Category Archives: train 2 game

Train2Game Student Georgij Cernysiov releases Euro Destruction

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A cash-strapped student studying in the North East of England has created and published a humorous mobile app for iPad and iPhone that could prevent the ‘Euro Destruction’. The quirky app is the first of its kind created by a novice games designer. It encourages its users to play their way through current financial and political scenarios that culminate in the end of Europe as we know it.

A cash-strapped student from the North East of England has managed to build and publish his own game for iPad and iPhone. Georgij Cernysiov, a student on the Train2Game blended learning course has achieved what many budding games designers dream of. He has managed to get his iPhone game published without the support of a large development team or deep pockets. The humorous game, aptly titled ‘Euro Destruction’ was designed and built in less than a month using virtually no art or programming skills.

Using the ipad and iphone game development software, Thinking Worlds, which is free to download and use, Georgij was able to add a fun twist to a worrying tale and turn the current plight of the Eurozone into a fun app that is available to download for free from Apple’s App Store.

In the game, users must decide the fate of Europe by deciding who to throw money at; the ‘Bankers’ or the ‘Citizens’ or, if they can’t decide in time get lost in the process.

Despite having very little cash or extensive programming knowledge, Georgij’s creativity and the tools he used to create the game made the process accessible to him and he was able to create a downloadable game that was fun, original and has already started getting downloads from the App Store.

When asked about the idea behind the game, Georgij said he wanted to “try and create a game that touched on some of the current issues within Europe without bogging people down with too much economics or politics.”

Georgij’s achievement marks another positive outcome facilitated by the Train2Game course and free to use game development software, Thinking Worlds.

Play the Game for Free:

Far Cry 3 Narrative Director: Using actors and performance capture improves game design

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The use of actors and performance capture is the future of game design. That’s according to Far Cry 3 Narrative Director Jason Vandenberghe, who argues that it improves games making characters more believable, something he believes the industry needs to do more of.

It could be a technology that Train2Game students could use in their future careers.

“I think we’ve been putting up with poor performances and poor writing for too long in the industry” Vandenberghe told Train2Game in a soon to be published interview.

“There’s a lot of people who’ve kind of accepted that it’s just a game so you don’t need to have a good story or don’t need to have good believable characters. Why not? We should have good, believable, strong characters every time.”

The Far Cry 3 Narrative Director believes that as the performance capture technology becomes more readily available, more game developers should take advantage of it.

“We have examples of that, there have been great characters in gaming and we should continue with that, we should expect that” said Vandenberghe.

“I believe that now that the technology for performance capture is becoming more and more available, and we’re learning more about it, I expect the quality bar to rise and I hope you guys (gamers) should be demanding better characters out of your games.”

“What I’m trying to do with this game is raise the audiences’ expectations” he added.

Stay tuned to the Train2Game blog for the full interview with Far Cry 3 Narrative Director Jason Vandenberghe. The title from Ubisoft is set for release next year.

Other games that use motion capture include L.A. Noire and its impressive facial animations, and the Uncharted series which takes input of actors very seriously.

And last month the Train2Game blog reported that Assassin’s Creed: Revelations will also use motion technology.

So Train2Game, is Vandenberg right? Is performance capture and the user of actors the future of the industry? Will it help game designers produce better games?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game interview with Hogrocket co-founder Ben Ward

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Hogrocket is a micro-studio founded by three former employees of Bizarre Creations and they’ve just released their first game for iPhone, Tiny Invaders.

 Train2Game recently caught up with Hogrocket co-founder Ben Ward to discuss switching from Triple-A to indie, indie development, and releasing games for the iPhone.

Ben also revealed how he got into the games industry and gave advice on how Train2Game students can attempt to follow in his footsteps. Read the interview below, or listen to it via Train2Game Radio. 

 

Train2Game competition: Codebox #1 – calling all coders!

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Here it is the first of the new Train2Game monthly competitions – this month is the turn of the coders. We will need you to go to Student World to read the Terms and Conditions, they can be found in the ‘classroom section’.

All the information you need to enter is on the Competition thread on the Train2Game forum.

When submitting your entry you must confirm in the body of the email that you have read, understood and accept these Terms and Conditions.

Send your answers in to codeboxcompetition@drstudios.co.uk.
Closing date for entries is Monday, September 12th. We will announce the winners the following week.

