Category Archives: Games Artist and Animator

Train2Game Game Designers already know it… ‘iconic’ games need good story says Gears of War 3 writer

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Gears of War 3 Train2Game blog image

Train2Game students, Train2Game Game Designers in particular, know that a good story can make or break a game.

While some may not believe story is a significant factor in a shooter, Gears of War 3 writer Karen Traviss believes that it’s hugely important whatever the game type.

“Gears is a thriller, it’s a horror whodunnit set in a war. You have to keep the tension going right up to the final frame of the final cinematic and even after the credits.” Traviss told GameSmack

She explained that story telling – and therefore Game Design – is something that’s needed for a game to become iconic.

“Okay, a lot of players think they don’t care about story, but they’d notice (and gripe) if it wasn’t there, a game has to be more than good gameplay to become iconic.” said Traviss.

“That’s how I wrote it, and as far as I know, because I haven’t seen anything of the game since they started on the technical polish more than a year ago, that’s the way it still is.

“A lot of post-recording changes get made in games for technical reasons, and stuff has to be chopped or changed sometimes, but the emotional stakes are so much part of the fabric that the impact will still survive.”

Game Design and storytelling are becoming an ever more significant factor in developing top games. Indeed, back in June the Train2Game blog reported that The Darkness 2 Game Director  Sheldon Carter believed that Game Design is the ‘final frontier’ game development.

“I think story is the final frontier for games” he said. “We’re kind of getting there tech-wise. Mechanics-wise it’s cool that we’re innovating but it’s still in the basic same themes. I think story is eventually where we’ll all end up going.”

Upcoming games that also focus on the Game Design Narrative include Uncharted 3 and Deus Ex: Human Revolution. For more on the writing and Game Design behind Uncharted 3, see the Train2Game blog.

Interested Train2Game students can also see a post that goes into great depth about the Game Design process behind Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

So Train2Game, how important do you believe story telling is in games? Do you care about the story of Gears of War 3?

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

[Source: Gamesmack via Beefjack]

Train2Game hands it to Sony over Vita development gifts for indies

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It’s entirely possible that some Train2Game students could end up developing games for the upcoming PlayStation Vita in future.

At least that’s the case if one or more students end up working for an indie studio looking to develop on the handheld console.

Indie studio Rubicon has confirmed to Gamasutra that Sony are handing PlayStation Vita dev kits to small game developers.

“I can confirm that Sony was generous enough to loan us some kit, and that’s one of the many reasons why I big them up every opportunity I get.” said Managing Director Paul Johnson.

“They really do seem to have gotten behind smaller developers, based on my own experience and from talking with other small devs, and I think they should be saluted for it.”

“We’re entering a new era in which digital downloads can be translated into mass market sales for smaller operators – once only the preserve of the big boys.”

Johnson noted that the PlayStation Vita dev kits aren’t for keeps but “are just loaners – we have to give them back when we’re done.”

Last month the Train2Game blog reported that Sony wanted to see more support for indie developers.

As an industry, we have to support those smaller teams, and let them try out their ideas, without doing so, the whole industry will stall, in terms of innovation.” Said Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida.

The PlayStation Vita – previously known to Train2Game blog readers as the NGP – featured prominently in Sony’s E3 conference.

“PlayStation Vita will revolutionise the portable entertainment experience,” said Sony CEO and Exeuctive Vice President Kaz Hirai  “It gives you the most complete entertainment package in the palm of your hands.”

For more information about the PlayStation Vita, see the full report on the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, is it a positive move that Sony are loaning dev kits to indies? Would you like to develop for a handheld such as the PlayStation Vita in future?

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

[Source: Gamasutra]

Train2Game industry experience diaries from Jonny Robinson & Laurence Gee

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In the latest batch of Train2Game industry experience diaries, Laurence Gee writes about working to a tight deadline, while Jonny Robinson writes about getting involved with marketing for the Develop Conference. (Train2Game Radio spoke to Jonny while at the conference, listen to it here)

Both Laurence’s and Jonny’s diaries are available to read below here on the Train2Game blog, on the Train2Game Scribd page, or alternatively on the official Train2Game industry experience diaries website.

Train2Game student Georgij Cernysiov – Industry Experience Diary no.4

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The latest Train2Game industry experience  diary from Georgij Cernysiov who is on placement Caspian Learning.

Read the entry here on the Train2Game blog,  or the official Train2Game industry experience website.

 

Train2Game news: Zumba Fitness is No.1 yet again

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Train2Game students will definitely be tired of hearing it, but Zumba Fitness is once again top of the UK Charts. It’s the dance games 7th consecutive week at No.1 and tenth overall. The majority of sales continue to be for the Nintendo Wii.

Cars 2 jumps from No.8 to No.2 after the release of the film, while Call of Juarez: The Cartel drops one to No.3. Just Dance 2: Extra Songs is a big winner, moving from No.18 to No.4 in its second week on sale, while Lego Pirates of the Caribbean drops one to No.5

Dirt 3 moves up one to No.6, Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows Part 2 drops to No.7, while 44 weeks after its release FIFA 11 rises one place to No.8. Former No.1 – as reported by the Train2Game blog – L.A. Noire re-enters the top ten at No.9. Call of Duty: Black Ops completes the top ten.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 30th July 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)

2. Cars 2 (Disney)

3. Call of Juarez: The Cartel (Ubisoft)

4. Just Dance 2: Extra Songs (Ubisoft)

5. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)

6. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)

7. Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (EA)

8. FIFA 11 (EA)

9. L.A. Noire (Rockstar)

10. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)

Once again, there are no major releases in the coming week. Will it yet another No.1 for Zumba Fitness? Do you think it should even count as a video game?

