GAMETIME: Saskatoon developer elevates Canada’s wartime efforts from 'footnote in the pages of history'
A locally produced video game is on the ballot for Best Learning Game in the Games for Change awards.
Radio General, a Second World War strategy game, is produced by Michael Long, who runs his own solo independent company in Saskatoon called Foolish Mortals.
“Unlike other strategy games where you can see where your units are, you can’t see where they are at all. You have to actually to ask them over the radio by speaking into your microphone and giving them commands,” Long says.
Long says it’s meant to simulate what communication might have been like during the war, when phones and radios were the only way get information.
He adds the game has a strong educational focus to help people learn about the role of Canadians, as the game includes real historical photos, videos and documents.
“We do give out free CD keys for educational purposes and the game is currently being used in a few local public high schools for their World War Two history module.”
The player also controls Canadian troops, something Long says is rare in the genre.
“I’m a fan of World War Two games and such, and basically none of them cover Canada. We’re always lumped in with the British. We did serve with their armies and stuff, but we’re always lumped in with them, and other games like Call of Duty also always focus on you know, the Americans, the Russians, the British. The Canadians barely get like a footnote in the pages of history.
“So I thought it would be really cool to make a game about Canada since I’m from Canada.”
Long says Radio General has been a commercial success as well, getting about 16,000 downloads on Steam.
Release date for new Atari console
The Atari VCS console is being released June 15 in the United States.
A news release says the system will be available via Best Buy, GameStop, Micro Center and the official Atari VCS website.
“This retail launch follows the different phases of pre-order deliveries initiated in late December 2020. The Atari VCS Onyx Base systems start at $299.99 USD, while Atari VCS Black Walnut and Onyx All-In system bundles include the Atari VCS Classic Joystick (available separately for $59.99) and Atari VCS Modern Controller (also $59.99) for $399.99 USD,” says the news release.
The Atari VCS will have support for 4K resolution, 60FPS, onboard and expandable storage, Bluetooth 5.0 and USB 3.0 support.
However, few details have been mentioned about whether Canada is included in the U.S. release.
NASCAR announces partnership to offer esports and gaming scholarships
If you’re interested in pursuing esports and gaming scholastically, NASCAR has formed a partnership with Stay Plugged IN to bring a three-part scholarship series to students in the U.S.
Stay Plugged IN is a leading organizer of collegiate recruiting events in the United States.
“Over the summer months, Stay Plugged IN will organize and produce two amateur tournaments where participants have the opportunity to compete in front of collegiate recruiters from around the country,” says a news release from NASCAR.
The partnership will also facilitate a game creation competition to teach students coding to design games, as well as resume building and other learning opportunities.
Part of the partnership will be a game creation competition where students learn to use coding to design games through the use of a coding platform. The partnership also creates resume building and experiential learning opportunities for students wishing to apply their skills at the collegiate level.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.