The prize: The awesome Asus nVIDIA 3D GeForce GTX 560 TI DirectCu II TOP Graphics Card (1GB) worth nearly £200.00!

AND two runners up will also each receive a pair of tickets to the Eurogamer.

Due to the nature of floating point values, the exact result will be impossible to store in a double, so the winner will be the Search() function which comes the closest. In the event of identical results, the speed of the Search() function will be taken into account. In the event of identical speeds, the result will be drawn out of a hat. The decision of the judges will be final.

Good luck!


					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Train2Game interview with UFC Undisputed 3 Producer Neven Dravinski

			
						

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Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. While there, we spoke with UFC Undisputed 3 Producer Neven Dravinski.


In an in-depth interview, he discussed what his role as producer involves, the game design process, the art & animation techniques used to model fighters, and much more.


Dravinski also reveals how he got into the games industry and gives advice on what Train2Game students should do to follow in his footsteps. Read the full interview below, or listen to it via Train2Game Radio.


Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.


		
					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
UK Charts: Deus Ex Human Revolution topples Zumba Fitness

			
						

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Train2Game students will probably be relieved that for the first time in a very long time, Zumba Fitness isn’t top of the charts. The slow summer released schedule is at an end and Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the new UK No.1.


The Xbox 360 is the most popular format for Dues Ex: Human Revolution, with 57% of sales on the system.  Interestingly, Human Revolution debuts at No.1 while selling just 26,000 fewer copies than Deus Ex: Invisible War did in its entire selling life.


Long time chart topper – as often reported by the Train2Game blog – Zumba Fitness drops to No.2 with a 10% drop in sales, while Rugby World Cup 2011 debuts at No.3. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean drops to No.4, with a resurgent Call of Duty: Black Ops re-entering the top ten to take No.5.


Familiar names make up the following positions with, Cars 2, FIFA 11, Dirt 3 and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, occupying No. 6 to No.9. Discounts see Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood complete the top ten.


The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 27th August 2011 is therefore as follows:


1. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Square Enix)

2. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)

3. Rugby World Cup 2011 (505 Games)

4. LEGO: Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney Interactive)

5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)

6. Cars 2 (Disney Interactive)

7. FIFA 11 (EA)

8. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)

9. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner)

10. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)


Releases this week included Driver San Francisco, Bodycount and Madden NFL 12.


So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Deus Ex: Human Revolution debuting at No.1? Will it stay there for awhile? Or will No.1 change often as various titles are released over the coming months?


Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.


[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with RAGE Creative Director Tim Willits

			
						

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Train2Game  attended Gamescom from 17th August to 21st August.  During our time in Cologne we were fortunate enough to get hands on time with RAGE and speak to Creative Director Tim Willits.  


During our interview he discussed the ideas, design and development process behind RAGE. Willits also reveals how he got into the industry through modding, and suggests Train2Game students should do the same if they want to follow in his footsteps.


Read the interview with RAGE Creative Director Tim Willits below, or listen to it on via Train2Game Radio.


Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.


		
					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with Star Wars: The Old Republic Associate Lead Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi

			
						

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Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. We caught up with Star Wars: The Old Republic Associate Lead Game Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi to discuss a variety of subjects.


These include, tailoring game design for an MMO, keeping the narrative in check with the Star Wars universe, the importance of community testing and the reasons behind PvP sport Huttball.


Lusinchi also revealed how he started in the games industry and gave Train2Game students advice on how to get in. Read the full interview below, or listen to it on Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.


		
					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Train2Game industry experience diaries from Darren Price & William Alexander

			
						

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Train2Game Game Developer Darren Price and Train2Game Artist & Animator William Alexander are on Train2Game industry experience placements at DR Studios.


In their latest industry experience diaries, Darren discusses the Alpha build of their game, while William writes about creating an art style.


Read the industry experience diaries below here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experience diaries website.


Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog


		
					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with The Witcher 2 Environment Artist Marek Ziemak

			
						

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Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. In this interview, we caught up with The Witcher 2 Environment Artist Marek Zeimak to talk about new features in The Witcher 2 version 2.0 and the Xbox 360 release. Zeimak also revealed how he started in the games industry and gave Train2Game students advice on how to get in. Read the full interview below, or listen to it on Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.