Train2Game UFC Undisputed 3 interview with THQ Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn – Part 2

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game recently sat down for a chat with THQ’s UFC Undisputed 3 Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn at a preview event in London. In an in depth interview with The Train2Game Blog, Bunn discussed developing UFC Undisputed 3, Game Design, QA Testing, getting into the industry and more.

In part two of our interview, the THQ Senior Game Designer discusses getting into the games industry and the importance of QA Testing in game development. Read it right here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page. As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Read part one of our interview with THQ Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn here.

How did you get started in the games industry?

I actually got started as a QA Tester back in 2000. It’s funny how this industry works because it’s really small. I started at a Crave Entertainment, who had the UFC license way back in 2000, I tested UFC Tap Out 1 and 2 back on the original Xbox. That’s how I got started and that’s how I got introduced to UFC.

So how important is testing to the game development process?

I think testing is huge. Back when I started there wasn’t these education programmes where you could go to the different schools and learn about game design, which is cool now, but back then they didn’t have that. But I think in QA Testing you get to see the whole development process, so you get to see iterative builds come in and see the changes, learn the debugging process; that’s a huge part of making sure the game comes out polished, that there’s no imbalanced things in the game, that there’s no exploits, so testing is a huge process, not just with our game but any game.

How did you work your way up from being a QA Tester to being a Senior Game Designer now?

As a QA Tester you get the opportunity to suggest things, that’s basically how I got started when I was working on the original UFC was suggesting ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if we do this, and this is how I think this should work.’ I went to different studios but eventually became a Lead QA tester and was mentoring other QA Testers, then I got into working into production. From production I found out I didn’t really like the production aspect of it, I liked the creative aspects, so from production I got into some junior design work at a Sony studio. I’ve been designing ever since.

For those who might not know, what are the differences between game production and game design?

The production aspect deals more with scheduling, making sure everything comes in on time, making sure that if you’re working with a licensed product, especially, you deal specifically with the licensor. Production also deals with managing the QA Testing process, the development process, dealing with the licensor and marketing as well. Designer focuses on the creative aspects of the game, the game content. That’s where I prefer to be.

So how big is the game design team for UFC Undisputed 3?

It’s pretty big! The situation that we’re in is kind of unique. We’re a co-development team, so we have a group of game designers at the THQ offices and then we have a group of game designers at Yuke’s office in Japan and we co-develop UFC Undisputed 3 together. Most of the design concepts are generated by the THQ team, implementation is done by Yuke’s then the balance and tuning is done by THQ. But there’s a lot of back and forth with Yuke’s, they’ve been great to work with and have offered up some suggestions and have been willing to accept suggestions and things we come up with.

With Yuke’s being based in Japan and THQ in the USA, how do you go about collaborating with them?

It’s been really challenging, we’ve done a lot of teleconferences with them, but we’ve made a lot trips out there. Last year alone we made ten trips to Japan, so I’ve racked up the frequent flyer miles! There are a lot of TV conferences in addition to meetings on site.

Back to getting into the industry, what advice would you give to those aspiring to work in it?

Probably the biggest thing to do, the best thing, is play a lot of games. Not just the mainstream games, the blockbuster games, play a lot of indie games and expand your pallet so you can touch every area. As far as getting into the industry is concerned, you break in through focus group tests. Usually a company will bring people in to test their game and give feedback on what they think of the game. We do focus tests for our products, there’s usually an opportunity there if they like your suggestions enough to bring you on as a QA Tester or something. Now they have the schools you can go to that’s an avenue as well, I have some friends who are enrolled in schools now, but back when I was around they didn’t have that!

And would community created content, such as that of UFC Undisputed 3, be something an aspiring game developer could show to potential employers?

That’s true actually, especially for an artist, creating stuff with user generated content and saying ‘this is what I made’ will help with a CV as well. I think publishers and developers are looking at that stuff.

Thanks for your time Wes.

UFC Undisputed 3 is released on 17^th February 2012 for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Part 1 of The Train2Game Blog interview with THQ Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn is here.

For more about UFC Undisputed 3, and some great advice about getting into the industry, see The Train2Game Blog interview with UFC Undisputed 3 Neven Dravinski from last year’s Gamescom.

Train2Game UFC Undisputed 3 interview with THQ Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn – Part 1

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

In the first part of this two part interview, the THQ Senior Game Designer discusses the game design process for UFC Undisputed 3. Read it right here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page. As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Part two of The Train2Game Blog interview with Wes Bunn is right here.

