Train2Game News Student creating studio for kids games

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Train2Game pupil creating cartoon games for kids wants students to join his team and get hands on experience making games

James Mahon, 25, from Birmingham wants students to join him in making awesome games for kids. James is on the Games Design course, is coming to the end of his studies and has so far created two games. The latest title he’s working on is a traditional platform game, with cartoon style graphics and comic book sequences. He’s specifically looking for is looking for level design and QA.

James Mahon, Train2Game student: ‘I am studying Game Designer course and enjoying it, I have almost finished it. I’m using everything I have learned and have created two games in the last year.’

‘I am looking for team members that enjoy working in a team and can work towards a common goal. I hope to make good connections with other designers and create some team spirit to help make better games. I am looking for a level designer to work with as a team. I am just a designer that can conceptualize art and implement features. Unfortunately, designing levels is outside of my area of study.’

‘I have finished prototyping a simple platform game and looking for a QA Level Designer to help design linear levels and test that they are fun to play. I have concept art of the two heroic characters and the villain.  The aim is to create a game with mass appeal in its characters and long-lasting value as a sustainable franchise.’

‘This is a traditional 2D platformer featuring lovable characters that will appeal to boys and girls. This children’s game features, a rice grain on a mission to find the lost rice grains with the aid of his companion, a pixie. Their ultimate objective is to defeat the mutant bug that terrorized the rice grains into fleeing their home.’

‘Another, concept on paper is an educational game featuring a ‘cool’ narrative character on duty to teach kids the importance of safety. This game will be created for school kids and in web browser for accessibility.’

‘Both of these concepts will have HUGE levels to design. That’s what I want help with. Above all, these concepts need some team spirit to help make a better game.’

‘Having played many kids games when I was younger, I still can understand what makes them fun to play for kids. I was a kid once and some kids have negative influences so the aim would be to create a positive influence through entertainment in a video game.’

‘I plan on making video games for kids/teenagers from 7 to 18. I have a few concepts on paper that are perfectly viable. Kids games aren’t as mainstream as adult games i.e Grand Theft Auto, but games don’t have to involve gratuitous violence to be fun – cartoon violence can still be fun, or even, no violence.’

‘I plan to start of small and grow big in the future with better games. I have big plans for my team to create big games that have a lot of value. I enjoy playing hardcore video games the most. Ubisoft inspire me.’

For more information contact mark@train2game.com

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Train2Game News Dietrich Online Services

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Cody Dietrich announces his new company Dietrich Online Services is open and ready for business.

Dietrich Online Services, or DOS, is a “Content Creation Liaison” that brings exposure to games from Publishers and Developers to content creators that might not otherwise know the existence of, or have access to their titles. By personally vetting each source, game providers know that their games are being presented to actual content creators eager to try out new games.

After a soft launch in 2015, Dietrich Online Services has been fostering an ever-growing list of relationships with Content Creators on YouTube, Twitch and other popular media sites as well as Publishers and Developers looking to gain exposure for their titles.

What developers and publishers have had to say about Dietrich Online Services:

“Dietrich Online Services has been a valuable resource in getting our games distributed to the YouTube gaming community. I’ve been able to engage with and get content created by a fabulous network of excited YouTubers. I would definitely work with Dietrich Online Services again.”
–          Raghav Mathur, Chief Marketing Officer of Black Shell Media

“In a time where YouTube and Twitch are becoming more popular with gamers and how it helps gives exposure to indie developers, Dietrich Online Services couldn’t have come at a better time. Cody has kept me in the loop about my review keys every step of the way and I know he can be trusted to handle any future releases we have.”
–          Rafal Kokosza, Founder of GrabTheGames

To this point, DOS also provides a living Scammer List on their site. It is unfortunate the number of people out there that pose as journalists and content creators to scam free games. Since a lot of the studios involved are small, they just do not have the time or resources to vet each new request that comes in.

Check out the DOS Scammer List Here:
http://dietrichonlineservices.com/the-scammer-list/

“ DOS was started because I grew tired of seeing tweets about how developers were getting scammed by gamers claiming to be reviewers and/or content creators. Instead of helping these new and upcoming games get some much needed (and very appreciated) exposure, these frauds take these review keys just to end up leaving without a trace, or worse, putting it on a resell site to earn a profit. This has put a stigma on legitimate content creators who may not have a big public following such as famous YouTubers PewDiePie and Markiplier, and in turn causes developers and publishers to shy away from unknown and unproven outlets.

