Monthly Archives: May 2016

Train2game News Topstone joins One Special Day

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30efa4_ce895465dc7d4c92b604c473ed6354d4.pngRipstone are supporting SpecialEffect by donating 100% of their sales towards the One Special Day initiative on 15th July 2016.

Ripstone will donate takings from across their entire catalogue of games including DLC on all platforms they publish on, including Steam, PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and mobile.

SpecialEffect’s mission is to enable anyone, whatever their physical disability, to enjoy video games. They’ve launched the ‘One Special Day’ initiative on 15th July to encourage the games industry to be loud and proud about levelling the playing field for gamers with disabilities.

Michelle Turner, Head of PR & Marketing at Ripstone, said “Ripstone love the work that SpecialEffect does to bring the joy of gaming to young people with disabilities and look forward to being part of an historic day for SpecialEffect and the games industry! We really hope the community will get behind this & help us spread the word & raise money for this worthwhile cause.”

Dr Mick Donegan, CEO and Founder SpecialEffect, said, “I’m genuinely stunned by the news that Ripstone have pledged 100% of takings for their entire catalogue of games and DLC on ‘One Special Day’. This amazing commitment will help SpecialEffect make a life-changing difference for gamers with disabilities.”

One Special Day is open to all companies working in the games industry. To find out more, visit http://www.onespecialday.org.uk

Train2Game News Bandai Namco at MCM London Comic Con

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MCM Comic Con LondonBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment UK is thrilled to announce the full line up of games that will be playable at MCM London Comic Con this month at the May event.

Taking place on the 27-29 May at the ExCel centre in London, the BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment booth at MCM London Comic Con features the biggest line-up of games ever hosted at the event by the publisher and includes the first UK hands-on with the arcade version of TEKKEN 7 and the first hands-on with upcoming Action-RPG GOD EATER 2: Rage Burst. On top of that, online third-person shooter Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade will also be playable on the booth, along with several exciting anime titles: including One Piece Burning Blood, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes Of Heaven and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4. Classic Bandai Namco arcade games will also be playable on current-gen consoles at the show and more is still to be announced.

“We are very excited to be bringing our biggest line-up ever to MCM London Comic Con in May” said Lee Kirton, PR & Marketing Director of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment UK. “The booth is going to be packed with a huge variety of games from an array of genres and franchises. GOD EATER in particular we’re very excited about having at the show. It’s huge in Japan – and with the series making a big release in the West this year it makes perfect sense for it to receive a public debut at MCM Comic Con”.

Also located at the BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment booth will be an official merchandise & video games store – which will be showing off samples from our online store and selling show exclusive ‘PAC-MAN’ and ‘Tales of’ t–shirts along with other items such as discounted collector’s editions of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment games. Buy something at the show and you can even earn up to 2000 VIP Corner Points that can be redeemed at the VIP Corner, our community loyalty programme.

BANDAI Toys are also excited to be joining BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment once again at London MCM Comic-Con: where they will be showcasing the latest in Power Rangers Legacy, Banpresto and Finding Dory products. Be sure to also keep an eye out for presentations and competitions from us at the show.

Visit http://www.mcmexpostore.com/collections/london-comic-con for tickets.

Train2Game News Pokémon European National Championships

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english_pokémon_logo.svg_.png.pngOne of the Pokémon community’s most-wanted additions for the Pokémon National Championships is now officially confirmed, as three brand-new Pokémon channels will be streaming all the action live from the tournament floor throughout the events.

