Category Archives: Developer

Train2Game News: Train2Game student releasing Boomba!

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Boomba LogoTrain2Game Student, Fee Stewart, has been working with Radiation Burn LTD to create a new exciting game called, Boomba!

In the game you get to play as punks, rockers, emos, soldiers, cops and many more characters in an exciting and enjoyable turn based strategy game that is based described as Angry Birds meets Worms.

This turn based physics shooter is completely unique and plays like no other. There are over 50 different teams to choose from, with more to follow. Aimed at aged 7+ casual to medium game players, this title really is open to everyone. The accuracy of your shooting is combined with a range of exciting weaponry to be victorious; use chainsaw missiles, boxing glove bazookas and metal anvils to defeat your opponents.

Boomba

Boomba will be available on: Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Windows 8 and Windows Phone, Kindle, Blackberry, Andoid, PC and Mac next month.

RadiationBurn Ltd. strives to provide fun and original IP for your enjoyment. The studio, founded in Middlesbrough 2010, creates fun and original titles of all sizes. The company was founded through winning the Microsoft Dream.Build.Play Challenge, Old Spice competition. A worldwide competition in which RadiationBurn Ltd. were voted winners, by a panel of judges and the gaming public.

Fee joined the company in October 2011 after finishing a Train2Game student placement at the company.

When asked her opinion of the game she said “Boomba! is something I thought I would be doing only once. It soon became a daily habit to both create the game and play it!”

You can find out more about the game by going to www.boombagame.com

Train2Game News: Games Industry News – 22.03.13

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StarCraft 2 It is the end of the week so it is time for the Train2Game games industry news round up!

Today is the start of the Insomnia48 convention. Gamers are flocking to the gaming festival, for a weekend of gaming highlights including the ESET UK Masters StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm grand finals. With some of the best competitive gamers in the world vying for a share of the £10,000 prize pot, the tournament represents the pinnacle of the UK eSports scene. Jetting in from countries such as South Korea, Romania, Switzerland and Germany, the 12 gamers that have qualified over the last few weeks represent the cream of the international eSports crop and will provide some of the most exciting competitive StarCraft entertainment possible!

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced a Season Pass for the upcoming DC Comics fighting game, Injustice: Gods Among Us. The Injustice: Gods Among Us Season Pass grants purchasers access to four of the game’s upcoming downloadable characters for the price of three.

In further Injustice: Gods Among Us news, the developers are giving comic book and beat-‘em-up fans the opportunity to settle the age-old-question of “who will win?” in person at special Injustice: Gods Among Us tournaments being held in GAME stores around the UK during the month of April. The Injustice: Gods Among Us Tournament UK Final is in London and the International Final is in Paris.

Kickstarter has now had over $107 million dollars pledged to games with over $22 million of that just this year alone. Kickstarter cites the Double Fine Adventure Kickstarter in February 2012 as the game project that really got everyone’s attention. While there are plenty of success stories on Kickstarter, it glosses over the fact that not all of these games are successfully produced. This proves that everyone can have trouble with developing a game, it is not an easy task and it shouldn’t be taken lightly!

Finally a different way to play some of your favourite PC games has surfaced. Peripheral company Stelulu Technologies have developed a controller that can use with your feet. The interestingly named, Stinky Board, has four buttons underneath that can be pressed when you lean your foot on them. The buttons can be mapped to any key on your keyboard and “in-game modifiers” are supported like Alt, Ctrl and Shift. That means up to 16 actions can performed and the device can automatically detect and load saved profiles. Additionally, the tension of the board can be adjusted and the board itself is made out of steel, aluminium and “heavy duty plastics” to withstand the kind of foot-related abuse you might expect when someone keeps dying over and over again in their favourite FPS.

Train2Game News: Magic 2014 – Duels of the Planeswalkers announced

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Magic 2014Wizards of the Coast today announced the product lineup for Magic 2014 this summer, which includes the Magic 2014 – Duels of the Planeswalkers video game.

