Train2Game News: Games Industry News – 09.08.13

Call of Duty Black Ops IIIt’s the end of the week and time for the industry news round up!

The epic climax of Activision and Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II Downloadable Content (DLC) Season Pass culminates with Apocalypse. Available first on the Xbox Live online entertainment network from Microsoft on August 27, the game’s fourth and final DLC Pack delivers four thrilling, diverse multiplayer maps and the all-new wildly creative Zombies experience – “Origins”. In addition one of my favourite bands, Avenged Sevenfold, will be again lending their musical talent to the game with their song, Shepherd of Fire, from their upcoming album Hail to the King, featuring in the opening cinematic.

Marvelous Games, the European division of the Harvest Moon publisher MarvelousAQL, has today unveiled more details on RunBot – the first title to emerge from the recently announced five-game publishing agreement with Touch Racing Nitro developer Bravo Game Studios. Due for release worldwide on iOS on August 22nd, RunBot is a brilliant Parkour/freerunning twist on the endless runner genre, offering phenomenal 3D visuals across a constantly evolving course.

Sources say that Amazon is working on producing its own android based games console, for release later this year possibly around the US thanksgiving season. There’s no real news about what the console will consist of, other than ‘it’s coming’, but given that Amazon has a pretty healthy stock of games and a download service already in place, it could already be one up on the Ouya, whose exclusive developers have been struggling to turn a profit on the system.

The Suikoden Revival Movement has launched the next phase of its campaign entitled ‘Operation Blinking Mirror.’ Between December 10 and December 12, 2013, the Suikoden Revival Movement will be inundating Konami Japan with Suikoden-related paraphernalia such as letters, artwork, cosplay photographs and sculptures. Operation Blinking Mirror – an ode to a teleportation device found throughout the series – has launched its own Facebook page where fans can find out more.

Finally videos have surfaced from Microsoft and Sony unboxing the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. You can view the Xbox One – here and the PlayStation 4 – here.

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 Games – 28.05.13

Resident Evil RevelationsFollowing the bank holiday the game charts have been released a day later. There is a new number one this week, Resident Evil Revelations have taken the top spot. Other new additions include, Donkey Kong Country Returns which enters at number five and Fast & Furious Showdown which comes in at number fourteen. Following the reveal of Call Of Duty: Ghosts last week, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has plummeted from number five down to number nineteen.

All formats

Week ending 25 May 2013

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 RESIDENT EVIL: REVELATIONS CAPCOM
2 FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 3
3 METRO LAST LIGHT DEEP SILVER 1
4 DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE DEEP SILVER 2
5 DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS NINTENDO
6 ASSASSIN’S CREED III XBOX 360 CLASSICS 9
7 TOMB RAIDER SQUARE ENIX 6
8 FAR CRY 3 UBISOFT 11
9 LUIGI’S MANSION 2 NINTENDO 12
10 LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: THE CHASE BEGINS NINTENDO 13
11 INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 8
12 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 14
13 POKEMON MYSTERY DUNGEON: INFINITY NINTENDO 4
14 FAST & FURIOUS: SHOWDOWN ACTIVISION
15 NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES
16 GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 15
17 THE WALKING DEAD TELLTALE GAMES 7
18 BIOSHOCK INFINITE 2K GAMES 10
19 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ACTIVISION 5
20 SKYLANDERS GIANTS SKYLANDERS 19
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd

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: UK Top 20 Games – 13.05.13

Dead Island RiptideDead Island: Riptide goes one week better than its predecessor by holding on to number one for a third consecutive week, despite a 55% drop in sales.  Bioshock Infinite is the only other title so far this year to record three consecutive weeks at number one.  Competition for top spot comes in the form of an unexpected familiar face, Call of Duty: Black Ops II which climbs four places to number two, boosted by strong retailer price promotions only two weeks after dropping out of the Top Ten for the first time. The Walking Dead from Telltale Games and Avanquest – now available on disc has entered at number nine and Luigi’s Mansion 2 being at number ten keeps this week’s only other new entry out of the Top Ten with PQube’s critically acclaimed Persona 4 Arena having to settle for a debut at number eleven.

