Category Archives: Developer

Train2Game News: Createrria becoming indie phenomenon

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logo_big11 days after its launch on the Apple App Store, Independent Polish developer Incuvo are proud to announce some impressive stats for its debut title Createrria, the first application that allows players to create and publish their own games.

Since its full global roll out on December 6th Createrria has achieved some impressive numbers that have catapulted it in to the status of genuine indie phenomenon!

·      500,000 users
·      560,000 games created
·      66,000 games published within the Incuvo community
·      60,000 shares to through social media including Facebook and Twitter
·      7.4 million plays of games created by the Incuvo community
·      Reached #1 Adventure game for iPad on the US app store
·      Reached #9 all free apps for iPad on the US app store

Createrria is fast becoming a must have app for games designers and developers with it’s easy to use creation tools.

Train2Game News: Oculus raises more funds

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Oculus RiftOculus VR has secured a further $75 million in investment to finalise the consumer version of its highly anticipated virtual reality head-set.

The series B round was led by Andreessen Horowitz, and featured contributions from Spark Capital, Matrix Partners and Formation 8. Marc Andreessen, founder of Netscape and the driving force behind Andreessen Horowitz, will join the Oculus VR board.

“Over the past 16 months, we’ve grown from a start-up to a company whose virtual reality headset is poised to change the way we play, work and communicate,” said Oculus VR CEO Brendan Iribe said in a statement issued to the press.

“40,000 developers and enthusiasts, as well as a number of great partners, have joined our cause and helped us bring the seemingly impossible to life. This additional infusion of capital, as well as the leadership and experience of Marc Andreessen, will help us take the final steps toward our ultimate goal: making virtual reality something consumers everywhere can enjoy.”

Andreessen stated his belief that the Oculus Rift would revolutionise not just games, but film, education, architecture and design.

“The games industry is well past the point where more pixels, texels, flops, and frames displayed on the same fixed screens are really changing the experiences that players get,” said Oculus CTO John Carmack, who joined the company full-time last month after resigning his position at id Software.

“I could say the same about other digital experiences as well. What will revolutionize gaming, and interactive content in general, is putting people inside the digital world. That is our goal at Oculus, and this Series B will help us get there,”

The size of this latest investment proves just how much faith is being placed in the Oculus Rift. In June, the company raised $16 million in its first round of funding.

Train2Game News: Train2Game Interviews CNS Group

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CNS GroupThis week on Thursday 12th December, Train2Game’s Harry Cole interviewed Edd Hardy and Andy Smith, auditors at CNS Group www.cnsgroup.co.uk.

The conversation was in-line with previous interviews where Train2Game get expert insight from people working in the games industry and employment areas of interest to our students.

Harry was joined by Train2Game students; Muir and Chris, who were on the call to ask questions directly to the experts. Students were also encouraged to submit questions ahead of the interview which Harry asked on their behalf.

Points discussed include: firewalls, layers of security, potential pitfalls with different types of technology, facial recognition, global satellite positioning and advice about best practice.

Please make sure to have a listen to the interview and let us know what you think. If you have any questions or would like to be involved in future discussions then please get in touch with Harry via the forum.

In the interview Harry requested a best practice list for the students, which he will post when it becomes available. We have further interview planned for next year, with games developers and cloud solution providers, so make sure to stay tuned.

You can hear the interview here: http://www.spreaker.com/user/train2gamestudentradio/train2game-interview-cns-group

Train2Game News: GallantCloud Coverage around the web

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WP_20131027_023This year Microsoft started their Acceleration Programme and one of the teams involved was a Train2Game Student Studio.

The studio, GallantCloud, was made up of Train2Game students trying to get their foot in the door of the games industry and this has certainly helped them do just that. As a result of the initiative the team were put in touch with the wider gaming industry.

They attended games industry events and conferences. The team were mentored by Train2Game and Microsoft experts. They also received further tutoring from members of the gaming and business community.