This is the first game of the Trading Card Game series that will be available on Android devices. It will still be available on iPad, Xbox LIVE Arcade, Steam and PlayStation Network.

Magic: The Gathering is the first and most widely played trading card game. Players take on the role of Planeswalkers – powerful mages who battle others for glory, knowledge and conquest. Their weapons include spells, creatures, and artifacts gathered from a vast Multiverse of unique fantasy worlds. With more than 12 million players and fans worldwide, Magic is printed in 11 languages and played in more than 70 countries.

Duels of the Planeswalkers will offer players exciting new features as they partner with the fire Planeswalker, Chandra Nalaar to track down a manipulative and dangerous Planeswalker foe. An immersive storyline and strong integration with the Magic 2014 Core Set ties the experience together for players.

Worth Wollpert, Executive Producer of Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast said “The Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers franchise has been engaging and exciting gamers since we launched in 2009 and continues to be the best way for new players to learn how to play Magic.

“This year, with the addition of a fifth platform – Android – along with new features and a more focused integration between online and offline play, we continue to deliver a best-in-class gaming experience.”

Magic 2014 – Duels of the Planeswalkers builds on the success of previous games in the franchise and adds all new features including an immersive storyline, 10 brand new decks, 15 new encounters, 10 new puzzle challenges and an all-new unannounced play mode in addition to other exciting features. Magic 2014 players will get the first look at cards from the Magic 2014 Core Set in Duels of the Planeswalkers, creating even more seamless integration between the online and offline games.

For more information about Magic 2014, visit www.magicthegathering.com

Train2Game News: Bastion creators new title

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TransistorThe creators of the indie hit game Bastion, Supergiant Games, have announced their second title.

The new game from the developers is called Transistor and it’s set to be a science-fiction-themed action RPG played from an isometric view.

The game is currently scheduled for release in 2014 but Supergiant games have not yet decided which platform or platforms they want to release the title on.

The eponymous Transistor is apparently the name of a powerful weapon that falls into the hands of a young woman who was about to be killed with it. “Now she must fight from street to street against forces that will stop at nothing to recover the weapon. During the course of the adventure, players will piece together the Transistor’s mysteries as they pursue its former owners,” says the developer’s official site.

Transistor will “seamlessly integrate thoughtful strategic planning into a fast-paced action experience, complete with our studio’s signature melding of responsive gameplay and rich atmospheric storytelling.”

From watching the trailer below the developers seem to have ran with the working formula they had for Bastion, including a beautiful soundtrack.

As far as I am aware, there is no news yet of a narrator. Enjoy the trailer!

Train2Game News: Games Industry Jobs – 20.03.13

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It is time again for the Train2Game news to bring you some of the latest early entry level jobs.

 

ART

Job Title UI Artist
Job Category Art / Animation
Skills Required UI Artist
Location Farringdon, London, UK & Europe
Job Description Marmalade Studio are looking to hire a UI Artist to work as part of our award winning games studio. The ideal candidate will be experienced in designing UI for mobile games but those with a professional portfolio of interactive artwork will be considered. You should have a good eye for detail and a good sense for layout, usability, colour and typography. You should be comfortable working to deadlines and producing work of a high standard.

The role will include but not be limited to:

  • Creating concept work for game pitches
  • Creating game assets for use on all mobile platforms on a number of devices
  • Creating wireframes and interactive mock ups of UI designs
  • Creating icons, logos and splash screens for all games
  • Working with the design and engineering team to ensure that the project is delivered on time to a AAA standard

About you

  • Expertise in Illustrator
  • Expertise in Photoshop
  • Experience in Flash
  • Experience of working with game engines
  • Experience in video editing is preferable but not essential
  • Experience in 3D is preferable but not essential
  • A history of traditional art is preferable but not essential
  • Capable of working to a brief without supervision and delivering game assets to release quality
  • Strong graphic design skills
  • Solid experience of UI either for web or mobile
  • Experience with typography and layout
  • An understanding of optimal asset creation for mobile devices across varying resolutions
  • Self-motivated with good judgment and the ability to get things done quickly

