Monthly Archives: January 2016

Train2Game News UKIE teaming with Player Research

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UK games trade body agrees deal with leading user research company to provide new player experience reports

Industry-leading playtesting and user research specialists Player Research are introducing a series of new reports focussing on usability and player experience. Ukie have been appointed exclusive seller and distributor of these reports.

The reports, collated by Player Research using their expert knowledge and practical experience from watching and analysing real players, gives unrivalled insight and guidance to games companies to help understand how games are actually being played.

Dr Graham McAllister, Director of Player Research, said, “Competing with, and surpassing, the most successful games in the world to deliver an engaging and accessible player experience is difficult, but can be achieved. Our first report on the base builder genre will help studios assess how the UX of their game compares to the industry leaders, and detail how to deliver a best-in-class experience”.

The reports are both extensive and highly detailed and yet also published in an easily digestible way for games designers, programmers, producers, UI artists and the game development community at large.

The first report is for Base Builder games, focusing on four leading games in the genre; Clash of Clans, Star Wars Commander, Boom Beach, and Game of War: Fire Age.

The report is a result of hundreds of man-hours of expert analysis covering all aspects of game design, including user experience, usability, and social features and will be vital for any company working in this genre or considering entering it.

Dr Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie, said, “Understanding a player’s experiences and motivations is vital for any games business. If you truly understand your consumer you can grow your own games community and support your business growth. We’re proud to be able to deliver such high quality and robust reports from such a well-respected research company.”

Train2Game News GDC Industry Survey Results

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The Game Developers Conference® (GDC) has released the fourth annual State of the Industry Survey, revealing trends in the games industry based on the feedback of more than 2,000 North American game developers ahead of GDC 2016 in March.

The survey has revealed that development of Virtual Reality (VR) titles has more than doubled among participating developers with 16 percent currently developing for VR, up from the 7 percent of developers were working on VR projects in last year’s survey.

The 2016 State of the Industry Survey marks the fourth entry in the ongoing series of yearly reports and serves as a snapshot of the games industry and illustrates industry trends ahead of GDC 2016 in San Francisco. Organized by the UBM Tech Game Network, GDC 2016 takes place March 14th-18th at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California.

VR’s popularity is growing fast, but PC and mobile are still the top platforms among developers

The emergence of upcoming Virtual Reality (VR) devices like Oculus Rift, Sony’s PlayStation VR and Samsung’s Gear VR, among others, has proven to be alluring for developers on the bleeding edge, with the survey revealing that development of VR titles has more than doubled among participating developers. This year’s survey has shown that 16 percent of developers are currently creating titles for VR, up from the 7 percent of developers who replied in the affirmative in last year’s survey. Projecting further into the future, 15 percent of participating developers have affirmed that their next game will incorporate VR, up from the 6 percent who affirmed their VR ambitions last year.

The platform wars continue unabated, with 52 percent of developers currently working on a game for PC, down from 56 percent from last year. 44 percent of developers are currently working on smartphone and tablet games, down from the 50 percent of developers working on these titles last year.

The consoles continue to be popular platforms for developers, with 27 percent of respondents affirming ongoing work on a title for PlayStation 4, compared to 26 percent last year. The Xbox One has revealed a similarly consistent level of development, with 23 percent of developers working on Xbox One, up from 22 percent last year.  Developer interest in Nintendo platforms have dipped slightly since last year, with 5 percent of respondents affirming that they are working on Wii U projects, down from 6 percent last year. 2 percent of developers have stated that they are working on titles for 3DS, compared to 3 percent in the previous year.

Most game makers believe VR/AR is a sustainable business, but 27 percent don’t believe VR/AR device adoption will ever match current console install-base

Still in its infancy, the current generation of VR/AR platforms has garnered strong developer confidence, with 75% of respondents agreeing that VR/AR is a long-term sustainable business to be in.

