Train2Game radio spoke to Phil Stevens today who is the Developer for Savage Seas Studios. You can find out more about the studio at their website here: http://www.savageseasstudios.com/
Hello everyone, I’m Philip Stevens. I’m from Paignton and I am on the Game Development course with Train2Game.
Hi Phil, how you doing? I’m fine thanks Mark and yourself?
I’m very well cheers buddy Good, Good
So tell me what’s your story? What are the past experiences that have shaped your life? Well, I have quite a few. It’s a fairly long story that I will divulge in to a shorter one. I didn’t exactly have a good Secondary school life, so I spent a lot of my time playing computer games. I kind of felt it was the direction I wanted to go in, nothing at school really felt right. I mean I.T felt more like an Admin course than it did anything proper. There was no coding involved. There wasn’t even mention of code when I was at school. It wasn’t really until I got to college that I discovered I liked coding and Visual Basic. So when my mate said there was a games course called Train2Game that he’d seen on TV, he recommended I should have a look into it. I called them up and they came around a couple of months later and here I am now.
Yeah I can definitely relate to how you feel about I.T at school. I felt the same way, it really wasn’t anything. It’s terrible.
What started you off coding then, was it just something you were doing at college was it? Yeah it was one of the 3 courses we were doing over the terms and I was doing HTML, Visual Basic and Databases. My programming teacher, who was called Lydia, was extremely helpful and she gave me a few extra bits of code on paper for me to do in my spare time really. I got so in to it by the end of it, I was able to produce a game, cheatingly using game maker at the time for the games course. I got so in to it that I just couldn’t stop. I think it was during my second year at college that I started Train2Game as well and I was able to breeze through the advanced programming lessons thanks to the combination of College and Train2Game.
Ah that’s good. You’re happy that you’ve got in to something you have a proper passion for then. Yeah, Yeah definitely.
So what do you think is the most dramatic or exciting thing you have done in your life? Um, in my life, not really much. Joining the course was definitely a leap obviously with so many people saying it’s a scam and all the problems that come with that and you realise oh I have just become part of a scam which thankfully, Train2Game isn’t. That was quite a relief when you do the research and you find out it’s not and you can calm down not worry about it and get back on with your work.
The second thing is what Jo mentioned. Me and Joanna both co-created Savage Seas Studios which is a small indie game studio consisting of Myself, Joanna, Chris Straver, Kieron Baker and Luke Jackson. We currently have one project under way which we are doing in our spare time.
So how did you and Jo meet up and decide to start to do it? Playing on the Minecraft server that I think Craig Moore started on the forums and that’s how I met Sam Welsh, otherwise known as Indie and Jo and a couple of others. We got talking and we played Xbox a lot together, me Jo and Indie. That’s when we decided to create a texture pack for Gears Of War for Minecraft and whilst me and Jo were working on that we decided to take it one step further than a texture pack and start a studio since we worked quite well together.
Excellent, so Minecraft brings you together to make games together. Yeah!
Very nice, well I think that’s all we have time for today Phil so thank you very much for your time. That’s alright, thank you very much for interviewing me.
Hey internet, it’s the one and only Deadpool and I’m here to tell you fine *website name* readers about my brand new video game ‘Deadpool’. Great name, right?
Originally some hack writer was going to do this preview/interview thing but, after careful consideration, I’ve decided to hold him hostage at gunpoint and do it myself. The lawyers aren’t happy about it but I like to think of it as ‘brand preservation’. And yes, I can type with one hand… thank you Playboy!
Does anyone even read things with this many words on the internet? It’s the internet! People are knocking themselves out, there’s pictures of adorable cats everywhere, and do you know how easy it is to find chicks naked? Anyways, let’s get this show on the road.
Obviously this is a game about yours truly; Wade Wilson, the Merc with a Mouth. I’ve been in a few games over the years: X-Men Legends 2, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (I was voiced by Goku in that one), and most recently I kicked all kinds of ass in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. But this is the first game all about me. And it’s about. damn. time.
