Tag Archives: developer

Train2Game News Square Enix tribute concert

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Video game music will return to London’s famous Barbican Centre with the London Symphony Orchestra as Merregnon Studios’ much-loved Square Enix tribute concert, Symphonic Fantasies London, makes its debut UK performance on October 6th, 2016.

Featuring symphonic arrangements from some of Square Enix’s most cherished role-playing franchises, including FINAL FANTASY, KINGDOM HEARTS, SECRET OF MANA and CHRONO TRIGGER/CHRONO CROSS, the critically acclaimed and officially licensed Symphonic Fantasies London is a tour de force of orchestral composition and performance. Conducted by Eckehard Stier, with arrangements by Merregnon Studios’ Jonne Valtonen and Roger Wanamo, Symphonic Fantasies London is the ultimate concert experience for Japanese RPG fans.

Accompanying the London Symphony Orchestra on stage will be the London Symphony Chorus, along with talented soloists Slava Sidorenko and Rony Barrak, in what will be the LSO’s seventh live video game concert performance. This follows sell-out Final Symphony II concerts earlier this year in both London and Japan, as well as recording the chart-topping Final Symphony album at Abbey Road Studios.

Also joining fans, as special guest for the night, is Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura, who’ll appear on stage for a special ticketed, pre-concert talk. Here she’ll talk about her long and highly successful career in video game music, as well as take questions from the audience in what will be an entertaining and informative evening.

“It’s so exciting to be back at the Barbican with the LSO for another epic video game concert performance,” said Symphonic Fantasies London producer, Thomas Böcker. “Following the success of Final Symphony I & II and Symphonic Legends London, this venue feels like a second home to me and I’m so pleased to finally be able to bring Symphonic Fantasies to a UK audience. I’m incredibly proud of the work my team put into these arrangements and I’m sure you will be blown away when you hear the LSO perform them live.”

“Video game music concerts are something we always look forward to working on,” said Gareth Davies, the LSO’s Principal Flute. “Not only is the music incredibly well written and challenging to perform, which makes it a delight to play, but the reaction from the fans is always amazing. We love performing to such attentive and appreciative audiences and can’t wait to share the wonderful music of Symphonic Fantasies London with you all next year.”

Tickets for Symphonic Fantasies London go on sale tomorrow, December 11th, from 10am, and range in price from £30 to £65. Tickets for the pre-concert talk with Yoko Shimomura will also go on sale at the same time, priced at £10 each. To book tickets please visit the official concert site: http://lso.co.uk/symphonicfantasies

For more information on Symphonic Fantasies, the Final Symphonies and Merregnon Studios’ other productions, please visit www.gameconcerts.com

Train2Game News Assassin’s Creed visits Russia and India

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Today, Ubisoft® announced Assassin’s Creed® Chronicles: India and Assassin’s Creed® Chronicles: Russia, the final episodes of the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles trilogy, will be available for download respectively on January 12 and February 9, 2016, on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack, which includes all three episodes, will be available as a digital store bundle on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC starting February 9. The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack will also be available at retail stores on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One starting February 9. The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack will be available on the PlayStation®Vita system on April 5.

Developed by Climax Studios in collaboration with Ubisoft Montreal, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles brings the thrill of being a Master Assassin to 2.5D. Players journey to three distinct civilizations and time periods throughout history, including the Ming dynasty at the start of its downfall, the Sikh Empire as it prepares for war in India, and the aftermath of the Red October Revolution. Each chronicle stands on its own with a unique setting, art style, story and Assassin, but they are all tied together narratively. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, the first episode, released in April 2015.

The second episode, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, throws players into the tension between the Sikh Empire and the private armies of the British-owned East India Company in 1841. When a Master Templar arrives with a mysterious item that used to belong to the Assassin Order, Arbaaz Mir must discover why the Templar has come, steal back the item and protect his friends and his lover.

The final episode, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, takes place in 1918 when Assassin Nikolaï Orelov must complete one last mission for the Assassin Order before he can leave with his family. His mission: infiltrate the house where the Tsar’s family is being held by the Bolsheviks and steal an artifact that has been fought over by Assassins and Templars for centuries. While too late to save the Tsar’s entire family, he manages to save the princess, Anastasia, whom he must protect as he escapes the Templars with her and the artifact in tow.

