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Train2Game Gadget Show Live interview: Overclockers UK on how to build gaming PC and more

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Train2Game News visited Overclockers UK stand at The Gadget Show Live in the Birmingham NEC. While there, we spoke to Overclockers UK’s Mark Purdy, who told us a bit about what the company do, how to build your own PC and much more.  As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum. 

First of all, tell us a bit about Overclockers UK?

We are a high end gaming components and computer seller, an online retailer based in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Visit us at www.overclockers.co.uk. At The Gadget Show we’re showcasing a range of gaming systems that you can come and try, we’ve got one that’s running Batman: Arkham City, one that’s running the Diablo 3 beta, and two that are running Battlefield 3. We also have a racing simulator with our own branded racing seat running Project Cars, and we have a flight simulator running Microsoft Flight. We have our show system, Ultimate Mammoth, which is a £6000 machine featuring brand new NVIDIA GTX 680 graphics cards.

We have stock for sale, which you can come and purchase. We also have a free shipping code on flyers that you can come along and grab. We are running daily competitions, doing build demos so you can learn to build your own computer, and also have our time on the main stage where we’re giving out bags full of goodies.

Building a computer is something many people will look at and think of as a tough task, but is it actually relatively simple to do?

I’m going to compare it to building Lego; putting in each component in the right place is just like slotting in pieces of Lego, as long as you know where it goes and can connect it up properly, and test it.  That’s what we’re going to be showing.

So, if someone wanted to build a high-end PC, what would you recommend they start with? What are the key parts they’ll need?

Look at the games you’re going to be playing, and make sure you build a system that’ll run the games nicely. There’s no point spending too much money on a system you’ll never use all of the full potential of the power.  Always get a system which you’re comfortable with, which will run the games nice and smoothly and won’t cost you too much. There are so many people who’ll go out and buy a few thousand pound machine and never actually use the full potential of it. You could spend £700 to £800 on a machine that’ll do your games running at high definition, while you play it nice and smoothly.

Where can people get more information about this, or Overclockers?

We have a Facebook page which people can go on to, which we update every day. We have a Twitter account where people can ask questions on. We have one of the UK’s largest forums as well, with over 100,000 members, where people can ask questions about hardware. If they’re not sure what to buy they can just go on and talk to our members and get information; if they have a budget and they’re not sure what to spend it on they’ll get recommendations.  And it’s just for general chit-chat, so we have a general discussion area where anything can go, a PC games section where people talk about the latest releases, and latest news and deals where we o do special deals just for the forum.

The forums are a key part of a good community then?

Yes, a very key part of the community. The business is built almost around the forums, the forums really helped the business take off back in 1999. So it was one of the best additions it could’ve had for marketing, especially for new products, it’s absolutely fantastic.

Thanks for your time.

Visit OverClockers UK  http://www.overclockers.co.uk/. As usual, leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum. 

Train2Game student studios Commando Kiwi, Derp Studios, Digital Mage and Indigo Jam launching 2012.

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Train2Game  students are launching four new development studios in 2012 as part of ‘Make Something Unreal Live,’ a competitive process designed to accelerate their careers by giving them the tools and resources needed to release games for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch this spring.

The studios are Commando Kiwi, Derp Studios, Digital Mage and Indigo Jam.

The first titles released by the studios will be based on the Fighting Fantasy series of books created by Ian Livingston and Steve Jackson.

Train2Game and Epic Games have created the ‘Make Something Unreal Live’ competition where students are challenged to create their own studios and develop games for the iOS platform using Epic Games’ Unreal Development Kit. The winning studio will receive a full source, commercial Unreal Engine 3 licence for iOS as well as gain invaluable professional experience in the games industry.

As part of the competition process, students competed in the Train2Game and Epic Game Jam last November. The Game Jam had teams facing off against each other to create full games to a set deadline and to a professional brief. Continuing this process, students have created four new studios from their original teams to launch games at this year’s The Gadget Show Live.

At this huge event, they will reveal their new projects to the world, each finalising a full game for distribution. Key industry icons will be on hand to aid and advise with game designs as the studios compete to win a full Unreal Engine licence and a holiday to Aquacity in Slovakia, www.aquacity.sk.

“Train2Game courses aim to teach students how to work professionally in the games industry. Helping them launch their first studio gives them invaluable, hands on, in the field experience of what it’s like to create and distribute their own games.” said Train2Game Course Director Tony Bickley.

The games are being developed using Epic Games’ UDK, the free edition of the award-winning Unreal Engine 3, helping students gain experience with tools used by leading studios around the world. During the process, students have their work reviewed, critiqued and mentored by a series of Train2Game tutors, current industry leaders and game specialists.

