Monthly Archives: July 2015

Train2Game News Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 at NASS

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Tony Hawk fans will be able to play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, due to be released later this year.

For the first time ever this weekend, the up coming game will be playable when Tony Hawk and his Birdhouse Skateboards team stop by the NASS Festival, Somerset on Saturday 11th July as part of their Birdhouse European Vacation Tour.

The tour kicks off this Saturday at the NASS Festival near Bristol, UK, before traveling on to Copenhagen, Paris, Malaga, Munich and Prague. The annual Birdhouse Summer tour gives fans a great opportunity to come out and see some of the best that skateboarding has to offer at some great locations across Europe, and drop by the Activision booth at each stop on the tour to play the game for the first time.

This year’s Birdhouse Tour line-up includes skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, Aaron “Jaws” Homoki, Ben Raybourn, Clint Walker, David Loy, Clive Dixon, Mike Davis, Shawn Hale, Kevin Staab, and Lizzie Armanto. In the UK, there will be a special Tony Hawk and Friends vert demo at the NASS Festival as well featuring Tony Hawk, Kevin Staab, Lizzie Armanto and many special guests.

“I’m excited to hit the road with the Birdhouse team, and to skate some of the best parks in Europe along the way,” said Tony Hawk of the tour. “Hope to see you there!”

For ongoing details and updates, go to http://birdhouseskateboards.com

Train2Game News Passport X for Xbox One

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GAME is giving Xbox One gamers the chance to get their hands on a My Passport X exclusive, in store or online at game.co.uk for £94.99.

With the national release of My Passport X not until 15th July, GAME customers will be amongst the first to snap up the new portable Xbox One hard drive.

With 2TB space, My Passport X immediately adds storage capacity to the Xbox One system so customers will no longer have to delete files to make room for new games. Built around a high-quality WD drive, with easy set-up and a stylish compact design, the device is built to deliver a great gaming experience for Xbox One or PC gamers.

Rachel Dearsley, Microsoft Category Manager at GAME, comments: “We want to ensure that our customers are on the frontline and amongst the first to have access to all the latest gaming products.

“Not only will My Passport X improve the gaming experience in the home but also on the move as gamers can take the drive with them wherever they go.

“With this added space and the reward points earned when purchasing through GAME, there’s no excuse not to treat yourself to a new game too!”

To find out more about My Passport X visit your local GAME store or game.co.uk.

Train2Game News Broadband Genie research results

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The growth of digital gaming has grown exponentially over the last few years. However, increasing download sizes and the continuous need for updates are making online games less accessible.

Research carried out by the independent broadband switching site, Broadband Genie has revealed that 2.68 million gamers (ref 1) have a broadband package with a data usage cap which could impact their ability to download and play games.  Furthermore, over half of those that play online still experience lag.

·         More than half (52%) of gamers regularly play online
·         More than 25% of gamers prefer to buy their games online, 35% have no preference
·         Of those that buy digitally, 36% have an advertised speed of 24mb or less, and 13% have speeds less than 8Mb
·         More than half of online gamers (59%) experience lag, with 10% of these gamers experiencing lag very frequently. That equates to more than 7 million online gamers across the UK (ref 2)

Rob Hilborn, head of strategy at Broadband Genie said, “Internet speeds are simply not keeping pace with advances in gaming technology. If you take a release like Batman Arkham Knight, it needs approximately 30GB to download – the same rings true for the boxed PC version.  30GB can take anywhere between 6 to 10 hours to download at 10Mbps and around 3 hours to download at the latest Ofcom average speed of 22.8Mb.”

This data usage exceeds the monthly download limit for many of the cheaper broadband deals, as well as some of the more expensive contracts (ref 3).

“It’s a big problem for many online gamers. If they exceed their monthly download cap, they’re likely to incur additional charges or a restriction to their service,” said Rob.

