Category Archives: Developer

Train2Game at Gadget Show Live 2012 – The Commando Kiwi Story (Video)

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Train2Game student team Commando Kiwi were one of four to take part in last month’s Make Something Unreal Contest at Gadget Show Live, with the task of building an iOS game based on the prestigious Fighting Fantasy series.

Indeed, they were the contest winners, walking away with a fully licensed Unreal Development Kit for iOS.

Now, you can see the progress they made through Make Something Unreal Live in a new video from Train2Game! It features industry figures including Cliff Bleszinski, Jon Hare, Peter Molyneux and Ian Livingstone providing advice to Commando Kiwi as they developed their game.

Watch it on the Train2Game YouTube channel, or here on The Train2Game Blog.

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Game of Thrones RPG developer diary takes you “Behind the Wall”

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Train2Game students can get behind the scenes of the upcoming Game of Thrones RPG in a new developer diary from Focus Interactive and Cyanide Studio.

“Behind the Wall” sees Project Director Thomas Veauclin and Lead Game Designer Sylvain Sechi discuss adapting George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire into a video game, revealing they first contacted the author 7 years ago, and that his feedback has been extremely valuable.

Veauclin and Sechi also detail how the Game of Thrones RPG runs parallel to the first book in the series, with a focus on new characters. They are Mors, a ranger of the Night’s Watch and Alistair Sarwyck, a Red Priest. Both will have to make choices as they go through the story.

Watch the Game of Thrones RPG developer diary, below, right here on The Train2Game Blog.

Game of Thrones is released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC next month.

What are your thoughts on the Game of Thrones RPG? If you’re a fan of the books, do you feel it’ll do the series justice?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game student developed Fighting Fantasy games hailed as “unbelievable” by series co-author Steve Jackson

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Train2Game student produced games based on the Fighting Fantasy books have been hailed as “unbelievable” by series co-author Steve Jackson.

He was speaking to us at Train2Game and Epic Games’ Make Something Unreal Live, where four teams competed to build games based on Fighting Fantasy books for iPhone and iPad. Commando Kiwi’s Warlock of Firetop Mountain was judged as the winner.

“It was a really hard decision because the four groups who had also passed through several other barriers and competitions on the way here.” Jackson told Train2Game.

“They were all very talented and the standard of games that came out were unbelievable. It would’ve been very easy to pick four winners out of the four of them.” he added.

Watch the full video interview with Fighting Fantasy co-author Steve Jackson below.  You can also see our interview with fellow co-author Ian Livingstone here on The Train2Game Blog. There’s more on Make Something Unreal Live here.

As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: LittleBigPlanet PS Vita beta open for registration

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LittleBigPlanet

Train2Game students can register to take part in the upcoming LittleBigPlanet beta on PlayStation Vita.  The goal of the beta is to get feedback from players about the overall experience of the game.

Those interested in taking part in the LittleBigPlanet Vita beta need to go here for a chance to be selected. Of course, you’ll need to be a PlayStation Vita owner, or someone to plans to buy one in the near future, in order to take part.

LittleBigPlanet Vita is being partially developed by Middlesbrough studio Double Eleven, where Train2Game student Darren Price has been on a work placement.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, over six million community created levels have been produced by LittleBigPlanet players.  There’s more about LittleBigPlanet here.

And for more on beta testing, how it’s useful for Train2Game students, and opportunities to get involved with it, keep reading the Train2Game blog.

Will you be applying to take part in the LittleBigPlanet PS Vita beta? Are you still using the level creation tools of previous games in the series?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Virgin launch 100 day game project contest for aspiring game developers

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Train2Game students have the chance to design and publish a mobile video game if they take part in Virgin Media’s 100 day game project contest.

“We’re looking for amateur and student game designers from across the country to come to us with their concepts for a top quality mobile/tablet game.” reads the announcement.

“Utilising some of the industry’s brightest brains, we’ll select one concept and help the lucky winning team create their game and make their vision a reality. Reaching out to gaming fans everywhere, the project will culminate with the beta game launch at the Eurogamer Expo on 27th September.”

To enter Virgin Media’s 100 day game projects, you need to be in a team of 3 or 4 members aged 18-35, and pitch your iOS or Android game using this entry form.

Entries will be judged by a panel of experts on Tuesday 12th June, with the winning team being taken to game development labs in Dundee to build their game between 18th June and 26th September. The beta of the winning game will be presented at the Eurogamer Expo at the end of September.

FULL information about entry criteria and all terms and conditions are on the Virgin Media 100 day game project website.

Will you and a small team of fellow Train2Game students give this a go? Keep in mind that this isn’t a Train2Game contest, but it’s a great opportunity.

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.  Good luck to any Train2Game student teams who enter!

