Category Archives: Developer

Train2Game News iPhone 6

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Apple® today announced iPhone® 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the biggest advancements in iPhone history, featuring two new models with stunning 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays, and packed with innovative technologies in an all-new dramatically thin and seamless design.

The new iPhones feature a precision unibody enclosure of anodized aluminum that conforms seamlessly with the shaped glass of the display, resulting in a completely smooth and continuous surface. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are engineered to be the thinnest ever, delivering a bigger display in a design that is still comfortable to hold and easy to use.

Packed with innovative new technologies, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include: the Apple-designed A8 chip with second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture for blazing fast performance and power efficiency; advanced iSight® and FaceTime® HD cameras; ultrafast wireless technologies; and Apple Pay™, an easier way to simply and securely make payments with just the touch of a finger. Both models include iOS 8, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, featuring a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience with new Messages and Photos features, QuickType™ keyboard, a new Health app, Family Sharing and iCloud Drive℠.

“iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the biggest advancements in iPhone history,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The iPhone is the most loved smartphone in the world with the highest customer satisfaction in the industry and we are making it much better in every way. Only Apple can combine the best hardware, software and services at this unprecedented level and we think customers are going to love it.”

For the first time iPhone is available in two new sizes: iPhone 6 features a stunning 4.7-inch Retina® HD display with 1334 x 750 resolution, providing 38 percent more viewing area than iPhone 5s, while iPhone 6 Plus features an even bigger 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, providing 88 percent more viewing area and nearly three times the pixels than iPhone 5s. The Retina HD displays offer advanced technologies including higher contrast for deeper blacks and dual-domain pixels for more accurate colors at wider viewing angles.

With second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture, the all-new A8 chip offers faster performance and is more energy efficient, delivering higher sustained performance with great battery life. With Metal™, a new graphics technology in iOS 8, developers can take performance of the A8 chip even further to bring console-class 3D games to iPhone. The A8 chip also includes a new, powerful Apple-designed image signal processor that enables advanced camera and video features.

Both models include the M8 motion coprocessor that gathers motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, compass and the new barometer, which senses air pressure to provide relative elevation. The M8 motion coprocessor can continuously measure your motion data, even when the device is asleep, saving battery life for fitness apps that use the sensors all day. With iOS 8, motion data from M8 appears in the Health app so you can see how many flights of stairs you’ve climbed, or how far you’ve walked or run. Developers can use CoreMotion APIs that take advantage of M8 and HealthKit to create apps that help you take better care of your health and fitness.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus introduce Apple Pay, an easy way to securely pay for physical goods and services in stores or apps with just the touch of a finger. Users can pay securely and conveniently in stores by simply holding the phone near the contactless reader while keeping a finger on Touch ID™; there is no need to unlock your iPhone or launch an app. With Apple Pay, you can also make one-touch purchases within apps, without having to enter credit card or shipping information. All payment information is kept private, encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Element, a chip inside the new iPhones.

The iSight camera gets even better with a new sensor featuring Focus Pixels for faster autofocus, making it easier to quickly capture any moment. iPhone 6 Plus users will also benefit from optical image stabilization technology that compensates for hand shake in low light and works with iOS 8 to reduce subject motion. High-definition video on iPhone improves with faster frame rates up to 60fps for 1080p video and 240fps for slo-mo, as well as continuous autofocus, cinematic video stabilization and time-lapse video. The FaceTime HD camera now captures over 80 percent more light with a new sensor, larger f/2.2 aperture and advanced new features including burst mode and HDR video.

With faster LTE download speeds of up to 150 Mbps, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users can browse, download and stream content faster. The new iPhones also support high-quality voice calls over LTE (VoLTE) as well as Wi-Fi calling. With support for up to 20 LTE wireless bands—more than any other smartphone in the world—the new models make it easier to experience high-speed networks around the world. Both iPhones also include 802.11ac Wi-Fi with speeds up to 433 Mbps and Bluetooth 4.0.