Other findings from Broadband Genie’s research:

·    Of those that experienced lag online (59%), 29% use ADSL, 34% fibre and 29% cable
·    Of those that play online and don’t experience lag (41%), 34% were Virgin users, 23% Sky, 22% BT
·    Of those that play online, 18% play on average between 1-5 hours a week, 14% between 6-10 hours and only 6% play more than 21 hours a week
·    30% play action adventure games, 21% FPS, 17% strategy and 11% simulator

Train2Game News UKIE on 2015 budget

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Today’s Budget was the first from the Chancellor of a majority Conservative government since 1996, and announcing a significant change in economic strategy with cuts to taxes and welfare and the introduction of a National Living Wage. You can read the full Budget speech and documents here.

With the Budget in March this year already having announced a £4 million Prototype Fund for the games industry, as well as further funding for the Skills Investment Fund, it is perhaps not surprising that today did not see any more direct announcements of support for games. However today’s announcements will still have an impact on all games companies.

Of most direct interest were the announcement on digital clusters. Ukie CEO Dr Jo Twist said in response:  “We welcome the new support for regional digital economy clusters outside of London.  Ukie will submit ambitious proposals to government supported by a major piece of research to influence the long-term Spending Round expected in November this year to support growth right across UK.”

Innovation across the country

In our letter to the Chancellor, Ukie called for investment in games hubs across the country. The government has taken steps toward this by announcing that they will work with existing clusters to find and support strengths in science and innovation. The Budget announced that “the government will invite universities, LEPs, businesses and cities to work with central government to map strengths and identify potential areas of strategic focus for different regions through a series of science and innovation audits”. Proposals generated from these discussions will be funded through announcements in the Comprehensive Spending Review that will be held in the autumn.

As a first step, the Budget also announced that the government will invest £23m in 6 “Next Generation Digital Economy Centres” over 6 sites – London, Swansea, Newcastle, Nottingham, York and Bath. These will attract match funding from the private sector to “exploit opportunities across sectors of the digital economy including the creative industries, finance, healthcare and education.”

We will be working closely with government to make sure these announcements have the best possible outcome for the games industry, especially in the clusters identified in the NESTA report.

Changes to Enterprise Investment Schemes

The March Budget proposed changes to ‘tax-advantaged venture capital schemes’ including SEIS, EIS and VCTs, which many games companies make use of. Following a consultation, which they have today published the government response to, they have confirmed several changes including:

    A new £20 million cap on the total risk finance that can be raised by a company under EIS or VCTs

    An increase in the employee limit for ‘knowledge intensive’ companies to 500 employees

    A new digital process for companies and investors using SEIS, EIS and the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) by the end of 2016

Business Environment

The Chancellor announced some major changes which will have an impact on all businesses in the UK, including:

    Corporation Tax will be reduced to 19% in 2017 then 18% in 2020 – keeping it the lowest in the G7, and a reduction from the 28% rate that the coalition government inherited in 2010.

    A new mandatory National Living Wage will be introduced. It will apply to the over-25s from April 2016, rising from £7.20 an hour then to over £9 an hour by 2020.

    The Employment Allowance will go up from £2,000 to £3,000, raising the amount businesses can pay employees before they incur National Insurance contributions

    Three million new apprenticeships will be created, partially funded by a new ‘Apprenticeships Levy’ on all large employers. This levy can be recovered by companies that spend money on training.

    From September 2017, families with 3 and 4 year old children will receive 30 hours of free childcare – twice the current amount.

Train2Game News VRTGO 2015 Conference

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This November will see the return of the popular future gazing VR conference and expo -VRTGO in Gateshead. 

Following last year’s sell-out event the organisers will be introducing new features and encouraging more buyers to attend the break-out sessions to meet technologists and developers.

ZeroLight, headline sponsor of VRTGO 2014 believes attending the event this year is valuable for any company exploring the potential of virtual reality, “VRTGO helps those inside and outside of the technology industry to explore the opportunities that virtual reality brings.  As well as being a showcase of VR applications, it provides real value to anyone thinking of using VR in their business”, said Jason Collins Marketing Director.

