Toronto Thumbs

BARGAIN ALERT!
120 GB PS3 With Two Great Games For $299

I’m not one to usually post about gaming deals. But with this coming weekend being the start of Boxing Day sale madness here in Canada, and since a new stack of flyers were just delivered to my door, I figured, “What the heck.”

So far, I’ve only skimmed the deals briefly. But this one looks to be the biggest and best. Walmart will be selling the PlayStation 3 120 GB as a bundle with two blockbuster titles: Batman: Arkham Asylum and inFAMOUS. Considering this version of the PS3 usually sells for this same price minus the games, this deal gets the thumbs up. The only downside here is that you have to go to Walmart to get it. One could always try to price match elsewhere, though. If you’re looking for a PS3, still, this is definitely a deal to watch.

Posted in Awesome, Bargains, Canada, PlayStation 3 | 3 Comments »

MADE OF SOAP (AND WIN)!
Peter Project’s “FRESH” EP

I’m a huge fan of people doing things differently. Take Toronto-based hip-hop DJ/beat maker Peter Project, for instance. His new Fresh EP is not only fresh in the sense that the cuts are new, but also in the sense that it’s a download embedded into a bar of soap! Granted, the EP is also available sans-soap, but how cool a play on the oft-used term, “Fresh!”

I’m not sure I’d want to use the soap just to get to the download code. But this is more a reflection of my pack rat/hoarder mentality and less because I don’t like being clean. The soap itself sounds like it’s pretty awesome. It’s handmade and naturally scented. Given the fact that there are plenty of sweaty dudes at Toronto shows who don’t appear to realize how horrible they smell, getting people to clean themselves by any form of trickery seems like a great idea to me.

While I have yet to hear the entire Fresh EP, I can guarantee you it’s awesome. Considering I had nothing but praise for Peter Project’s self-titled album when I reviewed it for Popshifter earlier this year, I have the utmost confidence that the Fresh EP delivers the goods despite its short length. But don’t take my word for it; just listen to “Unorthadox,” a preview track from the EP that features More or Les throwing it down over Peter’s beats. There’s also this sampling that features a mix of sounds from the Fresh EP. Then there’s the video Peter recently posted that shows him cutting up some beats with a newly broken arm.

The Fresh EP can be purchased online at the Fuzzy Logic Recordings shop.

Posted in Art, Awesome, Canada, Indie, Music, TORONTO | 1 Comment »

ZAZZY!
PlayStation.ca Gets a New Look

For the first time since its launch a few years back, PlayStation.ca has received a major overhaul. Kyle Moffatt, Senior Public Relations Specialist, Sony Computer Entertainment Canada, announced the redesign today on the PlayStation blog.

The new PlayStation.ca has a cool new interface allowing visitors easier access to information about not only Triple-A titles, but also about various consoles, hardware, news, and special events. Each game title featured on the site is accompanied by big, bold visuals, including game screenshots and videos.

Apart from the redesign, content has now been grouped in blocks, which help connect similar pieces of connect. SCEC is also planning additional unique content for the site in the near future. With this new look and site information structure update, PlayStation.ca has become the best of the three console manufacturers’ Canadian public portals.

Posted in Canada, News Bytes, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSN, PSP | No Comments »

LATEST MAG BETA AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
Next Beta Wave Starts Jan 4, 2010

Starting today, Canadian PS3 owners can download the latest version of MAG. The giant-scale online game kicks off its next beta wave from January 4 – 10, 2010. This time around, however, players won’t need a special code or presale voucher to participate. The download will occupy approximately 1.8 to 2.3 GB of data on your system’s hard drive

Although the MAG beta download is available now, it’s important to note that you won’t be able to actually play it until the beta servers are brought online at 5 a.m. PT on Monday, January 4, 2010. In the meantime, however, I recommend getting the download out of the way soon. This way, you won’t be trying to get it at the last minute. Full details about MAG and its next beta are up at the official PlayStation blog. The full version of the game will be available January 26 in North America.

No need to thank us for this advice; we just like helping.

Posted in Canada, PlayStation 3, PSN | No Comments »

Tiny Cartridge Interview
Capybara Games talks about Clash of Heroes

The crew over at Tiny Cartridge recently had the opportunity to chat about Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes with the game’s developers, Toronto-based Capybara Games. Co-founder/President Nathan Vella and co-lead designer Greg Georgiadis had a lot to say about not only the game, but a variety of other interesting subjects. Their discussion covers topics such as the industry’s movement away from pixel art, developing for the DS versus the PSP, and being an independent studio working for a bigger publisher. It’s a great read, so go check it out!

