Category Archives: mobile

Train2Game News Eleven year old girl releases game

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My Selfie SafariAspiring game developer, eleven year old, Maddie Beal is proud to announce the worldwide release and availability of her debut game, My Selfie Safari.

Available today as a FREE download on the iOS and Google Play digital app stores, this brilliantly designed debut title features John Maddie and her BFF on a Safari Adventure, requesting the aid of players to help Jesse The Giraffe keep his neck out of trouble by avoiding the clouds and flapping birds. You goal is to meet up with his Safari Friends, and if you need help, you can try on a pair of goggles, but use them sparingly, as only 10 are available (additional goggles obtainable through in-app upgrades).

Featuring 20 addictive levels, you can even congratulate yourself by posing for a selfie with your friend as levels are successfully completed. Maddie herself is stuck on level 14! Are you adventurous and talented enough to beat her in her own game?

My Selfie Safari began as a bonding opportunity with her dad, Dan Beal. He had just built a Minecraft server for her brother, Ben, and with this task complete, Maddie felt it was the perfect chance to spend some quality time with her dad. Inspired by her fascination and love for giraffes and self-portraits, My Selfie Safari blends gameplay mechanics from popular predecessors such as Flappy Bird and Defender, and adds its own personal touch to create a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Featuring an exciting Safari Adventure, crisp colorful graphics, intuitive controls, and 20 challenging levels of fun, My Selfie Safari is a great debut title from Maddie Beal, whom at the age of only 11 undoubtedly has a promising career ahead of her.

Train2Game News New RPG Maker allows mobile ports

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Enterbrain and Degica collaborate on new middleware, which enables first official RPG Maker mobile ports.

Enterbrain recently partnered with Degica to distribute RPG Maker VX Ace, the latest version of the software, outside of Japan. Since teaming up, the pair have developed a new piece of middleware that allows developers to efficiently port RPG Maker games to mobile devices.

The RPG Maker software first emerged back in 1988 and, throughout several iterations, has remained the first choice when it comes to creating both traditional and innovative games in 16-bit.

Degica’s global director of sales and promotion, Mitchell Scott, said: “The RPG Maker software has been a great tool for aspiring and established game developers alike over the past two decades and we’re incredibly proud to be part of that legacy.”

While the majority of projects emulate major franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, numerous teams have capitalised on the flexibility of the engine to create unique experiences.

The likes of To The Moon are widely regarded as genuine indie success stories, with the game receiving numerous awards and praise from established publications and organisations including Gamespot, Wired and the Independent Games Festival.

Earlier this week, Undefeated – the popular RPG Maker title – was unveiled for mobile with a brand new trailer and an iOS/Android release date of 3 October, 2014.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Degica connects the dots between developers, distributors and publishers, and between the Eastern and Western markets. Their recent work with Enterbrain and RPG Maker aims to put the popular development toolkit, and the games it has spawned, firmly on the global map.

Train2Game News Avenged Sevenfolds mobile game release date

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Avenged SevenfoldMulti-platinum hard rock superstars Avenged Sevenfold have pegged October 16, 2014 for the unholy release of their action adventure mobile game, Hail to the King: Deathbat.

Hail to the King: Deathbat is a brutal romp through the darkest depths of the underworld with an epic tale of redemption, devastating melee combat, towering boss fights, 7 hellish landscapes and classic Avenged Sevenfold cuts along with a new and original score composed by the band.

To celebrate the game’s impending release, check out this new teaser showcasing a taste of the action to come:

Hail to the King: Deathbat hits iOS and Android October 16, 2014.

Train2Game News iPhone 6

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Apple® today announced iPhone® 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the biggest advancements in iPhone history, featuring two new models with stunning 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays, and packed with innovative technologies in an all-new dramatically thin and seamless design.

The new iPhones feature a precision unibody enclosure of anodized aluminum that conforms seamlessly with the shaped glass of the display, resulting in a completely smooth and continuous surface. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are engineered to be the thinnest ever, delivering a bigger display in a design that is still comfortable to hold and easy to use.

Packed with innovative new technologies, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include: the Apple-designed A8 chip with second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture for blazing fast performance and power efficiency; advanced iSight® and FaceTime® HD cameras; ultrafast wireless technologies; and Apple Pay™, an easier way to simply and securely make payments with just the touch of a finger. Both models include iOS 8, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, featuring a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience with new Messages and Photos features, QuickType™ keyboard, a new Health app, Family Sharing and iCloud Drive℠.

“iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the biggest advancements in iPhone history,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The iPhone is the most loved smartphone in the world with the highest customer satisfaction in the industry and we are making it much better in every way. Only Apple can combine the best hardware, software and services at this unprecedented level and we think customers are going to love it.”

For the first time iPhone is available in two new sizes: iPhone 6 features a stunning 4.7-inch Retina® HD display with 1334 x 750 resolution, providing 38 percent more viewing area than iPhone 5s, while iPhone 6 Plus features an even bigger 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, providing 88 percent more viewing area and nearly three times the pixels than iPhone 5s. The Retina HD displays offer advanced technologies including higher contrast for deeper blacks and dual-domain pixels for more accurate colors at wider viewing angles.

With second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture, the all-new A8 chip offers faster performance and is more energy efficient, delivering higher sustained performance with great battery life. With Metal™, a new graphics technology in iOS 8, developers can take performance of the A8 chip even further to bring console-class 3D games to iPhone. The A8 chip also includes a new, powerful Apple-designed image signal processor that enables advanced camera and video features.

Both models include the M8 motion coprocessor that gathers motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, compass and the new barometer, which senses air pressure to provide relative elevation. The M8 motion coprocessor can continuously measure your motion data, even when the device is asleep, saving battery life for fitness apps that use the sensors all day. With iOS 8, motion data from M8 appears in the Health app so you can see how many flights of stairs you’ve climbed, or how far you’ve walked or run. Developers can use CoreMotion APIs that take advantage of M8 and HealthKit to create apps that help you take better care of your health and fitness.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus introduce Apple Pay, an easy way to securely pay for physical goods and services in stores or apps with just the touch of a finger. Users can pay securely and conveniently in stores by simply holding the phone near the contactless reader while keeping a finger on Touch ID™; there is no need to unlock your iPhone or launch an app. With Apple Pay, you can also make one-touch purchases within apps, without having to enter credit card or shipping information. All payment information is kept private, encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Element, a chip inside the new iPhones.

The iSight camera gets even better with a new sensor featuring Focus Pixels for faster autofocus, making it easier to quickly capture any moment. iPhone 6 Plus users will also benefit from optical image stabilization technology that compensates for hand shake in low light and works with iOS 8 to reduce subject motion. High-definition video on iPhone improves with faster frame rates up to 60fps for 1080p video and 240fps for slo-mo, as well as continuous autofocus, cinematic video stabilization and time-lapse video. The FaceTime HD camera now captures over 80 percent more light with a new sensor, larger f/2.2 aperture and advanced new features including burst mode and HDR video.

With faster LTE download speeds of up to 150 Mbps, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users can browse, download and stream content faster. The new iPhones also support high-quality voice calls over LTE (VoLTE) as well as Wi-Fi calling. With support for up to 20 LTE wireless bands—more than any other smartphone in the world—the new models make it easier to experience high-speed networks around the world. Both iPhones also include 802.11ac Wi-Fi with speeds up to 433 Mbps and Bluetooth 4.0.

The new iPhones come with iOS 8, the biggest release since the launch of the App Store℠, delivering a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience and new features including QuickType keyboard, a new Health app, Family Sharing and iCloud Drive. With more than 4,000 new APIs, iOS 8 allows developers to further customize the user experience with major extensibility features and robust frameworks such as HealthKit and HomeKit. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users also have access to the revolutionary App Store, which offers more than 1.3 million apps to iPhone, iPad® and iPod touch® users in 155 countries around the world.

iPhone 6 comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model, $299 (US) for the 64GB model and, for the first time, a new 128GB model for $399 (US) with a two-year contract.⁴ iPhone 6 Plus comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) for the 16GB model, $399 (US) for the 64GB model and $499 (US) for the new 128GB model with a two-year contract.⁴ Both models will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, additional carriers and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK beginning on Friday, September 19, and customers can pre-order both models beginning on Friday, September 12.

Train2Game News Mobile Gaming Stats

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Mobile Phone PileOnebip by Neomobile, the global mobile payments service, has published a detailed global analysis of its partners’ customer buying behaviour in the online gaming sector.

