Train2Game News Radius announce playable games

RadiusThe organisers of the Radius Festival have today announced the list of games to be showcased at the inaugural Radius Exhibition next week, 19 – 21st of June.

After a great start to the Radius video games Festival with Loading Bar’s E3 media briefing party, attended by over 200 people, the exhibition moves to White Space Venue, near Leicester Square.

The exhibition will host around 20 different playable titles each day, from developers all over the world,  including Tango Fiesta, 0rbitalis, Tap Happy Sabbotage, Timmy Bibble’s Friendship Club, Beyond Gravity, Mighty Tactical Shooter, In Space We Brawl, A Light in Chorus, Fossil Echo, The Kraken Sleepeth, The Marvellous Miss Take, Volume, and many others.

For the full list check out www.radiusfestival.com

“The creative variety and diversity of the games is amazing”, says co-founder and organiser Georg Backer, “and highlights that Radius is for everyone, from the one person developer to the established studio and to gamers and general public who are curious about games.”

“Radius is a celebration of game design and of the vibrancy of this wonderful industry,” adds co-organiser Keith Stuart. “We set it up in the wake of the major event E3 video games exhibition in Los Angeles, to give gamers a chance to experience and celebrate games amid a period of excitement and hype for the games business.”

The exhibition is free for everyone to attend and runs from June 19th to June 21st. There is £15 Supporter Ticket which includes a free drink and download tokens for two PC indie games: 0rbitalis and Richard & Alice.

During the evenings, there’ll also be the “Radius Show”, a live-streamed Internet show presented by games industry veterans and broadcast on Twitch, featuring developer interviews, guest stars and many surprises. Tickets for the evening show cost £25 and include a free drink plus free digital editions of 0rbitalis, Richard & Alice and Tango Fiesta. The show will be live streamed via www.twitch.tv/radiusfestival

Tickets for both the Exhibition and the Evening live show are now available at www.radiusfestival.eventbrite.co.uk

Train2Game News Nintendo at E3

Train2Game blog image Nintendo LogoNintendo’s video games have always had an element that can put great big smiles on people’s faces: it’s that special Nintendo magic.

It’s that certain undefinable something that makes people’s eyes light up, whether they’ve been playing for decades or they’re picking up a game for the first time. At this week’s E3 video game trade show in Los Angeles, Nintendo is showcasing the invention and reinvention of video game experiences – from unique new ways to play to new takes on fan favourite games and franchises.

Interactive figures called “amiibo”, scheduled to arrive this year, can be used with multiple Nintendo games, bringing a touch of Nintendo’s magic to the toys-to-life category. With the addition of amiibo to a solid lineup of games on the way, there has never been a better time to own a Wii U or Nintendo 3DS system.

Further details from E3 can be found in the link below

Nintendo at E3

Train2Game News Chartboost new Targeting and Monetization for Mobile

ChartboostChartboost, the largest business engine for mobile games, has announced the launch of three new products – Post-Install Analytics (PIA), Retargeting and Newsfeed.

Chartboost’s expanded product offering is part of the only unified solution exclusively for mobile game developers to target and re-engage segments of players through in-game messaging and retargeting campaigns, all from one Dashboard.

“Chartboost is committed to providing mobile game developers with the tools and insights to create campaigns that drive high ROI and solve for their in-game business goals,” said Maria Alegre, CEO and co-founder of Chartboost. “For the last three years we’ve been focused on creating the best discovery and monetization platform for mobile games, so with the release of these new products we’re building more robust solutions for mobile game developers looking to engage, retain and grow.”