The conference and expo will feature companies such as nDreams, CCP, Coatsink, Crossrail, Microsoft, Atomhawk, Hammerhead Interactive and the list goes on….

Patrick O’Luanaigh, CEO of nDreams said, “We spoke at the inaugural event last year, and were hugely impressed by the professionalism, speaker quality and general feeling of excitement. This year’s event should be bigger and better, and we’re looking forward to sharing the lessons that we have learnt releasing titles on the Gear VR and developing launch games for the Morpheus, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.”

Carri Cunliffe, Secret Sauce MD and VRTGO producer said, “It was a great event to work on last year; so many exciting new questions about how VR will impact not just the entertainment industries but how we live and work. We will see more diversity of attendees as buyers look to see how VR can improve their business.  We are thrilled to be working on this exciting event again this year.”

To register today and take advantage of the early bird price https://vrtgo2015.eventbrite.co.uk

Train2Game News Iron Man Costume part 2

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Train2Game student Sheldon Gilman has made it his mission to create the ultimate Iron Man suit. He also has plans to create more suits from the popular Iron Man series of films.

He’s recording his journey in creating these wonderful creations via the Train2Game blog.   Posting updates on his own creations while giving advice to other aspiring costume makers.

In this latest entry to his blog, he discusses software used to create his design, mould creation and some of the setbacks he has encountered.

Sheldon Gilman: “Files to create an Iron Man suit are all available through various forums like The 405th and the RPF Forum, and even through Facebook groups. However, you need to be familiar with a program called Pepakura to access these files. Pepakura is a paper modelling program. Essentially, it will take a 3d file and lay it out flat on an A4 sheet for you to cut out and glue together. It is much like the UVW unfold feature in 3DS Max (if you are familiar with that), with the added function of being able to print what you have unfolded.  Below are pictures of the helmet I designed in 3DS Max, then imported and unfolded in Pepakura.”

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3DS Max 2013

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Pepakura Designer 3

“On my first attempt, I made the helmet out of foam. My thinking was to cover the helmet in latex rubber, then plaster to make a reusable mould. There are some great tutorials on how to do this process on YouTube. However, my first attempt turned out to be quite costly and failed spectacularly.”

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“The mould was flaky and crumbling when it was handled, when I put fibreglass on the inside of the mould there were huge air bubbles, and the latex mould was too thin, which meant that whenever I added fibreglass to the inside, it kept collapsing in on itself.  Worse yet, even though I was doing it outside, the smell was quite potent and lingered for about a day or two, which wasn’t good around my one year old daughter. Due to all of that, that idea was abandoned for the next method, and I went down the cardstock route.”

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“This process involves printing the parts out from Pepakura onto cardstock, cutting them out with a craft knife, and glueing them together. While this at time was mind-numbingly boring, with all of those teeny tiny intricate pieces, overall, it is great fun seeing your work slowly come to life.”

“Next, the part will need to be covered with fibreglass resin both inside and out. This gives the part more rigidity. Then, the fibreglass can be added to the inside. Bondo or car body filler is applied to the outside to fill in any imperfections, and then sanded down to make it smooth. Primer is applied and, lastly, paint.”

“If you would like a more in-depth tutorial on how to do this process, please take a look at Boochieboy’s youtube channel. Evil Ted Smith also has some useful videos on how to build costumes using foam.”

“I am now making the parts out of 160g card stock. Many people wonder, “why not just make it out of normal printer paper?” That would be a big no no!  For this process to succeed, the parts need to be made from card stock as it is thicker and can absorb fibreglass resin with minimal warpage.”

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Iron Man Mk20 Chest and Back                                  

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War Machine Chest and Back

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Iron Man Mk20 Helmet                                                  

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War Machine Helmet

“As I mentioned, the parts will need to be covered both inside and out in fibreglass resin. This helps make it more rigid before applying the fibreglass. Once all the fibreglass is on, the part will be rock hard.”

