Tag Archives: developer

Train2Game News Life is Strange against Bullying

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To celebrate everyday heroes standing up against bullying, LIFE IS STRANGE™ publisher, Square Enix®, has partnered with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center (NBPC) for a special community donation challenge.

The team behind LIFE IS STRANGE and PACER encourage their communities to use the hashtag #EverydayHeroes  to share their stories about overcoming adversity, standing up for what’s right, helping a friend in need, and more. For every post using the hashtag #EverydayHeroes from January 13 to January 19th, Square Enix will make a donation to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. To highlight the heroes all around us, these stories will also be featured online at everydayheroes.lifeisstrange.com.

To introduce this partnership, Square Enix has created a video, voiced by Ashly Burch (award-winning voice actress behind Chloe in LIFE IS STRANGE). That video can be viewed on YouTube [here].

For more information about the promotion, visit: everydayheroes.lifeisstrange.com or about PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, visit: PACER.org/bullying

The award-winning episodic series developed by DONTNOD, LIFE IS STRANGE follows the story of Max Caulfield, a photography senior who discovers she can rewind time while saving her best friend Chloe Price. The pair soon finds themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance of fellow student Rachel Amber, uncovering a dark side to life in Arcadia Bay. Meanwhile, Max must quickly learn that changing the past can sometimes lead to a devastating future.

The LIFE IS STRANGE: Limited Edition complete season box will launch January 19th for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Train2Game News Emotional Game Jam

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Emotional Game Jam: Registration is open !

Organised as part of the Emotional Games Awards, the first Emotional Game Jam will take place from February 10 to 12, 2016. Registration is now open.

What is an Emotional Game Jam?
It’s an event where participants try to make a videogame in a limited time.

The Emotional Game Jam will last 40 hours from Wednesday, February 10 at 7 pm CET (GMT+1)  to Friday, February 12 at 11 am CET (GMT+1)

The main theme of the emotional Game Jam will be unveiled early in the Game Jam, and several secondary themes will be distributed on the website and on the EmotionalGameAwards/tv during the competition.

A game jam all over the world

The Emotional Game Jam is open to all participants, whether they are students, professionals or non-professionals in France or in the entire world. Some teams are grouped on the site of the UCO L3Di University Laval, but teams that can not integrate this site can participate online to the Game Jam anywhere in the world.
Teams from Japan, USA, UK and Sweden are already pre registred.
The game jam will be live streamed.

The best games will be rewarded by the Emotional Games Awards Jury and will receive prizes from our partners. Participants in the game jam on the  L3di site are invited to the ceremony of the Emotional Games Awards and to the party.

Teams wishing to participate should be up to 4 people. Registration is on the website http://www.emotionalgamesawards.com/egj.html
Registration is free.

Train2Game News Pokémon 20th anniversary

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2016 will be a landmark year for the Pokémon Company International.

On February 27, Pokémon celebrates 20 years since the first games launched in Japan. The company is gearing up for a period of festivities centered around the best-known Pokémon experiences—video games, Trading Card Game (TCG) and animation…plus much more!

Since the video games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green were first launched in Japan for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1996, Pokémon has delighted fans around the world. Over the past two decades it has become a hugely successful and popular entertainment brand and continues to be held dear by fans of all ages. More than 275 million copies of Pokémon video games have been sold worldwide, 21.5 billion TCG cards have been shipped to 74 countries in 11 languages and over 450,000 players take part in Pokémon events every year. There are also more than 800 episodes spanning 18 seasons of the animated TV show.

Pokémon fans can follow all the 2016 celebrations at Pokemon.co.uk/20, where they’ll find information about events, product details, and video messages from some of Pokémon’s best-known followers. They are also encouraged to join the conversation by sharing their own memories of Pokémon using the hashtag #Pokemon20 on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

To kick off the year-long celebrations in style, a new TV commercial will air during the US Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, February 7. From then on, a series of exciting activities are planned to mark Pokémon’s milestone year. A special app—Pokémon Photo Booth—has been designed for the occasion and will be available to download at no charge for iPhone and Android later this year. Numerous limited-edition toys, figurines and plush items from TOMY will be available to be discovered and collected at participating retail locations. The fun will continue throughout 2016 with new video game releases, TCG expansions, movies and more.

