Monthly Archives: November 2020

Train2Game News Voting Now Open For 2020 Ultimate Game of the Year

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Voting is now open in the Ultimate Game of the Year category for this year’s Golden Joystick Awards.

The voting shortlist is only open for one week, so the public are encouraged to vote now for their game of 2020. Voting closes at 1pm GMT / 8am EST Friday 20th November.

Winners will be revealed in the new all-digital format Golden Joystick Awards show on Tuesday 24th November. The evening kicks off with the pre-show at 8.30pm GMT / 3.30pm EST with the awards following at 9pm GMT / 4pm EST on Twitch and YouTube.
 

The nominees are:
 

  1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  2. The Last of Us Part II
  3. Final Fantasy VII Remake
  4. Microsoft Flight Simulator
  5. Crusader Kings III
  6. Fall Guys
  7. Hades
  8. Half-Life: Alyx
  9. Death Stranding (PC)
  10. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
  11. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  12. Demon’s Souls (PS5)
  13. Ghost of Tsushima
  14. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
  15. Factorio
  16. Spelunky 2
  17. F1 2020
  18. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
  19. DOOM Eternal
  20. Genshin Impact

The Golden Joystick Awards are the world’s biggest public-voted games awards. Every year millions of fans show their support by voting for the games, developers, publishers and personalities who have entertained and thrilled them the most over the last 12 months.
 

Daniel Dawkins, Content Director, Games and Film at GamesRadar+ said:
 

“We’re thrilled to announce the biggest Ultimate Game of the Year vote in Golden Joystick Awards history. These 20 incredible titles reflect gaming’s broad diversity of genres and the once-in-a-generation launch of new gaming consoles. The Golden Joystick Awards are held in such special regard because they attract millions of votes from gamers worldwide. In 2020 more than ever, we want our nominees list to reflect the joy that gaming has brought us – the thrill of competition, community and adventure that takes us from our everyday lives – and give everyone a chance to support their favourite games. We’d like to extend our gratitude to everyone in the industry who has worked so hard to create and launch games in such a challenging year – and we’re sure people worldwide feel the same.”
 

Voting opens today and closes on November 20th 2020. For more information visit www.goldenjoysticks.com or follow The Golden Joysticks Awards on Twitter and Facebook.

Train2Game News EVE Online Raises Money To Fight COVID-19

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CCP Games, creators of the deep and uniquely player-driven spaceship MMO game EVE Online, are proud to announce PLEX for GOOD, the charitable EVE Online program, has been successful in raising over $130,000 for the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (CHS).

Raising $135,500 since April 3rd, PLEX for GOOD is a charitable program operated by CCP Games on behalf of EVE Online players.

Having already raised $107,454 in February for Australian bushfire relief efforts by the Red Cross, this year has been its most successful yet. It provides a way for EVE players to donate to a charitable cause through the use of the in-game digital currency PLEX – allowing for charitable donations by those who otherwise might not have the means to donate real money.

“An unprecedented global crisis has been met by an unprecedented level of support and for that, I am once again hugely proud, grateful and humbled by the efforts of our players,”said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. “We stand together as a community in our support of the work that is being done by health workers, scientists, and institutes around the world to fight this pandemic and bolster its relief.”
 

Money raised will go directly to the World Health Organization (WHO) to coordinate the global relief effort for COVID-19, supporting countries to prevent, detect, and respond to the pandemic. It will also help the WHO to ensure that all countries – especially those with the weakest health systems – are prepared, as well as supporting their work to understand the virus, to ensure frontline workers get essential supplies and information, and to accelerate efforts to develop vaccines, tests, and treatments.
 

Donations were also made to the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (CHS), the prestigious policy think-tank which works to protect people’s health from epidemics and disasters, ensuring that communities remain resilient to major challenges, such as COVID-19. Their research focuses on improving organizations, systems, and tools to prevent and respond to outbreaks, whilst advancing policies and practice to address a range of challenges, including the global rise in emerging infectious diseases and a continued risk of pandemic flu.
 

