Monthly Archives: January 2011

Train2Game launches computer game QA course!

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Train2Game has officially launched the brand new Train2Game Quality Assurance course. The course, created by games developer DR Studios, is the fourth Train2Game course, and is available from 7th February 2011.

The QA course will teach students the many complex steps involved in the QA process, and its symbiotic relationship with the game development challenge as a whole. Methodologies, tools, processes and structures all form integral components within the course. The QA course is conceived and taught by industry experienced QA veterans who continue to push the boundaries of computer game development in today’s market.

Unique to the games industry, the QA course represents a ground breaking-induction model that has been specifically developed to support games development and the QA process of any technology oriented business. This course will provide students with not only specific games-related skills but also techniques that are transferable to other industries and business sectors.

Modules within the course range from basic QA through localisation, working with hardware manufacturers, focus group tests, planning test sessions and managing QA teams. Successful completion of this course will equip students with the knowledge and skills that today’s games industry demands from its QA specialists.

Students study at home and can progress at their own pace during the course, so there is no need to give up current work commitments. They have’ hands-on’ practical time with industry tutors and a full support service is available seven days a week by phone or email. On completion, students will be awarded a Train2Game Quality Assurance Diploma.

Course Director, Tony Bickley of DR Studios, added, “There are many passionate gamers out there who would like to turn their enthusiasm into a living, and our new QA course is a great way of providing them with the skills and knowledge required to work in this exciting industry.”

As usual, you can leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

42% of all Kinect games sold made in UK

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Developing motion controlled games may not be something Train2Game students have thought much about, but new figures say UK developers produce a significant number of these titles.

Figures from GFK Chart Track reveal that 42% of all Kinect games sold in the UK were also developed in Britain.  The best selling game for Kinect so far is Kinect Sports, developed by Warwickshire based studio Rare.  The game accounts for 28% of all KiNECT sales over the last ten weeks.

UK Game Developers now also hold a significant share of the PlayStation Move games sold, with 30% of software sales coming from software produced by studios here.

The FIGURES come from UKIE’s Motion Controller Report which looks at sales of Kinect, PlayStation Move and Wii Motion Plus games since October 2010.

“The array of strong products that our home-grown, UK talent is producing is something we can all be proud of.” said UKIE Chairman Michael Rawlinson

“This just shows how our UK developer base remains one of the best in the world, and can continue to step up to the plate as the market develops and platforms evolve.”

UKIE also point out that the current best selling game in the UK – as reported by the Train2Game blog – is LittleBigPlanet 2 from Guildford based studio Media Molecule.

Train2Game blog readers will know that the Kinect has sold extremely well.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on these sales figures? Had you considered developing motion controller based games before? Will you think about it now?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source:  CVG]

Train2Game blog student interview #4: Games Artist & Animator Daniel Jackson

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In the fourth of the Train2Game blog student interviews, we talk to Train2Game Artist & Animator Daniel Jackson (AKA MrGrey on the Train2Game forum) He tells us why he decided to take a Train2Game course, a bit about himself and how he feels about the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game blog: Hi Daniel, why did you choose to study with Train2Game?

Train2Game Artist Daniel: I looked around for a while but kept finding courses that asked for over £20,000.  I saw an advertisement in the back of a magazine for Train2Game which made me look it up on the internet. I have looked at other distance learning courses before but never found one that didn’t ask for an insane amount of money for the work to be sent to you. After doing the research I decided to contact Train2Game for more information and it went from there.

Train2Game blog: Which Train2Game course did you decide to take and why?

Train2Game Artist Daniel: This has been a bit of a pipe dream for me for many years but never in a million years did I think I would be acting on it. I made my first animation on the trusty Amiga 1200, it had spaceships and buildings and took an entire night and most of the morning to render 30 seconds as it was one of the first type of 3d animations although very basic 3D. I originally started out on the Train2Game Game Designer course, I wanted to be involved in games development in any way I could. However, once the Train2Game Artist & Animation course became available, I immediately switched as this is what I wanted to do from the beginning.

Train2Game blog: What were you doing before you started your Train2Game course?

Train2Game Artist Daniel: Dreaming of either being a games developer or being Steven Spielberg! I was – and I’m still doing – my day job with little spurts of gaming and arty stuff in between. Messing about with computers in any way shape or form was just something I would do with my spare time. It’s taken me nearly 20 years to actually do something that I want to do and not something that I have to do! It’s a big step.

Train2Game blog: How are you finding balancing the Train2Game course with the rest of your life?

Train2Game Artist Daniel: It can be hard sometimes, especially if you’re working a fulltime job and unfortunately my job requires me to bring my work home with me from time to time which is a bit of a pain. I’ve recently freed up some extra time for Train2Game so I have a new focus to get on with the work that matters to me. For me doing the coursework is not a chore it’s a pleasure.