Fans around the world will be able to tune in from the comfort of their homes to watch the two-day Pokémon National Championships as they happen. Three separate streams with English commentary will be available from each of the main events: one showcasing the Pokémon Trading Card Game National Championships, one for the Pokémon Video Game National Championships, and one for the Pokkén Tournament Championship Series. These streams will be available to view from the following events:

· 14–15 May: Liverpool, UK (Exhibition Centre Liverpool)
· 21–22 May: Kassel, Germany (Kongress Palais Kassel)
· 11–12 June: Milan, Italy (Mediolanum Forum, Assago MI)

The live streams will be available on the following channels:
Pokémon TCG National Championships: www.twitch.tv/pokemonTCG_EU
Pokémon VG National Championships: www.twitch.tv/pokemonVGC_EU
Pokkén Tournament Championship Series: www.twitch.tv/PokkenTournamentEU

Hot on the heels of last week’s reveal that Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version and Pokémon Yellow Version have now reached over 1.5 million units sold worldwide, another milestone has been reached with Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire having sold a combined total of more than 3 million units across Europe since their launch in November 2014.

To celebrate this news, fans who attend the European Nationals events in person can grab a Shiny Machamp for their copies of the game. This special Machamp is similar to the one used by last year’s Senior Division Video Game World Champion and is a great addition to any Trainer’s Pokédex.

For more information on the Pokémon National Championships or this year’s World Championships, which will take place from 19–21 August in San Francisco, California, please visit: http://www.pokemon.com/uk/play-pokemon/nationals/2016/about/

Train2Game News Soldier uses experience for games career

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Soldier will use his military experience as he embarks on career in gaming

Former soldier and Train2Game student now focusing on a career in gaming, plans to use military experience as inspiration for making games

Train2Game student and former soldier, Daniel Smith (Smudge) has left the army to embark full time on his games making journey. He plans to use his unique insight into warfare to develop military strategy and RPG games.

The course is going very well for Dan. Train2Game has been very understanding, when he embarked on the course he was still serving. It was tough to balance getting through the course alongside the requirements of military training for the 28 year old.

Dan gained extensive experience and training in the army, he had many roles including; Sapper, Medic, Combat Engineer and Searcher. Dan served in Afghanistan 2011. Dan enjoyed the travel, camaraderie and the accomplishments during his time serving.

He’s since left the army to pursue life dreams as a games designer. He’s studying computer games design with Train2Game. He plans to use his army experience as inspiration for games.

Train2Game student, Daniel Smith: ‘I’m 28, from Newark (near Nottingham), although I have just moved to Preston. I’m studying the Computer Game Designers Course with Train2Game. It’s going well at the moment, but it was quite sporadic while I was in the Army. Sometimes I would be able to get into a good study pattern, other times there was a lot going on, from additional training, which can be long and intense, to exercises aboard and deployments. This meant I would have to spend a lot of effort catching up.’

‘I’ve just started Section 2 Part C. The experience has been very positive, they’ve been very understanding of my situation and have given me lots of support and advice. I’ve wanted to become a Game Designer for some time, before taking the course I had no idea what was required to become one, so taking the course to make sure I have all the skills and knowledge I need.’

‘I was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, After completing Basic Training I was trained as a Combat Engineer, learning such skills as Water Supply, Field Fortifications and Demolitions. I then went on to being trained as an Electrician. I had many roles after I had finished my training, I was given the responsibility of looking after a store, and being trained as a Team Medic, I volunteered to be trained in EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) and further trained as a Searcher.’ 

‘I have a lot of positive memories from the Army. I’ve visited many places, like Petra in Jordan and Bosnia. I’ve been parachuting, white water rafting and scuba diving. But my best memories have to be with the friends I made and the (now legendary) things we all got up to. I’ve also achieved a lot, even completing some of the training courses were huge accomplishments. I served in Afghanistan in 2011 as a Searcher, which involved clearing IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) routes and buildings.’

‘I’ve now left the military, Army life was starting to get in the way of where I wanted my life to go. I’ve always been interested in gaming. I prefer playing computer games over reading books or watching TV. I’m also an avid wargamer and have been since I was in my early teens. it seemed logical to start studying the subject.’ 

‘I have written a set of rules for a squad-sized tabletop game that draws from my army experience of firefights, being fast and chaotic events that can easily devolve into a confusing mess if not controlled well. I also have an idea for a war inspired game that involves the use of infantry tactics, as well having to manage what equipment you take with you on missions. I am a fan on RTS, TBS and RPGs games and would really enjoy creating games in there genres.’