If you’re wondering why the skeletons at Marvel are finally letting me be the star of my own show, I think it might be have something to do with that movie that may or may not be happening. *Wink* *Wink*. And of course, they figured out they can make mucho dinero by cashing in on my popularity.
So, my game is a third-person action thing being made by the boffins at High Moon Studios. The same dudes that did the Transformers games you all expected to be complete garbage, but were actually quite good. Go out and buy them, these programmers could do with more money.
I’ve got High Moon’s Sean Miller, who is creative director on this here piece of software, with me for quotes. Apparently you video game journalist people like padding out these things with hokey quotes for context, flavour and that kinda crap. I got some! Hit it Sean.
“With Deadpool, Activision has this relationship with Marvel, I am a lifelong X-Men fan, I’ve loved them since I was a kid. When I saw there was an opportunity to play in that universe, we seized at it. But what we didn’t want to do was something that had been done over and over.
Says the man making a third-person action game… AMIRITE guys?
“If you do games based on Wolverine it has to be that character, you’re kind of limited because everybody knows that character.”
Careful buddy, you’re basically saying I’m a nobody…
“Here we had this character who was this flawed superhero, that was interesting. The idea that he was insane created this mixture of comedy and really visceral action. I love the visceral action but I also like to laugh, I don’t think we do that enough in games.
Obviously he hasn’t played Daikatana.
“We found that there were elements to Deadpool that we related to in that he’s flawed and I think there are elements of him that touch me as gamer, both in what he does and his kind of combat.”
WOAH! WOAH! WOAH there Mr. Game Developer. Lets not talk about me touching you. What he’s trying to say is that my game has ass whoopin’ parts, and I’ll bring the funnies too. It’s the classic Deadpool formula.
For example in one mission I have to go to Genosha, the mutant utopia that Magneto set up. Things have gone pretty sour over there, Mister Sinister is going all crazy scientist, talking about “purifying the mutant race” and other crazy crap that always earns him a beating. That techno vampire looking chump loves his clones, and Genosha has lots of mutant DNA laying about. Not good.
On the way there the X-Jet crash lands on the island, I don’t know who had their feet on that thing’s pedals but based on my flight experience I’m guessing Professor X; that joke is funny because he’s a paraplegic. Don’t be offended he’s a fictional character, and an asshole.
After the dust clears I notice the X-Babes are out cold, and you know what that means: creepshot time!
Wolverine’s unconscious too, so I slapped him about to wake him. He didn’t come to. So I slapped him around a bit more. Because I can, and because I get a bit aroused when I slap people. Each to their own. The slapping is a button-bashing quick time event, do gamers still hate those? I can’t keep up with what you people hate and don’t hate.
When the fun and games are over Deadpool takes care of business, and that means shooting and stabbing stuff. In my game combat is a seamless blend of styles, I’ve got my trusty swords – for stabby stabby – and more guns than I have licenses for. Each of these bad boys can be upgraded and has its own moves. You should see some of the moves I pull off, I’ve given them awesome names like “The Equaliser” and “Suck it Gravity”. If that doesn’t crack you up I make “pew pew” sounds when I fire my gun and kick people in the balls.
Tagging in Sean.
“Then there’s the more vulnerable state; he’s a guy that cracks wise. Why do people make people laugh? Because they want to be liked. There’s an element of that in the comics and it was fascinating to me.
“So we put together a pitch for what we thought would be a good Deadpool game and found that Marvel was interested in it too. When we did our prototype and showed them the mature take they dug in with both feet, which was fantastic. For me that’s been one of the best parts, I get to play in a universe that I’ve loved for 25 years.”
Jeez, short and sharp next time motor mouth.
