Category Archives: Train2Game

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UK Charts: Duke Nukem Forever takes No.1

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After 14 years away, the King is back with Duke Nukem Forever taking top spot in the UK chart in its first week on sale.

As reported by the Tain2Game blog, Duke Nukem Forever finally went gold last month after all those years in development Hell. Interested Train2Game students can find out much more about the long game development process behind Duke Nukem Forever in the Train2Game blog report of a Q&A session with Gearbox Software boss Randy Pitchford.

The debut success of Duke Nukem Forever finally knocks long time No.1 LA. Noire from the top of the chart down to No.2, while another former No 1, as reported by the Train2Game blog, in the form of Zumba Fitness climbs one to No.3.

infamous 2 enters the chart at No. 4, and as reported by the Train2Game blog, it’s a game Train2Game students should take an interested in due to the user generated content tools available for creating levels.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean, Dirt 3 and former No.1 Brink all drop places down to No.5, No.6 and No.7 respectively. New entry Red Faction: Armageddon  enters at No.8, with much more information about the game available in a Train2Game blog interview with Lead Level Designer Jameson Durall.

He also stressed the importance of modding and user generated content to those looking to get into the games industry.

The remainder of the top ten is made up of familiar titles with Call of Duty: Black Ops at No.9 and Portal 2 at No. 10.  FIFA 11 drops out the top ten to No. 11.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 11th June 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Duke Nukem Forever (2K Games)
2. LA Noire (Rockstar)
3. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
4. inFamous 2 (Sony)
5. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney Interactive)
6. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
7. Brink (Bethesada)
8. Red Faction: Armageddon (THQ)
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
10. Portal 2 (EA)

Releases this week include Child of Eden, Alice: Madness Retuns and Dungeon Siege III.

So Train2Game, is it a well deserved No.1 for Duke Nukem Forever? Is it just something that the game has been released? Have you tried the Infamous 2 level creator? And which game will be No.1 next week?

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

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

GameHorizon event to promote Train2Game student work placements

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In potentially exciting news for Train2Game students, Train2Game partner GameHorizon is holding an event next week with the aim of encouraging even more game developers to take Train2Game students on placement.

For more on how Train2Game students have fared on industry experience placements, see the official Train2Game website. Train2Game students on work placement at DR Studios helped develop newly releases iPhone and iPad title Bug Wings.

The release on the GameHorizon website states:

“GameHorizon is working with Train2Game to promote and place their best Train2Game students in UK companies.  We are holding events around the UK in Brighton, London and Dundee but thought it would be a good idea to start with an event for our nearest and dearest!”

“We are only placing students who are in the top 10% and these places are heavily subsidised and will give you a chance to have a risk free placement who could potentially become an employee.”

“The evening will give you a chance to test our knowledge on the subject and also to meet some of the local interns.  You will also find out how the scheme can help you and your company.  Please send decision makers and your HR professionals.”

For more information about the Train2Game partnership with GameHorizon, see the Train2Game blog post regarding the partnership announcement.

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

All first party Xbox 360 titles to come with Kinect support

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All first-party Xbox 360 titles will come with Kinect voice support in future.  That’s according to Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer who was speaking about the device.

Train2Game students can remind themselves about the Kinect heavy Microsoft E3 presentation here on the Train2Game blog.

“It’s not a mandate that everything we do in first-party has to support Kinect right now,” Spencer told GameSpot.

“But I will say, specifically with voice, that there are some things that just seem to make navigating and playing games so much easier, that I would guess the answer will be yes in the end, that you’ll see all first-party games using some form of Kinect functionality.”

He added that while adding Kinect doesn’t mean making huge differences to gameplay, but would make the whole experience better.

“Whether it’s voice in Forza or head-tracking in Forza, which you wouldn’t say is somehow turning the Forza gameplay experience on it’s head,” Spencer said.

“Rather, it’s just using the advantages of what Kinect brings to make the experience better. So I think there’s some specific examples where Kinect makes everything better.”

As reported by the Train2Game blog last year, Spencer said Kinect would become core to the Xbox 360 experience.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Spencer’s comments? Do you think Kinect support will change major Xbox 360 games? Do you think it needs to happen?

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

[Source: GameSpot]

One for the Train2Game modders: id Software to release RAGE SDK

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RAGEAs the Train2Game blog reported last week, the popular Unreal Development kit passed 800,000 downloads. And soon a new set of modding tools will be available for Train2Game students to practice their skills with in the form of the Rage SDK.

Rage is the new FPS from ID Software that’s due for release later this year, and the studios  founder John Carmack’s ‘sense of sharing’ is the main reason for SDK’s inclusion.

John is still very active in open source,” id Software creative director and Rage developer Tim Willits told Gamasutra.

“We’re the only ones that release our source now to such an extensive level, and the PC version [of Rage] will have the SDK. All that stuff will be available.

