Monthly Archives: December 2015

Train2Game News Loot Crate and Operation Supply Drop team up

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Loot Crate, the company behind the popular Loot Crate and Level Up monthly subscription services for geeks, gamers and pop culture lovers, is proud to enter its first partnership with military charity Operation Supply Drop (OSD) – the world’s most generationally relevant support organization for veterans and active duty military.

Understanding that the holidays can be especially hard for military members and their families, Loot Crate has donated 2,000 crates, including its new premium Call of Duty®: Black Ops III Limited Edition Crate, for military holiday parties in select U.S. cities and overseas “Supply Drops” (video game themed care packages). Significantly additional Loot Crate donations are planned for 2016.

Loot Crate’s themed mystery boxes contain collectibles, apparel, gadgets, art and other epic gear from the hottest entertainment and consumer product companies in the world, including Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, DC, Star Trek, Nintendo, Hasbro, Mattel, Minecraft and many more. Each month’s theme features a mix of the best in pop culture. Past themes include: Galaxy, Time, Cyber, Heroes, Villains, Unite and more. Each crate includes 4-7 items (many of which are exclusively manufactured for Loot Crate), with an average combined retail value of $45. Most recently, Loot Crate unveiled several new Limited Edition crates to celebrate some of the biggest brands in the world, including Star Wars™, Call of Duty®: Black Ops III, Mass Effect, Fallout 4 and Doctor Who.

“At Loot Crate, we strive every day to curate a collection of products that elicits surprise, joy, and just plain fun,” said Jacob Shin, VP of Marketing at Loot Crate. “Through our new partnership with Operation Supply Drop, we hope to bring that same experience to both veterans and active military, who sacrifice so much for all of us.”

“As a retired veteran and avid gamer, it is amazing to see the support that companies like Loot Crate provide active duty military and veterans globally. We are well aware of how much joy receiving a box of goodies brings to veterans and those deployed in service of their country,” said Ray Whitaker, Chief Operating Officer of Operation Supply Drop. “Having consistently delivered amazing surprises in their crates, this partnership with Loot Crate will allow us to further brighten the days of those recovering from military service related injuries and an invaluable respite to those servicemen and women deployed in high stress environments.”

2,000 Loot Crates have been handed out to military members and their families at seven Operation Supply Drop events through this holiday season. For more information, please visit www.operationsupplydrop.org

Train2Game News Emotional Games Awards 2016

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The call for entries for the Emotional Games Awards in 2016 has been announced.

The Emotional Games Awards will take place in Laval, France on Friday 12th of February 2016. Developers and publishers from around the world are asked to submit their games until 6 January 2016.

Any game is eligible as long as it has been, or will be, released on the market between 1 January 2014 – Q1 2016. All entries should be made via the Entry site, which opens on Friday 11 December 2015: http://www.emotionalgamesawards.com/

Entry deadline is Tuesday 6 January (23.59 CET). Following this date the entry site will be closed.

For further information on the Awards and its rules and fees, visit our website   http://www.emotionalgamesawards.com/

List of the 8 categories:

·          BEST EMOTIONAL GAME 
·          BEST EMOTIONAL ARTISTIC GAME ACHIEVEMENT
·          BEST EMOTIONAL GAME DESIGN
·          BEST EMOTIONAL VR GAME 
·          BEST EMOTIONAL MOBILE & HANDHELD
·          BEST EMOTIONAL MULTIPLAYER GAME
·          BEST EMOTIONAL MUSIC 
·          BEST EMOTIONAL INDIE GAME

Please note that one game can be entered in to a maximum of 4 categories.

Train2Game News GameDev Market Christmas Bundle

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GameDev Market, the online marketplace for game development assets, has launched its first ever bundle of game assets and, in fitting with the festive season, will be donating all proceeds from the sale of the bundle to charity.

The asset bundle will be available on the site from December 14th-28th, with all sales being split between two charities, Child’s Play and AbleGamers. Child’s Play work to improve the lives of children with toys and games in their worldwide network of hospitals, whilst AbleGamers aims to improve the overall quality of life for those with disabilities through the power of video games.