Coverage of the initiative was extensive, with placements on: The Microsoft Accelerator Website,numerous mentions in games industry trade publication – Develop and on Gallant Cloud’s own official website. Train2Game also covered the scheme extensively with videos and content on Train2Game’s official YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, accounts.

In the link below, you can view all of GallantClouds story as this leg of their games industry journey has come to an end.

http://train2gamewinners.co.uk/downloads/Gallant-Cloud.pdf

Good luck from all of us at Train2Game for everything you do in the future guys!

Train2Game News: Elder Scrolls Online release date

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elder-scrolls-online-logoBethesda have announced when their highly anticipated Elder Scrolls: Online will be released with a new gameplay trailer to go with it.

The Elder Scrolls Online, the latest chapter of the award-winning franchise that brings the legendary experience online for the first time, will be launching worldwide for PC and Mac on April 4, 2014. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will follow in June 2014.

Players can choose their own style of play as they embark upon an epic adventure across all of Tamriel, playing alone on a heroic quest as in previous Elder Scrolls games, exploring the huge, rich world with a few select friends, or playing with hundreds of others in massive PvP battles to save the Empire.

“We are thrilled to bring this game to consoles, in addition to the PC and Mac,” said Matt Firor, game director of The Elder Scrolls Online. “It’s something our fans have been requesting since we first announced the title, and something our team is excited to offer. Everyone will be able to play The Elder Scrolls Online the way they want to play”

You can see a brand new trailer for the game below:

Train2Game News: Mobile Game Creation App Released

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IMG_0146Independent Polish developer Incuvo have released their innovative game creation app Createrria.

This is the first application that allows players to create and publish their own games, free to download, Createrria is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod with an Android version to follow next year.

Createrria turns the fun and joy of making games in to a game itself. Become an instant game designer by creating the games you always wanted to play or construct your own improved version of world famous franchises! Want to tell a story or create an awesome action game? No problem. Have a great idea for a puzzle game or platformer? Go right ahead. Createrria offers quick and easy tools to create any game you want without any technical or programming skills. With just a few taps you can craft your own games and share them with your friends.

“Nowadays you can create almost anything on mobile devices; Take photos, paint, compose music, even shape virtual pottery – you  name it. But until now there hasn’t really been a good app for game creation. We want to change that with Createrria. And remember, this is meant for players, not developers.” commented Jakub Duda, Incuvo co-founder.

“I often start Createrria early in the morning just to check new crazy game ideas that appeared in the community the previous night. It’s a great feeling when players surprise you with new creations.” said Wojciech Borczyk, Incuvo’s second co-founder.

Want to create that great 8-bit classic? Then the Pixel Art Theme is for you. How about a Grimm fairy tale with a twist? The Fable Theme is what you’re after. Featuring a variety of powerful and easy-to-use tools, all the graphic styles in Createrria comes with its own set of backgrounds, terrain, items and enemies!

Already the recipient of critical acclaim including making the final of the ‘Game Connection 2012 Best Project’ Createrria will unlock the game making dreams of aspiring creators everywhere.

You can view the trailer for Createrria below

Train2Game News: GallantCloud Blog – Final Week

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Gallant CloudThe week before demo day has just begun. What happened with the time?
It seems to accelerate before a crucial deadline like this. We had the amazing opportunity to go to Lionhead Studios and refine our pitch and our game with Gary over the whole week.

As always we felt very welcome by Gary and his generous support for us and our game was invaluable. I can’t stress how important it is to have a mentor on board who has 28 years of game design experience. It makes a huge difference.

The demo day at the Level 39 in Canary Wharf has finally arrived.

This is what we are working so hard towards the whole 12 plus 1 weeks. As always there are thoughts of how things might go terribly wrong, but practising the pitch on stage a few times made us more confident and it became more a routine over time. Keeping focused on delivering our passion and excitement for our game helped a lot.

I brought my Oculus Rift along to demonstrate that we have a cutting edge game that is ready for the future next year.

The pitch and the demonstration of our game went very well and we where all relieved that it was finally over. Time to celebrate and enjoy the successful demo day with Microsoft!

It has been a great journey indeed.