Train2Game blog: What has been your favourite part of the Train2Game course so far?

The highlight for me was when I realised that I’m actually doing something that I have dreamt about most of my life!

The thought that I was actually physically going towards actual involvement in making games was life changing and I can only hope that it continues. Meeting the people that are on the Train2Game forum is another. I’ve been on other forums before but none as close and friendly as the Train2Game forum. It’s a very welcoming place and I have met many interesting people who I enjoy chatting to and enjoy interacting with.

I’m so excited about seeing the Train2Game students develop and gain more experience as they go on, it gives me a little tingle knowing that someday I’ll hopefully be a part of a team that started out as a concept on Train2Game forum I feel so proud to be a part of it.

You can see the previous Train2Game blog interview with Games Artist & Animator here. You can also check out more Train2Game student interviews on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog

UK Charts: LittleBigPlanet 2 debuts at Number 1

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LittleBigPlanet 2, the almost essential game for Train2Game students, has climbed to the top of the UK Charts on just its first week on sale.

LittleBigPlanet 2 was released on Friday and has proved popular amongst the Train2Game Facebook community. It marks Media Molecules’ first ever GFK Chart-Track All formats Number 1, and trumps the original games highest position of Number 4 when it was released towards the end of 2008.

The PlayStation 3 exclusive has not only been more popular in its first week than that of its original, but has already smashed the online user count of LittleBigPlanet 2.

The other big release of the week was the PlayStation 3 version of Mass Effect 2 which means the EA title climbs to Number 7 in this weeks chart.

LittleBigPlanet2s rise to Number 1 means Call of Duty: Black Ops drops to Number 2.  That prevents the Activision giant from equalling Modern Warfare 2s total of eight weeks at Number 1…at least for now.

Elsewhere in the chart, Just Dance 2 remains in Number 3 while FIFA 11 drops two places to Number 4.  Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood moves up two to Number 5, Wii Fit Plus drops two to Number 6, while as mentioned above, Mass Effect 2 takes Number 7.

The top ten is completed by Kinect Sports, former Number 1 Gran Turismo 5 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. DC Universe online and Fallout: New Vegas both drop of the top ten.

The full UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top Ten for the week ending January 22th 2011 is as follows:

1.       LittleBigPlanet 2 (Sony)

2.       Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)

3.       Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)

4.       FIFA 11 (EA)

5.       Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)

6.       Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)

7.       Mass Effect 2 (EA)

8.       Kinect Sports (Microsoft)

9.       Gran Turismo 5 (Sony)

10.   Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (EA)

The big release of the coming week is Dead Space 2 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and the PC.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on LittleBigPlanet 2s Number 1? Are you surprised it has been so successful? Will it hold onto the top spot next week? Could Dead Space 2 claim it next week, or will it go back to Call of Duty: Black Ops?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2010 UKIELtd” ]

Report: Modern Warfare 3 being developed by three studios

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Modern Warfare Train2Game blog image

Rumours that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is in production is bound to cause a stir with a number of Train2Game students. And if the LA Times is to believed, the game is in development with no less than three studios aiding in its production.

Activision has called upon Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software to work on the next title. No official announcement has been made about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 but the LA Times alleges the information comes from inside sources.

Treyarch produced Black Ops, the most recent game in the Call of Duty series.  Sledgehammer, founded by ex-EA developers Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey has apparently postponed its own Call of Duty ‘spin off’ title to work on Activisions’ next project.  Raven are also said to have delayed one of their own projects to work on the multiplayer section of what is apparently going to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

It’s a new move from Activision who’ve traditionally left Infinity Ward to develop the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series without the help of others.

It’ll also be the first Modern Warfare game produced since the high profile departures of Game Developers f Jason West and Vince Zampella who then set up their own studio under the banner of Respawn Entertainment.

If the project truly is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the extra reinforcements could spark speculation whether the game will be ready or not in time for Christmas. This year it was Call of Duty: Black Ops which claimed the UK Christmas Number one

So Train2Game, if Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is in development, are you interested in it at all? Do you think three studios working on the same project will have any outcome on the project? Do you think this is a bad sign for Activision?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Big day for Train2Game students as LittleBigPlanet 2 released

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LittleBigPlanet 2 has been released today and it’s a day that many Train2Game students have been waiting for.

The good news for those Train2Game students looking forward to the game is that, as the Train2Game Blog reported earlier this month, LittleBigPlanet 2 has got very high review scores with a lot of 9s and 10s.

While LittleBigPlanet 2 is a fun game in its own right, Train2Game students will be most interested community creation aspect of LittleBigPlanet 2 which allows them to not only let their creative juices flow by creating new levels, but also entirely new games.

