Category Archives: Train2Game

Train2Game

Train2Game news: Concept art is “base of all gaming production” says Jagex Art Director

Posted on by
1

Train2Game Art & Animation students who find work in the industry will see their concept art become an essential base to the whole game development process.

That can be taken from comments made by Jagex Art Director Pascal Blanche in an interview with Develop Online. Cambridge based Jagex are the studio behind browser based MMO RuneScape.

“I saw the role of concept art growing up during all those years, and becoming the base of all gaming production. It has become essential for game design, art design and production design as well.” he replied about the evolution of concept art’s role in game development.

Blanche also said the role of a game artist has evolved.

“Most concept artists now are used to creating speed-paintings and thumbnails to get a rough idea pretty fast.” he said.

“The needs of the production to an extent created the hybrid artists they’ve now become. Some concept artists are even good at storyboarding or illustrations, using other tools to create better and faster results such as Sketchup and Zbrush.” Blanche added.

The full interview with the Jagex Art Director is here on Develop Online, and it makes an interesting read for Train2Game Artist & Animators. It’s also accompanied by some fantastic concept art.

Click here for more information about the Train2Game Art & Animation course.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Blanche’s comments? Is concept art the base game development?

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

[Source: Develop]

Train2Game news: Sony believe 3DS sales show market for handheld consoles

Posted on by
Reply

PlayStation VitaTrain2Game forum users are eagerly looking forward to the PlayStation Vita arriving in the UK next month, and Sony believe that despite it suffering a slow start to sales in Japan, there’s still a market for dedicated handhand consoles.

That’s despite others, such as EA’s Peter Moore, questioning their relevance due to the success of smartphones.

So why are SCEE so confident that the PlayStation Vita will be success? Because the Nintendo 3DS sold well over Christmas, despite a similar slow start at launch.

“One of the encouraging things about 3DS’ sales performance at Christmas is that it is confounding the naysayers who say that there is no room in the market for a dedicated handheld gaming device,” SCEE President and CEO Jim Ryan told MCV.

“And to that extent we were encouraged by how 3DS did over the last month.

However, Ryan doesn’t see the Nintendo 3DS, or the increasing rise of smartphones as competition for the PlayStation Vita.

“There are two distinct markets,” he said.

“The quality, the immersiveness, the richness of the experience that we believe we are going to offer on Vita, way exceeds anything that we believe to be available on any smartphone.” Ryan added.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, Sony are marketing the PlayStation Vita towards hardcore gamers.  “I believe if you care about games you’re going to want a Vita.” Sony Worldwide Studios European senior VP Michael Denny has previously said.

The PlayStation Vita launches in the UK on 22nd February.

Upcoming PlayStation Vita titles include LittleBigPlanet, which as previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, is being developed by UK studio Double Eleven.  Train2Game student Darren Price started a Train2Game work placement with the studio towards the end of last year, you can read his diary here on The Train2Game Blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Ryan’s comments? Is there still a big market for handheld consoles? Are you after a PlayStation Vita?

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

[Source: MCV]

Train2Game news: Dead Space 2 designer offers advice on getting into the industry

Posted on by
Reply

Dead Space 2 Train2Game blog imageTrain2Game game designers should definitely be interested in this, as Dead Space 2 Combat & Control Designer Brian Bartram offers advice on how to get into the industry.

In an EA feature titled Breaking into the Industry, the Visceral Games man says experimenting with game engines and modding are great ways for aspiring game designers – such as Train2Game students – to practice their skills.

The Train2Game Blog regularly posts about the benefits of modding.

“The best advice is to give it a try. Download a game engine and try building your own levels, modifying existing games, and creating original content.” Bartram told EA’s The Beat.

“There are many communities online for people who are creating games of all types. Game engines like Unity, Unreal, Torque, and Panda3D all make good starting places.”

It was the Unreal Development Kit that Train2Game students used to produced games at last November’s Train2Game & Epic Game Jam.

