Train2Game News: Minecraft Expo

MinecraftThe Minecraft Expo is heading to the UK this August and as many of the Train2Game students are Minecraft fans, it may be a good place to get together.

Taking place at the Insomnia 49 event between August 23 and 26, the event offers free to enter Minecraft game tournaments, Minecraft talks and presentations and an exhibition showcasing creations from the community.

There will also be costume competitions, creative build challenges for schools and a Minecraft Lounge.

Special guests currently include Youtube players – Yogscast and Mindcrack, Film makers – Hat Films and Minecraft builders – The NoxCrew.

“Each time we host an Insomnia event, the community amazes us with its passion, making each event bigger and better than the last,” said event organiser Multiplay CEO Craig Fletcher.

“With the runaway success of Minecraft, we’ve answered the call from devoted fans by creating the UK’s first Minecraft Expo, and we can think of no better place to host it, than the UK’s biggest gaming festival.”

The Insomnia event hosts a number of eSports tournaments, and to date organisers say more than 3,000 spaces have been reserved for ‘bring your own PC and Console’ tickets.

There will also be various development talks taking place at the event.

Up to 15,000 visitors are expected to attend, with over two million watching video streaming of the eSports events online.

Insomnia 49 and the Minecraft Expo will take place in Telford and the Telford International Centre, between August 23rd and 26th.

Visit the official website for more information.

Train2Game News: Fable remake coming to Xbox 360

Fable AnniversaryLionhead started off the day by teasing a HD remake of the original Fable for Xbox 360.

The British studio released a video, simply titled ‘Fable Teaser Trailer’, and also embedded it in a blog post titled ‘An Exciting Teaser to Start the Day’, which simply read, “Here’s a sneak peak at a little something we’ve been working on…”

Microsoft has confirmed that the new game from Lionhead Studios will be Fable Anniversary, a HD remake of the original Fable for Xbox 360 including The Lost Chapters, added Achievements, SmartGlass integration, leaderboards, new UI, and a full 1080p HD visual update.

Other new features confirmed for the release include a new lighting system that utilises Unreal 3 to render the lighting, a new facial animation system, new cutscene animations, plus updated textures, models, particle effects, save system and more.

Ted Timmins, the lead designer on the game, calls it “The game that Fable fans have been demanding for years.” He also explained that the new Achievements will try to do something a little different: “Fable has always been about choice and consequence, so we’re trying to put that into our Achievements.”

Interestingly, Timmins revealed Microsoft’s intent to support Xbox 360 into the next-gen following the release of the Xbox One, saying “Obviously the Xbox 360 isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s very important, to all of us, that we carry on delivering on it.”

Fable Anniversary is currently slated for a 2013 Holiday release on Xbox 360 only.

You can enjoy the teaser trailer that started the buzz, below:

Train2Game News: MIT makes educational engine open source

MITGameLabMIT Game Lab has released the source code for an engine it hopes will inspire developers to create educational games exploring special relativity.

The OpenRelativity toolset was used to create A Slower Speed of Light which MIT News reports was based around the question, “what would it be like if relativity was part of your everyday life?”.

Special relativity is a complex topic that lends itself to visual representation, and the tools allow developers to simulate the visual effects of travelling at near-light speeds.

“Education can be assisted through the use of games and other interactive media, especially for topics that frequently are hard to understand and visualise,” said MIT Game Lab’s Rik Eberhardt.

Educational gaming is a growing field and as more developers take an interest in using the medium as a teaching tool they need tools that support their efforts.

“The MIT Game Lab is built around this idea that play is extremely powerful, and one thing games are good at is giving people an intuitive grasp of complex scientific ideas,” said MIT Game lab creative director Philip Tan.

The effects of near-light speed travel is recreated by effectively slowing everything down to about walking speeds, allowing the events to be experienced at a scale closer to normal reality.

The source code for the OpenRelativity engine and toolset is available on Github and runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

A story such as this one is a perfect example of how the games industry influences and helps the rest of the world.

Train2Game News: Etoo coming to London

EtooNot making it to E3 this year? Fear not: London will be getting its own indie gaming alternative, which will coincide with the major LA-based gaming convention.

Taking place at the Loading Bar in Soho from June 10 – 13, the brilliantly named, EToo will feature over 30 game developers showing off their latest projects on big screen TVs around the venue. The event is being sponsored by PlayStation, with GameStick, the forthcoming Android console from British tech company PlayJam, as a partner sponsor.