The total value of the assets included in the bundle is $356 and at a cost of just $29, the bundle offers game developers the chance to get their hands on a wide variety of assets at more than 90% discount, while at the same time knowing that their purchase is helping to raise money for charity. With a diverse selection of items in the bundle, including 2D, 3D, GUI and Audio assets, there should be something to interest all developers. Take a look at the full bundle here – https://www.gamedevmarket.net/bundle/charity/ .

“With both charities being closely associated with the games industry, we feel they are the perfect fit for our first ever charity fundraiser,” says Liam McElroy, managing director. “They’re both great causes, and we’re glad to have the chance to help out. We hope this bundle will allow us to give something back to a community that has kindly supported us over the last 18 months.”

GameDev Market first launched in June 2014, and has since become home to over 10,000 game developers and asset creators in over 100 countries.  For more information or to join GameDev Market visit www.gamedevmarket.net , follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gameresources and join them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gamedevmarket .

Train2Game News Learn to Program with Minecraft

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Minecraft is the most popular game in PC history, with hundreds of millions of players, and it’s now a gateway into the programming world.

In a novel approach to teaching programming, a new book from No Starch Press, Learn to Program with Minecraft ($29.95, Dec. 2015, 320 pp.) uses Minecraft to introduce fans to the beginner-friendly Python language. Readers learn how to build dazzling creations and unlock a whole new realm of Minecraft, all while learning practical programming skills.

This hands-on approach to programming is filled with fun, step-by-step directions designed to make things clear for readers of all ages and experience levels.

Author Craig Richardson explains his book’s unique approach this way: “My book makes learning to program accessible and engaging for people of all ages. Parents and teachers know how valuable it is to learn how to program, but add the fun and creativity of Minecraft while giving your player superpowers, and who can resist?

Learn to Program with Minecraft shows readers how to take control of Minecraft with programming, and it’s really exciting for kids to see a pyramid or palace appear in their Minecraft world out of nothing more than a few lines of code.”

Readers of Learn to Program with Minecraft embark on a series of interactive and engaging missions as they learn how to:

·        Teleport their players using variables
·        Create palaces, pillars, pyramids, and pixel art using for loops
·        Stack blocks and build spectacular spires in record time with math
·        Unlock the chat feature and write secret messages to their friends
·        Blast craters, open secret passages, and cast spells to transform blocks
·        Duplicate entire villages, castles, and acres of Minecraft countryside

“Think of it this way,” says No Starch Press founder Bill Pollock. “Learn to Program with Minecraft is the ideal alternative to those cost-prohibitive coding camps. Kids who read this book will pick up valuable programming skills and they won’t have to hide their favorite game behind a busy screen.” According to Pollock, “No Starch Press will never be a billion dollar startup ‘unicorn,’ but we’ll still change the world by creating books that open doors for kids everywhere.”

For parents looking to get kids interested in coding, and for Minecraft fans of any age, this hands-on guide is the perfect introduction to programming. The code in this book will run on Mac, Windows, and Raspberry Pi.

Learn to Program with Minecraft is available now in bookstores everywhere.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 14.12.15

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cod_blackops3Next weeks Christmas number one is a threehorse race between the usual suspects; This weeks number one Call of Duty Black Ops 3, FIFA 16 and this years big new comer, Star Wars Battlefront. There are no new games in the charts this week.

All formats
Week ending 12 December 2015
POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III ACTIVISION 2
2 STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT EA GAMES 3
3 FIFA 16 EA SPORTS 1
4 FALLOUT 4 BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 5
5 MINECRAFT: STORY MODE TELLTALE GAMES 7
6 JUST CAUSE 3 SQUARE ENIX 4
7 ASSASSIN’S CREED: SYNDICATE UBISOFT 12
8 – GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 8
9 TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW 6: SIEGE UBISOFT 6
10 – WWE 2K16 2K 10
11 UNCHARTED: THE NATHAN DRAKE COLLECTION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 9
12 LEGO DIMENSIONS LEGO DIMENSIONS 13
13 JUST DANCE 2016 UBISOFT 19
14 HALO 5: GUARDIANS MICROSOFT 11
15 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 17
16 RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER SQUARE ENIX 14
17 LEGO JURASSIC WORLD WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 18
18 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2016 SEGA 15
19 FORZA MOTORSPORT 6 MICROSOFT 16
20 – NEED FOR SPEED EA GAMES 20
< 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 Bundle Stars Game Creation Sales

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Ever wanted to create your own games but don’t having any coding skills? Then Bundle Stars (bundlestars.com) has everything you could ever possibly need, in the brand new Ultimate Game Makers Bundle featuring RPG Maker, App Game Kit, Game Guru and Axis Game Factory. 