The Post-Install Analytics (PIA) measures player activity and engagement after they’ve installed the game via the Chartboost SDK. It creates analytics reports for game developers, that aggregate player behavior, to help them optimize their ROI. PIA tracks player bootups, session length and in-app purchases, analyzing how often and how long players are in the game, who is a paying customer, and their in-app purchase behavior. This data is presented in Custom Reports that give developers control of the data they want to receive in their desired format including:

·         In-app purchase revenue
·         Average revenue per user
·         One to seven day retention
·         Average session length

Retargeting builds off of PIA and allows game developers to maximize the value and ROI of their campaigns by allowing them to target players who installed the game based on their playing and payer behavior. These players are more likely to re-engage with the game or be converted into paying players because they already have the game installed. Retargeting is comprised of the following features and benefits that will allow an advertiser to target their existing players for re-engagement and monetization:

Features & Benefits

·          Tracking & Segmentation – Track and create custom player segments based on player behavior in the game:
o    Bootups (frequency, last login, install date)
o    Session length (average length)
o    IAP (total spent, spent per purchase, number of purchases)
·          Targeting – Target specific player segments who have previously installed the game and by device list for higher retention, re-engagement and/or monetization.
·          Deep Linking –  Leverage deep linking support to direct players to a specific location in the game.
·          Quality –  Receive higher quality re-engagement through the largest mobile gaming-only platform.

Newsfeed was built specifically for the mobile game experience, providing an in-game messaging tool that allows game developers to engage and retain their players through real-time communication, or “stories.” Newsfeed helps developers generate awareness and interest in updates, new features, and promotions, and scores over existing solutions like push messages that players tend to dismiss and forget, by showing messages both in a slide-in banner and a persistent feed. In addition, it can serve as a cross-promotional tool that drives players to other games in their portfolio.

Newsfeed supports rich messages that include images, text and calls-to-action, and provides engagement metrics for each story. It also provides stories with an optional countdown timer allowing developers to build excitement and a sense of urgency around in-game events like limited time offers.

Features & Benefits

·  Customization – Developers have the option to build and manage their own fully customizable UI.
· Dynamic Messaging – Include an image, title and body text, countdown timers and links, including in-game slide-in banner to alert players instantly.
· Access & Control –  Player-specific options to control how many times and how often a message is shown, supported by transparent analytics to capture CTR and unique clicks.
· Simplicity –  Easy-to-use Dashboard message creator to draft, update and send messages to the Newsfeed.

Post-Install Analytics (public beta) is free and available today via SDK 4.5 for iOS and SDK 4.1 for Android.

Retargeting (closed beta) will run on a cost per click basis and will be available later this month to advertisers who update to SDK 4.5 and sign up for early access.

Newsfeed (public beta) is free and available today via SDK 4.5 for iOS with Android support coming soon.

Train2Game News Sony at E3

SONY_logoAt its annual E3 Media & Business Summit press conference today, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) unveiled a line-up of premiere content for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system.

The games included Destiny from Bungie & Activision , Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End from Naughty Dog , Far Cry 4 from Ubisoft , Batman: Arkham Knight from Rocksteady & Warner Bros Interactive , The Order: 1886 from Ready at Dawn, the highly anticipated No Man’s Sky by Hello Games, and many more.

SCEA also unveiled an exclusive PS4 Destiny bundle that includes a custom glacier white PS4, provided an update on its original content series “Powers,” introduced PlayStation TV (PS TV) for the North American and European markets, and discussed the rollout of “PlayStation Now” (PS Now) in the United States and Canada.

“With the success of PS4 − the number one next generation platform globally − and the announcements we made tonight around exciting new content, platforms and services, PlayStation is delivering unique and powerful entertainment experiences that speak to the hearts and minds of gamers,” said Shawn Layden, president and CEO of SCEA.

“PlayStation offers something for everyone, whether you want to lose yourself in a massive virtual world with tons of social interaction like Destiny or you’re looking for a more intimate, unique experience offering plenty of challenge like Entwined. Our unwavering commitment to gamers will ensure that PlayStation will always be where the greatest play happens.”

You can view more information on the Sony E3 conference in the link below

Sony at E3

Train2Game News Final Fantasy VII G-Bike

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Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces FINAL FANTASY VII G-BIKE, a thrilling high-speed action chase game from FINAL FANTASY VII, is coming to iPhone and Android. The game will be free to play with in-app item based purchases.

