Five New Zealand video game makers have been lauded in major international best of 2013 lists.

Path of Exile by Grinding Gear Games has won GameSpot’s PC Game of the Year Award, Turbo Racing League by PikPok was the runner-up for Apple’s Best of 2013 Game of the Year, and indie developer Michael Brough was named one of the Top 10 Game Developers of 2013 by Gamasutra.

The Blockheads by Majic Jungle and Bloons Tower Defence 5 by NinjaKiwi also feature in Apple’s Best of 2013.

“Many New Zealand made games have won rave reviews and awards during the year, but to be singled out in retrospectives by the world’s leading gaming press and publishers is outstanding. It shows that the quality of New Zealand developers’ games count among the best in the world,” said NZ Game Developers Association (NZGDA) chairperson Stephen Knightly.

In the last financial year, revenue from New Zealand-made video games grew 86 per cent with the vast majority coming from exports. “It’s great to see commercial success being matched with critical recognition,” said Knightly.

Path of Exile is an online Action RPG developed by Grinding Gear Games. After seven years of development, it was launched on October 23, and has over 4.2 million registered users.

Turbo Racing League puts players in the driver’s seat (or rather, driver’s shell) in Turbo, a family-friendly 3D movie released by Dreamworks Animation earlier this year. Over 30 million players have downloaded the game, which is the result of Wellington-based Pikpok’s fifth collaboration with Dreamworks, from the Apple App Store and Google Play. As well as the AppStore Best of 2013 it was also a finalist for Google Play’s Best Game Based on a Movie.

Continuing to bulk up on its cloud software portfolio, IBM is acquiring Aspera, a company with an Emmy-award-winning, high-speed bulk data transfer protocol.

IBM said it will use the technology to help customers more effortlessly copy their data to IBM cloud services, building on the company’s purchase of the SoftLayer cloud service in June.

The Emeryville, California-based Aspera created its technology, dubbed “fasp,” to transfer large files across a public network more quickly than the speeds typically achieved through basic TCP (transmission control protocol).

IBM claims fasp can cut the time required to send a 24GB file around the globe from 26 hours to less than a minute. Aspera also has software for encrypting files before they are sent over a network, for secure transmission.

One heavy user of Aspera’s technology has been the entertainment industry. Television networks, movie studios and animation houses use the protocol to send large digital video files from one location to another.

The company even won an Emmy for fasp, in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development.

IBM will use Aspera’s technology in a number of its offerings. Customers of the company’s SmartCloud products and services can use fasp to speed transfers of large data sets to the cloud. The software will also be added to IBM’s Smarter Commerce portfolio to give businesses additional controls around its business-to-business file transfers.

Aspera will also boost IBM’s ample intellectual property portfolio; it holds a number of U.S. patents around fasp.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. IBM plans to complete the purchase by early 2014, if all the customary closing conditions are completed.

Joab Jackson covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Joab on Twitter at @Joab_Jackson. Joab’s e-mail address is Joab_Jackson@idg.com

Golden-voiced Susan is now star on Broadway!

4:05pm Wednesday 11th December 2013 in News

By Tarik Al Rasheed

Golden-voiced Susan is now star on Broadway!

BROADWAY is set to burst on to the big screen in a new film starring singing sensation Susan Boyle.

As we exclusively revealed, the former Britain’s Got Talent contestant turned heads in the Worcestershire village when she rolled into town alongside an all-star cast earlier this year to shoot scenes at Tudor House, in High Street.

Filming also took place at nearby Stanway House and the area is now set to be seen in a whole new light as the film, called The Christmas Candle, is seen on cinema screens in time for the festive season.

Set in the fictional Cotswolds village of Gladbury, the film’s story takes place in 1890. Gladbury is a seemingly unremarkable place, except at Christmas, with local legend telling that every 25 years an angel visits the village candle-maker and touches a single candle.

Whoever lights that candle will then see their request granted on Christmas Eve.With the original novel penned while author Max Lucado was staying in the Cotswolds, screenwriters Candace Lee and Eric Newman knew they had to come to the area to bring the original vision to life.

“We really had to shoot here. It was literally like going back in time,” said Mr Newman. “On our first location scout we went to four or five locations and each time I said this is perfect. It was like walking on to a movie set right from the start.”

The period drama features a host of star names including John Hannah and Sylvester McCoy. It also marks a first acting role for Ms Boyle, who has previously been more accustomed to warm music studios than bracing winter days in the Cotswolds.

