Tech Blog

[#1]

On this past Monday in Toronto, Future Shop teamed with EA Sports and Xbox Canada to celebrate in style the hotly anticipated launch of NHL 10.  The city was already abuzz with the thousands of moviegoers checking out the Toronto International Film Festival, a sizable audience at the Yonge-Dundas Square checking out free public movie screenings, and a packed Air Canada Centre filled with WWE Raw fanatics.  All the while a growing mob of eager gamers lined the street outside the Future Shop at Yonge and Dundas to get their hands on the No. 1 selling hockey video game in Canada. 

The gaming party was highlighted by the appearance of current and former Toronto Maple Leafs' stars Ian White and Wendel Clark.  Both celebrity athletes were busy signing autographs for eager fans, many of which lined up for half an hour or longer to get their chance to meet their hockey idols.  As Mathew mentioned last week, there was also a midnight madness party that took place in Vancouver at the Future Shop at 798 Granville St. (at Robson) with a special appearance by former Vancouver Canucks' star Trevor Linden.

The Xbox Canada crew put up a large gaming tent complete with four game stations loaded with preview copies of NHL 10.  Die-hard hockey fans and passersby took control for some 1v1 hockey games and there was plenty of hoots and hollers whenever a goal was scored or a period finished.  As well, the Xbox crew handed out t-shirts, lanyards and one lucky hockey fan walked away with a brand new Xbox 360 Elite console.

My favourite part of the evening was when Wendel Clark and Ian White stepped away from the autograph table and onto the street for a one-on-one hocky match on the Xbox 360 version of NHL 10. There were so many camera crews filming and journalists snapping shots it felt like a gang of paparazzi had swarmed the hockey superstars.  Fortunately the very accommodating folks at Xbox Canada called me to the front and I was able to take a few up-close photographs of the face-off.

EA's NHL 10 producer, Sean Ramjagsingh, was on-hand to promote the game and answer questions from the media and fans. He also provided helpful coaching tips to Wendel Clark and Ian White during their hockey match.  Afterwards, Sean played a one-on-one match against Wendel Clark which was fun to watch considering the height differential (I swear Sean is at least 6'8".)

During the evening I took plenty of photographs,16 of which can be found below.  For the full album, consisting of 49 event photos, check out the NextGen Player flickr set.

Wendel Clark and Ian White sign a Leafs jersey

Another photo of Wendel Clark and Ian White signing autographs

On the escalator going up to the Future Shop 

Wendel Clark and Ian White sign a photograph for a fan

Wendel Clark and Ian White play NHL 10 while producer Sean Ramjagsingh coaches

Wendel Clark and Ian White play NHL 10 while producer Sean Ramjagsingh coaches

Wendel Clark and Ian White play NHL 10

Wendel Clark and Sean Ramjagsingh play NHL 10

News outlet interviews Ian White

Another news outlet interviews Ian White

Crowd shot outside the Yonge and Dundas Future Shop

Photograph of the Xbox 360 gamer tent

Wendel Clark standing outside Future Shop

Fans lining up inside for their chance to meet the hockey stars

The hockey stars arrived in this town car

Really devoted hockey fans

Message Edited by PaulH on 09-16-2009 10:32 PM