·         VIDEO GAME:

Timed to coincide with the birth date of Pokémon on February 27, the games that started it all—Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow—will be relaunched on Nintendo eShop for systems in the Nintendo 3DS family .

On the same day, three new Nintendo 2DS Special Edition bundles, sure to trigger warm feelings of nostalgia, will also launch. The Special Edition bundles include a Nintendo 2DS system in transparent red, blue or yellow and are pre-installed with Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue or Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, corresponding to the system’s colour.  These Nintendo 2DS Special Edition bundles feature classic packaging reminiscent of the original Game Boy games, a sheet of 15 stickers that can be used to customise the system and a download code for a HOME Menu theme.

Numerous collectible Pokémon characters will be distributed to owners of the hugely successful Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y throughout the year . Mew, Darkrai, Arceus and other popular Pokémon will be distributed via various methods in Europe, bringing fans a number of Pokémon to collect throughout the 2016 celebrations!

·         POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME (TCG):
Pokémon TCG fans can celebrate 20 years of Pokémon with the Pokémon TCG: Generations expansion. It contains more than 110 cards to collect and play with, including Pikachu, Snorlax, Ninetales-EX, Jolteon-EX, plus Mega Charizard-EX, Mega Blastoise-EX and Mega Venusaur-EX. The expansion covers every stage of a Trainer’s journey, from the choice of a first partner Pokémon to the most elite of Trainer battles.

Pokémon TCG: Generations boosters will be available within the specially labelled and designed range for this special year, starting with the first Mythical Collection released in late February in the UK and Germany and slightly later in other European countries. New Mythical Pokémon Collections will be released throughout 2016, each containing additional Pokémon TCG: Generations boosters, and four Red & Blue Collection boxes will be released containing even more boosters.

For more information, visit Pokemon.co.uk/20.

·         TV ANIMATION:

Pokémon fans can look forward to a programme of promotional stunts with broadcast and video-on-demand (VOD) platform partners screening the animated series and movies to celebrate 20 years of Pokémon. Beginning early 2016 and continuing throughout the year, several Pokémon full-length feature films will be screened by key broadcasting partners across Europe. The same films will also become available for digital download from key VOD platforms such as iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.* Pokémon movies will also be featured on Pokémon TV each month.

An interactive iBook will accompany the release of Pokémon: The First Movie on iTunes and can be viewed in English on any device that supports iBooks, including Mac, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

The year-long programme of screenings will kick off with digitally remastered versions of the first two feature-length Pokémon movies, Pokémon: The First Movie and Pokémon: The Movie 2000, with more slated to follow throughout the celebrations.†  

*VOD availability may vary by territory and platform.
†Broadcasting dates and times subject to territory and broadcaster scheduling. For more information, keep checking Pokemon.co.uk/20.

·         20 YEARS OF POKÉMON: IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING!

Pokémon is respected for its quality, adaptability and attention to detail. The joy of collecting, battling and trading runs through everything the company does. Consistently innovating and moving with the times, Pokémon is a brand that combines a deep and respected heritage with a strong and exciting future. Pokémon fans are a unique band, spanning a range of ages and interests; they have been—and continue to be—a positive, committed, sociable and interactive community like no other fan base.

2016 will be a landmark year for Pokémon in many ways. Not only will the Pokémon Company International celebrate a rich 20 years of history, it will also evolve by developing plans for a bright future!

New video game titles are slated for release during early 2016—Pokkén Tournament arrives in spring 2016 for Wii U, Pokémon Rumble World releases on January 22 and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon releases on February 19 for the Nintendo 3DS family systems. 2016 will also see Pokémon fans catching ’em all in the real world with the release of Pokémon GO, a game for mobile devices which was announced in September 2015. The project is a collaboration between the Pokémon Company, Niantic, Inc., and Nintendo Co., Ltd. It is a groundbreaking mobile game designed to encourage fans to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. Pokémon GO will be available for download at no charge on the App Store and Google Play in 2016.

Be sure to visit Pokemon.co.uk/20 for more information about Pokémon 20, Train On projects and join the conversation using #Pokemon20. Pokémon. Twenty Years. Train On.

