Category Archives: Developer

Train2Game News: Unity Update includes new platform support

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unity-logoThe Unity engine has just been updated to 4.2 and it now includes support for Windows Phones, Windows Store and Blackberry 10.

In Unity 4.2, all users of the free version of Unity can publish to any mobile platform they wish, including Windows Phone 8, Windows Store, iOS, Android or BlackBerry 10, without any additional charge.

In addition, Unity Pro users will be able to use the Windows Store Pro deployment option, which includes the Windows Phone 8 and Windows Store apps platforms, free of charge.

Unity Pro users will have access to advanced Unity features when deploying their iOS, Android or BlackBerry 10 projects by if they choose to purchase Unity iOS Pro, Android Pro or BlackBerry 10 Pro Add-On products from the Unity Store.

A host of other features have also been added to the game development engine.

In the graphics realm, there’s now OpenGL ES 3.0 support for Android and static and dynamic batching for shadow casters and shadow collector pass.

The editor now has integrated version control support for Perforce, and, crucially, splatform switching, player building and asset importing can be cancelled, bringing greater flexibility to the software. Tweaks has also been made to the shader and texture importers to reduce the time spent switch between them.

Looking to the mobile development side, deferred lighting is now a feature on both Android and iOS, and there have been a number of usability upgrades for both platforms.

There have been improvements to other areas of the tool too, and you can read more about those, as well as more details on the features mentioned above on Unity’s blog page which you can find here, http://blogs.unity3d.com/

The major change for the 4.2 update is support for the new platforms, which means the engine provider has effectively doubled its platform supports.

Train2Game News: roll7 hiring Train2Game QA Testers

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roll7roll7 are hiring Train2Game students to be QA Testers at their London based studio. This could be the start of your career!

Due to the response and quality of the students that responded to the first roll7 request for student QA testers, the company are now offering two students an opportunity to get “proper hands on QA experience.”

roll7 are curently looking for candidates that:

  • Are diligent and hard working
  • Can keep attention to detail when performing similar tasks again and again
  • have good written communication skills
  • are SERIOUS about working in the Video Games Industry
  • Must be London based

The position will ideally be fully time between 19 August to 18 October. QA Testers please look out for more opportunities in August and September.

For full details of the positions, London based, please initially email recruiting@train2game.com including your contact and Train2game college details. Full details will be sent to you.

Don’t delay and apply today to start your journey deeper in to the games industry!

Train2Game News: Firefly game announced

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FireFlyTrain2Game students who are fans of the SciFi series, Firefly will be happy to know that a game based on the cult series has been announced.

Firefly Online was announced for Android and iOS at the San Diego Comic Con by Fox Digital Entertainment. The game will be released in summer 2014.

The game is in development at QMXi and Spark Plug Games, which handled the iOS port of Puzzle Quest 2.

When announcing the game, Fox said “Firefly Online will let players take on the role of a ship captain as they hire a crew and lead missions, while trading with and competing against millions of other players like themselves.

“Much like the crew of Serenity, the Firefly-class transport ship featured in the original show, players must do whatever it takes to survive in the Verse: find a crew, find a job and keep flying.”

Once you have assembled a crew, you can customise your ship, take part in space and planet-side missions, use “unique social features” to interact with fellow Firefly fans and make use of cross-platform, cross-device support.

You can enjoy the trailer, which was shown at the San Diego Comic Con, below

You can sign up for updates on the game at Firefly Online’s official website, Keepflying.com.

Train2Game News: Become a Mudokon in Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty

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AbeDevelopers of the next Abe’s Oddysee game, Oddworld Inhabitants, is inviting you to try and become a voice in the new game.

The developers are rebooting the Abe’s Oddysee series with Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty. The voices will be used for the Mudokon who are the natives and workers on the planet the game takes place on.

The sound quality has to be at a high standard for the game so you must have the following:

  • Decent microphone for recording your voice
  • Soundcard or Audio Interface capable of 24bit/96kHz recording
  • Good cables (if there’s electrical feedback we can’t use it)
  • The script to read out
  • A SoundCloud account

The sound clips required are the following, once you’ve had a few practices turn on your microphone and get recording!

  • Hello / Hi
  • OK
  • Laughing
  • Giggling
  • Angry hissing
  • Pain grunts (oof, ow, eugh, etc) x5
  • Death screams x3
  • Bonus points for providing some sound effects for the wildlife of Mudos (birds, Scrabs, Elums, etc.)

Your audio clips must be in by Friday July 26.