Despite this growing confidence, developers disagree on the future sales rates for these devices. When asked when they believe VR/AR devices will exceed the adoption rate (roughly 40 percent) of game consoles in the U.S. in 2015, 27 percent of respondents said they didn’t believe VR/AR hardware would ever surpass that level of adoption. Just 1 percent of those surveyed said they expected it to happen by 2018, the earliest time period available for selection. 44 percent of respondents expected it to happen by 2026, and a total of 54 percent believed it would happen by 2030.

In a separate, more conservative VR/AR install base question, 38 percent of respondents predicted that VR/AR hardware would be in 10 percent of U.S. households by 2020. 86 percent figure it’ll happen by 2030, and roughly 9 percent figure it will never happen.
       
Nearly 90 percent of developers believe that eSports is a sustainable, long-term business

As competitive gaming enters the mainstream consciousness, the developer survey reflects a growing confidence in eSports. 88 percent of developer respondents have affirmed their confidence in the sustainability of long-term business of eSports. This represents an 8 percent jump from the 79 percent of respondents who affirmed the same position last year.

The full survey results also reflected developer confidence in VR/AR, with 75 percent of respondents agreeing that the emerging technologies represented a sustainable business to be in. On the mobile front, Android and iOS are now neck and neck in ongoing app development, with 55 percent of respondents making Android games and 56 percent saying they are making games for the iOS. For the survey participants, self-publishing was still the predominant means of distributing titles, with 57 percent of responding developers working without a publisher, versus 24 percent who are (20 percent said they work at a publisher).

A more detailed analysis of the survey can be found at http://www.gdconf.com/news/ . For more information about the 2016 Game Developers Conference or to register online, visit www.gdconf.com

Train2Game News Crytek VR First Program

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Seeking to nurture grassroots virtual reality development worldwide, Crytek today announced the launch of its new VR First program.

Under the initiative, Crytek will partner with academic institutions to provide state-of-the-art technology and facilities for students and researchers looking to explore the power and potential of VR.

Beneficiaries of the VR First program will not only enjoy full source code access to Crytek’s CRYENGINE development suite, but also free use of hardware from VR First affiliates.

VR First seeks to empower the development talent of tomorrow by ensuring academic institutions around the world are equipped to support their ambitions in this exciting new field. The initial VR First Lab opens its doors today at Istanbul’s Bahçeşehir University and will act as a pilot destination for the scheme. Crytek and the program’s affiliates hope to ensure every VR First lab facilitates users to play a key part in shaping the future of VR.    

For more information on VR First, and details of how to become an affiliate or academic partner, please visit http://vrfirst.cryengine.com.

Train2Game News Free EA Access

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Starting yesterday, Xbox Live Gold members can play more than a dozen EA games as much as they want in The Vault, for free without subscription on EA Access, only on Xbox One. The weeklong EA Access Free Play Days promotion ends on January 24.

As part of the promotion, players can explore The Vault, a growing collection of full EA games available to EA Access members to play as much as they want.

The Vault currently includes more than a dozen games such as Dragon Age™: Inquisition, EA SPORTS™ FIFA 15, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare, Battlefield™ Hardline, Madden NFL 15, EA SPORTS™ UFC® and Need for Speed™ Rivals. To get started players can download the EA Access hub App by clicking on the Gold Member area on the home dashboard.

When the EA Access Free Play Days conclude, players can continue playing games in The Vault and enjoy more perks by signing up for an EA Access membership. All progress and Achievements unlocked carry over when players become EA Access members. Benefits also include playing upcoming EA games before they’re released for a limited time and 10% discounts on all digital EA purchases on Xbox One. EA Access membership costs $4.99 (USD) per month or $29.99 (USD) for a full year. All progress players make in Vault games also carry over when full games are purchased.

EA Access is the real deal and available exclusively on Xbox One. Free Play Days invites all Xbox Live Gold members to see what EA Access is all about. For the current list of titles in the growing Vault library and more information about EA Access, visit www.ea.com/eaaccess .

