Category Archives: mobile

Train2Game News Star Wars Battlefront Beta

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Since Star Wars™ Battlefront™ was revealed in April at Star Wars™ Celebration, many have been asking if there would be a Beta. Today, EA are thrilled to finally be able to answer that question, and the answer is yes!

Coming early October to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and on Origin for PC, the Star Wars Battlefront Beta is a technical test and will feature Walker Assault on Hoth and a 40-player multiplayer battle featuring Rebels and the Empire. Walker Assault will give you the chance to play as two of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars™ universe: Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The Beta will also feature a Survival Mission on Tatooine, where you and a Rebel friend must fight back waves of Imperial forces.

In addition to those two modes, EA have announced a brand-new mode that will be available in the Beta, Drop Zone. More details on Drop Zone will be revealed in the weeks ahead.

As part of the Star Wars Battlefront Beta the Star Wars Battlefront Companion experience app was announced. Available during the Beta at www.StarWarsBattlefront.com, the Star Wars Battlefront Companion experience features the strategic card game Base Command, and lets you earn in-game Credits that unlock Star Cards, weapons, and more in Star Wars Battlefront. In addition to Base Command, the Companion app also lets Rebels and Imperials alike check game stats and progression, customize load-outs and appearance, connect with friends, and get notified when they’re playing Star Wars Battlefront – as well as gather intel on their stats and progression so you can see how you match up!

The Star Wars Battlefront Companion will be available on web and in the Apple App Store™ and Google Play™ store prior to the release of Star Wars Battlefront on November 17.

More info regarding the Star Wars Battlefront Beta will be revealed in the weeks ahead.

Train2Game News VS Social media

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Using only a smartphone and a VR headset, cross-platform network vTime allows users to meet and interact with people around the globe.

Networking with friends or alone, users are able to enjoy music, and share images, videos, and spherical media in rich virtual environments. From the majestic beauty of nature through to futuristic urban landscapes, vTime transforms the smartphone into a passport to the metaverse.

vTimers can personalise their experience by customising their avatar’s appearance, creating friends lists, and hosting virtual meet-ups.  Newcomers can quickly expand their social circle and immerse themselves in engaging conversations through vTime Search, which focuses on matching users based on interests and trending topics.

Friends without a headset can still be a part of the conversation by using mono mode – a 2D window into the vTime metaverse. Using a phone or tablet, spectators are able to view live public exchanges happening within vTime, or request an invite to view private chats.

“vTime takes complex technology and makes it simple, beautiful and accessible,” explains Starship CEO Martin Kenwright. “Connecting with friends, old or new, in a wealth of incredible environments couldn’t be easier – simply download the vTime app, put on the headset, and you’re away.

“VR will be huge, but surely biggest of all on mobile where there’s a massive, pre-installed user base. Unlike console and PC headsets, the barrier to entry for mobile VR is low. People are already carrying the devices that will propel VR forward in their pockets. It’s not just for the early adopters, VR is for everybody, and vTime brings social VR to virtually everyone, from virtually anywhere on virtually any device.”

The free and platform agnostic network will launch its open alpha to Android users in November. Compatible with multiple mobile headsets including Gear VR and Google Cardboard, Starship has opened a mailing list for those interested in being the first to experience the network.

Starship will reveal vTime to the press during Oculus Connect in LA in September.

Train2Game News Derp Studios release Warhammer app

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Train2Game students create licensed Tactical Objectives App for Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 table-top game

Derp Studios to release officially licensed App to accompany latest version of popular sci-fi battle game

Independent Video Games and Apps developer, Derp Studios, has created a tactical objectives App to accompany the Warhammer 40,000 board game. The team which includes Train2Game students has been working with Games Workshop to create the App.

The App has been designed to assist in playing the latest version of the popular table top game, offering a digital version of tactical objectives cards which previously were only available on limited edition print runs. This is one of the first ever officially licensed Tactical Objectives Apps which supports the Warhammer 40,000 board game.

Derp Studios join prestigious companies already working with Games Workshop and Warhammer. Games publisher THQ are an official licensee of the popular brand. The company also creates a series of figures based on JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in association with Warner Brothers.

Games Workshop was founded in 1975 in Nottingham is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The incredibly successful UK based company declared revenues of £119.1m in May 2015 for the previous fiscal year.

