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Train2Game News War Child UK Charity Drive

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As the 100th anniversary of the day the guns fell silent approaches, War Child UK calls on people across the world to join them in helping children caught in conflict by supporting the launch of its own Armistice across games on all platforms.

Starting today a Steam sale of epic proportions will be taking place. The Steam Armistice Sale includes The Room, ABZÛ, Scanner Sombre, Democracy 3, RiME, Prison Architect, The Talos Principle, Broken Sword 5, Dick Wilde, Mini Metro and Machinarium. A percentage of developer proceeds from each of the sales will go straight to War Child UK’s work supporting young people and children in conflict zones around the world. For the full list of titles on sale, visit https://store.steampowered.com/sale/armistice-sale/

Watch the Armistice gameplay trailer here: https://youtu.be/RaKeHX0_ED4

Gamers can also get their hands-on brand new, limited content for their favourite games, including Prison Architects and a special Cupid’s Bow in Dick Wilde. World of Tanks (PC) will have Armistice-themed emblems and skins on offer and all players (old & new) can join a commemorative laying down of arms on Sunday 11th November between 11:11 AM CET and 11:30 AM CET and then enjoy access to a day of premium content using the code ‘’111111”.

11-11: Memories Retold, the highly anticipated title from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe, Aardman Animations and Digixart, will have a specially-created downloadable content available at launch on November 9th, costing £2.99 and with all profits going to support War Child UK’s activities. The world of mobile gaming is also rallying to support Armistice, with amazing fundraising activations available across games like Lords Mobile, War Wings, March of Empires and Shadowgun Legends.

“We’re thrilled with this year’s support from some of most talented people & studios in the sector.” said Wayne Emanuel, Gaming Partnerships Manager of War Child UK. “Each year we aim to go bigger and we’re hoping that this will be our biggest year yet with a truly diverse range of games supporting Armistice including; the separate story featuring Carey Mulligan in War Child DLC in 11-11: Memories Retold, Dick Wilde joining as our first ever Steam VR title with the addition of ‘Cupid’s Bow’ and The Respawnables bringing back their healer item’.

Carey Mulligan, War Child UK global ambassador, said “War Child’s Armistice is a unique and exciting initiative. Peace is denied to too many children around the world, but millions of gamers can help some of the world’s most vulnerable children affected by war by playing games as part of War Child’s Armistice. It’s such an innovative way to fundraise and very simple too – just buying and playing a game you love can help provide crucial support for innocent victims of war.”

Armistice is a wide-ranging fundraising initiative created by War Child UK and its US partner Children in Conflict that aims to encourage peaceful gameplay in the month of November, to coincide with Armistice Day on 11th November.

For the first time, gamers who use live streaming platforms such as Twitch will be able to run their own charity streaming events in support of War Child. Through JustGiving, it’s never been easier for gamers and their audience to safely and securely give to charity online. Using JustGiving LiveStreaming, gamers can now integrate their Twitch stream with their JustGiving fundraising page to enable donation alerts and create progress bar overlays. To register your own charity stream for Armistice, visit the campaign website – https://armistice-uk.blackbaud-sites.com/

The list of games that have added in-game content in support War Child’s Armistice project:

  • 11-11: Memories Retold (Bandai-Namco Entertainment Europe)
  • Dick Wilde (PlayStack)
  • Guns of Boom (Game Insight)
  • Imperia Online (Imperia Online)
  • Lords Mobile (IGG)
  • March of Empires (Gameloft)
  • Prison Architect (Introversion Software)
  • Respawnables (Digital Legends)
  • Shadowgun Legends (Madfinger Games)
  • Snipers vs. Thieves (PlayStack)
  • War Planet Online (Gameloft)
  • War Wings (Tencent/ MiniClip)
  • World of Tanks (Wargaming.net)

Games available in the Armistice Steam sale:

Link: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/armistice-sale/

  • ABZU (505 Games)
  • Broken Sword 5 (Revolution Games)
  • Democracy 3 (Positech)
  • Dick Wilde (PlayStack)
  • Machinarium (Amanita Design)
  • Mini Metro (Dinosaur Polo Club)
  • Prison Architect (Introversion Software)
  • RiME (6 Foot Europe)
  • Scanner Sombre (Introversion Software)
  • The Room (Fireproof Games)
  • The Talos Principle (Devolver Digital)

For more information about War Child’s Armistice and the gaming studios that are participating, visit www.warchildarmistice.org or follow @WarChild_Gaming on Twitter.

