andPOP » vancouver

NHL 10 Midnight Launch at Yonge & Dundas Future Shop

Josh Salem — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:14:05 +0000

Where do Toronto Film Fest buffs, WWE RAW fanatics, free concert goers, and Maple Leaf hopefuls converge at 11:59PM on a Monday? Why Future Shop at Yonge and Dundas in down town Toronto for the midnight release of EA Sports’ NHL 10, hosted by Xbox Canada of course!

AndPOP was in tow to witness the launch of what may very well be this year’s best hockey title. In a town that loves their hockey hundreds lined up early, a pick-up street hockey game was going on across the street, and anticipation was high for the clock to strike midnight.

Fans lining up outside Future Shop. Sorry about the poor picture quality.

At the event which took place both in Toronto as well as Vancouver Hockey stars were present to offer photo ops and autographs to fans waiting (Trevor Linden in Vancouver and Wendel Clark & Ian White in Toronto). As well, the Xbox Canada crew gave out t-shirts, lanyards, and one lucky hockey fan even walked away with an Xbox 360 Elite unit! Game stations were available for all to try out the newest NHL title and in my little time spent watching this station, I saw hockey fans, TIFF fans, concert goers, and Wrestling fans go at it complete with smack talk on the side of Yonge street.

NHL 10 producer, Sean Ramjagsingh was available for questions, and to ensure everyone would love the thrill of hockey of course.

While there, I got a chance to speak with the producer of NHL 10 Sean Ramjagsingh who filled me in on a couple of the new features in this year’s title. “This year we really tried to capture the emotion and intensity of NHL hockey, the importance of solid tough guys and really make them important, just like in real life. ” (Yes, I took that as the fighting and hitting are getting major boosts this year around) Sean also discussed the new features such as first person fighting (what I am most excited for), post whistle play, interactive and intense crowds, and the new board play feature, “you can pin guys against the board defensively or offensively, dump the puck in and be really strong against the boards, team mates will come in and support you. really changing the gameplay” says Sean, as well, with over 150 goalie animations, the revamping of the goalie specifically will really give gamers new intensity levels to deal with, especially playing online in leagues and tournaments.

Adam, the first purchaser of NHL 10 in Toronto. While you read this and wait for stores to open on the 15th, he will already be dekeing, fighting, and scoring hat tricks.

As the line proceeded into Future Shop at midnight, eager fans (as well as some passer byers) faces lit up as they stood on the escalator to be met at the top with employees welcoming and handing fans copies of the title. I was able to speak and get a photo with Adam, the first purchaser of NHL 10 to walk out of Future Shop with the game in hand and while I didn’t want to keep him from playing the game he eagerly waited for, I couldn’t help but feel the same sense of urgency to rush home and pop this bad boy into my Xbox 360. After seeing people play the game, and speaking with Mr. Ramjagsingh, I rushed home, but like any responsible reporter, work first play second. Once this writeup is over, I’m heading straight to the Xbox for some NHL 10 goodness. Well, would you look at that? writeup is over! HOCKEY TIME! (stay tuned for a full review in the near future).

Fugitive Ryan Jenkins Found Dead In Hotel

Emma Renda — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:42:04 +0000

Fugitive Ryan Jenkins was found hanged in a hotel in Hope, B.C. early this morning, according to CBC News. Jenkins, a former reality-TV contestant on Megan Wants a Millionaire, was on the run from murder charges for killing his ex-wife swimsuit model Jasmine Fiore in the United States earlier this month.

Fiore’s mutilated body was found stuffed in a garbage bin in a park outside Los Angeles on Aug. 15 and was only identifiable by serial numbers on her breast implants.

The same day, Jenkins’ boat was discovered docked at a marina near the Canadian – US border close to Vancouver. The Los Angeles police contacted the RCMP and launched a widespread manhunt along the coast, and a $25,000 reward was being offered by the U.S. Marshall’s Office for any information leading to Jenkins’ capture. A man was even detained leaving a plane from Vancouver in Toronto because of a striking resemblance to Jenkins. He was released shortly after.

The RCMP released a statement they suspect Jenkins, 32, took his own life, although no further details are being released.

Vancouver Gets Eclipsed By Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

Emma Renda — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:15:05 +0000

The now-infamous cast of Eclipse, the Twilight sequel have been spotted throughout Vancouver where the third installment of the series is currently filming. It will be a prime time for some snooping too, as rumours have been flying about romances between a number of duos on the set.

Lead actors Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson arrived just days ago, Stewart still clad with a mullet from her title role in the Joan Jett biopic Runaways. They were sited a few nights ago getting cozy at a Kings of Leon concert in Vancouver Aug. 15, with photos of them practically making out appearing on RadarOnline.com and Just Jared. This comes after the two attended Comic-Con, an international and now celebrity hot spot comic book convention in San Diego, where they were practically joined at the hip according to the Los Angeles Times.