Train2Game News Iron Maiden mobile game

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Roadhouse Interactive, 50cc Games and Metal legends Iron Maiden are pleased to announce that Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast, an action-packed, free-to-play RPG steeped in Iron Maiden mythology, will launch worldwide this summer on iOS and Android platforms.

Following a series of hit action sports titles for Red Bull Media House, Warhammer 40,000: Carnage, a Games Workshop ARPG, and Food Battle: The Game for YouTube sensations SMOSH, Roadhouse Interactive’s development and publishing divisions have been working hand in hand with Iron Maiden and their Phantom Music Management team, who have granted unparalleled access to the vaults in order to create a truly authentic Iron Maiden game.

Developed in close collaboration with Iron Maiden’s management, players take on the role of the band’s iconic mascot, Eddie, in his many forms – each with unique abilities. Players explore new worlds, travel through time, and battle a cast of dramatic and engaging characters drawn from the expansive catalogue of Maiden’s albums and art. Gameplay is enhanced with a soundtrack using songs spanning the band’s entire career, including previously unheard live recordings of Iron Maiden classics adapted for the game by engineer Tony Newton under the close scrutiny of bassist and founding member Steve Harris.

“We always thought Maiden’s music and imagery with Eddie could be perfect for gaming and it’s something we have been looking at doing again since Ed Hunter in 1999. Now in 2016 it can all be done on a smartphone which makes it even more accessible for all our fans and also all the gamers out there,” comments Harris.

Iron Maiden’s latest album, The Book of Souls, was released in September 2015 to popular and critical acclaim, hitting the #1 spot in over 40 countries and reinforcing their position as one of the most relevant and influential bands in music today. This year they will embark on the The Book of Souls World tour and with fan excitement at fever pitch it’s the perfect time to expand Iron Maiden’s legend into gaming.

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast will be available later this year on iOS and Android platforms. See http://www.ironmaidenlegacy.com for ongoing releases about the game.

Train2Game News Games London

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London’s games and interactive entertainment industry is set for a £1.2m boost with the launch of Games London, a ground breaking new programme to make the city the games capital of the world, tapping into a market that globally is worth around $81bn.
 
Funded by the London Enterprise Panel (LEP), Games London is being delivered by Film London, the capital’s strategic agency for film and media, and games trade body Ukie and will build on recent growth in the games sector, which generated £2.8bn in revenue in 2015.
 
The three year programme will capitalise on the Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR), which was introduced in 2014. It will attract investment to the UK and help businesses based in the capital generate £35million in new revenue, adding nearly £10million, as well as creating hundreds of jobs and boosting skills and training.
 
The plan was announced today via an in-game press conference featuring Mayor of London Boris Johnson in one of the biggest video games in the world: Minecraft.
 
Mayor of London and Chair of the LEP Boris Johnson said ‘London is already a star player when it comes to games and interactive entertainment, but international competition is fierce and we need to ensure our city can compete with our global gaming rivals. Through Games London we are supercharging an increasingly important sector for our economy, one that exemplifies the capital’s reputation for creativity and innovation. From design to banking and civil engineering to film, games technology is being used in a host of different sectors. We are investing in a dynamic and constantly evolving industry to take London to another level as a world-leading capital for games and interactive entertainment.’
 
The Games London programme will deliver:
 
·         A new annual London Games Festival – with the first taking place in April 2016 – to showcase and celebrate the industry’s huge cultural and economic impact

·         A new international business-to-business networking event to attract top investment to the UK

·         Inbound and outbound trade missions to promote the tax relief and the sector overseas, in conjunction with London’s official promotional company London & Partners

·         A range of training and skills initiatives
 

The 2016 London Games Festival takes place 1 April to 10 April, and will include 15 official events across 10 different venues in the capital. Highlights include:

·         Now Play This (1 April – 3 April), a weekend festival of games and play at Somerset House, as part of Utopia 2016: A Year of Imagination and Possibility

