Category Archives: Games QA Tester

Train2Game interview with Far Cry 3 Narrative Director Jason Vandenberghe

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Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. While there, we spoke with Far Cry 3 Narrative Director Jason Vandenberghe.

In an in-depth interview, he discussed what his role involves, the game design process behind an open world title, creating believable characters and much more.

He also reveals how he got into the games industry and gives Train2Game students advice on how to follow in his footsteps.

Read the interview below here on the Train2Game blog, or listen via Train2Game Radio.

Far Cry 3 Narrative Director: Using actors and performance capture improves game design

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The use of actors and performance capture is the future of game design. That’s according to Far Cry 3 Narrative Director Jason Vandenberghe, who argues that it improves games making characters more believable, something he believes the industry needs to do more of.

It could be a technology that Train2Game students could use in their future careers.

“I think we’ve been putting up with poor performances and poor writing for too long in the industry” Vandenberghe told Train2Game in a soon to be published interview.

“There’s a lot of people who’ve kind of accepted that it’s just a game so you don’t need to have a good story or don’t need to have good believable characters. Why not? We should have good, believable, strong characters every time.”

The Far Cry 3 Narrative Director believes that as the performance capture technology becomes more readily available, more game developers should take advantage of it.

“We have examples of that, there have been great characters in gaming and we should continue with that, we should expect that” said Vandenberghe.

“I believe that now that the technology for performance capture is becoming more and more available, and we’re learning more about it, I expect the quality bar to rise and I hope you guys (gamers) should be demanding better characters out of your games.”

“What I’m trying to do with this game is raise the audiences’ expectations” he added.

Stay tuned to the Train2Game blog for the full interview with Far Cry 3 Narrative Director Jason Vandenberghe. The title from Ubisoft is set for release next year.

Other games that use motion capture include L.A. Noire and its impressive facial animations, and the Uncharted series which takes input of actors very seriously.

And last month the Train2Game blog reported that Assassin’s Creed: Revelations will also use motion technology.

So Train2Game, is Vandenberg right? Is performance capture and the user of actors the future of the industry? Will it help game designers produce better games?

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

Train2Game students should take the opportunity to game jam, here’s why…

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Train2Game recently announced that a second 48 hour Game Jam  will take place in early November, with full details  about it available to Train2Game students on the Train2Game forum.

Game Jams are an excellent way for any game developer to test their skills, and in an interesting #altdevblogpostaday article, PixoFactor’s Adam Rademacher explains why Game Jams are “best practice” for game developers.

He argues that Game Jams are a great place to improve your abilities thanks to the focused nature of the 48 hour development period.

“The entire weekend you’re thinking about game development” wrote Rademacher.  “Thinking about how to program new features, or how to speed up your art production.  Even if you don’t finish the game on time, it’s not hard to see how it can improve your skills”

“Even if you only learn to write one new function, or one new shader, you’ve improved upon your skillset, and now you have a (hopefully) cool prototype to continue building on.”

Rademacher adds that Game Jams are an excellent opportunity to develop prototypes of games, a practice that’s common in the industry. Indeed, an interview with the Train2Game blog earlier this year, Mediatonic Director Paul Croft revealed that they’re a good way of coming up with new games.

It’s also suggested that Game Jams are a great way of practicing creativity, and in an environment where if the idea doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter.

“It’s easy to set out on a project with all intention to create something innovative and new, then be completely distraught when it’s no fun, or unreasonable to try to finish, or just not as innovative as you thought it would be.  But that’s cool.  Because you’ve only spent a weekend on it.”

The #altdevblogaday piece is a great way for game developers to try out new technology, and learn cool new stuff. This is exactly what Train2Game students will have the opportunity to do at the second official Train2Game Game Jam, in which the Unreal Development Kit will be used to make games! It’s an engine that many Train2Game students won’t have used before.

The importance of Game Jams piece is available in full to read on #altdevblogaday. While full details about the Train2Game Game Jam are on the Train2Game forum.

What are your thoughts on the benefit of Game Jams?

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

[Source: Altdevblogaday] 

Train2Game interview with Hogrocket co-founder Ben Ward

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Hogrocket is a micro-studio founded by three former employees of Bizarre Creations and they’ve just released their first game for iPhone, Tiny Invaders.

 Train2Game recently caught up with Hogrocket co-founder Ben Ward to discuss switching from Triple-A to indie, indie development, and releasing games for the iPhone.

Ben also revealed how he got into the games industry and gave advice on how Train2Game students can attempt to follow in his footsteps. Read the interview below, or listen to it via Train2Game Radio. 

 

Train2Game Hits Eurogamer Expo 2011 with Students, Gurus and more

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Train2Game will be taking Eurogamer  Expo 2011 by storm with its biggest presence yet inviting anyone interested in joining the games industry to meet course advisors, current students and the brains behind the syllabus at the Train2Game stand.

Furthermore, keep your eyes peeled for Train2Game students across the show floor in bright orange T-shirts and grab the opportunity to hear more about the course, its future and how you can join the industry.

As part of Train2Game’s commitment to face-to-face time as a key part of students’ education, the show also provides another opportunity for those currently enrolled to touch base with their tutors and meet fellow course mates in the flesh. Building on the strong community established on the Train2Game forums, when the students come together, it’s often a key catalyst for spin-off projects and experiments.

Train2Game will also be running a competition for students to share photos of themselves wearing their T-shirts and win an iPad 2 with accompanying iOS Developer account, kick-starting their ability to develop for the platform. In addition, every photo uploaded to the Train2Game Facebook page will result in a donation to the charity, Child’s Play; a charity which donates consoles, games, books and toys to sick children in hospital.

“Our students are the best out there – they love the industry, they know their stuff and one day they’ll be exhibiting at events like Eurogamer for themselves” said Train2Game Course Director Tony Bickley

“In the meantime, we’re delighted to have hundreds of independent ambassadors representing us at the show, alongside our own stand for anyone who wants to learn more.”

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

Train2Game competition: Codebox #1 – calling all coders!

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Here it is the first of the new Train2Game monthly competitions – this month is the turn of the coders. We will need you to go to Student World to read the Terms and Conditions, they can be found in the ‘classroom section’.

All the information you need to enter is on the Competition thread on the Train2Game forum.

When submitting your entry you must confirm in the body of the email that you have read, understood and accept these Terms and Conditions.

Send your answers in to codeboxcompetition@drstudios.co.uk.
Closing date for entries is Monday, September 12th. We will announce the winners the following week.

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.

Due to the nature of floating point values, the exact result will be impossible to store in a double, so the winner will be the Search() function which comes the closest. In the event of identical results, the speed of the Search() function will be taken into account. In the event of identical speeds, the result will be drawn out of a hat. The decision of the judges will be final.

Good luck!


					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Train2Game interview with UFC Undisputed 3 Producer Neven Dravinski

			
						

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Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. While there, we spoke with UFC Undisputed 3 Producer Neven Dravinski.


In an in-depth interview, he discussed what his role as producer involves, the game design process, the art & animation techniques used to model fighters, and much more.


Dravinski also reveals how he got into the games industry and gives advice on what Train2Game students should do to follow in his footsteps. Read the full 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 Halo: Anniversary developers 343

			
						

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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

			
						

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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

			
						

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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.