Beginning in 2005 with fundraising efforts for the South East Asian Tsunami, PLEX for GOOD has now raised $713,620 for charitable causes, an incredible feat of which all EVE Online players can be immensely proud. 
 

EVE Online can be downloaded for free by visiting www.eveonline.com. For all the latest information about the game, please visit EVE Updates and for any questions on CCP Games, visit the FAQ.

Train2Game News Pokémon GO Connected To Pokémon HOME

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Pokémon GO is now officially connected to Pokémon HOME, giving Trainers the opportunity to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME!

This feature is rolling out incrementally to all Trainers based on their current Trainer level.

Keep checking Pokémon GO for the opportunity to transfer your Pokémon to Pokémon HOME.

Trainers will use a new feature in Pokémon GO called the GO Transporter to transfer Pokémon to Pokémon HOME. Every time you transfer a Pokémon, some energy will be drained from the GO Transporter. The energy used by the GO Transporter recharges over time, but it can also be replenished with PokéCoins. The energy cost to use the GO Transporter to transfer Pokémon varies depending on the Pokémon.

To celebrate this development, Trainers who transfer a Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME will receive the Mythical Pokémon Melmetal. This special Melmetal can Gigantamax in any battle in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield that allows it. This Melmetal can be received as a Mystery Gift in the mobile device version of Pokémon HOME. Trainers can then use the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon HOME to transfer this Melmetal to Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield and add it to their team. This is the first time Gigantamax Melmetal has been made available to Trainers, so don’t miss out on this chance to team up with the Mythical Steel-type Pokémon!

After transferring a Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME, Trainers can open the Mystery Box in Pokémon GO, causing the rare Mythical Pokémon Meltan to appear on the map for a limited time. Trainers can evolve Meltan into Melmetal by gathering 400 Meltan Candy.

For all the details on how to utilize this new connectivity between Pokémon GO and Pokémon HOME, as well as certain restrictions in how it can be used, be sure to check out the Pokémon HOME official site.

Train2Game News Grid Fight All Hand Drawn

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Join Donna and more than 35 other unique playable characters in their mission to cure the madness infecting the goddesses of the world in this action-RPG game set in a carefully hand-drawn, vividly animated and most beautifully colourful world. 
 
Grid Fight draws inspiration from classic grid-based games like Mega Man Battle Network to deliver a whole new experience where quick reflexes and careful team management are key to win the battle.
 
Different characters are especially suited to overcome different challenges and it’s your mission to get to know them enough so they will join your squad. Enlist, evolve and equip powerful masks to make them achieve their ultimate potential and use them in PVE and local PVP battles, all while you enjoy the earworm 90’s inspired soundtrack.
 
The demo of Grid Fight – Mask Of The Goddess is out now on Steam where players can have a taste of the main mechanics of the game, including recruiting new characters and choosing different paths in their story.
 
The game will be available for PC and console platforms in 2021. You can watch the trailer here.

More Information about Grid Fight can be found on the official website

Train2Game News Consoles Prices Over The Years

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Gamers shelling out £450 for the new PlayStation and Xbox consoles are actually getting a great deal, as gaming systems of yesteryear would have cost as much as £1,200 in today’s money.

The money saving team from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have looked at how much 33 classic consoles were when they launched and after adjusting the prices for inflation, it turns out that just over 30% of them would have cost more than the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

This means that the new PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which feature the very best in modern gaming technology, are actually great value for money.  

One of the first video game systems to be brought into the home was the Atari 2600. In 1977 it would have cost families £199, which translates to a whopping £1246 in today’s money.

Other expensive consoles include the 1990 TurboGrafx 16 which cost the equivalent of £914, and the 1993 Panasonic 3DO that cost a staggering £600 at the time – around £1231 now.

Some of the most budget friendly consoles that the research has highlighted include the Nintendo GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS, which would have cost just £92 and £195 in today’s money.

TheNetVoucherCodes.co.uk team have used digital Argos catalogues going back to 1977 to find the £RRP of the consoles at launch, and worked out what they’d cost now using Bank of England’s inflation calculator.