The new iPhones come with iOS 8, the biggest release since the launch of the App Store℠, delivering a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience and new features including QuickType keyboard, a new Health app, Family Sharing and iCloud Drive. With more than 4,000 new APIs, iOS 8 allows developers to further customize the user experience with major extensibility features and robust frameworks such as HealthKit and HomeKit. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users also have access to the revolutionary App Store, which offers more than 1.3 million apps to iPhone, iPad® and iPod touch® users in 155 countries around the world.

iPhone 6 comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model, $299 (US) for the 64GB model and, for the first time, a new 128GB model for $399 (US) with a two-year contract.⁴ iPhone 6 Plus comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) for the 16GB model, $399 (US) for the 64GB model and $499 (US) for the new 128GB model with a two-year contract.⁴ Both models will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, additional carriers and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK beginning on Friday, September 19, and customers can pre-order both models beginning on Friday, September 12.

Train2Game News Batman Arkham Knight release date

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Batman Arkham Knight Collectors EditionWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Batman: Arkham Knight is scheduled to release worldwide beginning June 2, 2015.

Also revealed, are two collector’s editions – Batman: Arkham Knight Limited Edition and Batman: Arkham Knight Batmobile Edition. Both will be available in limited quantities at launch in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand for the PlayStation4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. Batman: Arkham Knight Limited Edition will also be available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for PC.

Batman: Arkham Knight Limited Edition will include:

· Custom Art Book – 80 Page, Full Colour Art Book Showcasing the concept art of Batman Arkham Knight
· Limited Edition SteelBook – Unique SteelBook case and game disc
· Comic Book – Limited Edition DC Comics Batman: Arkham Knight #0 Comic Book
· Exclusive Character Skin Pack – Three Unique Skins from DC Comics – The New 52
· Batman Memorial Statue – Imposing statue commemorating Gotham’s Protector, the Dark Knight
· SRP:
o Console – £89.99
o PC – £74.99

Batman: Arkham Knight Batmobile Edition will include:

· Custom Art Book – 80 Page, Full Colour Art Book Showcasing the concept art of Batman Arkham Knight
· Limited Edition SteelBook – Unique SteelBook case and game disc
· Comic Book – Limited Edition DC Comics Batman: Arkham Knight #0 Comic Book
· Exclusive Character Skin Pack – Three Unique Skins from DC Comics – The New 52
· Transforming Batmobile Statue – Fully transformable Batmobile statue realised in exquisite detail by TriForce
· SRP: £169.99 (Console only)

Batman: Arkham Knight is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC.

Batman: Arkham Knight brings the award-winning Batman: Arkham trilogy from Rocksteady Studios to its epic conclusion. Developed exclusively for the New Generation of consoles and PCs, Batman: Arkham Knight introduces Rocksteady’s uniquely designed version of the Batmobile. The highly anticipated addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the Batman: Arkham series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City. In this explosive finale, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city that he is sworn to protect, as Scarecrow returns to unite the super criminals of Gotham and destroy the Batman forever.

Train2Game News EGX 2014 Line Up

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EGX 2014Gamer Network, one of the world’s leading games media businesses, today announces exclusive details of the line-up available at the forthcoming EGX consumer show.

EGX, formerly known as the Eurogamer Expo, is the UK’s biggest video games show with over 80,000 gamers visiting London’s Earl’s Court over four days (25th-28th September 2014).

EGX is a celebration of all things gaming, from getting a career in the industry and getting invaluable insight into the development process from the experts, to coming dressed as your favourite games character or showcasing your skills in one of the competitive arenas.

At the heart of the show are the games themselves, and this year’s show will house more games than ever, with more opportunities for attendees to get their hands on this year’s hottest titles, weeks and even months before their actual release dates.

Microsoft once again supports the show with a full line-up including Sunset Overdrive, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Forza Horizon 2, Project Spark and Fable Legends while Sony will be presenting over 30 titles including The Last of Us Remastered, The Order 1886, Driveclub and Bloodborne.

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare and Assassin’s Creed Unity join the recently announced Mortal Kombat X along with the next in the much-loved Lego series from Warner, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham. The CD Projekt development team will also be showcasing the highly anticipated The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Previously announced games available to play early include SEGA’s Alien Isolation, Deep Silver’s Dead Island 2 and Escape Dead Island, 2K’s award-winning Evolve, and EA’s Battlefield Hardline.

In addition to the blockbuster games on show, the event will also host EGX Rezzed, a space where developers of all sizes will be showcasing their new releases including the much talked about Gang Beasts by Boneloaf, Volume by Mike Bithell and Heat Signature by Tom Francis. This year’s event also includes the Leftfield Collection, a curated show of games from the newest and most promising indie developers of the future.