We’ve seen plenty of examples of great community created levels during the beta test including reimagining’s of Portal, Flower, Wolvenstein and Dogfight. There will no doubt also be plenty of excellent and unique community created levels that all LittleBigPlanet 2 players will get the opportunity to try out if they choose to do so.

Not only that,  but Media Molecule do hire aspiring game developers who’ve used the community tools to make outstanding levels. It’s something that any Train2Game student who builds LittleBigPlanet 2 levels will be aspiring to achieve too!

John Beech is now a Level Designer at Media Molecule, after first having his community design work spotted by the studio.  Until then he was a self employed builder.

At the Learning Without Frontiers Event in London, Media Molecule revealed that they’ve already hired five people who’ve made outstanding levels using the LittleBigPlanet creation tools. Studio art director Kareem Ettouney also said that Media Molecule is open to hiring more community developers.

Hence this is the reason why a Train2Game student looking for something to practice their skills with could do very well out of using LittleBigPlanet 2.

LittleBigPlanet 2 is now available for the PlayStation 3, and of course any Train2Game students who own that particular console!

For another example of how Train2Game student community development could lead to good things, see yesterdays Train2Game blog post about the Starcraft II modder offered a job by a Games Development studio.

So Train2Game, are you getting LittleBigPlanet 2 today?  Have you actually already bought it? And do you think you’ll be trying your hand and creating community levels?

As usual, leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source for LWF event: Develop Online]

Capcom: Smartphones drawing users away from handheld consoles

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Train2Game blog Capcom Logo image

Train2Game students certainly spend a lot of time playing video games on their smartphones, and Capcom believe the whole portable market is moving in that direction.

Capcom Interactive’s president and COO Midori Yuasa told MCV Online that gamers are increasingly abandoning handheld consoles and PCs in order to play casual games on smartphones such as the iPhone. She also confirmed that Capcom is investing in a variety of titles for the iPhone this year.

“The casual gamer that used to play on the PC and the hardcore gamer that used to play on a dedicated gaming portable now plays on their smartphone,” said Yuasa.

“The iPhone and larger smartphone markets are extremely important to Capcom as, like no device before, smartphones have the potential to become a universal game platform.

“We have a lot of stuff on the horizon for both hardcore and casual gamers, so 2011 is shaping up to be huge on Capcom’s mobile front.”

The Capcom COO used the company’s successful release of the free to download Smurfs Village for the iPhone last November, where players have the option of in-game purchases which cost between £2.99 and £59.99.

“A freemium business model can be extremely effective as illustrated by the success of Smurfs’ Village. However, the key is that the game has to be designed from day one as a freemium title.

“If you try and shoehorn in an alternate revenue model into an existing design, you end up with a muddled experience that users either ignore or hammer with user reviews.”

It’s another sign for Train2Game students that the casual mobile market is growing extremely quickly. Yuasa’s comments come little over a month after the Train2Game blog reported that  market research firm  Interpret claimed ‘Stagnating’ handheld consoles are losing their market to smartphones

Of course, Nintendo are confident that the 3DS will be a huge success, with President Satoru Iwata predicting the handheld console will have a ‘rocket start’ For more information about the Nintendo 3DS, check out the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, do you think Midori Yuasa is right? Have you abandoned your handheld console in favour of smartphone games? Or do games on your iPhone or Android mean you just won’t bother to buy a handheld console again?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: MCV Online]

Nintendo CEO sees ‘rocket start’ for 3DS

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The Nintendo President predicts the 3DS will have a ‘rocket start’ in the USA , boosted by high definition graphics and the games available for the handheld.

“There will be not only our own software, but also third- party titles, which have the photo-realism that will satisfy Western gamers,” said Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata “We expect the 3DS to get off to a rocket start, like the Wii’s debut.”

The latest handheld from Nintendo had its release date and price revealed during a press event in Amsterdam yesterday.  The 3DS is set for release on March 25th here in the UK with retailers setting prices around £220 to £230. Meanwhile the US will have to wait two days longer for the 3DS to be released on March 27th, and will be able to get it for $249.

When currency conversion is taken into account that means a Nintendo 3DS is £60 more expensive in the UK than it is across the Atlantic, a fact that has frustrated some Train2Game students.

For more news from yesterday’s Nintendo 3DS press event, see the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

There is a huge desire for the 3DS, as evident on the Train2Game forum, and it’s reported to be the most demanded electronic device right now and analysts predict it’ll provide the game industry with a boom.

The 3DS launch should be a major catalyst for the game industry,” said Tony Wible, an analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.  “Polls have shown more pent-up demand for the product than any other consumer electronics device in the market.”

Meanwhile Michael Pachter says the 3DS will sell more than its rival the PSP2:

“I think that the 3DS will outsell the PSP2, because the 3DS is new and different, while the PSP2 is likely going to be a souped up version of the old PSP.  Thus, I think that 3DS will have greater success in capturing the consumer’s imagination.”