Personal Characteristics

  • A passion for games
  • Professionalism and integrity to demonstrate a positive image of the company
  • Goal oriented, solution focused, results driven, reliable and capable
  • A structured and organised approach to work with the ability to manage own workload and meet deadlines
  • Ability and willingness to learn
  • Strength to overcome challenges and ability to solve problems creatively
  • Team player, who encourages collaboration, welcomes challenges to achieve greater results
  • Shares knowledge and learning with team members
  • Flexibility

Next steps
Please send your CV and covering letter stating your reasons for interest and current remuneration. Due to the large response we will only be able to contact short-listed candidates.

You can apply for the job, here.

 

DEVELOPER

Job Title Physics Programmer
Job Category Programming
Skills Required Physics
Location North
Job Description Summary

  • You will be working with a highly collaborative, international team of developers, working on a variety of projects and technologies.

Job function:

  • Develop, improve and maintain physics features.
  • Read and analyse unfamiliar code to understand and extend functionality.
  • Debug and fix defects of a reasonable complexity.
  • Develop solutions that address actual needs and to actively verify those solutions.
  • Offer advice and suggestions for improving the development process.
  • Be proactive and help with problem solving.

Skills Required:

  • Advanced understanding of C/C++ and Object Oriented Programming.
  • Excellent 3D math skills.
  • Demonstrable physics programming background.
  • Good understanding of game technology principles.
  • Experience of designing, implementing and supporting code for use by others.
  • Team player who knows the importance of listening to others.
  • Self motivated with an ability to complete work to a high standard.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Desirable Skills:

  • Extensive knowledge of the main gaming platforms and the requirements needed to develop for them.
  • Shader and GPU experience.
  • Unreal Engine experience.

You can apply, here.

 

DESIGN

Job Title MMO Game Designer – Celtic Heroes – Groundbreaking MMORPG !
Job Category Game Design
Skills Required Games Designer, Level Designer, Graduate Game Designer
Location Glasgow
Job Description The team behind ‘Celtic Heroes’ are looking for a creative MMO Game Designer to join their team.

As MMO Game Designer you will have the responsibility of designing and evolving the very experiences our players engage in. You must have massive passion in the MMORPG genre and fully understand the successful game mechanics and quest design that equally challenges and rewards the player.

You must be a creative thinker with the ability to rationalise your ideas into practical game play experiences. You must be a strong communicator at ease working within a development team. A strong portfolio of game design examples in the same genre of ‘Celtic Heroes’ is a MUST!

If you have the skills, qualifications, experience and a passion for playing our kind of games, we would love to hear from you. To APPLY direct online simply follow this link http://bit.ly/joinourclan

Set in an exciting medieval Celtic world of combat, magic and mythology, ‘Celtic Heroes’ is a fully 3D MMORPG available for iPhone, iPod and iPad. Play as a customisable warrior, mage, rogue, ranger or druid. Gain powerful new weapons, armour and items as you explore the vast world of castles, dungeons and outdoor environments. Battle fearsome enemies and complete heroic quests!

NOTE: Must be able to demonstrate eligibility and VALID WORKING VISA to work in the United Kingdom and be willing to relocate / commute to the Glasgow area

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY if you do not currently hold a UK work Visa or are not eligible to gain one.

 

QA

Job Title QA Functional Tester
Job Category QA / Localisation
Skills Required QA Tester
Location London
Job Description Pole To Win Europe Ltd. – Functional QA Testers wanted for video game testing!

Pole To Win Europe Ltd. is looking for motivated and responsible people to join us as Functional QA Testers.

