Category Archives: Train2Game
Train2Game News: World’s Leading Football Franchise Optimized for Xperia(TM) PLAY
Sony Ericsson has announced a limited time exclusive agreement with EA Mobile(TM) to deliver the much anticipated EA SPORTS(TM) FIFA 12 on Android. Optimized for the world’s first PlayStation certified smartphone Xperia(TM) PLAY, the No. 1 sports franchise on the planet^ will be available for the device worldwide in the holiday season.
With improved gameplay depth, authentic commentaries, updated teams from the world’s top leagues and all new replay systems, FIFA 12 on Xperia(TM) PLAY is the ultimate football experience for Android, claims Sony Ericsson. The dedicated graphical processing unit, optimized memory bandwidth and 60fps rendering of Xperia(TM) PLAY enhance the football gameplay experience. Audio is also improved with enhanced commentary and crowd chants.
” FIFA 12 will undoubtedly be one of this year’s most popular games and Xperia(TM) PLAY consumers will be able to master it before any other Android users,” said, Dominic Neil-Dwyer, Head of Market Development for Sony Ericsson. “Adding to a portfolio of quality games for Xperia(TM) PLAY, FIFA 12 adapts perfectly to the device and delivers the best football experience on Android.”
Is this a winner? Your Views Please.
There are no screenshots as yet but we like to share hot news.
*Limited exclusivity expires February 21, 2012.
^ /Based on units sold world-wide as of July 25, 2011 (via NPD, Chart-track, GFK & Famitsu Marketing Data Service) /
Train2Game students can learn from this: Splash Damage reflect on Brink
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Train2Game students will know that reflecting on your work is an important part of game development, even for the biggest studios.
As a result, Brink developers Splash Damage have discussed their game at the Game Developers Conference in Germany, pointing out what they could have done better. This is despite, as previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Brink reaching No.1 in the charts.
Lead Game Designer Neil Alphonso analysed Brink’s four key design concepts: blended game modes, objective and team based gameplay, the SMART system, and player customisation and persistent levelling.
As reported by the Train2Game blog last year, Splash Damage claimed Brink would ‘end the genre as we know it.’
Looking back however, Alphonso acknowledged that they may have been too ambitious with certain Game Design ideas
“Brink tried to be something new and different in several areas, In hindsight we perhaps strayed away from convention a bit too much in some areas.” he said.
“But several of Brink’s key features resonated really well with our audience, along with continuing to work on tweaking and refining the gameplay now the game is out in the wild. We’re taking a lot of these lessons on board for our future projects.”
Alphonso also said the story, the Game Design of Brink, “had to take a back seat”.
“People reacted pretty differently to the way we approached our narrative,” Alphonso said. “Some would say there’s no story to speak of, which I would beg to differ with. But some loved the setting and the context we’d given the action.”
“There’s a lot there for people to read into it. But we don’t spoon feed it to people, which is maybe what some people were looking for.” He continued.
“So in the end, essentially when the game is viewed as a highly contextualised multiplayer experience, it does really well. But if you view it as a cinematic single-player cinematic experience, it doesn’t really hold up.” Alphonso concluded.
For more information on how Brink was developed, see the Train2Game blog. There’s also an in-depth look at the Art & Animation of the game.
So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Splash Damages anaylsis of Brink? How do you think the game could be have been improved? And how important is reflecting on a game post development?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: Eurogamer]
Train2Game news: Zumba Fitness is yet again No.1
Following another quiet week for new releases, it probably won’t surprise Train2Game students to see Zumba Fitness top of the UK charts once again.
It’s the dance games’ ninth consecutive week at No.1 and 12th overall in the top spot. The 505 Game is now the7th biggest selling third-party Wii title ever in the UK
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean is the biggest mover, up three to No.2 while another game from Disney, Cars 2, is a non-mover at No.3. Dirt 3 drops to No.4, with FIFA 11 moving up one place to No.5.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 rises two places to No.6, moving ahead of Just Dance 2 extra songs which drops to No.7. Call of Juarez: The Cartel moves up two places to No.8 while The Sims 3 re-enters the top ten at No.9.
Former No.1 – as reported by the Train2Game blog – L.A. Noire just about remains in the top ten after dropping one place to No.10.
The biggest mover outside the top ten is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for the Nintendo 3DS which jumps from No.39 to No.13.