Back to my adventures on Genosha! That place is littered with bullets, it’s almost like a trail leading me somewhere. Eventually I ran into Cable, who told me some stuff about the world ending and how it was all up to me to save everyone. I don’t really remember the specifics, I tune him out, or blow my own head off and hope that when I come too he’s gone. I have a crazy healing factor so it grows back as ugly as ever.
I woke up to find a note pinned to my chest telling me to meet him at the north end of the Island, where a large breasted, naked girl claiming to be my biggest fan was waiting for me. The next few minutes went something like this, except with more goons getting murdered:
There was no babe, but I did get to do a hilarious gag where I pilot a Sentinel’s boot and crush some enemies with it, then say “yo dawg, I heard you like boots, so I put my boots in this boot, so I can stomp ya, while I stomp ya”.
Aha, ha, ha. Ahhh Xzibit.. You had to be there. Sean, I’m losing them, give them some video game mumbo jumbo.
“Rocksteady grasped who Batman was, that’s why those games were so awesome. They made sure everything in the game supported who Batman was. In Bayonetta they had really smooth, slick mechanics, even though they were second or third generation mechanics, and they’d been developing them for a while.”
“I don’t necessarily look at them as competition as much as I do inspiration in creating experiences. I love the idea of creating an experience that’s more than just a single mechanic. That’s what we’re striving for with Deadpool, I think we’re achieving some success with that.
Batman? What the hell is a Batman? To Wikipedia!
Wait, he doesn’t have any powers? Just money? What. A. Loser.
Sean. SPEAK!
“It has to be a good action game, if it isn’t, you can have all the jokes in the world but it would get old fast. We’re gamers, we like to play, we need that feel, it needs to feel good, feel right.
“Batman is an icon, was well before I was born. I don’t think you can compare a character like that to one that started in the 90s. I want to attract new fans, but we’ve got to take baby steps in terms of that.
Again with the Batman! I don’t think we’ve spent enough time talking about me in this interview, Sean.
“Deadpool has a broader appeal than you might imagine, because he’s made cameos across genres. He’s hugely popular in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, he resonated with people. So we’re appealing to a broader market of gamers, I don’t know if we’re going to drag in movie people and others, maybe we will but our Deadpool isn’t that movie guy anyway.”
Remember Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place? That was the last thing Ryan Reynolds did that didn’t make me want to kill him.
“On the first outing with a character like this you have to start with the essence of that character, appeal to the people that know that character. Together that becomes a base. Deadpool is a character that’s fun to talk about, it’s almost infectious, that’s why he’s risen in popularity recently. There’s a decent amount of recognition among gamers, those are the people we want to reach out to and have show up.”
“He’s a character that was genetically engineered to kick Wolverine and Spider-Man’s ass in a battle of brawn and wit.”
Damn right, but thanks to Dan Slott I don’t have to anymore. Spoilers: Peter Parker is a vegetable! Cry fanboys. Cry.
Alright Sean, wrap it up, my hand does get tired eventually you know.
“Deadpool is a guy that actually wants people to like him, and he likes other people. That personality is what defines him, it’s not just about making jokes. For me that’s what we need to develop, at the end of the day if you don’t like and want to hang out with Deadpool – despite the fact that he’s socially inappropriate, awkward, certifiably insane – we’ve failed.”
In short: Game is action game, stars best hero ever Deadpool, has shooting and cutting, is funny. I’m just going to go ahead and assume reviews will be brilliant and you’ll all be coughing up the cash come release day. I’ll get to work on my Game of the Year award acceptance speech. Deadpool out!
It is that time of week for the Train2Game mid-week round up!
Valve has announced plans to to discuss a port of Team Fortress 2 to virtual reality goggles. The first talk will be programmer Joe Ludwig’s ‘What We Learned Porting Team Fortress 2 to Virtual Reality’ and it will explore the efforts of several employees over the last year to get the game to run in virtual reality goggles. In addition, Valve’s Michael Abrash will discuss the hardware challenges that lie ahead and possible solutions for virtual and augmented reality in ‘Why Virtual Reality is Hard (And Where it Might be Going).’