Train2Game News NFL Tackles Fortnite

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The National Football League (NFL) has teamed up with Epic Games, creator of one of the most popular video games in the world, Fortnite.

Beginning Friday, November 9, NFL team “outfits” will be available in the Battle Royale Item Shop. This unique opportunity will give Fortnite players the ability to purchase and customize up to eight outfits representing their favorite NFL teams.

In addition to NFL team outfits, there will be football-themed emotes, harvesting tools, gliders, and even a referee outfit, so players can bring their passion for football into Fortnite.

Once a player owns an NFL team outfit they will be able to choose a uniform from any of the League’s 32 teams and customize the jersey with a number of their choice (1-99). The NFL team outfits will be available as both male and female figures and can be customized with a different team/number each time a player uses the outfit in Fortnite.

The NFL team outfits will be available in Fortnite’s Battle Royale Item Shop starting November 9 at 7 pm ET.

The agreement represents the first time Epic has partnered on special outfits inside Fortnite, enabling players to blend their passions for games and sports.

“We see the popularity of Fortnite every day at the NFL as many of our players are passionate about this game,” said Brian Rolapp, Chief Media and Business Officer at the NFL. “This partnership represents a great opportunity for millions of NFL fans who are Fortnite players to express their fandom inside the game while at the same time exposing our brand to countless others.”

“We have so many football fans at Epic and we know a lot of the game’s fans share that same enthusiasm,” said Mark Rein, co-founder of Epic Games. “Allowing our players to represent their favorite teams in the game was too cool of an opportunity for us to pass up, and we couldn’t be happier with how they turned out!”

In Fortnite, NFL team outfits can be purchased from the Battle Royale Item Shop using in-game currency, V-Bucks. Once an NFL team outfit is purchased, it may be viewed and applied in the Locker tab.

Source: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000983715/article/nfl-teams-up-with-epic-games-enters-world-of-fortnite

Train2Game News Diablo Immortal

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Blizzard Entertainment unveiled the next game in the storied Diablo® franchise, Diablo Immortal™, a mobile massively multiplayer online action–role-playing game for Android™ and iOS devices.

For the first time ever, Diablo players will be able to answer the call to battle on their phones.

Six iconic and highly customisable Diablo character classes will be available in Diablo Immortal—Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, and Wizard—each with new powers and abilities, with more playable classes planned for future updates. Designed to be a living, breathing, and constantly evolving experience, Diablo Immortal will regularly introduce new storylines, new playable character classes, new loot, and all-new challenges—which you can face side-by-side with your friends . . . or foolishly choose to confront on your own.

Players will have many opportunities to meet and socialize with other demon slayers while wandering the wilds of Sanctuary, or while conducting less-dangerous business—like upgrading gear, crafting items, or forming groups before setting off on their next adventure—in the city of Westmarch, Diablo Immortal’s sprawling central hub.

In their quest to cleanse Sanctuary, players will embark on all manner of thrilling expeditions, including taking part in dynamic events across unique public zones, and hacking and slashing their way through instanced dungeons. From the peaceful town of Wortham to the ancient Library of Zoltun Kulle to the suffocating jungle island of Bilefen, players will explore familiar vistas and until-now undiscovered corners of Sanctuary.

Diablo Immortal is a collaboration between Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase Games, who in addition to having developed some of the most successful mobile games in history, have been a longtime partner of Blizzard in China.

‘Diablo Immortal takes the series’ dark, gothic fantasy world of Sanctuary and inimitable Diablo gameplay, and puts it in your pocket,’ said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment. ‘With their incredible passion for Diablo and proven mobile expertise, the development team has spawned an ultra-responsive and breathtakingly beautiful mobile game, and we can’t wait for players to get their hands on it.’

The transition from mouse-and-keyboard or controller to mobile touchscreen device was designed to feel completely natural, intuitive, and fun in Diablo Immortal. Directional controls make it easy to move heroes around the world, and activating a skill is as easy as holding a thumb down on a skill to aim, then releasing it to unleash hell on your foes. And reinforcements are always only a tap away thanks to the native Blizzard Battle.net® UI designed specifically for Diablo Immortal, which allows you to chat and form groups with ease in the middle of the most frantic battle.

This new chapter of the blockbuster Diablo saga takes place between the end of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction® and the beginning of Diablo III. Leading the invasion of Sanctuary is the demon known as Skarn, Herald of Terror—Diablo’s most powerful lieutenant—who now rallies a new demonic army. Skarn intends to gather the fragments of the corrupted Worldstone and use them to resurrect Diablo.

