Category Archives: Games Developer

Train2Game News Xbox Game Streaming

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Arcadia is the name of Microsoft’s in-development streaming games tech.

That’s according to ZDNet, which says Arcadia is being developed by a new streaming team in Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group and is designed to replace the ‘Rio’ streaming tech demonstrated last year.

Arcadia, which is being built around Microsoft’s existing Azure cloud network, will not just stream games but also apps – the site even says that the company at one stage saw Arcadia as a way for Windows users to access Android content. This idea has now apparently been put on hold, although recent job ads for the Arcadia team do ask for candidates with experience with iOS and Android.

ZDNet doesn’t believe Arcadia will be demonstrated at the upcoming Windows 10 reveal next month, although Xbox boss Phil Spencer will be talking.

Sony became the first console platform holder to branch out into game streaming. It acquired streaming firm Gaikai in 2012 and this year launched its PS Now service in North America. Other streaming games firms, such as OnLive, have struggled to gain traction.

Train2Game News Deep Silver charity money raised

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Deep Silver’s Humble Bundle sales have totaled a sensational 1.89 Million US-Dollar for charity since the start of the co-operation between the publisher and Humble Bundle, Inc, in July 2013. Both partners are proud and thankful for the continuous support and the strong commitment to donate.

With brands like Saints Row and Metro being part of the offers, Deep Silver has become one of Humble Bundle’s biggest partners. With its unique approach, Humble Bundle offers a package of games. The price is up to the client, in the same way he or she can choose how much of the money goes to the publisher, Humble Bundle itself or to charity.

“We are stunned by the huge number that our buyers have donated over the last year,” says Dr. Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Deep Silver/Koch Media. “This success is a clear sign to keep investing in the strong relationship with Humble Bundle and continue to offer attractive packages in the future.”

“Teaming up with Deep Silver to delight millions of gamers around the world while raising nearly 2 million dollars for charity has been absolutely awesome,” said John Graham, co-founder and COO of Humble Bundle. “Deep Silver is one of our favorite publishers to work with and we are excited by what might be possible in the future.”

Top five beneficiaries are Child’s Play ($530,000 reiceved), American Red Cross ($520,000), Charity: Water ($320,000), Save the Children ($300,000) and World Vision ($84,000).

Train2Game News Race to Elite

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Frontier Developments plc today launched Elite: Dangerous, the fourth game in the groundbreaking, genre-defining Elite series.

Elite: Dangerous is the fourth in the Elite series of games, following on from the seminal 1984 Elite, developed by David Braben and Ian Bell, 1993’s Frontier: Elite 2, and 1995’s Frontier: First Encounters.

Elite: Dangerous was crowdfunded via Kickstarter and Frontier Developments’ own website, beginning in November 2012. Throughout 2014, backers have had access to the game’s Alpha, Beta and Gamma stages.

The story begins today with the Empire in disarray. The Emperor is sick and a bitter fight for succession has already begun. The Federation has a weak President, and some frontier States are looking to leave it.

Players are free to throw themselves into the story wholeheartedly, participate a little, or not at all. How players choose to respond will directly affect the outcome of the current events, and the unfolding story beyond.

Since 1984, players have aspired to be called Elite. In 1984 only the greatest combat pilots were known by the prestigious title.

Today in Elite: Dangerous, Elite status is awarded as recognition for total mastery in either combat, trading or exploration, with the best of the best aspiring to become Elite in all three.

For most, the journey to Elite will be a long one. For some, it will become a race.

Frontier Developments is offering a separate £1,000 cash prize to the first player who attains Elite status for each of combat, trading and exploration, and a further £10,000 prize for the first player to attain the coveted Triple Elite status for total mastery of all three. Player’s choosing to claim one of the £1,000 cash prizes will make them ineligible for the ‘triple’ prize, though one player could get more than one of the £1,000 prizes.

For further details and rules of the competition, visit the Elite: Dangerous forum thread on the competition here

Train2Game News WWE Immortals

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WWE and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are creating WWE Immortals, a free-to-play mobile game that will feature epic Superstar battles in a fantastically re-imagined WWE world.

WWE Immortals is being developed by NetherRealm Studios, the creators of the best-selling Mortal Kombat franchise and Injustice: Gods Among Us, in conjunction with Phosphor Game Studios, and will be available worldwide on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Android devices in 2015.