Ideal candidates will have a very strong knowledge of video games, ranging from consoles, handheld consoles and mobile devices. The video games industry is a fast paced industry; the candidate should have knowledge of video games history, having experience on previous generation of hardware as well as understanding the current status of the industry and its future development.

As a Functional QA Tester you will be responsible for finding bugs in the video game that you are testing. You will be making sure that all bugs that you find are written and tracked in a bug database, which the development team will receive and then fix the issues that are present. You will then have to verify that the fix has been successful in a new build, or sent the issue back to the developers in order to ensure the correct fix has been made.

The Pole To Win group is a leading company in providing quality services to the games industry with over 18 years of experience. Our West London Studio opened in April 2012 and has been expanding ever since! This is an excellent opportunity to join our passionate team and pursue a career in the videogames industry with opportunities to move up within the company.

The position is open to any person based in or around London. Contract will be based on the length of the projects.

Required Skills

  • Excellent knowledge of the video games industry
  • Experience in playing video games on a variety of consoles
  • High level of written and spoken English
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
  • Good communication skills and able to work as part of a team

Preferred Skills

  • Excellent MS Office Skills
  • Previous experience with using Bug Databases
  • Understanding of games and game terminology
  • Understanding the roles of other areas of the industry
  • Previous experience of Functional Testing, although training will be given on site

Due to the number of applications we are only able to contact candidates who have successfully passed on to the interview stage, thank you for your understanding

You can apply, here.

Train2Game News: Dungeon Defenders 2 announced

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Dungeon DefendersDungeon Defenders 2 has been announced by Trendy Entertainment. The game will be free-to-play and features a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena.

The free-to-play tower defence role-playing game features a cooperative and competitive mode. The co-op mode is described as the true sequel to Dungeon Defenders, and features an expanded story and a 24-player overworld.

The competitive mode is a League of Legends-style Multiplayer Online Battle Arena experience set in the Dungeon Defenders universe. In this mode, five players defend their towers against the opposing team in classic MOBA style, potentially adding hours to the replayability.

The original Dungeon Defenders sold millions of copies with its popularity due to the combination of Tower Defense and RPG style game play.

Developer, Trendy Entertainment, said “Dungeon Defenders 2 is more fast-paced and the MOBA aims for a shorter learning curve and a more rpg-esque take on the genre.

“During the development of Dungeon Defenders we constantly tried different multiplayer modes. Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, you name it. None of them really fit. When planning the sequel, we couldn’t drop the idea that a MOBA in the Dungeon Defenders universe would rock. Maybe it was all the after hour games of League we played in the office. We don’t know. But it fit well into the storyline and achieved a core goal of helping Dungeon Defenders players meet new players, so we went all in.

“Our take on the MOBA genre is more rpg-esque, with more hero customization, persistent hero leveling, loot and a town square where players can socialize, manage their heroes, shop, trade, and queue for matches. We’ve drastically simplified the item system, to reduce the learning curve for new players and are aiming for shorter total match times. We’re also experimenting with some other unique twists that you might find out about later (if they work!).”

Dungeon Defenders 2 is in development for the PC, Mac, iOS, Android and the web. It’s releasing in two parts. Trendy said its focus is to release Dungeon Defenders 2 on platforms that allow consistent updates and cross-platform play and so won’t consider current generation consoles.

The co-op mode goes into beta late 2013 or early 2014. The competitive mode is in closed beta now. You can put your name down for an invite on the official website.

You can enjoy the trailer for the upcoming game below:

Train2Game News: SimCity apology games announced

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SimCityLast week on the Train2Game blog I announced that due to the problems that SimCity have had since launch, EA will be giving away a free game. The company have now announced those games in the following press release:

Our SimCity Mayors are incredibly important to the team at Maxis. We sincerely apologize for the difficulties at launch and hope to make it up to you with a free PC game download from Origin.

