Six confirmed cases of swine flu in Canada

Recently, 6 cases of the Swine Flu have been confirmed - In British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Apparently it came from incoming flights from Mexico, but the people that were diagnosed were not even hospitilized due to the flu's inability to majorly effect them. Health officals still warn that even though its ineffective right now, we should not just assume that it won't get worse in the future.

For more information check out this link:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090426/health/health_swine_flu_canada

Conficker virus begins to attack

The virus known as Conflicker (also called Downadup or Kido) has finally started to invade PC's according to experts. Apparently it secretly installs spyware programs on your computer and sends out spam with a false anti-spyware program. All of this is done without the users knowledge.

For more information check out this link:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090424/tecnology/ctech_us_security_virus

Xbox 360 Games of the Year bundle

Microsoft recently announced that starting in May they will be releasing the Xbox 360 Gmae of the Year bundle. This heafty package includes everything you would normally get with a regular Elite package, but also includes a free copy of Halo 3 and Fable 2. The price is still $400.00 US. If you need a Xbox 360 Elite, now would be the time to get it!

Resident Evil 5: Versus Mode now available

The Versus Mode downloadable content for Resident Evil 5 was finally released on the Xbox Live Marketplace a few days ago. It will cost you 400 Microsoft Points.

Conficker finally on the move

On April 9th, the Conflicker virus (which was launched on April 1st) finally began to show some activity. So far all it seems to do is search some random sites to see if the user has an internet connection and then it deletes itself. Although some people believe that it doesn't actually delete itself; they think it just stays hidden on your PC.

More information can be found here:
http://ca.tech.yahoo.com/experts/chrisnull/article/3401

Resident Evil 5: Versus Mode delayed for North America?

According to a Capcom announcement, the Japan version of Resident Evil 5's Versus Mode downloadable content has been delayed until April. This delay might also affect the North American release date as well.

Halo 3: One Billion games played

Recently, Bungie announced that Halo 3 has had over One Billion games played since its launch in 2007. This number even tops their previous game Halo 2 in games played, and that was released in 2004. Clearly people are playing a lot more Halo 3 than they were Halo 2.

Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack release date

Halo 3's new and popular "Mythic Map Pack" finally has a release date for those who didn't purchase the Halo Wars Collector's Edition or win a code in any of the multiple contests that were held since before Halo Wars was even released. The "Mythic Map Pack" will be hitting the Xbox Live Marketplace on April 9th, 2009 and will cost 800 Microsoft Points. Be sure to start saving those points so that you can download the maps on the first day and pwn some noobs!

New Moon currently in Coquitlam

The sequel to the popular movie and book "Twilight" is currently being filmed in Coquitlam. I don't know exactly where but its in a park (go on YouTube and look it up. You should find out where it is there). If you live nearby, drive down for a chance to see someone from the film.

Twilight sequels being filmed in Vancouver

According to an article in "The Province" newspaper, the sequels to the popular "Twilight" movie are going to be filmed back to back in Vancouver, British Columbia. The two movies that will be filmed in Vancouver are "New Moon" and "Eclipse". Filming for "New Moon" starts in March and ends in May.

Grand Theft Auto 4: Lost and Damned DLC

On February 17th the new downloadable content (DLC) for Grand Theft Auto 4 comes out. In Lost and Damned, you play as Johnny Klebliz and you are in a biker gang.

More information and pictures can be found here:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/g/grandtheftautoiv/lostanddamned/

New Call of Duty: World at War Downloadable Content announced

On February 10th, new downloadable content was announced for the ever popular Call of Duty: World at War. This new content includes 4 new maps, which are called Nightfire, Station, Knee Deep, and a new map for the Nazi Zombies bonus mode called Verrückt (or Zombie Asylum). These new maps will be releasing sometime in March.


More info about the new maps can be found here: http://www.callofduty.com/intel/189

Fallout 3 Downloadable Content pushed back

Recently, the Broken Steel downloadable content for Fallout 3 (which is supposed to get released in mid-March) is going to be released in mid-April instead. The reason for this is unknown, but some people say that it's because they want to release their other downloadable content first. Broken Steel is an important expansion as it allows the player to continue the main quest, and most importantly, it extends the players maximum level to 30 instead of 20.

