Tag Archives: development

Train2Game News The Sims 4 coming to consoles

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Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and Maxis today announced The Sims™ 4, the previously PC/Mac-only game that celebrates creativity, inclusivity and freedom of choice, will be coming to Xbox One and PlayStation® 4 players worldwide on November 17th. 

From creating unique Sims and building amazing homes to developing Sim’s relationships and pursuing careers, The Sims 4 delivers the same emotional connection our PC players cherish to a new wave of console players. Fans will enjoy being empowered to create and control people in a vibrant virtual world as they experience life’s unpredictable, entertaining moments along the way.

“The addition of a console-version of The Sims 4 has been long-awaited by fans and newcomers alike, and we at Maxis are beyond excited to bring The Sims to new platforms,” said Executive Producer, Lyndsay Pearson. “The game delivers a beautiful The Sims experience on console and comes packed with tons of the fan-favourite content, so players can look forward to the unique gameplay, self-expression, and fun that have come to be tentpoles of The Sims brand. The possibilities to play with life are as endless as the players’ creativity.”

As with The Sims 4 on PC, console players can experience and test life’s limits in a world where there are no rules. Fans will have the power to create unique Sims, customizing everything from their hair colour and style to their fashion choices and life aspirations. With the room-based Build Mode, players can design and pick décor, effortlessly building their dream home. In the mood to explore? Sims can check out the various neighbourhoods and dynamic venues the world offers.

The Sims 4 on console gives players the unique gameplay the PC base game has to offer, plus many of the additional content updates added to The Sims 4 post-launch. After the console game launches, fans can also look forward to periodic game updates and extra content releases.

From Maxis and the talented team at Blind Squirrel Games, The Sims 4 will be available worldwide on November 17, 2017 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Pre-order The Sims 4 on console now and receive The Sims 4 Perfect Patio Stuff pack, featuring hot tubs and tons of bonus décor for your outdoor oasis. Players who can’t wait to get The Sims party started can pre-order The Sims 4 Deluxe Party Edition today and receive the full game three-days early on November 14th. 

The Deluxe Party Edition includes special content like a Flaming Tiki Bar, outrageous costumes, silly animal hats and more, plus The Sims 4 Perfect Patio Stuff featuring hot tubs. For more details and to pre-order The Sims 4, visit www.TheSims.com/Console . EA Access members will also get to play The Sims 4 up to five days before its worldwide launch, starting on November 9th, via the Play First Trial.

Train2Game News Marvel Powers United VR

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Disney unveiled the first Marvel virtual reality game: Marvel Powers United VR.
The new game from Marvel Entertainment is being built for the Oculus Rift + Touch VR headset and hand controls. You can play as various Marvel characters, including the Incredible Hulk and Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy.

In the game, you can team up with other players and use hand gestures to use your superpowers against enemies in a 3D virtual world. The title shows growing momentum for the fledgling medium of VR, which is expected to be a $25 billion market by 2021.

The title will debut as an Oculus exclusive in 2018. The demo showed three players working cooperatively in different parts of a level with limited movement. The Hulk can do things like throw his fists into the distance, catch projectiles, and hurl them back. Rocket Raccoon and Captain Marvel are also in the video.

Train2Game News Ataribox

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​Atari has revealed images of its new Ataribox, the company’s first video games console in more than 20 years.

The Ataribox will come in black with ribbed lines and wood paneling, a throwback to the original console released in 1977.

The Ataribox will feature four USB slots, an HDMI connector and an SD card reader. Atari said the front panel could either come in wood or glass and that the company planned to launch two versions of the console: a wood edition and a black/red edition.

Atari did not release any details of the internal features of the new device, but said that while it would be re-releasing classic games the console would also feature modern gaming content.

Last month the company released a teaser video of the new console. The device is expected to be based on PC technology, Atari chief executive Fred Chesnais told the Gamesbeat website.

Atari said there would be further updates on the new console in the coming months.

Train2Game News Kingdom Hearts 3 visits Toy Story

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​SQUARE ENIX® and Disney unveiled a new KINGDOM HEARTS III trailer that shines a spotlight on the first world in the KINGDOM HEARTS series to be based on a Disney•Pixar film, “Toy Story.” 
Director of the KINGDOM HEARTS series, Tetsuya Nomura, premiered the trailer during The Walt Disney Company’s Video Game Showcase at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.

