Train2Game game developer Lionel Adams has recently started a Train2Game student industry experience placement at DR Studios.
In his first update from the Milton Keynes studio, Lionel tells us how he’s settling in, what it’s like getting a feel for unity, and informs us of the experience of being thrown in at the deep end!
Read Lionel’s first industry experience diary update on the Train2Game Scribd site, or here on the Train2Game Blog.
Train2Game game designer Jonny Robinson is on a Train2Game work placement at DR Studios. In his latest industry experience diaries, Jonny describes the experience of winning Make Something Unreal Live with Commando Kiwi, visiting SCEE, his excitement for DR Studios upcoming game and more.
Read what Jonny has to say about his Train2Game work placement here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page. There’s more from Jonny here.
Train2Game has been hailed as a “fantastic opportunity” for people to get involved in the games industry by Ian Livingstone, Life President of EIDOS and co-author of Fighting Fantasy
The games industry legend was speaking to us at Train2Game and Epic Games’ Make Something Unreal Live, where four teams competed to build games based on Fighting Fantasy books for iPhone and iPad. He was one of the judges that decided Commando Kiwi was the winner.
“I’m delighted to be part of this Train2Game initiative. I’ve been in the games industry since 1975 when Steve Jackson and I started Games Workshop.” said Livingstone.
“We had our first Fighting Fantasy game book in 1982, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and here we are thirty years later judging a competition in the world of digital entertainment where people have taken have taken our book and transformed it into a very playable iPhone and iPad game.”
“And it’s great to see young talent coming through because I would say the UK is one of the most creative nations, if not the most creative nation in the world. It’s important that we support the young talent coming through.” Livingstone continued, before hailing Train2Game for giving more people the skills needed by the industry.
“Initiatives like Train2Game are fantastic, to get people who might not have known there’s a worthwhile career in games, recognising it as worthwhile, and being empowered with the skills to be able to make a contribution with real skills. It’s a fantastic opportunity today.” he said.
Watch the full video interview below.
As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
Train2Game Game Designer Chris Robinson returns with the latest news about his Train2Game work placement at AppCrowd.
Appcrowd CEO Rick Alexander is one of the industry professionals that appears in our mentors panel discussion video from Gadget Show Live.
In his latest industry experience diaries, Chris discusses ‘crunch’ time, how he believes the Train2Game work placements will help him find permanent work, and working on designing levels.
Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.
There are more diaries from Chris here. As usual, leave your comments here on this post, or on the Train2Game forum.
Train2Game students recently took part in Make Something Unreal Live, a game development contest co-sponsored by Epic Games which took place at The Gadget Show Live in April.
Four teams received mentoring from high profile industry figures as they completed games based on the iconic Fighting Fantasy series. The winning team, Commando Kiwi walked away with a fully licensed Unreal Development Kit for i OS, while all four games will be published on the App Store through Appynation.
Now, here’s a 15 minute Train2Game documentary about Make Something Unreal Live. The video features all four teams that took part – Commando Kiwi, Digital Mage, Derp Studios and Indigo Jam – talking about their experiences.
Not only that, but industry figures including Unreal’s Mike Gamble, Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski, Peter Molyneux, Fighting Fantasy creators Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson.
Watch it on the Train2Game YouTube channel, or here on The Train2Game Blog.
Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
Train2Game student Rudi Will is on a Train2Game work placement. In this industry experience diary, Rudi discusses designing games and meetings with a publisher.
Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.
Read more Train2Game student industry experience diaries here on The Train2Game Blog.
Train2Game student James Bouckley is on a Train2Game work placement at Unity. In his latest industry experience diaries, he discusses working with pathfinding and more.
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.
Train2Game student teams recently took part in Make Something Unreal Live at The Gadget Show, a contest in association with Epic Games that saw winners Commando Kiwi walk away with a fully licensed Unreal Development for Ios. Their winning title was a game based on Fighting Fantasy book The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.
During the course of the show, Train2Game news spoke to art & animation student and Commando Kiwi member Cat Forsyth. In an interview that was recorded before the winners were announced, she told us how she was finding the experience, and even mentions the possibility of a job offer!
Read the interview here, or listen via Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
Cat, can you tell me what course you’re on, please?
I’m on the Train2Game Art & Animation course, and I’ve been doing it for about a year.
And how did you get into that?
I was actually a jeweller beforehand by trade, business was beginning to get a bit slow, so I decided to take the opportunity for the Train2Game course advertised, and I applied for the Art & Animation course, and here I am now.
And how are you finding the course so far?