Train2Game spoke with Derp Studios CEO, Chris Ledger, about the App and working with this incredibly popular brand.

Derp Studios

Chris Ledger, CEO and Lead Designer of Derp Studios, “Derp Studios was formed late 2011 during Make Something Unreal Live 2012 hosted by Train2Game and Epic Games, where we developed a mobile title based on the Fighting Fantasy IP.  Since then we’ve done a couple of self-funded projects and most recently we have become Games Workshop Licensees!”

“The team is made up of core team members and contributors, some Train2Game and some not associated. Both Max Dymond and I are Train2Game students. Max is studying the Art and Animation course and I studied Game Design. I quite enjoyed my course.  It was documentation heavy and there was plenty to keep me going.  I haven’t technically finished the course as of yet since I’ve been running my own studio, however the course definitely helped show the ropes. Applying that knowledge to the real world has certainly got me places. Also, to those students that are torn between study and finding a job in the industry, its okay to put the course on hold, its flexible learning and you can always come back to it.”

Creation of the App

“The Warhammer 40,000:  Tactical Objectives App is one of the first hobby Apps to directly support the Warhammer 40,000 table-top board game.  The aim of the App is to enable players who don’t have a physical copy of either the regular or faction based Tactical Objectives cards to be able to own their factions deck, since the physical copies are on limited print runs. So the app is fairly niche as it appeals to Warhammer 40,000 table-top players, however that doesn’t mean the target audience is small in any way!”

“A few other companies have tried their hands at hobby apps with their own IP’s and there are a few third party apps as well like army list builders and dice rollers being the most common.  Some have worked out well, others not so well.  The WH40k: Tactical Objectives app is the equivalent to the game’s physical tactical objective cards in every way, only digitalised and the maths calculated for you when you score points, draw, discard and achieve objectives.”

“Originally players had to roll 2 D6 (or a D66, two 6 sided dice), to generate objectives from the rulebook each turn.  You had to re-roll any duplicate objectives though which could get frustrating and you then had to make a note of which ones you had.  The physical cards sped that process up and the app further speeds things up by calculating points and adhering to parameters, as well as meeting the demand of players wanting faction based tactical objectives, which as I mentioned before are on limited print cycles.”

“I got sick of rolling D66’s and I used my uber documentation skills and fortunate position in running my own game dev team to write up some high concepts and pitches, which I then sent off to the Games Workshop licensing team who loved the idea.”

“So for all you game designers/app designers out there.  Documentation is still important!  Don’t shrug it off as it can get you places!”

Games Workshop/Warhammer 40,000

“The relationship with Games Workshop began during the beginning of Warhammer 40,000 7th Edition which was released at the end of last year (2014).  The Maelstrom of War missions were the thing everyone was playing (and are still playing today).  I wanted to get myself some regular tactical objective cards but they sold out like hot cakes, especially since they were only a fiver.”

“Games Workshop are really good work alongside with.  They’ve been really supportive and have provided a lot of assets for us to use.  So far it’s been nothing but positive and a really enjoyable experience!”

“We get given digital assets for use in the app which have been originally made for print runs.  So when we get some huge art pieces, I usually sit there mesmerised by all the detail.”

“I have recently visited their HQ in Nottingham, which is also home to Warhammer World, a museum of over 200,000 miniatures, featuring some MASSIVE insanely detailed dioramas.  Also the fact Black Library, Games Workshop and Forgeworld and a massive gaming hall are all in the same room, I was truly the definition of a kid in a candy store.  My wallet is still burning.  On the plus side, my Tau Empire army has some awesome Forgeworld models in it now!”

What’s next

“For Derp Studios this app alone is a big milestone in the company!  I’m not sure what the future holds for more hobby apps within the Warhammer 40,000 IP, however if I’m unable to produce another hobby app then I’d happily make a small licensed video game for them.”

“The app is nearly finished; it’s just being polished up lots and constant testing of in app purchases and things like that. It’s released later this quarter.”

“I’d like to keep working alongside Games Workshop.  They really appreciate what we’re doing and we’re extremely grateful for being accepted as licensees. I have some ideas of what I would like to do but nothing solid at the moment.”