Producers also had to make it look as though Ms Boyle could knit, with Broadway seamstress Barbara Jones roped in by producers at short notice to produce “half a red mitten” that the star can be seen holding in the film. The film is released nationwide from tomorrow with special screenings taking place at the Regal Cinema, in Evesham. And Ms Boyle said local film fans will find plenty to enjoy besides trying to spot a few familiar local scenes. “It’s all about the magic of Christmas and the Christmas message. The story is inspiring as it tells us never to give up on our dreams and to always believe in miracles – look what happened to me,” she said. Screenings are taking place at the Regal Cinema on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day at 10am and noon. The film is also being shown at Number 8 Community Arts Centre, Pershore, on Monday, December 23.

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Padiham iflorist enjoys international success

10:12am Monday 16th December 2013 in News

By Diane Cooke, Feature Writer

Chrissy Price at home

Diane Cooke speaks to the florist whose spartan childhood laid the foundations for the multi-million-pound success she enjoys today

CHRISSY Price has been cuddled by A-list actor John Lythgow and had her face licked by comedian Keith Lemon.

Such is life these days for the international florist who grew up as the eldest of five siblings on a farm in Todmorden with no running water or phone.

Despite being a “miserable failure” at Todmorden High School, Chrissie’s humble upbringing armed her with an outer plating of stoicism and creativity which has helped her cope with a crippling illness and the rigours of global business.

Chrissy, 46, who now lives in Padiham, is creative director of iflorist, an internet business she founded with her husband which has grown enormously in the seven years since it was started.

She trained at her mother’s Littleborough flower shop and spent 14 years in Australia and New Zealand where she arranged flowers for the State Opera House, and global brands including Saatchi Saatchi.

More recently she’s created floral displays for film premieres PS: I Love You and the British Comedy Awards – hence the Keith Lemon encounter.

It’s a world away from the life she once knew in Dobroyd, Todmorden, where she would collect pails of water from two wells and heat them up on the stove for a weekly bath.

“We had an unusual childhood in that we were really behind the times in the eighties. We had no phone, car or TV until I was 15. In fact, we got our telly in time to watch Charles and Di’s wedding. We made our own entertainment, but we were never bored. We walked everywhere so I was as fit as a butcher’s dog.”

School held no interest for Chrissy, so as soon as she was able to leave she joined her mum in the little florist shop, rising at 3am to buy flowers at Manchester’s Smithfield Market. “I had a natural ability for floristry and I’ve always been ahead of the trends. You see people at their happiest and saddest, at all stages of their lives. It’s a wonderful job.”

At 19 she decided to visit an aunt in Sydney. From there she went on to New Zealand where she met and married her first husband, the father of her two grown-up children.

“I was trained in the traditionally English Constance Spry floristry. They’d never seen anything like it over there, so I soon found work at a florist.”

Desperately homesick, she came home with her children in 2001 and split from her husband. She found work with the Department of Work and Pensions.

But when she met her future husband, Burnley man David Price – a financial systems and internet whizz – he persuaded her to open a flower shop in Nelson.

But illness struck. Chrissy was diagnosed with ovarian tumours and lost a baby as a consequence. “I was very poorly and couldn’t work in the business so I had to give it up. I was off for two years which gave me plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do.”

But David knew exactly what Chrissie could do without having to over-exert herself. They set up an internet floristry business in the attic of their Burnley cottage. It took off when David approached 1-800flowers.com, a huge American e-floristry corporate. They wanted to expand into Europe and bought a small share. They now own 51 per cent of the business, the workforce has swelled from five to 29 and they’re now selling in 120 countries. This year’s turnover is £12million.

Chrissy understands that celebrity endorsement is a great way to promote a brand.

“People overseas love an English accent. We needed a strong, flamboyant character so we signed up Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen. We rang his agent and were invited to his manor house in the Cotswolds. His home was stunning. We knew he’d be perfect for us and the Laurence Llewellyn bouquets are our upmarket brand.”

The successes keep flooding in. Last year the company received the Queen’s Award for International Export. “We took the staff on the East Lancs Railway for afternoon tea to say thank you.”

The company has done a deal with Walt Disney for the new Muppet movie, but it’s under wraps for now.

“I never thought I could be this successful. It has been extremely hard work, but if my teachers could see me now they’d be gobsmacked.”

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VIDEO: Action adventure movie premiere … how filmmakers made Rivington look like the Amazon

12:00am Saturday 14th December 2013 in News

By Melanie Wallwork, Entertainment reporter

VIDEO: Action adventure movie premiere … how filmmakers made Rivington look like the Amazon

FROM the hills of Rivington to the Amazon jungle, a film shot in Bolton hits the big screen on Monday.