Developers set to show off new titles at the event include New Star Games (with an unseen new build of New Star Soccer!), Hello Games (Joe Danger), Mediatonic (showing forthcoming title, Foul Play), Nyamyam Games (Tengami), Big Robot (Sir You Are Being Hunted), Simon Roth (Maia), Tom Francis (Gunpoint), Tiniest Shark (Redshirt), Alistair Aitcheson (Slamjet Stadium), Curves Studios and Projector Games (Fortress Craft). Capcom will also be in attendance, running playable demos of Lost Planet 3 and the new HD version of classic platformer Duck Tales. More mainstream publishers are to be announced.

As headline sponsor, PlayStation will be in attendance, with Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us playable, as well as innovative platform adventure Rain and perhaps some surprise extras. David Wilson, Head of PR for PlayStation UK said, “PlayStation is pretty excited about EToo. As well as giving attendees the chance to witness our E3 conference live, there’ll be loads of time to get hands on with a range of awesome games from the blockbuster, The Last Of Us, to the small but beautifully formed Rain”

PlayJam will be showing off its innovative Android console, GameStick, set for launch in July. Sameer R. Baroova, head of games at PlayJam commented, “What better way to celebrate the most exciting week in gaming than to spend it playing awesome games, meeting developers and gamers, and discussing all things gaming. We are  excited to show off GameStick at EToo, and are very glad to be a part of it. Cheers to Keith and Georg for putting this together.”

“This started off with me sulking on Twitter about not being able to go to E3,” says co-organiser Keith Stuart, the games commissioning editor at The Guardian. “Game developer Georg Backer replied and said we should do our own event. It probably should have ended there, but somehow it didn’t. The next thing is, Jimmy Dance, the owner of Loading Bar in Soho, was offering to host it. It was sort of like one of those Hollywood musicals – ‘hey, let’s put a show on right here’. But with less dancing.

“We’re hugely grateful to Sony and PlayJam for covering the costs of this crazy endeavour so I don’t have to explain to my wife why I’ve spent most of our life savings on hiring video equipment.”

Developers will demo their latest games throughout the day, as well as taking part in mini-talks and maybe even workshops. During the evenings, the event will also be running a live-streamed TV show from one corner of the bar, presented by Keith Stuart, Georg Backer and co-hosts including Rock Paper Shotgun writer Cara Ellison. Streamed via a dedicated YouTube channel and set to be embedded on the Guardian site, the programme will include E3 news and trailers, as well as developer interviews. Several guest stars are set to appear, including famed GoldenEye designer Martin Hollis. Popular gaming radio show OneLifeLeft will also stage a takeover event and mini-disco. More details soon!

EToo takes place from June 10-13. The daily developer event is free to attend for the public, but anyone interested needs to pre-register. The evening livestream show, taking place between 7pm and midnight every night, will cost £6 to attend. This includes a free drink. Tickets and pre-registrations are available at http://etoolondon.eventbrite.com.

For more information and regular updates, head to the official website  www.etoolondon.com and follow us on twitter @etoolondon

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 Games – 03.06.13

Grid 2Codemasters speed to the top of the Chart for the first time since ‘F1 2010’ back in 2010 thanks to Grid 2.  The sequel goes one better than its predecessor which could only manage number 2 five years ago. Apart from that, the top twenty is very quiet with no new entries this week.

All formats

Week ending 1 June 2013

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 GRID 2 CODEMASTERS
2 FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 2
3 DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE DEEP SILVER 4
4 FAR CRY 3 UBISOFT 8
5 RESIDENT EVIL: REVELATIONS CAPCOM 1
6 ASSASSIN’S CREED III XBOX 360 CLASSICS 6
7 METRO LAST LIGHT DEEP SILVER 3
8 DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS NINTENDO 5
9 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 12
10 TOMB RAIDER SQUARE ENIX 7
11 BIOSHOCK INFINITE 2K GAMES 18
12 LUIGI’S MANSION 2 NINTENDO 9
13 NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES 15
14 CRYSIS 3 EA GAMES
15 LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: THE CHASE BEGINS NINTENDO 10
16 SKYLANDERS GIANTS SKYLANDERS 20
17 LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
18 INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 11
19 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV XBOX 360 CLASSICS
20 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM XBOX 360 CLASSICS
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 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: Games Industry News – 31.05.13

Son of NorIt’s the end of the week so it is time for the Games Industry news round up!