I’m enjoying the course very much. Unfortunately, because of The Gadget Show, I haven’t actually done anything in several months, but fingers crossed when the dust settles after this event, I’ll get back onto it.
How did Commando Kiwi, the team that you’re on, come about?
We went to the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam in November last year. None of us had met each other before and we got put together as a team, came up with the name Commando Kiwi, and that’s where we started.
What’s your role on the team?
I’m the UI Artist for the team, I’m predominantly doing the user interface, graphics, buttons, things like that.
So what’s been happening over the last few days?
Basically, we’ve sped up out working process; it’s a lot easier to work all together in one room. It’s a culmination of the last three or four months and we’re fine tuning things, tweaking things, making the game run smoother, things like that.
It must have been hard over the last few months, working towards this show and doing your studies at the same time.
A little bit, I think I sit on my computer until about 11 o’clock at night, that’s my life at the moment!
Hopefully this experience will help further your study and career path, do you think that’s going to be the case?
Yes, it’s a massive opportunity and I couldn’t imagine being where I am now six months ago. I’ve learned an awful lot, my skills have improved immeasurably, and I’ve had loads of opportunities meeting people, making contacts, learning. It’s been an invaluable opportunity.
How do you rate your chances here at Make Something Unreal Live?
I think the competition is quite good but I think that we’ve got a fair chance.
And you had an underhand interview happen here at the show?
Yes, I had an interview without knowing it. I got introduced to a gentleman who took my card, and fingers crossed after the event I can keep in contact with the possibility of a job. It’s been very worthwhile.
Excellent, a fantastic opportunity. Thanks very much Cat.
For more information about Train2Game and Make Something Unreal Live visit www.train2game.com
Train2Game student team Commando Kiwi is the winner of Epic Games and Train2Game’s Make Something Unreal Live, an unprecedented game development competition that took place at the Gadget Show Live.
Four teams presented their new iOS games based on individual books in the “Fighting Fantasy” series to the franchise’s esteemed creators, Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone OBE, and the duo determined that Commando Kiwi’s fresh twist on the third-person adventure genre makes the best use of the property and exhibits the most outstanding commercial potential.
The studio’s winnings include a full source Unreal Engine 3 license for iOS that may be applied to a future project as well as a holiday at the luxurious AquaCity water park and resort in Poprad, Slovakia.
All four iOS games were publicly debuted this week and are primed for release on the App Store in the coming weeks through a new publishing deal with AppyNation.
Teams competing in Make Something Unreal Live have been developing their games since winning the Train2Game and Epic Game Jam last November. Five months of development went into overdrive this week at the Gadget Show Live, where students presented projects twice daily to industry legends, implemented changes based on expert critiques at a rapid pace and submitted their near-final games for today’s judging.
By using the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), the free edition of Epic’s award-winning Unreal Engine 3 technology, all four teams, whose members are enrolled in Train2Game’s blended learning courses, are poised to publish their games on the App Store under standard UDK licensing terms. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Prince’s Trust.
“Commando Kiwi really captured the essence of ‘The Warlock of Firetop Mountain’ with great gameplay and visuals,” said “Fighting Fantasy” author and co-creator, Ian Livingstone.
“It’s remarkable what these student teams were able to produce working remotely for such a short period of time using UDK. Although only one of the teams has won this amazing prize, the experience students have gained is invaluable and I fully expect to see many of them working in the video games industry.
“We look forward to playing these games, and Steve and I are sure that Fighting Fantasy fans everywhere will really enjoy these new interactive experiences based on the books.” he added,
“I’m just dead proud of my team. They’ve worked really hard and this competition has changed our lives forever,” said Jonny Robinson, producer of Commando Kiwi and team captain for Make Something Unreal Live.
“The quality of the games produced for the Make Something Unreal Live competition at Gadget Show Live is a testament to the teaching that the students have received on Train2Game courses,” said Myra Smallman, course director, Train2Game.
“The competitive process that they have been through should give them a glimpse of what it’s like to work in a professional studio and the experience should go towards giving them the skills to gain employment in the games industry.”
Epic Games European Territory Manager and Make Something Unreal Live mentor Mike Gamble summed up the dramatic conclusion to the competition. “Priming the next generation of game developers benefits the industry as a whole. This competition may be over but the journey for four new studios has only begun.”
There’s more information on Make Something Unreal Live here on The Train2Game Blog, while we’ll keep you up to date on the future progress of Commando Kiwi.
As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
Train2Game student James Bouckley is on a Train2Game work placement at Unity. In this industry experience diary, James discusses what he’s been working on at the studio.
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.
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