Train2Game News DC Universe Online coming to Xbox One

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Daybreak Game Company is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the launch of DC Universe™ Online (DCUO) with the news that the massively multiplayer online superhero game is coming this spring to Xbox One.

Additionally, Daybreak announced that cross-play functionality will be available for players on the PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and PC the week of Jan. 25, 2016.

Since its release in 2011, DC Universe Online has received continual updates with new storylines and challenges through an evolving series of Episodes. Over 40 legendary DC Comics characters have been added to the Legends roster in the past five years, including The Joker, Bane, Batman, Deathstroke, Supergirl, Superman and Wonder Woman. Players have created more than 35 million heroes and villains since the game was introduced, equipping them with their favorite superpowers, most notably the ability to fly, which accounts for more than half of the in-game player powers in Metropolis and Gotham City.

In 2015, DCUO updated Supergirl’s look to coincide with the CBS television show, launched DC Comics Bombshells content in conjunction with the comic book, celebrated The Flash’s 75th anniversary, released two new power sets – Munitions and Atomic, concluded The League of Assassins and Trigon storylines, and much more. In addition to PC-PS4™ cross-play and DCUO’s launch on the Xbox One, this year players can look forward to Water powers as well as storylines featuring Superman, Halls of Power, Harley Quinn and characters from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.

Episode 21, coming this February, will feature a new eight-player Operation – “Prison Break” – and two-player Operation – “The First Piece” – inspired by the new Warner Bros. television series DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, premiering Jan. 21 on The CW. Additionally, this content will introduce The Atom to DCUO, as well as bring back popular characters like Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Captain Cold and Heat Wave to the game. To see a sneak preview of the new Episode, check out this special anniversary livestream with Kinda Funny Games: http://www.twitch.tv/kindafunnygames/v/34919169

DC Universe Online is licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.DCUniverseOnline.com .

Train2Game News MU Origin Android Beta

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WEBZEN, a global developer and publisher of free-to-play games, announced today that the first Closed Beta for its mobile MMORPG MU: Origin will start on Google Play on the Android mobile platform on the 25th of January.

MU: Origin is an upcoming mobile MMORPG, successfully transferred Full 3D PC MMORPG MU ONLINE’s enormous amount of contents and applied the latest mobile game trends: the game system and user interface which are optimized to mobile devices, and the splendid graphics. MU: Origin allows players to experience a full 3D PC quality real-time MMORPG on their mobile device.

MU: Origin is a mobile game developed through WEBZEN’s IP franchising business – WEBZEN grants the franchisee the right to use a developed concept, including graphics, trademarks, character and even publishing technologies to create a new game. Along with MU: Origin’s IP franchising alliance, a Chinese partner company launched the game in Chinese market, and WEBZEN lead to its game service in Korea as well as giving them its guidance and support for the entire game development phase.

While mobile game markets have grown rapidly, this business model started from the idea that it would be able to lead even more global gamers to a mobile game by taking advantage of high brand awareness of PC online game MU ONLINE. In fact, the strong performance of IP Franchising was primarily due to mobile game MU: Origin based on the well-known PC online game MU ONLINE.

Since MU: Origin officially launched in Korea, April 2015, the game was ranked on the top 1 game of Korean top-grossing charts in both Google Play and App Store. Furthermore, MU: Origin was ranked on the top 1 game of App Store’s top-grossing charts in China, and the game was ranked in the top 5 games of Google Play’s worldwide top-grossing charts in May 2015.

MU: Origin still has a significant number of registered players, with more than 120 million accounts in China, and 20 million downloads on Google Play Store only in Korea. Amongst many mobile games in the markets, the game has been in the top-tier position in both two countries.

Additionally, WEBZEN has already secured an influential channel ‘WEBZEN.com’ to bring its games to the global market with 60 million players from all over the world. To promote the game in the West, the WEBZEN team is planning to organize cross-promotions with other PC games on it’s the global game portal ‘WEBZEN.com’.