A full list of games can be found at: www.egxlondon.net/whats-on/show-floor

A number of Competitive Gaming events will be held over the four days including the EGX Fight Zone featuring Capcom Pro Tour, a Nintendo Life Mario Kart 8 Tournament, EGX Dota 2 Challenge in association with Epic.LAN and a League of Legends Tournament to be streamed live on GFinity.

In addition to the games available to play, the event includes a careers fair for anyone looking to work in the industry along with number of Developer Sessions with talks from some of the world’s leading games makers. These include an exclusive announcement from OlliOlli developer Roll7; new details from Techland on the eagerly anticipated Dying Light and the latest on Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor’s Lead Designer, Bob Roberts.

For the second year running a dedicated Cosplay stage will feature parades, workshops and competitions, and visitors are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite characters. The show even hosts a retro gaming section, including games from the past 30 years should attendees fancy a trip down memory lane.

Last year saw a number of politicians, celebrities and leading YouTubers attend EGX, an event that is gaining a reputation for one of the most cutting-edge and colourful consumer shows in the world.

Train2Game News Vote for SpecialEffect

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SpecialEffectIn the games industry? If so, SpecialEffect need your help! They have been selected in the vote for the fantastic, grant making, games industry charity GamesAid.

Last year they made an amazing donation of £52,000 to SpecialEffect to help them meet their growing demand to help amazing young people like Ben who is now rocking Minecraft, FIFA and many other games!

SpecialEffect are in the fortunate position to once again be amongst the charities nominated for GamesAid support but your help is needed to secure a grant. All you need to do is vote at the link below.

SpecialEffect is by no means the biggest cause in the list of nominees so every vote counts.

If you work in the industry then please do visit the link below and consider a vote for SpecialEffect. Current members have to email their choice of charity and user name to GamesAid and new members can register for FREE and cast their vote.

http://www.gamesaid.org/vote-now-2014-voting-re-opens/

You can view the story of Ben in the heart warming video below. SpecialEffect have helped Ben and many others like him to experience the pleasure of gaming as much as we all do.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 08.09.14

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The Sims 4A new week, a new chart and a new number one in the form of the long awaited Sims 4 from EA. The question now is will The Sims 4 be able to retain its number one spot once one of the most anticipated games of the year, Destiny, is released tomorrow?

All formats

Week ending 6 September 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1   THE SIMS 4 EA GAMES –
2 WATCH DOGS UBISOFT 9
3 METRO REDUX DEEP SILVER 1
4 THE LAST OF US: REMASTERED SONY COMPUTER ENT. 3
5 DIABLO III REAPER OF SOULS ULTIMATE EVIL BLIZZARD 2
6 CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 5
7 MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION MICROSOFT 8
8 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES 4
9 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION 3 EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 11
10 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 7
11 MADDEN NFL 15 EA SPORTS 6
12 – THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 12
13 TITANFALL EA GAMES 10
14 WOLFENSTEIN: THE NEW ORDER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 18
15 TOMODACHI LIFE NINTENDO 14
16 LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 20
17 TERRARIA XBOX 360 CLASSICS 16
18 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 19
19 SNIPER ELITE 3 505 GAMES 15
20 BATTLEFIELD 4 EA GAMES 17
< previous week  

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 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 Destiny Fragrance

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Destiny FragranceYou may have seen the new advert showing Destiny as a perfume going around the internet lately. It has emerged Microsoft UK are behind the amusing advertising.

If you head to www.DestinyFragrance.com you’ll be greeted by an advert for “the new fragrance by Xbox”. Click through to the next page and the truth is revealed.

“Okay, so here’s the lowdown. Destiny is actually an epic new first-person shooter, available on Xbox,” the site’s text reads. “Thing is, we didn’t have permission to run adverts for the game. So we didn’t. Thanks for smelling that something was up. Now get the game and become a legend.”

A following page then leads to various Xbox One and Destiny bundles available at third-party retailers, including GAME, Tesco and Amazon.co.uk.

Sony has a close relationship with publisher Activision for the game, which has seen Destiny heavily featured alongside PlayStation 4 in marketing. The game’s PlayStation versions will also get a selection of timed-exclusive content.

A Microsoft UK spokesperson confirmed to Eurogamer that the Destiny Fragrance site was indeed “legitimate”.