The final games will be distributed globally on the App Store and launched at this year’s The Gadget Show Live, the premier consumer show taking place from April 10-15, 2012 in Birmingham.

Train2Game news: QA Testing “crucial” says Brawl Busters developer Rock Hippo

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Train2Game students on the QA Testing course will be performing a crucial task during game development. That’s according to Brawl Busters developer Rock Hippo Productions who spoke to The Train2Game Blog in a soon to be published interview.

“QA is absolutely crucial to the development process. Something may seem like a good idea on paper, but we’ll never know for sure until we test it out.” Rock Hippo Productions Marketing Manager Flavio Caracas told The Train2Game Blog in an interview about their free-to-play combat title Brawl Busters.

Caracas added that beta testing is also a huge part of the game development process, and a helpful team of beta testers can provide great help to a studio.

“Beta testing allows us to involve our community in game balance decisions and with any bugs overlooked during QA.” He said.

“We’ve been very lucky so far with our community as they have been extremely helpful to us and new players during the open beta phase and our official release. We expect that to continue into 2012 and plan to involve them even more as the game progresses.” Caracas added.

Brawl Busters is a free-to-play multiplayer action combat title, which can be downloaded right here.

The full Train2Game Blog interview with Brawl Busters developer Rock Hippo Productions will be published in the near future.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Rock Hippos comments on QA? How crucial is it to development? And can helpful beta testers iron out troubles in games?

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

Train2Game news: Your chance to join the Twisted Metal multiplayer beta

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Train2Game students have the opportunity to beta test the upcoming PlayStation 3 exclusive Vehicle combat title Twisted Metal.

The Twisted Metal multiplayer beta is available to download for free from the PlayStation Store, and gives players a taste of the following:

  • 8 vehicles to choose from, each with their own unique special weapons.
  • 2 multiplayer modes: Classic free-for-all Death Match, and team-based Nuke mode—a Twisted take on Capture the Flag that’s brand new to the series.
  • Challenge mode, where you can practice with each vehicle to hone your destructive skills.

The Twisted Metal multiplayer beta on PlayStation 3 runs through to February 7th. The Twisted Metal series has been running since 1995 and has appeared on all generations of the PlayStation console. The current title is being developed by Salt Lake City based studio East Sleep Play!

Twisted Metal is scheduled for release later this month.

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.

For more on beta testing, how it’s useful for Train2Game students, and opportunities to get involved with it, see the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Twisted Metal series? Will you get involved in the multiplayer beta?

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

[Source: PlayStation Blog]

Train2Game industry experience diaries from Train2Game placement student Tim Woods

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Train2Game student Tim Woods has been on a Train2Game work placement.  In his latest industry experience diaries, he details what he’s been up to while working in a game development studio.

Read what Tim has to say about his Train2Game work placement  here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

Tim’s previous Train2Game industry experience diaries are here on The Train2Game Blog.

As usual, leave your comments here, or on The Train2Game Forum.

Train2Game news: UK Charts – Modern Warfare 3 still No.1

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Train2Game blog readers might not be shocked to hear thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 remains top of the UK charts. Sales recieved a a 2% increase over those reported last week on the Train2Game blog. More than 50% of this weeks’ Modern Warfare 3 sales were for Xbox 360.

FIFA 12 moves up three to No.2 but still falls 55,000 sales short of toppling Modern Warfare 3 from No.1. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations drops one spot to No.3 after two weeks in second place. Just Dance 3 jumps four places to No.4, while The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim drops one and completes the top 5.

Saints Row The Third drops to No.6 in its third week on sale, while Nintendo DS title Professor Layton and the Spectre’s Call holds No.7 for the second week running. Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS debuts at No.8, Battlefield 3 remains at No.9 while Super Mario 3D Land stays at No. 10.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 3rd December 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Activision)
2. FIFA 12 (EA)
3. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft)
4. Just Dance 3 (Ubisoft)
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda)
6. Saints Row: The Third (THQ)
7. Professor Layton and the Spectre’s Call (Nintendo)
8. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo)
9. Battlefield 3 (EA)
10. Super Mario Land 3D (Nintendo)

Releases for the coming week include the PS3 version of Just Dance 3.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s continued chart dominance? Will anything beat it to the Christmas No.1?

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

Train2Game & Epic Game Jam student interview: Andrew Small

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Train2Game & Epic Games gave Train2Game student teams the opportunity to win one of four places at The Gadget Show Live 2012 and compete for the chance to walk away with a fully licence Unreal Development Kit.  

Train2Game student Andrew Small was one of those Train2Game students taking part. We had a quick chat with him during the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam to see how he was finding it.

Read it here, on Scribd,  or listen via Train2Game radio

Find out more the about Train2Game & Epic Game Jam over at Unreal Insider.