“If you have never worked with fibreglass resin before, it comes in two parts: the resin and the hardener. Once the hardener is added to the resin, you have a very short window of opportunity to apply it to your project; roughly three to five mins depending on if you’ve mixed it right.”

“An unfortunate drawback to this method is once you’ve used a paintbrush, it can never be used again as the resin will solidify within a matter of minutes and make the brush rock solid, and there is no way I know of to clean a brush off so this means I have to buy paintbrushes in bulk. However, it’s not too bad as I get about twenty-four 12mm brushes for about £6 from eBay.”

Further details of Sheldon’s project will follow on the Train2Game blog.

Train2Game News BBC micro:bit

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The BBC and partners today unveiled the BBC micro:bit – a pocket-sized, codeable computer that allows children to get creative with technology. In the BBC’s most ambitious education initiative for 30 years, up to 1 million devices will be given to every 11 or 12 year old child in year 7 or equivalent across the UK, for free.

In the 1980s, the BBC Micro introduced many children to computing for the first time. Part of the BBC’s 2015 Make it Digital initiative, the BBC micro:bit builds on the legacy of the Micro for the digital age, and aims to inspire young people to get creative with digital; develop core skills in science, technology and engineering; and unleash a new generation of digital makers, inventors and pioneers.

The UK currently faces a critical skills shortage in the technology sector, and the BBC and our partners aim to help change that.

Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC says: “Channelling the spirit of the Micro for the digital age, the BBC micro:bit will inspire a new generation in a defining moment for digital creativity here in the UK. All you need is your curiosity, creativity and imagination – we’ll provide the tools. This has the power to be transformative for the UK. The BBC is one of the few organisations in the world that could convene something on this scale, with such an unprecedented partnership at its core.”

The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer that you can code, customise and control to bring your digital ideas, games and apps to life. It measures 4cm by 5cm, will be available in a range of colours, and is designed to be fun and easy to use. Something simple can be coded in seconds – like lighting up its LEDs or displaying a pattern – with no prior knowledge of computing. All that’s needed is imagination and creativity.

The BBC micro:bit also connects to other devices, sensors, kits and objects, and is a great companion to Arduino, Galileo, Kano, littleBits and Raspberry Pi, acting as a spring-board to more complex learning.

Key features include:

    25 red LEDs to light up, flash messages, create games and invent digital stories

    Two programmable buttons activated when pressed. Use the micro:bit as a games controller. Pause or skip songs on a playlist.

    On-board motion detector or ‘accelerometer’ that can detect movement and tell other devices you’re on the go. Featured actions include shake, tilt and freefall. Turn the micro:bit into a spirit level. Light it up when something is moved. Use it for motion-activated games.

    A built-in compass or ‘magnetometer’ to sense which direction you’re facing, your movement in degrees, and where you are. Includes an in-built magnet, and can sense certain types of metal.

    Bluetooth Smart Technology to connect to the internet and interact with the world around you. Connect the micro:bit to other micro:bits, devices, kits, phones, tablets, cameras and everyday objects all around. Share creations or join forces to create multi-micro:bit masterpieces. Take a selfie. Pause a DVD or control your playlist. 

    Five Input and Output (I/O) rings to connect the micro:bit to devices or sensors using crocodile clips or 4mm banana plugs. Use the micro:bit to send commands to and from the rings, to power devices like robots and motors.

Each element of the BBC micro:bit is completely programmable via easy-to-use software on a dedicated website (available later in the summer at microbit.co.uk) that can be accessed from a PC, tablet or mobile. Your personal area on the website will allow you to save and test your creations in a simulator before they are transferred to your micro:bit, and the available tools scale to be as complex as your ideas, imagination and skills require.