A spokesperson forNetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “After the new consoles were announced, gamers were waiting with bated breath to see just how much of a dent they were going to leave in their pockets.

“For the top-level consoles, families are going to have to shell out at least £500 for the system and a game which sounds extortionate, but looking at how much popular consoles have cost throughout the decades, we’re actually getting a pretty good deal.

“Video game technology is more advanced than ever before but, taking into account the price of inflation, just over 30% of mainstream consoles have technically cost more than these new releases.

“This should be good news for gamers who are keen to get their hands on the new systems. Only question is which one do you choose? It’s worth taking into account the games that will be exclusive to each console, as well as subscription costs like Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus.”

Train2Game News Fall Guy Christmas Jumper

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Numskull Designs and Devolver Digital/Mediatonic are excited to announce that the bean-based battle royale sensation, Fall Guys, are being added to the Christmas Jumpers range.

Grab, bounce and elegantly stumble your way to the best-dressed crown this holiday season!
 
This jumper may not give you the ability to tumble through crowds of beans, but it is sure to be the smash hit of any Christmas gaming session! Knitted from 100% premium yarn, this jumper shares the same colourful charm as the beloved beans, with plenty of added festive cheer to help spread the Christmas spirit.

The Fall Guys Christmas Jumper will be releasing this November and is now available to pre-order from selected retailers found on the Numskull Designs website.

PRICE: £34.99/$44.99 (USD)/ €39.99/$69.95 AUD / $79.95 NZD / $59.99 CDN

RELEASE DATE: Mid November 2020

  • Official Mediatonic/Devolver Digital product.
  • Designed and engineered by Numskull Designs.
  • 100% knitted (not printed).
  • Made from Premium quality yarn for extra comfort.
  • Unisex design and fit, and can be worn all year round.
  • Features detailed front and back knitted design.
  • Available in various sizes. UK, EU and AUS – XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL and US – 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL.

Watch the launch video on YouTube

Ready to customise your look?

Pre-order the Fall Guys Christmas Jumper here – http://bit.ly/FallGuysWebPR

Train2Game F1 Manager Supporting Men’s Health

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Leading mobile games developer, Hutch, has today announced a partnership with leading men’s health charity, Movember, to support with the innovative work it does to encourage men to talk about their mental health.
 
The partnership, which runs between 4th-8th November, will introduce Movember into its popular game, F1 Manager, during a special in-game event. Players can unlock in-game rewards in the form of special Grand Prix crates, with a large portion of the revenue earned being donated to Movember’s annual funding push. 
 
Six members of the team, including CEO Shaun Rutland, have decided they are due for a trim, and have pledged to shave off their facial hair and grow a moustache for Movember. Players and friends of Hutch are encouraged to take part and share their progress with Hutch’s social channels. 

Not only that, but players will also get the chance to vote in a knock-out-poll to decide which driver had the best moustache in F1 history. Players can also download a limited edition F1 Manager X Movember Instagram filter to show their support on social media and wear a uniquely themed racing helmet for all to see.  

Shaun Rutland, Hutch CEO, said: “Movember is a wonderful cause and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to support them on their drive to help men around the world. 2020 has been yet another reminder of the indefinable value of our physical and mental health, so we are proud to be working with such a dedicated and motivated team. We’re excited to be doing our bit, and hope our community joins us to help a worthy cause”

To download the game or find out further information, please visit:
https://f1manager.onelink.me/MWaJ/a24e2b6b

Train2Game News One Special Day Raises Half A Million

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Gamers’ charity SpecialEffect is delighted to announce that, thanks to a record number of partners from the games industry, their One Special Day fundraising campaign on Friday 2nd October has raised over £500,000.

The charity, which has experienced an upturn in demand for their services since the first COVID-19 lockdown in March, are incredibly grateful to their friends from the worldwide games industry who have rallied to support their life-changing work. From donating UK income from mobile and PC games, to a special Humble Bundle and a series of socially-distanced ‘virtual’ challenges, industry partners large and small have raised vital funds to help SpecialEffect continue to find cutting edge solutions to help people with physical challenges play and avoid isolation.