The 3DS may also receive some competition from mobile games on devices such as the iPhone, which the Train2Game blog recently reported have seen a massive increase user base in recent times.

Nintendo say they will ship over 4 million units of the device in its first month to prevent a shortage of stock, while it’s predicted the 3DS will bring Nintendo extra $1.8 billion dollars a year.

The Nintendo 3DS is set for release in the UK on March 25th 2011.

So Train2Game, do you agree with the Nintendo President that the 3DS will have a ‘rocket’ start? What are your thoughts on the pricing? And will you get one come March 25th?

As usual, you can leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Starcraft II modder offered job by development studio

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World of Starcraft Train2Game blog image

Regular readers of the Train2Game blog will know all about how modding and community development can provide a leg up into a job in the games industry.

Now another budding game developer has been offered a job thanks to their modding work. A Starcraft II modder known only as ‘Ryan’ has been courted by League of Legends developers Riot Games after seeing a mod he’s working on called ‘World of Starcraft’

Yes, it’s an MMO based on the RTS Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty being built using the games Galaxy Editor.  Videos of World of Starcraft were removed from Youtube following coverage on a number of websites, at the request of ‘Activision Games Inc’ As of yet, the mod and its forums have yet to be affected by any order from Activision Blizzard.

However, Blizzard isn’t the only game development studio that have noticed Ryan’s work with modding. Riot Games Director Games Design Director – and former World of Warcraft designer – Tom Cadwell has contacted Ryan about the possibility of a job offer.

“When I see a modder with a lot of drive that has done something cool, I tend to contact them. I shot him an email recently asking if he was interested in exploring an opportunity here” he wrote on the Riot Games forum.

He also left his thoughts on the Blizzard situation:

“I don’t know because I’m not a Blizzard employee, but I seriously doubt this is anything other than the fact he named the mod World of StarCraft, which has an air of legitimacy that borderline infringes on Blizzar”.

“Blizzard is very supportive of their modders, but also vigorously depends certain aspects of their IP (as they should and must).”

Speaking to Pixelated Geek, Ryan said of the opportunity:

“I would be a complete idiot not to… I’ve waited my whole life for something like this.”

The Train2Game blog will be sure to yet you know the outcome of this tale! It looks like it could be another example of how modding and community design can help give aspiring developers a leg up into the industry, especially when it comes to working with PC games.

Only recently the Train2Game blog examined the Team Fortress 2 community developers who are now have an income from their creations!

The lesson for Train2Game students? Try your hand at modding, who knows where it may lead!

What are your thoughts on Ryan’s situation? Are you encouraged by the fact Riot Games are actively looking to recruit modders? And what are your thoughts on the whole World of Starcraft idea and the issues around it?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GamesIndustry.biz]

Peter Molyneux to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

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Peter Molyneux Train2Game Blog Image

Legendary  game designer Peter Molyneux – who no doubt has many fans on the Train2Game forum – is set to be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Game Developers Choice Awards.

It’s probably an award Train2Game students dream about receiving in their future!

The Creative Director of Microsoft Game Studios Europe has produced many innovative and popular games during a career that spans over 20 years, and it’s likely that Train2Game students are very familiar with a lot of them!

The Guildford man first broke into the gaming mainstream with Bullfrog Productions, arguably becoming the father of the ‘God Game’ genre when the studio released Populous for the PC in 1989. Some Train2Game students are probably old enough to remember it!

Other classic games produced by Molyneux’s Bullfrog studio include Theme Park and Dungeon Keeper.  He left Bullfrog to found Lionhead Studios in 1997 and as Train2Game students will know, the studio is still operating today, but now under the Microsoft banner.

Molyneux continued to produce innovative games and further developed the God Genre through the Black and White series of games, the first of which was released in 2001. More recently he’s produced the Fable series of games, the latest of which – Fable III – topped the UK Chart when it was released for the Xbox 360 late last year.

You can see a more in depth look at Fable III by reading this Thoughts of Train2Game blog by Gabe.

Molyneux’s success in the games industry is therefore going to be acknowledged with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the GDC Awards.

“Peter is a remarkable asset to the games industry, and truly embodies everything that the Lifetime Achievement Award represents,” said Meggan Scavio, event director of GDC.

“We’re proud to honour someone who has had such a profound impact on the industry, through his boundless enthusiasm and profound talent in creating games about choice and interactivity that the entire world loves to play.”

The 11th annual Game Developers Choice Awards will take place in San Francisco on March 2nd, and will be hosted by industry-favourite Tim Schafer.

So Train2Game, what are your favourite Peter Molyneux games? Do you think he deserves the award after his many years in the games industry?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.