Train2Game News Dinosaur survival

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Independent developer Studio Wildcard has pulled back the curtains on its Jurassic creation today with the announcement of ARK: Survival Evolved, an open-world dinosaur survival game where players fight for every breath amongst the most ferocious creatures to ever walk the earth.

In development for PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC, Mac, and Linux, ARK: Survival Evolved will launch on Steam’s Early Access program June 2, 2015, for survivors to begin exploring the vast, formidable environment and its many secrets.

Watch the trailer on YouTube HERE: www.youtube.com/c/survivetheark

Powered by Unreal Engine 4, ARK: Survival Evolved takes on the survival genre with a unique blend of emergent multiplayer cooperation and competition. Players awake naked and starving on the beach of a mysterious island among a herd of other confused humans. On ARK, they must then hunt, harvest, craft, research technology, and build shelters to protect against scorching days, freezing nights, volatile weather systems, dangerous wildlife, and potential enemies.

Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame and ride the many dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground. Build your character’s strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems. Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes…and ultimately discover the ARK’s true purpose.

“ARK taps into the scale, size, and wildly unpredictable nature of the dinosaur eras like no other game before it, then pairs it with the wonders of exploration and technological discovery,” said Jesse Rapczak, co-founder and co-creative director, Studio Wildcard. “We’re particularly excited to bring ARK to consoles, as open-world survival gameplay is typically found solely in PC games.”

Tame one of 60 amazing dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, including gargantuan creatures on a scale never before seen in video games! Fly a Pterodactyl squadron over the snow-capped mountains, race through the deep jungle with your pack of trained Raptors, tromp through a fortified enemy base along a convoy of gigantic Brontosaurus, or chase down prey on the back of a raging T-Rex.

Players will quickly learn that dinosaurs aren’t the only dangerous creatures on the island. Other players are organizing rebel tribes to accumulate resources, experience, re-spawn points, and to construct sprawling villages and cities, with technology spanning the primitive stone-age to the modern electric-powered era and beyond. And they will fight to destroy anything they see as a threat.

ARK: Survival Evolved will launch in early 2016 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One via the ID@Xbox program and Steam, including Oculus Rift VR support and a thorough integration of Steam community features such as Steam Economy and Steam Workshop for custom maps and mods. The world of ARK is designed to be player-oriented and ever-expanding!

Train2Game News FunPlus Group PublishingPlus

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

The FunPlus Group, a worldwide mobile social gaming company, today announced the creation of PublishingPlus, a revolutionary new mobile game publishing program that will provide game developers with a simple, transparent alternative to “traditional” publishing. PublishingPlus is now open for all free-to-play developers to apply, regardless of team size or location.

Before joining FunPlus as Head of Business Development, Greg Essig managed the games section of the App Store at Apple, where he liaised with numerous game publishers and developers. Prior to Apple, Essig helped create the gaming division for Creative Artists Agency (CAA) where he led numerous development and publishing arrangements. These roles helped shape his understanding of the mobile games marketplace and how PublishingPlus can make it better for developers.

Drawing from FunPlus’ expertise as a global leader in the free-to-play mobile industry, and strong local presence in major marketplaces worldwide, PublishingPlus will provide independent development partners with a wide range of financial and operational support in addition to expert guidance throughout all stages of their games’ lifecycles. Through a structured tier-based system, the program will give developers clearly defined, pre-negotiated milestones and deliverables to ensure concrete expectations for both parties with significantly mitigated risk.

The PublishingPlus program is based on four differentiating tenets:

100% upfront financial support from concept to launch
A 50/50 net revenue split between FunPlus and developers
Global marketing and operations support on iOS and Android
Developers’ continued ownership of their IP

“PublishingPlus is a major step into the future of mobile game publishing,” said FunPlus Co-founder and CEO Andy Zhong. “The current market has let too many great games fall by the wayside due to uncertainty. By eliminating that confusion and offering FunPlus’ wealth of experience and resources, we hope to change this trend so that talented developers have a chance to shine.”