Action adventure film, Sophie’s Fortune: The Treasure of Quetzalcoatl — which features special effects, jungle landscapes and large-scale fight scenes — will be screened at Manchester’s AMC cinema.

The independent film was filmed on an expenses-only budget, the majority on location in Rivington, and involved a talented crew of more than 100 people.

It follows a father’s treasure hunt at a children’s birthday party where imagination takes over, transforming it into an epic Indiana Jones-style adventure, harking back to fun classic films such as The Goonies and Labyrinth.

Featuring lush jungle landscapes, sprawling Aztec ruins and scenes of action-packed mayhem, it seeks to capture the cinematic style of an old school Blockbuster.

Producer Phil Meachem, from Westhoughton, said: “The success of any movie is through the collaboration of your cast and crew and we believe that we have achieved this in Sophie’s Fortune.

“I’m just extremely excited to see all of our hard work on the big screen.”
Other parts were also filmed in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and visual effects were used to create an Amazon-style backdrop.

Directed by award-winning Leeds-based filmmaker Chris Cronin, the trailer for the 27-minute film has had more than 10,000 views online.

Mr Cronin said: “I am proud of this film and I believe we have developed a very talented team around us.

“This film stems from our love of the 1980s classic films from Steven Spielberg like Indiana Jones and The Goonies.”

The film is the latest release from Genesis Flux and Divided Productions and the dedicated team hopes to go on to make feature films.

Sophie’s Fortune: The Treasure of Quetzalcoatl is being screened at AMC, Great Northern, Deansgate, Manchester, at 7.30pm, on Monday. Visit sophiesfortune.com to buy tickets.

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Whitby firm asked to supply nets for Disney’s latest film Maleficent

8:34am Wednesday 4th December 2013 in News

By Laura Knowlson, Business editor

Steven Leadley founded Caedmon Nets in Whitby in 1989

A CASTING call to appear in one of Hollywood’s next Blockbusters has been netted by a Whitby business.

Caedmon Nets has been asked by Briar Rose Productions to supply hand knitted nets for Disney’s latest film Maleficent.

Starring Angelina Jolie, the film is based on the Sleeping Beauty Story.

Steve Leadley, who founded Caedmon Nets in 1989, said he thought it was a “wind-up” when he was called and asked to produce four lightweight nets to be used in the movie for catching ravens.

He said: “I took the call and really thought it was a wind-up from one of my mates. Then they followed it up with an email, and we realised it was genuine.

“We made the first versions from sisal, but they were just too heavy for the actress to handle, so we sourced some lighter-weight spun flax from Egypt.

“We had to be careful about things like the colouring of the flax as the nets had to look authentic in the movie’s medieval setting. We can’t wait to see them in action.”

Mr Leadley, who runs the business with his wife Diane, comes from a longstanding Whitby fishing family.

He was taught the craft of hand-making fishing nets by his grandfather, Jim, who was instrumental in setting up the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations.

Steve’s great-great grandfather, Robert Leadley, died in the Whitby lifeboat disaster of 1861.

Caedmon Nets is one of only a handful of companies in the UK making nets.

As well as fishing nets, the company makes many other types, including sporting nets, scramble nets for playgrounds, transport, waste management and haulage.

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12 rounds of trivia on Muhammad Ali to mark day when The Greatest had his last fight

6:00am Wednesday 11th December 2013 in News

Muhammad Ali, known as The Greatest

Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s last fight was on this day back in 1981.

At the age of 39 he tussled with Trevor Berbick for 10 rounds and was defeated in a unanimous decision by the judges.

This was the official end to his career but it is said that the end was actually when he suffered a loss against Larry Holmes the previous year.

It was a disappointing end to an amazing career during which Ali won 56 of 61 professional bouts, 37 victories through knockouts and 19 decisions. Four of the five losses were down to judges’ decisions and he was only ever knocked out once in his career.

To mark the day The Greatest last fought let’s go 12 rounds (of trivia) with these facts about his life and career:

• Ali’s interest in boxing was ignited by the theft of his new bike when he was 12 which led to him meeting a police officer who gave boxing lessons at a local community centre. Ali wanted to “whip whoever stole his bike” but never got the chance, fortunately for the thief.
• In 1960 he won Olympics gold in Rome as a light heavyweight. He was 18 at the time and had already won numerous amateur titles in America. He turned pro after the Games.
• He ended up throwing his gold medal into the Ohio River in protest at being refused service at a diner because of his skin colour after he returned to the USA.
• He became world heavyweight champion for the first of three times in 1964, aged 22. It came after he defeated Sonny Liston in a huge upset for the sport. In the same year he changed his name from Cassius Clay and joined the Nation of Islam. He converted to Sunni Islam in 1975.
• As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, Ali was in trouble with the authorities in 1967 for refusing US military service. He was convicted on draft evasion charges and sentenced to five years in prison, although he stayed out of jail. He was also stripped of his boxing title and was out of the sport for almost four years. Eventually in 1971 his conviction was overturned on appeal.
• Ali suffered his first professional loss in 1971 after the ‘Fight of the Century’ against Joe Frazier, but he went on to become heavyweight champion for a second and third time in 1974 and 1978 by winning the ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ against George Foreman and later beating Leon Spinks on a points decision.
• In 1978 the US city of Louisville dedicated Muhammad Ali Boulevard to him. Around a dozen street signs were subsequently pinched by memorabilia hunters!
• During his professional career Ali had fights in 12 different countries and also fought 12 world champions (losing to just two of them).
• Ali’s 1975 bout with underdog Chuck Wepner is said to have inspired Sylvester Stallone’s classic Rocky movie. The character of Rocky Balboa, was based on Wepner for the courage he showed in going the full distance against the champ (albeit losing in the end) while Rocky’s opponent Apollo Creed was based on Ali.
• ‘Bad guy’ wrestler Gorgeous George was the inspiration for Ali’s flamboyant behaviour and taunting of opponents. Ali once said: “I saw 15,000 people comin’ to see this man get beat, and his talking did it. I said, this is a good idea!”
• Ali was a guest referee or ‘special enforcer’ for the World Wrestling Federation’s first Wrestlemania extravaganza in 1985.
• Cassius O’Clay? He is reported to have Irish roots, with his great-grandfather being from the Emerald Isle. Abe Grady is said to have gone to the US in the 1860s and married an African-American woman.

Do you think Muhammad Ali is the greatest sportsman of all time? Have you seen any of his bouts and was he really the best fighter there’s ever been? Add your comments below.

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Film set villagers are thanked by star Pitt

7:00am Wednesday 4th December 2013 in News

Pitt

Brad Pitt has reportedly thanked the residents of a village where his new movie has been filmed.

World War Two thriller Fury, with Shia LaBeouf, was shot in Shirburn near Watlington.

The film’s production gathered headlines. Film bosses apologised for filming on Remembrance Sunday while a stuntman was stabbed on set in October.

The Daily Mail said Pitt had thanked the villagers but Watlington parish Council chairman Ian Hill said he did not know of the message.

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Short film sends Christmas greetings from Ambleside around the world

11:10am Monday 9th December 2013 in News

CHRISTMAS greetings from Ambleside are heading around the world thanks to a venture by a local filmmaker.

Steve Ashworth, more usually known for his filming of extreme sports from unusual angles, has made a short video of the town’s traders and business owners saying “happy Christmas” to the world. It has been sent out via YouTube on websites and social media networks.

The initiative was timed to coincide with “small business Saturday” which aimed to encourage people to shop locally in the run-up to Christmas.

“This is a great little town of independent businesses,” said Mr Ashworth of MOViE iT. “We thought it would be a good way to highlight them as well as promote Ambleside around the world.”

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How to build the future by young movie-makers

5:40pm Friday 29th November 2013 in News

By Alicia Kelly, @aliciakellyWN #worcsnews

TEAM BONDING: Members of the Fixers charity which helps youngsters facing problems.

YOUNG people have showcased films they created about youth unemployment, homelessness, legal highs, social integration and the life of young carers.

The youngsters showed the films to professionals, politicians and the community at Worcester College of Technology on November 27.

Sisters Becky Rowe, aged 22, and Sarah, 19, care for their mum who has physical and mental health problems, and created a touching film showing how different a carer’s life can be.

Becky said: “If I could wave a magic wand and wish everything to be fine, I would. But you just have to get on with it. It’s difficult seeing your mum like this but there was a time when she had to look after us, so now it’s our turn.”

She hopes the film will help other young carers realise they are not alone.

Zeno McDonald, 18, produced a film which offers tips on how to behave with students with disabilities or learning difficulties.

He said: “It will take time, but we’re confident our film can do something special.”

Ryan Higgs, 19, focused his film on the dangers of synthetic highs to raise awareness among teenagers.

He said: “Many people think they’re safe but legal drugs can be more dangerous than banned substances because you just don’t know what’s in them.”

Gareth Dawe, 19, and friends who all live at the YMCA in Worcester, hope their film will change the reluctance of some employers to give jobs to young people from sheltered housing.

He said: “We hope this will stop people from harshly judging others like us.”

The films were made with the help of the Fixers young people’s charity and a Lottery Fund grant.

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