The Dead Space 2 Combat & Control Designer added that creating user generated content – in using games such as Team Fortress 2, LittleBigPlanet 2  or Infamous 2 for example – is also a great way to gain experience with game design.

“Creating multi-player maps for games is another channel. Some games allow you to create “user generated content,” and I advise aspiring designers to give them a try.” Said Bartram, who also suggested designing board games is a good idea.

“ Another thing that many System Designers do in their spare time is create board games, card games, and other “analog games.” I highly recommend Stone Librande’s speech from GDC entitled “15 Games In 15 Years.” (Which you can read here)

Bartam’s advice is similar to that given to The Train2Game Blog by Red Faction: Armageddon game designer Jameson Durall in an interview last year.

It might be lengthy, but EA’s interview with The Dead Space 2 Combat & Control Designer provides an excellent behind the scenes insight into the industry. You can read it in full here.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Bartram’s advice? Do you produce your own user-generated content?

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

[Source: EA]

Train2Game news: Free-to-play Ghost Recon Online will be AAA quality say Ubisoft

Posted on by
Reply

Train2Game students will be aware that some see free-to-play games as somewhat controversial, or perhaps not as well developed as AAA titles.

However, Ubisoft believe that their upcoming free-to-play title Ghost Recon Online will change these perceptions. Train2Game students can apply to be part of the beta test here.

“As a player, it’s difficult for me to accept that business models are relevant criteria to judge the quality of a video game.” Ubisoft’s Thomas Seris told [a]list.

“Some MMOs switched from a subscription to a free-to-play model, so it’s purely a perception issue. Because of this, Free is sometimes synonymous with low quality products, games that publishers cannot charge for.” he said

“The real question is to understand how the free-to-play model is impacting gameplay. The development philosophy behind Ghost Recon Online is to ensure payers are not given a specific advantage over players. This is great, because the game is all about competition, and it requires fairness. As a consequence, Ubisoft Singapore is focusing on providing players with a great AAA Ghost Recon game, regardless of the way it generates revenue.”

“We simply won’t hide from our free-to-play nature and this message will be prominent in our campaign.” Seris continued.

He added that Ghost Recon Online would get the same PR push as any other title in the series.

“We’re also looking forward to leveraging a franchise history made of various memorable extremely well-reviewed games. Ultimately, the promotional support behind the game, the quality of PR and advertising assets, or just simply the type of campaign behind Ghost Recon Online will definitely be on par with a AAA boxed product campaign.” said Seris.

The Train2Game Blog spoke to Ubisoft about their upcoming title Ghost Recon: Future Solder at GamesCom last year. Find out more about it here on The Train2Game Blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Ghost Recon Online? Will it be able to match the experience of a AAA title? And what are your thoughts on free-to-play in general?

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

[Source: Industry Gamers]

Train2Game news: Two UK studios nominated for Writers Guild of America awards

Posted on by
Reply

Train2Game blog Brink imageTrain2Game students may be pleased to learn that two UK developed video games are among this year’s nominees for the annual Writers Guild of America Awards. As the name suggests, the awards are usually dominated by American games, but not this year.

Splash Damage Lead Writer Ed Stern is nominated for his work on Brink. You can find out how he wrote Brink in last November’s huge interview, right here on The Train2Game Blog. You can also listen to Stern speaking about games writing as part of a BAFTA panel here.

London based Rocksteady Studios win a nomination for their work on writing Batman: Arkham City, while Canadian studio Ubisoft Montreal is nominated for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.

Mortal Kombat and Uncharted 3 complete the list of nominees for the awards which take place in Los Angeles on 19th February. The full list of nominations is below.

  • Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Story by Alexandre Amancio, Jean Guesdon, Corey May, Darby McDevitt; Multiplayer Story by Stéphane Blais, Richard Farrese, Jeffrey Yohalem; Lead Script Writer Darby McDevitt; Script Writers Richard Farrese, Nicholas Grimwood, Corey May, Jeffrey Yohalem; Greek and Turkish Ambient Dialogue Writer Vincenzo Beretta; Ubisoft
  • Batman: Arkham City, Lead Narrative Designer Paul Crocker; Story Written by Paul Dini, Paul Crocker and Sefton Hill; Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
  • Brink, Lead Writer Edward Stern; Bethesda Softworks
  • Mortal Kombat, Story by John Vogel, Brian Chard, Dominic Cianciolo, Alexander Barrentine, Jon Greenberg; Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
  • Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, Written by Amy Hennig; Sony Computer Entertainment

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the WGA nominations? What does it say about British games writing?

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


Train2Game news: Your chance to join The Settlers Online open beta

Posted on by
Reply

Train2Game students have the opportunity to join the open beta for Ubisoft’s The Settlers Online, a browser based free-to-play strategy game set in the Settlers Universe.

The Settlers Online combines the game design of The Settlers franchise with new features designed specifically for a web based browser game.

The English language version of The Settlers Online European beta is now open, and interested Train2Game students can sign up via the game’s official website.

The Settlers is a beloved, enduring franchise which strategy players from all over the world enjoy and it’s exciting to be able to offer those fans a new way to interact with the Settlers Universe,” said Publishing Director Thomas Paincon.

“The success of the free-to-play model is very encouraging and with the rollout of the English language European Open Beta beginning today, we are very optimistic about the future of the Settlers Brand.”

Beta testing is an excellent way for Train2Game students, especially those on the Games QA Tester course to practice their bug hunting skills. Not only that, but in an interview with the Train2Game blog, Trion Worlds Senior QA Tester Karl Tars said that beta testing is potentially a way to get into the industry.

The Train2Game Blog will be sure to keep you up to date with the latest beta testing opportunities.

So Train2Game, is The Settlers Online beta something you’ll be getting involved with?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on The Train2Game Forum.

Train2Game news: Bioshock Infinite creator Ken Levine on cutscenes in video game narrative

Posted on by
Reply

Bioshock Infinite will be PS Move compatibleTrain2Game game designers in particular will know that sometimes, telling a story in a video game can be tough.

Many developers get around this with the use of cutscenes, but according to Bioshock: Infinite creator Ken Levine, if you need one to push the narrative of your game forward, then maybe you shouldn’t be telling the story at all.

“I don’t believe there’s any medium that doesn’t have its advantages and disadvantages relative to other media. You just have to play to the strengths of the medium as best as you can,” Levine told Gamasutra when asked about drama in first person games.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, the Bioshock creator has previously described first person games as the most immersive.

“I think what you lose in being able to pull the camera and show emotion, you gain in immersion, and you gain in mood”

“What you’re left with at that point is to then figure out what your strengths are in the medium, and making sure you leverage those strengths, and wherever you have to tell a story you say, ‘Okay, here’s a beat of story I need to tell. Here are the 15 tools I have to tell it, whether it’s animation, whether it’s something you write on the wall as graffiti, whether it’s a piece of art in the world, whether it’s A.I. talking to you in your ear, or it’s Elizabeth, those are the tools. What’s the best way to tell this piece of story?’

The Irrational Games boss added that game designers can’t make a game when they’re fighting against their toolset.

“And you sift through your toolbox and then find the best tool. And sometimes you go ‘Well, there’s no good way to tell that story. Maybe I should tell a different story.’ Then you change the story so it fits your toolset better. Whenever you find yourself fighting against your toolset, you’re not going to win that fight.”

Levine was speaking to Gamasutra as part of a huge interview about Bioshock: Infinite which many Train2Game students are sure to find fascinating.

There’s plenty more news about Bioshock: Infinite right here on The Train2Game Blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Levine’s comments about narrative in video games? Is he underestimating the power of a cutscene?

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

[Source: Gamasutra]

Train2Game news: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 to get 9 months of DLC

Posted on by
Reply

Train2Game student Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 players will see nine months of downloadable content for the hugely popular shooter.

The DLC will include new multiplayer maps, special ops missions and new game modes, and be available for Call of Duty Elite Premium members using Xbox LIVE before being released to those on other systems at a later date. Activision promise 20 ‘content drops’ for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 during the nine month period.

