Category Archives: Parent

Train2Game News: Valve teaching with portals in education initiative for schools

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Valve will be giving away Portal 2 for free in its Teach with Portals initiative to help the teaching of physics and critical thinking in schools.

“The buzz surrounding the new role video games are playing in education, we had to throw our hat in the ring. Today, innovative educators are finding ways to incorporate Portal™ and Portal 2 into their classrooms—helping teach physics and critical-thinking skills. It’s eye-opening to see how video games can be used in amazing and unexpected ways to help educate our next generation.” reads a statement from Valve on www.learnwithportals.com/

“Using interactive tools like the Puzzle Maker to draw students in makes physics, math, logic, spatial reasoning, probability, and problem-solving interesting, cool and fun, which gets us one step closer to our goal – engaged, thoughtful kids!” add Valve

Students will also be able to design their own levels using the Portal 2 perpetual testing initiative level creator.

Watch the learn with portals education initiative in action in the video below, with Valve demonstrating Portal 2 to high school students.

There’s more Portal 2 news here on The Train2Game Blog, while you can keep reading for the latest from Valve.

What are your thoughts on the learn with portals iniative? How else can games be an educational tool?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game News: “I really enjoy making games, it’s just fun” – Sid Meier

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Even after 30 years in the games industry, Civilization creator and Firaxis co-founder Sid Meier still has fun making “very cool” things.

“I really enjoy making games, it’s just fun. It’s like taking a lumpy piece of clay and turning it into something very cool. Every day is part of that process. Not knowing exactly where we are going and figuring it out step by step is just a challenge. It’s almost like the “one more turn” phenomenon in Civilization.” the games industry veteran told GamesIndustry.biz, adding that the element of surprise is something he’s very fond of.

“ It’s looking to that next thing we are going to add to the game and seeing how we can just make it better. The fun for me is really not knowing from week to week what cool thing we are going to add and getting a chance to play with it and tweak it and the constant process of seeing a game grow before your eyes.” said Meier.

His enthusiasm for developing games after so long is sure to be an inspiration to Train2Game students.

Earlier this week, The Train2Game Blog reported that Meier believes the first 15 minutes are key to enjoyable game design.

Meier’s Firaxis Games are currently working on a reimagining of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and there’s more about the studio here on The Train2Game Blog.

Is the fact that Meier is still so enthusiastic about creating games after 30 years encouraging for you?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game student industry experience diaries: Jonny Robinson at DR Studios week 44

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Train2Game game designer Jonny Robinson is on a Train2Game work placement at DR Studios. In his latest industry experience diary, he discusses the importance of knowing when to relax while working in the busy world of the games industry.

Read it below or on our Scribd page , and catch up with Jonny’s previous diaries here on The Train2Game Blog. 

Train2Game News: “There’s never been a better time to run your own gig” – Ian Livingstone

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Now is a better time than ever been before for an aspiring game developer to run their own business. That’s according to Eidos life president and games industry veteran Ian Livingstone who was speaking at BAFTA’s Games Question Time.

“There’s never been a better time to run your own gig” said Livingstone, after praising the introduction of games tax relief earlier this year. The Fighting Fantasy co-author added that the rise of digital downloads and trends such as monetisation through free-to-play have all contributed to making it easier than ever to set up an independent games studio.

Ian Livingstone was one of a number of industry figures who aided in mentoring Train2Game students taking part in Make Something Unreal Live last April. The Games Workshop co-founder said he was “delighted” to be part of the initiative.

There’s more from Ian Livingstone here on The Train2Game Blog.

Do you agree with Ian Livingstone in believing that now’s a better time than there’s ever been to do your own thing?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game industry experience diaries: Will Alexander at AppCrowd – week 12

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Train2Game Artist Will Alexander is his final week of aTrain2Game work placement at AppCrowd. In his final industry experience diary from AppCrowd, Will discusses finalising projects and his hopes for the future.

Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement  here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

There are plenty more Train2Game student industry diaries here.

Train2Game industry experience diaries: Stuart Davision at AppCrowd – week 12

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Train2Game game developer Stuart Davison  is on a Train2Game work placement with AppCrowd. In his latest industry experience diary, he talks about different types of coding, and how he’s keen to more programming languages.

Read it on The Train2Game Scribd page, or here on The Train2Game Blog. There are more Train2Game industry experience diaries here. 

Train2Game News: New DR Studios title ‘My Sea Park’ has huge Train2Game student input

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Train2Game students on work placement at DR Studios have played a big part in developing My Sea Park; the latest title from the Milton Keynes based game producers.

The upcoming free-to-play iOS title allows you to build your own sea park full of penguins, dolphins, killer whales, giant squids and more.  You can find out more by liking the My Sea Park Facebook page.

Find out more about Train2Game students on work placement at DR Studios in their industry experience diaries, right here on The Train2Game Blog.

As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game student industry experience diaries: Stuart Davison at AppCrowd – week 11

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Train2Game student Stuart Davison  is on a Train2Game work placement with AppCrowd. He returns with a new industry experience diary in which he discusses scripting and what he’s learned to appreciate about other disciplines.

Read it on The Train2Game Scribd page, or here on The Train2Game Blog. There are more Train2Game industry experience diaries here. 

Train2Game student industry experience diaries: James Bouckley at Unity – week 11

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Train2Game student James Bouckley  is on a Train2Game work placement at Unity. In his latest industry experience diaries, he discusses making mechanics work and testing a game.

Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement  here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

Train2Game industry experience diaries: Ben Stoneman at Unity – weeks 5-10

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Train2Game student Ben Stoneman  is on a Train2Game work placement at Unity. In his latest industry experience diaries, he updates on everything that’s been going on since his previous diary.

Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement  here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

More Train2Game industry experience diaries are right here on The Train2Game Blog.