‘I’ll predominantly draw from the fighting side of my time in the army for war-style games, but this sense of conflict and overcoming obstacles will translate to other genres, particularly RPGs. Soldiers also have a very unique sense of humour that will inevitably find its way into my games.’

‘I hope to work my way up to the position of Senior Designer and Lead Designer. I hope to create games that people will love to play and that will be looked on as classics.’

For more information contact: mark@train2game.com
Train2Game, bringing City & Guilds to the Games Industry
Read the Train2Game blog at www.train2game-news.co.uk Train2Game is a proud supporter of www.gamatier.com

Train2Game News Amazon announces midnight Doom deliveries

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Doom4Amazon has announced that gamers across the country will be able to get Bethesda Softworks’ DOOM® delivered right to their door from midnight on Thursday thanks to special delivery windows for Prime members.

Fans who can’t wait to get their hands on one of the year’s biggest titles can get the game delivered just as it becomes available at midnight (BST) on the game’s UK release night – Thursday 12 May 2016, using Amazon’s ultra-fast Prime Now delivery service.

Gamers in selected postcodes in London, Surrey, Berkshire, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Portsmouth and surrounding areas who place orders using the Prime Now app for DOOM from 22:00 up to 23:45 on Thursday 12 May can choose to receive their order right to their door from midnight until 02:00, while slots remain available. As well as special editions of the game, controllers and consoles, gamers can also stock up on supplies for their DOOM missions by ordering crisps, soft drinks, pizzas, sweet treats and more to be delivered with the game, keeping them well fuelled as they take on single and multiplayer DOOM missions.

DOOM fans planning an early night can instead choose a delivery on Friday morning, starting with the first delivery window between 08:00 – 10:00. For these special DOOM two-hour delivery windows, delivery comes at no extra cost for Amazon Prime members, as with all two-hour delivery slots on Amazon Prime Now. For more information, please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/doom

“We’ll be taking orders for DOOM as soon as it appears in our app, from around 22:00 on Thursday, 12 May 2016 and will continue to take orders while stocks last. Orders placed by 23:45 on the night have the option to get their deliveries within the 00:00-02:00 delivery window, while delivery windows remain available. If you prefer, you can place your order to get the game first thing, with delivery windows available from 08:00 onwards throughout release day” says Jason Weston, Director of Amazon Prime Now in the UK.

“It’s been well over a decade since the last big DOOM release and we want to make sure local fans get their hands on the latest edition of the game in super quick time with our midnight deliveries so they can head into single and multiplayer battles with fellow DOOM fans across the globe as soon as the game is available. Gamers can also take advantage of the food and drink products available for delivery using Prime Now and receive their copy of the game with crisps, soft drinks and more to help them tackle the latest instalment of the iconic game.”

Customers placing their first order of £30 or more on Prime Now are eligible for a £10 discount using the code 30PRIMENOW at checkout. For more information about the promotion. www.amazon.co.uk/30primenow

All Prime members can immediately download the Prime Now app, available on iOS and Android devices, to find eligible delivery postcodes and request notification when the service is available in their area. Customers can also visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/primenow to learn more about Prime Now and discover eligible delivery postcodes.

DOOM order information:

• Orders Begin: Thursday, 12 May 2016, 22:00

• Last Order for Deliveries from Midnight: Thursday, 12 May 2016, 23:45

• Late-Night Delivery: Begins at midnight and runs until 02:00 Friday, 13 May 2016 2016

• Release-Day Delivery: Begins at 08:00 and runs up until midnight on Friday, 13 May 2016

Train2game News Yogscast join SpecialEffect Event

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The Yogscast have joined the growing number of games industry companies who’ve signed up for SpecialEffect’s One Special Day charity initiative.

One Special Day, which will be held on 15 July, is an opportunity for companies to donate 100% of revenue in one or all areas of their business; for example a day’s sales of one or more games, or 100% of advertising revenue, in-app purchases or DLC.