“I’m always writing down designs and ideas and to keep my skills sharp in Unreal Engine 4 I usually dabble with reconstructing a Dire Consequences remake, which I’m pretty pleased about.”

Website:  www.derpstudios.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/derpstudios
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/derpstudios

Train2Game, bringing City & Guilds to the Games Industry

Train2Game is a proud supporter of www.plasisgamesportal.com

Train2Game News Music Package for Unity

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First ready-to-go interactive music packages available in Unity Asset Store

Following the release of their interactive music engine psai®, Periscope Studio have released first “plug-n-play” interactive music packages in Unity Asset Store which are tailored to the psai® engine. Developers can now purchase music which already has been prepared and balanced by game audio Pros for immediate ingame use.

After the release of the interactive music engine psai at the end of last year, now its makers Periscope Studio are breaking fresh ground and have released a first set of comprehensive ready-to-go interactive music packages in Unity Asset Store – all royalty free. Developers no longer have to purchase static tracks and put a lot of effort into preparing them for interactive use within their game – this was the case for any of the common audio solutions. Instead, the psai music packages’ “fully-automated” approach saves precious development time and allows them to achieve high quality interactive music results at ease.

To assure AAA soundtrack quality of their interactive music packages, Periscope Studio has teamed up with the renowned Dynamedion (www.dynamedion.com ), Europe’s most successful provider for videogame music, who contributed music production to titles such as Mortal Combat X, Hitman: Absolution, The Elder Scrolls Online, Angry Birds Star Wars, Guild Wars 2, and many more.

Despite the AAA quality of the interactive music, the packages do not target AAA games though. They have been created with small and mid-sized Unity games in mind, titles made by small teams who want to achieve rich gameplay quality and have limited resources at hand (no fully equipped internal audio team like the huge teams). Due to psai’s low memory footprint it is also a great choice for mobile games.

This first launch includes 5 comprehensive music packages and 10 single themes – all royalty free. Each interactive music package contains 5 interactive music themes, which have been optimized to cover the needs of smaller games. In most scenarios a single package can be sufficient for a whole game. Core elements within a package are: background mood, dynamic action music and catchy main theme – all of them highly adaptive. All music themes convey automatic variation, they can easily adapt to gameplay states and events and provide musically pleasing behaviour of the music. To run the music within a game, the psai Music Engine is required. It is FREE and can also be downloaded in the Unity Asset Store.
The packages debut in Unity Asset Store at $99 each, single themes at $39. At launch there will be a SPECIAL SALE: Get 2 packages at the price of 1 or single themes at $19 (50% OFF)

Furthermore it is worth mentioning, that psai is fully modular, music packages can be easily extended either with other music packages or single themes from Unity Asset Store or by adding own music with the psai Editor standalone application. It is part of the psai Music Engine Pro, which is currently available at Unity Asset Store at $18 (regular price: $45).

“We are truly happy about the launch of our music packages in Unity Asset Store. This is something unique, it combines content and pro audio service in one product. The team put a lot of effort into preparing, testing and fine-tuning the packages. I am not exaggerating when I am saying at a click of a button developers can now have highly immersive interactive music in their games which complies to the highest professional industry standards!”, states Periscope Studio’s MD Jan Werkmeister.

Periscope’s Creative Director Finn Seliger – who was heading the team from Dynamedion – adds: “We thoroughly discussed what would suit current Unity game projects best and what we could produce to let those games truly shine by means of interactive music. We hope developers think alike and like what we compiled for them!”

Train2game News Fallout Shelter now available on Android

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Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced that Fallout Shelter™, the first-ever mobile game set in the celebrated Fallout® universe from Bethesda Game Studios®, is now available worldwide for FREE on Google Play for Android devices.

Praised for its fun, addicting gameplay, and for its player-friendly approach to in-app purchases, Fallout Shelter has received accolades from some of the industry’s leading outlets, earning ‘Game of the Week’ from Touch Arcade and nominations for ‘Biggest Surprise’ from IGN and ‘Best Handled/Mobile Game’ from the official Game Critics Awards.

Today’s launch includes all-new game updates, including the introduction of Mr. Handy – the ultimate robotic companion – as a premium reward. Use him to collect resources inside your Vault, send him into the wasteland to collect caps, or defend your Vault from creatures and disasters, including new Deathclaw invasions and Molerat infestations.