Mythic Map Pack: Sandbox revealed

Bungie recently showed off their last map of the Mythic Map Pack to the public. This map is called Sandbox. Sandbox is "a map unlike any we have ever made before" says one of the designers of it. The reason why its so unique is that not only will players be able to play on the ground, they will be able to play in the sky as well. Sandbox lets players build maps in Forge in the Skybox, something that the halo community has been doing through tricking since the game was released 2 years ago. With this new ability, players will no longer need to trick in order to make their floating objects.

The Mythic Map Pack will cost 800 Microsoft points (around $10.00) and will be released March 3rd. You can also get the Mythic Map Pack for free and one week early when you buy the Halo Wars Collector's Edition, or you can wait until Halo 3 ODST gets released in the fall and get ALL the map packs for free plus 3 exclusive maps.

If you want to see some screen shots of the maps, follow this link: http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/asset_thumb_viewer.aspx?at=59&cc=21

C++

We have started work with the program called C++ this week. Hopefully it will be easier then the other programs we are currently working with.

Resident Evil 5 Collector's Edition

As the launch date for Resident Evil 5 gets closer, details about a collectors edition of the game have been released. The collectors edition (which was previously only thought to be avaliable in Japan) comes with:

-Chris Redfield Figurine
-Tricell Messenger Bag
-BSAA Patch
-Kijuju Keychain
-Bonus Disc including a making-of featurette, a digital art gallery and a trailer for Resident Evil Degeneration
-The game and bonus disc come packed in a Special Collector's Steel Book Case.

The price is kinda high ($89.99 US) but if your a fan, you've already pre-ordered this version.

SpeakEasy Speed Test

Have you ever wondered how fast your downloading and uploading speeds are? Well now you can find out! This website allows you to test your internet connection speeds in a matter of seconds, and all you have to do is click on one of the eight regions your closest to. My download speed is 548 kbps (KiloBits Per Second) and my uploading speed is 483 kbps. Yeah I know, mine sucks. Lets see if yours is better!

Follow this link to start your speed test: http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Halo 3: ODST; Another Bungie Success?

With the success of Halo 3, game developer Bungie Studios is making yet another Halo game to add to the series. Halo 3: ODST (formally known as Halo 3: Recon) takes place during Halo 2 in a now ruined New Mombasa in a city called Kenya. Although this game is very different from previous titles. You don't play as the Master Chief. Instead you play as an ODST Lance Corporal, who goes by the name of "The Rookie." According to recent information, the player must search for beacons across the city of New Mombasa, and it is up to the player how they get to the specific location, which gives the game an open-world feeling that is new for the series. When you find one of these objects, they send the player back in time to find out what happened to one of your four squadmates (their names are: Mickey, Dutch, Romeo, and Buck). Along with this new play style, you also lose the ability to duel-wield weapons and other things.

I think that this new style of play will be a great success for Bungie, and a fun and challenging game for all Halo fans. Halo 3: ODST is Preparing to Drop in Fall of 2009.

Resident Evil 5

March is a important month for Resident Evil fans. The 13th of March is the launch day of Resident Evil 5, continuing the story that has lasted for years! The game will be available exclusively for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 (Sorry Wii owners!). This game keeps the play style of Resident Evil 4, except your partner isn't helpless...or a blonde. The main character of the game is Chris Redfield and it takes place in Africa. Chris has moved on from STARS and has joined a new organization, the BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) and is assigned to an African village because of a mutagenic virus that got distributed in it. As I said above, you get a new team mate...who actually helps! Chris teams up with Sheva Alomar, the BSAA's West African Branch operative. Together, they must find out what happend to the village...and meet some familier faces along the way.

P.S. I have played the demo of this game, and I can tell you that its extreamly fun! You only get two levels, but for a demo, it feels like the game is already finished! It is very well put together. If you have the Wii version of Resident Evil 4, the controls for this game might seem difficult the first few times you play.

Halo Wars Collector's Edition

Click image to Enlarge

For any Halo fan, the Collector's Edition of Halo Wars is clearly a must buy. The Standard Edition is comes with the usual (case, disc, instruction booklet), but the Collector's Edition explodes with content like a Spike Grenade! The Collector's Edition includes all of the following:

-The Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack
-Halo Wars: Genesis (a graphic novel)
-A Unique In-game Vehicle (The “Honor Guard” Wraith)
-Six Leader Cards
-Spirit of Fire Patch

With all of these extra items, its pretty obvious as to why a fan would want this edition instead of the Standard Edition.