Sinead Rocks, Head of BBC Learning, says: “We happily give children paint brushes when they’re young, with no experience – it should be exactly the same with technology. The BBC micro:bit is all about young people learning to express themselves digitally, and it’s their device to own. It’s our most ambitious education initiative for 30 years. And as the micro:bit is able to connect to everything from mobile phones to plant pots and Raspberry Pis, this could be for the internet-of-things what the BBC Micro was to the British gaming industry.”

The micro:bit was first conceived by BBC Learning in 2012, and initially developed together with the BBC’s award-winning R&D department. The scale and scope of this unique initiative has only been made possible by an unprecedented collaboration between 29 international organisations, pioneering start-ups and transformative education organisations.

The BBC is the overall editorial and project lead for the micro:bit, coordinating the partnership, micro:bit development and delivery, learning resources and on-air and online inspiration for teachers, schools and makers across the UK.

Product partners include:

    ARM – providing mbed hardware, software development kits and compiler services
    Barclays – supporting overall product delivery and outreach activities
    element14 – sourcing components and managing the manufacturing
    Freescale – supplying the sensors and USB controllers
    Lancaster University – creating and writing the micro:bit runtime
    Microsoft – providing the TouchDevelop web-based programming tools and hosting service as well as teacher-training materials
    Nordic Semiconductor – supplying the main processor and enabled Bluetooth Smart
    Samsung – connecting the BBC micro:bit to phones and tablets, and developing the Android app
    ScienceScope – distributing to schools and developing the iOS app
    Technology Will Save Us – designing the shape, look and feel of the device
    The Wellcome Trust – providing learning opportunities for teachers and schools

Fundamental to the success of the BBC micro:bit, the BBC and partners will be working closely with teachers, educators and schools over the summer to ensure that resources, information and support are available in advance of micro:bit distribution this autumn, supporting the curriculum. BBC Learning will also provide resources including Live Lessons, getting started videos, projects and tutorials.

The BBC micro:bit will start to arrive in schools in late October, giving children a chance to settle into new schools, and teachers the opportunity to build this into lesson plans for the rest of the academic year.

The BBC micro:bit initiative aims to make a huge impact in 2015 with the BBC and its partners committed providing up to 1 million micro:bits before the end of the year. And it won’t stop there. The technical specifications for the device will be open-sourced, and the partnership plans to collectively develop a not-for-profit company to oversee and drive the micro:bit legacy. This will enable additional micro:bits to be made commercially available in the UK and internationally through various outlets in late 2015.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/microbit

Train2Game News MineCon 2015 Record Winners

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GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS, the global authority in record-breaking achievement presented MineCon with the Guinness World Records title Largest convention for a single video-game at MineCon 2015 and eight new titles were achieved at the  GWR Live! stand.

The first batch of tickets to MineCon 2015, were sold out within 12 minutes and the full allocation of 10,000 soon afterwards in March this year. The first MineCon in 2011 was attended by just 200 people and just like the game; its success has been meteoric with tickets now earning diamond ore status!

Guinness World Records brought the GWR Live! experience to MineCon 2015 where gamers could take part in the hourly live official record attempts. Over 1000 young gamers visited the stand and eight new Guinness World Records titles were achieved in physical attempts and on Minecraft pocket edition.

13 year old Jake Edwards achieved The most sand castles built in 3 minutes on minecraft pocket edition, creating 14 sandcastles and 12 year old Omar Siraj managed The most cobblestone collected in 3 minutes on minecraft pocket edition, collecting 137 cobblestonesl

Brothers Adrian and Darren Mo walked away with the Guinness World Record title for ‘Most soft toys caught blindfolded in 30 seconds (team of 2)’, managing to catch an impressive 11 Minecraft toys.

No one was able to break the record  for the  fastest time to stack 20 large LEGO bricks but there were some very close misses and the enthusiasm and dedication from the gamers  and excitement on taking part in actual live record attempts more than made up for it!

Lydia Winters, Brand Director at Mojang was excited to receive the Guinness World Records title and accepted the official certificate at the exciting opening ceremony.