Train2Game News London Mobile Games Week 2016

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The team behind the hugely successful Mobile Games Forum (MGF) today announced that London Mobile Games Week 2016 is now open for registrations.

Repeating the formula of last years inaugural London Games Week, companies of any size in the mobile games sector are once again invited to register and host their own event. The first London Mobile Games Week saw over 3,000 people attending events from seminars and workshops to networking drinks and advice surgeries – all organised and hosted by companies looking to engage with London and the UK’s vibrant mobile games industry.

Any company looking to get involved should go to https://www.londonmobilegamesweek.com/ where they can find full information on how to host and market their event.

Taking place from 18-22 January 2016, London Mobile Games Week is both a celebration of the creative and coding talent which calls the city home, as well as being a shop window for UK companies as they compete for a slice of the growing global market for mobile games. Although mobile gaming is still a relatively young sector it has quickly become a significant slice of the £1.72 billion that the UK games industry contributes to the British economy every year. London Mobile Games Week 2016 will once again be held in partnership with London & Partners, the Mayor’s promotional company for London, and supported by trade bodies UKIE and TIGA.

Gordon Innes, Chief Executive of London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional company has said:

“The UK’s games industry is the largest in Europe and London is home to some of the world’s fastest growing games companies. So I’m delighted to welcome Mobile Games Week back to the Capital. London’s tech sector is buzzing and it’s important we support initiatives like this to encourage growth and investment across the sector.”

Industry associations, mobile games studios and companies involved in any aspect of the creation of mobile games will be able to create and host their own independent events under the London Mobile Games Week banner, which will be free to attend and listed on http://www.londonmobilegamesweek.com.

Commenting on the event, Will Robinson of London Mobile Games Week organisers OsneyMedia, said: “The success of the 2015 event really underscored London’s place as a centre of mobile gaming talent. We’re confident that this year’s event will be even bigger as more and more companies in this incredibly vibrant sector embrace the chance to network and share information with fellow professionals.”

Train2Game News Ni no Kuni 2 Revenant Kingdom announced

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BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc announces Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom for Playstation 4.

Leading interactive entertainment media publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is pleased to announce that  Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM is in development for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

Developed by famed Japanese video game studio, LEVEL-5;  Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM features an all-new cast of charming characters, an emotional storyline, and innovative gameplay design that will delight and challenge players.

“With its emotional storytelling, innovative gameplay, and breathtaking aesthetics, the original  Ni no Kuni broke new ground in the RPG genre and became one of the most beloved and well-received games of 2013,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

“With   Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM, the artistic visionaries behind the first game are back to take their creative vision of a grand adventure to even higher heights that are sure to delight video game fans.”

Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM  is rated “RP” for Rating Pending by the ESRB. The game will be coming to the Americas for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

You can enjoy the trailer below

Train2Game News CrowdCartel

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UK Company to launch first collaborative buying platform for gamers.

CrowdCartel is a collaborative buying platform with a unique distinction: It aims to serve the UK’s ever-growing gaming community.

Gaming products will be offered to members at a discounted rate, assuming that a minimum or qualifying amount of sales are established. After a qualifying amount of sales is reached, members will be able to purchase high-end gaming equipment and accessories at a discounted price.

Sellers benefit from selling in one large and easy transaction and pass on significant discounts to members purchasing through the CrowdCartel platform.

The UK company will also be offering their members the ability to request and vote for items to be featured in the future. Theo Vanezos, one of the platform’s original founders, has stated “By offering members the ability to recommend and vote for items they would like to see featured we are aiming to give the gaming community a new and cheaper way to source the products they want”.

The platform urges users to group up with their friends and join other like-minded members in placing a single larger order, and make a significant saving as a result. Kristian Clerides, the other  original founding member,commented “ It just didn’t make sense to us that all these groups of friends buying the same stuff couldn’t negotiate a better price “.

The website will initially be offering some essential, curated,  gaming products to groups of early members for a heavily discounted price..