I highly recommend this accelerator experience to anyone who wishes to move on the fast track and learn very fast and likes challenges.

Train2game News: Microsoft announce new accelerator programme companies

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UK firms Gateway Interactive and 8 Bit Studios to begin 12-week programme in February

Microsoft has announced the new wave of companies that will take part in Microsoft Ventures’ London Accelerator programme.

The scheme has been piloted this year and provides support to start-ups for 12 weeks as they try to establish themselves as a business.

Twelve firms will be taking part in the 2014 programme, which kicks off on February 3rd. Two of these are gaming firms: Gateway Interactive, a studio based in the North East of England working on their inaugural title Pure Space, and 8-bit Studios, which is working on online multiplayer game Skara.

The successful applicants were named during a Microsoft event at London’s Canary Wharf, where the pilot companies of this year’s programme were able to show off their work and pitch for further support from other potential investors.

Two of the five pilot companies were games firms – Whispering Gibbon and GallantCloud – and all pilots have been invited to continue working with Microsoft at its new Accelerator headquarters, which is due to open in Whitechapel.

Microsoft UK’s managing director Michel Van der Bel told Develop: “These technology start-ups and entrepreneurs are the future success of our sector. The future of our economy will be based on the success of these start-ups.

Train2game student and GallantCloud member Ben Cooper said “i want to say thank you on behalf of the team for all the help Train2game gave us. It was very much appreciated and I believe we nailed the pitch!”

Source: Develop http://www.develop-online.net/news/microsoft-ventures-names-start-ups-for-2014-london-accelerator/0187016

Train2Game News: Avenged Sevenfold releasing mobile game

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Avenged SevenfoldFollowing a number one album release and a world tour, Avenged Sevenfold, are developing their own animated series and mobile game.

The five piece from California released their album Hail To The King back in late August and have since been touring the world to great reviews. I had the pleasure of seeing them on Thursday night and was blown away by the stage show they put on.

The band is well known for always evolving and trying new things. Their new adventure has lead them to create a Hail To The King animated series which is being produced with help from Jon Schnepp who has previously worked on Metalocalypse for Adult Swim. The series will be shown this holiday season and is a prequel to a mobile game the band have been involved with, Hail To The King: Deathbat.

Lead Singer of Avenged Sevenfold, M Shadows said “Two years ago while touring in South East Asia I looked around the bus taking us from the airport to the hotel and noticed everyone was on their phones and iPads playing different types of games. We had a discussion and decided that it would be fun to create one of our own. The problem was that we didn’t feel passionate about doing a full on typical music game. We wanted to do something different. Something inspired by some of our favorite games. So we came up with the idea of turning some of our songs and art work into a living, breathing, evil world. We wanted to bring the story of the Deathbat to life and allow you to control its destiny.”

Through the game you will be able to unlock 16 pieces of never seen before artwork from all of Avenged Sevenfolds albums. There will also be 7 new Cam Rackam paintings available in the game. He is the artist responsible for creating the Deathbat logo.

The band have also recorded 7 new songs for the game. These aren’t metal songs, they are theme songs for each level and are done in an old school video game fashion with a new school twist. There will also be reimagined versions of some of the bands older songs.

The trailer for the game will be released with the Machinima “Hail to the King” series on December 15th with the game scheduled for an early 2014 release.

You can enjoy a teaser trailer for the series below. Be aware there is some graphic cartoon violence. MUST BE OVER 18 TO WATCH.

Avenged Sevenfold will be headlining Download Festival this summer.

Train2Game News: Train2Game Winners site live

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Train2Game WinnersTrain2Game have launched an exciting new website where we get to show off the great accomplishments of our students.

Train2Game Winners is a place where students who have achieved great things in the games industry will be celebrated. We thought it was high time to show the world just how successful our students can be.

The website features testimonials from students in their own words about how they feel about Train2Game and the support they have received.

We are proud of each and every one of our students and hope that we will be adding to this site with more new achievements from students in the near future.

Visit www.train2gamewinners.co.uk to view the new site.