Train2Game News Indie Game Show and Tell

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BeefJackBeefJack, the creative games company, officially announced Indie Game Show & Tell – an event for which tickets are already shifting fast!

The event, which takes place on the first evening of EGX London, invites developers, journalists and members of the public to pop along to show off their latest project, get industry feedback, and generally have a good old free drink.

Indie Game Show & Tell takes place from 19:00 on Thursday 25th September at the Troubador Gallery on Old Brompton Road – just round the corner from EGX London at Earls Court. Tickets are free, though attendees need to register via the Eventbrite page – http://bit.ly/indieshowandtell

“This is our first event as BeefJack and we’re really excited to see such an enormous response to it only a few hours after we announced it,” said BeefJack’s Lewis Denby. “Already one of our ticket types is sold out – though we’re hoping to have more availability in the run-up to the event.”

BeefJack is a multi-faceted games company, which champions the weird and wonderful in games. It is both a games development studio and a games marketing agency, with a focus on indie, creative and alternative gaming experiences.

For more information on BeefJack, visit www.beefjack.com

Train2Game News UKIE outlines new manifesto for games industry

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UKIE LogoOn Tuesday, Ukie, in partnership with Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft, hosted its largest ever Westminster Political Reception to announce a range of policy recommendations and to celebrate the cultural and economic importance of the UK games sector.

The event, held at Millbank Tower, was attended by more than 200 members, MPs, Peers, policy makers and industry figures from a range of creative industry sectors.

The event saw the launch of the new Ukie Policy Manifesto for the next Parliament that outlines initial plans for how to further grow the UK games sector following the introduction of tax breaks earlier this year, and the introduction of the new Computing curriculum earlier this week.

Created with input from Ukie’s members, the Policy Manifesto calls for action on three headline areas of policy support:

· Support to help UK games companies grow across the UK – including regulatory stability, better infrastructure and a long term roadmap where games businesses can access public funding and support proportionate to the other screen industries

· Promotion of the UK games industry abroad – demonstrating that the UK is one of the leading videogame industries in the world, including a focus on funding, fully supporting and working with industry on trade and investment activity such as trade missions and helping UK businesses to reach overseas marketplaces

· Building a strong and diverse talent pipeline – including supporting the new Computing Curriculum, investing in careers guidance and extending and making permanent the Skills Investment Fund

The reception heard from Justin Tomlinson MP, PPS to Ed Vaizey, on the work that the coalition government has done to support the UK games sector.

Justin Tomlinson MP said: ““The UK games industry is going from strength to strength, recovering some of the ground lost to other countries over the last few years. This growth has been helped very much by the hard work put in by Ukie and the major policy initiatives introduced by this government, such as a new computing curriculum and the recent introduction of production tax relief. However, more can of course be done and in my new role working closely with Ed Vaizey I very much welcome Ukie’s new Policy Manifesto and look forward to discussing its recommendations with Jo and her team in more detail over the coming months.”

The guests also heard from Dr Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie, and Roy Stackhouse, General Manager for Activision Blizzard UK and Ireland, discussing Ukie’s manifesto proposals and the strength of the UK as a place to make games.

Ukie CEO, Dr Jo Twist said: “We were delighted by the introduction of games industry tax relief earlier this year but quickly realised that it is essential that we maximise the opportunities that the new scheme presents. We have therefore spent the last six months speaking to our members from across the breadth of our sector about the measures that they would like to see the UK government introduce to truly put the UK’s games industry on the global map. Our Policy Manifesto outlines our members priority asks and we will be following this up with more detailed papers and briefings to MPs to continue our push to make this the best country in the world to make and sell games.”

UK MD of Ubisoft, Rob Cooper commented on the importance of the Westminster Reception in maintaining a positive view of the UK games sector: “Events like these are vital in showing the significance of the UK games industry, both culturally and economically, to a high profile audience of policy makers and other VIPs. We are delighted to support this year’s event and Ukie’s work generally in giving a voice to UK games businesses of all sizes from multinationals like Ubisoft, to smaller developers, making and selling some of the most vibrantly creative interactive entertainment in the world.”

Guests at the reception had a chance to play some of Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard’s latest titles including Valiant Hearts: The Great War, Just Dance 2014, Diablo III and Skylanders: Trap Team. Charity Special Effect were also there demonstrating their latest innovations to help young people with different abilities enjoy games.