From 12th January through to 31st January, 2016 (PST), any Android phone or tablet user who can access to Google Play and a compatible device in Europe, North and South America can sign-up for early access to try the game during Closed Beta phase on the official MU: Origin website at: http://muorigin.webzen.com/

Just a few thousand players will be selected to take part in the first round of closed beta testing, and participants who receive an invitation letter by e-mail will be able to download the game fully localized into English for free. The Closed Beta will be running from 25th January until 31st January, 2016 (PST).

Full release of the game is currently scheduled for spring 2016, as well as expansion into other platforms including iOS.

Interested players are invited to check out the game’s official forums found at http://forum.webzen.com/forum/en/mu-origin-english more information, and MU: Origin’s news and updates will be available on its official Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MUOriginWEBZEN/

Train2Game News Game Developers Choice Awards

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Organizers have revealed the nominees for the 16th annual Game Developers Choice Awards, the leading peer-based video game event celebrating the industry’s top games and developers. The host for the ceremony will be veteran developer Robin Hunicke, co-founder of Funomena.

Winners in all categories will be honored at the Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony, taking place on Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 at 6:30pm at the San Francisco Moscone Center during the 2016 Game Developers Conference alongside the Independent Games Festival Awards. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on Twitch at the following link: http://www.twitch.tv/gdca.

Among the esteemed nominees, two games have earned the most nominations in four categories each. The open-world entry in Kojima Productions’ legendary action stealth franchise, Metal Gear Solid V, has earned nominations for Best Audio, Best Design, Best Technology and Game of the Year. CD Projekt RED’s vast open-world action role-playing game, The Witcher 3, received nods for Best Visual Art, Best Narrative, Best Technology and Game of the Year.

A diverse selection of additional titles received multiple nominations for the Game Developers Choice Awards, including six titles which each earned three nominations apiece. DICE earned three nominations for its action shooter  set in the beloved Star Wars universe, Star Wars Battlefront, including nods for Best Audio, Best Technology and Best Visual Art. FromSoftware’s dark and rewardingly punishing action RPG, Bloodborne, is the nominee for Best Design, Best Visual Art and Game of the Year. Bethesda Game Studios’ ambitious and massive RPG world of Fallout 4 received nominations for Best Design, Best Technology and Game of the Year. Nintendo’s breakout color-filled third-person shooter, Splatoon, nabbed nominations for Best Design, Innovation Award and Best Visual Art.

A pair of acclaimed independent games also received multiple nominations for their novel approach to game design. Her Story by Sam Barlow received accolades for the game’s unique true crime detective story and earned nominations for Best Handheld/Mobile, Innovation Award and Best Narrative. Undertale, the subversive and clever RPG that puts the fate of nearly every NPC in the player’s hands, earned nominations for Innovation Award, Best Narrative and Best Debut for developer Toby Fox.

Any video game that was released and made publicly available to customers during the 2015 calendar year, irrespective of platform or delivery medium, is eligible for nomination for the 2016 Game Developers Choice Awards. Both nominees and winners are selected by the Game Developers Choice Awards-specific International Choice Awards Network (ICAN), which is an invitation-only organization, comprised of leading game creators from all parts of the industry.

The host for the 2016 Game Developers Choice Awards, Robin Hunicke, has established a career designing, making and teaching about games for more than 12 years. Hunicke has contributed to an eclectic mix of critically acclaimed titles, including Journey, Boom Blox, MySims, The Sims 2 and several others. Recognized as an influential Woman in Games, Hunicke is an outspoken evangelist for diversity of thought and participation in game design and game culture. She co-organizes the annual Experimental Gameplay Workshop at GDC, and is also a Professor of Art, Games & Playable Media at UC Santa Cruz. A game designer and producer by training, she has a background in computer science, fine art and applied game studies. She currently serves as the co-founder of the independent San Francisco game studio Funomena, where she is working on Luna and Wattam.

The complete list of nominees, including honorable mentions, for the 16th annual Game Developers Choice Awards is as follows:

Game of the Year
Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt RED / CD Projekt)
Metal Gear Solid V (Kojima Productions / Konami)
Bloodborne (FromSoftware / Sony Computer Entertainment)
Rocket League (Psyonix)

Honorable Mentions: Her Story (Sam Barlow), Super Mario Maker (Nintendo EAD Group No. 4 / Nintendo), Undertale (Toby Fox), Splatoon (Nintendo EAD Group No. 2 / Nintendo), Life is Strange (Dontnod Entertainment / Square Enix)

Innovation Award
Her Story (Sam Barlow)
Super Mario Maker (Nintendo EAD Group No. 4 / Nintendo)
Undertale (Toby Fox)
Splatoon (Nintendo EAD Group No. 2 / Nintendo)
The Beginner’s Guide (Everything Unlimited Ltd.)