Train2Game Blog: First of all, tell us what your role as Senior Game Designer for UFC Undisputed 3 involves?

Wes Bunn: Pretty much every area of the game from combat to modes to everything! And I’ve been on the franchise since 2006; I was the original designer on the project so I’ve been working on this game for the past six years.

How did you get started with the first project, and how have you keep UFC Undisputed titles fresh?

It’s actually pretty crazy to see the evolution of the past three games. Back in 2006 when I first started there was no game, it was all on paper, all theories about how the game would work. To see where it is now, it’s come a long way and UFC Undisputed 3 is really what I say is five years of development, not just the last two years that we’ve been working on it. Because we’ve always been trying to improve each year and I think that this year when people play it they’ll feel a difference and see it’s by far the best one.

So when you’re designing the game, how difficult is it to create a balance between all the fighting styles, making sure one isn’t overly powered or another isn’t overly weak?

It’s definitely a tightrope that you have to walk, balancing the strikers versus the grapplers. Typically, the guys who are very dominant in their striking skills are lacking in other areas, or are not as effective in other areas. Chuck Liddell is a good example, he’s a great striker, but off his back he’s not very good, so my counter to that would be a good wrestler who can try to take him down and put him on his back and see what he can do. It’s been challenging to get the balance in there, but we’ve been able accomplish that I think, in this game specifically with the additions that we’ve made to the stats and working with the UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, I think players will see the fighters are balanced pretty well.

Pride fighters feature in UFC Undisputed 3, was them and their different rules like developing a whole new game in addition to UFC Undisputed 3?

Yeah, we always joked that it’s a game within a game because when you jump into pride it’s a completely different experience because you’re playing with different commentaries, different rules, different fighters, a different environment… The different moves were probably the most challenging, because getting the soccer kick in there, and the foot stomp, because it isn’t something we’ve had to do in the past.

Tell us about the new community created content sharing options for UFC Undisputed 3.

Yeah, actually that’s a new feature this year, we have this content sharing thing. Not only is it created fighters you can upload and download, but it’s also your created logos, so if you have any kind of tattoos you can create those and post those online, people can download and rate those, as well as our highlight reels, that’s a new feature. So you can upload and download those as well.

UFC Undisputed 3 has moved the series away from a yearly release cycle. How has that changed development and why was that decision made?

The switch in the development time just gave us more time to polish and tune the game as well as introduce new features and systems. It’s something that I think you’ll see in the product when you play, the polish that we were able to get done and the tuning, as it’s really substantial compared to the previous titles. I think moving forward that’s going to be the plan, we’ll do the two year cycle because it gives us more time to what we want to do.

Last year saw the release of UFC Fitness for Kinect, have you thought about somehow implementing Kinect controls into UFC Undisputed 3?

Maybe in the future we could do it for the training. I don’t know how you’d actually do it from character to character with Kinect because then it would just be grappling an invisible person on the floor!

Or multiplayer with a friend!

In that case I’d rather go out there and grapples for real rather do something with an invisible person or somebody for the game! But that might be something for the future, maybe for hitting mitts or something with Kinect, potentially.

How much input into UFC Undisputed 3 did you have from UFC fighters themselves?

We get a lot of “suggestions” I’ll say from fighters about their stats and move sets. I know “Rampage” Jackson has been asking for a head kick three games! I told him if he does a head kick in a fight then I’ll give him one in the game, but most the time people are pretty happy when they see their character in the game. Most of them are just blown away that they’re in the game and their visuals and tattoos are in there and they say it really looks like them. As far as how they play themselves, some of the fighters are big gamers so they get it, some of them aren’t so much so it varies, but most of the time I’d say it’s been positive.

There aren’t any aspiring game designers among the UFC fighters then!

Rampage has said once before that he could design the game for us and I’d like to have him come in and do it!

UFC Undisputed 3 is available from 17^th February 2012 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Part 2 of The Train2Game Blog interview with THQ Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn is here.

For more about UFC Undisputed 3, and some great advice about getting into the industry, see The Train2Game Blog interview with UFC Undisputed 3 Neven Dravinski from last year’s Gamescom.

Train2Game news: Trion Worlds on why free-to-play is the best strategy for End of Nations

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game students have differing opinions on free-to-play titles, with some regarding them as a great way to get a game out there, while others worry that they encourage a “pay-to-win” culture.