Square Enix have launched a new website to tease all fans of an upcoming iOS game. More information is to be released on January 17. The site has an image of what looks like a front end menu for the game which is called, Final Fantasy: All The Bravest. You can check out the website for yourself here: http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ff_atb/
Since Activision brought out Skylanders it has done very well and now Disney has seen it’s potential. They are now doing their own version with the announcement of Disney Infinity. Infinity will work in the same way as Skylanders, needing action figures and a “toy box” base to give players access to different worlds. Disney fans will recognize plenty of familiar faces, like Captain Jack Sparrow, the cast of the Incredibles, and Sully from Monsters Inc.
Surreal game creator Suda51 has revealed details of his next game, Killer is Dead. The game stars Mondo Zappa, a 35 year old American executioner that abides by a strict suit-and-tie policy and his left hand is a gun that can also transform into a drill and is used primarily to absorb an enemy’s blood for an “Adrenalin Burst” attack. The game’s antagonist is Victor, who can manipulate emotions through song. He’s appropriately styled to look like classic composer, except has a green face and glowing eyes.
Online and mobile are spearheading the game industry’s growth to a potential total valuation of $83 billion by 2016, according to new research. Conducted by Digi-Capital, the global games investment review states that online and mobile could have a revenue share of $48 billion in 2016, 55 per cent of the entire game industry. The biggest driver in mobile and tablet app revenue meanwhile will be free-to-play, which could deliver 55 per cent of revenue in the sector and account for 93 per cent of app downloads by 2016.
Job Title Graduate Programmer Job Category Programming Skills Required Programming Location Yorkshire, North West
Job Description
Are you looking to join a creative games studio? Then look no further…
My client offers a relaxed and creatively charged atmosphere where talent can flourish. They pride themselves above all on the games they create and their appreciation of the people who create them.
Due to their recent success they are looking to add to their talented team with the addition of a Graduate Programmer.
Responsible For:
– Writing, debugging and maintaining computer code, often in, but not limited to, C/C++.
– Writing code in a human-readable style, using descriptive and accurate class, function and variable names, and comments where necessary.
– Carrying out other technical aspects of a project (for example running and maintaining build processes, setting up installers, providing technical information)
– Clearly and accurately communicating progress on, and problems with, your assigned tasks, and the project in general, to your lead programmer and / or producer.
– Assisting in the production of project milestones and schedules
– Carrying out assigned tasks within the time scheduled for them as agreed with your lead programmer / producer.
– Ensuring that your work integrates well with the work of other team members, and functions correctly as a part of the whole project.
Standards of Performance:
– All work should be performed accurately and in a timely fashion
– Producing good quality human readable code as noted above.
– Being pro-active with regards to problem solving
– Communicating progress accurately
– Taking an active interest in a project so as to ensure a smooth and error free development process.
– The improvement of the quality of the content required for Team 17 software, including but not limited to iterative play testing, reporting problems and addressing any quality shortfalls as requested.
Key Skills:
– Having the ability to solve technical problems
– Having an excellent working knowledge of programming language(s), particularly C/C++
– Have the personal skills and the desire to work as part of a team
– Be able to communicate clearly especially when relating to technical issues
How to Apply
For more details please contact Mark at: mark@aswift.com or 01709 834777
QA
Job Title Quality Assurance Tester – London Job Category QA / Localisation Skills Required QA Tester Location Hammersmith, London, UK & Europe
Job Description
Capcom, Beeline is currently seeking a motivated QA Tester to join our London studio.The successful candidate will work with the QA team and the development team to ensure high quality bug free releases of our market leading games.