I wanted to create a service for these game developers where they knew the key was going to someone that was vetted and would be updated on what a channel is doing with their review key. If one were accepted for a copy of a game and didn’t follow through, that channel would be banned from the mailing list and placed on the scammer list. Thankfully I haven’t had to do that since DOS’s conception, but I plan on being very transparent when it happens based on a key sent to me in good faith. ”

–       Richard “Cody” Dietrich, Founder of Dietrich Online Services

Dietrich Online Services is available now to video game publishers, developers, YouTubers, Twitch streamers and all other content creators.

Website: http://dietrichonlineservices.com/

Train2Game News Worms 4 on Android

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Games industry veteran and independent games label Team17 are excited to announce that Worms™ 4 is now available to download for Android via the Google Play Store with a limited time 50% launch discount available.

Worms™ 4 is the definitive handheld Worms™ experience featuring an all new enriched cartoon look and improved design for mobile.

Worms™ 4 features:

·         80 Single Player Missions
·         Synchronous Multiplayer Matches – Battle against opponents from around the world with real time one-on-one online multiplayer matches!
·         Brand New Weapons – Wreak havoc with brand new weapons including Hailey’s Comet!
·         Weapon Upgrades – Players can collect more than a hundred weapon upgrades to make their worms more powerful! Mix and match weapon upgrades to suit your own strategy
·         Five Gorgeous Locations – Do battle in five beautiful hand drawn regions: Middle Turf, Candiville, Wacky-Habara, Tomorrow Islands and the Fro Zone
·         Fantastic Customisation Options – Individually customise each worm and give their team the personal touch!
·         Factions – Choose an allegiance, and fight under the banner of Red or Blue! The daily tug of war competition pits faction against faction, with the winners reaping the benefits of extra in-game rewards!
·         World Events – Each week dynamic events take place around the game’s world map. The player enters into these events and competes against other players, with the aim of representing their faction and earning prizes for fellow faction members
·         Daily Challenges – Partake in fun optional daily challenges to earn yourself and your faction additional rewards!
·         Connect with Friends – Connect your Facebook account to battle your friends in online multiplayer or view your friend’s progress on the world map screen and compete to beat their scores

Worms™ 4 is available to download now for Android from the Google Play Store with a limited 50% launch discount available. Currently £1.99 / $2.49 / 2,49 €, usually £3.99 / $4.99 / 4,99 €.

Train2Game News Mad Catz joined Design for Samsung

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Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/TSX: MCZ), a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products, announced today that it has joined the Designed for Samsung (DFS) program.

As the first company to offer traditional video game controller hardware for the Designed for Samsung program, Mad Catz will be introducing a range of mobile gaming products from its award-winning GameSmart™ portfolio, optimized for Samsung smartphones and tablets.

With a wide variety of innovative controllers and gamepads, Mad Catz will provide Samsung Mobile consumers the opportunity to enhance their gaming and multi-media experiences with features and functionality that take full advantage of their Samsung smartphone or tablet, as well as other Bluetooth® enabled connected devices and PCs.

Each certified product will also feature the ‘Designed for Samsung Mobile’ logo on packaging, communicating seamless compatibility with Samsung smartphones and tablets.

“We’re excited to join the Designed for Samsung Program and provide Samsung Mobile customers with a range of high-quality mobile gaming products designed to enhance their mobile experience,” said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz.

“Our GameSmart line of mobile gaming controllers and accessories continue to lead the industry in product innovation and through our participation in the DFS program, gamers can be assured of getting the ideal gaming product for their Samsung smartphone or tablet.”

All participating Mad Catz DFS program products will be available to purchase through the Mad Catz Online Store (store.madcatz.com) as well as from other leading retailers. For more information, please visit: http://madcatz.com/

Train2Game News Operation Supply Drop joining Military and Athletes

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Military charity Operation Supply Drop (OSD) – the world’s most generationally relevant support organization for veterans and active duty military – today announces an exciting partnership with Joint Forces Initiative (JFI) to extend the reach of their “Pro vs. GI Joe” program, developed to connect active-duty military and veterans with pro athletes through fun and competitive video game events.

Launched in 2007 by Greg and Addie Zinone, JFI is a non-profit organization with strong ties to and excellent relationships with sports teams, athletes, and leagues – including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA and more – enabling troops all over the world to compete head-to-head against some of their favorite athletes in games such as Madden, Call of Duty, and Halo.