The new trailer follows Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy to Andy’s room as they join Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Hamm, Rex and Sarge’s investigation into the disappearance of their fellow toys and Andy, and the emergence of the Heartless enemies in their world. Featuring an original storyline, fans will get a first look at the dynamic trio’s “Toy Story”-themed looks, all-new toys, such as the Gigas, and special Keyblades that transform and give Sora unique attacks to unleash on Heartless enemies.

 “At long last, we are excited to open up the KINGDOM HEARTS universe to include the world of Disney•Pixar’s ‘Toy Story,’” said Tetsuya Nomura, Director of the KINGDOM HEARTS series. “I’m sure fans have been anticipating the inclusion of this world for many years. The narrative will be an original story exclusive to KINGDOM HEARTS III, and the gameplay will feel characteristic of the ‘Toy Story’ style and aesthetic. Please stay tuned for more details to be revealed soon.”

“Featuring a brand new storyline that brings together beloved ‘Toy Story’ friends with the heroes of KINGDOM HEARTS, the ‘Toy Story’ world in KINGDOM HEARTS III successfully mirrors the level of quality that we strive to achieve with every Pixar film,” said Jason Katz, Story Supervisor, Pixar Animation Studios. “KINGDOM HEARTS III will undoubtedly be an experience that fans will not want to miss.”

The latest KINGDOM HEARTS III trailer is available to view on YouTube (http://sqex.to/pYL).

To celebrate D23 and the release of the new trailer, KINGDOM HEARTS Union χ[Cross] (for iOS and Android devices) will offer a powerful “KINGDOM HEARTS III Sora [EX]” Medal. This is the first time a character medal from KINGDOM HEARTS III has been added to the game. For one month (July 16 through August 16), all players can receive the never-before-seen medal by simply logging-into the game.

Train2Game News eSports affecting PC Hardware sales

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​Technology management consulting firm Jon Peddie Research has added an eSports hardware analysis to its PC Gaming Hardware report series and forecasts the market to reach $856 million in 2017. 

Growing at a blistering 42% CAGR, eSports influenced PC Hardware purchases will reach over $2.2 billion in annual sales by 2020.

Ted Pollak, JPR Senior Video Game Industry Analyst said, “Much of the current eSports research focuses on advertising and event revenue as well as game sales influenced by eSports tournament creation or adoption. Often overlooked is the fact that eSports is increasing hardware revenue in multiple ways. The first and most important factor is that eSports is minting new customers. Their initial system and peripheral purchases often measure over a thousand dollars. Additionally, hardware marketing via team sponsorships are encouraging new and existing gamers to select better parts and accelerate upgrades and rebuilds which also enhances the market.”

From high refresh/resolution displays, to mice and keyboards, to headsets and entire systems, the eSports influenced PC Gaming Hardware market comes in many forms.

Jon Peddie, President of JPR noted, “Our analysis not only measures eSports influence across hardware segments, but it drills down to pricing tiers within each segment and does this for all major geographic regions globally. If one adds our data to even the most conservative advertising, software, and event revenue, the market has already breached $1.5 billion. eSports is about and for the gaming community, not just who’s selling ads, or running conferences.”

Pricing and Availability

The Worldwide PC Gaming Hardware Market report series by Jon Peddie Research covers 33 countries, notebooks, desktops, DIY, and accessories, comes in three versions: High-End, Mid-Range, and Entry-Level, with each version selling for $7,500 and the set of three for $15,000. JPR also offers annual subscriptions, consulting and custom analysis, and discounted packages across multiple services.

Train2Game News UK Team on way to Imagine cup finals

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Pocket Sized Hands, A VR/AR/MR startup based in Dundee, will be traveling out to Seattle to represent the UK in Microsoft Imagine cup world finals with a chance to win a prize worth over $200,000 with their game Honeypot Espionage. 

Pocket Sized Hands is the only Scottish team left in the competition and one of only two computer games in the final stage of the competition.  

The Imagine Cup is an annual competition that empowers the next generation of student developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the globe, to use their creativity, passion and knowledge to create applications that shape how we live, work and play. 

Every year tens of thousands of students from across the globe compete for cash, travel and prizes and for the honor of taking home the Imagine Cup.

Which puts Pocket Sized Hands, the first team to represent Abertay University at the world finals, against prestigious Universities, including the University of Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Tokyo.