Honorable Mentions: Rocket League (Psyonix), Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (Steel Crate Games) Cibele (Star Maid Games), Life is Strange (Dontnod Entertainment / Square Enix), Metal Gear Solid V (Kojima Productions / Konami)

Best Debut
Studio Wildcard (ARK: Survival Evolved)
Toby Fox (Undertale)
Moon Studios (Ori and the Blind Forest)
Moppin (Downwell)
Steel Crate Games (Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes)

Honorable Mentions: Asteroid Base (Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime), Question (The Magic Circle)  Thomas Happ (Axiom Verge), Dinosaur Polo Club (Mini Metro), MidBoss (Read Only Memories)

Best Design
Rocket League (Psyonix)
Metal Gear Solid V (Kojima Productions / Konami)
Bloodborne (FromSoftware / Sony Computer Entertainment)
Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios/ Bethesda Softworks)
Splatoon (Nintendo EAD Group No. 2 / Nintendo)

Honorable Mentions: Her Story (Sam Barlow), Super Mario Maker (Nintendo EAD Group No. 4 / Nintendo), Undertale (Toby Fox), The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt RED / CD Projekt), Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Studios / Microsoft Studios)

Best Handheld/Mobile Game
Lara Croft: GO (Square Enix Montréal / Square Enix)
Fallout Shelter (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
Downwell (Moppin / Devolver Digital)
Her Story (Sam Barlow)
AlphaBear (Spry Fox)

Honorable Mentions: Prune (Joel McDonald), The Room Three (Fireproof Games), Subterfuge (Ron Carmel and Noel Llopis), Pac-Man 256 (Hipster Whale and 3 Sprockets / BANDAI NAMCO), Sage Solitaire (Zach Gage), SteamWorld Heist (Image and Form), You Must Build a Boat (EightyEight Games)

Best Visual Art
Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Studios / Microsoft Studios)
The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt RED / CD Projekt)
Star Wars Battlefront (DICE / Electronic Arts)
Bloodborne (FromSoftware / Sony Computer Entertainment)
Splatoon (Nintendo EAD Group No. 2 / Nintendo)

Honorable Mentions: Metal Gear Solid V (Kojima Productions / Konami), Rise of the Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics / Square Enix), Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady Studios / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), The Order: 1886 (Ready at Dawn / Sony Computer Entertainment), Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture (The Chinese Room / Sony Computer Entertainment), Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)

Best Narrative
Her Story (Sam Barlow)
The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt RED / CD Projekt)
Life is Strange (Dontnod Entertainment / Square Enix)
Undertale (Toby Fox)
The Beginner’s Guide (Everything Unlimited Ltd.)

Honorable Mentions: Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture (The Chinese Room / Sony Computer Entertainment), Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks), Until Dawn (Supermassive Games / Sony Computer Entertainment), Cibele (Star Maid Games), Soma (Frictional Games)

Best Audio
Star Wars Battlefront (DICE / Electronic Arts)
Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Studios / Microsoft Studios)
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture (The Chinese Room / Sony Computer Entertainment)
Metal Gear Solid V (Kojima Productions / Konami)
Crypt of the NecroDancer (Brace Yourself Games)

Honorable Mentions: Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks), The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt RED / CD Projekt), Life is Strange (Dontnod Entertainment / Square Enix), SOMA (Frictional Games), Bloodborne (FromSoftware / Sony Computer Entertainment), Splatoon (Nintendo EAD Group No. 2 / Nintendo)

Best Technology
Metal Gear Solid V (Kojima Productions / Konami)
The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt RED / CD Projekt)
Star Wars Battlefront (DICE / Electronic Arts)
Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
Just Cause 3 (Avalanche Studios / Square Enix

Honorable Mentions: Rise of the Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics / Square Enix), Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady Studios / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), Splatoon (Nintendo EAD Group No. 2 / Nintendo), Super Mario Maker (Nintendo EAD Group No. 4 / Nintendo), Halo 5: Guardians (343 Industries / Microsoft Studios)

The Game Developers Choice Awards also gives out three annual Special Awards: the Pioneer, Ambassador and Lifetime Achievement awards, all of which will be announced in the near future.