To enter your sample, simply upload your audio and share with the developers account on SoundCloud either public or privately shared. You must put your name in the title and file name so you get credit for your work. Multiple takes are encouraged but the file must be 24BIT/96KHZ WAV FORMAT, and downloadable from SoundCloud.

There is no guarantee that your sound clip will be used but if it is used you will be in the end credits of the game for all to see.

Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty will be out on PS3 and Vita by the end of this year and on Wii U, PS4 and PC in 2014.

Train2Game News: SuperAwesome launches Kids Mobile Network

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Kids NetworkThe team behind Box Of Awesome and Swapit; SuperAwesome, yesterday launched the Kids Mobile Network.

The service is designed to offer mobile content creators a new way to work with mobile ads.

“Not all content creators in the kids sector are comfortable using in-app purchases as a revenue model on mobile and tablet,” said CEO Dylan Collins, whose track record includes card battling game, Fight My Monster and Jolt Online Gaming.

“Our premium ad network will provide another monetisation tool which is appropriate and effective. Ultimately, our philosophy is about creating a safe environment for kids with a sustainable model for brilliant, inspiring content to make them smile.”

SuperAwesome was founded in December 2012 and is home to Box of Awesome, The Kids Network, Swapit and Swapit Research, and is a discovery platform aimed at UK children aged between 6 and 16.

“As the go-to expert in the kids market, we’ve had growing numbers of our clients asking us to support their games, apps and other content on mobile and tablet so we’re delighted to formally announce the Kids Mobile Network. We only work with approved content creators who are fully compliant with all marketing standards and legislation,” added head of sales Lee Veitch.

Train2Game News: Ultimate Warrior returns!

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ultimate-warrior-wwe2k142K today announced the emphatic return of Ultimate Warrior to the ring – virtually – in WWE 2K14, the forthcoming installment in the flagship WWE video game franchise.

Making his long-awaited arrival from Parts Unknown, the self-professed “Founding Father of Life Intensity” will be an exclusive playable character for those who pre-order the game at any participating retailer for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft or PlayStation3 computer entertainment system.

“Immortality is inspiration, pure and simple. An example to others that they, too, can do things larger than the life they are actually living, and Ultimate Warrior was the pure embodiment of this belief, in what has proven to be a very attention-getting and inspiring way,” said Warrior. “It was my good fortune to be his creator and performer, and I am humbled by all those fans who’ve not only kept his legacy alive, but deepened it over time. In WWE 2K14, Ultimate Warrior’s creed, ‘Always Believe,’ lives on.”

Making his WWE debut in 1987, Ultimate Warrior garnered worldwide attention and became a pop-culture phenomenon for his iconic music and ring entrance, zealous personality, boundless energy and dominant in-ring prowess. Though he faced many rivals throughout his career, including Honky Tonk Man, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Sgt. Slaughter, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Undertaker, perhaps his most celebrated match was against Hulk Hogan in “The Ultimate Challenge” at WrestleMania VI on April 1, 1990. Warrior defeated Hogan that day to unify the WWE Championship and Intercontinental Championship, becoming the first WWE Superstar ever to hold both titles simultaneously.

“There has never been another WWE Superstar quite like the Ultimate Warrior – his intensity and energy is unmatched, and his legacy is undeniable,” said Chris Snyder, Senior Director of Marketing at 2K. “Fans love him, opponents fear him and everyone can agree that he’s one of the most iconic Legends in WWE history. Pre-ordering WWE 2K14 is the only way we mere mortals will ever have a glimpse into the greatness that is Ultimate Warrior.”

Become Immortal – 2K’s lineup of premier sports simulation titles expands with the company’s upcoming release in the renowned WWE video game franchise, WWE 2K14. Developed by Yukes for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, WWE 2K14 is positioned to be the most electrifying, authentic and comprehensive WWE video game experience to date. WWE 2K14 will be released on October 29, 2013 in North America and November 1, 2013 internationally.

You can enjoy the Ultimately amusing Trailer below:

Train2Game News: Icey Monty score a direct hit with archery game for Strongbow

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Icey MontyTrain2Game student studio, Icey Monty, designed a game to launch Strongbow Berry at Victoria train station last Friday.

John Esslemont, Nick Walker and Domm Young, joined forces with Frank PR in an initiative to launch Strong Bow’s latest flavour. The Icey Monty crew were part of a team that created a vending machine which had members of the public using Microsoft Kinect to shoot berries on the Icey Monty designed game. Players with enough skill to hit the berry were rewarded with ice cold cans of new Strongbow Berry to enjoy on what was another scorching day in the capital.

