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Tag Archives: Game Design
Train2Game Art & Animation student Robert Ramsay speaks to Train2Game Radio (Part 3)
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Robert Ramsay is studying to become a Game Artist & Animator with Train2Game. Train2Game Radio caught up with him to find out why he chose to study with Train2Game, and how he’s finding the course.
In part 3 of a 3 part interview, Robert tells fitting Train2Game around the rest of his life, and his plans for the future. Listen to the interview at http://audioboo.fm/train2game
Read parts 1 and 2 here on the Train2Game blog, and leave your comments on the Train2Game forum.
Train2Game students can learn from this: Splash Damage reflect on Brink
Train2Game students will know that reflecting on your work is an important part of game development, even for the biggest studios.
As a result, Brink developers Splash Damage have discussed their game at the Game Developers Conference in Germany, pointing out what they could have done better. This is despite, as previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Brink reaching No.1 in the charts.
Lead Game Designer Neil Alphonso analysed Brink’s four key design concepts: blended game modes, objective and team based gameplay, the SMART system, and player customisation and persistent levelling.
As reported by the Train2Game blog last year, Splash Damage claimed Brink would ‘end the genre as we know it.’
Looking back however, Alphonso acknowledged that they may have been too ambitious with certain Game Design ideas
“Brink tried to be something new and different in several areas, In hindsight we perhaps strayed away from convention a bit too much in some areas.” he said.
“But several of Brink’s key features resonated really well with our audience, along with continuing to work on tweaking and refining the gameplay now the game is out in the wild. We’re taking a lot of these lessons on board for our future projects.”
Alphonso also said the story, the Game Design of Brink, “had to take a back seat”.
“People reacted pretty differently to the way we approached our narrative,” Alphonso said. “Some would say there’s no story to speak of, which I would beg to differ with. But some loved the setting and the context we’d given the action.”
“There’s a lot there for people to read into it. But we don’t spoon feed it to people, which is maybe what some people were looking for.” He continued.
“So in the end, essentially when the game is viewed as a highly contextualised multiplayer experience, it does really well. But if you view it as a cinematic single-player cinematic experience, it doesn’t really hold up.” Alphonso concluded.
For more information on how Brink was developed, see the Train2Game blog. There’s also an in-depth look at the Art & Animation of the game.
So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Splash Damages anaylsis of Brink? How do you think the game could be have been improved? And how important is reflecting on a game post development?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: Eurogamer]
Train2Game Facebook page hits 4000 fans
The official Train2Game Facebook page now has over 4000 fans, with this impressive milestone achieved over the weekend of 14 August.
The Train2Game Facebook page offers the 4000 fans regular updates about Train2Game, features interviews with students, work placements and offers a place for Train2Game students to see and discuss games industry news.
It features content from the Train2Game blog, the official Train2Game website and respected games industry websites around the web.
The 4000 Fan of the Train2Game Facebook fan page also offers a great hub of information for those wishing to enter the games industry.
In addition to the Train2Game forum, the Train2Game blog and the Train2Game Twitter, the Train2Game Facebook page will continue to offer the best content to Train2Game students, as it grows ever more popular.
Train2Game would like to thank every single FAN for their support.
Train2Game developed student game Postal Panic proceeds go to The Prince’s Trust
Train2Game Art & Animation student Robert Ramsay speaks to Train2Game Radio (Part 2)
Robert Ramsay is studying to become a Game Artist & Animator with Train2Game. Train2Game Radio caught up with him to find out why he chose to study with Train2Game, and how he’s finding the course.
In part 2 of a 3 part interview, Robert tells us how he’s helping other Train2Game students with their courses. Listen to the interview at www.audioboo.fm/train2game.
Read part 1 here on the Train2Game blog and leave your comments here, on the Train2Game forum.
Train2Game news: “Graphics will always matter” say Id Software
Train2Game students will have seen some huge improvements in video game Art & Animation over the last decade, with the majority of Triple A games released now featuring excellent graphics.
Id software, developers of the upcoming RAGE – which as reported by the Train2Game blog will come with modding tools – believe that despite the improvements in graphics, games with better graphics than their rivals will always have an edge.
“Coming from id – and this is Carmack’s quote – graphics will always matter. And I agree with that 100 percent.” Id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead told VG247.
“I think that there’s a point where you get diminishing returns, obviously. You approach reality until the point that you get there. And then, once you get there – which, we never will – but the curve gets so close that the differences are imperceptible to most consumers.”
And Hollenshead believes the graphics and Art & Animation war is far from over, with more improvements to come in future.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere near there yet. We’re still making graphical trade-offs and working within system constraints. If you gave us twice the horsepower, I guarantee we’d soak up every single bit of it.
“So I don’t think we’re actually getting close to that yet. If every game you could buy was running with every single feature you could have turned on at 120 hertz, then I might say, “It’s pretty much all the same.” But it’s not. I mean, in RAGE, we decided to run it at 60 hertz and put all our elbow grease behind that when most of our competition is running at 30 hertz. And I think it’s a difference-maker.”