Required Skills:
Excellent attention to details, highly analytical
Self motivated with a professional work ethic
An excellent communicator both orally and written
Excellent organisational skills
Flexible (in regard to hours of work)
Proven decision making ability under pressure
Good understanding of business software applications (Excel, Word, Outlook)Familiarity with bug tracking software
Good command of the English language
Interest in games is essential
Desired Skills:
Previous experience in gaming QA whether console or mobile phones is desirable but not essential
Applicants must be able to start ASAP and will work from our studio in Hammersmith.
Please send applications with your CV to jobs@capcom.com
ART
Job Title 2D Artist for Smartphone Games – London Job Category Art / Animation Skills Required 2D / Concept / Texture Artist Location Hammersmith, London, UK & Europe
Job Description
Capcom, Beeline is currently seeking a talented 2D graphic designer and animator to join our London studio. The successful candidate will work with the Lead Graphic Designer and Producer to design, create and animate graphical content for freemium social games.
Required Skills:
Ability to design appealing and original 2D game content.
Highly skilled in 2D animation.
High proficiency with Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator (or similar software).
Experience with isometric perspective.
Desired Skills
Adobe/Macromedia Flash.
Previous experience with graphics for mobile devices.
Previous experience working with a game development team or similar.
Audio experience; proficient with audio editing software.
3D modelling/animation skills: Maya or Blender.
Profile
High creativity and attention to detail.
Strong background in sketching, drawing and illustration.
Ability to work within a schedule.
Genuine passion for the video games industry, design and animation.
Team player with strong social and communication skills.
Willing to learn, cooperate with the developers and open to feedback.
Good English language skills.
Applicants must be able to start ASAP and will work from our studio in Hammersmith.
Please send applications with your portfolio to jobs@capcom.com
DESIGN
Job Category: Games and Level Design, Graduate, Web Development Area: South East, East Midlands Location: Chipston-on-Stour, CV36 4BA
GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES AT GAZOOB
Entry-Level Game and App Developer
Description
We are looking for two full-time developers, designers, and programmers with an interest in game, web or app development. If successful you will join our small team working at the Gazoob offices in Shipston-on-Stour. This is a flexible role which will involve varied tasks and the ability to learn new skills while working. This will give any graduate the perfect opportunity to start building apps, games, websites as well as a job for themselves at a growing company.
About Us
Gazoob is a UK developer and publisher of education and young person friendly digital apps, eBooks and games. Based in the small town of Shipston-on-Stour we provide non-contentious and reliable content for young people from age five upwards. We want to provide a resource where parents can be sure of getting access to content that doesn’t contain anything inappropriate, is educationally sound or just plain fun. We’ve built a team of experts in their field to develop the best products as well as continually looking for new and exciting content to add to our portfolio.
About You
• You may have an interest in game design and experience using engines such as Unity,
• You might be a keen web or graphic designer with skills in Photoshop and Dreamweaver,
• Or you may have experience building professional quality mobile applications.
• You must be confident, enthusiastic, and a positive thinker.
• You will be able to see any job through to completion independently.
• You will have a degree level qualification in any field.
• You will have good time management and communication skills.
• You must be able to travel to the offices in Shipston-on-Stour on a daily basis.
Salary and working hours are negotiable.
We are not looking to work with agencies to fill these vacancies.
To apply
Please submit a full covering letter with supporting material, and CV to:
ed.harmer@gazoob.com
Train2Game has discovered that Microsoft and Sony may reveal their next generation of consoles prior to E3 which takes place in June.
Rumours published in the February edition of Game Informer suggests that both companies are working on a press conference that is to be held near the time of the Game Developers Conference in March.
Sources have confirmed that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 systems will be revealed before E3, though specific dates or events have not been finalised.
“We hear that both Sony and Microsoft are targeting special Apple-style press conferences to unveil their platforms near the Game Developers Conference in late March,” reads the Game Informer report.
“E3 in June may be the industry’s biggest event, but both companies want to give their systems their own limelight,” the piece adds.