We’re here at the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam on the final day, in the final stretch now, hows it all been going for you?

Yeah, pretty good. It’s been a bit of an up and down ride, we’ve hit so many walls and broke our way through, but we’ve not lost the original concept that we’ve got, and it’s great that we’re slowly getting there together and it’s the first time we’ve got to deal with something like this.

The theme of the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam is Guy Fawkes, what were your thoughts on that when it was announced? And how did you deal with coming up with the game?

Everyone just went silent. We thought ‘What do we do?’ It does give you a lot of creativity, but you’ve just got to think outside box and I think that was the hardest thing, getting past the explosives and getting something innovative out of there.

What’s been the biggest challenge so far? Has it been the lack of sleep or something else?

Oh it’s definitely not the lack of sleep! The biggest challenge is making sure everything stays on track, because you’ve got so many components, everything is working on something different, everybody keeps going and it’s all got to come together at the end. One little problem stops the whole process so it’s just being organised I think.

The winners of the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam get to ‘Make Something Unreal Live’ at The Gadget Show next year, if you won that, what would that mean to you.

It’d just be incredible. In this industry just getting yourself out there and noticed is the biggest bonus you can get, so that would be the dream come true.

Do you think being at the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam has helped you improved your chances of getting into the industry anyway?

Yeah, definitely. For most of us working from home, this is the first chance we’ve got to have a real test of our skills. Getting into that sort of environment, none of us have got any experience of it, so it’s been an amazing thing. You just get the hang of everything, you get used to the flow and you kind of get used to it is just a massive learning curve.

How positive has it been to be part of a team with other Train2Game students?

It’s been the best. We might have been lucky, we’ve got an amazing team, no one is negative about constructive criticism. It’s the biggest bonus, having your own idea and running with it, but you’ve got so many people with ideas, you’ve got to compromise, it brings the whole experience together.

So you’d recommend taking part in a Train2Game game jam to anyone?

Definitely. It was something that I wanted to do but wasn’t sure whether it would be right more me…but yeah, definitely. It’s a perfect example of the stuff you can do. You learn your character flaws, your weaknesses, your strengths, it’s such a development process, it’s brilliant.  

Thanks for your time.

For more information, go to www.train2game.com

Train2Game & Epic Game Jam winners announced!

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UDK Train2Game blog imageThe Train2Game & Epic Game Jam is over and the winning teams are:

  • Team A (The A-Team)
  • Team B (Nova Eye)
  • Team G (Team Gandalf)

A fourth team has also been made up from individual students picked from the remaining seven participating in the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam

Each of them produced a game based around the theme of Guy Fawkes using Epic’s Unreal Engine.

These Train2Game student teams will ‘Make something Unreal Live’ at The Gadget Show Live 2012. The development teams will benefit from a six-month incubation period in which a range of senior industry veterans will nurture projects by reviewing key milestones, providing guidance and shaping scope.

During this time, talent will prepare for the final showdown at the Gadget Show Live, where more than 100,000 attendees will watch them bring to life Unreal Engine 3-powered creations in real time.

The winner of that will see their game get a full release.

Well done to the winning Train2Game & Epic Game Jam teams, and good luck preparing for ‘Make Something Unreal Live’ at the Gadget Show next year. Good luck!

And thank you to every one of the ten Train2Game student teams that took part. Stay tuned to the Train2Game blog for more reaction.

Train2Game news: Insomniac Games reveal social games influencing their Triple A titles

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Train2Game students will be well aware what impact social games have had on the industry, but their influence isn’t just limited to Facebook and other networking sites.

Insomniac Games, developer of the Ratchet & Clank series , formed social games division Insomiac Click earlier this year, and believe it’s already influencing their Triple A products.

“Things are changing every day in that space. I think that is what’s so exciting about dipping our toes into that particular ocean,” Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price told GameSpot.

“We are learning lessons that we probably wouldn’t have learned if we were purely focused on our console games.”

“I think it’s opening our eyes to the necessity of more social hooks. And when I say that, I mean more focus on community, more focus on sharing within and across games. These are big topics that we discuss frequently at Insomniac when it comes to looking to the future, and we want to make sure that we are not stuck in the traditional console development set of rules.”

There is no right way to do it,” he added. “That’s what is exciting about it.”

Regular Train2Game blog readers may remember that a number of Triple A developers and publishers are planning to integrate social aspects into their games. Activision believe social is the future for consoles, and are plotting a ‘methodical’ entry into the social games sector.

Meanwhile, the Train2Game blog has also reported that Bioware are exploring the ‘experimental’ social media and mobile markets.  Could big publishers such as EA and Activision therefore be influenced by social games?

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Triple A titles learning from social titles? Is it something that’s positive for the industry?

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

[Source: GameSpot]