All formats

Week ending 11 May 2013

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE DEEP SILVER 1
2 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ACTIVISION 6
3 TOMB RAIDER SQUARE ENIX 3
4 INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 2
5 FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 4
6 BIOSHOCK INFINITE 2K GAMES 7
7 ASSASSIN’S CREED III UBISOFT 11
8 LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: THE CHASE BEGINS NINTENDO 8
9 THE WALKING DEAD TELLTALE GAMES
10 LUIGI’S MANSION 2 NINTENDO 9
11 PERSONA 4 ARENA PQUBE
12 FAR CRY 3 UBISOFT 12
13 DRAGON’S DOGMA: DARK ARISEN CAPCOM 5
14 GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 16
15 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 15
16 DEFIANCE TRION WORLDS 13
17 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM XBOX 360 CLASSICS 14
18 NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES 17
19 GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY ROCKSTAR 19
20 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV XBOX 360 CLASSICS 20
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd

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: Games Industry News – 05.04.13

lucasartsIt is Friday so it is time for another Train2Game game industry news round up.

The saddest bit of news this week was that the new owners of LucasArts, Disney, has shut down the company. LucasArts were responsible for making many of the Star Wars licensed games as well as other games such as Monkey Island. A LucasFilm representative suggested that properties such as 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault could still find a home via a third party.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced that the Injustice: Gods Among Us game is now available on the App Store. Developed from the ground up by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, this free-to-play mobile game delivers stunning graphics and a completely unique fighting gameplay experience. The mobile game features a collectible card mechanic and engages players in 3-on-3 tag team combat that pits many of DC Comics most popular icons such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman and more against one another. Fans who also own the forthcoming Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 versions will be able to unlock content in the console versions that will be available in the mobile game, and vice versa, by registering for a Warner Bros. ID (WBID) account and playing the game.

Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios are pleased to announce that on April 30, 2013, the free-to-play action MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter is heading into Open Beta, allowing millions of players unrestricted access to the game world. Neverwinter is Cryptic and Perfect World’s proof that Western free-to-play games, when built from the ground up, can compete with even the biggest boxed subscription titles. On April 30, the companies invite all gamers to put that claim to the test. There will be no character wipes or restricted access after the start of Open Beta. Players can still become Founders through Neverwinter’s Founder’s Pack Program. Benefits include exclusive access to Beta Weekend 4, permanent in-game items that are unique to Founders, early access to Open Beta, and VIP perks. To take advantage of these benefits and to gain exclusive access to Neverwinter’s Beta Weekend 4, players may visit: http://nw.perfectworld.com/founderspack/

The latest set of downloadable content for Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II has been confirmed for an April 16th launch on Xbox Live. The pack will include four new maps as well as a new zombie mode, available for 1200 Microsoft points or free to existing season pass holders. The four new maps are: Magma, a modern Japanese village featuring volcanic eruptions; Encore, taking place in the aftermath of a London music festival; Vertigo, a futuristic high rise building in India and Studio, a Hollywood movie back lot which describes itself as a “contemporary remake of Firing Range” which was found in the original Black Ops. By far the most intriguing addition to the newest DLC is the new Mob of the Dead mode, which sounds interesting enough to breathe life into the unspectacular collection of zombie content available currently. In it you play as a prohibition-era mobster locked up in Alcatraz whose attempts to escape are “foiled by the rise of the undead.”

Finally, creators of the hit game Castle Crashers, have released a new game. Blocks, Cats, Hats, Betrayal! This is how The Behemoth have described their new game, Battleblock Theatre. This newly released game, that is currently only for XBLA, is all about platforming, a “story of geometric proportions”, several modes of online gameplay and a massive amount of replayability. It has over 450 levels, hundreds of unlockables to find, over 300 prisoners to free and The Behemoth is calling it their largest game to date. The Behemoth said they are considering future ports, just like they did with Castle Crashers, but since they are a small studio it would take them quite some time to port if they do decide to bring the game to PC or PS3.