Also on site in Vancouver are Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen) and Xavier Howard (Riley) who have been spotted together throughout the city, although like Stewart and Pattinson, no romance has been confirmed. Bryce Dallas Howard (Victoria) invited her husband Seth Gabel and son Theodore along for the trip to the Great White North and Dakota Fanning just left after filming her scenes as the character Jane.

Eclipse has already been scheduled to hit theatres on June 30, 2010, just eight months after the release of New Moon this November, with director David Slade (30 Days of Night, Hard Candy) in charge.

Spears Gets Smoked

Jennifer Brooks — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:19:29 +0000

As Spears makes her way across Canada with her Circus tour, there is only one trick that can make Britney disappear from the stage; the smell of smoke.

It seems that during her show at Vancouver’s General Motors Place last week, Spears stormed off stage because the air was too smoky, according to chartattack.com. The brief pause in Spears’ set was approximately 15-20 minutes in length after which she returned to finish the show.

Rumors have been circulating that fans were smoking marijuana near the stage which prompted Spears to become agitated and storm off, but in a statement released on her website, that is not what her management is claiming.

“We want to apologize to all the fans who attended our Vancouver show tonight for the brief pause in Britney’s set,” the statement reads. “Crew members above the stage became ill due to a ventilation issue.”

Spears ended her performance with a message to fans: You were wonderful. Drive safe. Don’t smoke weed and rock out with your ***** out!”

D.O.A’S Political Leanings

andPOP Staff — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:08:27 +0000

Thursday, Vancouver punk icons D.O.A. performed at the Horsehoe Tavern, and made their views on Canadian politics crystal clear.

According to the review on chartattack.com, frontman Joey Shithead was in favour of president-elect Barack Obama (“it’s about time”), and called Prime Minster Stephen Harper a “fuckin’ asshole.”

Otherwise, it was business as usual, with slamdancing, moshing, and favourite tracks to honour the band’s 30 years on the road.

Oasis Adds Canadian Shows

andPOP Staff — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:03:16 +0000

Oasis is extending their stay in Canada this fall with three other performances.

The band is scheduled to headling the Virgin Festival in Toronto in September. Now, pairing up with Ryan Adams, the band will play Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary in August, just before the festival.

According to their web site, advance tickets to the special shows can be purchased at ticketmaster using the password OASISINET.

Oasis will play in Seattle before flying North. It will be their first live performance together in over two years.

‘The Hour’ Flies West, Stars Flock to George for Music Special

andPOP Staff — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:10:08 +0000

George Stroumboulopoulos is taking his “Hour” to the West coast.

From Monday to Thursday next week, Stroumboulopoulos will air live from The Roundhouse in Yaletown, Vancouver. Rocker Matt Good, former-Miss Canada Nazanin Afshin-Jam, and wildlife painter Robert Bateman are among the guests who will chat with him on these special dates.

Stroumboulopoulos will follow up his trip to the West with a Holiday Musical Special, airing Christmas Eve. Paul Potts (winner of “Britain’s Got Talent”), Jully Black, crooner George Canyon, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello will all perform their unique versions of seasonal tunes. More fantastic guests are yet to be confirmed.

The Hour airs weeknights at 11 p.m. on CBC Television, 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBC Newsworld.

Hedley Kicks Off Free Canadian MTV Tour

andPOP Staff — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:14:55 +0000

Vancouver-based band Hedley performed yesterday at the University of British Columbia.

Their home turf concert is part of the MTV The Leak Live tour, a series of free concerts across Canada promoting Hedley’s upcoming album, “Famous Last Words,” which will be released October 30. For those unable to attend, their first single, “She’s So Sorry,” can be heard on Hedley’s official MySpace page.

“Famous Last Words” is Hedley’s sophomore offering, following their 2005 self-titled album which earned the band platinum status, five hit singles, two Juno nominations, and the Much Music Video Award for Best Pop Video.

Charismatic and nudity-prone frontman Jacob Hoggard is confident about the new album, which was produced by former Treble Charger frontman Greig Nori. As Hoggard told MTV, “The main difference between this album and the last, was the amount of blood, sweat and tears that we put into this recording.”

Check out the rest of Hedley’s free tour at these locations:

Tomorrow: The SAIT Hangar in Calgary, AB at 12 p.m.
Friday: The UWO Talbot Bowl in London, ON at 7:30 p.m.
October 2: The Dalhousie Quad in Halifax, NS at 7 p.m.
October 4: The Concordia Loyola Downtown Campus in Montreal, QC at 5 p.m.
October 11: The Masonic Temple in Toronto, ON at 5 p.m.