The PublishingPlus website is live and officially accepting applications as of today, May 11. In its transparency, FunPlus includes an easily accessible term sheet for interested developers.

“PublishingPus is a mobile publishing design for the modern mobile market,” said Essig, “With our structured program, developers can focus on making great games, without the headaches that come with negotiating for the resources needed to get there.”

FunPlus gives developers unparalleled support in the mobile free-to-play games space. This includes project financing, art guidance, engineering and tech assistance, design, analytics, localization, monetization, marketing and live operations services.

“As a developer, choosing a publisher is critical to the success of our project, and of our company, and it can be downright scary,” said Octact Co-founder and COO Paul Chieffo. “FunPlus made it easy. Their team has given us the resources to succeed and stands behind us every step of the way. PublishingPlus will make the marketplace more approachable for indie developers everywhere.”

Game developers interested in applying are free to submit their ideas for consideration at any stage of development. PublishingPlus will consider applications as early as paper documents or as far along as geo-beta. Financing begins immediately and support continues for each successful tier and milestone met.

For more information about PublishingPlus, please visit: http://publishingplus.funplus.com

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 11.05.15

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

In the first time in 2 years a racing game is at the top of the charts with Project Cars taking the number one spot. The rest of the charts are practically the same just with a slight shuffle around with Watch Dogs creeping back in to the top twenty.

All formats

Week ending 9 May 2015

POS.		TITLE	PUBLISHER	LAST WEEK
1		PROJECT CARS	BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT	–
2	–	GRAND THEFT AUTO V	ROCKSTAR	2
3		MORTAL KOMBAT X	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	1
4	–	FIFA 15	EA SPORTS	4
5		DYING LIGHT	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	6
6		CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE	ACTIVISION	8
7		BATTLEFIELD HARDLINE	EA GAMES	3
8		MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION	MICROSOFT	7
9	–	HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION	MICROSOFT	9
10		DESTINY	ACTIVISION	16
11		MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	5
12		FORZA HORIZON 2	MICROSOFT	17
13		SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM	SKYLANDERS	19
14		WWE 2K15	2K SPORTS	10
15		TERRARIA	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	12
16		DISNEY INFINITY 2.0	DISNEY INFINITY	11
17		ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY	UBISOFT	20
18		FAR CRY 4	UBISOFT	13
19		LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	15
20		WATCH DOGS	UBISOFT	–

< previous week

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Tony Hawks Pro Skater 5 at GAME

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Hot on the (w)heels of the news of the Autumn launch of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, GAME is delighted to announce a format exclusive – available to pre-order now.

Available on both PS3 and Xbox 360 – only from GAME- the highly anticipated release offers skaters a fresh take on combo-driven skateboarding and a state-of-the-art skate park build.

Featuring classic Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater gameplay, extended trick combinations and endless shred sessions, the new game can be pre-ordered in store or online at www.game.co.uk.

For those with PS4 and Xbox One consoles, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 also comes with the most advanced online multiplayer experience, offering online skate sessions and the ability to challenge other players from around the world.

Charlotte Knight, UK Retail Managing Director at GAME, says, “We’re just as excited as fans at the announcement of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5. It’s a game that will appeal to skateboarders and gamers of all ages – we know that many of our customers have grown up perfecting their tricks and this new release will put their skills to the test. With our exclusive format, there is a game for everyone.”

Train2Game News Batman Arkham Knight Cast Announced

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment confirmed the voice talent behind some of the most notable characters in Batman: Arkham Knight, the epic finale to the award winning Batman: Arkham trilogy from Rocksteady Studios.

Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) joins the cast as James Gordon, Ashley Greene (The Twilight Saga) as Barbara Gordon, John Noble (Sleepy Hollow, Fringe) as Scarecrow and Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, Hart of Dixie) as Nightwing.

Banks, Greene, Noble and Porter join an ensemble cast that includes fan-favourites Kevin Conroy, who returns as Batman; Tara Strong as Harley Quinn; Troy Baker as Two-Face and Nolan North as Penguin.