Alan Yeats, CTO of Pocket Sized Hands said: “This is an amazing opportunity to represent games in Scotland at an international level. We are really excited to be a part of whole competition and hope this can help further and grow Pocket Sized Hands in the coming years.”

Honeypot Espionage is an online Virtual Reality multiplayer shooter, focused on stealth combat, in which you are put against other Spies in a combat arena. The last man standing wins. As a Spy, you are completely invisible, but you will begin to materialize if you move, fire a weapon or set a trap. If you don’t want killed, stay still. Think Predator meets SuperHot. The slower you move in real life the harder you are to see. You can set traps and decoys to trick other players into revealing their location to try to come out on top. Multiple game modes allow you to fight the way you want. Team up with others to break into the High Security Government buildings to steal classified documents. Guard the VIP and keep them hidden from potential assassins. Classic Death match where you use your abilities to search out others to get the first and last kills. Stay hidden, only move to Kill.

Train2Game News Futurama Mobile Game

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​ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD! Jam City, via its game studio TinyCo, and FoxNext Games announced that their mobile game Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow is available TODAY on the App Store and Google Play. 
TinyCo has released two new animated trailers alongside the game, one of which reveals the game’s all-new story created by Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, and the FUTURAMA writers. This story sets the stage for a galactic adventure that will take players across the universe in search of ancient alien artifacts to restore the fabric of spacetime after it is transformed by one of the universe’s most recognizable yet enigmatic creatures: the Hypnotoad.

To view the new trailers on YouTube, please visit https://youtu.be/A-1n0K5noOo for the launch trailer and https://youtu.be/BKRrpnxupfI for the story trailer.

Additionally, please find the official Video News Release (VNR) video for Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Ksykde9fuyg

“Hypnotoad has always been one of Futurama’s most mysterious amphibians,” said Matt Groening. “In this game we finally get to learn much more about his bizarre abilities and mating habits. Perhaps too much more.”

Created in partnership with FUTURAMA creator and Executive Producer Matt Groening and his Curiosity Company, along with Executive Producer David X. Cohen, original FUTURAMA writers, and Rough Draft Studios, Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow blends simulation, combat, galactic exploration, and choose-your-own-adventure gameplay together to bring the escapades of the Planet Express crew to life. Players will experience new stories from the writers of FUTURAMA that are filled to the brim with the wit, charm, and sci-fi hijinks that fans have come to know and love. Today’s launch is just the beginning for Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, however, as the game will be updated with new characters, quests, and stories every week.

“Bringing FUTURAMA back in such a new and ambitious form was extremely difficult,” said David X. Cohen, FUTURAMA Co-Developer and Head Writer. “Especially for the people I was bossing around and yelling at.”

Jam City:  Licensed and Original IP

In addition to its popular original IP games such as Cookie Jam and Panda Pop, Jam City has made a science out of turning some of the world’s largest entertainment franchises and brands into hit mobile games. The mobile gaming publisher is the creator of 6 of the Top 100 Highest Grossing games played nationwide across both iPhone and Android devices.

“We are Futurama fanatics,” said Chris DeWolfe, co-founder and CEO of Jam City. “As such, it is quite an honor for us to collaborate so closely with Matt Groening and David X. Cohen on Futurama:  Worlds of Tomorrow.” 

“Jam City has a unique heritage of translating original TV brands, like Futurama, into mobile gaming platforms that will be played by tens of millions of fans worldwide,” DeWolfe continued. “By blending contemporary culture and science fiction, we have created a next gen mobile experience for core fans and those who are new to Futurama. We could not be more thrilled to continue the Futurama story here at Jam City.”

Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow is free to play and is available NOW on mobile devices via the App Store and Google Play. To connect with FUTURAMA fans and developers, please visit: www.fb.com/playfuturama , www.twitter.com/playfuturama , and www.JamCity.com .

Train2Game News Super NES Classic Edition

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The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo’s follow-up console to the legendary Nintendo Entertainment System, launched in 1991 and introduced what many consider some of the greatest video games of all time – classics such as Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid and F-ZERO.
On Sept. 29, this beloved console is coming back to stores in the form of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition. The mini system, which contains 21 pre-installed classic games and can easily be plugged into any high-definition TV using the included HDMI cable, will be available at a suggested retail price of $79.99. And for the first time, players who pick up the system can enjoy the intergalactic adventure Star Fox 2, the sequel to the original Star Fox game that was created during the Super NES era but never released … anywhere!