Trion Worlds say the reason their upcoming MMORTS End of Nations uses the free-to-play model is because it’s the best way to make sure the game gets the numbers of players it needs to thrive.

“For a premium strategy game like End of Nations, we really want to bring as many players as possible into its massive-scale strategic warfare.” End of Nations Executive Producer David Luehmann told VideoGamer.

“And as we looked at the enormous battles and huge persistent world, we realised that the success of End of Nations would be driven by having thousands of players from around the globe battling daily in the world’s biggest strategy game, and that is why it made perfect sense to be free-to-play!” he said.

Luehmann also pointed out that End of Nations might be free-to-play, but Trion Worlds is being careful this doesn’t become “pays-to-win” with microtransactions mainly being for cosmetic items.

“We are very sensitive to the concept of pay to win. In End of Nations at similar experience levels, player skill will determine the outcome of battles, not player wealth.” said the Trion Worlds Executive Producer.

“From that precept the monetisation elements must adhere, therefore anything you purchase in the game with real money with focus on vanity or convenience item type. Examples being skins, or boosts the increase the players experience or wealth generation rates.” Luehmann concluded.

You can find out much more about End of Nations in The Train2Game Blog’s huge interview with Senior QA Tester Karl Tars.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on End of Nations take on free-to-play? Do you think it’ll prove successful for Trion Worlds?

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

[Source: VideoGamer]

Train2Game news: Gotham City Imposters open beta goes live

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game students have the opportunity to get involved with the beta for Warner Bros. Gotham City Imposters, which is now open to anyone.

All Train2Game students need to do to be part of the Gotham City Imposters beta is download it for free from the PlayStation Store. The Gotham City Imposters beta runs from now through until 6^th February 2012.

Gotham City Imposters is a download only FPS that pits vigilantes dressed as Batman against criminal gangs dressed up as The Joker. It’s a light-hearted multiplayer shooter that boasts massive customisation and plenty of unlockables.

Train2Game students who take part in the Gotham City Imposters beta participants are encouraged to leave feedback on the Warner Bros. forum.

Beta testing is an excellent way for Train2Game students, especially those on the Games QA Tester course to practice their bug hunting skills. Not only that, but in an interview with the Train2Game blog, Trion Worlds Senior QA Tester Karl Tars said that beta testing is potentially a way to get into the industry.

For more on beta testing and opportunities to get involved in it, see the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, will you be getting involved with the Gotham City Imposters beta? What are your impressions of the game?

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

Train2Game news: Notch: “It’s easier to be an indie game developer these days”

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game forum users are familiar with the success of Minecraft, the indie game that brought huge success for its creator Markus ‘Notch’ Persson and his studio Mojang.

And while it’s unlikely that all indie titles will match the huge success of Minecraft, Notch believes it’s easier to be an indie developer now than ever before, which is potentially good news for Train2Game students!

“I think it’s easier to be an indie game developer these days because back in the day it wasn’t called being an “indie developer” but a “garage programmer.” You weren’t expected to charge for your game so you couldn’t do it. People never charged. It was just a hobby.” he told PC Gamer.

“I think it’s much easier these days, but there’s still no guarantee you’ll make a profit. If you’re doing it out of passion and just want to get some money back it’s definitely doable.” the Minecraft creator added.

Notch also discussed whether after selling almost 5 million copies of Minecraft, Mojang still count as “indie” developers.

“I don’t think [Mojang] are indie in the sense of how I used to work anymore, because we have a payroll to worry about and we need to do stuff to ensure the company lasts,” he said.

“We have other stuff which influences what we do other than trying to focus on the games. We make sure me and Jacob are only focusing on game development so the founders are still developing” Notch continued.

“But as a company, I don’t think we are indie in the sense that I used to mean it. But in the other sense of indie – as in we make games we want to play without having any external dependencies – then yeah, we’re indie.” The Minecraft creator concluded.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, Notch has stepped down as lead developer of Minecraft in order to concentrate on other projects.

Keep reading The Train2Game Blog for the latest Minecraft news.

So Train2Game, do you agree that it’s easier to be an indie developer nowadays? And what’s your definition of an “indie” studio or game?

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

[Source: PC Gamer]

Train2Game news: Mass Effect 3 will be more accessible to new players

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game blog readers who played Mass Effect 2 without having previously played the original may have found it difficult to understand what was going on. They weren’t alone however, as Bioware don’t think they did enough to accommodate newcomers to the series

“In all honesty, we didn’t do a really good job of new player orientation,” Mass Effect 3 Marketing Manager Nick Clifford told IGN. “If you didn’t play the first game then 2 was pretty jarring for the first half hour.”