Son Of Nor developers stillalive studios have today released a brand new video detailing how final gameplay will look and function. stillalive studios are also thrilled to announce support for the Oculus Rift device! Gamers will be able to immerse themselves in the lore and adventure of Son of Nor deeper than ever before by using this hugely exciting virtual reality device in game. You can enjoy the final video, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wR3HrvRzSc

Video Games: The Movie has passed its Kickstarter goal – with nineteen days still to run. With an impressive pitch and reams of interviews with industry luminaries already recorded, the project has passed its goal easily – with over six hundred generous backers contributing over $71,000 at the time of publishing. The funding requested originally was set to be put towards post-production costs, including editing, the film’s musical score, and costs of purchasing licensed archived video footage. With the sixty thousand dollar question answered emphatically, Mediajuice has announced stretch goals for the movie: should it reach $80k, the film will include “celebrity voiceover narration”; $100k will allow the producers to purchase rights to “popular songs”; $120k will allow a musical score by “a famous band and/or composer” to feature in the film. You can enjoy the Kickstarter promo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTfYyIR9yMI&feature=player_embedded

After failing to find a publisher for Whore of the Orient the team behind LA Noire have found a new studio, Intuitive Game Studios, in Australia, and hopes to stem the tide of talent exodus heading to Canada or the like. Design lead Alex Carlyle and storyboard artist Kelly Baigent are the founders but no word on what game they’ll be working on, but it will be a new IP. The kind of tech in LA Noire, and Whore of the Orient was going to take advantage of, is now well out of their reach, but it’ll be interesting to see what the guys behind it can think up.

Critically acclaimed puzzle platformer, Limbo, is being release on PS Vita next week. Playdead CEO and co-founder Dino Patti said in a post on the PS Blog: “As we approach the third anniversary of Limbo, the game is finally ready for handheld devices.” The puzzle platformer was released on Xbox Live Arcade in July 2010, and remained an exclusive on the system until it released for PS3 a year later. Playdead said in 2012 that it doesn’t expect its next game to see the light of day for “at least two years”.

Finally the tiniest teaser to set the gaming universe a buzz, at an exclusive press conference in San Francisco, Razer will unveil the bold new vision designed to transform the gaming experience, forever. You can enjoy the teaser trailer for this new vision, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbqwf7SrK7Q

Train2Game News: Humble Bundle 8

Humble Bundle 8The eighth official Humble Bundle has been out for a few days and has some amazing games included.

This latest pay-what-you-want affair for charity comes with Little Inferno, the charming puzzler with a killer soundtrack; the subterranean Metroidvania adventure Capsized; the profoundly beautiful first-person stroll-’em-up Dear Esther; the minimalist narrated platformer Thomas Was Alone; and the colourful multiplayer platformer Awesomenauts.

If you pay above the average, which at the time of writing is $5.45, you also get the highly popular Hotline Miami, which Eurogamer gave a massive 10/10, and the chirpy, abstract exploration game Proteus.

Every title in the bundle is available for PC, Mac, and Linux, which several of these games are debuting on with this bundle.

Proceeds are split between the developers, Child’s Play, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the bundle organisers. As per the usual routine, you can decide which of your money goes where.

The Bundle has already made $1,295,199.86 (and rising) from 227,826 sales. It reached the $1m milestone after just 18 hours. Currently the customer that has paid the most for the bundle is Markus “Notch” Persson with a purchase price of $5,000.

You can enjoy an amusing video detailing the Humble Bundle 8 below:

To purchase the Humble Bundle 8 you can go to www.humblebundle.com

Train2Game News: Train2Game Radio – Ryan Mitchelson

Rage Quit GamesI spoke to Ryan Mitchelson recently about his position with Train2Game, his new game and his feelings on the Unity engine.

The site mentioned in the interview is still under construction but does have links to their social media if you would like to learn more about the company.

You can listen to the interview here: http://audioboo.fm/boos/1422444-train2game-radio-talk-to-ryan-mitchelson

Or read the following Transcript:

Hi I’m Ryan from Fife.

Hiya Ryan, how you doing mate?

I’m doing good, how about yourself Mark?

I’m not to bad ta muchly! So what have you been up to lately Ryan, what sort of things have you been doing?

Recently I’ve been working on getting prototypes put together for a game that I’m trying to establish, along side trying to set up a company for myself and the people that I work with.

What game is it that you’ve been working on? If you can say.