Batman: Arkham Knight is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and will be available on June 23rd, 2015 exclusively for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PC.

Batman: Arkham Knight brings the award-winning Batman: Arkham trilogy from Rocksteady Studios to its epic conclusion. Developed exclusively for the new generation of consoles and PCs, Batman: Arkham Knight introduces Rocksteady’s uniquely designed version of the Batmobile. The highly anticipated addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the Batman: Arkham series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City.

In this explosive finale, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city that he is sworn to protect, as Scarecrow returns to unite the super criminals of Gotham City and destroy the Batman forever.

Train2Game News Wargaming supports Tank Museum

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Helped by donations from Wargaming, the Education Center at Bovington’s Tank Museum has seen some huge benefits since opening in 2012. The Education Center has allowed the Museum to welcome over 15,000 school children and community groups to take part in educational workshops.

The donation from Wargaming has allowed the Museum to offer a high quality facility to schools. It also taps into the popularity of the game World of Tanks with pupils. Pupils that play the game often have a high level of knowledge of armoured vehicles. The game is a catalyst that sparks their engagement with the subject, and when they visit the Museum they are instantly engaged with the collection.

In the Education Room pupils can learn about the history of tanks and be inspired by the science behind some iconic armored vehicles. The First World War centenary that occurred in 2014 has also seen huge interest from schools looking to study World War I, in which tanks played a vital role.

A group of Year 9 students from Blandford School recently had the chance to meet the TV historian Dan Snow in the Education Centre.

“It’s been fantastic to be able to use this facility to talk to such enthusiastic students studying this important period in world history,” said Dan Snow, a Trustee of The Museum.

Wargaming is committed to the preservation of modern history, and the Education Room is part of that,” said Rinaldo Andreolli, General Manager of Wargaming Europe. “Before the room was built, the children used to have group time and lessons within the halls of the Museum. As exciting it is to be surrounded by tanks, what they really needed was a proper space with a whiteboard, computers and desks to enhance their learning experience. Our objective was to create such an environment, and we are proud today to see we have succeeded beyond our expectations.”

All workshops conducted by the Museum’s Education Team are designed to support the National Curriculum, an essential factor in attracting schools to visit. Recent workshops for secondary schools included an examination of Nazi ideology and the role of Churchill tanks in the liberation of Belsen concentration camp.
The room is also home to Blackjack, a ‘real’ full size cavalry horse, who helps younger children understand what life was like for animals during the First World War. On the run up to the festive season, the center was decorated in an Edwardian Christmas theme as students explored the Christmas Truce that took place 100 years ago.

The facility has also been used to deliver workshops and projects to community groups, such as Moore Activity Day Care who created a piece of art work for the Museum’s War Horse to Horsepower Exhibition.

“Many of the pupils that visit us have a keen interest in playing World of Tanks,” said Felicity Wood, Education Officer. “The game is a stepping stone to discovering more about history. Having this Education Room allows us to deepen pupils engagement with the history of armoured warfare. Pupils who have played the game visit us and are incredibly excited to see the ‘real thing’.”

In the future, Wargaming will continue its dedication to supporting historical endeavors all across the world and promote the importance of education.

Train2Game News Rift available next year

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Since the earliest days of the Oculus Kickstarter, the Rift has been shaped by gamers, backers, developers, and enthusiasts around the world. Today, Oculus are incredibly excited to announce that the Rift will be shipping to consumers in Q1 2016, with pre-orders later this year.

The Rift delivers on the dream of consumer VR with compelling content, a full ecosystem, and a fully-integrated hardware/software tech stack designed specifically for virtual reality. It’s a system designed by a team of extremely passionate gamers, developers, and engineers to reimagine what gaming can be.

The Oculus Rift builds on the presence, immersion, and comfort of the Crescent Bay prototype with an improved tracking system that supports both seated and standing experiences, as well as a highly refined industrial design, and updated ergonomics for a more natural fit.

