Tag Archives: Epic Mickey

Train2Game news: Next-gen consoles won’t solve ‘creative problems’ of games says Warren Spector

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Train2Game students might be eagerly anticipating news of next-gen consoles, but the arrival of PlayStation 4 or Xbox 720 won’t help solve the most common problems of game design in video games.

At least that’s according to Deus Ex creator Warren Spector, who is currently working on the recently announced Epic Mickey 2: The Power Of Two for Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

“If it comes, it comes; when it comes, it comes,” he told Edge on the on subject of next-gen consoles.

“I’m not a tech guy, particularly. I’m a design, story, character guy. I think most of the problems we have to solve are creative ones, not technical ones.” said Spector, not revealing what he believes the creative problems of game design are.

“Obviously we make software, so there’s always a technical element to what we do, but I will make games that do whatever I want them to do at the end of the day, and I will use whatever technology available.” the Deus Ex creator added.

Other developers, such as Epic Game’s Cliff Bleszinski, have previously stated they’d like next-gen consoles to come with extremely high-end technology.

For the latest news and reports about next-gen consoles, keep reading The Train2Game Blog.

So, what are your thoughts on Spector’s comments? Should developers be focusing on creative problems rather than technical ones?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

UK Charts: Gran Turismo 5 races past Call of Duty: Black Ops to take No. 1

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Gran Turismo 5

It may have been years in the making, but Gran Turismo 5 has made an immediate impact on the UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top 40 by taking top spot.

After a long wait, Gran Turismo 5 was finally released last Wednesday to generally positive reviews. The icing on the cake for Sony and Polyphony Digital is that the racer has reached number one in its debut week by knocking the mighty behemoth that is Call of Duty: Black Ops from the top spot.

Activision’s first person shooter was number one for two weeks following its record breaking release. The arrival of Gran Turismo 5 also pushes Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood down one spot to third place in this weeks chart.  FIFA 11 is still selling strongly almost two months after its chart topping debut, and holds onto fourth place. Just Dance 2 is also a non-mover and remains in fifth.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit has moved down three places from third to sixth in its second week on sale, while Nintendo Wii Party has also moved down the top ten, dropping one place to seventh spot.  Art Academy for the Nintendo DS is the big winner in this weeks Top 40, jumping almost 20 places from 27th to eighth place. It overtakes another Nintendo Title, Wii Sports Resort which has dropped two to ninth.

Former number one Fallout: New Vegas, rounds out the top ten, having clawed its way back in after dropping to 13th place last week.

Elsewhere, Red Dead Redemption expansion pack Undead Nightmare enters the UK Chart in 14th place, while Ubisoft’s Michael Jackson: The Experience is a new entry in 32nd.

Disney’s brand new – and heavily advertised – Epic Mickey has failed to even reach the Top 40 and only managed to reach 11th in the Nintendo Wii chart.

The full UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top Ten for the week ending November 27th is as follows:

1. Gran Turismo 5 (Sony)
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
3. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
4. FIFA 11 (EA)
5. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
6. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (EA)
7. Wii Party (Nintendo)
8. Art Academy (Nintendo)
9. Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo)
10. Fallout: New Vegas (Bethesda)

So Train2Game, do you think Gran Turismo 5 deserves the honour of number 1? Can it go on to be ‘the biggest selling PS3 game of the year’ or will sales drop next week? And are you surprised to see Epic Mickey fail to even make the Top 40?

You can leave your thoughts about Gran Turismo 5, Epic Mickey or any other game in the UK Top 40 here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Epic Mickey ‘The Anatomy of the Animation’ trailer

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Epic Mickey Mouse

Disney has released an Epic Mickey video that is a must see for Train2Game Artist & Animators.  The Epic Mickey ‘The Anatomy of the Animation’ video, shows the amount of effort the animators have put in to make the game characters look and move like authentic Disney characters.

Warren Spector says it’s Mickey Mouse in motion that “makes Mickey” and that the way he moves is “critical.” Which is why the Epic Disney animators spent so long analysing Mickey cartoons from when he first appeared along with more recent motion pictures. Spector says they have all of the Mickey Mouse Cartoons and all of the Oswald the Rabbit cartoons and the team spent a lot of time watching them!

The video shows that Junction Point are very aware they’ve needed to make Mickey perfect, and they even consulted with the likes of Pixar and the Disney animators about how to make this so in Epic Mickey.  Warren Spector claims that in his 30 year career he’s never seen animators who go into as much detail as those at Disney.

So, how is the animation of Disney shaping up? You can find out for yourself by watching the Epic Mickey Anatomy of Animation trailer below.

Epic Mickey is scheduled for release on November 30th for the Nintendo Wii

So Train2Game, how good you think the animation of Epic Mickey is? Have the animators nailed the authentic Disney look? And who is looking forward to Epic Mickey?

You can leave your thoughts on Epic Mickey here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Nintendo’s E3

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Microsoft and Sony, I haven’t mentioned Nintendo? ‘Why?’ I hear you ask? But fear not, Train2Game hasn’t ignored you Nintendo fans, in fact my most excellent colleague Gabe has written a comprehensive round up of every Nintendo announcement on his own blog. Good ay?

As usual you can leave a comment – on his blog this time – or discuss it on the Train2Game Forum.