The game is called Bounce. The aim of the game is to keep a ball bouncing throughout the entire level. There’s going to be several different levels to the game with obviously getting more and more complex as they go by. Oh and it’s a physics based game as well so hopefully it will be an interesting game for people to play.

You said you were working with other people, who is it you’ve been working with?

Recently I’ve been working with Laurence Kinane.

Yeah he’s a Train2Game student isn’t he?

He’s currently a Train2Game student, at the moment he is trying to finish off his course so that we can work full time on games together.

So what’s your position now with Train2Game?

Well I decided to, after a while, not continue with the Train2Game course mainly due to financial reasons, but I have learned a lot from them and I’d like to say thank you for the knowledge I have gained from Train2Game, but at the moment I don’t really have any position with them, I am just trying to establish my own company.

Fair enough. Do you have a name for the company?

It’s called Rage Quit Games.

Something every nerd can get behind!

Oh yeah definitely! That’s why we decided to go with that name, we thought it would be appropriate.

Yeah we have all had a Rage Quit at some point or another!

Oh yeah, I think it happens daily for me to be honest.

So what is it you are making Bounce with at the minute?

We are using Unity.

You’re using Unity are you? How are you finding using that?

Using Unity is absolutely amazing! To be honest the thing I love most about Unity is being able to build extensions on top of it. One example being that I use Visual Scripting system, one of them called Playmaker which is an incredible powerful extension that allows me to essentially script the entire game just using little boxes that I connect together, each box has a certain amount of information in it.

Excellent! So yours is a coding background then I imagine?

Not so much, I am much more of a designer at heart. That’s why I decided to go with a visual scripting system because I did try to learn coding but I found it just wasn’t for me. I eventually just ended up really stressed out with it.

Yeah, I have tried learning code myself a couple of times and it does just look incredibly daunting whenever you look at it.

It is! I mean, it does make sense when you actually look at a sheet of code you can understand and edit it, well for me anyway I can edit things and make them work as I see fit, but writing code from scratch and remembering everything is the most difficult part for me personally.

Did you say you have a website in design at the minute or is out and about with people to see?

It’s almost out and about, I reckon by the time this interview goes up, it will probably be ready and available to the public to go and have a look.

Perfect then so if you’d like to give me a link so everyone can go and have a look at it?

It’s www.ragequitgames.co.uk

That’s perfect.

Is that ok?

That’s perfect and excellent so everyone can go and have a look see at that now.

Excellent

Well thank you very much for your time today Ryan and I will talk to you soon.

Not a problem, thank you for having me!

Train2Game News: What’s inside the cube!

curiosity-whats-inside-the-cube-22 Cans’ debut project, the iOS and Android title Curiosity, has finally come to an end, with the UK-based winner receiving his life changing prize.

Since November 6 last year, the intriguing mobile and tablet game has drawn in about five million users, according to creator Peter Molyneux. If you are unaware of Curiosity: What’s inside the cube, the game asked players to tap away at tiny cubelets which together formed layers of a massive cube.

Now, some seven months later, user Bryan Henderson from Edinburgh has reached the centre of the cube and received what Mr Molyneux said would be a “Life changing prize”.

Once Bryan tapped the final cube, a video was revealed to him detailing his prize and in my opinion, it certainly can be life changing.

The video revealed that he will be granted the role of God in 22 Cans’ next project for PC and iOS, Godus.

“As God, the Curiosity winner will decide the rules under which the Godus game is played by and even share in the success of the product” said Molyneux.

“Every time people spend money on Godus, you will get a small piece of that pie,” he explained.

“It means that you will decide on how people will play a game. You will accrue riches from that game, from the start until the finish of your reign. That, by any definition of the word, is life changing.

“You will have fame, you will have fortune and you will have the power to introduce morals into a game.”

Molyneux went on to say the idea of having a single player act as god over an entire game genre came to him many years ago, but “it’s only now when we’re all connected that we have the power to do it.”

Molyneux also confirmed that 22 Cans may undergo another gaming experiment that’s “even more intriguing” in the future.

You can enjoy the video Bryan shared after clicking that final cube, below:

Train2Game News: Train2Game in The Guardian

Train2Game and Icey Monty have been mentioned in an article in The Guardian news paper.

Under the Learn and Earn heading in the paper they talk about Nick Walker of Train2Game Student Studio Icey Monty. The article discusses how Nick runs his own app creating company at the age of nineteen and lives debt free, allowing him to enjoy a healthy social life, with never going to University.

Click to enlarge the image to read the article.

The Guardian 28 May 2013 T2G