Train2Game news: Ian Livingstone “delighted” to be a part of Train2Game’s Make Something Unreal Live initiative

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Train2Game has been hailed as a “fantastic opportunity” for people to get involved in the games industry by Ian Livingstone, Life President of EIDOS and co-author of Fighting Fantasy

The games industry legend was speaking to us at Train2Game and Epic Games’ Make Something Unreal Live, where four teams competed to build games based on Fighting Fantasy books for iPhone and iPad. He was one of the judges that decided Commando Kiwi was the winner.

“I’m delighted to be part of this Train2Game initiative. I’ve been in the games industry since 1975 when Steve Jackson and I started Games Workshop.” said Livingstone.

“We had our first Fighting Fantasy game book in 1982, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and here we are thirty years later judging a competition in the world of digital entertainment where people have taken have taken our book and transformed it into a very playable iPhone and iPad game.”

“And it’s great to see young talent coming through because I would say the UK is one of the most creative nations, if not the most creative nation in the world. It’s important that we support the young talent coming through.” Livingstone continued, before hailing Train2Game for giving more people the skills needed by the industry.

“Initiatives like Train2Game are fantastic, to get people who might not have known there’s a worthwhile career in games, recognising it as worthwhile, and being empowered with the skills to be able to make a contribution with real skills. It’s a fantastic opportunity today.” he said.

Watch the full video interview below.

As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: A day in the life of Darksiders II lead designer Haydn Dalton

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Train2Game students can get an insight into what it’s like working on Darksiders II for Vigil Games thanks to a ‘Meet the Team ‘feature with Lead Designer Haydn Dalton.

In a blog interview with THQ, Dalton describes a typical day in the life of a lead game designer for Darksiders II, and as Train2Game game designers may already expect, it’s a busy life!

“I’ll get in the morning, get the latest version of the game code and start playing the game. Depending on what’s the current priority; up-coming demo, milestone, stability, encounters, combat, what have you – that’ll dictate how I focus my time with the game.” he said.

“I write up feedback on the content, sit with designers and provide guidance on a whole variety of design components.” the Darksiders II lead designer continued.

“This also extends out to animators, programmers, etc. Sometimes I may go into some of the script files and tweak numbers myself, but most of my time is set on the broad view of the game, and it’s a BIG game.” Dalton added.

The full interview with Darksiders II lead designer Haydn Dalton is here, and also features talk of where he started in the industry, and balancing in-game weapons.

There’s more on Darksiders II here on The Train2Game Blog. The game is scheduled for release on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC later this year.

What are your thoughts on a day in the life of Haydn Dalton? Does it give you a greater insight into what it’s really like being a game designer?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game video: Make Something Unreal Live Mentors Panel

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Train2Game hosted a mentors panel at Gadget Show Live which saw some of the industry veterans advising the Make Something Unreal Live teams, taking part in a 30 minute discussion.

The video, which you can now see here on The Train2Game Blog, features Epic Games’ Mike Gamble, the combined 50 years games industry experience of Pete Hickman and Tony Bickley, and CEO of AppCrowd Rick Alexander.

All four provide plenty of great advice to Train2Game students and you can watch what they have to say right here.

There’s more advice from figures including Peter Molyneux and Cliff Bleszinski, and an insight into what went on at Gadget Show Live in our Make Something Unreal Live documentary.

As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Team 17 announce Worms Revolution closed beta

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Train2Game students have the opportunity to sign up to participate in the upcoming closed beta for Team 17’s Worms Revolution.

Worms Revolution is the latest title in Team 17’s long running turn based series, which will feature different classes for the first time. Players will be able to build teams with up to four types of worm, with the soldier, the scout, the heavy and the scientist all offering unique abilities and tactics.

To apply to take part in the Worms Revolution closed beta, you’ll need both a Steam and Team 17 forum account. Once you have those, apply to take part in the beta by emailing wormsbeta@team17.com with ‘Worms Revolution Beta’ in the subject line.

For more information, see the Worms Facebook page. Worms Revolution is scheduled for release later this year on PC and consoles, with the closed beta beginning in the new few weeks.  You can watch the Worms Revolution announcement trailer below.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, Team 17 believe that there’s never been an easier time to be an indie game developer.

And for more on beta testing, how it’s useful for Train2Game students, and opportunities to get involved with it, keep reading the Train2Game blog.

What are your thoughts on Worms Revolution? Are you a fan of the series? Will you apply to take part in the beta?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Firaxis videos take you behind the scenes of XCOM: Enemy Unknown

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Train2Game students can get a behind the scenes look at XCOM: Enemy Unknown in not one, but two videos from Firaxis and 2K Games.

The first video, ‘Taking the lead’ sees lead designer Jake Solomon speaking about the core elements of how Firaxis building their reimagining of the classic strategy title.

The second video sees Art Director Greg Foertsch describing how Firaxis created the look and art style of XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

A previous developer diary sees Firaxis – the studio famous for the Civilization series – discussing how they’re making strategy ‘sexy.’  XCOM: Enemy Unknown is scheduled for release in autumn this year.

What are your thoughts on the XCOM: Enemy Unknown videos? Are you looking forward to this one?

Leave your comments on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.