There’s never been a better time to create that killer game, with four of the greatest game making tools on the planet at your fingertips.

The Ultimate Game Makers Bundle puts game design in the hands of gamers. What’s more, with four different bundle tiers to choose from, users can purchase the specific content that best suits their game making needs.  This means that the Ultimate Game Makers Bundle is just as customisable as the games you can create.  From RPGs to First-Person Adventures, through the Ultimate Game Makers Bundle, gamers are free to create their own unique experiences and share them online.

The Ultimate Game Makers Bundle

·         Tier 1 – $2.99 (8 Titles) Saving 98%
Ø  Axis Game Factory AGFPRO v3
Ø  AGFPRO Fantasy Side-Scroller Player DLC
Ø  AGFPRO BattleMat Multi-Player DLC
Ø  GameGuru
Ø  GameGuru Mega Pack 1 DLC
Ø  GameGuru Mega Pack 2 DLC
Ø  RPG Maker XP
Ø  The Princess’ Heart (Game created through RPG Maker)

·         Tier 2 – $7.99 (11 Titles & all previous tiers) Saving 98%
Ø  AGFPRO v3 Premium
Ø  AGFPRO – Zombie Survival Pack + Zombie FPS Player DLC
Ø  GameGuru – Buildings Pack DLC
Ø  GameGuru – Fantasy Pack DLC
Ø  GameGuru – Death Valley DLC
Ø  RPG Maker VX Ace
Ø  RPG Maker: Old School Modern 2 Resource Pack DLC
Ø  RPG Maker: DS+ Expansion – Retro Sci-Fi DLC
Ø  RPG Maker: Modern Day Tiles Resource Pack DLC
Ø  RPG Maker: Survival Horror Music Pack
Ø  Last Word (Game created through RPG Maker)

·         Tier 3 – $14.99 (10 Titles & all previous tiers) Saving 98%
Ø  GeoVox
Ø  App Game Kit: Easy + Instant Game Development
Ø  App Game Kit – Giant Asset Pack 1 DLC
Ø  The Official App Game Kit Tutorial Guide
Ø  RPG Maker: Zombie Survival Graphic Pack
Ø  RPG Maker: Frontier Works Futuristic Heroes and BGM DLC
Ø  RPG Maker: Always Sometimes Monsters Asset Pack DLC
Ø  RPG Maker: POP! Horror City
Ø  Edolie (Game created through RPG Maker)
Ø  Heroes of Legionwood (Game created through RPG Maker)

·         Tier 4 – $79.99 (3 Titles & all previous tiers) Saving 91%
Ø  RPG Maker MV
Ø  RPG Maker MV: Cover Art Characters Pack DLC
Ø  RPG Maker MV: Essentials Set
Ultimate Game Makers Bundle – Interesting Stats
·         All four tiers are worth a total value of over $800
·         The included software boasts over 4,000 total user reviews on Steam!
·         An 84% average Steam user rating!
·         All run on Windows, 12 are compatible with Mac, and 9 run on Linux.
·         Features 4 complete commercial Steam games created using RPG Maker.
·         7 unlock Steam Trading Cards.

All of the keys can be redeemed immediately upon purchase, using a free Steam account.  Available exclusively from Bundle Stars (http://www.bundlestars.com ) for a limited time only, the Ultimate Game Makers Bundle is an amazing deal for budding game designers.

Train2Game News Former Student Kickstarter

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Former Train2Game student looking for community support in create his venture capitalist game that teaches economics.

George Quentin has created a business and economic simulator and needs your help to complete the game. The game is currently in prototype stage to show the gaming mechanic is possible. George now needs help in making it a full title.

The game lets players create their own business and select options to make it the most productive. Skill and financial guile will let the player become a global mega capitalist and earn billions.

George would like feedback from professionals in economics and students who have an eye for games design. There are educational elements to the game. George and team are considering providing the game to educational institutions as a learning tool.

