Train2Game student Fabiano Dias brings you his first video blog in which he talks about why he chose to study with Train2Game.
Watch it here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2GameUK YouTube channel.
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Amanda Blatch is studying to become a Game Artist & Animator with Train2Game. Train2Game Radio caught up with her to find out why she chose to study with Train2Game, how she’s finding the course and how it differs to her time at uni. Listen at www.audioboo.fm/train2game
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All Train2Game students are gamers, and they’ll all have different ideas about various games with some even voicing opinions on the Train2Game forum.
Of course, not all comments about games are positive with gamers demanding various things that for one reason or another won’t be in a particular game.
The upcoming RAGE from ID Software contains shooting, driving and RPG elements, but creative director Tim Willits believes that fans of the game will still find problems with it, things that they believe should be added.
“The worst thing is that everyone wants the kitchen sink and everything else too,” he told Xbox World 360 Magazine.
“For Rage, we’re doing all these things and yet people are like ‘Well I can’t blow up these boxes’, and I’m like ‘Are you serious? We have driving, racing and all these cool characters!’ ‘But in this other game I can blow up boxes’, and I’m like, ‘This other game doesn’t have any racing in it!’
“It’s crazy. Fans: I love them but sometimes they drive us nuts!” he concluded.
Train2Game students probably have criticised certain games, and they may even find fans demanding things from their own games in future!
As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, RAGE will be released with mod tools potentially allowing the community to add the things they believe should be in the game.
As Train2Game students will know, modding is also a great potential path to a full-time role in the games industry.
Rage is scheduled for release on October 7th for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC
So Train2Game, how important is fan input into game development? Would you accept it for your games?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: CVG]
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.
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.
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.
Another batch of Train2Game industry experience diaries. This time we find out what Train2Game Game Developer Darren Price and Train2Game Artist & Animator William Alexander have been up to at DR Studios.
Read them below here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experience website.
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 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 featured prominently at this year’s Develop Conference, with a stand promoting students on the courses. Pardeep Saran is on the Train2Game Game Developer course, and he attended the conference, receiving help at the Train2Game Guru Bar.
The Train2Game blog caught up with Pardeep find out why he chose to study with Train2Game and what he wants to achieve. Listen to the interview at www.audioboo.fm/train2game
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum.
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