“The spirit of [Carmack’s] sense of sharing and working with the community, that’s still pretty intact. I wouldn’t stress too much about it.”

id Software are the developers behind the classic Wolfenstein, Quake, and Doom series of games that Train2Game students will no doubt be familiar with.

Other prominent PC game modding tools include Valve’s Source SDK – which is as the Train2Game blog reported is being made ‘less painful’ to use – while a Starcraft II also provides modding tools. The Train2Game blog previously revealed that one Starcraft II modders work was so impressive; it brought about attention from game development studios.

Modding is certainly a way for Train2Game students to not only gain valuable experience building games, but it could potentially get their work noticed. In an interview with the Train2Game blog, Red Faction: Armageddon Lead Level Designer also stresses the importance of modding.

So Train2Game, would you want to work with the Rage SDK? What do you expect of the game? Are you looking forward to id Software’s next release?

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

[Source: Develop]

 

 

Rift ‘Create a Colossus’ contest offers Train2Game Artists opportunities to win prizes

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Here’s one for the Train2Game Art & Animation students; you have the opportunity to design a new enemy for fantasy MMO Rift in the form of a colossus boss.

As described on the Deviant Art contest page, “Bosses are the biggest, baddest, and strongest enemies in any video game. They control hordes of monsters, rule the land, and they usually take a lot of skill to defeat. We’re challenging you to create a new colossus (a boss) for the new massively multiplayer online role-playing game, RIFT.”

It offers a great opportunity for Train2Game Art & Animation students to test their skills and Deviant Art are offering prizes for the winners. The contest rules are as follows:

Your colossus:

  • Must be based on only one of the six planar themes
  • Must be very large within the scale of the game environment
  • Must be original to you and all elements must originate from you. You cannot copy graphic material from the game.
  • Can be made in any medium as long as you submit it as a JPG or a PNG
  • Can be made using licensed brushes and textures, but you may not use third-party stock in your entry.

For more information about Rift and the contest in general, see the Create a Colossus website.  The deadline for entries is 19th June.

The contest is in no way affiliated with Train2Game, but it could provide Train2Game Art & Animation students with a nice challenge.

So Train2Game, will you enter the contest?

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

[Source: Deviant Art via Train2Game forum user DJSp00k]

Train2Game forum user favourite Minecraft coming to Xbox 360, Kinect compatible

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Train2Game forum user favourite, and testament to how successful indie games can now be, Minecraft is coming to the Xbox 360.

The news was confirmed at Microsoft’s E3 presentation, and you can read more about what else is coming for the Xbox 360 here on the Train2Game blog.

Meanwhile, Notch himself as confirmed some information about Minecraft on the Xbox 360. The title itself will be Kinect compatible, but as of yet there’s no specific information about how motion control will be implemented into one of Train2Game forum users favourite games. All that Notch says on the matter is:

“You will be able to play it without Kinect BUT WITH THE POWER OF KINECT YOU WILL FEEL CLOSER TO YOUR GAME THAN EVAR BEFORE AND ALSO IT SAVES KITTENS”

The Xbox 360 version of Minecraft is a separate project to the original, which Notch writes won’t be a straight port. A team of progammers from a studio separate to Mojang will be taking care of the Game Developer side of things, while Notch will be the Minecraft Xbox 360 Game Designer.

He also reaffirms his commitment to the PC, something many Train2Game students will be happy about.

Originally a PC title, as reported by the Train2Game blog Minecraft will also be heading to smartphones in future. The game – still officially in BETA testing – has been downloaded over 2 million times making developer Notch a multimillionaire.

For more information about Minecraft – as of Train2Game students need it! – see the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Minecraft for the Xbox 360? How do you think Kinect will be implemented? Does it interest you?

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

[Source: Reddit]

Bobby Kotick believes traditional retail crucial for games industry future

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While some publishers – which as the Train2Game blog previously reported includes EA – believe digital is the future of the industry, Activision don’t agree.  They believe traditional retail still has a huge part to play in selling games.

“Retail is going to play a critically important role in the future success of entertainment,” Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told CNBC.

“When you see people lined up at store before a launch, that in itself creates the popular cultural awareness,” he added.

“I don’t think the theatre experience you have in a store is going away anytime.”

Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that Kotick revealed that special editions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be available. The trailer for the next Call of Duty title was revealed last month, and can be seen on the Train2Game blog.

Activision are still hesitating to enter the social and mobile market, but see it as “an opportunity” said Kotick.

OnLive see mobiles as more than just an opportunity, with the Train2Game blog reporting earlier that their service will be available on them this year.

So Train2Game, do you…agree with Kotick? Is there still a strong future for traditional retail? Or will digital take over in the near future?

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

[Source: MCV]

Train2Game E3 News: Miyamoto – Apple & Nintendo in ‘very different areas’

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As reported by the Train2Game blog, Nintendo revealed their new console – the Wii U – during their E3 press conference.

The Wii U’s touchscreen controller certainly raised eyebrows on the Train2Game forum, but some have noticed that it looks just a bit like an iPad. Nintendo are however playing down this observation.