Stephen Daultrey Editor of Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition said ‘For a multi-genre games convention to attract 10,000 fans is a big enough feat in itself. But for a convention dedicated to a single video-game to get that number is nothing short of astonishing. This record is testament to the incredible fandom around Minecraft and the game’s ability to unlock the imaginations of millions of gamers around the world.’

A must-have for all gamers the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Gamer’s Edition 2016 is available on 10 September 2015, £9.99 RRP.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 06.07.15

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wpid-batman-arkham-knight-gets-stellar-gotham-is-mine-gameplay-video.jpgAfter several new games last week this weeks charts sees no new blood. The Caped Crusader remains at number one with Arkham Knight.

All formats

Week ending 4 July 2015

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 1
2 – LEGO JURASSIC WORLD WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 2
3 – THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 3
4 THE WITCHER III: WILD HUNT BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT 5
5 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 6
6 YOSHI’S WOOLLY WORLD NINTENDO 4
7 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 11
8 – FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 8
9 CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 7
10 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 12
11 DESTINY ACTIVISION 9
12 DYING LIGHT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 16
13 PAYDAY 2: CRIMEWAVE EDITION 505 GAMES 14
14 FARMING SIMULATOR 15 FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE 15
15 SPLATOON NINTENDO 19
16 HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION MICROSOFT 17
17 FAR CRY 4 UBISOFT –
18 MOTOGP 15 MILESTONE 13
19 TERRARIA XBOX 360 CLASSICS 20
20 MORTAL KOMBAT X WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 18
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2015 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 Videogame Nation Season Three

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Smash show Videogame Nation produced by Ginx TV has been commissioned for a third series, set to premiere tomorrow onChallenge on Saturday July 4th , 10 AM.

The show will see the return of gaming journalists co-hosts  Dan Maher (Explosive Alan),  Aoife Wilson (Eurogamer) and  John Robertson (The Dark Room) celebrating games, gamers and gaming culture. Featuring one major gaming release per week, the successful series is a blend of reviews, conversation, comedy and Top 5 picks.

As a show made by gamers for gamers, the new series renews its commitment to inclusivity and challenges the viewers’ perception of video games by exploring the world of gaming culture, from the understated beauty of games such as  Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture  to the super-powered open world of Batman: Arkham Knight.

This season will feature global gaming phenomenon including the galactic saga Star Wars: Battlefront, the anticipated apocalyptic frenzy of  Fallout 4, and the return of Lara Croft in  Rise of the Tomb Raider, as well as lesser-known indie gems such as Mike Bithell’s  Volume.

High-profile names in the new series include The Guardian’s Games Editor Keith Stuart, Kotaku’s UK Editor  Keza MacDonald, PCGamesN’s  Steve Hogarty, presenter  Julia Hardy (Video Game BAFTAs), and comedians  Steve McNeil (Go 8-bit) and  Ellie Gibson (Scummy Mummies).

Ginx TV’s Creative Director and Executive Producer  James Neal commented: “We are really excited that Challenge is committed to bringing video game entertainment to broadcast television for British audiences. The latter part of 2015 is stacked with the most amazing slate of video game launches on next gen consoles and PC and Videogame Nation will be perfectly placed to maximise the opportunity for TV.” 

Stephen Ladlow,  Director of Challenge commented:  “With such an array of eagerly anticipated games launching this year, it’s an exciting time in the world of gaming. Here at Challenge, with this new series of Videogame Nation, we are aiming to indulge our viewers and gamers in the latest topics, reviews, and hottest developments in gaming culture. 
Videogame Nation will be Produced and Directed by Ginx TV’s  Adam Mason and was commissioned by Director of Challenge and Pick TV,  Stephen Ladlow.

The brand new season 3 of Videogame Nation starts on Saturday July 4th at 10am on Challenge (Sky 145, Freeview 46, Freesat 145, Virgin 139) in the UK, and every Monday from July 20th at 19:00 CET on GINX TV.