Based on the analysis of millions of transactions across 65 countries over the course of a full year, Onebip has uncovered the spending habits of the world’s online gamers.

Gamers are increasingly choosing to pay for their online gaming experiences through the convenience of their mobile phone bill via carrier billing over the more traditional payment methods such as credit cards or PayPal. Onebip’s analysis is able to paint a picture of the spending habits of gamers around the world and the increasing growth in the adoption of mobile carrier billing.

Globally, online gamers spend an average of €4.73 per single transaction. Gamers in the UK spend nearly double this with an average transaction value of €8.94, making the UK the 3rd biggest spender in the world by transaction value.

The average spend per transaction in Switzerland tops the global list at €15.09. This is mainly due to carriers in the country offering gaming companies the option to charge much higher price points to online gamers that pay via carrier billing compared to all other countries. In fact, Onebip’s data found that there was a direct correlation between countries offering higher price points as an option and an increase in the average transaction value i.e. consumers are embracing the use of carrier billing to pay for higher priced items such as larger “bundles” of virtual currency. In bigger gaming markets compared to Switzerland such as Turkey that recently increased the price points available for payment via carrier billing, gaming companies saw an increase in revenue (gross transaction volume) and average transaction value.

In line with common industry trends, the winter holiday period is the busiest time for online gaming spend, with 11% of global spend taking place during the month of December. However, after December, gamers spend more money during the summer period than any other point in the year. The summer months of June, July and August account for 30% of global spend. In contrast April and May are the quietest months with just 4% of annual spend in each month respectively.

Looking at the UK specifically, the most gaming transactions happen in the evening from 18.00 – 23.59 (GMT/UT) with 38% of daily transactions happening during this time. Reinforcing the view that the UK prefers to game into the evening, the UK alone sees an unusual spike in activity during the hour starting at 22.00 GMT where 13% of all daily transactions take place (this is a sharp increase from the hours before and after – 21.00 and 23.00 where only 3% and 5% of daily transactions take place respectively).

While it is true that more transactions take place on Saturday than on any other day in the week, the spike is not statistically very significant, with between 1-2% more transactions on Saturday over on any other day. Clearly gamers are finding time to play all week, or at the least, they don’t feel the need to wait until the weekend to spend their money.

Train2Game News Apple creating jobs

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App Store creator claims credit for half a million jobs in Europe

In a slew of new figures focused around job creation, Apple reports it has paid European app developers a total of $6.5bn since the App Store opened in 2008.

In 2014, the overall app economy is expected to generate revenues of $16.5bn to European GDP, according to figures published by Apple, with worldwide GDP contributions coming in at an estimated $86bn.

The company also claims that 497,000 jobs created in Europe since 2008 can be directly attributed to the App Store.

Of these, 132,000 are directly or indirectly supported by Apple, and 116,000 were created at other companies as a result of Apple’s growth.

“This job growth for coders, developers, entrepreneurs, and others would not have existed without Apple’s innovations and technology,” the firm wrote.

“With more than 1.2m apps and over 75bn downloads, the App Store has created an entirely new industry: iOS app design and development.”

Source: Develop

Train2Game News Talisman on Google Play

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Nomad recreates the original Games Workshop board game for Android devices, complete with expansions and characters.

For fans of Talisman, this new digital edition offers many new ways to enjoy the gameplay and detailed visuals of this iconic card and dice based adventure. Talisman Digital Edition offers AI opponents, multiplayer pass to play, and online competition against anyone with a compatible Android phone or tablet.

Talisman Digital Edition is easy to learn, yet offers depth of play through its variety of character types, magic spells and pure fantasy folklore. Fighting Dragons, performing alchemy or magic and defeating the Grim Reaper are just a few of the many possible scenarios, and each game tells its own unique and memorable role-playing tale.

Talisman Digital Edition is available on the Google Play Store, together with two popular expansions: ‘The Reaper’, which adds many new characters, spells and cards, and ‘Frostmarch’ which also adds alternative endings for faster games.

Don Whiteford, Co-Founder of Nomad Games, said ‘Talisman Digital Edition series is a superb way for friends and family to enjoy fantasy adventure gaming, wherever they are.’