He said that in Mass Effect 3, new players without any previous experience in the series won’t hear references to past events they might not know about.

“If I’m a new player and some guy walks up to me and is like ‘Ohhhh Shepard! Remember that one time?’ I would be like ‘No. I don’t remember that one time,'” said Clifford.

“So we wanted to make sure that there aren’t those moments that the player is like, ‘Who is this? What’s going on? What are they talking about?’

It’s something that’s often missed in game development, the fact that a sequel might be a player’s first experience of a series, making the narrative confusing.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, the Xbox 360 version of Mass Effect 3 will be connect compatible.

The Train2Game Blog interviewed Bioware founders Dr. Ray Muzyka & Dr. Greg Zeschuk in November last year. They discussed how they set up the studio and provided advice on getting into the games industry.

Mass Effect 3 is released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in March.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Mass Effect 3’s attempts to make the it easier for new players to understand? Is it something more sequels should try to achieve?

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

[Source: IGN]

Train2Game news: Guild Wars 2 beta scheduled for March

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game students will have the opportunity to take part in a Guild Wars 2 beta later this year. That’s at least if they successfully apply for a place in ArenaNet’s testing programme.

The news came as part of a blog post celebrating the new Chinese Year of the Dragon, and revealed that the MMO is on schedule for release later this year.

“Today is Lunar New Year’s Day, and according to the Asian zodiac system, the first day of the Year of the Dragon. It’s an auspicious omen for all of us at ArenaNet, as we get ready to make this our own Year of the Dragon.” wrote ArenaNet Founder and President Mike O’Brien.

“According to tradition, the dragon embodies passion, independence, and ambition. We think it’s a perfect analogy for what we’re trying to accomplish with Guild Wars 2. We’re a company full of MMO and RPG fans, and we’ve set out to fundamentally rethink how you deliver an RPG experience online. So this year, the Year of the Dragon, let’s usher out old thinking – the tired old quest model, stiff repetitive combat, and monthly fees – and usher in the new.”

And the ArenaNet President added they will be rolling out a huge Guild Wars 2 beta in order to test the MMO in action.

“We recently finished our first closed beta test, and we’re now ready to hold progressively larger events. In February we’ll invite select press to participate in beta testing, and in March and April we’ll aggressively ramp up the size of our beta test events so that many of you will have a chance to participate.” said O’Brien

“And of course, this all leads to the release of Guild Wars 2 later this year.” He concluded.

The Train2Game Blog will be sure to bring you the latest news on the Guild Wars 2 beta, but Train2Game students can also keep an eye on the ArenaNet blog.

The Train2Game Blog will be sure to keep you up to date with the latest beta testing opportunities.

So Train2Game, are you looking forward to Guild Wars 2? Will you be attempting to get a place in beta later this year?

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

Train2Game news: Skyrim mod tools almost here

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game students will soon be able to their hands on official modding tools for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, according to a post on the Bethesda Blog.

“The Creation Kit and Steam Workshop are nearly ready. We’re currently working with members of Valve and our modding community to do some final testing, and we’re on track for a public release near the end of the month.” reads the Bethesda update.

“We think Skyrim modding is one of the game’s best features, and we have the best modders of any game. It’s been a lot of exciting work for us, and we can’t wait to unleash it.”

The Skyrim Creation Kit contains the tools that were used to develop The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim itself.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, the free modding tools will allow users to create and share content, and will also integrate Valve’s Steam Workshop. Train2Game forum users are already gearing up for the release of Skyrim’s official mod tools, which will provide them with a great opportunity to practice their skills.

The Train2Game Blog has previously shown you some of the stranger Skyrim mods, including ones that let you turn Dragons into My Little Pony or “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and a mod that turns Mudcrabs into Futurama’s Doctor Zoidberg.

Not only is modding an excellent way for those on Train2Game courses to practice their skills, but it can also provide that extra experience needed to get into the games industry.

“It’s a really good way for someone to get noticed because it shows that you’re able” Valve’s Chet Faliszek previously told the Train2Game blog about of modding.

Keep reading The Train2Game Blog for the latest news about modding and how it could benefit you.

So Train2Game, are you looking forward to the Skyrim Creation Kit? Will you be using it?