Starting today, every player that has activated their copy of SimCity will receive an email that will give directions on how to redeem this offer, and you can also find more information on our FAQ. We’ll be opening up the redemption portal country-by-country so some of you may see it a little sooner than others. The portal will be live worldwide for everyone to select their game by March 22. We don’t want any of you to miss out on your free game, so please note that you must register your copy of SimCity before March 26, 2013 at 06:59 AM GMT and you must claim your free game by March 31, 2013 at 06.59 GMT.

At Maxis, our studio values dictate that we innovate and create something that is quirky, complex and challenging. Sometimes this bites us in the butt, but our servers are green and we’re seeing record numbers of players all online and having a great time.
Here is the list of games that you will be able to choose from once you are able to redeem. It’s a great list of games across the whole EA portfolio, so pick one and add it to your Origin library on us!

Battlefield 3 (Standard Edition)
Bejeweled 3
Dead Space 3 (Standard Edition)
Mass Effect 3 (Standard Edition)
Medal of Honor Warfighter (Standard Edition)
Need For Speed Most Wanted (Standard Edition)
Plants vs. Zombies
SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition

We’re getting great feedback from our fans and know that many of you are having fun and exploring this whole new expression of SimCity. We’re humbled by your patience and passion for the game. Thanks for building something very special with us, together.
And now please enjoy a disclaimer from our head legal Llama…

*THIS OFFER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CREDIT, CHARGE, DEBIT OR GIFT CARD. OFFER EXPIRES MARCH 25, 2013 AT 11:59PM PST. VALID FOR NEW PURCHASES OF SIMCITY (“PRODUCT”) THAT ARE REGISTERED TO YOUR ORIGIN ACCOUNT BY MARCH 25, 2013 AT 11:59PM PST.  FREE PC DIGITAL DOWNLOAD GAMES NOT DOWNLOADED FROM ORIGIN.COM BY MARCH 30, 2013 AT 11:59PM PST ARE FORFEIT.  ELIGIBLE GAMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  VALID WHEREVER PRODUCT IS SOLD. LIMIT ONE OFFER PER PERSON. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER, GIFT CARD, REBATE OR OTHER DISCOUNT COUPONS. OFFER MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED, EXCHANGED, SOLD OR REDEEMED FOR CASH OR OTHER GOODS OR SERVICES. RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND EMPLOYEES OF ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. AND THEIR AGENCIES/AFFILIATES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.  SEE APPLICABLE END USER LICENSE AGREEMENTS AND DISCLOSURES ON WWW.EA.COM.

*Users who are beneath the minimum age required to access interactive online services will automatically be granted a copy of SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition and Bejeweled 3 instead. These games will be added directly to your My Games library over the coming days.

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 Games – 18.03.13

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Tomb RaiderTrain2Game brings you the Game Charts again this week with Tomb Raider still sitting at the top, God of War: Ascension was unable to knock the reboot of the top spot but came in at number 2. Number 3 is a new entry with a Starcraft 2 expansion pack and Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is the final new entry at number 4.

At the other end of the Top 20, the new Naruto game has plummeted from number 3 to just  clinging on at number 20 and after only a few weeks, Aliens: Colonial Marines has left the charts.

All formats

Week ending 16 March 2013

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – TOMB RAIDER SQUARE ENIX 1
2 GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION SONY COMPUTER ENT. –
3 STARCRAFT II: HEART OF THE SWARM BLIZZARD –
4 SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2 CITY INTERACTIVE –
5 SIMCITY EA GAMES 2
6 FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 5
7 FAR CRY 3 UBISOFT 8
8 CRYSIS 3 EA GAMES 6
9 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ACTIVISION 7
10 THE SIMS 3: UNIVERSITY LIFE EA GAMES 4
11 – ASSASSIN’S CREED III UBISOFT 11
12 HITMAN ABSOLUTION SQUARE ENIX 14
13 – SKYLANDERS GIANTS SKYLANDERS 13
14 NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES 12
15 DEAD SPACE 3 EA GAMES 19
16 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 10
17 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 16
18 – GRAND THEFT AUTO IV XBOX 360 CLASSICS 18
19 METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE KONAMI 9
20 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 3 NAMCO BANDAI GAMES 3

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd

Train2Game News: Games Industry News – 15.3.13

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Saints row IVIt is the end of the week so Train2Game news is bringing you a round up of games industry news.