“It’s amazing to be working with WWE to offer a new way for fans to experience the brand on mobile platforms,” said Greg Ballard, Senior Vice President, Mobile, Social and Emerging Platforms, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “NetherRealm Studios are experts in creating award-winning games and the team is working hard to deliver the same quality of engaging gameplay with WWE Immortals.”

“We are excited to partner with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios to create WWE Immortals and bring a new action-packed mobile experience to our passionate fan base,” said Casey Collins, Executive Vice President, Consumer Products, WWE. “By tapping into NetherRealm’s legendary game development studio along with the unparalleled reach of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, we are creating a new way for fans to engage with the larger-than-life WWE characters.”

Additional details, including gameplay features, will be announced leading up to the game’s launch next year.

Train2Game News GEEK 2015

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Multiplay, hosts of the UK’s biggest gaming festival Insomnia, is delighted to announce a new partnership with GEEK, a festival that is the place to Meet, Make and Play.

GEEK is a growing festival of play and games, held each year in the seaside town of Margate, Kent. A place for families and friends to come together to help create and play whilst having large amounts of fun, GEEK offers digital and analogue activities for both casual and dedicated gamers.

As a result of the partnership, Multiplay will be curating multiple parts of GEEK2015 which takes place from 20th – 22nd February next year.

GEEK has something for all the family. So whether you want to play and compete, relax, learn new skills or get an idea of how to get your dream job using games and technology, GEEK is the place to be.

“We have big plans for GEEK so it is really exciting to be working with Multiplay on GEEK2015. Multiplay has an unrivalled reputation, and their success on a national and international scale with global partners is a result of their outstanding passion for gaming and commitment to excellence,” said Kate Kneale, Director Marine Studios. “Together we can create a really innovative showcase for games, old and new, popular and obscure, innovative and just plain crazy.”

“The undertaking with GEEK is one we are ecstatic to be part of, showcasing the continually rising popularity of gaming events.  We are delighted to once again be working with GEEK for the second consecutive year, and this is just the start of an array of fantastic projects we will be involved with throughout 2015,” said Craig Fletcher, CEO & Founder of Multiplay.  “It’s been yet another fantastic year and we are delighted to now be actively involved with almost every single show in the gaming events calendar, with GEEK2015 at the forefront.”

More information on GEEK2015 will be revealed on the GEEK website www.geek-play.com

Train2Game News Student film maker creating student team

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London based Train2Game student who directed one minute version of Bladerunner is now creating a student team.

Copy Editor, Film Director and Train2Game student; Richard Cosgrove is searching for students to socialise, start a development group and work on portfolio projects.

Experienced storyteller and games enthusiast Richard Cosgrove is reaching out to London based and online Train2Gamers to work on exciting projects and portfolio pieces.  Richard has experience in writing, having worked as a Copy Editor. He is also an experienced story teller, having created his own film and theatre projects. Some of these exciting narrative ideas must have come from his interesting childhood; in the cadets, training in jujitsu and also being an active member of the dramatics society.

New to Train2Game, Richard spent  15 years in magazine production. Richard wants a fresh start in a creative career. He has always played videogames – gradually having less time to do so, and getting pickier with every year. He’s decided game design seems a good way to mix his professional skills, with his creative skills. Richard has a Degree in media production from the University of Luton and has completed numerous training courses related to filmmaking and magazine production.

Interestingly Richard remade the film Bladerunner for a short-film competition, where the entire film is edited to one minute long. If you’d like to take a look, there’s a links to the one-minute version for the competition http://youtu.be/-VJNYaL9Sy8”

Richard Cosgrove, Train2Game Student, said of creating a team and working in games development: “Games design offers a great scope to be creative, tell long-running immersive stories – something I’d enjoy very much – without being limited in scope by the practicalities of reality. Game design is a growth industry worldwide, which seems to have plenty of opportunity for employment across the world. I would prefer to stick to the development and design of games, rather than run my own company. If I did own my own company, I’d need someone doing the business side..”

If you are interested in getting in touch with Richard, please contact the T2G blog or message Mark on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game News Industry legend passes away

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Ralph BaerGames pioneer Ralph Baer, credited with inventing the first video games system has passed away.

The 92-year-old was the brains behind many of the devices that define what the medium has become today, most notably with his work on the very first games console.

Originally known as the Brown Box, Baer’s machine would later be licensed and sold as the Magnavox Odyssey, which launched in 1972, according to GamaSutra. The Odyssey sold hundreds and thousands of units and inspired many competitors, including Atari’s influential title Pong.