“I have to be honest, I don’t really know everything that Apple is planning right now, so it’s hard to say,” Shigeri Miyamoto replied when asked by CNET to compare the Wii U and the iPad.

Last month the Train2Game blog reported on what the Nintendo legend belives it takes to become a Game Designer.

“When I look at things, I feel that Nintendo is looking at video games, and how we make the most compelling and fun video game experience. And then, within that framework, how can we use that to create new and fun entertainment within the living room setting

“So we’re really looking at it strictly from an entertainment perspective, and when I think about the things that Apple is talking about in terms of cloud computing and things like that, I’d say that they’re just two very different areas that we’re both looking at.”

Earlier today the Train2Game bog revealed that Triple A games will soon be available on the likes of the iPad thanks to a cloud service from OnLive. The device will also be able to be used as a controller in a similar fashion to the Wii U.

Smartphones and tablets aren’t just for playing games anymore, with the Train2Game blog reporting earlier this week that one new app allows game developers to produce games using the iPad.

Regular Train2Game blog readers are also well aware of how valuable developing mobile games can be for an aspiring game developer. Indeed, Train2Game students on work placement at DR Studios helped develop newly releases iPhone and iPad title Bug Wings.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the similarities? Are there any? What does it say about the games industry? Or is it all just a coincidence?

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

[Source: CNET]

Train2Game E3 news: OnLive brings Triple A to tablets and smartphones

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OnLive tablets

In a mobile gaming development that could very much be of interest to Train2Game students, OnLive has launched an Android and Apple app that brings cloud gaming to the mobile market.

As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, OnLive allows streaming of Triple A titles to computers or other system that wouldn’t be advanced enough to run them. This process is done via running the games on computers on OnLive servers then transferring the visuals to the users monitor via the internet.

The certainly adds something to the mobile gaming market, something Train2Game students will know is fast growing industry.

And OnLive Founder and CEO Steve Perlman belives cloud gaming is the future of 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 as the App was launched at E3.

“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.”

The Onlive App reportedly works with most games already available on the service, and both smartphones and tablets will be able to become advanced gaming devices. A control will also become available to play games in the more ‘traditional’ way.

OnLive is expected to launch in the UK later this year.

Smartphones and tablets aren’t just for playing games anymore, with the Train2Game blog reporting earlier this week that one new app allows game developers to produce games using the iPad.

Regular Train2Game blog readers are also well aware of how valuable developing mobile games can be for an aspiring game developer. Indeed, Train2Game students on work placement at DR Studios helped develop newly releases iPhone and iPad title Bug Wings.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the OnLive app? Can smartphones and tablet computers compete with consoles? Is the future of gaming cloud based?

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

[Source: PCR-Online]

Train2Game E3 news: Nintendo reveal Wii U

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Wii U controller

While yesterday the Train2Game blog reported that Microsoft’s E3 presentation seemed to focus on bringing the Xbox 360 to a wider audience, and Sony focused on its core market, Nintendo E3 conference revealed how they want to incorporate both markets with a new console – the Wii U.

As reported by the Train2Game blog in the run up to E3, the new consoles controller does indeed feature a touchscreen control pad, which as demonstrated by Nintendo, will be integrated into many aspects of gaming and other activities.

Will U will be equally satisfying to all. No machine has done that before,” Satoru Iwatatold the E3 audience. “It will offer deeper and wider experiences than any gamer has realised before. It will let everyone see games in a different way and represents a major step toward reaching our goal.”

Nintendo do indeed look to be providing deeper experiences for the core gamer, with the Wii U reportedly supporting the same level of graphical prowless as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. And while we’ve yet to see what it looks like, the Wii U is a new console designed to compete with Sony and Microsoft for the core audience with HD graphics.

That isn’t to say Nintendo are abandoning the casual audience picked up via the Nintendo Wii. Far from it in fact, with the new touch screen controller designed for use with much more than just games.

Demos demonstrated how the controller will be usable with functions such as video calls, compatibility with current Wii peripherals and even use of the 6.2 inch screen to play games. Nintendo were keen to point out however that the Wii U isn’t a handheld, and the console needs to be turned on in order to play games through the controller screen.

And the Wii U will have plenty of games, with various Triple-A titles coming to the console, including Batman: Arkham Asylum.  A range of developers including EA and Ubisoft will be bringing titles to the new console – something that may convince Train2Game students that Nintendo really is looking at re-establishing its core audience.

The Wii U is set for release next year with no price confirmed as of yet.

In a further step that may convince Train2Game students that Nintendo is keen to focus on the hardcore, a range of new titles were announced for the 3DS handheld console. Core titles including Mario Kart 3DS, Starfox 3DS, Super Smash Bros and Luigi’s Mansion 2 were all revealed during the presentation.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Nintendo’s E3 conference? What do you think about the Wii U? Will Nintendo once again revolutionise the game industry? And can the newly announced 3DS titles revive the handheld console?

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