As the community grows, users will be able to recommend and vote on which  products they would like to see featured.

If you are interested in getting exclusive early access to the website and the first available products, you can sign up for a limited amount of time here.

Train2Game News FF VII Remake Trailer

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During this past weekend’s PlayStation Experience in San Francisco, SQUARE ENIX® debuted a new trailer for FINAL FANTASY® VII REMAKE, the full remake of the award-winning role-playing game, FINAL FANTASY VII.

The new trailer features the first CG scenes as well as gameplay footage. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE will be told across a multi-part series, with each entry providing its own unique experience.

SQUARE ENIX also revealed that the original FINAL FANTASY VII is now available on the PlayStation®Store‎ for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

For the first time on the new generation of consoles, gamers new and old can experience the unforgettable RPG that shaped the future of the genre. In celebration of its release, the title will be available with a 30% discount for the first week and will then be priced at $15.99 starting December 13. All players who purchase the title will also receive a static custom theme, featuring the cityscape of Midgar from FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE.

The new FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE trailer is available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLYyWAqTTAo.

Train2Game News Warhammer 40,000 Tactical Objectives app gets release date

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Former Train2Game students now professional developers, Derp Studios announce officially licenced Games Workshop app will arrive 18th December 2015

Independent Video Games and Apps developer, Derp Studios, announce official release date for its tactical objectives app created with Games Workshop. Warhammer enthusiasts will be able to add the app to their Christmas wish list, with the release date set to the 18th December 2015.

Independent Video Games and Apps developer, Derp Studios, has created a tactical objectives App to accompany the Warhammer 40,000 board game. The team which includes Train2Game students has been working with Games Workshop to create the app.

The app has been designed to assist in playing the latest version of the popular table top game, offering a digital version of tactical objectives cards which previously were only available on limited edition print runs. This is one of the first ever officially licensed Tactical Objectives apps which supports the Warhammer 40,000 board game.

Chris Ledger, CEO and Lead Designer of Derp Studios, “Derp Studios was formed late 2011 during Make Something Unreal Live 2012 hosted by Train2Game and Epic Games, where we developed a mobile title based on the Fighting Fantasy IP.  Since then we’ve done a couple of self-funded projects and most recently we have become Games Workshop Licensees!”

“The Warhammer 40,000:  Tactical Objectives App is one of the first hobby Apps to directly support the Warhammer 40,000 table-top board game.  The aim of the App is to enable players who don’t have a physical copy of either the regular or faction based Tactical Objectives cards to be able to own their factions deck, since the physical copies are on limited print runs. So the app is fairly niche as it appeals to Warhammer 40,000 table-top players, however that doesn’t mean the target audience is small in any way!”

“Games Workshop are really good work alongside with.  They’ve been really supportive and have provided a lot of assets for us to use.  So far it’s been nothing but positive and a really enjoyable experience!”

“For Derp Studios this app alone is a big milestone in the company!  I’m not sure what the future holds for more hobby apps within the Warhammer 40,000 IP, however if I’m unable to produce another hobby app then I’d happily make a small licensed video game for them.”

Website:  www.derpstudios.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/derpstudios
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/derpstudios

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Train2Game News Telltale Batman game

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Telltale Games, with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment, today announced an interactive episodic game series based on DC Comics’ iconic Batman™ that is set to premiere in 2016.

The official title for the Telltale series is yet to be revealed.

The episodic game series will premiere digitally on home consoles, PC/Mac, and mobile devices. Specific platform details are yet to be announced.

“At Telltale, we’ve been honored to bring our unique approach to interactive storytelling to some of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll soon be exploring what it means to be Batman in an all-new series starting next year,” said Kevin Bruner, Co-Founder and CEO of Telltale Games.

“This iteration of Batman will give fans a first-hand opportunity to dive deeper into the complex life and mind of Bruce Wayne, the duality of his own identity, and the struggle of responsibility in saving a city overcome with corruption and villainy.”

“Telltale has an established track record of creating award-winning content for some of the best properties in the world,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We look forward to working with the team as they deliver a new interactive way for fans and gamers to experience the rich narrative world of Batman.”