Train2Game News BioShock coming to iOS

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BioShockHavok, a leading provider of 3D interactive game development technology, is providing its industry-leading Havok Physics and Havok Animation Studio technology to 2K Games’ groundbreaking narrative-driven action game, BioShock, which is launching later this summer on the App Store.

Developed by Irrational Games in 2007 with Unreal Engine 3, the original BioShock made extensive use of Havok’s Animation tools, which played an instrumental part in bringing fluidity to the disfigured denizens of Rapture. The game’s liberal use of Havok Physics also brought further immersion into the game world, even becoming a powerful weapon through the use of the in-game Telekinesis Plasmid. After its release, Bioshock quickly became one of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time, garnering universal praise from press and proving to be a huge success with the gaming audience.

The 2K China team has brought this iconic gaming experience to iOS using Havok’s cross-platform toolset to achieve amazing parity between console and mobile versions, including the full dynamic gameplay and character interactions of the classic title from 2007. Seven years after its original implementation, the same robust Physics and Animation technologies ingrained in the original BioShock have seamlessly transitioned onto mobile platforms.

“It’s a true testament to the power and breadth of Havok Physics and Havok Animation Studio that these technologies have seamlessly transitioned from a AAA console title to an amazing mobile experience,” said Brian Waddle, Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Havok. “Just as BioShock redefined the scope of what a game could and should be, the 2K Games team has proven that mobile devices can go beyond simple apps and offer a wholly mature and complete gaming experience akin to those seen on high end gaming platforms.”

BioShock will be available soon via the App Store as a premium title for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Train2Game News Sharknado the game

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Developer Other Ocean (Dark Void Zero, #IDARB, NBA Rush), in partnership with publisher Majesco Entertainment Company, today announced that Sharknado: The Video Game is now available for download on iOS.

Based on the film sequel “Sharknado: The Second One,” players assume the lead role as Fin as they race to destroy a series of shark-infested tornadoes threatening New York City in this thrilling action-adventure game. The game is available in North America starting today for $2.99, in anticipation of the film’s Syfy premiere on July 30.

“The Sharknado movies already exhibit a strange video game logic, so translating them into a work of interactive art wasn’t much of a challenge,” said Sharknado: The Video Game Director Frank Cifaldi. “We still have a soft spot for the licensed games of our childhoods, the ones that took a lot of strange liberties in the name of fun, and I think we’ve succeeded in bringing that feeling to the 21st century.”
“We still haven’t seen the ‘Citizen Kane’ of video games, but at least we have our Sharknado,” he added.

In Sharknado: The Video Game, players will:

    Run through the streets of Manhattan wielding a broadsword

    Bounce off of the backs of tiger sharks to reach higher ground

    Feed buckets of fish to angry sharks to avoid dying

    Surf New York’s flooded avenues, avoiding hammerhead   stampedes

    Collect official Sharknado trading cards

    Fly into the heart of the sharknado clutching tightly to a chainsaw

    Learn valuable lessons about sharks…and themselves

To learn more about Sharknado: The Video Game visit: www.sharknadogame.com

Download available for $2.99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sharknado-the-video-game/id894911633

Train2Game News Game Jam 2014 winner released

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Nom Nom, Nom, Nom…

Game jam winning title from Train2Game student studio 1HPLeft soon to be available on: Google Play, Windows and iOS

Touch screen title that has you avoiding getting ‘Nommed’ by other fish will soon be available to buy on all major mobile gaming platforms. ‘Nom’ really impressed at this year’s Train2Game Game Jam and was judged the best game of over twenty submissions. Judges including Jon Hare, gave it the top prize, giving the development team the impetus to get the game out there and make it available for gamers to buy.

The game is beautiful in its simplicity and completely addictive game play. The characters are designed to have instant personality and help to immerse players in a wonderfully playful environment. Much like popular titles currently available, the game drops the player straight into play and challenges the player to hit a high score in never-ending gameplay.

Controlling a fish with a finger using touch screen technology, players pull and push a character around the screen, eating to get bigger and collect points, while avoiding other fish looking to take a bite out of them. The longer you stay alive, the higher your score will be. But beware you will get bigger and more Nom fishes will arrive on screen to take a bite out of you as your score gets higher. Pick up power ups to improve your survive-ability while whizzing your finger around the screen to avoid your attackers.

The team have promised more updates to come and lots more additions to keep improving this wonderfully playable title.