If you’re interested in creating the venture capitalists of the future, George is giving you the chance to work on the game with him. He’s looking for support staff as well as community feedback.

George:  ‘The original goal was just to see if can make a game that bonds business and economics, I wasn’t really sure where it would lead me but I just gave it a go, and over time it became a serious idea that I should pursue. I love games that are very data driven and strategic, especially when there are many variations and randomness in them.’

‘The game is prototype of an upcoming business and economic simulator. Your goal is to build your company from the ground up. Where you will be able to trade internationally, gain reputation and make as much money for your company to survive and sustain growth. I thought it would be best to have the gameplay element focused on business where you manage and control your company.’

‘I can see room for many improvements because the game has loads of potential. Only two people are working on the game but I would like more. The more we worked on it, the more we kept thinking it would be a great tool for learning and enhancing knowledge, where people will be able to challenge themselves, gain a better understanding of both subjects.’

‘There are many benefits for making this. Given that these are some of the most studied topics taught in schools, colleges and universities. It would be fascinating tool for not only pupils but the wider community. This tool will help pupils further their learning and allow them to practice or exercise their skills in these areas.’

‘I was being ambitious when starting this and the whole idea was to try and make a game that would stimulate the world which led me to economical are. I don’t have a background in economics but I am looking to get those with that background on board or even get any feedback as I can from them. I’m looking for both QA and students of courses if possible.’

‘I am looking for suggestions and feedback on how it can be made or improved.’

– Suggestions of other games where they use similar styles and strategies.
– Gamification feedback
– In-game features suggestions
– The things that could be added
– The things that should be removed
– How we can install some narratives
– What elements/features would be great for education

‘I am definitely looking for guidance and direction on how best it can be built. This prototype only tells our point of view of how business and economics is implemented in a game. so feedback from other people will really give us an insight of what we are missing, especially those with economics or business background.’

‘My ambition as a game maker is to continue to develop my skills and work on as many creative ideas. I am ready for any criticism. That is exactly what I want to hear. I am hoping everyone will be honest. It will really help to know what frustrates people in the game. After all it’s just a prototype.’

See the game here and let us know your feedback http://geo93.itch.io/globaleprototype

Train2Game, bringing City & Guilds to the Games Industry

Train2Game is a proud supporter of www.plasisgamesportal.com

Train2Game News Square Enix tribute concert

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Video game music will return to London’s famous Barbican Centre with the London Symphony Orchestra as Merregnon Studios’ much-loved Square Enix tribute concert, Symphonic Fantasies London, makes its debut UK performance on October 6th, 2016.

Featuring symphonic arrangements from some of Square Enix’s most cherished role-playing franchises, including FINAL FANTASY, KINGDOM HEARTS, SECRET OF MANA and CHRONO TRIGGER/CHRONO CROSS, the critically acclaimed and officially licensed Symphonic Fantasies London is a tour de force of orchestral composition and performance. Conducted by Eckehard Stier, with arrangements by Merregnon Studios’ Jonne Valtonen and Roger Wanamo, Symphonic Fantasies London is the ultimate concert experience for Japanese RPG fans.

Accompanying the London Symphony Orchestra on stage will be the London Symphony Chorus, along with talented soloists Slava Sidorenko and Rony Barrak, in what will be the LSO’s seventh live video game concert performance. This follows sell-out Final Symphony II concerts earlier this year in both London and Japan, as well as recording the chart-topping Final Symphony album at Abbey Road Studios.

Also joining fans, as special guest for the night, is Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura, who’ll appear on stage for a special ticketed, pre-concert talk. Here she’ll talk about her long and highly successful career in video game music, as well as take questions from the audience in what will be an entertaining and informative evening.

“It’s so exciting to be back at the Barbican with the LSO for another epic video game concert performance,” said Symphonic Fantasies London producer, Thomas Böcker. “Following the success of Final Symphony I & II and Symphonic Legends London, this venue feels like a second home to me and I’m so pleased to finally be able to bring Symphonic Fantasies to a UK audience. I’m incredibly proud of the work my team put into these arrangements and I’m sure you will be blown away when you hear the LSO perform them live.”