Fallout Shelter is a post-nuclear strategy and simulation experience that puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault. Build the perfect Vault from a variety of rooms, oversee your very own thriving community of Vault Dwellers, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland.

To download Fallout Shelter for Android devices, visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bethsoft.falloutshelter

To learn more about Fallout Shelter, visit the game’s official website: www.FalloutShelter.com.

Train2Game News Derp Studios developing for Games Workshop

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Train2Game student studio Derp Studios has teamed up with Games Workshop to create a companion app for the popular tabletop game, Warhammer 40k.

Derp Studios Ltd is proud to announce the signing of an agreement with THE revolutionary fantasy and sci-fi tabletop wargaming pioneers, Games Workshop, to develop and launch the Warhammer 40,000 – Tactical Objectives App for Apple, Android and Windows Phone 8 mobile devices.

The Warhammer 40,000 – Tactical Objectives App app is a must have for all fans of ‘Warhammer 40,000’ (7th Edition) and is based upon the tactical objective cards used in the ‘Maelstrom of War Missions’. The app will feature all 36 tactical objective cards, as well as providing support for each of the 6 Maelstrom of War Missions. In addition, users will be offered in-app purchases allowing players to add the faction deck of their choice.

As an added bonus, the new ‘Cities of Death’ tactical objectives and missions that were revealed in issues 47 and 48 of the Warhammer magazine, White Dwarf, will also be included in the App Store price!

The Warhammer 40,000 – Tactical Objectives App will be available for purchase via Apple, Android and Windows 8 mobile app stores in Q3 2015, with an initial SRP of GBP £4.99/EUR €5.99/USD $6.99/CAD $6.99. Additional In-app purchases for faction specific tactical objectives will have an SRP of GBP £2.49/EUR €3.59/ USD $3.99/CAD $3.99 each.

“We are truly thrilled to be an officially licensed Games Workshop developer. We’re a small team with a real passion for Warhammer 40,000. We designed the app so all players can have the chance to own a tactical objectives deck for their faction, without the worry and frustration of them selling out, due to high demand” commented Chris Ledger, CEO and Lead Designer, Derp Studios Ltd.

“We are very excited to have developed the first official Warhammer 40,000 hobby support app!”

To request more information on the Warhammer 40,000 – Tactical Objectives App , please contact Chris Ledger at Derp Studios Ltd (contact@derpstudios.com )

    Website: www.derpstudios.com
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/derpstudios
    Twitter: www.twitter.com/derpstudios
    Tumblr: http://derpstudios.tumblr.com

Train2Game News Mobilize your games

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iQU Group today announced the launch of its new outfit, Mobilize, focused exclusively on the mobile games market to help developers self-publish successful mobile titles, engage players and operate profitable games.

In a crowded, confusing market, Mobilize gets involved in the development process early to offer a holistic, bespoke go-to-market and growth strategy with scalable products and solutions. Led by mobile games guru, Oliver Kern, the Mobilize team is already working with established developers such as Hutch Games, Mind Candy and more… and will be rolling out additional services in the coming weeks.

“In today’s saturated mobile games market it’s very important for developers to not only make a great game but to also create a viable strategy to soft-launch, launch, run and monetize their game properly”, said Oliver Kern, the group’s VP and Chief Mobilizer. He continued “There is a lot of noise with too many companies claiming to provide the silver bullet in terms of player acquisition or analytics or some other such service. However, a game is successful when many factors work in harmony. In a nutshell, our goal with Mobilize is to help developers understand all the levers of launching a successful game and maximizing their opportunity when self-publishing their titles. We want to start working with them early on in a project to help create a cohesive strategy for launch, promotion and live operation that will benefit the life and commercial viability of the game”.

iQU Group’s founder and board member, Reinout te Brake, said, “We are very proud to announce the launch of Mobilize as a new addition to the group. For over 5 years, iQU has been helping games developers and publishers increase the value of their games by providing solutions that extend and maximize the player life-time and value of their marketing spend. The current games landscape is extremely complex, with small teams having to master technical, creative, analytical, tactical, marketing and industry knowledge to be successful. With Mobilize we have brought together an experienced, world-class team to help clients navigate this landscape and increase their probability of success.”      
                       