Posted in Canada, Indie, Interviews, News Bytes, TORONTO | No Comments »

Flash Focus
Nintendo of Canada’s Holiday Snowball Toss

Now here’s neat take on the holiday greeting card: Nintendo of Canada’s Holiday Snowball Toss game has players throwin’ snow at the Koopa gang and other baddies. The somewhat minimalist game only takes about 30 seconds to play, but it’s a fun and cute 30 seconds since it’s full of sights and sounds from New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

See how many members of Mario’s rogue gallery you can take out. My record is 620 points!

Play Holiday Snowball Toss »

Posted in Awesome, Canada, Flash Focus, Nintendo | 3 Comments »

Game with Fame
Play Tony Hawk Ride with Tony Hawk

If you’ve ever wanted to skate with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, you’ll have your chance December 2, 2009, when he logs on to Xbox LIVE to play Tony Hawk Ride with Canadian gamers

Xbox Canada is asking interested gamers to add the Gamertag TonyHawkGWF to their friends lists and to be online at 7:30 p.m. ET on December 2, just before the Game with Fame session begins.

Additional details can be found at the Facebook page for this event. If I had the game, I’d be all over this. As it is, I almost break something every time I’ve stepped on a skateboard, so it’s probably a good thing I don’t own it.

Posted in Awesome, Canada, Events, News Bytes, Xbox 360 | No Comments »

Event Re-cap
Gamercamp Wows, Leaves Me Wanting More

Organizers Jaime Woo and Mark Rabo welcome the crowd. Photo by Gavin Hay from the Gamercamp Flickr Pool.

Saturday’s Gamercamp was unlike any other gaming-related gathering I have attended. Since many of them are sponsored by software and console manufacturers and used to promote upcoming big-budget titles from studios with hundreds of employees, the contrast provided by Gamercamp was both refreshing and much needed.

Instead, the event celebrated local talent and featured demonstrations of upcoming indie games as well as insights from successful indie developers about the creative process, business decisions, and team dynamics. Gamercamp was a casual gathering with snack and chat breaks punctuating demonstrations and lectures.

During these breaks I was fortunate to meet with several local gamers and writers, many for the first time, to talk about gaming and other geeky subjects. Among these personalities were the amicable Imaginary Thomas (who was making his annual public appearance), Lori Dance and Dave Waisglass from the new and awesome game blog A Couple of Gamers, Don Tam from GameNorth.ca, Will Perkins and Lucas Rizoli from Dork Shelf, Ry-Tron and Nadine from Aboot Play, Zack Kotzer from Steel Bananas, and Jaime Woo and Mark Rabo, the minds behind Gamercamp.

What was surprising and most humbling was hearing from people who’ve read Toronto Thumbs and enjoyed the site – so to those of you who expressed kind words, thanks again.

Read the rest »

Posted in Arcade, Art, Awesome, Canada, Events, Indie, TORONTO | 7 Comments »

PILOT PROJECT
Nerdland Has Irresistable Charm

By the time you read this, Nerdland may no longer be the first video you see on thedetour.ca. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see it. Nerdland is just one of 10 pilot episodes being debuted online by TELETOON Detour on their official site and on tvguide.ca. With a new show debuting each week, chances are if you’re into absurd comedy, you’ll find something you’ll like.

Nerdland, which was filmed in Toronto, is the fourth show released via the Pilot Project and is so far my favourite of the bunch. The episode chronicles the misadventures of a group of lovable nerds who, despite being brought to life in stop-motion, are surprisingly real. Odds are you can identify with at least one of the characters, or know someone who is eerily similar to one of the nerds. It even pokes fun at elitist video game bloggers.

Watch it now »

Posted in Awesome, Canada, Cartoons | 4 Comments »

WEEKEND EVENT
Xbox Canada Community Birthday Party

The team over at GeneralGames.ca has been plotting and scheming a kick-ass party to celebrate the thriving Xbox Canada community on Saturday, November 14 at Strathcona Hotel Bar in downtown Toronto.

If you’ve ever played these guys online, you know they’re all about talking trash – so consider this your opportunity to talk trash and have some good laughs with them the olde-fashioned way: in-person. Besides food, friends, and drink, the party will have a raffle and auction for some awesome prizes, with all proceeds going to the Child’s Play charity.

If you’re interested in attending, just say so in the comments of this post on GeneralGames.ca. You can also find additional details about the party there.

Posted in Awesome, Canada, Events, Xbox 360 | 1 Comment »