G-BIKE is one of the most loved mini games from the FINAL FANTASY series. Making its appearance in FINAL FANTASY VII (released in 1997), G-BIKE could be played at a specific point in the main story or from the Gold Saucer amusement centre. G-BIKE is now taking its turn in the spotlight, completely re-made with modern technology as a brand new mobile game experience.

FINAL FANTASY VII G-BIKE is an authentic racing game that sees you speeding through the FINAL FANTASY VII world. The game offers quick and easy play on touch devices, in which gamers can enjoy thrilling high-speed bike chases as well as deep RPG like elements such as customisation, character growth and item collecting.

Enjoy one of the most visceral parts of the FINAL FANTASY VII universe in the palm of your hand!

FINAL FANTASY VII G-BIKE Key Features:

A motorcycle chase based action game set in the world of FINAL FANTASY VII

·         Perform many exciting actions in full 3D stages, evading obstacles and attacking the enemy at high speed.

Elements unique to FINAL FANTASY VII

·         Experience familiar sights from the unique universe of FINAL FANTASY VII, such as classic monsters and Cloud Strife’s awesome fighting techniques, recreated with beautiful graphics.

Deep gameplay to savour, including numerous missions and character development

·         Contains a wealth of familiar gameplay features including different missions, gigantic boss battles, detailed weapon customisation and item collecting elements

Train2Game News: Microsoft at E3

XboxMonday, on the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. unveiled the future of gaming on Xbox One through a spectacular lineup of games from the world’s most visionary creators.

This holiday season on Xbox One gamers will enjoy the quintessential collection of the most popular game in Xbox history with “Halo: The Master Chief Collection,” as well as highly anticipated exclusives such as “Sunset Overdrive,” “Forza Horizon 2,” “Fable Legends” and “Dance Central Spotlight.”

From start to finish, Microsoft’s annual E3 press briefing featured wall-to-wall games and highlighted the deep passion for gaming that Xbox creators share with their most dedicated fans. Showcasing the power of the cloud and the best multiplayer experience on Xbox Live, Xbox exclusives shared the stage with blockbusters such as “Assassin’s Creed Unity,” “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” “Evolve” and “Rise of the Tomb Raider,” and independent games such as “INSIDE,” adding to a growing library of games on Xbox One. In addition, beginning today, gamers can choose to buy an all-new Xbox One option for $399. Xbox One with Kinect will continue to be available.

“We are committed to delivering amazing experiences that will help define this generation of games and delight the millions of passionate Xbox fans around the world,” said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox. “Xbox will be the only place you can enjoy the most-anticipated blockbusters and new franchises, including exclusives like ‘Sunset Overdrive,’ ‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection,’ ‘Forza Horizon 2,’ and ‘Dance Central Spotlight.’ In addition, on Xbox One gamers will be able to play upcoming hits like ‘Destiny,’ ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,’ ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ and a vibrant catalog of games from independent developers.”

Led by fan feedback, Xbox has delivered new features and updates every month since the launch of Xbox One, setting a new pace for innovation. Only on Xbox One can you instantly switch between your favorite games and entertainment, so you never miss a moment, and easily share your gameplay with others via Upload Studio and Twitch. Xbox Live Gold offers a superior multiplayer experience, with innovative features such as dedicated cloud servers for multiplayer matches, no waiting in lobbies, cloud storage for Game DVR and an advanced reputation system.

Since the launch of Xbox One, the Xbox Live community has spent nearly 1.7 billion hours on games and entertainment, an average of five hours per day per console. The introduction of the new Xbox One console option offers more choice than ever before at a great value.

“Today we’re thrilled to offer our fans more choices to play the games they love and to enjoy all of their entertainment with the new Xbox One option for $399,” said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president, Devices and Studios at Microsoft. “With an amazing lineup of exclusive games and more than 225 entertainment apps available around the world by this holiday, powered by our Xbox Live multiplayer service, we’re committed to making Xbox an incredible place to play.”