·         The brand-new Games Finance Market (5 April – 7 April), a first of its kind event that recreates the successful formula delivered by Film London in matching film finance to film projects during the London Film Festival. The Games Finance Market will connect interactive content talent with global investors and partners from across sectors

·         A series of insightful ‘LGF @ BFI’ talks (4 April) programmed and presented by London Games Festival in partnership with BFI Southbank

·         The inclusion of already influential global events: British Academy Games Awards (7 April) and EGX Rezzed (7 April – 9 April)

·         An inspiring cultural programme that helps change perceptions of video games and champions the medium as a cutting-edge art form – plus a London Games Fringe of alternative and exciting smaller events

Games London is being led by Michael French who was appointed in September 2015. French has been working in the games sector for 13 years as a journalist and publisher, building brands and events that support and grow the games industry. Partners include BAFTA, London & Partners, Gamer Events, Somerset House and the BFI.

More details about Games Festival will be announced soon. Further information can be found at www.games.london

Train2Game News Student creates Tie Fighter

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Train2Game student 3D models what could be the next Star Wars Tie Fighter

Michael Bird working with US creative Michael Stribling to realise concepts of Star Wars spacecraft

Freelancer and Train2Game graduate Michael Bird is working with US based Creative to create incredible Star Wars 3D spacecraft.  The latest project created is a 3D Tie-Fighter based on the US Designer’s concept of what could be the next Tie Interceptor.

Michael found the original design’s creator on LinkedIn, before contacting him to get permission to develop his concept. Michael added in detail and has made the design game ready.

Michael is a Train2Game graduate who had a positive experience on the course; he’s worked with student studio Derp Studios and is now doing some freelance work.

Michael Bird, Freelance Animator and Designer:  ‘The project that I have just finished was a realised version on the Tie-Fighter from Star Wars films. That honour of the original concept goes to a man called Michael Stribling from the San Francisco Bay Area. I happened upon his concept art on LinkedIn and asked if could maybe build it in 3D and I was lucky enough to get a yes.’

‘I loved the concept and I saw it as a challenge to see if I could build it following someone else’s concept work but using my ideas as to the amount of detail, poly counts and texturing that would make it look like the concept but also to make it efficient for a game engine.’
‘I wouldn’t say spacecraft are a speciality even though I have two in my portfolio, I really want to specialise in asset/prop and environment work but it does show that I can do hard surface work. In truth if someone asks me to build something or if I ask if I can build it then I’ll try it no matter what it is. Every piece is a challenge that I relish.’

‘I am a big Star Wars fan. Always have been and always will be I grew up with Star Wars I think I saw the first film when I was about 9 or 10 and they have been a part of my life ever since to the point that know it word for word.’

‘In regards to the new film, I’m in two minds with it to tell you the truth I think I need to watch it again. It looks beautiful the way they have gone back to the old way of creating the beings that populate the Star Wars world instead of all CGI gives it a more realistic look. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this story goes.’

‘I think the reason Star Wars is so inspiring could be because the underlining story is about good vs evil, Black vs white, that’s something everyone can connect to in their life. Just the thought of having the Force powers or flying the ships it something that I would say everyone would want to do and have in their lifetime at least once.’

‘On the whole I would say the Train2Game experience has been positive, without the guidance that they offer I would never have been able to complete the course the way I did. There were time when I just couldn’t get my head around the lessons but they are always positive with their help they don’t tell you the answers they lead you onto the right path until you figure it out yourself. I would recommend the courses to anyone who is interested in getting into the industry.’

‘I finished the Art & Animation course in 2014, since then I work for a while at Derp Studios a micro online studio that helped me better my skills doing all sorts of 3D art for them, character creation and animation asset/prop creation as well as environment work. I left last year and since then I have been working for myself creating personal work and a bit of freelance when asked.’