SpecialEffect’s CEO and Founder, Dr Mick Donegan said “All of us at SpecialEffect are delighted and humbled at the outcome of our 5th and most successful One Special Day 2020 ever and are massively grateful to friends throughout the games industry. They’re not only ensuring that we can carry on meeting the ever-growing demand to help disabled gamers to play, but also the demand to help developers all over the world to make their games more accessible to all.”

More information about One Special Day can be found at www.onespecialday.org.uk

Train2Game News Free AirConsole Games

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AirConsole, a globally leading platform for casual games, today announced that they will provide everyone with free access to all of their video games during the month of November in a new attempt to stop the spreading of the coronavirus.

While Europe and other parts of the world are facing a renewed  increase in coronavirus cases, the Swiss gaming company AirConsole is doing what it can to help the millions of people in quarantine across the globe.

AirConsole is a cloud based video game console that is accessible from every home through the web browser or Android TV. Smartphones are used as gamepads. No additional hardware is required for a full video game console experience. AirConsole boasts a library of 160 games across a variety of genres.

“During the first lockdown AirConsole was able to help millions of people to stay entertained with their families and loved ones. We received overwhelming positive feedback from our community and with people returning to StayHome we understood that it was time for us to act again,” says Rafael Morgan, Head of Product at AirConsole. “Today we’ve decided to give everyone access to the full platform for free for two weeks. We know that a lot of people are affected by lockdowns and quarantines at the moment, and that many will be looking for new forms of entertainment.”

“It’s been a tough time and we would like to help as many people as possible,” says Andrin von Rechenberg, CEO at AirConsole. “After the first lockdown we increased the number of family friendly games on AirConsole. It’s important to us that people without a lot of gaming experience feel welcome as well!”

As in the previous solidarity campaign, players will be able to use the promotional code “919 2020” and get two weeks of full access to AirConsole’s 160 games, which are normally available as part of a subscription called AirConsole Hero.

Get access to the full version of AirConsole:


1. Download the AirConsole App from Apple’s AppStore or Google Play.
2. Launch the app and insert the following code when the numpad appears: “919 2020”
3. The full AirConsole experience will be unlocked for two weeks.
4. Open www.airconsole.com on your desktop browser, connect your smartphone as the gamepad by following the simple instructions and start playing instantly.

The code is valid until November 30th, 2020

Train2Game News New SoloCast Mic For Streamers

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HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, Inc., today announced the release of HyperX SoloCastTM USB microphone for streamers and content creators.

SoloCast offers Plug N Play audio recording capability and a tap-to-mute feature that indicates the mute status when the red LED is flashing. Using a cardioid recording pattern, it provides a clear sound ideal for streamers, casters, students, and working from home. 

SoloCast microphone offers an easy Plug N Play setup. It utilises a cardioid polar pattern that is more sensitive to sound sources directly in front of the microphone, making it great for in-game voice chat, streaming voice audio, and audio recordings for content creation.

“We are excited to expand our USB microphone line with the addition of HyperX SoloCast,” said Bianca Walter, Business Manager, HyperX EMEA. “We are always looking for new ways to deliver an amazing user experience, expanding our USB microphone lineup with our new SoloCast brings a different option to streamers and content creators.”

The SoloCast small size and rotatable stand with adjustable tilt positions gives it the ability to fit in small or tight places, such as under a monitor. The included mount adapter fits both 3/8” and 5/8” thread sizes and is compatible with most stands and boom arms. 

The SoloCast microphone joins the HyperX microphone lineup with the recently launched QuadCast S microphone with RGB lighting. Both microphones are compatible with PC, PS4, and Mac® and works on major streaming platforms like Streamlabs OBS, OBS Studio, and XSplit and is certified by Discord and TeamSpeakTM.

Availability
HyperX SoloCast USB microphone is available for €74.99 / £64.99 MSRP through HyperX’s Online Shop. For more information on the HyperX SoloCast USB microphone global availability, please visit the SoloCast USB microphone product page