He also invented the interactive memory game Simon in 1979 and the first games console peripheral – the light gun – back in 1967. In total, Baer held patents for around 150 inventions.

Baer received a number of awards and honours throughout his career, including the National Medal of Technology, which was presented to him by President George W. Bush.

Born in Germany in 1922, Baer and his family fled to the Netherlands from the Nazis, eventually moving to the United States. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 09.12.14

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Fifa 15The latest game charts is a very quiet one this week with FIFA 15 retaking the number one spot for the first time in six weeks. The only new game to enter is Ubisofts, The Crew which has debuted at number six.

All formats

Week ending 6 December 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 2
2 CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 1
3 – GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 3
4 – FAR CRY 4 UBISOFT 4
5 LEGO BATMAN 3: BEYOND GOTHAM WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 19
6 THE CREW UBISOFT –
7 ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY UBISOFT 5
8 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 10
9 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 12
10 DRIVECLUB SONY COMPUTER ENT. 8
11 JUST DANCE 2015 UBISOFT –
12 MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 11
13 POKEMON OMEGA RUBY NINTENDO 6
14 SUPER SMASH BROS. NINTENDO 13
15 DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 14
16 DESTINY ACTIVISION 17
17 POKEMON ALPHA SAPPHIRE NINTENDO 7
18 HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION MICROSOFT 10
19 WWE 2K15 2K SPORTS 20
20 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 9
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Student in BAFTA programme

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Indie Developer taught by Train2Game selected for BAFTA programme

Nicola Valcasara amongst the elite of the UK games industry accepted to join BAFTA Crew Games 2014

Professional video games creator who learnt his craft with Train2Game, joins experienced UK games developers in exclusive BAFTA scheme. Nicola Valcasara has taken one of 100 places available for Game Practitioners requiring at least two years professional experience in the games industry in the UK. The programme provides exclusive access to: Games Industry mentors, live QAs and podcasts, networking opportunities and scientific research in Game Design. 

Nicola has an outstanding reputation in the Train2Game community, having won a previous design competition with Rapid2D. He now works with another previous TrainGame student, Darroch McNaught, at Indie studio DeuXality Games. He’s set to learn a tremendous amount from  the course, masterclasses and online livestreams cover; Story & Narrative, Games Design, Music & Sound Design, and Game Art. BAFTA Crew Games 2014 is an interactive programme – working with selected participants to tailor the content to their interests and needs.

Working with partners Creative Skillset and Wellcome Trust, BAFTA Crew Games 2014 will shine the spotlight on the collaboration between the games industry and research in medical humanities. Masterclasses will offer the opportunity to access insight from Scientists and researchers from the Wellcome Trust with a specific focus on how research in Biomedical Science can inform Game Design.

Nicola Valcasara, “I applied at the BAFTA Crew games 2014 in September, thanks to a research on the net about funding and game developing events. Now I have been accepted, this is a very nice way to show my face around and I hope it will move me one step further inside the Games Industry. This is a great opportunity to be involved in an interactive programme focused on making wonderful products and allowing me to meet important people in the game industry. I’ll also get to meet the other 99 people like me and share ideas and future projects.”

Train2Game News Tales from the Borderlands Episode One Review

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Tales from the BorderlandsTelltale gave me the absolute pleasure to review Tales from the Borderlands for them and it was a fantastic first episode for the series.

As you may or may not know Telltale have made a name for themselves over the last couple of years by releasing episodic games based on The Walking Dead and the Fables graphic novel. These games had incredible stories with difficult, soul torturing decisions to be made which would affect your entire game.

Now with Tales from the Borderlands they have taken a slightly different approach. As the subject matter is a lot more light hearted the decisions you make aren’t quite as heart wrenching as previously seen from Telltale. The story and characters however more than make up for this.

You play this game as two different main characters, one a disgruntled Hyperion business man and the other a Con woman. Both characters are highly entertaining in there own ways and both have a great side character to go with them.

I would highly recommend this amusingly, entertaining first episode whether you have played a Borderlands game before or not. Obviously you will enjoy it more if you have played Borderlands 1 and 2 but it is not necessary as there is a quick catch up at the beginning of the game.

I am incredibly interested and excited to see where this new Tales from the Borderlands is going to go and how it will evolve. I can see good times ahead!