For more information about the 16th annual Game Developers Choice Awards, visit http://www.gamechoiceawards.com. For information about the 2016 GDC, visit http://www.gdconf.com.

Train2Game News XSplit Gamecaster 2.7

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SplitmediaLabs Limited (“SplitmediaLabs”) are thrilled to announce the immediate availability of XSplit Gamecaster 2.7.

A brand new update for the live streaming and recording application  that introduces a range of new features, optimizations and integrations aimed at creating an even easier and more intuitive user experience, including:

Tobii Eye Tracking Integration
XSplit Gamecaster now recognizes Tobii Eye Tracking, allowing users to display a visual representation of their eye movements on their live stream, making it easy for viewers to see exactly where broadcasters are looking and how they prioritize their screen real estate in game.

Intel RealSense™ Support
Intel® RealSense™ cameras enable users to do pseudo-green screen, chroma key type of background removal without actually needing a chroma backdrop. Version 2.7 of both XSplit products will have support for this type of camera. Aside from basic support, it also includes new options to perform background removal with lower CPU usage.

In-Game Screenshot Support
Take beautiful high quality screenshots in game with XSplit Gamecaster. Now it’s easier than ever to capture your greatest gaming moments for sharing across your favorite social network or for your own personal album.

Login with Facebook or Twitter!
XSplit Gamecaster now makes it even easier to login by letting users connect XSplit to their Facebook or Twitter account, making it even easier to start a live stream or recording!

This new update which was made available to coincide with CES 2016, is part of a much wider version update across all XSplit products. Users are encouraged to update to the latest version either through the application, or by visiting xsplit.com/download

Train2Game News Ch’illout CD inspired by Wipeout

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Ch’illout” by CoLD SToRAGE pre-order date extended and exclusive new prize!

Tim Wright’s next album will be a tribute to the PlayStation Wipeout franchise – 14 music tracks from the series re-imagined in ambient and chilled mixes.

This will be Wright’s first physical CD album, having only ever published on digital formats in the past… and the stops are being pulled out to make it a classic.

His new 2 x CD album will be presented in luxury packaging, with bespoke artwork from ex. Psygnosis Wipeout artists and a full colour double sided poster to boot.

In addition to winning one of 3 x rare copies of the Strix Memoria USB Album, as of today Wright has added an additional item to his free draw prize.

This new gem is a one-off CoLD SToRAGE hoodie, as worn by Tim to the AMIGA 30 UK event in 2015, which will be shipped off to one lucky winner.

Due to popular demand, the deadline for pre-orders has been extended to January 31st 2016, so there’s still time to get in on the project.

CoLD SToRAGE’s new album Ch’illout” can be pre-ordered until 31st January 2016 from here; http://www.coldstorage.org.uk/chillout

Train2Game News Student creating studio for kids games

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Train2Game pupil creating cartoon games for kids wants students to join his team and get hands on experience making games

James Mahon, 25, from Birmingham wants students to join him in making awesome games for kids. James is on the Games Design course, is coming to the end of his studies and has so far created two games. The latest title he’s working on is a traditional platform game, with cartoon style graphics and comic book sequences. He’s specifically looking for is looking for level design and QA.

James Mahon, Train2Game student: ‘I am studying Game Designer course and enjoying it, I have almost finished it. I’m using everything I have learned and have created two games in the last year.’

‘I am looking for team members that enjoy working in a team and can work towards a common goal. I hope to make good connections with other designers and create some team spirit to help make better games. I am looking for a level designer to work with as a team. I am just a designer that can conceptualize art and implement features. Unfortunately, designing levels is outside of my area of study.’

‘I have finished prototyping a simple platform game and looking for a QA Level Designer to help design linear levels and test that they are fun to play. I have concept art of the two heroic characters and the villain.  The aim is to create a game with mass appeal in its characters and long-lasting value as a sustainable franchise.’