Those eager to join the fight are encouraged to visit http://www.diabloimmortal.com to pre-register for special rewards and be among the first to experience Diablo Immortal. Pre-registered players are eligible to participate in future beta tests and earn in-game rewards, as well as receive news and updates.

Train2Game News Hitman 2 Perfected Trailer

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Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and IO Interactive today released the HITMAN™ Perfected Trailer, providing a 360-degree view of the numerous new features, game modes, upgrades and content coming to HITMAN™ 2.

To view and share the Official HITMAN™ 2 – HITMAN™ Perfected Trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/4Qn2BB78LCw

Beginning with the dynamic world awaiting Agent 47, the trailer showcases six diverse locations, including Hawke’s Bay (New Zealand), Miami (U.S.), Santa Fortuna (Colombia), Mumbai (India), Whittleton Creek (U.S.) and the mysterious Isle of Sgàil (North Atlantic), all with unparalleled game depth, countless interactive possibilities and the absolute freedom to approach each mission your own unique way.

Players can also enjoy franchise-first multiplayer modes in the form of Ghost Mode, IO Interactive’s unique take on 1-versus-1 online competition, and Sniper Assassin, a standalone mode that brings a cooperative experience to the Hitman series for the first time, allowing two players to work together online to take down their targets.

Additionally, HITMAN™ 2 will incorporate a variety of different upgrades and enhancements, including smarter combat A.I., a brand-new mini-map, security camera grids, picture-in-picture replays, an abundance of new tools, strategic use of mirrors, the ability to hide in crowds and foliage, the return of the fan-favourite briefcase and much more!

All of these new features will be included in HITMAN™ 2 at launch on 13th November, and the ever-expanding world of assassination will continue to grow with a consistent flow of post-launch live content via Elusive Targets, Escalations, Challenge Packs, Contracts and more.

The first of numerous free live content updates will include the upcoming Elusive Target mission starring international actor Sean Bean, who will take on the role of Mark Faba, a former MI5 agent turned freelance assassin who is notoriously known as “The Undying” due his reputation as a master of faking his own death. Elusive Target No. 1 Starring Sean Bean, entitled The Undying, will release on 20th November, one week after HITMAN™ 2 launches on 13th November, and will run for a limited time. These missions are free for all players, allowing one chance to assassinate the target and if not successfully completed, the contract cannot be retried.

HITMAN™ 2 is the follow-up to the internationally acclaimed video game, HITMAN™. Featuring entirely new hyper-detailed sandbox locations full of living, breathing environments to explore, HITMAN™ 2 offers players the freedom to plan the ultimate assassination utilising an assortment of tools, weapons, disguises and a variety of stealth techniques to creatively trigger their own unique chain of events.

HITMAN™ 2 introduces new ways to play with the Sniper Assassin mode, a standalone feature that brings a co-op experience to the Hitman series for the first time, allowing two players to work together online to take down their targets. Sniper Assassin is available to play now as an early access bonus for consumers who pre-order the HITMAN™ 2.

Players can also enter the HITMAN™: Sniper Assassin Competition and put their marksman skills to the ultimate test for a chance to win the grand prize of getting their name and likeness included in future HITMAN™ 2 content. For more information, visit: https://hitman.com/en-GB/competition

HITMAN™ 2 will feature a unique and brand-new take on 1-versus-1 multiplayer competition with Ghost Mode.

Players will put their assassination skills to the ultimate test as they compete against each other online, both as Agent 47, to assassinate the most targets faster and cleaner than their opponent, while utilising weapons, items, outfits and ghost crate supply drops to help accomplish the overall mission.

HITMAN™ 2 will be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and PC beginning 13th November 2018.

Train2Game News Record Games Deals may be bad news

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This year has seen $25 billion of games deals in just over 9 months.

This impressive news however, could mean we’ve hit the top of the market, as detailed in Digi-Capital’s new Games Report Q4 2018.

Last time this happened, games investment and M&A plunged into a games deals ice age at the lowest level in a decade. The games deals cycle has swung from boom to bust twice already since 2010, so the next 6 months will determine if history repeats itself or the dollars continue to flow.

$3.8 billion was invested in games companies between January and September, which is 50% higher than the previous full-year record from 2017. Games M&A also hit a near record $20.1 billion in the first three quarters. But as Digi-Capital forecast at the start of the year, the games IPO market has plunged over 90% from 2017’s record $17.1 billion to just $1.1 billion in 2018. While Epic Games’ $1.25 billion investment round in Q4 has already taken games investment over $5 billion for full-year 2018, these dynamics could still be early signs of game over (for now).