You van view more details about some of the games and features in the PDF below:

Further information from Microsoft at E3

Train2Game News Autodesk drops price of Maya LT 2015

Maya LT 2015The 2015 edition of Maya LT has seen its price slashed by $20, making it more affordable to indie devs.

The animation and modelling software from Autodesk is now available for $30 per month, down from $50 – which, the company points out, is less than a dollar per day. Unless you’re in February, of course. In the UK, it now costs £25 per month.

Maya LT was first launched as an entry-level version of Maya, designed so that indie developers and smaller studios could afford one of Autodesk’s leading tools. The tools provider recently released Maya LT on Steam as well, allowing hobbyists to create their own content for titles like League of Legends.

This is the latest in a series of moves to make Autodesk’s products more accessible to indies.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 09.06.14

Watch DogsAfter six months the charts are finally starting to become more active again. Watch_Dogs holds the number one spot in the charts this week with Mario Kart 8 still just behind. Square Enix’s Murdered: Soul Suspect has entered the charts this week in third.

All formats

Week ending 7 June 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 WATCH DOGS UBISOFT 1
2 MARIO KART 8 NINTENDO 2
3 MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT SQUARE ENIX
4 WOLFENSTEIN: THE NEW ORDER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 3
5 FIFA 14 EA SPORTS 4
6 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL EA SPORTS 6
7 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION 3 EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 5
8 CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 9
9 TITANFALL EA GAMES 7
10 MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION MICROSOFT 8
11 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 16
12 BATTLEFIELD 4 EA GAMES 13
13 THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 10
14 WILDSTAR NCSOFT EUROPE
15 TOMODACHI LIFE NINTENDO
16 LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 11
17 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 15
18 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES 14
19 LEGO THE HOBBIT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 12
20 SOUTH PARK: THE STICK OF TRUTH UBISOFT 19
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Marmalade SDK goes free

MarmaladeDevelopers will now be able to download the Marmalade SDK for free.

Marmalade Technologies has announced that a free license is now available for its flagship product, which enables studios to create games for multiple platforms, including iOS Android, Blackberry, Tizen and both Windows Phone and Windows Store using a single codebase.

Developers will also have access to other products, such as Marmalade Quick, Marmalade Web and Marmalade Juice, which helps them convent iOS projects to run natively on Android.

Meanwhile, developers with Marmalade’s Indie, Plus or Pro licences can now develop games for Windows and Mac, Roku and selected Smart TV platforms.

“Following feedback from our developer community, I’m delighted that we are now able to give all developers the world over the ability to experience the full power of the Marmalade SDK for free,” says CEO Harvey Elliott.

“We know from our community that maintaining native performance for apps across different platforms is a top priority, and now all developers can use a free version of the Marmalade SDK, meaning no compromise on performance whatever their platform and freeing them to concentrate on making fantastic apps and games.”

Source: Develop

Train2Game News Develop Game Jam

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Tandem Events – organisers of the Develop in Brighton conference – today announced the launch of the first Develop Game Jam at this year’s Develop in Brighton conference.

Sponsored by Square Enix Collective and with tech provided by Unreal Engine 4, the Game Jam will take place on the 9 & 10 July and teams will be tasked with developing a game based on a theme revealed only 24 hours beforehand.

The competition will run from 2pm until midnight on Wednesday 9 July and then from 8am until 2pm on Thursday 10 July. Teams will consist of up to four people and all ranges of experience are welcome.

Industry mentors will visit the Game Jam throughout the conference to offer their advice and wisdom. Mentors already confirmed include Ella Romanos, Mike Bithell, Barry Meade and Georg Backer.

Entry is free, but there are only 30 places available. For more information and to register visit http://www.developconference.com/content/develop-game-jam