‘This is a traditional 2D platformer featuring lovable characters that will appeal to boys and girls. This children’s game features, a rice grain on a mission to find the lost rice grains with the aid of his companion, a pixie. Their ultimate objective is to defeat the mutant bug that terrorized the rice grains into fleeing their home.’

‘Another, concept on paper is an educational game featuring a ‘cool’ narrative character on duty to teach kids the importance of safety. This game will be created for school kids and in web browser for accessibility.’

‘Both of these concepts will have HUGE levels to design. That’s what I want help with. Above all, these concepts need some team spirit to help make a better game.’

‘Having played many kids games when I was younger, I still can understand what makes them fun to play for kids. I was a kid once and some kids have negative influences so the aim would be to create a positive influence through entertainment in a video game.’

‘I plan on making video games for kids/teenagers from 7 to 18. I have a few concepts on paper that are perfectly viable. Kids games aren’t as mainstream as adult games i.e Grand Theft Auto, but games don’t have to involve gratuitous violence to be fun – cartoon violence can still be fun, or even, no violence.’

‘I plan to start of small and grow big in the future with better games. I have big plans for my team to create big games that have a lot of value. I enjoy playing hardcore video games the most. Ubisoft inspire me.’

For more information contact mark@train2game.com

Train2Game, bringing City & Guilds to the Games Industry

Train2Game is a proud supporter of www.plasisgamesportal.com  and www.gamatier.com

Train2Game News Dietrich Online Services

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Cody Dietrich announces his new company Dietrich Online Services is open and ready for business.

Dietrich Online Services, or DOS, is a “Content Creation Liaison” that brings exposure to games from Publishers and Developers to content creators that might not otherwise know the existence of, or have access to their titles. By personally vetting each source, game providers know that their games are being presented to actual content creators eager to try out new games.

After a soft launch in 2015, Dietrich Online Services has been fostering an ever-growing list of relationships with Content Creators on YouTube, Twitch and other popular media sites as well as Publishers and Developers looking to gain exposure for their titles.

What developers and publishers have had to say about Dietrich Online Services:

“Dietrich Online Services has been a valuable resource in getting our games distributed to the YouTube gaming community. I’ve been able to engage with and get content created by a fabulous network of excited YouTubers. I would definitely work with Dietrich Online Services again.”
–          Raghav Mathur, Chief Marketing Officer of Black Shell Media

“In a time where YouTube and Twitch are becoming more popular with gamers and how it helps gives exposure to indie developers, Dietrich Online Services couldn’t have come at a better time. Cody has kept me in the loop about my review keys every step of the way and I know he can be trusted to handle any future releases we have.”
–          Rafal Kokosza, Founder of GrabTheGames

To this point, DOS also provides a living Scammer List on their site. It is unfortunate the number of people out there that pose as journalists and content creators to scam free games. Since a lot of the studios involved are small, they just do not have the time or resources to vet each new request that comes in.

Check out the DOS Scammer List Here:
http://dietrichonlineservices.com/the-scammer-list/

“ DOS was started because I grew tired of seeing tweets about how developers were getting scammed by gamers claiming to be reviewers and/or content creators. Instead of helping these new and upcoming games get some much needed (and very appreciated) exposure, these frauds take these review keys just to end up leaving without a trace, or worse, putting it on a resell site to earn a profit. This has put a stigma on legitimate content creators who may not have a big public following such as famous YouTubers PewDiePie and Markiplier, and in turn causes developers and publishers to shy away from unknown and unproven outlets.

I wanted to create a service for these game developers where they knew the key was going to someone that was vetted and would be updated on what a channel is doing with their review key. If one were accepted for a copy of a game and didn’t follow through, that channel would be banned from the mailing list and placed on the scammer list. Thankfully I haven’t had to do that since DOS’s conception, but I plan on being very transparent when it happens based on a key sent to me in good faith. ”

–       Richard “Cody” Dietrich, Founder of Dietrich Online Services

Dietrich Online Services is available now to video game publishers, developers, YouTubers, Twitch streamers and all other content creators.

Website: http://dietrichonlineservices.com/