Saint Row IV has got an official release date and teaser trailer today which was announced by the IP’s new owners, Deep Silver. What was originally imagined as a standalone expansion for Saints Row: The Third called “Enter the Dominatrix” became the basis for Saints Row IV after being re-purposed last year. “Enter the Dominatrix” featured the leader of the Saints being captured by an alien warlord and forced into a virtual reality simulation of Steelport. The game is being released on August 23 of this year. You can enjoy the suitably crazy trailer in the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ax5lfDVjF3w

The co-designer of the cult classic game Road Rash, Dan Geisler, has said that EA can’t do a decent remake of the hit bike racing title. He deduced that if they could have done it, they would have already. He voiced his opinions whilst taking part in an AMA on Reddit. When asked if a Road Rash game was possible for the mobile platforms. Dan replied “Absolutely! I would consider it a must.” So how likely is a new Road Rash? Dan said “As for Road Rash getting remade, a rose by any other name still can prick the shit out of your finger. I’m liking the chances of something really cool happening.” It sounds like a new Road Rash could be developed by the veteran but under a new name on mobile platforms.

A Crytek-authorised TimeSplitters game is in development for PC, built using the publisher’s sparkly CryEngine 3. TimeSplitters Rewind is being worked on by a team of fans – including members of the original TimeSplitters staff at Free Radical Design. Rewind will include multiplayer modes and challenges taken from the original three games, re-packaged in HD. Online play for 8-16 players and bots are in, project manager Michael Hubicka told Cooking with Grenades. But split-screen is out – CryEngine 3 simply does not support it at the moment. A demo is planned for December.

A new Warhammer 40k title is being developed by Slitherine. Slitherine are the publishers of tricky tactical strategy Unity of Command. Much of the details of the deal are being kept under wraps. All we know for sure is it’ll be a turn-based strategy, and that it’s being developed for multiple, as yet unnamed, platforms. Given Slitherine’s back-catalogue, this could mean the most faithful adaptation of tabletop Warhammer to date.

Finally, a new Pokémon game, Pokémon Rumble U, has been confirmed as a downloadable title that will feature all 649 pocket monsters battling it out, probably in a similar fashion to the last two games. As many gamers speculated when the Wii U’s NFC tech was first announced, you’ll be able to purchase Pokémon figurines, then place them on the NFC pad and have them appear in the game. It’s similar to how the popular Skylanders series works, except you won’t need a special accessory to link your figures with the game. You’ll also be able to level up your characters and record battle information on the toys themselves. Pokémon Rumble U is coming to Japan’s Wii U eShop on April 24. No news yet on North American or European release dates or pricing, but given the popularity of the Pokémon franchise, it will almost assuredly be heading our way soon.

Train2Game News: BioShock Infinite “False Shepard” Trailer

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BioShock InfiniteTrain2Game news has been sent another new trailer for the upcoming BioShock Infinite. This trailer features lots of game play and really gets you excited for the games release.

BioShock infinite comes out on March 26 and from its announcement back in August of 2010 there has been numerous teaser trailers and screenshots.

There is now only two more weeks to go before we get our hands on the game and explore the rich environment of Columbia. Will this game live up to all the hype it has received?

The trailer begins with introducing the premise of lead man Booker’s trip to Columbia, before bursting into an eloquent display of Booker and Elizabeth in combat, downing vigors, creating tears, and partaking in all-out dystopian chaos.

I am, personally, incredibly excited for this game and I can not wait to play it. Enjoy the trailer