You can read the complete release with games investment, M&A and IPO analysis and infographics at www.digi-capital.com/news/2018/10/record-25-billion-games-deals-could-signal-top-of-the-market/, with the full details in Digi-Capital’s Games Report Q4 2018 at www.digi-capital.com/reports/#global-games-investment-review

Train2Game News Golden Joystick Awards Vote Open

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The world’s largest public voted gaming awards today announces the shortlist for the ‘Ultimate Game of the Year’ 2018.

You can vote for your favourite game from 1pm (British Standard Time) today at goldenjoysticks.com. The voting shortlist is only open for one week; so don’t forget to log your vote for the game that impressed you most this year.

Ultimate Game of the Year Shortlist:

  • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ubisoft)
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (Activision)
  • Celeste (Matt Makes Games)
  • Dead Cells (Motion Twin)
  • Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Square Enix)
  • Fortnite Battle Royale (Epic Games)
  • Forza Horizon 4 (Playground Games)
  • God of War (Sony Santa Monica)
  • Into The Breach (Subset Games)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man (Insomniac)
  • Monster Hunter: World (Capcom)
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games)
  • Subnautica (Unknown Worlds)

Daniel Dawkins, Global Editor In Chief at GamesRadar+ said: “There’s a great variety of games in this year’s Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist. We’re proud to present the spectacle of games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2 alongside year-defining hits like Fortnite and indie successes like Dead Cells and Into The Breach.”

The Golden Joystick Awards presented with AMD will be held on November 16th in London and will be hosted by comedian Danny Wallace. The event and pre-show will be live streamed via the Golden Joystick Twitch Channel so you can follow all the action live on the night.

The event honours the people and products that have transformed the global games industry in 2018. The event features 24 categories, the majority of which are voted for by the public. The event was first held in 1983 and since then it has grown to become the world’s largest public voted gaming awards brand.

To stay up to date with news from the Golden Joystick Awards presented with AMD follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

Train2Game News Ghostbusters World out now

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Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Ghost Corps, publisher FourThirtyThree Inc. (4:33), and developer Next Age have today announced the global launch of Ghostbusters World for iOS and Android.

Now available as a free download from the Apple App Store and Google Play, Ghostbusters World offers a fun, fresh take on location-based mobile AR games with iconic characters from across the Ghostbusters universe and adding a variety of gameplay modes with an RPG twist.

Check out the launch trailer here (https://youtu.be/quRF-gecY2U) and download the game today for free:

Ghostbusters World allows players to fulfill their childhood dreams of following in the footsteps of ghost-busting greats like Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddmore, by strapping on their own proton pack and going out on ghost patrol.

Neighborhoods around the world are more haunted than ever, and this time, you’re the one that’s gonna be called. There are hundreds of ghosts—including favorites from the films, TV shows, comic books, theme parks, and video games—that you can capture in the real world and then utilize in teams to battle in the ghost dimension.

Whatever your playstyle might be, Ghostbusters World has something to offer for all types of gamers and Ghostheads:

  • Bust Ghosts in Your Neighborhood: Go out and capture ghosts appearing all over the real world with stunningly realistic ghostbusting action made possible through Google’s ARCore and Apple’s ARKit technology.
  • Don’t Cross the Streams: Take on massive bosses like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man with up to four other players in co-op raid action!
  • Go Solo: Enjoy a single player story campaign written and illustrated by the minds behind the beloved IDW comic book series.
  • Get Your Ghosts Going: Assemble and upgrade your very own ghost squad and face off in asynchronous PVP team battles against other Ghostbusters.
  • Gear Up: Upgrade your equipment, get perks, and purchase new gear to take down bigger and better ghosts—fast.

More information and assets can be found at: www.ghostbustersworld.com.

Train2Game News Girls who game study PSTEM

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Girls who play video games are three times more likely to choose physical science, technology, engineering or maths (PSTEM) degrees compared to their non-gaming counterparts, according to new research from the University of Surrey.

The study, funded by the British Academy and published in the journal Computers in Human Behaviour, found that 13-14 year old girls classed as ‘heavy gamers’ – those playing over nine hours a week – were three times more likely to pursue a PSTEM degree compared to girls who were non-gamers.

It also found that 100 per cent of girls in the study who were already in PSTEM degrees were identified as gamers. However, the same could not be said for boys where a similar amount of gamers existed regardless of degree type, leading to thoughts that boys experience far less pressure to conform to the video gamer stereotype if they were studying a PSTEM degree.