“Video game music concerts are something we always look forward to working on,” said Gareth Davies, the LSO’s Principal Flute. “Not only is the music incredibly well written and challenging to perform, which makes it a delight to play, but the reaction from the fans is always amazing. We love performing to such attentive and appreciative audiences and can’t wait to share the wonderful music of Symphonic Fantasies London with you all next year.”

Tickets for Symphonic Fantasies London go on sale tomorrow, December 11th, from 10am, and range in price from £30 to £65. Tickets for the pre-concert talk with Yoko Shimomura will also go on sale at the same time, priced at £10 each. To book tickets please visit the official concert site: http://lso.co.uk/symphonicfantasies

For more information on Symphonic Fantasies, the Final Symphonies and Merregnon Studios’ other productions, please visit www.gameconcerts.com

Train2Game News Assassin’s Creed visits Russia and India

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Today, Ubisoft® announced Assassin’s Creed® Chronicles: India and Assassin’s Creed® Chronicles: Russia, the final episodes of the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles trilogy, will be available for download respectively on January 12 and February 9, 2016, on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack, which includes all three episodes, will be available as a digital store bundle on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC starting February 9. The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack will also be available at retail stores on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One starting February 9. The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack will be available on the PlayStation®Vita system on April 5.

Developed by Climax Studios in collaboration with Ubisoft Montreal, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles brings the thrill of being a Master Assassin to 2.5D. Players journey to three distinct civilizations and time periods throughout history, including the Ming dynasty at the start of its downfall, the Sikh Empire as it prepares for war in India, and the aftermath of the Red October Revolution. Each chronicle stands on its own with a unique setting, art style, story and Assassin, but they are all tied together narratively. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, the first episode, released in April 2015.

The second episode, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, throws players into the tension between the Sikh Empire and the private armies of the British-owned East India Company in 1841. When a Master Templar arrives with a mysterious item that used to belong to the Assassin Order, Arbaaz Mir must discover why the Templar has come, steal back the item and protect his friends and his lover.

The final episode, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, takes place in 1918 when Assassin Nikolaï Orelov must complete one last mission for the Assassin Order before he can leave with his family. His mission: infiltrate the house where the Tsar’s family is being held by the Bolsheviks and steal an artifact that has been fought over by Assassins and Templars for centuries. While too late to save the Tsar’s entire family, he manages to save the princess, Anastasia, whom he must protect as he escapes the Templars with her and the artifact in tow.

Train2Game News London Mobile Games Week 2016

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The team behind the hugely successful Mobile Games Forum (MGF) today announced that London Mobile Games Week 2016 is now open for registrations.

Repeating the formula of last years inaugural London Games Week, companies of any size in the mobile games sector are once again invited to register and host their own event. The first London Mobile Games Week saw over 3,000 people attending events from seminars and workshops to networking drinks and advice surgeries – all organised and hosted by companies looking to engage with London and the UK’s vibrant mobile games industry.

Any company looking to get involved should go to https://www.londonmobilegamesweek.com/ where they can find full information on how to host and market their event.

Taking place from 18-22 January 2016, London Mobile Games Week is both a celebration of the creative and coding talent which calls the city home, as well as being a shop window for UK companies as they compete for a slice of the growing global market for mobile games. Although mobile gaming is still a relatively young sector it has quickly become a significant slice of the £1.72 billion that the UK games industry contributes to the British economy every year. London Mobile Games Week 2016 will once again be held in partnership with London & Partners, the Mayor’s promotional company for London, and supported by trade bodies UKIE and TIGA.

Gordon Innes, Chief Executive of London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional company has said:

“The UK’s games industry is the largest in Europe and London is home to some of the world’s fastest growing games companies. So I’m delighted to welcome Mobile Games Week back to the Capital. London’s tech sector is buzzing and it’s important we support initiatives like this to encourage growth and investment across the sector.”

Industry associations, mobile games studios and companies involved in any aspect of the creation of mobile games will be able to create and host their own independent events under the London Mobile Games Week banner, which will be free to attend and listed on http://www.londonmobilegamesweek.com.

Commenting on the event, Will Robinson of London Mobile Games Week organisers OsneyMedia, said: “The success of the 2015 event really underscored London’s place as a centre of mobile gaming talent. We’re confident that this year’s event will be even bigger as more and more companies in this incredibly vibrant sector embrace the chance to network and share information with fellow professionals.”