Monthly Archives: May 2012

Train2Game news: A day in the life of Darksiders II lead designer Haydn Dalton

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Train2Game students can get an insight into what it’s like working on Darksiders II for Vigil Games thanks to a ‘Meet the Team ‘feature with Lead Designer Haydn Dalton.

In a blog interview with THQ, Dalton describes a typical day in the life of a lead game designer for Darksiders II, and as Train2Game game designers may already expect, it’s a busy life!

“I’ll get in the morning, get the latest version of the game code and start playing the game. Depending on what’s the current priority; up-coming demo, milestone, stability, encounters, combat, what have you – that’ll dictate how I focus my time with the game.” he said.

“I write up feedback on the content, sit with designers and provide guidance on a whole variety of design components.” the Darksiders II lead designer continued.

“This also extends out to animators, programmers, etc. Sometimes I may go into some of the script files and tweak numbers myself, but most of my time is set on the broad view of the game, and it’s a BIG game.” Dalton added.

The full interview with Darksiders II lead designer Haydn Dalton is here, and also features talk of where he started in the industry, and balancing in-game weapons.

There’s more on Darksiders II here on The Train2Game Blog. The game is scheduled for release on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC later this year.

What are your thoughts on a day in the life of Haydn Dalton? Does it give you a greater insight into what it’s really like being a game designer?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game student industry experience diaries: Chris Robinson at AppCrowd – weeks 7 & 8

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Train2Game Game Designer Chris Robinson returns with the latest news about his  Train2Game work placement at AppCrowd.

Appcrowd CEO Rick Alexander  is one of the industry professionals that appears in our mentors panel discussion video from Gadget Show Live. 

In his latest industry experience diaries, Chris discusses ‘crunch’ time, how he believes the Train2Game work placements will help him find permanent work, and working on designing levels.

Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement  here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

There are more diaries from Chris here.  As usual, leave your comments here on this post, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: UK Charts – Sniper Elite V2 takes No.1

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Train2Game students see Sniper Elite V2 by Oxford based studio Rebellion topping the charts in its first week on sale.  Get an insight into how the sniping based shooter was made in a developer diary here on The Train2Game Blog.

Last week’s No.1 Prototype 2 drops to No.2, with FIFA 12 once again a non-mover at No.3. FIFA Street drops two to No.4, while fellow EA title Mass Effect 3 slips one to No.5.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 moves up one to No.6, leapfrogging Kinect Star Wars which drops two to No.7. Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games moves up to No.8, switching positions with Battlefield 3 which is No.9.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 completes the top ten, after re-entering it from No.14. As reported by The Train2Game Blog, the next instalment in the series, Call of Duty: Black Ops II was announced last week.

Saints Row The Third and The Witcher 2 leave the top ten, falling to No.13 and No.16 respectively.  The PlayStation Vita version of Mortal Kombat only manages to reach No.33 in its debut week.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 5th May is therefore as follows:

1. Sniper Elite V2 (505 Games)
2. Prototype 2 (Activision)
3. FIFA 12 (EA)
4. FIFA Street (EA)
5. Mass Effect 3 (EA)
6. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 (EA)
7. Kinect Star Wars (Microsoft)
8. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Sega)
9. Battlefield 3 (EA)
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Activision)

Releases this week include StarHawk for PlayStation 3.

What are your thoughts on Sniper Elite V2 taking No.1? Have you played the game? And which title do you think will top the charts next week?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game video: Make Something Unreal Live Mentors Panel

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Train2Game hosted a mentors panel at Gadget Show Live which saw some of the industry veterans advising the Make Something Unreal Live teams, taking part in a 30 minute discussion.

The video, which you can now see here on The Train2Game Blog, features Epic Games’ Mike Gamble, the combined 50 years games industry experience of Pete Hickman and Tony Bickley, and CEO of AppCrowd Rick Alexander.

All four provide plenty of great advice to Train2Game students and you can watch what they have to say right here.

There’s more advice from figures including Peter Molyneux and Cliff Bleszinski, and an insight into what went on at Gadget Show Live in our Make Something Unreal Live documentary.

As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game at Gadget Show Live: The documentary

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Train2Game students recently took part in Make Something Unreal Live, a game development contest co-sponsored by Epic Games which took place at The Gadget Show Live in April.

Four teams received mentoring from high profile industry figures as they completed games based on the iconic Fighting Fantasy series. The winning team, Commando Kiwi walked away with a fully licensed Unreal Development Kit for i OS, while all four games will be published on the App Store through Appynation.

Now, here’s a 15 minute Train2Game documentary about Make Something Unreal Live. The video features all four teams that took part – Commando Kiwi, Digital Mage, Derp Studios and Indigo Jam – talking about their experiences.

Not only that, but industry figures including Unreal’s Mike Gamble, Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski, Peter Molyneux, Fighting Fantasy creators Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson.

Watch it on the Train2Game YouTube channel, or here on The Train2Game Blog.

