality, but will also demand much more precision to the artist, on applied textures for example," reads the May 27 issue of the centre’s email newsletter. Canada behind on software piracy: CAASTThe Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST) has announced the findings of its most recent global software piracy survey. The study notes that Canada’s "piracy rate" has climbed by 1% to stand at 36% in 2004, while the world piracy rate declined to 35% in the same period. CAAST says the effect of the piracy is to cost the Canadian economy $1.1 billion in lost retail sales of software. Globally, CAAST says, the impact of software piracy was $41 billion in 2004. Canada was one of 34 countries where the group found increased levels of software piracy. A copy of the survey is available on the CAAST web site at www.caast.org. High-def Sith available in Waterloo and CambridgeGalaxy Cinemas is trumpeting the availability of the widely-anticipated Revenge of the Sith Star Wars movie in high-definition at two of its theatres in Waterloo and Cambridge ON. The film will be shown on two of the only five high-def digital projectors in the country. "The stunning presentation is greater quality than high-definition and unbelievably clear and sharp. In particular, the Christie CP2000, arguably the most advanced digital projector available in the market, offers 2K resolution (greater than 1920 pixels per frame) that can be projected onto screens 50 feet wide and 26 feet high with precise clarity," reads a Galaxy Cinemas media release. Parent Cineplex Galaxy LP operates 86 theatres in six provinces across Canada with a total of 775 screens under the Galaxy and Cinplex Odeon brand names. 300 gaming companies in Canada, NRC survey revealsA study conducted by New Media BC for the National Research Council shows that there are over 300 gaming companies in Canada, the majority of which are developers. The survey was conducted through last fall and this winter (CNM, April 15/05) According to NMBC’s findings, B.C is the largest gaming hub in the country, with 44% of companies that were found, with Ontario and Quebec coming close behind. Almost all of the companies surveyed expect to hire more employees in the next 12 months, and 43% of companies expect to experience more than 10% growth in revenue next year. Proprietary technology was being developed by 55% of the companies surveyed. North America, followed by Europe and China are the most important markets for the respondents. A map similar to the one developed for the digital content sector has been produced to chart the individaul companies by business category and geographical location. "These maps are designed to help international audiences understand Canada’s vast video game capabilities," said NRC industrial technology advisor Jerome Kashetsky in a media release. "It’s important for people to grasp the depth of this thriving industry and realize that Canadian companies are global leaders in video game development." For-fee music downloaders double: NEWADThe number of young, active Canadians engaged in fee-based music downloading doubled from 2003 to 2004, according to Montreal research firm NEWAD. The stat comes from NEWAD’s survey of 12,000 of what it calls the "Valuable Active Crowd." These are young, urban Canadians often considered the "in" crowd. Trademark applications filedUbicom Inc., Mountain View, CA, has filed for trademark protection to the mark "UBICOM32" The mark would be used in connection with home entertainment networking equipment. Thomson Canada Ltd. has filed for protection to the term "CARSWELLREFERENCELIBRARY", which it says would be used in connection with an online service providing access to legal and other analysis on a subscription basis. Siebel Systems Inc. has filed for protection for the mark "ONTARGET," which it says will be used for online training programs. Best Buy adopts strict sales policy on violent gamesBest Buy, the giant American electronics and entertainment retailer, has adopted a tough new policy to restrict the sale of mature-rated video games to children and teens. The measure was taken as an alternative to adopting a shareholder resolution put forward by Christian Brothers Investment Services Inc. that would have forced Best Buy to publicly disclose its position on violent video game sales. Best Buy’s new policy will include mystery shopper programs to ensure cashier compliance with age identification checking, an agreement to be signed by Best Buy employees indicating they’ve read and agree to implement the policy, as well as disciplinary actions against employees who sell violent video games to minors. Signs about age requirements will also be posted; cash registers will prompt cashiers to ask for ID when video games are sold; and, training sessions will also be held. "Once a company like best Buy sets out and then publicly discloses a policy like this, it allows concerned shareholders and others to monitor their compliance. by engaging with companies and industry associations on this issue, we believe that shareholders can help companies develop systems that ensure the sale of age-appropriate video games to consumers," said Cathy Rowan, a co-filer of the resolution on behalf of Trinity Health, in a news release. Strike referenda mailed to SAG, AFTRA membersScreen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Televison and Radio Artists (AFTRA) members who have worked in the gaming industry were mailed ballots on May 24 to decide whether or not to go on strike over the failure of the unions and video game producers to come to an agreement since February 15. Their current contracts expired on December 2004. The unions have broken off talks as they say producers have refused to consider implementing profit-sharing schemes. Last year, nine of the top ten best-selling video games were produced under union contracts. The unions are asking for a "modest" profit-sharing on games that sell more than 400,000 units, which in 2004 would have covered fewer than 30 games in all. A 75% vote is required by SAG, and two-thirds majority by AFTRA to trigger a strike. The leaders of both unions have urged members to vote in favour of a work stoppage.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | May 30, 2005

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