You can find Ukie’s Policy Manifesto for the New Parliament here: http://ukie.org.uk/news/2014/09/ukie-westminster-reception

Train2Game News CODE_n Connecting game studios

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Startups need to be visible to customers and investors in order to find the right partner for the next step in their development.

This is precisely where CODE_n CONNECT (connect.code-n.org) comes in by providing a platform that brings founders and established companies together. CONNECT is the latest element in the CODE_n innovation platform. Worldwide, startups are able to register for matchmaking with CODE_n CONNECT and simultaneously apply for the global CODE_n CONTEST. This year’s theme: “Into The Internet of Things”.

CODE_n has been around since 2012: More than 1,100 applicants from more than 60 countries, 150 finalists, over 50,000 visitors to the CODE_n Hall at CeBIT, thousands of conversations with investors, partners, customers and countless reports and interviews in international media. In brief, CODE_n is the stage for innovative startups. And now it’s digital too: With CODE_n CONNECT, founders have the opportunity to present themselves to established companies and investors all year round, find suitable development partners and network with each other. Simply register, upload a company profile and regularly post updates about your business – and the attention is guaranteed.

Ulrich Dietz, initiator of CODE_n and CEO of the GFT Group, says: “Our CODE_n partners and finalists to date have been inspired by the cooperation opportunities that CODE_n has offered them during the five days of CeBIT. We now want to offer this to our partners and startups all year round – in a centralized, flexible and no-hassle way.”

Startups wishing to take part in the CODE_n15 CONTEST can register for the innovation competition via CODE_n CONNECT. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2014. The competition is open to startups founded in 2009 or later who develop innovative business models relating to the key theme of “Into the Internet of Things” – divided up into the areas of DIGITAL LIFE, SMART CITY, FUTURE MOBILITY and INDUSTRY 4.0.

50 finalists will be selected from the entries to present their company and their business idea at CODE_n, part of the CeBIT fair in Hanover (March 16-20, 2015), free of charge – with their own stand area, a feature in the conference program and much more included. A panel of high-caliber judges will choose the winner from the finalists during CeBIT, awarding them EUR 30,000 in prize money and the CODE_n Award. More information can be found at http://www.code-n.org.

By the start of CeBIT 2015, CODE_n CONNECT will have expanded its functions for established companies. Anyone looking for exciting startups with innovative ideas will be able to set up ‘newsfeeds’ from March onwards. These provide regular information about trends and developments from the digital founder community. These messages allow interested companies to follow all of the startups specifically that are of particular interest to them.

“The digital economy has fundamentally changed the demands on companies when it comes to dealing with innovation. Completely new constellations are arising, new innovation ecosystems,” says Dietz. The interface between young and established companies especially promises tremendous potential. “Startups bring dynamism, courage and new stimulus to the relationship of innovation. The established companies bring expertise, financial backing and professional structures designed to scale business ideas. All of this remains dry theory, however, if they do not learn from each other. And this is where CODE_n CONNECT comes in. This is CODE_n logically thought through and implemented on the next level,” says Dietz.

Train2Game News Marmalade 7.4 update

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Marmalade Technologies Ltd, providers of the free, top-rated cross-platform app development tool, today announced the release of Marmalade 7.4.

The updated SDK includes a wealth of new features to assist developers in deploying their apps to a broad range of platforms, maximizing their potential reach and revenue streams.

Harvey Elliott, CEO, Marmalade Technologies Ltd: “The release of Marmalade 7.4 is yet another milestone met for Marmalade and the fast growing Marmalade Community, which has more than doubled over the past year. By making continuous improvements to our core C++ tool, we give game developers of all shapes and sizes the ability to publish native performance games on the app stores that matter, without expensive reworking and consuming valuable development time.”

Marmalade 7.4 Key Features
·        Windows Phone 8.1 platform support
Developers can now extend apps and games to take advantage of WP8.1 features. For example there is now  no need to pre-compile shaders
·        iOS 8 and Xcode 6 support
Update and submit your Marmalade apps ahead of public release – use the latest Xcode IDE. The release includes fixes which will ensure Marmalade apps continue to work with iOS8.
·        In-app purchase support for Roku
Easily monetise Roku apps
·        Marmalade Web support for Firefox OS
Bring your Marmalade Web apps to the Firefox OS marketplace
·        Facebook Support
Marmalade 7.4 includes updated Facebook SDKs
·        Plus more useful fixes and updates that can be explored further  here.