Analyst Colin Sebastian of Baird Equity Research also suggested that the PS4 price and Xbox 720 price could be £225 to £275 if the prices are equal to the American predictions.
“Our checks suggest that next-generation console hardware will be largely built from ‘off the shelf’ high-end PC components, along with hybrid physical/digital distribution models, enhanced voice controls and motion sensing (Kinect integration with every Xbox), and broad multi-media capabilities,” Sebastian added.
“The cost of production and retail price points should be lower than prior console launches.”
Sebastian also estimated that the Xbox 720 release date is expected for November, while the PlayStation 4 release date may be later than November due to “early production issues”.
CCP Games are doing an open beta on January 22 for their up coming game Dust 514. This is a great opportunity for Train2Game QA Testers to practice what they have learned.
CCP Games have announced that it will merge the servers for its space management simulator EVE Online and Dust 514, the PS3 shooter set in the same universe. By uniting both games, the way has been paved for Dust 514 to head into open beta.
The game is a PS3 exclusive so providing you have one you can download the game and enter the Beta which launches on January 22 for free.
Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP said in a press release “The launch of the Dust 514 open beta is another step towards our long-term vision for CCP and EVE. But this is just the beginning. As we have done with EVE Online, in the coming weeks, and for years to come, we will continually improve upon and add to the Dust 514 experience, as well as add deeper integration between the two games and their communities”
There are no character resets planned, so anyone currently participating in the closed beta will be able to continue right as rain. In fact, those who’ve played at least one match before January 22nd will receive a 100,000 skill point bonus to take into the open beta.
CCP are very proud of the fact that this is the first integrated gameplay experience between two games that are not only of a different genre, but also exist on different platforms. Order an aerial bombardment on a PS3 game of Dust 514 and an EVE Online player might marshall the power of his PC to deliver the deadly barrage.
This is a very exciting and interesting new step in gaming. How well they do could see further platform crossing in the future.
It has been a quiet week for the UK Top 20. The top 5 are all the same with FIFA 13 still in the number one slot. The only new addition this week is Anarchy Reigns from SEGA.
POS.
TITLE
PUBLISHER
LAST
WEEK
1
–
FIFA 13
EA SPORTS
1
2
–
FAR CRY 3
UBISOFT
2
3
–
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II
ACTIVISION
3
4
–
HITMAN ABSOLUTION
SQUARE ENIX
4
5
–
NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED
EA GAMES
5
6
JUST DANCE 4
UBISOFT
7
7
HALO 4
MICROSOFT
6
8
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013
SEGA
13
9
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM
BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
10
10
LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS
WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
9
11
–
ASSASSIN’S CREED III
UBISOFT
11
12
WWE ’13
THQ
14
13
SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED
SEGA
12
14
FORZA HORIZON
MICROSOFT
8
15
–
DISHONORED
BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
15
16
ANARCHY REIGNS
SEGA
–
17
–
SKYLANDERS GIANTS
SKYLANDERS
17
18
MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER
EA GAMES
16
19
FORZA MOTORSPORT 4
MICROSOFT
18
20
–
LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES
WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
20
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd
Gaming charity SpecialEffect are gathering members of the UK games industry to enter the British 10K charity run, and inviting Train2Game students to join in.
The charity run will take place in London on 14 July so there is plenty of time to get in shape for the event if you are looking for a worthy goal to help shift those extra Christmas pounds!
SpecialEffect is facing growing demand for participants as this really event gets bigger and bigger, as such we would LOVE to beat the 75 runners it had in 2012 and get 100 participants taking over the streets of London! If you also wanted to make this event even more fun then do feel free to dress up as your favourite Video Game character to sprint through London in. You’ll be running with lots of representatives from the UK’s gaming industry and it’s a great chance to meet new people while taking part in a very positive event.
By committing to the event, all runners are asked for the registration price of £50 and to aim to raise £200 through sponsorship.