‘I always have other ideas that I want to work on. I see my next project as an old graveyard with a small church with mist creeping between the headstone and trees all light in moonlight. I am at the concept stage at the moment but as I create I post WIP screen shot onto my website.’

‘Because the design was for my own personal pleasure it will go onto my website for the world to see www.michaelbird74.com’
 
For more information contact mark@train2game.com

Train2Game, bringing City & Guilds to the Games Industry

Train2Game is a proud supporter of www.plasisgamesportal.com and www.gamatier.com

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 18.01.16

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cod_blackops3Despite a 24 percent drop in sales, Call of duty Black Ops 3 is still holding firm at the top. Grand Theft Auto V has risen from fourth to second and FIFA 16 is number three. No new games in the charts.

All formats
Week ending 16 January 2016

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III ACTIVISION 1
2 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 4
3 FIFA 16 EA SPORTS 2
4 STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT EA GAMES 3
5 TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW 6: SIEGE UBISOFT 6
6 JUST CAUSE 3 SQUARE ENIX 8
7 – WWE 2K16 2K 7
8 FALLOUT 4 BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 5
9 LEGO JURASSIC WORLD WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 12
10 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 13
11 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 16
12 DISNEY INFINITY 3.0 DISNEY INFINITY 14
13 MINECRAFT: STORY MODE TELLTALE GAMES 11
14 JUST DANCE 2016 UBISOFT 16
15 UNCHARTED: THE NATHAN DRAKE COLLECTION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 19
16 BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 18
17 THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE BETHESDA SOFTWORKS –
18 FORZA MOTORSPORT 6 MICROSOFT 17
19 NEED FOR SPEED EA GAMES 18
20 GUITAR HERO LIVE ACTIVISION –
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2016 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 Artcade The Book of Classic Arcade Game Art

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Funstockretro.co.uk, Europe’s no.1 retro destination, are proud to announce that pre-orders for Tim Nicholl’s new illustrative book (published by Bitmap Books),  Artcade – The Book of Classic Arcade Game Art, are now being accepted.

This stylish yet informative book has been painstakingly put together by Tim Nicholls and provides forty years of Arcade marquee artwork in a glorious A4 Landscape hardback book that’s presented in a protective spot varnished dust jacket. Each marquee illustrated in the book has been scanned from the original source material and digitally restored to their former glory to create the ultimate arcade visual experience.

As part of this book readers will be able to re-experience their favourite arcade marquees from iconic titles such as Pac-Man, Q-Bert, Defender and Punch-out. Alongside these digitally restored marquee’s is also a selection of interviews with artists Larry Day and the late Python Anghelo.

Artcade – The Book of Classic Arcade Game Art is a collectors dream for fans of classic arcade gaming.

Key Features:

    Published by Bitmap Books; creators of the Visual Compendiums
    Contains 40 years of Arcade Marquee artwork across 324 pages
    Features interviews with Larry Day and the late Python Anghelo
    Hardback book with a protective spot varnished dust jacket

Where to get it:

Artcade – The Book of Classic Arcade Game Art is available to pre-order at:  http://www.funstockretro.co.uk

Train2Game News Altara Games loan figures

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Altara Games today has released figures on its loans against video games tax relief to date. In just under 6 months, the company has provided loans to the value of over £1.5m.

These loans have varied in size from £70k to over £500k, and have been provided a broad range of studios and games across the UK.

Ella Romanos said “We started this company to provide what we believed was crucial support for UK studios to help them grow and develop new titles, and to enable them to use the tax relief to their advantage as much as possible. I am thrilled that we have been able to work with such a diverse group of studios, from small teams to larger established studios. I believe our approach of fast turnaround and genuinely understanding the realities of game development has helped us to ensure our loans are suited to industry needs.”

Altara Games provides loans from any point during development, even before development has begun as long as the company has their ‘interim certificate’ confirming that their game is eligible for relief. Loans are provided within weeks, and are only repaid once the tax relief is received.

To find out more, visit www.altaragames.com