Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with Halo: Anniversary developers 343

 

Train2Game were at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. While there, we spoke with 343 Executive Producer Dan Ayoub and Producer Dennis Ries about the upcoming and Halo: Anniversary.

In a wide ranging interview they discussed what elements of game design make Halo such a successful franchise, new features including 3D and classic mode, and offer Train2Game students advice on how to get into the games industry. 

Read the interview here on the Train2Game blog, then leave your comments here or on the Train2Game forum.

UK Charts: Deus Ex Human Revolution topples Zumba Fitness

Train2Game students will probably be relieved that for the first time in a very long time, Zumba Fitness isn’t top of the charts. The slow summer released schedule is at an end and Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the new UK No.1.

The Xbox 360 is the most popular format for Dues Ex: Human Revolution, with 57% of sales on the system.  Interestingly, Human Revolution debuts at No.1 while selling just 26,000 fewer copies than Deus Ex: Invisible War did in its entire selling life.

Long time chart topper – as often reported by the Train2Game blog – Zumba Fitness drops to No.2 with a 10% drop in sales, while Rugby World Cup 2011 debuts at No.3. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean drops to No.4, with a resurgent Call of Duty: Black Ops re-entering the top ten to take No.5.

Familiar names make up the following positions with, Cars 2, FIFA 11, Dirt 3 and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, occupying No. 6 to No.9. Discounts see Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood complete the top ten.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 27th August 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Square Enix)
2. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
3. Rugby World Cup 2011 (505 Games)
4. LEGO: Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney Interactive)
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
6. Cars 2 (Disney Interactive)
7. FIFA 11 (EA)
8. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
9. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner)
10. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)

Releases this week included Driver San Francisco, Bodycount and Madden NFL 12.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Deus Ex: Human Revolution debuting at No.1? Will it stay there for awhile? Or will No.1 change often as various titles are released over the coming months?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]

Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with F1 2011 Chief Game Designer Steve Hood

 

Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. While there, we spoke with F1 2011 Chief Game Designer Steve Hood of Codemasters in a wide ranging interview.

Subjects included new Game Design features, how building for multiplayer differs to single player, adapting to the sports new rules and F1 2011’s art.

Hood revealed how he started in the games industry and gave Train2Game students advice on how to get in. Read the full interview below, or listen to it on Train2Game Radio.  Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game monthly student competitions

Train2Game Competition prize - NVIDIA Graphics card

Train2Game are running one student competition per month, this month it’s the turn of the coders!

Are you a coder on Train2Game’s Developer course? If yes, then this month’s feature competition is for you!

The prize: The awesome Asus nVIDIA 3D GeForce GTX 560 TI DirectCu II TOP Graphics Card (1GB) worth nearly £200.00!

AND two runners up will also each receive a pair of tickets to the Eurogamer.
That’s got to be worth a little of your time!

What do you have to do? Check the Train2Game forum on Monday, August 29th when we will post up the problem that we’d like you to solve!

Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with RAGE Creative Director Tim Willits

 

Train2Game  attended Gamescom from 17th August to 21st August.  During our time in Cologne we were fortunate enough to get hands on time with RAGE and speak to Creative Director Tim Willits.  

During our interview he discussed the ideas, design and development process behind RAGE. Willits also reveals how he got into the industry through modding, and suggests Train2Game students should do the same if they want to follow in his footsteps.

Read the interview with RAGE Creative Director Tim Willits below, or listen to it on via Train2Game Radio.

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game at Gamescom: Metro Last Light interview

Train2Game  attended Gamescom from 17th August to 21st August.  During our time in Cologne we were fortunate enough to speak to Metro Last Light Producer John Block.

He discussed improvements over Metro 2033, keeping the game faithful to the books and the game design process. He also reveals how he got into the game industry and offers advice to Train2Game students as to how they can too.

Read the interview below, or listen to it via Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with Star Wars: The Old Republic Associate Lead Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi

 

Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. We caught up with Star Wars: The Old Republic Associate Lead Game Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi to discuss a variety of subjects.

These include, tailoring game design for an MMO, keeping the narrative in check with the Star Wars universe, the importance of community testing and the reasons behind PvP sport Huttball.

Lusinchi also revealed how he started in the games industry and gave Train2Game students advice on how to get in. Read the full interview below, or listen to it on Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with The Witcher 2 Environment Artist Marek Ziemak

 

Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. In this interview, we caught up with The Witcher 2 Environment Artist Marek Zeimak to talk about new features in The Witcher 2 version 2.0 and the Xbox 360 release. Zeimak also revealed how he started in the games industry and gave Train2Game students advice on how to get in. Read the full interview below, or listen to it on Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game student Jonny Robinson industry experience diary No.7

Train2Game Game Designer Jonny Robinson is on a Train2Game work placement at DR Studios. In his latest Train2Game industry experience diary, he discusses what makes an ‘awesome Game Designer’

Read Jonny’s latest industry experience diary here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experiences website.

You can also get a taste of Jonny’s experiences at DR Studios by watching his industry experience video diaries.

 

Train2Game industry experience diaries: the latest from Georgij Cernysiov & Laurence Gee

Train2Game student  Georgij Cernysiov is on a Train2Game work placement at Caspian Learning, while Laurence Gee is also on a Train2Game industry experience placement.

Read their latest Train2Game industry experience diaries here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experience diaries website.