You can enjoy the teaser below

Train2Game News Explore Chernobyl from home

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On the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear-power-plant catastrophe – the greatest human-caused industrial and environmental disaster in history – Polish game developer The Farm 51 is developing The Chernobyl VR Project.

A virtual-reality adventure that will put players in the role of a documentary crew sent to uncover secrets surrounding the tragic event. From the comfort of their homes, players will travel to photorealistic recreations of numerous areas in Chernobyl and Pripyat, where they’ll explore the Restricted Zone, seek clues about past events and help an old survivor find his family memoires.

Via its state-of-the-art Reality 51 technology, The Farm 51’s Chernobyl VR Project will offer players unprecedented access to the site of the catastrophe and the nearby city of Pripyat. In addition to the game the team is developing, an educational component is in the works. Since more than 350,000 inhabitants were evacuated in the aftermath of the disaster, access to the area has been highly restricted and closely monitored; the Chernobyl VR Project will break down those barriers in the form of an interactive documentary, compatible with multiple VR headsets, including Oculus, PlayStation VR, Vive or Samsung Gear VR.

Watch a video that provides a brief look at the project and the people and processes behind it.

The team at The Farm 51 was granted special scientific access to areas unavailable to tourists, spending dozens of hours in the area and using its Reality 51 technology to scan locations in Chernobyl and Pripyat in photorealistic detail. Minor details, including paint peeling off the walls, scuffs on an abandoned amusement-park ride, and rust on an old cash register are captured with exceptional accuracy utilizing photogrammetry and stereoscopic, 360-degree camera technology. Players and virtual visitors will be free to explore and engage with places that have hitherto been off limits, losing themselves in a one-of-a-kind, interactive documentary.

For more information on the Chernobyl VR Project, visit:
www.reality51.com
https://www.facebook.com/chernobylvrproject

Train2Game News Team17’s 25th Birthday

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Team17 is preparing to celebrate its 25th birthday! Originally founded in 1990, the award-winning developer and games label will aptly turn 25 on the 7th December.

To celebrate, Team17 have partnered with the Microsoft’s Xbox One Games Store, the Humble Store, the Steam Store, Sony’s PlayStation Store, Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store to deliver a variety of promotions across the month of December. These will range from full game giveaways, money off, free merchandise with discounted purchases, with giveaways of concept art and wallpapers for next year’s products happening during the promotion too.

The promotion will commence from today with Worms Battlegrounds being featured on Xbox One’s Deals with Gold where the game is discounted by 80% and Overruled has 75% off.

The daily promotions will run throughout December until the 25th.  For day to day notifications on what’s happening throughout the month please follow Team17 on Twitter @Team17Ltd.

Here are a few unknown facts about Team17 from the past 25 years… enjoy!

1 – Team17’s first ever game release Full Contact went straight to No.1 in the UK.

2 – Team17’s Worms franchise has sold/dowloaded over 70 million units – despite the original game, Total Wormage not winning the Amiga Format Readers competition before signing with Team17.

3 – The number 7 and 17 are Debbie Bestwick’s  lucking numbers (Team17, Worms launched on 17th November, Team17’s birthday is the 7th , her birthday is also the 7th March– spooky!)

4 – Team17 have released 34 unique titled games (Worms franchise counted as 1)

5 – The Concrete Donkey from the Worms series of videogames actually existed as a garden ornament in the garden of Worms creator Andy Davidson’s parents. As a child the young Andy was afraid of the Concrete Donkey.

6 – Worms was first prototyped on a Texas Instruments calculator during an A-Level maths lesson.

7 – Project X, Team17’s Amiga classic was so difficult most people struggled to get past Level 2/3, so Team17 ended up realising a cheat mode on the cover mount disk of a many Amiga magazines to help struggling players

8 – Alien Breed had 87 cheats and secrets locked in the game. Most of the cheat codes are totally unprintable today!

9 – Alien Breed SE took 6 weeks in development to remix and stayed No1 in the UK for 33 weeks

10 – Team17 partnered with superstar legends (in our opinion) Epic Megagames and Housemarque to publish Silverball and Super Stardust in the 1990s.