SpecialEffect is a very worthy cause to raise money for. Their goal is to help disabled people play video games through the development of specially made technology that make playing games easier for those who are less able or being treated for severe illnesses.
The Consumers Electronics Show is coming to a close and Train2Game are bringing you the news of some of the most interesting technology to come out of the show.
Valves media named Steam Box was finally confirmed at the show after much speculation through 2012. Valve has invested in computer manufacture Xi3 who will be developing a special customised PC designed to bring Steam to the living room.
The box, codenamed Piston, will offer up to 1TB of internal storage and the ability to upgrade components like the RAM and CPU in the future, a spokesperson told Polygon. Valve will also be making its own Steam Box in-house, and they’ll be a few more from other PC manufacturers too.
It is currently rumored to have 4-8 GB of DDR3 RAM and a quad-core 64-bit, x86-based 32nm processor running at up to 3.2GHz with 4MB of Level2 Cache.
A new tablet from Asus was announced at the show but this is a tablet with a difference.
The Asus Transformer AiO is a standard tablet running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) from an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor but you can take it home and connect it to its stand and it becomes a desktop PC running Windows 8 running on a Core i3 processor and Nvidia GT 730M GPU.
The trick is the stand, which has its own array of USB ports and a built-in 1TB hard disk. The tablet itself has 16GB flash memory.
Another exciting tablet that was announced this year was the Razer Edge which is optimised for gaming.
The Razer Edge is a Windows 8 tablet, but a ferociously powerful one with the sort of tech you would expect to find in a gaming laptop. The standard model has a Core i5 processor, an NVidia GT640M LE GPU, 4GB of RAM and a 64GB solid state drive, while the Edge Pro has a Core i7 processor instead, 8GB of RAM and either a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive.
The tablet can also be plugged into a Gamepad Controller, which comes complete with two Wii Nunchuk-style handles featuring two analogue sticks, a D-Pad and a variety of face buttons.
Sony Xperia Z was the smart phone announcement to look at for gamers. It’s only 7mm thin, has a 1080p 5-inch screen and is packing a beast of a quad-core Qualcomm processor with 2GB of RAM.
According to Sony, the Xperia Z is the most powerful phone it’s ever made and the first it’s had a strong say in since it took over manufacturing from Ericsson, and it also claims that while it’s running Android 4.1 instead of 4.2, its own “skin” is very minimal and it should be easy to upgrade the OS in the future.
It is set to be an incredibly powerful phone with a good battery life thanks to Sony’s new technology that apparently draws very little power while in sleep mode.
Company President, Satoru Iwata has revealed Nintendo is open to the idea of using a free-to-play business model for new franchises.
Nintendo’s leader pledged that he won’t add free-to-play or micro-transaction elements to existing series such as Mario or Pokémon, during an interview with Japanese newspaper Nikkei.
“We, as an industry, can now do distribution by digital means as well as micro-transactions, and the ways to obtain money through supporting entertainment have increased.
“I have no intention of denying charged games or the free-to-play model. If we were to talk about if Nintendo were to do that, however, I do not have much inclination to do that with Nintendo’s established well-known products.
“We will not have a proverbial door to full enjoyment that can only be unlocked via payment. However, this is separate from, say, having something where because there are people who want more stages to play in Mario games, we will create new courses for those people and charge for them.”
This all changes for new game franchises, though. Iwata said that for fresh ideas he is open to the idea of other methods of payment.
“For new titles with no established base, if, in the process of development, we found it to suit the free-to-play model, we might follow that route, or we might do something like ‘cheap-to-play'” he explained.
“Our sales methods have been freed up and I have no desire to extinguish that freedom. If we were to release something like that, it is not a betrayal but the birth of an interesting idea through our new found freedom, that’s all. I am not talking about changing how we sell Mario or Pokémon.”
It seems that Nintendo have seen how powerful Free-to-play can be but most certainly doesn’t want to risk their well established franchises on the new business plan.