As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, it’s possible that user-created multiplayer game modes could find their way into Modern Warfare 3, possibly via this newly announced plan for DLC.

“The mammoth launch of Modern Warfare 3 and the breakout success of Call of Duty Elite were just the beginning.  Call of Duty Elite provides an ‛always-on’ connection to our fanbase, and the MW3 Content Season is the ultimate way to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Call of Duty community and provide tremendous value to Call of Duty Elite premium members,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing.

“With the Call of Duty®: MW3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite we are delivering on our promise of more new content, more often, and with more variety than ever. With three studios collaborating on the first season, the breadth and depth of material on tap is truly extraordinary. It’s rare you can successfully execute both quantity and quality, but thanks to the expertise of our developers, the reach of Call of Duty Elite and the passion of our fans, we intend to deliver.

Train2Game students can find out more about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s ‘Content Season’ from the developers themselves in the new video below

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 became the biggest entertainment launch ever when it was released in November, as reported here by The Train2Game Blog

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Activision’s plans for Modern Warfare 3 DLC? How important do you think DLC to game developers?

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

Train2Game student reaction to next-gen Xbox ‘tablet’ rumour

Posted on by
Reply

Kinect for Xbox 360 Train2Game blog imageTrain2Game students didn’t see rumours a about a tablet based next-generation Xbox reveal at CES come true in yesterday’s Microsoft presentation,

That’s possibly a good thing, because when the rumours were posted on the Train2Game Facebook page, Train2Game students were lukewarm about the prospect at best.

“We are at least one generation away from a tablet based console that would be designated an Xbox replacement or successor. Otherwise being a massive and unduly risk for Microsoft. Any dedicated gaming device by Microsoft would be an addition to their arsenal and not to take the role of the Xbox, which may be the case.” replied Train2Game student Simon Anderton

Meanwhile, Train2Game student James Pottinger thinks Microsoft should be focusing their attentions on improving Kinect integration when the next Xbox consoles appears.

“Why bother with any tablet based console add-ons. Microsoft should just combine Augmented Reality with improved Kinect software to create a brand new, fully interactive 3D experience. I’d sure buy it” he said.

However, Train2Game student Jasmine Jackson pointed to the fact that if such a thing did occur, it’d mark a new trend set by Nintendo.

All I’ve got to say on the matter is that Nintendo are trend setters, obviously. It’ll be interesting to see Microsoft’s take on the idea of a tablet controller.” she said.

There were many more responses on the Train2Game Facebook page, and you get involved with the discussion there, or leave your comments right here on The Train2Game Blog.

Train2Game news: Rockstar show extensive research behind development of Max Payne 3

Posted on by
Reply

Train2Game students should find this interesting, Rockstar Games have given us a behind the scenes look at the development of Max Payne 3.

The first in what Rockstar say will be a series of posts looks at the work going into research for the development of Max Payne 3, with developers going to visit various locations around the game’s setting of São Paulo.

“Gathering assets to help accurately inform and create faithful game level environments set in São Paulo, Rockstar game developers and designers took several trips to the area to extensively document everything from the glamour and exclusivity of posh spots like Avenida Morumbi, Avenida Paulista and the Jardins district, to harsh high-crime locales like Favela Japiaçu (Favela do Nove) and the infamous Edificio São Vito (aka Treme Treme or the Vertical Favela).” said the post from Rockstar.

“Thousands of pictures were taken for mood and texture, local fashions and outfits were scanned for reference, and a diverse array of Paulistanos from all walks of life — from bossa nova singers to jujitsu champions to favela gang members — were consulted and interviewed to provide thorough background on the dazzling and dangerous world in which the game is set.”

Train2Game students can feel the post in full, here on the Rockstar Newswire. You can also find out more about the development of Max Payne 3 here on The Train2Game Blog.

And stay tuned to The Train2Game Blog for all the latest Rockstar news.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts about the effort going into researching Max Payne 3? How important do you feel good research is to the game development process?

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