In the weeks ahead, further details around hardware, software, input, and many of the other unannounced made-for-VR games and experiences coming to the Rift. Next week, more of the technical specifications will be released on the Oculus blog.

Virtual reality is going to transform gaming, film, entertainment, communication, and much more. If you’re interested in building a next-generation VR game or application, everything you need to start developing for the Rift is available at the Oculus Developer Center.

E3 is just around the corner — this is only the beginning.

Train2Game News Student developing game to aid Alzhemiers

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

The emotional impact of Alzheimer’s disease has been explored by a student computer game project, which will be revealed to the public at the Abertay Digital Graduate Show this Friday (8 May).

Alexander Tarvet developed the idea during his Game Design & Production Management degree, looking at how a game can give a unique first-person experience of a debilitating and distressing medical condition.

He was keen to raise awareness both of the impact memory loss has for the individual patient as familiar objects and people become distant, but also for the immediate family.

There will be 850,000 people living with some form of dementia in the UK by the end of 2015 according to the Alzheimer’s Society, showing how widespread this condition has become.

Alexander said: “Computer games are one of the greatest ways to let people safely explore a situation they’ve never experienced, as you’re creating a whole new world to explore. Many games deal with fantasy and fiction, but I wanted to look at something much more serious.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition for everyone affected and their loved ones, and through playing Forget-Me-Knot the player gets an immediate sense of the confusion the character feels.

“They’re in their living room, which should be a safe and comforting space, but it has become hostile and unsettling as they’ve lost memories of the personal objects all around the room.

“The player is in exactly the same position as the person with Alzheimer’s – both have to explore the room and try and piece together an understanding of photos and letters through clues left on shelves and in drawers.

“I hope the project will help anyone who plays the game to understand more about Alzheimer’s disease. Putting yourself into the shoes of the person with the disease gives a very immediate, visceral sense of how disorientating and terrifying it must be to live with long-term memory loss.”

Alexander is one of 170 students showing their final year projects in Abertay University’s main Kydd Building and the Hannah Maclure Centre art gallery, on the top floor of the Student Centre.

Train2Game News gameit making adverts fun

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Train2Game Blogger Team

gameit, the free mobile trivia app that rewards consumers with prizes and shopping deals for engaging with brands, today announced it has a successfully closed $1.6 million seed funding round from a number of private angel investors along with DAK Capital.

The news comes on the heels of the app’s official launch as one of the only platforms to increase mobile ad engagement, and provide even more opportunities for consumers to win amazing prizes and shop for one-of-a-kind deals from top brands like Kate Spade, Lululemon, Nikon and Sephora. In its beta launch alone, gameit has already exceeded 380K games played and hundreds of prizes shipped. The funding will be used for customer acquisition, research and development, continued growth and additional brand relationships.

“72 percent of Americans ignore ads completely, yet companies continue to spend billions on advertising each year to try and reach them. By gamifying mobile advertising, gameit is changing this paradigm,” said Bryce Johnson, CEO of gameit. “gameit creates a true value exchange between advertisers and their audiences – incentivizing consumers to engage with brands, while driving a higher level of brand knowledge and retention. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

gameit makes advertising a part of the mobile gaming experience, rather than an interruption, by building trivia games around branded videos and giving consumers a chance to win the featured product. Players are provided with 5,000 free coins from gameit to start, which they can use to gain access to specific games and prizes. With every correct answer, users earn more in-app coins. The top scorer in each game wins the product for free, but everyone who plays gains access to a deal on the item – ranging from 10 to 65 percent off, depending on how well they do in the game. Players can also “steal” the top spot from their competitors, using their coins to play additional games and capture the win. Thanks to gameit’s new built-in m-commerce capabilities, consumers can make their purchase from directly within the app.

Future updates to the app will include new game formats with increased social engagement to encourage team play among friends, and enhanced tracking capabilities for brands to measure ROI through consumer engagement and retention.

gameit is available now on both iOS and Android for free. To learn more, visit www.gameit.us

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 05.05.15