The Yogscast have pledged their support as a promotional partner. Mark Turpin, Yogscast CEO and SpecialEffect Vice President, said “Games allow us to escape our world to visit another, experiencing anything and everything and loving every second of it. SpecialEffect give the gift of gaming to people who thought it was lost from them. The tireless work and passion to help that Mick Donegan and the team display never ceases to amaze me.”

“We think One Special Day is a fantastic idea and are delighted to get behind the day as a promotional partner and I hope to get the chance to play some of the games on the day.”

Payload Studios, Revolution Games and Escape Technology have also joined the event this week as contributory partners. Russ Clarke, Founder of Payload Studios, added “As long-time supporters of SpecialEffect, we’re delighted to be joining the One Special Day line-up, helping to turn sales of TerraTech into magic moments for people with disabilities.”

One Special Day is open to all companies working in the games industry. To find out more, visit www.onespecialday.org.uk

Train2game News The Legend of Zelda at E3

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Nintendo will transform its booth at the E3 video game trade show next month in Los Angeles to immerse fans in the world of the newest game in The Legend of Zelda franchise – playable for the first time ever at the show.

To ensure attendees are able to truly experience the freedom of exploration the game offers, The Legend of Zelda for Wii U will be Nintendo’s focus of the show this year, and will be the only playable game in Nintendo’s booth via extended demos.

At E3 this year, we’re treating people to an immersive Zelda experience,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “By giving attendees extended hands-on time with this remarkable game, they’ll be able to get a much deeper understanding of something new for the franchise.”

Nintendo’s kickoff to the E3 show happens at 9 a.m. PT Tuesday, June 14, when Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime introduces Nintendo Treehouse: Live, which will be dedicated to a day of live-streamed gameplay of The Legend of Zelda. This will be the world’s first in-depth look at the game, which will also include commentaries by Nintendo developers.

The Legend of Zelda gameplay will be streamed from the E3 show floor via Nintendo’s channels on YouTube and Twitch, as well as on http://e3.nintendo.com. The stream will include game coverage, behind-the-scenes info and plenty of fun.

Series Producer Eiji Aonuma has said that this new installment in The Legend of Zelda franchise will be a clean break from the conventions of previous games, removing boundaries that forced players to follow a set path and introducing new gameplay that has not been experienced in previous games in the series.

While people everywhere will be able to watch The Legend of Zelda gameplay online, one lucky fan and a companion will be flown to Los Angeles to enjoy the action in person and be among the first to play the game on the show floor. Between now and May 10, Nintendo is offering a sweepstakes on Twitter for a chance to win a trip for two to E3 to play the game.

Anyone who tweets @NintendoAmerica a note about what The Legend of Zelda series means to them while using the hashtags #MyZeldaLegend and #NintendoSweepstakes will be entered for a chance to win. Fans can share messages about their favorite games, characters or memories of the franchise. Nintendo will select a winner at random. The prize package includes airfare for two, a hotel stay, tickets to E3, a $500 prepaid VISA debit card.

For all the details about the sweepstakes, visit http://e3.nintendo.com/#section-sweepstakes.

To stay informed about Nintendo’s presence at E3, visit http://e3.nintendo.com.

Train2game News Dishonored 2

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Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced Dishonored 2 will release worldwide on Friday, November 11, 2016 for the Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and PC.

Dishonored 2 is the highly-anticipated first-person action game under development at Arkane Studios, and the follow-up to the 2012 ‘Game of the Year’, Dishonored.

The world premiere of Dishonored 2 gameplay will take place during Bethesda’s 2016 E3 Showcase being held in Los Angeles, California on June 12th beginning at 7pm PST, and streamed live around the world via Twitch and YouTube.

Reprise your role as a supernatural assassin in Dishonored 2 – the next chapter in the award-winning Dishonored saga by Arkane Studios. Play your way in a world where mysticism and industry collide.