“While many people from around the world consider the Super NES to be one of the greatest video game systems ever made, many of our younger fans never had a chance to play it,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With the Super NES Classic Edition, new fans will be introduced to some of the best Nintendo games of all time, while longtime fans can relive some of their favorite retro classics with family and friends.”

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition has the same look and feel of the original system – only smaller – and comes pre-loaded with 21 incredible games:

    Contra III: The Alien Wars™

    Donkey Kong Country™

    EarthBound™

    Final Fantasy III

    F-ZERO™

    Kirby™ Super Star

    Kirby’s Dream Course™

    The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™

    Mega Man® X

    Secret of Mana

    Star Fox™

    Star Fox™ 2

    Street Fighter® II Turbo: Hyper Fighting

    Super Castlevania IV™

    Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts®

    Super Mario Kart™

    Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars™

    Super Mario World™

    Super Metroid™

    Super Punch-Out!! ™

    Yoshi’s Island™

All of these games would be considered classics by anyone’s standards, and some of them in particular – Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy III, EarthBound and Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars – are massive role-playing games that can take dozens of hours to complete. Even for super fans who have played all of these games multiple times, the inclusion of the never-before-released Star Fox 2 game will offer them something entirely new to enjoy – if they can unlock it by proving their skills in the original Star Fox game. (Well, they only have to complete the first level – we didn’t want to make it too hard!)

Included with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition are one HDMI cable, one USB charging cable with AC adapter and two wired Super NES Classic Controllers, perfect for playing multiplayer games. Having two controllers will make it easy for two players to dive into multiplayer action right away. Some of the games with multiplayer options include Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Super Mario Kart, Contra III The Alien Wars and Secret of Mana.

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition launches on Sept. 29 at a suggested retail price of $79.99.

For more information about the Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition, visit http://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic

Train2Game News Nintendo 3DS in 2018

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With the E3 video game conference in the rear-view mirror, Nintendo is now looking ahead to all the great games coming to Nintendo 3DS family systems this year and early 2018. 

This includes games in some of Nintendo’s most popular and long-running franchises, including Metroid: Samus Returns, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions, Pokémon Ultra Sun, Pokémon Ultra Moon, and Hey! PIKMIN.

Highlights include:

· Metroid: Samus Returns: A modern reimagining of the 1992 Game Boy adventure Metroid II: Return of Samus, Metroid: Samus Returns for Nintendo 3DS features an enhanced arsenal for bounty hunter Samus Aran, new moves and abilities, and a redesigned map. The game launches on 15th September alongside two new Metroid series amiibo: Samus Aran and Metroid. While supplies last, fans will also be able to purchase the Legacy Edition of the game which includes a physical version of the game, a Metroid II: Return of Samus download code for Nintendo 3DS, an old-style SteelBook®, the Samus Archive sound-selection CD featuring 25 tracks from across the Metroid series, a gold “S” Mark pin, a Morph Ball 3D keyring and a 40-page artbook.

· Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions: This enhanced remake of the first game in the Mario & Luigi series contains updated visuals, touch-screen controls and helpful game-play upgrades. Newly added side story Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser, stars many of Bowser’s familiar right-hand enemies. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions launches on 6th October. Two new amiibo figures will also be released on the same day: Goomba and Koopa Troopa.

· Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon: With new story additions, new Pokémon and enhanced features, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon offer a fresh adventure through the tropical Alola region. The games launch on 17th November.

· Ever Oasis: This beautiful and mystical role-playing action-adventure game from Koichi Ishii, the creator of the Mana series, launches on 23rd June. In between exploring the desert and conquering puzzling dungeons, players can build up their own personal oasis. Players can try Ever Oasis right now by visiting the Nintendo eShop and downloading a playable demo*. Visit our YouTube channel to watch the Ever Oasis launch trailer.

· Hey! PIKMIN: In this new type of Pikmin game, players are tasked with throwing all types of different Pikmin using the Touch Screen to solve puzzles, overcome challenges and defeat enemies through a side-scrolling adventure. Hey! PIKMIN launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on 28th July, the same day as the New Nintendo 2DS XL system and a new Pikmin amiibo figure (both sold separately). A playable demo* is now available to download by visiting the Nintendo eShop. Visit our YouTube channel to watch the Hey! PIKMIN demo trailer.