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

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

Train2Game students: Want to develop an FPS? Sorry, that’ll make the Pokémon director sad…

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Many Train2Game students enjoy First Person Shooters such as Call of Duty or Halo, and may have desires to develop them in future.

With the FPS being arguably the most popular genre, it’s no surprise that Train2Game students may consider developing them. But be warned, by doing so you’ll be making Pokémon Black and Pokémon White director Junichi Masuda sad

Writing about E3 on his blog – in partially broken English – Masuda said:

“This year, FPS war games were trend!! A lot of splatter scenes!! Blood spread everywhere. Shooting a lot, killing a lot,”

“The game developer seems get used to ‘kill’ the target. Therefore, I felt ‘how to kill’ became a focus of developing game. For that reason, target become zombie and alien…” he continued.

“These targets’ savage attack and human counterattacks… It became savage contents and you never know. Mmm… It is the player who choose the game to play. As a game creator, it is little sad!”

Masuda concluded by lamenting the lack of originality in the games being shown at E3.

“Majority of the games look like a same game. There were little of original games. I felt a sense of crisis with above part.”

Train2Game Game Designers in particular will know that it’s quite important for games to be innovative and distinctive, and while the games on show at E3 were impressive to look at, some might agree with Masuda in them being a bit too similar to each other.

The Train2Game blog has previously reported that the team behind Pokémon are confident in their ability to design and create new, distinctive creatures for future games in the series.

The success of Pokémon, which as Train2Game students may remember, topped the UK Charts in March, demonstrates that there’s a base for various types of games out there!

So Train2Game, do you agree with Masuda? Are too many games are about killing? Is it a ‘crisis’ for game developers?

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

[Source:  Siliconera]

Train2Game students entering a “fundamentally changed” games industry

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Many Train2Game students are waiting in anticipating to hear news of the next generation of games consoles, but EA’s John Riccitiello believes the traditional console cycle is over.

While speaking to investors, the EA CEO argued that the games industry has “fundamentally changed” in recent years.

“Most of us recognize that the industry has radically changed and the pace of change has accelerated dramatically,” he said “Gone forever is the four-to-five year console cadence that gave developers ample time to invest and retool for the next big wave.

“Consider that just 18 months ago, there was no iPad, Google was just experimenting with Android and most big games were limited to a single revenue opportunity at launch. Consider that each of the major consoles now has a controller that encourages users to get off the couch and get into the action.

“On smartphones and tablets like the iPhone and iPad, the top paid apps are all games. Recognize that the fastest-growing revenue streams for console, PC, smartphones and tablets are all digital, and that EA is partnering with its retail and platform partners to help jointly grow these digital revenue streams.

“While the game industry has fundamentally changed, games are reaching a far larger audience base than ever before.

The Train2Game blog has previously reported that EA are committed to digital games, with John Riccitiello stating at the start of the year that digital distribution is set to overtake traditional retail this year.

Last month, the Train2Game blog also reported that Riccitiello believes the future of the games industry is already here

Train2Game students will surely agree with the EA CEO in that the games industry has fundamentally changed in the last couple of years, but has the traditional console development cycle come to an end?

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

[Source: MCV]

Train2Game Game Design student Jonathon Robinson speaking to Train2Game Radio at Develop

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 Train2Game  featured prominently at this year’s Develop Conference, with a stand promoting students on the courses. Jonathon Robinson is on the Train2Game Game Design course, and helped promote Train2Game and also got an insight into the games industry.

The Train2Game blog caught up with Jonathon at the event to find out what he gained from the experience. Listen to the interview at www.audioboo.fm/train2game  Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum.

 

 

Train2Game Art & Animation student William Alexander speaks to Train2Game Radio

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William Alexander is studying to become a Game Artist & Animator with Train2Game. Train2Game Radio caught up with him to find out why he chose to study with Train2Game, how he’s finding the course and how he balances it around the rest of his life.

Listen to the interview at http://audioboo.fm/train2game

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

Train2Game students (and everyone else!) could pay subs for EA Sports games in future

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Train2Game students may have to pay subscription fees to play EA Sports titles in future. That’s according to label Vice President Andrew Wilson who believes there will “absolutely” be a time when plays will want to “access” EA Sports games via subscriptions.

It’s a statement that may initially not go down well with Train2Game students, but it could help them make more revenue from games in the future.

“If we look at what consumers have pushed other industries for: if we look at what consumers forced the music industry to provide, if we look at what consumers have driven as a result of television and movie subscription” Wilson told Eurogamer.

“If you look at us – there’s absolutely a time somewhere at some point in the future where the consumers say, ‘Hey, this is how we want to interact with you: we want to give you a monthly or annual subscription and we want access to everything you make,'”

“They get to drive the time and place for it, and a lot of it is technology dependent, but absolutely we can see a future where that might be the way we deliver games.”

Wilson added that it isn’t current gen consoles that are holding this model back, but internet connections.

“It’s less about the generation and more about internet infrastructure,” he said.

“The thing about consoles [is] that’s a lot of content: six, seven gigs of information. Right now there are some places in the world where you can move that size of information around relatively seamlessly; there are a lot of places you can’t.

“Right now the consoles themselves could facilitate it,” he added, “but there are other barriers to entry that make getting it from Game or GameStop a viable proposition, at least today.”

That last part sounds somewhat familiar, with as reported by the Train2Game blog, Sony previously stating that they want to sell PSN content – currently only available digitally – at traditional retail.

Of course, the games industry already has many subscription based services, with World of Warcraft being the most high profile. As previously mentioned by the Train2Game blog, World of Warcraft has over 12 million subscribers, showing that if people like a game, they’re more than happy to pay a subscription fee.

Therefore, in the future, working on a subscription based game could potentially be lucrative for Train2Game students.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts? Are subscription fees for all games inevitable? Would people pay?

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

[Source: Eurogamer]