Mobilize services include campaign management, soft-launch management and data analysis, channel expansion to help mobile developers reach every relevant channel, regardless of studio size, and country management to execute international marketing campaigns in French, German, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and English.

For further information on Mobilize, please visit: www.mobilizemygame.com

Train2Game News MineCon 2015 Record Winners

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GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS, the global authority in record-breaking achievement presented MineCon with the Guinness World Records title Largest convention for a single video-game at MineCon 2015 and eight new titles were achieved at the  GWR Live! stand.

The first batch of tickets to MineCon 2015, were sold out within 12 minutes and the full allocation of 10,000 soon afterwards in March this year. The first MineCon in 2011 was attended by just 200 people and just like the game; its success has been meteoric with tickets now earning diamond ore status!

Guinness World Records brought the GWR Live! experience to MineCon 2015 where gamers could take part in the hourly live official record attempts. Over 1000 young gamers visited the stand and eight new Guinness World Records titles were achieved in physical attempts and on Minecraft pocket edition.

13 year old Jake Edwards achieved The most sand castles built in 3 minutes on minecraft pocket edition, creating 14 sandcastles and 12 year old Omar Siraj managed The most cobblestone collected in 3 minutes on minecraft pocket edition, collecting 137 cobblestonesl

Brothers Adrian and Darren Mo walked away with the Guinness World Record title for ‘Most soft toys caught blindfolded in 30 seconds (team of 2)’, managing to catch an impressive 11 Minecraft toys.

No one was able to break the record  for the  fastest time to stack 20 large LEGO bricks but there were some very close misses and the enthusiasm and dedication from the gamers  and excitement on taking part in actual live record attempts more than made up for it!

Lydia Winters, Brand Director at Mojang was excited to receive the Guinness World Records title and accepted the official certificate at the exciting opening ceremony.

Stephen Daultrey Editor of Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition said ‘For a multi-genre games convention to attract 10,000 fans is a big enough feat in itself. But for a convention dedicated to a single video-game to get that number is nothing short of astonishing. This record is testament to the incredible fandom around Minecraft and the game’s ability to unlock the imaginations of millions of gamers around the world.’

A must-have for all gamers the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Gamer’s Edition 2016 is available on 10 September 2015, £9.99 RRP.

Train2Game News DSP Anime for Unity

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Tsugi is pleased to announce the release of DSP Anime version 1.2, a free update of its sound effects creation software.

With a single click, it is now possible to generate several variations of a sound effect, add them as assets to a Unity project, create the meta-files with the right audio settings and even generate a script (in C# or JavaScript) to play these sounds randomly or sequentially, with volume and pitch variations.

Coupled with the powerful procedural audio algorithms of the software, this makes DSP Anime the perfect tool to easily add mesmerizing sounds to a Unity game!

In addition to the new Unity export, DSP Anime 1.2 also brings support for the latest versions of GameMaker: Studio and audio middleware such as Wwise, FMOD Studio, ADX2 and ADX2 LE.

To find out more visit http://www.tsugi-studio.com/?page_id=1041

Train2Game News Online Game Pioneers at Work book

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Entertainment Media Council, the association for business leaders in the video game industry, today announced that the leading history of the online game industry, Online Game Pioneers at Work.

The book is now available in print at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and bookstores around the world and the ebook will soon follow.

In Online Game Pioneers at Work, bestselling author and celebrity interviewer Morgan Ramsay speaks with 16 creative and business leaders in the online game industry, such as astronaut and Ultima creator Richard Garriott, Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen, and Kongregate CEO Emily Greer.

“They tell things just the way they are, without any spin, and with insights freely flowing,” wrote Richard Bartle, the co-creator of the first virtual world, MUD, in his foreword. “That’s either a feature of successful game developers or a testament to Morgan’s interviewing skills. I suspect it’s a combination of both.”

The 412-page book of 15 interviews takes readers behind the curtains of industry titans, like BioWare, CCP Games, and King, to reveal the strategies, sacrifices, and long hours that lead to success in online, social, mobile, tablet, and serious games.

Through every story, Online Game Pioneers at Work ultimately provides a unique look at leading, managing, and growing small businesses into great businesses.