You can enjoy a video of Nick being interviewed below

Train2Game News: Microsoft might bring back family sharing for Xbox One

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Xbox OneMicrosoft has announced that if demand is high enough, they may bring back the family sharing feature on the Xbox One.

The family sharing feature was one that made sharing games a lot easier. You would be able to select ten people on your friends list and instantly be able to share your games with them. It takes away the need to lend out the hard copies of your games and risk them getting damaged.

Specific details on how the system would work weren’t revealed before Microsoft confirmed that it was putting the idea on the backburner following its decision to reverse various Xbox One DRM policies.

Xbox One chief product officer Marc Whitten said of the possibility of reintroducing Family Sharing:

“If it’s something that people are really excited about and want, we’re going to make sure that we find the right way to bring it back

“A ‘road map’ sort of implies more like ‘on date X it’s back’ than I think exists, but we believe really strongly in how you build a great experience on Xbox One for me as an individual, but also for my family. Family Sharing is a great example of how you do that with content.”

Whitten continued: “We took some feedback and realized there was some stuff we needed to add to the program. To add it to the program, we had to make room, just from a pure engineering perspective, to be able to get that work done.

“So taking Family Sharing out of the launch window was not about ‘we’re going to take our toys and go home’ or something like that. It was just sort of the logistics of ‘how do we get this very, very clear request that people really want, that choice, and how do we make sure we can do an excellent job of that, get to launch, and then be able to build a bunch of great features?’

“You know, if there’s anything I think that Xbox 360 has proven, it’s that we’re super committed to this constant cycle of improving the experience and the software, and it’s what we’ve been doing for 360 for the past seven years, and it’s certainly where we’re going to go with Xbox One.”

So it won’t be on launch but it could return in the future. I for one would be quite happy to see this return.

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 Games – 16.07.13

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The Last Of UsThe dream team of Mario and Luigi’s new game, Mario and Luigi: Dream Team Bros still wasn’t good enough to knock The Last Of Us off of the top spot. If it makes it to six consecutive weeks at number one, then it will equal the unbroken runs of Black Ops II and FIFA 12. Aliens: Colonial Marines has re-entered the charts this week thanks to a budget price.

All formats

Week ending 6 July 2013

POS.  TITLE 

PUBLISHER

 LAST
WEEK 

1

–

 THE LAST OF US

SONY COMPUTER ENT.

1

2

ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF

NINTENDO

4

3

–

 MARIO AND LUIGI: DREAM TEAM BROS.

NINTENDO

–

4

FIFA 13

EA SPORTS

3

5

MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION

MICROSOFT

2

6

FAR CRY 3

UBISOFT

10

7

–

 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II

ACTIVISION

7

8

ASSASSIN’S CREED III

XBOX 360 CLASSICS

5

9

TOMB RAIDER

SQUARE ENIXACTIVISION

6

10

–

 ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES

SEGA

–

11

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM – LEGENDARY

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

15

12

LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

13

13

NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED

EA GAMES

12

14

 LUIGI’S MANSION 2

NINTENDO

19

15

THE SIMS 3: ISLAND PARADISE

EA GAMES

8

16

 DEADPOOL

ACTIVISION

9

17

–

 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV

ROCKSTAR

–

18

 GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION

SONY COMPUTER ENT.

16

19

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

11

20

 LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

–
< previous week

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 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: Valve looks into opening UK office

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Valve LogoValve is looking at opening a UK office in the future. This could be good for current Train2Game students as Valve have a well known history for employing promising up and coming games developers.

The firm is currently sounding out the British development scene at the Develop in Brighton conference, and is looking at the potential viability of a local office in the country.

Valve currently has offices in Seattle and the newly set up Luxembourg studio.

The studio famous for its Steam retail platform and titles like Half-Life is exhibiting at the Develop Conference this week and has been sharing its plans with some attendees.

The new European office, which quietly opened last year, currently houses around five staff focusing on Steam and working with its development partners.

If the new Luxembourg studio, Valve’s first foray into the European industry, proves to be a success it could eventually be expanded into a fully-fledged development team.

Valve staff said Luxembourg was the ideal place for its expansion as it was based centrally in Europe, and provides easier accessibility to European developers than its US operations in Seattle, as well as being in a more ideal time zone.

Luxembourg is also home to the HQs of a number of other online companies, such as Amazon, and is controversially known as a tax shelter for larger businesses.