The research was led by Dr Anesa Hosein, Lecturer in Higher Education and Programme Director of PhD in Higher Education at Surrey, and a Physics graduate with a self-confessed ‘Geek Girl’ gamer past. Dr Hosein believes identifying and targeting certain female groups early may be a way to encourage more to study it at degree level and beyond.

Dr Hosein said: “Despite the pioneering work of people like Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Surrey’s own Daphne Jackson, the first female Physics professor, there are still too few female PSTEM role models for young women.

“However, our research shows that those who study PTSEM subjects at degree level are more likely to be gamers, so we need to encourage the girl gamers of today to become the engineering and physics students and pioneers of tomorrow.

“It therefore makes sense, in the short-term, that educators seeking to encourage more take up of PSTEM subjects should target girl gamers, as they already may have a natural interest in these subjects. We need to get better at identifying cues early to recognise which girls may be more interested in taking up PSTEM degrees.”

Dr Hosein recommends that educators use the results from her study to increase girls’ participation in PSTEM subjects in a number of ways. ‘Geek Girls’ who have a pre-disposition towards gaming should be identified early by teachers or parents and encouraged to explore PSTEM degree pathways, for example through attending gaming expert talks. School educators could also start including gaming in PSTEM degrees to increase engagement of girl gamers. It is also important for girls who do not fit a geek video gaming stereotype to meet and see more alternative PSTEM female role models during their school education.

The study is entitled “Girls’ Video Gaming Behaviour and Undergraduate Degree Selection: A Secondary Data Analysis Approach”. Read more about the University of Surrey’s Department of Higher Education.

Train2Game News 16-BIT Sky Bar

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REZtron Ltd., invites you to a night at the 16-BIT Sky Bar, A 500ft high SEGA Mega Drive pop – up.

Legendary consoles require legendary settings. There is no greater setting than retro gaming high in the sky with a few drinks, music and a 360° panoramic city view skyline around you that will sure to keep your phone busy…

On ‘Mega Drive Monday’ you’ll be transporting you into the golden era of SEGA gaming with legendary titles on the King of 16-BIT gaming, all on top of UK’s highest DJ bar…(in fact, it’ll be the world’s highest 16-BIT gaming bar!)

The celebration of SEGA’s best-selling console, Mega Drive, which was released in Japan on October 29th 1988 will host 30 legendary games throughout the night on gorgeous CRT TVs and projector screen, including games such as Altered Beast, Moonwalker, Space Harrier II, Thunder Force III, OutRun, Super Thunder Blade, Golden Axe, Aladdin, Cool Spot, Streets Of Rage, Revenge of Shinobi, Shadow Dancer, Sonic 2 , Micro Machines 2, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II, Virtua Racing and Gunstar Heroes to name a few..

There will also be music, karaoke and competition running through the evening for the fastest time on Sonic’s Green Hill Zone with prizes giveaways.

Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhzred9Q2qU

The 16-BIT RETROTAINMENT will take place on Level 48 of Capeesh Sky bar, Canary Wharf on Monday October 29th , 6pm til 12am. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite here or on REZtron.co.uk

Train2Game News Fortnite Christmas Jumpers

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Don’t know your Floss from your Fresh? Thankfully, Merchoid have you covered this year with a new range of Fortnite 100% knitted Christmas sweaters!

Ranging from youth to adult sizes in a variety of designs, there’s something here for everyone this holiday season!

Christmas is a time to give that special someone in your life a personalised care package. The Flossin’ Around the Xmas Tree sweater is the perfect way to show your love whilst showing off your favourite moves! Featuring key elements from the game, this is an ideal sweater for any fan of the game and a brilliant present to lure them to the dinner table with!

Sleigh bells? Nah, we’ll take the Llama Bell any day! Show your love for the quirky quadruped with the And A Llama In A Pear Tree sweater. They’re usually super rare but we managed to attract a few of these cuddly fellas into our warehouse! Featuring a striking minimalist design, this is guaranteed to make you a talking point at the Battle Royale Map!

If you’re after something a bit more cosplay, why not do your Best Mates dance towards the Merry Marauder sweater? A fan favourite, this holiday skin can now be yours for every Christmas! Or every day for that matter! It’ll look even better when you bust out your Electro Shuffle!

For those who like their clothing a bit more huggable, the Brite Gunner inspired Have A Bear-y, Merry Xmas sweater is just the ticket. With a front and back design, this holiday skin has more than meets the eye! It also doubles as a Valentine’s Day sweater so you can get more out of those hard-earned V-Bucks!

The Fortnite Christmas sweaters are available to order now from https://www.merchoid.com/geeks-guide-to-ugly-christmas-sweaterjumpers/?view=fortnite