This week, what Halo 5 means for Microsoft, Canada’s Rainbow Six Siege tournament comes to Vancouver, the first free Wi-Fi hotspots in Vancouver go online, and how to win friends and influence people with your brain.

Can Halo 5 boost sales of Xbox One?

The latest adventure in the Master Chief saga released on Tuesday, and with it sales of Microsoft’s Xbox One console spiked. As I wrote in the Globe & Mail this week, it’s not the first time the Halo franchise has carried the burden of its hardware.

Halo 4 was the first game from 343 Industries, which took over development from Bungie. Making that game was, said studio head Bonnie Ross, “us learning how to build Halo.”

But Halo 5 is all 343, and updates the franchise for next-generation hardware (it’s exclusive to the Xbox One).

Vancouver’s Josh Holmes executive produced Halo 5, and told me how the game could not exist on any other platform.

It’s available now, and I have no hesitation recommending that people who want to play Halo 5 had better get an Xbox One if they don’t already have the system.

Win prizes at the Rainbow Six Siege tournament tomorrow

One hundred gamers will get a chance to play Ubisoft’s upcoming tactical shooter, Rainbow Six Siege, as part of a cross-Canada tournament.

This Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Shark Club in Richmond (10331 St. Edwards Drive), 20 teams of five players will go head-to-head in real-world combat environments. Registration for the tournament begins at 5:00 p.m., and the tournament begins at 6:00 p.m. Participants must be of legal drinking age to participate or be a spectator. 

Prizes include:

• Xbox One consoles
• HyperX Cloud headsets
• Ubisoft prize packs

The top-scoring team will be invited to compete in the finale in Toronto on Nov. 5 with a chance at a $5,000 grand prize. 

Vancouver and Telus turn on free Wi-Fi hotspots

The City of Vancouver has a digital strategy, part of which is making Wi-Fi accessible to its citizens. And visitors, of course.

And the first six hotspots, implemented by Telus, have been turned on. Find them at:

• Champlain Heights Community Centre
• Coal Harbour Community Centre
• Fraserview Golf Course Club House
• Langara Golf Course Club House
• Mount Pleasant Community Centre
• Roundhouse Community Centre

Just look for the network name #VanWiFi on your mobile device or computer, and accept the terms and conditions.

Another 37 sites in Vancouver, including community centres, pools, golf courses, theatres, and marinas will also be getting hotspots.

Telus also has an online Wi-Fi finder you can use to source a hotspot in your area (or get it as an iTunes app).

Reason to stay in school #84: Create your own Mjölnir

Okay, kids. If you stay in school you’ll learn things like math and physics and circuits and electronics and programming and art and materials and design and craft.

Then you can use all of those things to create a replica of Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, which is equipped with a couple of electromagnets and a fingerprint scanner like you find on mobile devices.

Then you can go into the world, activate the electromagnets on a big hunk of metal, and challenge people to pick it up. “Are you worthy?” you’ll say.

And no matter how hard they try, no matter how strong or crafty, nobody will be able to lift it. Then you will walk over, and …

Well, just watch. This could be you if you stay in school.