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 Games – 04.03.13

Crysis 3Crysis 3 holds the number 1 crown for a second week while FIFA 13 is up a place to number 2 rounding off a good week for EA. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance slips a spot to number 3 ahead of non-mover Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Sega’s Aliens: Colonial Marines slips down again to number 7 following its number 1 debut 2 weeks ago. It’s a quiet week for new releases with no new entries into the Top 10 and 4 of its occupants being non movers.

All formats
Week ending 2 March 2013
POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 CRYSIS 3 EA GAMES 1
2 FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 3
3 METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE KONAMI 2
4 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ACTIVISION 4
5 FAR CRY 3 UBISOFT 7
6 NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES 8
7 ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES SEGA 5
8 DEAD SPACE 3 EA GAMES 6
9 ASSASSIN’S CREED III UBISOFT 9
10 HITMAN ABSOLUTION SQUARE ENIX 10
11 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 12
12 SKYLANDERS GIANTS SKYLANDERS 14
13 HALO 4 MICROSOFT 16
14 SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED SEGA 13
15 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 15
16 JUST DANCE 4 UBISOFT 11
17 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV XBOX 360 CLASSICS 18
18 LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 17
19 RED DEAD REDEMPTION: GOTY ROCKSTAR
20 FORZA MOTORSPORT 4 MICROSOFT 20

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 – 7.1.13

fifa13Over the Christmas break Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was knocked off of the top spot by Far Cry 3 with Fifa 13 taking number two but now it has shifted again. Fifa 13 is the number one game with Far Cry 3 at number 2.

Week ending 5 January 2013

POS.  TITLE 

PUBLISHER

 LAST
WEEK 

1

FIFA 13

EA SPORTS

2

2

FAR CRY 3

UBISOFT

1

3

– 

CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II

ACTIVISION

3

4

– 

HITMAN ABSOLUTION

SQUARE ENIX

4

5

– 

NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED

EA GAMES

5

6

HALO 4

MICROSOFT

7

7

JUST DANCE 4

UBISOFT

6

8

FORZA HORIZON

MICROSOFT

10

9

– 

LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

9

10

  THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

12

11

ASSASSIN’S CREED III

UBISOFT

8

12

 

SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED

SEGA

16

13

FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013

SEGA

13

14

WWE ’13

THQ

11

15

DISHONORED

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

14

16

MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER

EA GAMES

15

17

– 

SKYLANDERS GIANTS

SKYLANDERS

17

18

FORZA MOTORSPORT 4

MICROSOFT

20

19

DISNEY EPIC MIKEY 2: THE POWER OF TWO

DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS

19

20

LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

18

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 – 17.12.12

This is the last game chart that Train2Game will bring you in 2012. Not a lot has changed in the run up to Christmas. Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 is still at number 1, Hitman Absolution has risen up the ranks from number 6 to take the number 2 slot and Forza Horizon has revved back up into the top twenty this week.

Week ending 15 December 2012

POS.  TITLE 

PUBLISHER

 LAST
WEEK 

1

– 

CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II

ACTIVISION

1

2

HITMAN ABSOLUTION

SQUARE ENIX

6

3

– 

FIFA 13

EA SPORTS

3

4

– 

JUST DANCE 4

UBISOFT

4

5

FAR CRY 3

UBISOFT

2

6

ASSASSIN’S CREED III

UBISOFT

5

7

– 

HALO 4

MICROSOFT

7

8

– 

NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED

EA GAMES

8

9

– 

LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

9

10

– 

WWE ’13

THQ

10

11

– 

SKYLANDERS GIANTS

SKYLANDERS

11

12

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

15

13

FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013

SEGA

14

14

SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED

SEGA

16

15

MOSHI MONSTERS: MOSHLINGS THEME PARK

MIND CANDY

12

16

MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER

EA GAMES

13

17

LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

18

18

FORZA HORIZON

MICROSOFT

19

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. 2

NINTENDO

17

20

– 

DISHONORED

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

20

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2012 UKIE Ltd

 

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 – 10.12.12

Only one new entry breached the top 20 this week and that was Sonic & All Star Racing Transformed which came in at number 16. Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 is still sitting high at the number 1 slot. The biggest change this week is that THQ’s WWE ’13 rose from 15 up to number 10.