In early 2016, OSD has committed to work closely with JFI to host over thirty offline and online “Pro vs. GI Joe” events for the benefit of veterans and active duty military. This collaboration bolsters OSD’s Thank You Deployments program – where veterans are given VIP insider access and tours of top entertainment events – adding JFI’s highly-successful “Pro vs. GI Joe” events to the experiences available. Both organizations will jointly attend the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at a co-branded booth, advocating for and promoting the support of military veterans.

“We’ve been operating JFI for eight years and it works really darn well. But I knew that there was more that could be done,” said Greg Zinone, founder of Joint Forces Initiative and the “Pro vs. GI Joe” program. “With Operation Supply Drop by our side, we’ll be able to provide bigger events, bigger experiences, more one-on-one personal relationships built between our pros and our troops, and more lifelong connections made between our vets. It’s those reasons, combined with the reputation that Operation Supply Drop has established for itself, that we are excited to partner with them. It’s time to make some incredible things happen for our troops!”

“I’ve personally been a long time follower of Joint Forces Initiative, and we’ve been in talks for quite some time about collaborating in a meaningful way,” said Operation Supply Drop CEO Glenn Banton. “Both Operation Supply Drop and Joint Forces Initiative have finally grown to a point where we can effectively form a partnership and collaborate in new, bigger ways. The ‘Pro vs. GI Joe’ program is one example, where video games bring together people for exciting shared experiences.” He adds, “Being able to connect veterans with some of their favorite professional athletes over Call of Duty, Halo, or Madden is a wonderful additional way to give back to our active duty military and veterans.”

Train2Game News Mod of the Year 2015

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As 2015 reached its end, the 120,640 votes were tallied and it is time to crown the 2015 Mod of the Year.

This year saw many compelling entries however in the end it was Middle-Earth inspired Edain Mod that took out 1st place, followed closely by the strategically popular Rise of the Reds and Mental Omega taking out 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

Modding is all about morphing already amazing games into something different, quirky, better and all of this years winners did just that. The final top 10 includes:

10. Portal Stories: Mel

9. S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Chernobyl

8. Fallout: Project Brazil

7. Thrawn’s Revenge: Imperial Civil War

6. Warsword Conquest

5. A Clash of Kings

4. Ultimate Apocalypse Mod

3. Mental Omega

2. Rise of the Reds

1. Edain Mod

Huge thanks to all modders and supporters of the awards who recognize the work these developers dedicate to their craft.

Train2Game News Top 10 Indie games of 2015

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Once again another fun and exciting Indie of the Year campaign has come to an end. After a stunning 119,373 votes the players have spoken and crowned the 2015 Indie of the Year.

This year we saw 1st place get taken out by the very popular Space Engineers, followed by Squad and Black Mesa coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Without much further adieu, presenting the top 10:

10. Undertale
9. ARK: Survival Evolved
8. Verdun
7. Prison Architect
6. SOMA
5. Rocket League
4. Besiege
3. Black Mesa
2. Squad
1. Space Engineers

Congratulations to the victors and a huge thanks to the developers and supporters of the awards who recognize the work that goes into making an amazing indie game.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 04.01.16

cod_blackops3For the first chart of the year things are as similar as ever with Call of Duty Black Ops 3 in the number one spot and Star Wars Battlefront in second. No new games in the charts but Destiny has snuck back in to the top 20 after Christmas.

All formats
Week ending 2 January 2016
POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III ACTIVISION 1
2 STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT EA GAMES 2
3 FALLOUT 4 BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 4
4 FIFA 16 EA SPORTS 3
5 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 5
6 TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW 6: SIEGE UBISOFT 9
7 ASSASSIN’S CREED: SYNDICATE UBISOFT 7
8 JUST CAUSE 3 SQUARE ENIX 6
9 WWE 2K16 2K 10
10 FORZA MOTORSPORT 6 MICROSOFT 12
11 HALO 5: GUARDIANS MICROSOFT 13
12 MINECRAFT: STORY MODE TELLTALE GAMES 8
13 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 18
14 LEGO JURASSIC WORLD WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 14
15 RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER SQUARE ENIX 15
16 UNCHARTED: THE NATHAN DRAKE COLLECTION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 11
17 DISNEY INFINITY 3.0 DISNEY INFINITY 20
18 NEED FOR SPEED EA GAMES 17
19 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 19
20 DESTINY: THE TAKEN KING 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.