Will you choose to play as Empress Emily Kaldwin or the royal protector, Corvo Attano? Will you make your way through the game unseen, make full use of its brutal combat system, or use a blend of both? How will you combine your character’s unique set of powers, weapons and gadgets to eliminate your enemies? The story responds to your choices, leading to intriguing outcomes, as you play through each of the game’s hand-crafted missions.

For more information on Dishonored 2 visit: www.dishonored.com .

Train2game News Game on at Eden Project

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Visitors can play their way through half-term at Eden with a wide range of oversized, retro and traditional games to entertain all ages from May 28 to June 5.

There will be a giant selection of hands-on games for friends and family to work together, play together, share memories of their favourite gaming experiences and most importantly, have fun.

Younger ones can explore the many play areas, hidden nooks and crannies that Eden’s gardens have to offer and even play a game or two of hide and seek.

In the Core building gamers can step into the history of video games, from vintage to virtual reality. There will also be Subbuteo table tournaments and classic 8-bit games in a magnetic form on the fridges.

Jelle Bakker, also known as Jelle’s Marble Runs on YouTube, will be building a marble run over 10 metres long, which will keep on rolling throughout the day.

The Cardboard Arcade will be bringing their travelling arcade machines made out of cardboard to the Core. Inside is a computer, a monitor and a game.

Their aims are to put free-to-play multi-player arcade machines in public places all around the UK, to encourage new friendships through gaming and to inspire people of all ages to see computer games as a creative and artistic medium.

In the Rainforest Biome Eden’s narrators will be teaching visitors about a variety of global games, such as mancala, a strategy game played using a wooden board with hollows in and either seeds, small stones or marbles.

Mufti Games are a Bristol based team of actors, musicians, theatre directors, producers and designers who love to make and to play games.

They will be bringing Massive Battleships, a super-sized team version of the classic naval guessing game, to be played across Eden’s site.

Crew mates can use binoculars, flags and flashcards to signal spectacular hits and unlucky misses hundreds of yards apart.

They will also be performing their show, L_ve Hangman, a life-sized, 3D version of the timeless pen and paper favourite, reimagined as a macabre light-entertainment game show from the 70s.

With a catchy original soundtrack, tongue-in-cheek puppetry and dodgy dress sense, L_ve Hangman is wicked interactive fun for all ages. Visitors will find them in the Mediterranean Biome performing three times a day.

Kate Francis, Eden Live Programme Producer, said: “Game On will be a great chance for families to play and share their favourite games with one another. We are inviting visitors to come and explore the world of gaming at Eden from arcade classics to playground games.

“Gaming is about having fun, but it’s also about being creative, collaborating and solving problems. These are all skills that are very useful in day-to-day life. There are a lot of advantages in all of us playing games. It tests our brains, helps us think differently about our environment and teaches us life lessons for the future, no matter how old you are!”

Train2game News Southampton Game Fest

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The Southampton Game Fest has confirmed that both the HTC Vive and Samsung’s Gear VR will be showcased by Virtual Umbrella at the Southampton Game Fest 2016.

Along with VR, several tournaments have been added to the lineup including the Pokegym challenge, Mario Kart, Fifa 2016 and more. There have also been some interesting unique exhibitors such as a DOOM workshop added, where DOOM fans can create their own DOOM inspired masks.

The Southampton Game Fest is Hampshire’s only large scale dedicated gaming event, which hopes to bring all the gaming talent in Hampshire under one roof, while raising money for the local hospital’s play fund.

Finally The Hampshire Gaming Hub has been added, a website supported by Hampshire County Council which brings together all things gaming in Hampshire, from gaming lounges to local tournament hosts and streamers.

Founder Patrick Day-Childs said:

“Hampshire (UK) is a brilliant county for gaming. We have industry giants like Multiplay and GAME here, and hundreds of gaming fanatics that host their own tournaments or events. Wherever you go in Hampshire you’ll run into gaming”

Southamptongamefest.com
Hampshiregaminghub.org.uk