Week ending 8 December 2012

POS.  TITLE 

PUBLISHER

 LAST
WEEK 

1

– 

CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II

ACTIVISION

1

2

– 

FAR CRY 3

UBISOFT

2

3

– 

FIFA 13

EA SPORTS

3

4

JUST DANCE 4

UBISOFT

6

5

– 

ASSASSIN’S CREED III

UBISOFT

5

6

HITMAN ABSOLUTION

SQUARE ENIX

4

7

HALO 4

MICROSOFT

8

8

NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED

EA GAMES

10

9

LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

7

10

WWE ’13

THQ

15

11

SKYLANDERS GIANTS

SKYLANDERS

9

12

MOSHI MONSTERS: MOSHLINGS THEME PARK

MIND CANDY

16

13

MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER

EA GAMES

18

14

FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013

SEGA

13

15

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

16

SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED

SEGA

17

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. 2

NINTENDO

19

18

LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE

19

F1 2012

CODEMASTERS

20

DISHONORED

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

12

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2012 UKIE Ltd

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 – 19.11.12

Halo 4 was knocked off of the top spot by Call Of Duty Black Ops 2 this week. The PS Vita counter part, Call Of Duty Black Ops Declassified came in at 16. The other new entries this week are The Sims 3: Seasons which came in at number 9 and Kinect Disneyland Adventures which entered at 17. We now get to see how long Black Ops 2 will stay at the top of the charts.

Week ending 17 November 2012

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1   CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ACTIVISION
2 HALO 4 MICROSOFT 1
3 –  FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 3
4 ASSASSIN’S CREED III UBISOFT 2
5 SKYLANDERS GIANTS SKYLANDERS 6
6 NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES 4
7 JUST DANCE 4 UBISOFT 9
8 –  BORDERLANDS 2 2K GAMES 8
9   THE SIMS 3: SEASONS EA GAMES
10 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013 SEGA 5
11 WWE ’13 THQ 7
12 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 15
13 MOSHI MONSTERS: MOSHLINGS THEME PARK MIND CANDY 12
14 –  DISHONORED BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 14
15 FORZA MOTORSPORT 4 MICROSOFT 19
16   CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS DECLASSIFIED ACTIVISION
17   KINECT DISNEYLAND ADVENTURES MICROSOFT
18 –  NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. 2 NINTENDO 18
19 MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER EA GAMES 10
20 RESIDENT EVIL 6 CAPCOM 13

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2012 UKIE Ltd

Train2Game News: Mid-week round up – 14.11.12

Cliff Bleszinski, better known as CliffyB, has received a mysterious package in a hotel room he is currently staying at. The package contained a phone with a Ubisoft background and one phone number in it. CliffyB told his twitter fans that he would ring the number saying “I do have a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me an asset for people like you.”

What started off as a breeding ground for indie titles now seems to be the only form of submission to the digital distribution service, Steam. This is a bold move by Valve as it means not only the bedroom developers but also the big hitters will have to submit their game to Greenlight.

Halo 4 earned $220 million on the day it launched. This isn’t quite as much as Halo 3 or reach but it is still an impressive figure. Microsoft reckons its juggernaut franchise is on track to hit its $300 million global sales target within its first week, thrusting lifetime sales for the Halo franchise passed the $3.38 billion mark.

Of course the other big release lately is Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2. The game is Amazon’s most preordered game ever beating last year’s Modern Warfare 3. Amazon said it “shattered” the previous record. The company wouldn’t reveal any further details on the launch or preorders of Black Ops 2.

Valve president Gabe Newell has has revealed Valve is working on a next generation successor to the Source Engine. Newell also confirmed the Source 2 engine would be completely new, instead of just another update for nearly ten year-old tech. Source made its debut in Counter-Strike: Source and Half-Life 2 in 2004.

Mass Effect 4 will run on DICE’s Frostbite engine, the latest version of which was used in Battlefield 3. There also seems to be a lot of interest in being able to play as different alien races, similar to the style of Dragon Age:Origins.