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

Train2Game Art & Animation student Fee Stewart speaks to RTI FM – Part 1

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game Art & Animation student Fee Stewart recently appeared as a guest on RTI FM to talk about Train2Game.

The mum of three told Postcard from Poprad about her experiences with Train2Game and what she’s been working on as part of a Train2Game student placement at award winning independent game developer Radiation Burn.

You can read part one of Fee’s interview here or on the Train2Game Scribd page, while part two is here. Alternatively, you can listen to Fee on RTI here.

RTI: So Fee, let’s start out by finding out and telling the listeners, who you are.

Fee: I’m Fee Stewart, I’m a mum of three. My oldest is 16 at college now and my youngest is seven.

That means you’re a busy mum?

I am a busy mum, yes and I decided that I wanted a career now that my children are a bit older. So, I’ve gone and retrained.

But didn’t you have some sort of home work or job that you were doing before children? There must have been life before children.

Oh yes, there was life before children. I’ve always been in the arts world, a bit. I trained as a fine artist and before that a graphic designer.

Does that mean you’re a Michelangelo type?

Not at all, no! [Laughs]

What does fine art mean then?

I did fine art painting and printing, so it was painting on canvases, yes, a bit like Michelangelo, but not half as good as Michelangelo!

Was it because you got bored at home or were you genuinely driven to get something new to do?

A bit of both actually, I’ve been at home for 16 years while I’ve been bringing up my children, and I’m just fed up of being at home on my own and I really wanted to get back out into the work place and feel that I’ve achieved something and done something useful outside of just being a mum.

But that presents one major problem of course. That even though the kids are growing up, mum’s still on call 24/7.

She is but I have a very supportive partner.

I saw an article in the newspaper about that Fee where they reckon if mum got paid all that she was due in terms of wages, she would earn £250,000 a year.

If not more Eric! We’re worth our weight in gold I think.

And with today’s money you’re probably right! OK, so you decided to make a change for you, that was the important thing? And was it just financial, or was it just an opportunity to do something? What was the motivation, why did you want to change?

The motivation is both really. I think it’s quite hard to get back out, as a mum, interview the workplace especially when you haven’t been out into a job for a long time. And I wanted to do something that I really enjoyed doing as well. So, having followed an art path most of my life, it had to be something to do with that, so I looked around and found a course and have started retraining to do video games.

RTI: OK, so number 1 you’re changing the rules because mum doesn’t want to be bored at home anymore, and then number 2, you’re going in what is known as a male dominated world. Or is that wrong?

Fee: No, it’s a very male dominated world, there’s not many of us girls in it, we could do with some more.

Looking for comrades are you? Anyone out there listening who wants to get into games, we’ll put you in touch with Fee! You’re in this male dominated world, are you looking to do something where you’d have your own business, or are you going to work for somewhere in the traditional way? What’s the game plan?

Well I’m not 100% sure what the game plan is at the moment. I’m working at a studio called Radiation Burn in Middlesbrough at the moment…

Backtrack, you’re working? How did that happen?

Well, the Train2Game course I’m on actually provides work placements; this was through them that I was given the opportunity to go on work placement, and I’m still there at the moment. I’ve been there four months now.

Well actually that’s quite clever because id you’d gone straight into a workplace after not being in work for 16 years, it’d have been quite dramatic I would have thought, whereas doing it this way it’s a little bit more gentle.

It is more gentle, definitely. I wouldn’t have said that it was that much easier, I mean you are expected to work very hard just like you would be if you’d gone from a proper job. So it’s not any easier by going on work placement, but it certainly gives you a very good insight as to what the job involves from the people in the industry and it’s very exciting and I’m enjoying it.

Part two of RTI FM’s interview with Train2Game Art & Animation student Fee Stewart will be online shortly. As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on The Train2Game Forum.

The Train2Game Blog

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Category Archives: Developer

Train2Game UFC Undisputed 3 interview with THQ Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn – Part 2

Train2Game UFC Undisputed 3 interview with THQ Senior Game Designer Wes Bunn – Part 1

Train2Game news: Trion Worlds on why free-to-play is the best strategy for End of Nations

Train2Game news: Gotham City Imposters open beta goes live

Train2Game news: Notch: “It’s easier to be an indie game developer these days”

Train2Game news: Mass Effect 3 will be more accessible to new players

Train2Game news: Guild Wars 2 beta scheduled for March

Train2Game news: Skyrim mod tools almost here

Train2Game Art & Animation student Fee Stewart speaks to RTI FM – Part 1