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Grasshopper on Lollipop Chainsaw’s game design

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Train2Game students can get behind the scenes of upcoming cheerleader fronted action title Lollipop Chainsaw in a development diary from Grasshopper Manufacture.

Lollipop Chainsaw features a high school cheerleader who fights zombies with, among other things, a chainsaw. She’s accompanied by the living, fully conscious decapitated head of her boyfriend.

Lollipop Chainsaw – Behind the Apocalypse features Grasshopper Creative Director Suda 51 and film writer James Gunn – whose credits include Dawn of the Dead – discussing the thought process behind the game design of what looks to be a very over the top title.  Watch it below here on The Train2Game Blog.

Lollipop Chainsaw is scheduled release for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on Friday 15th June.

What are your thoughts on Lollipop Chainsaw and the game design ideas behind it?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Team 17 announce Worms Revolution closed beta

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Train2Game students have the opportunity to sign up to participate in the upcoming closed beta for Team 17’s Worms Revolution.

Worms Revolution is the latest title in Team 17’s long running turn based series, which will feature different classes for the first time. Players will be able to build teams with up to four types of worm, with the soldier, the scout, the heavy and the scientist all offering unique abilities and tactics.

To apply to take part in the Worms Revolution closed beta, you’ll need both a Steam and Team 17 forum account. Once you have those, apply to take part in the beta by emailing wormsbeta@team17.com with ‘Worms Revolution Beta’ in the subject line.

For more information, see the Worms Facebook page. Worms Revolution is scheduled for release later this year on PC and consoles, with the closed beta beginning in the new few weeks.  You can watch the Worms Revolution announcement trailer below.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, Team 17 believe that there’s never been an easier time to be an indie game developer.

And for more on beta testing, how it’s useful for Train2Game students, and opportunities to get involved with it, keep reading the Train2Game blog.

What are your thoughts on Worms Revolution? Are you a fan of the series? Will you apply to take part in the beta?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: How to create a “charismatic and interesting” spider

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Train2Game students can get a good look at the tricky process of designing a video game character in an interesting blog update from Alien Spidy developer Kalypso

Alien Spidy is an upcoming 2D and 3D platformer that’ll be released through on PSN, XBLA, PC and Mac.  Quick reflexes and fast paced platform action are apparently required for the game that’ll be released in June.

The PlayStation Blog post details how Kalypso designed their main character, a spider, and made him “charismatic and interesting”

“After a lot of brainstorming, coffee, comic reading, watching cartoons and lots of other inspirational tools, we thought that it would be interesting to play around with a small spider with big eyes that would be able to bring some “human” emotional connection to the game.” said Product Manager Andrew McKerrow.

“ We also decided to stick six legs on instead of the standard eight legs to make the character a little more friendly looking and little less creepy, as there are a lot of people with arachnophobia! See, we do care!” he added.

That however, was just the beginning, and the blog details how Alien Spidy went through different stages of concept art and designing a story for the game. It’s a very interesting read, which will surely be of interest to Train2Game students. It’s here on the PlayStation Blog.

What are your thoughts on the blog post from Kalypso? Does it give you a good insight into the game development process?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Firaxis videos take you behind the scenes of XCOM: Enemy Unknown

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Train2Game students can get a behind the scenes look at XCOM: Enemy Unknown in not one, but two videos from Firaxis and 2K Games.

The first video, ‘Taking the lead’ sees lead designer Jake Solomon speaking about the core elements of how Firaxis building their reimagining of the classic strategy title.

The second video sees Art Director Greg Foertsch describing how Firaxis created the look and art style of XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

A previous developer diary sees Firaxis – the studio famous for the Civilization series – discussing how they’re making strategy ‘sexy.’  XCOM: Enemy Unknown is scheduled for release in autumn this year.

What are your thoughts on the XCOM: Enemy Unknown videos? Are you looking forward to this one?

Leave your comments on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: London Games Festival returns later this year

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Train2Game students have the opportunity to take part in a month long celebration of gaming culture when The London Games Festival returns later this year.

The event runs from 27th September to 28th October and will feature exhibitions, game launches, career fairs, educational summits and more. The London Games Festival is being directed by Kirsty Payne, with the last festival in 2010 attracting 75,000 people to 26 events.

“London Games Festival is a real focus for UKIE this year,” says event director Kirsty Payne. “We’re looking to unite the whole industry in a month-long celebration of games and gaming culture, and expect this to be the biggest LGF to date.”

“Anyone can host an event under the London Games Festival banner – so we’re looking forward to getting the capital playing together and celebrating the culture of games from September 27th”she concluded.

“UKIE is delighted to be spearheading  the London Games Festival and it’s the perfect opportunity to bring together and showcase all elements of the interactive entertainment  industry including, education and skills, accessibility, government, talent, innovation and above all, fun events for anyone who likes to play games.” added UKIE CEO Jo Twist, who was a mentor at Train2Game and Epic Game’s recent Make Something Unreal Live contest.

Keep reading the Train2Game Blog for the latest information about The London Games Festival and other interesting events.

What are your thoughts on the return of London Games Festival?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.