· Miitopia: Calling all Tomodachis! A dark lord is stealing the faces of everybody in the world of Miitopia, and it’s up to brave players to bring them back in this adventure sim launching on 28th July, the same day as the New Nintendo 2DS XL arrives in Europe.

· Monster Hunter Stories: Prepare to embark on an RPG adventure unlike anything the Monster Hunter series has ever known. In Monster Hunter Stories, become a rider and bond with monsters to raise their potential and unleash powerful combos. Players can fly, swim and crash into new areas of the map; discover eggs to collect and hatch; and participate in turn-based battles with a party of up to five monsters. Monster Hunter Stories launches on 8th September.

· Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth: Starting with the creation of a party to exploring the uncharted labyrinth of the Yggdrasil Tree, Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth is all about players choosing how their adventures unfold. The fifth main instalment in the loved RPG series contains the epic turn-based battles, challenging exploration, and beautiful art styles fans have come to love. Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth launches this autumn.

· Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology: The original Radiant Historia on Nintendo DS is a beloved RPG classic. In this expanded version of the game, players will experience new story content, enhanced gameplay and an updated presentation. Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology launches in early 2018.

· Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux: When Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey returns on Nintendo 3DS, expect it to do so with new story content, additional endings, a new dungeon to explore and more fun surprises. This enhanced version of the essential RPG launches for Nintendo 3DS in early 2018.

· Dr Kawashima’s Devilish Brain Training: Can you stay focused?: Prepare to train your brain by completing a series of challenging exercises with an emphasis on concentration skills and focus to train your working memory. Challenge your abilities to focus with eight Devilish Training exercises that’ll push you to the limit, or play against your friends and family, when the game launches on 28th July.

Train2Game News SEGA Forever

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In celebration of a simpler time – an era that came before cool kale, hyper-connectedness, DIY artisanal bjeer-making, and social media mayhem – SEGA Networks Inc. is bringing a growing collection of classic video games from every console era to your mobile device for free. 

The collection, called SEGA Forever, is a re-awakening of archetypal gaming, an ode to the deep and diverse SEGA catalogue, and the beginning of a retro revolution that will transport players back through two decades of console gaming.

Each game in the SEGA Forever lineup is free-to-play, ad-supported, playable offline, and includes added features like cloud saves, controller support, and leaderboards. For players who prefer a pristinely ad-free mobile gaming experience – folks who want to play SEGA just like they remember playing in their basement, without interruptions from parents, siblings, or homework – we’ve rolled back the price so each game can be purchased without ads for $1.99. As the SEGA Forever collection expands through months and years, it will include both official emulations and ported games that pan all SEGA console eras, each adapted specifically for mobile devices while remaining faithful to the original games.

“Above all else SEGA Forever is a celebration of nostalgia. It’s about allowing fans to reconnect with past experiences and share them with family and friends in an accessible and convenient way,” explains Mike Evans, CMO of SEGA’s Mobile Division in the West. “Join us on a journey of rediscovery as we roll out two decades of classic games free on mobile. Create your own ‘SEGA Forever folder’ and collect your favorite classics. Enjoy moments of nostalgia on the go, or sync a Bluetooth controller to enjoy a console-like experience in your living room. SEGA Forever democratizes retro gaming, and seeks to change how the world plays, rediscovers, and shares in classic game experiences.”

The first batch of SEGA Forever games has been carefully curated, boasting both blockbusters and core fan favorites; The collection will officially kick off tomorrow with five Mega Drive / Genesis titles, all of which will be available to download for free on the Google Play Store for Android devices and on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, where they will be accompanied by iMessage sticker packs:

    Sonic The Hedgehog, the 1991 household classic that has remained at the forefront of hearts and minds since inception

    Phantasy Star II, the longtime fan-favourite RPG from 1989

    Comix Zone and Kid Chameleon, two American titles developed by SEGA’s in-house studio STI

    Altered Beast, the original Genesis pack-in title, a beat-em-up set in Ancient Greece that represents a weird and wonderful segment of the SEGA catalogue that is ripe for rediscovery 

Following the launch, the SEGA Forever collection will continue to grow with additional releases coming every two weeks. 

To stay up-to-date with launch news, share your love of the golden age of video games, cast your vote in polls, share your opinions in surveys, and interact with other SEGA fans, check out the SEGA Forever website and follow our dedicated Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

*Please note that playing games from the SEGA Forever collection does not technically count as “time travel,” although intense feelings of nostalgia have been linked to exposure and extended play.