The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 13th August 2011 is therefore as follows:
1. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
2. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
3. Cars 2 (Disney)
4. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
6. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner)
7. Just Dance 2: Extra Songs (Ubisoft)
8. Call of Juarez: The Cartel (Ubisoft)
9. The Sims 3 (EA)
10. LA Noire (Rockstar)
The week ahead is set to be another quiet one for new releases, but big titles including Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Rugby World Cup 2011 arrive in time for the end of the month.
So Train2Game, what are thoughts on the continued success of Zumba Fitness? Or indeed the top ten as a whole?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]
Train2Game developed student game Postal Panic proceeds go to The Prince’s Trust
Train2Game Art & Animation student Robert Ramsay speaks to Train2Game Radio (Part 2)
Robert Ramsay is studying to become a Game Artist & Animator with Train2Game. Train2Game Radio caught up with him to find out why he chose to study with Train2Game, and how he’s finding the course.
In part 2 of a 3 part interview, Robert tells us how he’s helping other Train2Game students with their courses. Listen to the interview at www.audioboo.fm/train2game.
Read part 1 here on the Train2Game blog and leave your comments here, on the Train2Game forum.
Train2Game Game Artist & Animator William Alexander – Industry Experience Diary No.6
Train2Game Artist & Animator William Alexander is on a Train2Game work placement at DR Studios. In his latest Train2Game industry experience diary, William writes about his time with Train2Game at the Develop Confernce, which includinf talking to some high profile industry figures. a
Read Williams ’s latest industry experience diary here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experiences website.
William also features in the Train2Game industry experience diaries produced by Game Design student Jonny Robinson, which you can see here on the Train2Game blog.
Train2Game Game Developer Darren Price – Industry experience diary No. 7
Train2Game Game Designer Darren Price is on a Train2Game work placement at DR Studios. In his latest Train2Game industry experience diary, Darren writes about coding during a sprint, and his time at the Develop Conference.
Read Jonny’s latest industry experience diary here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experiences website.
Train2Game student Georgij Cernysiov industry experience diary No.6
Train2Game student Georgij Cernysiov is on a Train2Game work placement at Caspian Learning. In his latest Train2Game industry experience diary, Georgij writes about his work at the studio, and considers the future. He also teases a game project that’ll soon be launched on the Train2Game forum.
Read Georgij’s latest diary here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experience diary website.
Catch up with previous diaries here on the Train2Game blog.
Train2Game students can try OnLive when it launches at the Eurogamer Expo
It’s a date that Train2Game students should mark in their diaries as one that could potentially change the future of the industry.
Cloud gaming service OnLive will arrive in the UK On 22nd September, with a launch at the Eurogamer Expo.
As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, cloud gaming could potentially bring Triple-A gaming to anyone, including smartphone and tablet computer users.
The launch coincidences with the Eurogamer Expo – which Train2Game will once again be attending – and OnLive will be giving out thousands of free game systems that’ll work on any TV.
OnLive will utterly transform gaming in the UK,” said OnLive founder and CEO Steve Perlman.
“No discs, big downloads or specialised hardware needed. OnLive gives you the latest games instantly, anytime, anywhere on HDTV, PC, Mac, as well as iPad, Android tablets.
High-performance gaming as accessible as streaming video, with unique social features such as massive spectating with voice chat and Facebook integration.”
And speaking earlier this year, Perlman, as you’d expect, believes cloud gaming is the future for the industry.
“The power of the cloud is definitely the theme this week, displacing what had been assumed to be platforms that could never be displaced,” he said at the E3 app launch..
“The OnLive Player App for iPad and Android shows how with the power of the cloud, the question is not whether cloud gaming will be able to catch up to consoles, it will be whether consoles will be able to catch up to cloud gaming.”
There are however, as the Train2Game blog has previously reported, concerns about latency when it comes to cloud based gaming. A reliable internet connection will of course be needed to connect to servers, which could be very far away.
But is cloud gaming a threat to traditional consoles? As reported by the Train2Game blog, yesterday, Gaikai’s Dave Perry doesn’t believe so.
“We don’t think we’re a threat to console. I think the threat to consoles is actually Apple” Perry told GamesIndustry.biz.
Train2Game students will have the opportunity to check out OnLive and cloud gaming at the Eurogamer Expo which starts on September 22nd.
So Train2Game, are you tempted to try out OnLive? Do you believe it could change how the industry works?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: Eurogamer]