As reported by the Train2Game blog, ID Software said their fans ‘sometimes drive them nuts’ with their demands. With their ideas about graphics and Art & Animation in future, how the game looks shouldn’t be a complaint
So Train2Game, will graphics always give games an edge? Or can Game Design and gameplay triumph over Art & Animation?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: VG247]
Train2Game industry experience diaries from Georgij Cernysiov, William Alexander & Laurence Gee
Here are three bite-sized Train2Game industry experience diaries from Train2Game students. They come from Georgij Cernysiov who is on placement Caspian Learning, Train2Game Art & Animation student William Alexander at DR Studios, and Laurence Gee.
Read their industry experience diaries here on the Train2Game blog, or on the official Train2Game industry experience diaries website.
Train2Game students on ‘garbage’ Kinect comments of Super Meat Boy dev
As reported by the Train2Game blog on Friday, Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen labelled Kinect for the Xbox 360 as ‘garbage’ and that it’s ruining game design.
As you might expect from such a controversial comment – and the manner in with was said – it’s split opinion amongst Train2Game students
A number of Train2Game students made their voices heard on the Kinect issue on both the Train2Game Facebook page and the Train2Game forum; here’s a selection of some of their comments.
“He is right though they are bringing out all this stuff when there is no need” said Ian Casper Dale on the Train2Game Facebook page. “For the Kinect you have no controllers and the only games for it is things I can do in real life like running, fighting etc it’s a load of BS if you ask me and I agree with Super Meat Boy”
“I have to agree people are worrying too much about Kinect and losing the TRUE meaning and game play of what thay started out as” Darren Williams agreed on Facebook.
“I couldn’t agree more with Edmund McMillen” added Steven Brashaw “Motion control is unnecessary, why do you think games like Mario Kart Wii & Smash Bros Brawl have Gamecube controller compatibility? I’ll stick to pads thank you & have a nice day”
However, not all Train2Game students see Kinect as a novelty, and some have very positive to say about the Xbox 360 motion controller.
“I suppose aiming for the casual gaming Market ( as they seem to be ) is always a safe bet. After all they are biggest spenders. Give it time am sure something good/better will rear its head and if not it’s at least a good direction for gaming in the future.” Brian Malm replied on the Train2Game Facebook page.
Catriona Smith also praised Kinect on the Train2Game Facebook page, adding that it’s great for her child.
“I have the Kinect and I love it and my 3 year old loves it as well the games that you can get for the Kinect all good and fund to play plus you have the star wars game for it as well and it is a good way to get fit if you don’t have time to go to the gym” she said.
Meanwhile, on the Train2Game forum, Vampire Duck agreed that Kinect is great for fitness, and no one is forcing the Super Meat Boy developers to use Kinect.
“Well I’ve lost half a stone or more playing Kinect Adventures, so I don’t think I could agree. I like losing half a stone or more.
“As for the rest, it is an option, no one is forcing him to use it, it’s not even as if all or the majority of Xbox games use it, and nothing can get sold without it. I think he may still be a little pissed with Microsoft’s broken promises on Super Meat Boy promotion, which is fair enough.”
So there you have it, a little insight into what you, the Train2Game students think about Kinect. But what are your thoughts on the matter?
You can get involved in the discussion on here on the Train2Game blog, on the Train2Game Facebook page, or on the Train2Game forum.
Kinect is ‘garbage’ and Game Design is what matters says Super Meat Boy dev
Train2Game students may be split on the impact Kinect will have on the industry, but Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen hates it. Absolutely hates it with a passion.
Unfortunately for him, and as reported by the Train2Game blog, Kinect featured heavily in the Microsoft E3 presentation.
McMillen believes that more focus should be put on Game Design, rather than creating peripherals such as Kinect. He passionately believes it…in a very sweary fashion.
“Gameplay is what matters. Good game design” McMillen told Eurogamer. “It’s almost as if they thought developers said ‘s**t, we’ve hit a wall and we can’t design fun games anymore, and can’t innovate through game design itself, we need all these crazy-ass peripherals that are going to help break through barriers and find new uncharted territory”
“No, just f***ing sit down and come up with a new genre. Chris Hecker came up with a new genre – Spy Party – so I guarantee other people can too. Minecraft – a creative MMO. And Katamari too. We don’t need peripherals.”
Speaking about Kinect specially, McMillen was just as ‘passionate’ in his views.
“That thing is a piece of garbage. There is absolutely nothing good for it. It’s a joke. It’s a f***ing joke. It doesn’t make any f***ing sense. It’s painful because they justify it by saying ‘a lot of people bought it’, but that’s just marketing.”
“I’m telling you, there’s not going to be anything for it that’s so compelling that 10 years from now you’ll tell your friends ‘wow, I really want to break out the Kinect and play this’. It’s just not going to happen.” McMillen said of Kinect games.
“Buttons. Buttons and game pads. Just give me my f***ing game pad back.” He replied when asked what he wanted from the next generation of consoles.
So Train2Game, do you agree with the Super Meat Boy devs comments? Should the industry focus more on games then things like motion control?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: Eurogamer]
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